Lock-down Day 478

Late morning - it's cold! I dashed into the wardrobe and grabbed my warmest jersey! Mippies don't seem to care, they want out ... I let them.

Apparently they do care, because a few minutes later they were all back inside wanting cuddles!

First thing I did this morning, was to write a thank you mail to my aunt! Really, I'm quite overwhelmed!

Then I wrote yesterday's post - and just realised I got the day wrong, again. So, unpublished, corrected, re-published. What I left out was that, when I got home, I continued working that last partition. It was overcast yesterday, so it got dark rather early. Still, I made good progress, considering that the portion I cleared yesterday was a tricky one. It wasn't simply grass, but a mat of thorns. I worked with gloves, picking up patches of thorn mats, where I could. I tried raking them - but, predictably, that didn't work.

Anyway, I'm almost finished with the entire partition, now. One - at most two - more Friday afternoons should do it.

Of course I've spent the whole of yesterday thinking about what I should do with that magnificent windfall! Well, I have already decided that I will buy a freezer! That will allow me to reduce the cost of groceries quite substantially! Because I will be able to buy ONLY special deals!

Most places have specials every month, but not every month on the same items, of course. And, although I already buy mostly ONLY special deals, I often have to 'compromise'. Buy alternatives, not what I really want. And at present, I have about 2 months worth of storage space in my 2 1/2 freezer drawers. Since I've added frozen fruit to my 'hoard', though - it's down to about 1 month.

I used to have an upright freezer, which was absolutely awesome! I could cook anything I felt like at any time! What blissful freedom! Nowadays my cooking revolves around 'what needs to be eaten, to make space'. And I buy food because it's on special, even though it's not an 'everyday' meal. Like marrow bones. Only 1 packet, but that's really way too much for me! I used 1/3rd and packed the rest in the freezer. Only ... when will I use them, now? They take up a lot of space ... but really don't go with everything, right?

Plus, I could prepare loads of cookies, freeze them and just take them out to bake anytime I like! And then, in summer, there's the ice cream! I could make my own ice cream again! Or fruit ice! And not have to 'eat it up for the space'! Fruit, too! I could buy plenty of fruit when it's in season and cheap, freeze it for milk shakes anytime!

See how a simple freezer would open up a whole world of exciting opportunities?

So, what's holding me back, now? Eish, that would be Eskom! All it would take is a 24-hour power outage and the entire contents of such a freezer ... poof! Or rather: pong! It's rare, but it has happened ... last time, I ended up eating rancid butter for months!

Well, I definitely won't be rushing! I'm going to take some time to research and evaluate my options, he he he - something I quite enjoy!

Okay, time to change the subject, right?

Last night, I decided to see what would happen, if I took the lid off the fancy litter box - you know, the really big one, with the enclosure, the flap and the filter ... which only Ziva used once or twice, just to make me happy? Well, without the top, they use it! Right, so now I have 4 litter boxes to clean, daily! Not that it's more work, actually - well, you reckon they'd go fill their tummies just so they can produce more ... crap for me to clean? Nah! Just means I sift through 4 trays instead of 3. Same load!

Apart from writing, what have I done today? Well, the laundry, of course. And the tenderised steak is marinating. I have a plan for the Sauerkraut & Eisbein, I should still make the pie dough today, though.

I've decided to make the Eisbein, instead.

The past couple of weekends I've not done much on Saturdays, and I've been feeling somewhat guilty about that - I could have made so much progress in the garden! But really, WHY should I be feeling guilty? It's quite silly, really. It's an adult child characteristic, though - feeling guilty whenever we're not being productive! Truth be told, with what I'm facing at work these days, taking a day off is clearly exactly what I need to keep me going.

Speaking of which, I've been struggling with fever blisters again these past two weeks now. I thought it was over last weekend, but now I've got a new patch again. My temperature hasn't been high - rather, it's been low! We're getting our temperature taken every morning at work, and Thursday morning, I was below 36 Celsius. I've been taking Airmune - which always help keep them in check, but I seem to need an overdose ... which I no longer have. Better get some more as soon as possible.

Hmm ... on a whim, I checked online, and it's on special ... 

I'm getting a little carried away shopping again! Treating myself to a few little items ... which, of course, keep adding up, ha ha! Just a couple of fun treats, like ... don't laugh: a toilet light! Not expensive, but really ... can you imagine? Apparently it also detects motion, turns on when you enter the bathroom and lights up the bowl! In a variety of colours! Sounds like fun, doesn't it? Well, everything in the basket is currently on special - some as much as 50% off!

Bit of a fracas outside. Smeagol wants to fetch me, because he wants attention - and Mewthos won't let him pass. I get out, keep them from fighting, lead Smeagol to our lovies corner and give him the attention he craves.

Of course, all mips are now huddled inside - afraid to go out. It's half six anyway, so ... time to lock up and treat mippies!

The Eisbein and the Sauerkraut are a great success! I've just had three bowls full and really enjoyed it! I'll definitely do that again - though not too soon!

Okay, I've had a little fun spending spree - nothing useless, though! I've enjoyed a nice hot bath, now I've got Mini on my lap! She'd much rather be in my lap, under the duvet, getting her ears scratched and her tummy tickled ... so ... time to move and oblige her!