Notes From The Frugal Trenches - A Downshifting Journey

Lazy Man/Poor Man Cabbage Rolls

Frugal Trenches — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:00:03 +0000

This is a great, frugal family meal after a long day, especially when the evenings cool down!

Ingredients

1/2 medium cabbage
Meat layer: 1 1/4 lb ground beef, 1/4 c grated onion, 1 egg beaten, 1/2 c uncooked rice, 1 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1/3 cup water
Sauce layer: 32 oz tomato juice, 4 tsp lemon juice, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1 garlic clove

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 325, shred cabbage coarsely and place 1/2 in the bottom of a casserole dish (2 1/2 – 3 qt size). Mix meat layer in a separate bowl until well mixed, then spread over cabbage layer. Cover with the remaining cabbage on top. Combine sauce ingredients in pan and simmer for 15-20 min. Pour over cabbage. Cover tightly and cook in oven for 2.5 – 3 hours. Freezes very well! (Just sayin’ )

I’ve found this a great recipe for a Saturday or Sunday evening at home. Generally I’ve served with a spinach, cheese (mostly feta) & pear salad or a light garden salad with lettuce, cucumbers, grated cheese, carrots & purple cabbage!

New Feature – My Simple Life

Frugal Trenches — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:00:17 +0000

I’d like to begin a weekly segment here, where people around the world contribute a photo (or even a few!) with a few paragraphs on what their version of a simple life is! You could do it in the style of a day in your life, or just share what your rhythm is and a bit about your life/style/approach. I’ll probably also ask you a couple of questions to help explain your journey to readers. I’m happy to link to your blog or you can do it even if you don’t have a blog! Whatever it is that your simple life is, is welcome – there is certainly no one size fits all philosophy or style! If you’d be interested in being featured then please email me at frugaltrenches @ yahoo . com (removing the spaces!).

Finally – my new post is up at the co-op!

Question & Answer Wednesday

Frugal Trenches — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:00:33 +0000

“Do you miss England???”

Yes, I really do. I grew up here, but also spent a few years of my childhood in the UK. Both are “home” but for very different reasons. I’m much much much closer to my Canadian friends (most of them are about 2 -3 hours from where I am now), I find them so warm, embracing, easy to get along with, happy-go-lucky and they just “fit”. I love that there are so many opportunities here, I love my CBC radio (you knew I was going to mention that right?) and I never feel oppressed when I’m in Canada – I’m not sure if that’s the lack of overt class system compared to the UK, but there is a freedom I’m so thankful for when I’m here, a belief you can achieve the impossible. But (you knew there would be a but!) geographically where “my people” are in Canada, there is no seaside, no rolling countryside or mountains for hiking and I’m a real outdoors person. I miss the wild ponies on Dartmoor, the walks by the sea to end the day, I miss the rain (oh how I loooove rain!), my mum, hearing my aunt’s voice on the other end of the phone, my wonderful art deco fair trade cafe, the donkeys & goats and of course Mr Martin, Mr Darcy & Countryfile.

There was one day this week when I was walking and I said to myself “I miss home” and instead of allowing myself to feel guilt for feeling a tad homesick and forcing myself to suppress it, or just as unhealthy wallow completely in it (aka why do I have to choose?!), I then said out loud “so miss it”. And I did. I missed Edinburgh and Oxford and London and Dartmoor. I listed all the things I would do if I was there right now. And after each one I said out loud “so miss it” quite loudly! And, well, I just felt better. Supression of emotions is never a good thing, never-ending whining is never a good thing, I strive for balance each day; where there is balance, there is light!

“Where we love is home, home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.” Oliver Wendell Holmes

Thanks!

Frugal Trenches — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:44:36 +0000

Thanks for all the lovely well wishes, support and advice on the post about my interview! Today I found out at 9:45 am it was moved to 10:30 am (instead of this afternoon!), let’s just say it was a mad dash AND I didn’t finish the interview until 12:15!!!!

They’ve been recruiting & interviewing since April 2010- 5 full months…apparently they can’t find someone with all the experience and qualities they want…

Anyways, who knows, I’m just glad it’s over and I’ll keep on trucking and be thankful for the experience!:0)

Thanks again for the comments & emails!

September Goals

Frugal Trenches — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 08:00:54 +0000

For the month of September I am focusing on gaining momentum! I might or might not have a job and could even be working by the end of it, but momentum works for both being unemployed or being employed (and yes I hope it is the latter!)

My goals are:

Attend three interviews, if needed
Apply for 40 jobs, if needed
Get a job
Renew my Passport
Swim 20x
Run 20x
Renew my driver’s license
Visit my Godmother
Do Pilates video 10x
Begin self-taught yoga (with free book from my gym!)
Read Jeremiah & a Psalm each day
Paperwork…
If I get a job, find a place to live
If I get a job and know what city I will be in, find a sewing class & a book group

What are your goals for September? What focus will your month have?

My weakness’….

Frugal Trenches — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:43:36 +0000

I have a lot of weaknesses! Seriously, they are nigh on impossible to count, they are that vast and wide! I’ve been reflecting today on why I feel so overwhelmed at the moment, part of it is being in a new country, having no car (although this is great 90% of the time, but today when it was over 100 and I was stuck 2 hours walk away from “home” with no bus, it was a tad tough!), not having my own place, needing a job, applying for jobs 24/7, trying to exercise and restore the equilibrium I lost, being separated from my family, no time in the countryside, the horrendous weather with no air conditioning (it was 124 inside today…), but the truth is none of those would be the real reason I’m overwhelmed. I’m overwhelmed because I often think, when it comes to hard things that I can’t do it. Take care of dying children, live in a tiny room in a city with no other westerners, be a street “angel” with the homeless all through the night handing out food, water, slippers etc, foster/adopt, be a hospital visitor and hold the hands of those dying alone - any of those I don’t view as hard, to me love just gets you through, it motivates you to keep going so you do, there is no other option but to just love. But when it comes to jobs, feeling qualified and thinking you are the “right person” well that, I 100% struggle with. The truth is I do not feel qualified, strong enough, knowledgeable enough, good enough to do any of them. Tonight as I’m prepping for my interview tomorrow, I read some of the “essential criteria”; I don’t meet many of the more specific criteria listed, so I have no clue why they decided to interview me, especially because theses are not the type of requirements you could just study for a few days and know, they require experience, teaching and time. Sure I have many of the other skills, I’ve managed change, written policies, facilitated training, lead in governance but could I tell you the particular policy for registration, no! Do I have the skills to hit the ground running, educate myself and lead effectively. Probably. Maybe.

Many friends have told me when they are job searching, they feel like they are the best candidate on the planet, that they have so much to offer, that the employer would be a “fool” not to hire them; they admit they go in to the interview certain they are the best even if they don’t have many of the skills/experiences required. I am 100% the opposite, tonight I’m thinking maybe someone else needs the job more than I do (and let me be clear I do need a job, as in yesterday). I think that maybe probably someone else would do a better job and so it should go to them. If I meet 90% of the criteria, I focus on the 10% I don’t know/have and hope they can find someone who meets it all. I guess in the end, I’m always rooting for the other guy, worried their needs may be greater than mine and asking God to look out for them too. If I see anyone else coming out of the interview or waiting to go in, I usually pray for them, asking the Lord to help them interview well and get the job if they need it most or comfort them if they are disappointed!

Is it a weakness or a strength? The truth is, I’m not so sure….I wish I had more confidence in my abilities, but I’d also hate to stop thinking of the other people.

So to the other 10 or so people being interviewed between Wednesday and Friday, prayers go out for you that you have a great interview and the job goes to the person who needs it most right now. And if any of those 10 people would pray I would gain a bit of confidence, I’d be very thankful indeed

Simple Woman’s Daybook

Frugal Trenches — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:00:22 +0000

FOR TODAY…

Outside my window…I feel hope palpitating in the breeze.

I am thinking…about how beautiful it feels to close your eyes and let the breeze hit your face, for however long you feel the peace and block everything else out, you get a taste of your inner beauty.

I am thankful for…living, laughing, loving.

From the kitchen…breakfasts which start the day off on the right foot!

I am wearing…a summery dress!

I am creating…a life filled with joy, where deepest dreams, prayed for blessings and faith are the strong anchor which allow for a new path, a different path, a path that needs a lot of clearing!

I am going… to visit my Godmother at her cottage on a lake (& I hope to see the loons each morning!)

I am reading…the Bible, The Stone Carvers and a Vegan cookbook!

I am hoping…for character which is thankful during trials and a life where I live what is good & honorable, accepting the hardships with joy.

I am hearing…the sound of waves in the distance. The sea will never leave me…

Around the house…anticipation.

A few plans for the rest of the week: job interview, visiting my Godmother, swimming in a cold lake, taking her boat out around the islands and feeling the breeze on my face which reminds me I’m alive!

Find more of The Simple Woman’s Daybook

Greatful, Thankful, Blessed

Frugal Trenches — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 06:00:39 +0000

So much to be thankful for this week…

A job interview tomorrow
An awesome free book on yoga for beginners, free from my gym! I can not tell you the last time I bought any “stuff” – seriously it just doesn’t seem to exist in my life anymore! I feel like I’m living a rich life (in the true sense of the word!) on exactly 0.00! No going back…!
The news that one of the babies I cared for is now eating solids! Woo Hoo!! If you knew how hard it is for her to eat, you would probably call this a miracle!
A lovely chat yesterday with social worker of the children I fostered; she was incredibly kind, told me I was the best foster parent they’ve ever had (which I’m sure really isn’t true and she was just being kind) and we had a great catch up and talked about how the children are progressing!
A beautiful evening watching very independent, bohemian, filled with hidden social issues and very British films, both free from the library! Like I said, who needs to spend money…
A lovely, heart warming, sweet nectar of life walk - where I met a cat named Mowgali (who was on a walk, in a park, with her owner!!), two awesome labradors who happily played tag, two squirrels who posed for pictures and the cutest baby boy from China, whose face was seriously delicious!! When I told him how adorably edible he was, he just giggled and laughed, which made both his parents and I laugh uncontrollably. There we were, strangers, laughing together – another sweet nectar of life moment
The quote “to me a week is a year, every moment is a blessing”
My mum, who celebrated a Birthday this week!
Clean drinking water and food- a blessing I take for granted and forget millions of people die from lack of access to!
The fact each day I can hear myself slipping into more “Canadian” style speech, expressions like awesome and super duper. I kind of find it funny the fact people are so chipper and am not yet used to people saying to me “you have a wonderful day”.

What are you thankful for this week my sweet bloggy friends?

Ten Reasons To Eat Organic Dairy & Meat

Frugal Trenches — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:00:01 +0000

Firstly last night 240 organic peaches were delivered to the house, not for me, but I do know what they cost. In the UK, at the cheapest rate I’ve ever seen them they would work out to about £70 ($110). Guess how much they cost here?

I thought this article entitled Top Ten Eco-Friendly Reasons to Buy Organic Meat & Dairy was particularly good.

Generally I try to buy organic dairy & meat (when I eat it), plus organic strawberries and any nut products (including peanut butter) based on another article I read!

Do you buy organic? What do you prioritize?

Must Get Things Done Monday

Frugal Trenches — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 06:00:05 +0000

AKA Manic Monday!

Swimming
Gym
Bible Study
Prayer Time
Interview Prep & research
Make some scones
A friend over for tea & scones
Figure out what to wear to the interview
Driver’s Licence Office
Print info on renewing passport
Apply for job A
Apply for job B
Apply for job C
Apply for job D
Confirm interview time with HR
Make my lentil & cauliflower curry!
Write post for the co-op!
Go for a walk
Laundry
Paperwork
Re-pack suitcases to get my things more organized!

What do you have to do today?