Yesterday I went looking for a new battery for my camera. The old one just died, after six years of service. I was horrified to learn that the price of a new battery would be $79.00! The salesman and I agreed that the camera company probably do this to make people consider upgrading their camera for say, just $100 more, instead of replacing the battery....so I went searching online and have ordered the exact one that I need for a cost of $22 - postage included, from a company in New Zealand.
An elderly relative of ours - who shall remain nameless - commented a while back, after buying some new socks quite cheaply - "who darns socks these days anyway". After a moments silence I said..."Well me actually".
I can't see the point of throwing away something that can be repaired. So today, while I watched Dickinson's Real Deal on TV, I darned two pairs of socks, with wool I bought yesterday from Spotlight.
I wasn't able to get "darning wool" (it seems not many people darn socks these days), so for 60 cents I purchased two mini skeins of embroidery wool which will last through about thirty socks at least.
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| Nifty eh |
If you haven't darned a sock before, this youtube clip uses the same method as me - which of course I learned from my mother.
Smart Slice
For ages I have been looking for a recipe that is healthy and turns out like a muesli bar. This recipe is one that I have adapted (by swapping 1 cup of dried fruit out for 1 cup of sunflower seeds, owing to making them for people who don't like dried fruit), from a recipe by Sophie Gray - The Destitute Gourmet.
Melt together
1/2 Tablespoon of golden syrup
41/2 tablespoons of butter (or Bob Each Way spread, mix of butter/olive oil)
1/3 cup of castor sugar
Add
5 weetbix, crumbled
1 1/2 cups of self-raising flour
1 1/2 cups of coconut
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 egg
1 cup sunflower seeds (or dried fruit)
1/2 cup chopped nuts
zest of 1 lemon
1/3 cup of boiling water
Press into a lined baking tray.
Bake at 180c for 30 minutes
Ice when cold with 1/2 cup of icing sugar, with juice of 1 lemon to make an icing that you can drizzle over the slice.
The world needs more people like this...
xx
Well, I have to say that I have darned a sock, actually those of my dad, my brothers, and mine, but I'm sorry to say that I'll be the first one to now go to Wal Mart and pick up a new package of socks. It definitely wasn't my favorite thing to do. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteHi Linda, I guess with darning being a choice rather than a chore makes a difference. Thanks for your comment!
DeleteUsually my socks wear so thin on the bottom there is nothing to darn new yarn onto! I don't mind doing it and do darn my heavier wool socks. I inherited my grandma's darning knobby thing you stick into the sock.
ReplyDeleteLucky you were able to find a cheaper battery. That seems a ridiculously expensive price from the company.
You just reminded me that I inherited my grandmother's darning egg too! I must start using it.
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