Stockpiling for winter

This may seem hypocritical given my scathing attack on the big squirrel and his collecting but this was a sale and I need all of it.

Spotlight had a sale on their flanelette - only 99c per meter so how could I resist. It is usally $8 a meter so by buying off season I actually saved $245!! Now were do I put said 35 meters of fabric until winter?? Hmmmmmm

Bags

Plastic coated bags made from spotlight fabric - ready for christmas gifts for teachers - school, swimming and kinder. A few small ticks on the long list.

Out back

We are in the final stages of our back yard design. With 3 big boisterous boys here we need somewhere where they can go to burn off all their excess energy. There was already a trampoline and the cubby (still not finished) some paving and a deck. We are increasing the deck size and building a path.

We live on a hill on a main road, so the idea of bike riding out front is really out of the question so we have just built this concrete path along the back fence. This area wasn't really used and now with the path there is always someone riding something (probably found on the side of the road such as the batmobile) But with all of these cool things to do do you know what the boys like to play with most??????
the dirt pile- excess from creating the path. Humph.

The Big Squirrel

Yes, He has been at it again. This time it was bikes. A neighbouring suburb has hard rubbish collection, so he has been out trawling. Infact this afternoon it was a family outing. Having all the seats filled does make it harder to fill the car with other peoples rubbish!

Having said that he does always manage to find a few good things. This time the focus was bikes as the kids are all moving up a size of bikes that was his aim. Even if it was just to keep at mum and dads. So with an aim in mind he came home with 8 bikes - not many fitting the actually need but all really good bikes. What we will do with them is yet unclear but I do have to agree they are too good to throw away. (the same can't be said for the skiis, suitcases and numerous golf clubs that also found their way to our place)

The boys set up their own bike wash but I am not sure on the quality control. I don't think soap and enjo are really the best way to clean a bike!

A bit of stitchin

A quick drawstring bag for a poppy doll.

A softie guitar for a new little mr. Sewn and delivered today at a lovely Cup Day party

which was jam packed with kids!

A bit proud of myself

One of our kinder teachers had an operation and will have a lengthy recovery. We were going to send her flowers, but they die and she would probably have a house full of them. So with a little help(!) from the boys I managed to get this together for her.

Using my regular cookie recipe I cut out get well soon and put the skewers in before I cooked them. Of course I had the tin bucket in the present cupboard as well as some florist foam which I made fit the top of the bucket. Then with three punnets of strawberries and toothpick - voila!There were also a bundle of cookies attached that we stamped out a message as our card. A bit messy but thats what you get!

I was pretty chuffed with this because it was different and very low cost. I had all the ingredients on hand, the only cost was the strawberries and that is a lot less than $80 for flowers. Also, arranging flowers is certainly not one of my strenghts so I was really chuffed at how this looked. Finally it was made with love by the boys and we know that makes it so special to her.

Freedom

Ahhh. That is the sound of the load being lifted from my shoulders. I have just paid all of the bills and it is such a liberating feeling, for one minute (and really that is about all it is) not to owe any one any money. You see the big squirrel is self employed and doesn't get regular payments. We can go from poor to rich overnight. Not literally, but you get what I mean.
We have been living poor - something the big squirrel really struggles with - and I mean REALLY STRUGGLES with. This man could spend money underwater! The problem is that he is not buying anything.

A prime example was taking the kids to the movies this weekend. I know we were skint, but with a free ticket and only $6 for the others it was a bargain. I made popcorn and filled the drinkbottles so there were goodies to eat that weren't going to set us back more than the movie. We were running late, so the big squirrel parked the car while I took the kids inside. On his way in, he stops and buys a lemonade! Why would you spend $3 on a lemonade knowing I had a basket full of food and drink. AND $3 for 450ml is not what I call value. Not to mention if he had opened it in the cinema, he may get a mere 50mls once my boys had sniffed it out!

As you can see from my little rant, we have very different attitudes to money. I am a saver (hence squirrel) but also having grown up with parents who are self employed, I have lived the ups and downs all my life. He has not. What worries me is now we have been paid (once again, Phew) he will go back to living 'his' high life, but I know this has to last us through til we are next getting paid. Anyone got any good training advice???