2010 - the year of living thriftily

The very last day of 2009 - and Mr Fig's 41st Birthday!

(He has just informed me he would rather be known as Mr Juicy...)

It has been another strange old year, but it has all ended quite well and left me feeling quite positive about the next 12 months.

One thing I am very possitive about is how much more thrifty I am going to have to be - money has never been so tight as it is now, and with the Figlett hopefully setting of for University in September, I am going to have to do some serious figure crunching!

My intention is to blog my thriftyness as well as my craftiness (hand in hand really!) but as with all resolutions we will just have to see how long it lasts.

Today I am going to be visiting Martin Lewis's web site and doing what I have put off for too long now - the financial breakdown, and I can tell you now the outgoings will be higher than the incomings.

Anyway - to anyone reading have a HAPPY NEW YEAR - and for Mr Juicy - HAPPY BIRTHDAY xxx

The goose is getting fat!

well, perhaps the goose is getting fat, but I don't think I will be getting the goose! As much as I would love to try Goose and feel it is a much more traditional dish to England than Turkey 1. I can't get my mother to get one for Christmas - she is terrified it will ruin the day! and 2. I can't afford to get one to try myself!

I have failed to photograph life for a while now - even for my photography class!

this is the time of year to make cosy fires though, wrap up warm in blankets and knitted socks, and keep busy with knitting and hand sewing.

here is a Poem I first read in Country Living magazine about 15 years ago, and immediately copied it down for reference ever since - although most fires we light seam to fill the house with smoke and require all the windows and doors open, and a liberal application of optrex to ones eyes!

Wisdom of the ages
Author: Cilia Congrave 1930

Beechwood fires are bright and clear If the logs are kept a year,

Chestnut's only good they say,If for logs 'tis laid away.

Make a fire of Elder tree,Death within your house will be;

But ash new or ash old,Is fit for a queen with crown of gold.

Birch and fir logs burn too fast Blaze up bright and do not last,

it is by the Irish said Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread.

Elm wood burns like churchyard mould,E'en the very flames are cold

But Ash green or Ash brown Is fit for a queen with golden crown.

Poplar gives a bitter smoke,Fills your eyes and makes you choke,

Apple wood will scent your room Pear wood smells like flowers in bloom

Oaken logs, if dry and old keep away the winter's cold

But Ash wet or Ash dry a king shall warm his slippers by.

Merry Christmas!