PB and J and a Porch

I wasn't kidding when I said the porch was calling.  It just wasn't the front porch this time.  I made myself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and had lunch on the back porch - best 15 minutes of my day!  I had one small patch of patio that was not snow covered.  Even so, I would have put that chair and table right on the snow, if I had to.  It was 40°F and the sun felt so good.  It was peacefully quiet, and the birds were singing.

Warning:  It's a grab-a-cup-of-coffee kind of post. 
I know I mentioned our "no spend" week, so I'll try to update on that next post (nothing really that interesting anyway).
 

I put together a box of "happy" for Son, and it's on it's way now.  I put in his favorite (one of them) homemade strawberry jam.

 It was tea-infusing day too.

More vanilla extract in the making....

Decided to put the celery in storage this week too.  I dehydrated the leaves (organic) before they went bad.

I dehydrated some of the celery as well as....

....froze some for spring soups/stews etc. 

 And because I did not blanch these, I was sure to date the bag to use in three months.  I have plans to buy up organic celery when it's on sale, and saute some before freezing.  I heard it works well that way.  It would make my winter soup recipes a cinch.  That, and of course I won't need to go shopping in the dead of winter.


Although it's warming up here, we still have snow on the ground.

 And in some areas, it's a mush mess.  I still prefer this over a sheet of ice.

This picture makes me laugh.  She was looking up at me with curiosity, probably wondering if I have a treat for her.

I have to break my habit of putting eggs in my pocket.  I picked up one when I cleaned the coop, came inside and put my jacket away, and left it in my pocket.  Later in the evening, I remember, and thankfully it was not smooshed.  Whew!


I was looking over our chick order form, and saw they have several varieties of ducks.  I mentioned them to Hubby and he quickly said no.  He'd prefer not to have any more poo all over the property.  I agree.  For now anyway. 

I'm narrowing down our seed order.    I was able to order shell peas.  I'm thinking twice on grapes, although Hubby said "yes."  I been listening to the news and how farmer's have lost grapes due to the frigid temperatures we've gotten over winter.  I don't know.  I'm still thinking on it.

Here is the pillow I crocheted for Mom.  I had a pillow form in my crafting stash, and I simply used scrap yarn from three different projects (one being her Christmas blanket).  My rotation worked out nicely, so I hope it matched her chair nicely.

 

Another daughter got a slouchy hat.  


And that's not all.

I dug out one of my porch signs that can't stay outside over winter.  It's had it's better days.  I'm using decoupage to fix it up, and bring life to the front porch soon.  I already put the spring flower wreath up on the door.

If you got this far, Oldest Daughter's surgery went well.  Her reliable sources delivered her home safely during the wee hours of the night.  She's sleeping and resting now.  Nothing like traveling right after surgery.  Her local friends have already offered to go fetch her car.  Those are some seriously nice friends.  There is much to be thankful for in this case.