September Round Up

September has been a busy month for me, both in the home and out of it.  I had hoped to blog once a week, but it was not to be.  I wrote them in my head but fingers never got to the keyboard, lol.  So, it will be a rather long post.

Budget

I had a small budget for food this month as I wanted to live off my stores and save money for a new Tv.  I had allocated $100 for the month, which is normally a week’s expenditure.

 I succeeded big time and only spent $70!  I was only buying fresh produce and some other perishables.  I still have plenty of food on hand and will continue the “shelftember” into October.  I suspect I might last only 3 more weeks on my stores, we will see.

To celebrate my success, I decided not to add the $30 to my savings but to treat myself to plants for the garden.  So I trotted off to the market this morning very early, it was the start of daylight saving, so we lost an hour. I bought some more vegies but that will come off the October budget.

Garden

I also bought 2 punnets of strawberry plants to plant out, an early variety and a late variety. Some garlic that was ready to plant. Parsley and rocket seedlings, and a sage bush.  I also bought two native shrubs a kowhai and an ake ake. I will buy two more next week as I was unable to fit them on the scooter.  I am also on the lookout for a curry leaf tree.

The garden is starting to look how it use to a couple of years ago, I have had help from a good friend, she has been working like a trojan on it, I am very blessed to have her for a friend.  The garden is a sign to me that my health has improved as this time last year I was too sick to bother with it and I let it go.  Today after planting out the strawberries I even managed to mow the lawns both back and front. Mind you I had a rest in between and had to have a granny nap when I finished!

Crafts

I am afraid my knitting and crochet has taken a back seat this month and nothing was accomplished.

Health

My health as mentioned above has come on in leaps and bounds and I was discharged from speech therapy last Wednesday, I still have problems swallowing but it is getting better daily. I had an appointment with the Ear, Nose and Throat consultant last week and all is well (although I have to say I did not like the camera thingy going up my nose, very unpleasant!).  He ordered a hearing test and as I suspected my hearing is atrocious, he said I had the hearing of a 90-year-old!  I have always have had hearing issues.   I think I lip read a lot.  

 

My RA has been behaving itself as long as I pace myself.  I am a lot better at that these days.

Diet

I am very pleased with my weight this month as I have lost 4 kg!  A long way to go, but if I can keep this up I will be so happy.  I am finding that eating a vegan diet has improved my digestive system heaps, no more wind and reflux. I think animal fats don’t agree with me.  I am positive our digestive systems get weaker as we age, because I can’t tolerate half the foods that I ate when younger.

I m also enjoying cooking vegan food and have found wonderful resources on the internet and Instagram.

Some of my September meals

mushroom and asparagus stir fry with Moroccan couscous

Beet Burgers, and salad

Black Bean Tortillas and Mango salad

So that wraps up September for me.

I am looking forward to more progress in October and hopefully I will get to do some crochet and maybe even some art.

Hopefully, I will post before the end of October, I intend to, we will see!!!!