On a roll....

I started to clean yet another cupboard out, and realized I needed more shelf liner.  I went to the "big city" to get more at Wal-mart, and I'm glad I did.  There was only two rolls left of the color I already bought.

I also thought I better pick up a smaller paint brush to finish the kitchen, and there was only one of those left too.  Crazy!  

While walking down the kitchen bake/cookware aisles (can't remember if I was just window shopping or looking for something ha ha!), my eye caught something.  I'll get a photo for you soon.  It's my new obsession, and an item that I can display in some of my cubbies (and useable).

Back home I got more drawers and a cupboard newly lined with shelf paper, expired medicinal items tossed (left by Daughter K), and yet again filled another box for donation.  Now that we don't have the round, smaller kitchen table, I have no use for the tablecloths for that table.

I'll have the kids look at them first, but plan to donate the smaller or round tablecloths.  I have many more shelves to line, and then it's time to purge baking items.  I have two pans for mini-muffins that I know I will pass on or donate.  I used to bake candy filled cookies in those pans, and haven't used them in years.

It sure feels good to get things back in order.  Not to mention back to cooking again.  I'm going to get my husband on board to start looking at front room flooring.  However, I think we'll need to start pulling carpet up to see what type of flooring we'll have to be buying.  We may have to go with the glue down type again, or go with carpet.

I called our green house yesterday, because some of my vegetable plants didn't survive my trip away, despite Daughter K watering them.  They won't even be opening for another week, which is odd.  They are typically open in March.

I have a long weekend to-do list.  May your weekend be blessed with goodness.

Happy Homemaker Monday

 I hope your Easter was a nice day with friends and family, or just a nice weekend.   I was whisked away last minute, by my husband.  We went to our favorite Amish area almost 3 hours away.  I wasn't really looking for anything while we perused the antique stores, but I found a chicken cookie jar for $8.00!  What a find.  I have that wrapped up safe until the half bath and living room work is done.  I will share a photo when it's out of it's packaging.

I'm glad we did.  We were recharged, and arriving home on Easter Sunday, we got right back to work and hooked the kitchen heater back up, cleaned more floor glue (urgh) off the floor, moved the hutch, kitchen table and most of the chairs back into the kitchen.

My husband pre-ordered a take out meal (smart thinking), and we went to pick that up.  Daughter E was the only kiddo that could come over and we met her new boyfriend (very nice kid, has a nice truck and works and went to the same school with her).

While chatting out in the driveway, I mentioned the truck bed cover that has been sitting there for 2 years.  I talked my husband into giving it to daughter's boyfriend.  Wha-la!  One more thing out of the house we are not using.

They left, and we went into the "big city" to pick up supplies to change the oil in the truck, see if the feed store was open (was closed), and to pick up supplies at Home Depot.

It will be a real treat to cook in my own kitchen again, but we are considering sanding down and staining our table, and painting parts of it, and the chairs white.  We actually got information for a guy in the Amish area that does it, but I'm sure the cost will be high going that route.  We were very impressed with his work however.

Today I am back to joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.  I guess now you could call me a Homemaker.

The Weather . . .

Snow!  Can you believe that?  1 inch or less, and then they are predicting 82°F next Sunday.  Crazy!

As I look out my window . . .

Spring flowers are blooming, birds are singing despite snow in the forecast.

Right now I am . . .

Getting ready to make a breakfast casserole.

Thinking and pondering . . .

I have a few boxes to donate yet, but thankful that Daughter E took those two orange/brown afghans.  I have much to do, but it's a bit too chilly yet to do any painting, so I haven't gotten a plan for the day/week yet.  We will start tearing out living room carpet this week (after I figure a way to get the treadmill moved upstairs).

-I need to get to town to get paint swatches for the living room 

-considering painting the kitchen hutch as well as the table

-considering adding valances to living room windows after the floor issues are repaired and re-floored

-emptying the pie safe to downsize/purge and selling the pie safe

How I am feeling . . .

Rejuvenated from a weekend away from our "hot mess."  I'm also happy that Daughter K will be here again to load up more of her stuff.  She still has boxes in my living room.  We are happy to also have someone willing to help gut the bathroom, but he will be having a hernia surgery later this week, so it may be me doing it, or delayed (or finding other help).

On the breakfast plate . . .

I need to make a casserole.

On my reading pile . . .

I actually got some of this read on the drive to our weekend getaway.

On my TV this week . . .

CSI

On the menu . . .

-leftovers

-roast, and veggies

-lasagna stuffed chicken (new recipe to try)

On the to do list . . .

-purge cookbooks

-laundry

-purge cake decorating books/supplies

-clean out pie safe

-clean TV armoire and put it up for sale

-purge tablecloths

Looking around the house . . .

It's still a hot mess, but the kitchen is looking much better, as we put it back together.

From the camera . . .

Had to take a photo of this and chuckle!  My husband said we need to do this at our house ha ha!  Feed the chickens via a vending machine for a quarter!.  Cute set up for the chickens at a handmade leather goods store.

After so many trips to Amish country, we finally toured the Victorian home in one town.

Prayers . . .

Us - to find someone reasonable to do the most difficult joist/sub floor/under layment work for the living room.  It's still in the works.

Snail Mail ~ Kitchen Updates and Jibber Jabber

 

I kept flowers from Mom's funeral (casket flowers), and dried them.  I sent the petals to an Etsy seller and had these made.  I also got a necklace for the two younger girls.  I am so pleased on how they turned out.  I'm so glad I did it too.  

I ordered myself a bracelet from another store, that I absolutely fell in love with, and wanted to wear it in memory of Mom.  It popped up on social media one day, and it's from a store in FL, where they hold bike week, so I figured the sale would be legit.

This is what they shipped me.  Ugly to me.  Not what I ordered.  I sent emails back and forth, and they told me it was one of a kind, and already sold, but yet it was on their site and he description clearly stated what I ordered.  

On a good note, and I won't believe until I receive it, they are having the person make another one and shipping it directly to me.  It is handmade.  I'm waiting on a shipping label to return this one.

Although I nearly broke my back, I got all the vinyl flooring glue off, but two places.  I'll work on that later today, or pick up a different remover.

We still need to screw in the desk supports, install the kitchen heater back in (painting is done there), and move the hutch and table/chairs back to the kitchen.  

Daughter K finally made a trip home to pack up another load.  However, she left an entire box of things from Mom's house she didn't want (or didn't have room for), and a few very old afghans for me to deal with (photos on another day when I can unbury them from the living room.

I did however save this for me. It's for grating garlic or ginger.  I grate a lot of both.  I will most likely only use it for ginger though.  I have a mincer for my garlic.

In the meantime, I am purging my pie safe.  Due to limited space in my kitchen cabinets, I was using a pie safe to store my mixer, food processer, jam maker, platter plates etc. 

I have two boxes of stuff already boxed up to donate somewhere (nothing that was of my Mom's).  I'm giving a food processer to my best friend (I had two), and some books.

The pie safe will be sold. and if not, we'll look into an antique store and remove it completely from the living room.  

Kitchen Havoc

The Good:  The kitchen flooring is in.

The Bad:  We have to take several pieces back out and replace due them leaving debris under them and flooring with bumps.  They didn't sweep good enough and then put a fan on it.  We have a 2 year warranty with these guys, but my husband wants to do it himself and be done with it.

Oh, after they moved the fridge back, they made a mark in the new flooring all the way across.  They had to replace about 15 pieces due to something under the fridge wheel.  This was before we noticed the debris under several after they replaced those.  

They didn't put any of the trim back in, nor the supports under my counter top that is the desk. We'll be doing that after I paint today and my husband installs the kitchen heater. 

We had to remove the heater prior to all of this, due to the fact the first people we hired for the joist/seal plate/sub floor repair.  They didn't put any sub floor or under layment under the heater.  They left an open gap.  

It's been one big headache.

I allowed them to use my canopy to cut wood outside.  First people we hired cut the wood inside, so all my cupboards have to be cleaned on the inside and out.

They left the canopy bag outside in the rain, then snow, then rain again, and my husband discovered it.  It's covered with sawdust, so guess who is cleaning that today?

We sold one kitchen table to a family member, but she had some sort of excuse, so we decided to give it to another family member who just got an apartment, but it's still on our front porch.

We decided to downside the kitchen furniture, hence selling one of them.  We had 2 tables in there due to our large family.  We plan to put an island in it's place down the road.

I tell ya' locating stuff for the bathroom we are gutting, has been a bit rough.  We have been all over to locate a vanity, which was in stock, but sold out while the flooring was going in.  It's a half bath, so we needed a smaller vanity.  The shower is going in the trash/metal to a scrapper.  They put in the cheapest one they could find prior to us moving here.

I downsized that bathroom too, and will remove the wall cabinet and only have the vanity for extra toilet paper.  No kids, hence no extra storage.  I located the vanity/sink, and a new light fixture however.

We have lots to do.  Today my only goal is to paint where the heater goes, so it's dry prior to my husband getting off work.  He'll install it.  Then we can move my hutch and table back into the kitchen. 

I have all my kitchen curtains down to wash as well.  Thanks to the first people we hired, they are covered in sawdust.  My to-do list is long - clean windows, wash curtains, laundry, sweep and mop kitchen floor, wipe all counters, paint, pay bills now that I can get into my living room to the computer, and so much more.

On a good note, while the kitchen flooring went in, I have cleaned almost all of the master bath floor grout.  I have to move tile and grout bags to finish one last corner, and rugs go back down.  We have located a person to repair the shower tile floor, but it's on the back burner for now.  Next up is the living room, and half bath.  Both need done badly.  Just say a prayer, the joist issue under the living room is not as bad as the kitchen was.  I'm voting for new carpet, but he's wanting the glue down vinyl we used in the kitchen.  Not sure what we'll do until we know how bad the living room is.

Brewing Coffee in the Bedroom and other "I can't make this stuff up" moments

 

Cleaned grout

before cleaning grout

While the men's worked on the kitchen flooring, I worked on the master bath tile grout.  In the past I have used homemade grout cleaner and was pleased with it.  A friend hosted a Norwex party and I purchased the paste they sell.  Oh my goodness.  It made the grout bright white (septic safe too). It may be hard to see in the photo, but oh my goodness I am so delighted with the clean grout.  I have much more to clean today (it's a larger bathroom than you think).

\

I had to climb thru this to get to the computer this morning.  It's the entry way from kitchen to living room, where the "office" is temporality set up.

I got a text at 4:42am.  It was my sister.  I was somewhat in a state of worry, because my husband had already left for work.  He didn't tell me he had to leave that early, and the coffee pot is set up in the bedroom. I always pack his breakfast, lunch and coffee.

Oh, and the kitchen is half painted, because a cabinet unit was sitting there and was moved. Now my husband doesn't like the yellow.....sigh.....

Another old house surprise.  They men's knocked out cement that was used in the kitchen entry from the hallway (this is where the old house back door used to be before the addition).

They found roof shingles under it!  They have now put down self-leveling cement.  Next up is the under layment and then new flooring.  I have to say, the boys working with him remind me of my daughter's deceased boyfriend.  They are hard working, seem to want to be always busy and know what they are doing.  I'm impressed so far.

Moving along. . .

After firing our last hired help, we had another person come to the house last night and gave us an estimate that was a lot better than the last, and hired him and his boys.  He also installs carpet and his prices are much better, in case we decide to go with carpet in the living room.

My husband....sheesh.  He is already talking about doing more work, he's that excited to get things repaired and looking spanking new again. 

I have a lot of work cut out for me today, including some kitchen painting that the last person did not do.  I also have another person who does good painting work and doesn't charge an arm and a leg lined up.  We also have a few family and friends that can come over and help re-install the counter top and cupboards.

My only problem is finding places in the house to move more stuff out of the kitchen.  I have no more room in the living room ha ha!  

Today, thankfully it's an all-in-one crock pot dinner. Once I have that done, it's a get-er-done day for me.  Rain is on the way, so it will be good to be busy indoors today.

About to lose my marbles!

 

The good:  I got rid of my "popcorn" ceiling which was half of the kitchen.

The bad:  Now I have to paint it.  Paint is already purchased.

The good:  Today, three new joists go in and sub floor.  Say a prayer this happens today.

The bad:  In the process of replacing the seal plates, the vibration knocked old insulation out and into a pile to clean up today.  Back when we bought the house, they had a trash compacter.  They knocked out a section of plaster wall to install the electrical line to run the compacter (we ripped the compacter out years ago when it stopped working - bags to use it were expensive anyway, and trash charged us more for pick up).  It's in that area that the insulation all came out.  Guess who has to now remove upper cabinets, remove paneling (from previous owner we painted), then knock plaster out and install insulation, then re-panel the walls or dry wall it?  

I'm about to lose my mind!  My stove is now in front of the dishwasher, so I can't use either, nor even my microwave, and have been left to use the air fryer.  My front porch is buried in old flooring preventing the use of the grill too.  I'm going nuts not being able to cook/bake.

I'm not sure what breakfast will be today either.  My husband joked he bought pop-tarts.  Yeah, no.  I want eggs, meat and whatever and it's clawing at my inner brain right now.  I am hoping the restaurant in our town is open. They have the next best biscuits and gravy to my homemade version.

I guess I'll be putting on muck boots and gloves and taking old flooring to the burn pile.  One garden cart at a time.

One person helping our hired help was to paint my ceiling, but not sure that person will be returning.  Ugh. Hence, it's now possibly my job.

The hired help was to be here at 9am yesterday, and didn't show up until 11am.  The frustrations just keep piling up and up.  

Kitchen Repair Progress

 

Floor is cut out and was covered for the night, but it begins again today.  More cutting.  I lose the use of my stove today, but hopefully, the work is finished tonight or by Sunday.  

Notice the paint?  That is where the counter top was for use of a desk.  Daughter S painted primer over the ugly peachy color, and only painted the yellow over the rest of the kitchen.  Now is the time to paint the entire wall.  I just have to wait for the floor to be done.

The kitchen in that area is almost 14 feet wide.  It looks small in the photo.  Oh my you should see what the did when they either built this part of the house or the last homeowner (shame on the bank when the sold us this house).

They used a random stack of rocks in the center of the kitchen.  The floor appears to be the existing original floor with no cut lines, so we believe it was when they built the house.  Hence, we have much more work to do today.

On top of all this, Daughter K is here with her dogs, to go to an event in the "big city" today.  I have dog duty (one at a time due to construction in the kitchen) today.

Anyway, floor will be done right, and yes we found the first joist snapped in half. Second one rotted.  The joys of owning an older home.  At least we'll be getting it the way it should be done, and upgrading the flooring.

Processing the Process . . .

 

Who ever said this process of preparing for the floor project would be easy, was wrong.  Sigh.

I've been emptying out a set of floor cupboards for removal.  I'm finding this is a good time to purge what I have not been using, like the giant heart cookie pan.  I can't even recall using it.  Thankfully I found a home for it.

We also went shopping for flooring.  We got tips, ideas, color options, checked out options for a cupboard and sink for the bathroom that we need to gut as well, and returned home.

My husband made phone calls, and discussed flooring options.  1. sheet linoleum (downside, if you accidently drop something and tear it or put a hole in it, you replace the entire floor), 2. Plank vinyl (we can't decide until the floor is back and we can check to make sure the entire floor is even enough to use this), 3. Slap an area rug on it and worry about it later after the bathroom and living room is done.  We ruled out that peel and stick stuff.  It's so thin and I got bad reviews people were having issued with it popping up.  Everything depends on price as well.  Hence, the need to do more trips to other locations for prices and options.

I have finally figured out how to move my computer, so I can read your lovely blogs and stay connected.  We only have 3 places, including where the computer is now, for a cable hook-up.  To do this, I will need to move all my boxes of dishes (which started the need for this floor project, that need to go back in my hutch when the kitchen job is finished).  

Oh, and we talked to family, and the guy we hired to install kitchen flooring did one of their kitchens and messed it up.  Now the family has to rip it out, so we are not sure we'll use him.

....and then of course I need to feed the family and friends coming to help this weekend.  On the meal plan is a big 'ol pot of chili, cornbread, shredded chicken sandwiches, chips, and possible some side cold salads.  Oh, and a cold pineapple pie.  I only need to feed 2 on Saturday, and possible 3 on Sunday (maybe one more).  I think I have all of that covered, as long as they don't have to move my stove. If that is determined Friday, I will bake the cornbread and they can reheat in the air fryer or microwave as a back up.

We are dealing with horrible winds, and the sound kept me up most of the night.  It sounded terrible out there.  We got up to 72°F yesterday, but today it's a high of 62°F and a wind advisory.

This and That

Took advantage of good weather and got the chicken coop mucked, and just before the rain moved in.  I did a little bit of sweeping on the front porch, and swept living room.

Craft stuff put away until big repairs are complete.   I really don't have time to create right now.  I will try to carve out a break time for my self some how.

I guess I'll be collecting more boxes.  I have two more cupboards to empty.

I purchased a new toilet paper holder for the bathroom remodel.  It pivots up, and has no spring thing to deal with.  It should arrive today.

My kitchen is full of boxes that Daughter K needs to come and move yet.  Sigh....I do not like my house looking so chaotic.  In time it will be looking spiffy.

Here is our big job to-do list for this year:

1. Rip out some counter tops and cupboards, rip up flooring and sub floor, replace joists, re-do sub floor and complete new flooring, put cupboards and counter top back in, hutch back in, and re-fill with the dishes that are already boxed up.

2. Rip out entire bathroom off kitchen.  Replace dry wall, all new flooring, install new shower and toilet.  I already pulled a tall shelve unit that I will clean today and put out by the road for free (just needs painted again) and I'm too lazy tired to haul it all the way into town to donate.  I will paint the entire bathroom as well and Hubby will install a fan (never had one for some reason).  We already have the new shower and paint for this job.

Note:  When this bathroom is all done, we will hire someone to re-tile the master shower floor.  We hired family the last time and the grout washed away.

3. Rip up part of front room floor, replace joist, replace sub-floor, replace carpet (painting will be next year I think).  Replace furniture (dogs destroyed it).

4. Rip out and replace all carpet in stairway and upstairs.  Again, dogs, cat and rabbit destroyed it.  Painting and removing old wall paper will be another year.  No time for that this year with a garden.

5. If we have the time, rip out old carpet in our master bedroom and replace with new flooring.  Remove and install closet door to a change where the entry way is (it's in the center of a wall right now) so we can move furniture into place better.

6. Build new chicken coop and covered run.

7. Purge garage

8.  Utility room will get new flooring and paint (next year).

We already hired a friend to finish the unfinished new hallway, and have someone coming out today to give an estimate on the two floors that need new joists.  If it's out of our budget, we are doing it ourselves.  The hall can wait for now, but knowing someone is hired already gives my brain a rest.

Now....what to make for breakfast?  And dinner?  That is top of the list this morning.  I will figure it out after I down some good ol' coffee.

Progress with the repairs . . .

I am still working on re-homing the Rock Band.  We don't have the games anymore, and it's leaving as soon as I hear back from people.

Daughter E is taking all the board games, so those will be out of my living room.

A guy is stopping out this week to give us estimates on both kitchen and front room floors.  Whoever put the woodstove in way back in the day, simply cut out the corner of the floor. It has to be ripped out, new support system in place and new sub floor.  Kitchen problem is a bad joist that needs replaced.

We will need to go to town and buy furniture sliders to move the heavy stuff too.

I had to re-do some e-mail paperwork, but next up is to clean up the entire corner of the kitchen to prepare for taking cupboards and counter tops out, which means unhooking the computer and moving that to another room.  There will be a blip in blog posts I imagine.  

In the process of getting kids to clean up their stuff they have left, I am filling boxes of my own for donation.  You don't really realize how much you have until you have to box it up to move to put in new flooring.

Thank you for your prayers regarding the missing 22 year-old.  Unfortunately, they found her and is now in Heaven (so, so sad to hear this).

Blue Roses

 

My husband is simply the best!  I was surprised with this delivery yesterday.  He knows exactly what I need and when I need it.  Mom loved blue roses and so do I.  They don't exist in the real world, but one year I found a blue rose plant at Home Depot.  I could not for the life of me get it to bloom blue.  It takes a certain soil to bloom blue, but I really, really love my surprise delivery.  I very well may search for a hybrid plant this year and try again. 

Although Daughter K is "officially" moved, there is much still here for her to move to her apartment.  I plan to box up anything for her if needed.  Now that she is out, I spent a good day cleaning (but oh my, she left the upstairs, downstairs and bathroom a mess).  My fitbit has finally gotten back up past the 10,000 mark.  Yeah, there was no way I was logging my "stress" on that fitbit, as it was at a all time high (for several reasons).

As soon as we toss the couches into the burn pile (her dogs chewed up the cushions, we'll take down the kitchen tables and start ripping out the one half of the kitchen (hopefully very soon).  That repair job is first on the list, and a must-do job before garden season is in full swing.

I had to be stern with Daughter K last night.  In no way are her dogs to visit us.  We will visit them at her place.  Once they are out they are out.  Now she will be forced to better train them, as she is in an apartment.

It's raining today, and it's the only thing holding us back from starting on the kitchen floor project (need to empty the living room to make room for two kitchen tables, all the chairs, cupboards, hutch and stove.  It really stinks not having a crawl space to do this repair, so cupboards and all will be pulled out to rip out the floor and replace the joist, sub floor and then new flooring while the kitchen is empty.

Crafting ~ New Kitchen Project

Not sure if we will get more snow yet today, but we definitely got at least 3 inches yesterday.  Had to shovel out the mailbox (again).  After getting sweet potatoes in a crock pot, and walking 2 miles on the treadmill, I piddle-dinked around with the scraps of wall paper.  I just want this particular project done so I can really resume the purge.  Got one more dish scrubbie crocheted too.

My new switch plates arrived for my kitchen.  USA made.  I just need my handyman husband to replace the receptacles to match the color.  Although, after he saw them he thinks the color of receptacles we have may look okay.  I'll be putting one up to day to see.

There was of course more shoveling of snow to do, so I warmed up with a mug of homemade hot chocolate and a splash of peppermint vodka.

 

 

Happy Homemaker Monday

Another upgrade for the kitchen (front door).  I replaced the plain sheer with a lace one. It's scalloped all around.  I love it!  I have more plans to upgrade the kitchen, so those will be posted as they unfold.

Sunday we needed to cut more wood.  They are saying we'll dip again on Tuesday below zero.

Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

I'll link up as soon as she posts (or later after a trip to town).

The weather outside is . . .

15°F (feels like 4°F).

Snow moving in by the bucket loads, starting tonight. However, there is snow coming down as I type up this blog post and the snow plow has been past the house several times already.

How I am feeling this morning. . .

Happy that my husband is off work today.  We may make a trip into town for a part we need for the hallway.  Just depends on how long he sleeps in and what else needs done today.  I forgot to pick up cat food for the barn cat, and we could stand to re-stock toilet paper, so a trip to town before more snow falls might happen.  I'm just happy he is home today.

On my mind . . .

Well, I'm not happy to see that there is talk of banning state travel (meaning no travel in or out by the Federal Government), and Florida is it's first target.  It's getting so ridiculous.

We recently dined out for breakfast at one of our favorite local eateries.  Not any more.  I won't dine where the servers are wearing gloves.  I literally watched a waitress pull down her mask, blow her nose with her gloved hands, put the mask back up and served food to customers wearing the same gloves.  The glove wearing is not doing anyone any good as you can see.  Gross!  Blow your nose...wash your hands.  

I hope we can find someone to plow us out. The trash gets picked up tomorrow, and the mail won't deliver if the mailbox area is not plowed.  Not to mention everyone works tomorrow, and the girls turn into anxiety girls when it snows this bad.

On the breakfast plate . . .

Bean, sausage, egg and cowboy candy burritos, coffee.

On my reading pile . . .

As the Earth Turns

On my TV . . .

No Tomorrow (Netflix)

On the menu this week . . .

-Crockpot cod, corn relish, roasted veggies

-Pizza casserole (new recipe I want to try)

-Baked chicken, sweet potatoes

-leftovers

-new treat recipe (more on that if I try it)

From the camera . . .

Sunday morning sunrise.

Looking around the house . . .

Dirty dishes.  Dirty dishes everywhere.  Kitchen sink pipes are not thawed, so I'll be hauling hot water to the kitchen in tubs.  Hubby says he doesn't want to put the propane heater on it yet.  We have water everywhere else in the house.  It's dripping, but not that much and frustrating.  This snow and wind won't help either.

New Recipe I tried, or one we really enjoyed. . .

I tried a copy cat dairy queen hot dog chili recipe (food.com).  The results? My husband said, "perfect!"  You can find the recipe online. I used home canned BBQ sauce and the chili sauce can be made homemade using home canned tomato sauce.  

The story behind trying this.....

My husband and I grew up in the same area, and Dairy Queen was a regular hang out hot spot for years. However, the owner and his wife sold it a few years ago, and opened up a pizza place in the southern states (taking their recipes with them).  Anyway, we dined there a year ago maybe, and the chili sauce on the hot dog he ordered was terrible.  They changed the menu, serving sizes and it was all a bad experience.  

For some odd reason I was thinking about it, and I made it using organic ingredients.  He loved it.   I will probably make it again and start freezing some for summer camping and cookouts.

To relax I will . . .

Watch netflix with hubby, sip hot cocoa with peppermint vodka in it, crochet and work on my scrubbie order.  If the dishes are done quicker than I expect, I would love to make the new treat recipe.

Something I want to share . . .

Little Acts of Kindness:

6. Give a homeless person your doggie bag

7. Say "I love you" to someone you love

8. Put a coin in an expired meter (if these even exist anymore, s our big city has machines to put your debit card in, which I do not like).

9. Each time you get a new item of clothing, give away something old.

10. Bring your assistant coffee

(I had to skip some on the list I have, as they can't be done anymore with covid restrictions sadly).

Prayers . . .

Mom - she's getting her first covid vaccine Tuesday.  The entire business of the development of the vaccine (when there is worldwide treatment for it) scares me.  Plus, she has the weather to deal with too, and isn't supposed to be doing her own shoveling.

More Snow ~ Hot Pepper Pickled Eggs

We got more snow.  Not what we wanted, but then it's great for the garden (poor man's fertilizer). 

Work on the hallway project was delayed.  One toilet kept running, and after checking it we discovered it needed a new float.  While we were out and about, I picked up a new 5 gallon bucket and lid for my homemade laundry detergent.  It needed replaced.

I finally talked my husband into buying a new mail box.  After it was beat up last year by someone, it wasn't latching and the flag was beat off.  It's not good weather however to put it up.  Freezing cold weather, and by the time we returned home the roads were drifting pretty badly.

We got some work done on the hallway before retiring for the night.  I'm thankful for that.  We are not finished, but we are gaining.

Good news for our state!  The state-wide curfew was completely lifted, but not with the threat he'd do it again if he "needs" to.  I hope this Gov. is not voted back in. 

I finally dug out my ingredients to make lotion, but need one item.  I guess it's on the to-do list for next week.

I got some hot pepper pickled eggs made.

I purged craft supplies, and this time without starting a new project.  I am filling a 5th box for our daughter and grandkids.  I hope she has room for all of it, ha ha!

Hallway Progress ~ Knobs are on and other ramblings

Yesterday we delivered Youngest her car before she had got off work.  She was so happy that we not only got the tire fixed, but she had her car back before her shift was over.

I also delivered a large box of "doodle" paper to my niece and nephew.  I had to laugh, because my niece showed me a book she made with a lot of paper.  The are well supplied now, ha ha!  I also gave them 3 boxes of colored pencils and two of markers.

When we got back home, we had some time to do a few things around the house, and I am a happy gal.

My husband helped me put up the window film.  I also put up my new lace valance.  I absolutely love it.  I may do the front door this way too.  That framing on the window is inside the window.  I am glad I found window film I liked and was long enough to only have to cut one piece as well.  The window is next to the side door.  I'm not putting it on the door (which looks just like the window), because the dogs will jump up on it when someone delivers or knocks.  When Daughter K moves out, I will cover that door too.  I love, love love it.

I bought some for the bathroom window 12 years ago, for a window above the tub.  It has stayed up for 12 years.  It's the kind you wet and stick, is removable and no adhesive on it.

Anyway, I am hoping we get time to finish the hallway paneling and trim work.  Then come spring, I can paint the side door (inside and out), and the garage door.

Remember the knobs I bought last year?  They are finally up on the utility room cupboards.

Woke up to 19° and we'll warm up to 24°F today.  I sure hope the sun comes out too.  It's a bit windy out and more drifting, but so glad they were wrong about below temperatures.

Fire is stoked and this lady is going to make some coffee and get to work.

 

Curtains and other ramblings

 

The two curtains I ordered for the hallway windows arrived.  These are different than the fiasco for the long window in the hallway.  I love them!  It's hard to see, but the sun hasn't been shining.  I have ordered a new curtain for the other window, so stay tuned on that.

Pipes are thawed.  However, we had another flood in the utility room.  It stumped us, as it wasn't when the water was running to the washer or sink in there.  I told my husband it looked like it was coming from the wall behind the sink.  I told him the last flood we had.  We opened up the wall (thankfully we made an access).  The hose coming from the salt softener came loose and was leaking. 

Guess who is off work today just to fix the leak?  Yep.  Sigh.  Water has been shut off until then, so I am glad we had the jugs filled.  Plus, Daughter K brought home more drinking water just in case.

My Amazon curtain (rag) has been labeled on on the way to return.  What a mess.  It took two trips to buy printer ink (forgot it the first trip).  When I put the new ink in the printer, it automatically prints an alignment page.  Had to do that twice to get the darn thing to print.  Then the label printed blank.  Finally got the label and my packing tape malfunctioned (must have been cheap tape).  Finally got it all done and wrote them a review.  What a hot mess.

I still need one sheer panel for the front door, but that can wait.  I have lots of new ideas for the kitchen in the way of updates.

The snow finally stopped, so we may be cutting more firewood today if the leak project goes smoothly.  Soup beans are going in the crockpot this morning.

Ideas for revitalizing and energizing yourself (cont.):

41. Contact new people

42. Do something for others

43. Take charge of getting involved

44. Give the other person a break

45. Don't criticize and blame others