Free Form Scones

Ingredients

225g Dove Farm gluten-free SR flour

50g butter

25g sugar

50g choclate chips

1 egg

milk

Method

Heat oven to 220C.

Rub the butter into the flour, and stir in the sugar and chocolate chips. Break the egg into a jug, beat it and then top up to the 150ml mark with milk. Mix the milk/egg mixture into the flour, and bring together into a dough. Place 9 dollops onto a greased baking sheet. (Or, it you would prefer, butter a muffin tray and drop the mixture into the cups.) Bake for about 10 -12 minutes.

The Great Jelly Roll Race

Normally when I'm making patchwork I am in control and choosing every aspect of the design. Today, it's a little different; I'm trying my hand at random. And, it's tough.

Jelly Rolls are 2.5" strips cut across the width of the fabric. They often come in colour ways. This is a blue set I was given a while back. I've been pondering what to do with it, and decided on a Jelly Roll Race quilt.  The race quilt was popularised in quilting clubs when people actually had races to see who could finish the top of their quilts the quickest!

The strips are sewn end to end, making a piece of fabric about 1,600" long. Then it's folded in half and a 800" seam is sew. The fold is cut, and the process starts again. The colours can be planned, but most people don't take the mental effort to plan it. I've decided to randomise my work as much as possible, and I've also added a 2.5" square of yellow at the end of each strip.

The yellow squares have been added. A huge long strip has been created, and it's been folded in half twice. Three quarters of the sewing has happened, and I'm taking a break.

TT Cakes - #feedthefuzz

During the TT Races, the Police work long, long hours keeping residents and visitors safe. The Younger Offspring and I wanted to do a little something to recognise their work, and also to say 'Thank you'. 

Last week, the Younger Offspring and I made around 100 cakes and took them along to Police Head Quarters. We arrived and said we came bearing cakes. The receptionist was puzzled, but we when explained what we were about a huge grin spread across her face. She called up to the break room, and a couple of officers almost ran down the stairs. They were all delighted by the gift. 

It was even added to Tweet Beat IOM. The text in the image above says "CAKES! Someone very kindly brought cakes to the station! Thank you to the lovely lady - happy cops! #welovecake #thankyou . "

The little things that show appreciation can make all the difference. It's amazing what a few cakes can do. 

Decluttering the Craft/Guest Room

Whilst decluttering in the craft/guest room, I realised I had a number of resources I was no longer using. Today, I said goodbye to various resource book, anthologies and glass tea light candle holders. At least 30 items left the house via good friend. David was delighted with the books and candle holders. He will hang on to the items he can use, and pass on the items he has no use for.

It feels good to be letting these things go, and to know someone else will be able to benefit from them. There's more books to be passed on, but I will hand them over, a dozen or so at a time.

Bye bye, stuff!

Growing veggies

I came across this image whilst searching of 'growing vegetables'. It's so funny. The veggies have been removed from the ground, washed and then nestled in some of the finest growing compound around.  It is so utterly unlike the realities of growing veggies!

A friend and neighbour will be heading off to receive treatment soon. She will be away for over 3 months. She has friends who will house sit, but they are not into gardening. I have asked if I might play in the raised beds in her front garden. 

Today was my first 'play'. I managed about 10 minutes of weeding and light soil turning. Then my back started having a grumble. I thought it best to stop whilst I was still enjoying it, and go back later.  My plan is to get one little section cleared and then plant some very late onion sets and radishes.

----

In other news, the laundry has been washed and is drying. Dinner prep has begun, and the kitchen has been cleaned.  It's now time to do some sock knitting, and then later decluttering.

Week 22: Email and Digital Information

Monday: Read Organized Home Challenge #24: Email & Digital Information

Tuesday: Declutter email inbox 

Wednesday: Organize email inbox and other email folders

Thursday: Declutter / organize computer files

Friday: Declutter apps / software from computer and phone

Saturday: Set up system to regularly back up computer files

Sunday: Create electronics charging station

I have included these challenges simply for completeness. Email is an already organised area.

Two bookcases done

For weeks I have been saying I'll be clearing the bookcase just outside my bedroom. Finally, finally, it's been done. The area has been decluttered, and the only items left belong to the Elder Offspring. It will be her task to go through the remaining items when she next visits.

There were a couple of craft books, and I took them up to the craft room/guest room to put them away. As I looked at the bookcase I was going to put them in I realised a huge number of the items were no longer needed or wanted. A second bookcase was decluttered. 

This has resulted in 45 items to be decluttered, and an uncounted stack of knitting magazines and patterns. Some of the items being decluttered are destined for charity shops, and others will be recycled (various paper things) or will go straight into the bin (4 year old make up). The "30 Day Declutter Challenge" is going very well.  So far, not much has left the house, but next weekend this will change.

Bunting

A friend asked me where I could buy bunting, so I pointed him in the direction of several shops. They had nothing that suited his needs. Being a crafty little bear, I offered to make some. The brief was 'colourful and joyful, and about 3m long'.  Here, I present, colourful, joyful, about three metre long bunting.

Jenny Doane of Missouri Star Quilt Company has a bunting tutorial. Jenny uses a stack of pre-cut 10" squares. I bought 25cm (10") of seven different polycottons, and then cut them into 25cm squares. The fabric was 110cm, and gave 4 squares in each colour. At the end of the tutorial, the extra tab is folded over. Instead, I left a tab of 2cm, folded and ironed it. The raw edge was enclosed when I was sewing on the white tape.

The request was for 'about three metres', and two runs through the rainbow was enough to make about three metres. I've been able to get two sets of bunting from the fabric. 

Under Pressure

My blood pressure was rather elevated. Too much weight, and too little exercise, too much salt, and adding a side of order of stress are common causes of high blood pressure.  Into this mix I was able to add the steroids I was give to enable me to breathe properly.

The steroids had changed my taste buds, and the only things that tasted half way decent were veggies. This caused a large increase in my veggie consumption. I finished the course of steroids a month ago. With this step towards healthier eating already in place, I decided to really address the salt in my diet. The last month has seen a serious drop in my salt intake, and I've been eating more potassium rich foods. (This is really good for helping with muscle cramps and also lowering blood pressure.) Iron May has helped with the exercise portion. Resigning from work initially raised my stress levels, but now I am feeling much better. 

The result is my systolic pressure has dropped by 40 points in the last month! The diastolic is still reading a bit high, but we'll see what the next few weeks will bring. I am hoping the change in diet, and maintaining exercise, will cause a change in my weight, and have a knock on effect on my blood pressure. I've already had to take in a couple of pairs of trousers.

The wet, wet weather of the last week has meant my joints have been very sore, and I engaged in some comfort eating of crisps. I didn't enjoy them. After a nap my mouth felt so dry and as if it was coated in something nasty. I craved fruit. As I bit into some raspberries my body shouted out "Yes! This is what I want!" My taste buds really have changed.

As well as having an impact on my waistline and my blood pressure, it's making a difference in my grocery shopping bill. Now, about a half of our shopping is fresh fruit and veggies, and we are saving money.

Mega-Baking

During the TT Races, all leave is cancelled for the Isle of Man Constabulary. The Police work crazy hours. Most people are well behaved and are here to have a good time. Some people take things too far, and the Police have to step in. The number of road traffic incidents drastically increases to. The Police work very hard in the two weeks of TT.

At the weekend, I decided to do something nice for them. Today, the Younger Offspring and I have been in the kitchen. We have made Flapjacks, Snicker Crunch, Lemon Loaves, Banana and Walnut Cakes and Chocolate Brownies. The Brownies have 10 minutes cooking left. Then, we will have over 100 portions of goodies. I hope our officers will like them.

Week 23: Home Office

Monday: Read Organized Home Challenge #23: Home Office

Done.

Tuesday: Declutter pens and pencils

Done.

Wednesday: Declutter home office supplies

Done.

Thursday: Declutter home office desk drawers

No drawers to declutter.

Friday: Declutter home office desk top

No desk to declutter.

Saturday: Declutter old computers, printers and electronic equipment

Ah, now this is the interesting stuff. The Beloved's study is a bit of grave yard for old hardware. However, that is his domain, and I am not decluttering in there. I would be less than impressed (read 'outraged') if someone decluttered my belongings, and there is no way I'm doing that to someone else, especially someone I love.

When I mentioned this challenge to him this morning he laughed and said 'Yeah, right!', but a few moments later replied he would declutter some stuff when I next have a box. As soon as the rain stops I'm going to get a cardboard box for him.

Sunday: Declutter and organize cords and wires

As above. It's the Beloved's domain, and it's his decision if and when this will happen.

The holidays are over

I've now had two weeks at home, providing food and clean clothes, and pretty much doing what I wanted. There was so little structure to my day. Things drifted. In the past, this would have been the norm, but now I want goals. My goal for this week is to deep clean the kitchen.

The ToDo-TaDa! list is back, and goals have been set. So far this morning I have:

• put away clean laundry
• washed a load of laundry
• dried a load of laundry
• cleaned the microwave
• defrosting the fridge
• check fridge contents to see if anything needed to be tossed (nothing)
• changed our home insurance company
• started scrubbing the kitchen floor

Another thing I'm doing is the 30 Day Declutter Challenge. On the first day, you declutter one item, two on the second day, etc all the way to the end of the month. This leads to 465 items leaving the house! 

The last few days have been ridiculously easy. I've been able to gather more items than required each day. These items are being squirreled away to bring out when it might be tougher. So far, 15 items are in the 'neither needed nor required pile'.

Buying your way to happiness?

I was re-watching a YouTube video by The Mustards. They asked "What was the last thing you bought that you are still really happy with now? And how many things have you bought since then?" (Food isn't included.) Many people use shopping as therapy, or buy when they are sad, low, or in need of some emotional lift.

My last non-food shopping was at Sweet Ginger Emporium (crafty things for crafty people). I bought fabric, batting and threads to complete the Rainbow Squares en Pointe quilt. I'm very happy with the results, and I'm using up the leftovers. However, crafting supplies are almost in the same category as food for me. The supplies are bought to be used up and turned into other things. The secret is only buying what you need, and not what ever catches your eye. I still have so many crafting supplies.  I am trying to get projects finished to use them up, and also donating other craft items.

My last purchases I really love were at the start of April, in Ikea. We bought two new knives and a sharpening 'steel', and two lamps. We love the look of the lamps! They are functional, and beautiful. The knives are great too. It's utterly brilliant having sharp knives. It makes cooking a pleasure.

I am trying to be much more intentional when I buy, and not buy on the spur of the moment. There's no point in decluttering my home if I'm introducing new stuff at the same rate (or faster) than things are leaving.

A Collection of Quilts

These are the quilts I have made.

Baby Quilt (2012)

My first quilt! I made so many mistakes in this quilt and was bemoaning the fact when a friend came over and started oohing and aahing over it. She didn't see the mistakes, all she saw was as colourful, useful quilt. I knew if I kept it I would only see the mistakes, so I gave it to her as she could see the beauty.

Denim and fleece quilt (January 2014)

This quilt is unusual in that it has no batting between the top and bottom layer, but with the weight of the denim and the warmth of the fleece it isn't required. It is the underside of the quilt that I like best. It looks so much tidier! No fuzzy, frayed edges.

Autumn Leaves for Mam and Dad (July 2014)

My Mam loves autumnal colours. I wanted to make something special for their Golden Wedding, and this pattern called to me.

Grandma's Flower Garden (October 2015)

At the start of our summer holidays I picked up a rainbow jelly roll and decided to have a go at hand piecing and hand quilting. It's hand sewn and hand quilted, apart from the first line of stitching on the binding, that was done by machine.

Nightmare before Christmas (Christmas 2015)

The bottom of the quilt was machine pieced. Borders were added to the top and bottom, and the quilt was hand quilted. The printed Jack Skellington design was used as a reference for my lines of quilting.

And now, the latest finished quilting project, Rainbow Squares en Pointe, finished today.

I've been trying out different techniques, and the one I have just started is another technique again, quilt-as-you-go. This will be a baby quilt and will use up some of the materials and batting I bought to make Rainbow Squares en Pointe.

Rainbow Squares en Pointe

It's done. The quilt is finished. The photograph shows it on top of my white duvet. The dark purple triangles show the edge of the quilt.  

The pattern is Diamond Patch from the Quilting Digest website. The design is very simple. Me, being me, didn't bother with a pattern, and I just worked from the photograph. In my version, the large squares started out at 6.5", and the small ones at 2.5". This gives a finished block size of 6". The edging triangles started out as 8" squares, then cut in half along the diagonal. This was done for two reasons, it let me square things up well, and also it ensured the tips of the white squares would not be lots in the binding. In engineering terms, I reverse engineered the quilt design.

It is certainly as design I would use again.  It's fantastic to know my quilt fits the top of my bed so perfectly. When I come to make a quilt for that be, I know exactly the size to make for a central panel. I'd extend it up a bit to cover the pillows, and I'll probably use a different style on the sides of the quilt.

Tied in knots

A sharp needle with a large-ish eye makes all of the difference when making a tied quilt! It's so very much easier than with a tapestry needle.

Whilst watching a youtube video on tied quilts I learned about the 'surgeon's knot'. It's very similar to a granny knot or a reef knot (square knot in the US), but it has an extra twist of the yarn. It's designed to be more secure than either of those knots. 

The quilt has been pinned with quilters safety pins (bent), and it has also been bound. Normally, and quilt isn't bound until the quilting has been done. As the quilting can distort the fabric. With a tied quilt, or rather with this tied quilt, I am tying it at the corners of the large squares (6"). This will not distort the quilt. It will still be fine if I decide to tie the centres of the squares as well.

I am loving the combination of the deep purple used for the edging triangles and binding, and the brilliant white squares. It's a beautiful contrast.

Slowing down

This year, I've been making regular posts on my blog. In fact, I'm almost at the stage where I have made more post this year that I have in all the previous years combined!  However, when I resigned from work my focus was turned towards completing all of the tasks I needed to do, and the ones I wanted to finish before handing over my responsibilities. This left little mental capacity for other things, and the little that was left was spent in Iron May. 

I had just typed there had been a massive slow down in the number of posts I have made, but the facts don't match the reality. There have been fewer posts, and I haven't quite managed an average of one post per day.  However, what does it matter?! With the number of people who read this blog, it's effectively a diary I keep on the coffee table. If people read it, that's fine, if people don't read it, that's also fine. It's a way for me to record events and make notes.

Iron May Complete!

Done. Done DONE!

Two and a half miles have been swum, 112 miles have been cycled, and a marathon has been walked! My poor botty feels a little put upon, and my feet have a couple of blisters, but it's done. I've finished, and it feels good.

Week 22 Passwords, Warranties and Manuals

Monday: Read Organized Home Challenge #22: Passwords, Warranties & Manuals

Done.

Tuesday: Create a paper or electronic password organizer (you can use this printable password organizer form if you'd like)

Done.

Wednesday: Declutter owner's manuals and warranties

Done.

Thursday: Organize your remaining warranties and manuals

Done. We will no longer keep paper copies of manuals. Instead, we will go to the company's website and download a copy of it.

Friday: Declutter flat surface

I can see a flat surface in front of me that needs, well, not decluttered, but tidied. I'll do it immediately after I've posted this. It's clean clothing that's been sitting on the chest of drawers for a good few days. To the wardrobe!

Saturday: Declutter another flat surface

The little bookcase outside of my bedroom still hasn't been decluttered of the Elder Offspring's belonging. This needs to happen soon. There's even a crate to put her stuff in!

Sunday: Gather documents/items for safe deposit box or for a fire safe file box

I must investigate a fire safe box.

Busy Crafting

This image is a place holder, showing the type of yoga socks I have made.

My new 'yoga' socks have just been completed. One is on my right foot, and the other is folded in two are is being sported on my left wrist! There's some yarn left over, and me thinks it would be a good idea to make a set of wrist warmers. Then my left ankle can be encased in wool.

My ankles can become rather cold in the evenings of warm/hot days, and this leads to pain. The yoga socks cover the ankle and instep, but keep the heel and toes free. This provides warmth without the overheating that would occur if I were to simply put on an ordinary pair of socks. My wrists can also become cold, and therefore sore. The wrist warmers will help prevent pain, which is a Good Thing.

In other crafting news, I have almost finished the quilt top, Rainbow Squares en Pointe. I'm still very new to quilting, and have decided to make a tied quilt. Tomorrow I will finish the sewing, sandwich the top, batting and bottom, and then baste it. Next I'll add the binding, and last I'll tie it. 

Swimming Swum

Yesterday I finished off the swimming component of Iron May. I swam 1.5 miles, and was utterly exhausted by the end of it! It was a bone-weary tiredness, and my knees hurt in the evening. I was not expecting sore knees. A quickly little one mile walk was added into the mix before the swim. This takes the total up to 89%. I'm almost, almost done!

In other news, my GP is delighted with the exercise and my diet. Although I still want chocolate and crisps! Last night we had fish and chips, and whilst I had been longing for it for two weeks, I didn't really enjoy it very much. Butternut squash pasta would have been far tastier, and more veggie-licious.

My plan is to have reward chocolate on Sundays. I'll ask the Beloved to buy me a luscious lemony chocolate concoction at Thornton's. This will be my chocolate indulgence.

Healthy Eating

My blood pressure was on the high side last time I saw my GP. Weight, exercise levels, genetics and the steroids I was on all are contributing to this. My GP decided to wait a little while and see if it lowers now I've been off the medication. 

I've taken the decision to be proactive about the situation. There's nothing I can do about my genetics. Iron May has helped address the exercise part, and I've been trying really hard to be good with food. One useful side effect of the medication was the only food I could really taste were vegetables, so my veggie intake increased greatly. This has been maintained, and I've added in fruit too. In the past 2 weeks, I've had one chocolate bar, no crisps, and three mouthfuls of 'full fat fizzy'. My salt consumption has decreased greatly as well.

Currently, I'm craving crisps. I want salt!  I'm desperately hoping the changes in my diet, combined with the exercise, will have brought some health benefits. Virtue, thy name is Maghouin; please let it also mean smaller numbers.

Rainbow Squares en Pointe

My latest sewing project, Rainbow Squares en Pointe. The picture above is my reference. I'll be using the striped fabric I bought in Gloucester.

I'm off to the cutting room. Wish me luck!

Week 21: Magazines & Newspapers

Monday: Read Organized Home Challenge #21: Magazines & Newspapers

Done.

Tuesday: Declutter or donate old magazines and create files for ideas (or use Pinterest)

We really have very few magazines.  There's probably some in the guest room. I'll declutter them when I tackle that room.

Wednesday: Recycle old newspapers

The only newspaper we get in the free one that's delivered. Most of the time it goes straight into the recycling pile, unread.

Thursday: Declutter or stop catalogs

Already done.

Friday: Declutter and properly store personal memorabilia

I'm trying to think what I have that could be considered 'personal memorabilia'. My wedding dress?  A few items of my children's baby clothes?

Saturday: Continue to declutter and properly store memorabilia

Still struggling.

Sunday: Declutter/shred/file paper piles

This is a task I can get into! The Beloved has a huge shredder at work, and if I make a pile he can take it to work, shred and dispose.

Cold

This is the time of year when I start suffering with my dogdy joints again. Warmer days means shorter sleeves, and no socks/tights. However, it leaves my wrists and ankles exposed and this can lead to cold ankles/wrists, and therefore cold joints. Cardigans and socks cause me to over heat.

Today, I finished (as much as I can) socks for the Elder Offspring. It won't be until she is next on my little island I can measure her feet and fine tune the length of the foot. A three needle cast off has been used to secure the stitches, and when she nexts visits I'll fit the socks to her feet.

In a spirit of wanting to use us the leftover year, and also trying to prevent cold, sore joints, I've cast on ankle warmer socks. On 2.75mm needles, using 4ply yarn, I've cast on 64 sts and worked in 2x2 rib. The idea is to make something similar to yoga socks, but just covering the ankles and part of the instep. This will provide warmth exactly where isn't needed on the ankle and foot without causing me to overheat.

The challenge will be to create something similar for my wrists, but that doesn't make me look like I'm wearing sweat bands for tennis!

Busy, busy, busy

My last day at work came and went, and I was still finishing off items I wanted to complete. I was able to complete the various tasks, but it took a great deal longer to go through almost 9 years of files and ditch the things no longer needed, back up the website, and backup all files. Just after 9pm on Thursday I handed back the keys for the office and a list of passwords/accounts. Also on Thursday I cycled 15 miles.

Friday brought a whole day of doing nothing! I napped twice, and was still able to get a good night's sleep. During the day I hung out one load of laundry and washed a second lot, and I made dinner. That was about the sum total of work done.

Today, I'm off to Manx Yarnies and lovely Sweet Ginger Emporium. My work colleagues have given me a leaving gift of vouchers for Sweet Ginger. There is one thing I definitely want to buy, 50cm of thick black elastic! I'm having problems with trousers being too loose and threatening to fall down. My life is happier with secure trousers. What else I'm going to buy is anybody's guess. 

Oh! I know!  A metre of yellow fabric to add to a jellyroll of blues to make a jelly roll race quilt, and some fabric to make a border for the rainbow stripe quilt I'm going to make. At some point in the future, there will be backing fabric, and batting to buy too.

Week 20: Filing System

Monday: Read Organized Home Challenge #20: Filing System

Tuesday: Declutter current home filing system

Wednesday: Continue to declutter papers in binders/file folders

Thursday: Set up home filing system (use these suggested file categories)

Friday: Create file index

Saturday: Continue organising filing system

Sunday: Declutter/shred/file paper pile

My brain doesn't have any spare space for decluttering at home just now. I', too busy trying to get everything done before I finish work on Tuesday lunchtime. However, a great deal of the paper work listed above is in the dining room, and I will be tackling that room this month. 

I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike

Yesterday saw 15 miles completed by bicycle and 1.75 miles on foot. Despite all of that cycling, the view remained the same, my bedroom. Walking gave a much more picturesque vista, Port Erin in the sunshine. It is a beautiful little village.

This morning I had time to fit in two cycling miles before work, and this brings the grand total to 1 mile swum, 54 miles cycled and 15.75 miles walked, or 50% complete! 

Eating Healthier

Since challenge to declutter recipe books, way back at the end of January, I've been trying to include healthier, tastier meals in our rotation of recipes. This has been working.  When I started taking steroids to clear my lungs I had a funny taste in my mouth. It's as if I've been eating saccharine tablets. It's a known side effect of the steroids. I have been unable to taste anything bitter or sour. It's weird having Earl Grey tea with lemon, and it tasting sweet.

The one group of foods I could taste has been vegetables. For the past month our consumption of vegetables has sky rocketed. I don't think this is a known side effect of steroids!  

With the increase in lung capacity, increase in vegetables, and increase in exercise (IronMay), this seems the perfect time to look at my diet and be more purposeful about it all.  My desire it to retain the increase in veggies, once my taste buds return to normal, and to keep up the 30 minutes of exercise a day too. (On today's shopping list of 40 items, 24 are fruit and veggies!)

I'm going to visit my GP in two weeks, and I've decided to keep a food diary during these two weeks.

Butternut Squash Pasta, mark III

We have perfected the recipe to meet our taste buds!

Ingredients

a little oil

1 medium butternut squash

200g green beans

1 heaped tsp chopped garlic

50g pine nuts

pasta (gluten-free fusilli)

4 Tsp Waitrose blue cheese dressing (or mayonnaise)

150g  Stilton cheese

handful of cherry tomatoes 

Method

Heat a saucepan of water. 

Remove the skin and seeds from the squash. Cut into cubes. Add a little oil to a frying pan and sear the squash. 

Add the pasta to the boiling water.  Whilst the pasta is cooking, top and tail the green beans, and cut into thirds. Also cut the Stilton into cubes and the cherry tomatoes into quarters. Cook the pasta according to the time on the packaging. Two minutes before the end of cooking, add the green beans. Add the pine nuts to the squash and toast. 

Drain the pasta and green beans. Add the garlic to the squash and pine nuts, and cook for two minutes.

Toss the pasta, green beans, Stilton  and squash mixture with the blue cheese dressing. Scatter the tomatoes on top, and serve.

This is delicious hot, and equally good cold.  

Next time I make this dish I shall remember to weigh out the pasta and record it!  I'll also take a photograph and add it above.

Life Continues Apace

Whilst swimming today, I started having problems with cramp in the muscles by the balls of my feet. When I got out of the pool to stretch and stuff, one of the life guards came over to check on me. He gave advice on  a better method of stretching, and asked "When did you last drink?"  

He explained many people don't realise how hard they are working whilst swimming, and they need to replenish their fluid supply. I drank about 750ml, and finished my swim. After the swim, I finished the litre.

I have always been so tired after swimming half a mile, and I'd thought it was because I had just swum half a mile. It's not! It's because I was dehydrated! Half a mile done, and I'm feeling fine and dandy, not wiped out at all. It's a revelation to me.

At work, decluttering, re-ordering and completing work continues. I'm looking forward to Tuesday afternoon when it is all over.  Getting all the work done I want to get done, before I leave is the goal. My desire is to leave it all in a state where people can pick up various aspects of the work and be able to start work. 
Oh, and the IronMay triathlon is 42% done! 

Declutter Hiatus

I have six days left at work, and my energies are going into ensuring (as much as possible) that there will be a smooth transition for the people who are picking up my duties. It's leaving me with little enthusiasm for decluttering at home. Although, yesterday I removed five items from the Clutter-haven, then dining room. Some things were simply in the wrong place, and two could be put into the rubbish bin.

Week 19: Receipts and Tax Documents

Monday: Read Organized Home Challenge #19: Receipts & Tax Documents

Done.

Tuesday: Decluter old receipts, and then organise ones left

Wednesday: Create receipt organiser for purse/wallet

Thursday: Gather old tax records into one place and file or declutter, as appropriate

Friday: Create personal tax organiser for current tax information

Saturday: Declutter/shred paper pile

Sunday: Declutter spring decorations

The only spring decorations we use are chocolate eggs and fresh flowers.The eggs somehow take care of themselves, and the flowers are disposed of when they are past their best.

Apple Coleslaw

There is a cabbage in the fridge that needs to be used up soon. This is phase one, apple coleslaw.

Ingredients

1/4 white cabbage

1/2 small onion

1 red apple

1 syboe (spring or green onion)

Dressing

2 Tsp apple cider vinegar

1/2 Tsp wholegrain mustard

1/4 tsp chopped garlic

1 tsp sugar

50ml oil

Garnish

chopped parsley

Method

Finely cut the cabbage and the onion. Grate the carrot.  Slice the syboe. Keeping the skin on the apple, cut it into a fine dice. Discard the core.

Mix all of the ingredients for the dressing, then pour over the coleslaw. Mix well. Sprinkle chopped parsley over the top.