This and That

We were out pricing a new AC, so we stopped at JoAnn's to check on a crochet hook price.  Wow!  Their prices were much higher than Wal-mart (who was sold out of what I was looking for).  I found that our area Meijer had them, and less expensive than Wal-mart.  No big news, but I was shocked at the high prices at JoAnn's (also much higher than on Amazon).

I am always saying I wish they would put a store back in our hometown, but I'm not sure.  Hobby Lobby was built at one point, putting JoAnn's out of business, then later the Hobby Lobby closed.

Cute bags at store!  I didn't check the price.  We had plans to actually eat breakfast out at a diner, but found them closed for the holiday.  Apparently, many places are closed this weekend to celebrate the holiday.

We are getting lots of rain right now.  If it's dry enough this morning, I'll head out to tie up more tomato plants.  My husband is already asking about zucchini meals ha ha!  Soon, I told him.  Soon.  We have a Mediterranean salad we'd like to try, as well as just enjoy the garden goodies. 

Speaking of Mediterranean style dining, I found it odd, that our Meijer had zero cookbooks on their shelves.  I decided to order books from the library instead.  I just need some fresh ideas.  My husband's doctor told him to think "Mediterranean dishes" when he eats.  He also wants him to work out with intentional cardio and weight lifting.  We have the home gym in motion, but could use an exercise bike, and of course gym flooring.

We are not in a hurry for the spare bedroom to be done, but the floor is first.  The gym is more important right now.  He climbs ladders at work, and I push a wheelbarrow and tiller, but we both need intentional exercise.  We are both looking forward to it, to be honest.

We didn't do anything special for the 4th this weekend.  We can literally see all sorts of fireworks from our front porch.  Despite the rain, there were still many last night.

On a very sad note, and this is why I do not like to be on roads during the holidays, a person was killed yesterday in my hometown.

A drunk driver (day time), somehow created an accident in the roadway downtown,  putting his truck up on a sidewalk and into a tree.  He ran over a person on a bicycle, killing the person.

I am up a bit later than usual, but letting my husband sleep in.  He doesn't know it yet, but I have a honey-do list for today, ha ha!  I'm hoping to get even a few items checked off.  There is much to be painted yet, and I think we decided on a color for the remaining doors, 6 downstairs for now, not including exterior painting for other doors.  He is just now getting used to being home on the weekends, and tends to want to stay home. I'm going to take advantage of that ha ha!

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

The weekend went by fast, and was not what I had intended.  My husband, oddly after a first weekend off work, had us running around all weekend.  I was exhausted by Sunday night, and felt like we didn't get anything done at the house.  

It rained all weekend, and it's still raining.

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

I will link up when she posts.  I'm starting my day early to get my kitchen back in order.  There are paint cans everywhere, and it's in disarray.

The weather. . .

Rain!  Lots of rain!  Now they say possible snow today.  Yes, I said snow.  Sigh.  I had to bring my rosemary plants back inside.  They will not be planted until after Mother's Day anyway, but snow???  It could be something like a snow/rain sleet mix.

As I look outside my window . . .

Dark, dreary, and raining.

Right now I am . . .

Drinking hot coffee, trying to wake up to our regular schedule around here.

Thinking and pondering . . .

Trying to decide if I want to keep my macramé supplies or donate them.  Prices are high, so I'm on the fence with this decision.  I may keep them for now.

We've been pondering about which type of electric solar fencing to get, and my husband is not taking care of that. 

How I am feeling . . .

Tired.

On my breakfast plate. . .

Leftover omelet with grits casserole and cheese.

On my lunch plate . . .

Have no idea yet.  Egg salad?

On my dinner plate . . .

Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole, Veggie, Strawberry Crunch

What I am wearing . . .

Right now?  Jammies, robe and slippers until the coffee kicks in.

On my reading pile . . .

I'm still reading Atomic Habits.  I'm not getting a lot of reading time, but I do try to read each day, even if it's a page.

On my TV this week . . .

Movies on Netflix/Amazon Prime

On the menu . . .

Have no idea.  Will try and think about that today.

Looking around the house . . .

It's looking better, but I still need to gather the donation items and get them out of the house.

On the to-do list . . .

-laundry

-check on asparagus 
-complete kitchen clean up, could take all week

-work on upstairs flooring

-gather all donations and load them into the truck
-finish making lavender sachets (only 2 more to make)
-bake a dessert

My simple pleasure. . .

Popcorn made using our whirly pop stove top popper, using organic coconut oil, and fine salt.  So good for a movie binge/crochet evening.

What I am creating . . .

Lavender Sachets.  You can read my post on how to make these on my S.C.R.A.P. blogspot:  HERE

I'm still crocheting this blanket. (old photo)

From the camera . . .

I have nothing today folks.  It's been raining here for days.

Prayers . . .

Prayers for our friend Jim, who had another stroke.

Whew! Crazy Hours End! ~ Extreme Clean/Renovations Update ~ Garden

 

We made it through it!  My husband had to work 14 days straight, with a switch to 2nd shift, and that was hard for the both of us.  It has finally come to an end.  Now we can get back to our home projects and have the evenings to ourselves. 

I literally have several lists going right now.  I figured, when this schedule is back to normal, I have options on what we do next, ha ha!

I have been painting the upstairs sub flooring with odor killer paint, and have one room more than half done.  We are super excited to get this job done, so we can install flooring.  I should the larger room's flooring painted in 3 days, 4 tops.

We have purged many boxes in the last two weeks, donated quite a bit, and our trash bin filled up as fast as it was emptied.

I have just a few more boxes to go through, but they are larger boxes.  The bedroom/closet are almost done.    We haven't talked much about door paint color yet.  We'll pick up paint swatches next trip to town.

On the garden updates:

- planted 16 new asparagus root starts, put short fencing in around to hold straw in place (for now)

-planted about 10 new rhubarb (temporarily in a grow bag)

We are to get 5-6 days of rain starting today.  I wanted to get these planted before the rain.  

What needs done in the garden:

-dig randomly growing red raspberry sprouts and re-home them, they are coming up in over in the vegetable garden where I have the original asparagus bed.

Gardening indoors:

-planted a basil and cilantro plant, because I have been terrible with seed starts with everything going on here lately.

Garden Harvest Tip and other ramblings

 

I like to dice up jalapenos I freeze from the garden, but the tip below is an idea to keep fresh peppers fresh, after harvesting.  Anyway, this breakfast had a lot going on in it.  I had a red bell pepper, bacon, a few sweet potatoes, onion, leftover pesto, eggs, jalapeno, and fresh green onions from the herb garden.  Delicious.  No recipe.  I just tossed it together.

As we near garden season, here is another tip I learned (America's Test Kitchen):

(source:  America's Test Kitchen)

I did not know this.  Typically, we either eat, can or freeze as we harvest, but at the end of the season this could be useful.

My husband has not had a day off for 2 weeks now.  Not even weekends.  We cannot wait for that schedule to end.

I have switched gears, and started to go through all the crafting supplies that were moved out of the bedroom closet.  There is a lot to go through.  

Tough decisions on what stays and what goes.

There is nothing going on in the garden currently.  I'm waiting on my husband's crazy schedule to end, before we purchase solar electric fencing.

My front flower bed is full of purple dead nettle.  Part of me says harvest it, the other says look away.

Happy Homemaker Monday

 The closet "extreme clean" is still going on.  I'm impressed if I pull at least a few items a day around here.  

My green onion is in full harvest due to the recent weather.  I could not let it be ignored with the twist of weather today.  I made a batch of fresh green onion/parsley pesto.  I plan to use some in our breakfast this morning.

Compost has now been added to the gardens.  I have yet to pull the bean fence, but we have a few days before tilling is done.   I think this year has been the earliest to get these jobs done, and I am thankful for that.  In May, it's typically hit or miss weather for getting planting done.  

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

I will link up when she posts.

The weather . . .

43/34°F and possible snow.

As I look outside my window . . .

Very cloudy and dark, and it's snowing.

Right now I am . . .

Brewing coffee.

Thinking and pondering . . .

Thinking about taking some donations to drop off, to get them out of the house.

On my bedside table . . .

Water, a crochet hook, phone charger

On my TV . . .

Netflix movies.

Listening to . . .

Country.

On the menu . . .

-fried eggs with homemade pesto, bacon and tomato slices

-Charro Beans to use up tomatoes in the freezer, and a side to go with leftover

-sheet pan chicken sausage/carrots and potatoes 

-Mexican Lasagna (no pasta), and  corn we froze off the cob last summer

On my reading pile . . .

Once a week I get this out to read up on things.  Last week I read about the Nettles.  I am learning new things from this book, and it's been on my shelf for years.

I am about 1/4 of the way through Atomic Habits.  I am very much enjoying this book.

On the to-do list . . .

-pay bills
-laundry
-work on upstairs flooring

-make a breakfast

-run errands

Extreme Clean list:

-clean all of the blinds

Plans for the week . . .

To get the closet floor done, trim done and everything put back in it's place.

What I am creating . . . 

Hard to see, as the weather was rainy and dark and the lighting was bad, but I am using beads from my Grandma's stash and making a few sets of these earrings (using up supplies I have on hand for jewelry making).  It's a smaller crafting project for when it's hot out.  Most likely they will be gifted or sold down the road.  I'm thinking it would make a thoughtful Christmas present for our girls, considering the beads are from my Grandmother.

By the way, my readers were not much help with the tiny parts of the earrings.  If you use a crafter's magnifying lamp, I would love to hear your suggestions on purchasing one.

I'm still working on this blanket (old photo)

My simple pleasure . . .

On a dreary day like today, I will sometimes put something in my coffee like Bailey's or Rum Chata Peppermint Bark.  Most days it is just coffee.  I do miss the recent porch time I was getting.

Looking around the house . . .

It's still a hot mess.  I will be until the upstairs flooring is treated completely, and the bedroom closet is done. 

From the camera . . .

The ornamental apple trees are loaded with blossoms.  I took a photos just in case the snow damages things today.  

Bible Verse, Prayers. . .

Last Monday I mentioned Tina's husband.  He had cardiac arrest, followed by more complications, and unfortunately has passed away.  He name is Dane, if you wish to pray for the family.

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

I hope you all had a nice Easter.  We spent it with my husband's family, but there were so many people, it's hard to talk to every single person. 

I can't say I had the day off.  I got books back on a bookshelf and towels put on the clothesline to dry, before heading out to see friends and family.

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

I'll link up later when she posts.

The weather . . .

Gorgeous!  In the 60's and sunny, and we will hit the high 70's this weekend.  

As I look outside my window . . .

The sunrise is beautiful.  There is no wind, and the day should be great for laundry on the clothesline.

Right now I am  . . .

Waking up with coffee, and about to start a load of laundry.

Thinking and pondering . . .

Working on a plan to get two doors painted, closet carpet removed, and new flooring installed in there.  The garden needs weeded, tilled, compost added etc.  This week is perfect, but we'll see, as it will be only me doing the work.  My husband is too tired to do much after work during the week days.

On my beside table. . .

Water, a cell charger, a crochet hook and yarn needle.

On my TV . . .

Netflix, whatever looks good when I am watching TV.

Listening to . . .

70's Rock

On the lunch plate . . .

-have no idea

On the dinner plate . . .

-see menu plan

On the menu . . .

-Sheet pan chicken sausage/carrot/potato

-Pasta casserole with ground beef, home canned tomato sauce, asparagus/onion etc.

-Crockpot chops, quinoa and roasted brussel sprouts

On my reading pile . . .

....because I cannot locate my current book due to the work being done, I bought these two, recommended by a cousin.  I am reading the one on the right, but only a few pages a day.

On the to-do list . . . 

-dishes
-laundry, put out on the line to dry
-sweep and mop floors
-dust

Plans for the week . . .

Extreme Clean:  

-Start cleaning front porch

-Clean out fridge

-Continue cleaning bedroom closet/purge

What I am creating . . .

Honestly, I had to frog my current blanket, and I may table it until I have the porch cleaned up, and have a cool weather day.

My simple pleasure . . .

Porch time.  Some days it's reading, some days crochet, some playing cards....hence cleaning it up.

Looking around the house . . .

Its somewhat coming back together, but I have a bunch of craft supplies to look at before I lug them upstairs (or get rid of some).

From the camera . . .

Bible Verse, Prayers . . .

-prayers for a friend Tina, her husband is in the hospital on a ventilator.  I do not know the details.

Random Things I Found . . .

Here are some random items I found during the start of my bedroom closet purge....

Pop can from my trip to Spain, along with a toy bull, and an antique glass insulator.  I've had the insulator since childhood, but the rest is leaving the house.

I'm not sure why these were not in the "Halloween" totes (which were passed down a few years ago).  I found these purses and sunglasses meant for Halloween costumes.  They are leaving the house.

I'm on the fence with this beaded tea ball.  One of my Grandmother's made it.  It's been in storage.  My husband said, "lets find a place for it" and I'm thinking "um, not so sure about that."  I love it.  It's pretty.  Grandma made it.  Just not sure it fits anywhere.  Maybe pack it up with Christmas stuff and get it out for Christmas as a decoration?  Or discreetly and secretly leaving it one of the kids places during a visit.  It is vintage....hmm?

I found one camera from my teen years.  Yeah, no doubt it is leaving the house.  There are places that recycle them.

I'll be honest, these were all in totes from our last move 14 years ago.  Why?  I have no idea, other than just forgotten about while moving in.  I'm so glad I'm doing this too.  

We spent most of Friday running here and there, returning stuff to the hardware store, and picking up more supplies.  We hope to get a lot accomplished today.  Happy Easter!

 

Spring Weather and Spring Flowers and Tidbits

 

Yesterday I woke up to beautiful weather in the 60's and sunny.  I took advantage of it and washed a white bed cover and bed skirt.  I put more laundry out after that, but just my husband's.   Rain was still in the forecast off and on, but it all dried thankfully.  Next good day I will get more dried outside.

Spring Daffodils are up and more starting to bloom.  I wish I didn't have moles, or I'd have a ton of tulips as well.  

It's been a trying cycle of, move this to get that done or do that to get this done, and where did I put that or those?

It took me a while to find these felt pieces I bought to put under the bedroom dresser and night stands.  I still need to put some square ones under the bed as well.

More door trim was primed, and hopefully will be painted today.  I've unpacked the suitcase and we are getting moved back into the bedroom nicely.  The dresser has moved out of the master bath, we can clean in there and start using it again. 

There is dust everywhere, in the master bath, from the tile being removal in that one end of the bedroom.  It needs a good cleaning anyway.

I didn't even realize that Easter is this coming Sunday, until yesterday.  We are now invited to an Easter meal, and quite frankly the weekend is the only time we get any work done (unless we pay to hire someone else).  I would rather stay home and finish the bedroom.   I am in no position to cook/bake either.  I'd be happy with PB & J and some sliced apples.  We'll see what happens I guess.  

I'm starting to think. . .

 

Old ceiling fan.  The room has two of these, so this one still needs to come down.  It will be sent to scrap as it does not work correctly.  The other will be donated.

One ceiling fan went up, but after we painted the ceiling, so we'll need to pull the top metal piece down and touch up the paint.   The old ceiling fans were both about 16-17 years old, and they were used (not new) when the builders installed them.  The newer ones now have a hook on them, making it much much easier to wire in.  The new fans have reversible blades, so if we decide we don't like them this color, we can flip the blades to make them all white.

Although we got one completely installed, we got no where after that. He got the painted trim up around one door, and the battery on the nail gun died.  Our handy man had borrowed 3 batteries and a saw on Friday, and they were not returned until later yesterday.

We ran to town to beat the storm, and to get a few items we needed.  After that nothing got done.

My husband is putting the cart before the horse again.  He wants to move furniture back to the bedroom before the floor trim is installed, closet door installed, and other things that need finished first.

He's also expecting me to entertain a meal (today of all days), and my kitchen is completely full of donations, boxes of stuff from the bedroom, our suitcase we are still living out of, a bookshelf that needs to go upstairs......I can't.  I just can't do it.  The table is covered with "stuff" once again with the gutting of the bedroom etc.  I suggested we meet somewhere, and that was rejected.  I honestly want to work on the bedroom and stay home and get ahead on this project.

I'm starting to think that participating in a craft show this month was a bad idea.  I do not have room in the living room to bring all my completed inventory downstairs.  

This and That

 

I've been terrible at meal planning, but we brought home some tomatoes from our recent trip, and sliced them up.

We made BLT's.  I have no idea for the rest of the week yet.  Other than I boiled eggs for egg salad.

I managed to get that air mattress into the bag it came with.  It's not shutting all the way, but it's in the bag ha ha!

I think my husband and I decided we need a complete day off.  It may happen this weekend.  We'll see, but that would be nice.  I feel like we've been working on the house for the last two years now.  There are so many people jealous of our updates, but it all started because it needed to be done, not by random choice.

I'll admit, I am exhausted daily lately.  I don't even have energy to read a book, let alone crochet our blanket.  I was excited about garden season, but lately?  Not.  We do deserve a break now and then.

Tuesday Tidbits

 

Although it is super foggy this morning, the sun is trying to shine.  Yesterday was a very dreary, dark and misty day.

I managed to accomplish a breakfast.  I'm still painting trim, so I get to multi-tasking and list writing.  I scrambled a dozen eggs, made sausage patties, and Einkorn waffles.  I used a random recipe online, but want to try the recipe Jovial has next time. I just didn't have yogurt on hand.

I boiled a half dozen eggs for egg salad.  I guess that will be tonight's dinner (egg salad), while I work on the menu plan.  I also put another dozen eggs in the fridge for future boiled eggs.

Daughter K's waffle iron, which I didn't like, and the recipe wasn't that great.  The recipe also said 1/3 cup of batter, and it was not enough.  I have to double the recipe.  I am reading reviews to look for a waffle maker for myself now. 

Our state has a law, that says you must purchase a minimum of 6 chicks.  It was created to avoid people buying them as Easter gifts/pets.  Dumb law, and if you look at the coop kits in front of most farm stores, they are not fit for the size to hold 6 chickens.  

Anyway, I picked up 6 new chicks, in hopes that a family member will need a few more.  I just wanted about 3 more.

The best news!?

We got our bed up and got a very good night's sleep.  We are far from being done in that room, but the bed is back up and so are the night stands.  The dresser and other furniture are still in the master bath ha ha!  We need room to paint trim, install the wall trim, work on electrical boxes, and finish installing wall paneling on one wall.  Oh, and we still need to install the closet door since we cut and framed a new one.

We still have carpet to remove out of the walk-in closet, so that will also affect the finale of this room.

More good news?!  Tiger's blood work came back and his kidney's look great.  Daughter said he has more energy now that before his procedure, but she is instructed to only feed him wet cat food from now on.

Speaking of cats, we had a stray come to one of our doors last night begging for food.  It dawned on me that it is kitten season, so I am wondering if it is a stray pregnant female.  No sign of it the cat morning however.

I'm hoping for good weather to wash, and dry a bed blanket and bed skirt on the clothesline today.

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

Everything is at a stand still today.  I cannot do anything, other than paint the door trim, and I'm even limited to that due to space and the amount of saw horses.  I'm okay with that, as my back is very sore.

Rain is in the forecast today, and we'll see much more of it this week sadly.  It's warmer, but the rain is keeping us out of the garden to prep it for a new garden season.  The ground is soaked.

The new closet door was cut and framed.  We do need to install the door yet.

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

I'll link up when she posts.

The weather. . .

46°F/29°F for today, and rain.  Rain about every other day this week.

As I look outside my window. . .

Dreary and cloudy.

Right now I am . . .

Brewing coffee, because I forgot to pre-set it last night.

Thinking and pondering . . .

Going to town for one errand or adding it to a list.  Hm.

On my bedside table . . .

Nothing!  It's still in the master bathroom, while we continue to paint and renovate the master bedroom.  It has been a whirlwind of work, because we continue to run into issues with the terrible work the past builders did.

On my TV . . .

Whatever grabs our attention.  We are too tired by evening to even really care.

Listening to . . .

Rock

On the lunch plate . . .

Probably a ham and cheese sandwich.  

On the dinner plate . . .

Have no idea.

On the menu . . .

It's on the to-do list. 

On the reading pile . . .

Not sure yet, as the bookshelf has been boxed up for the bedroom re-do.  However, I finished this book on our last road trip.

On my to-do list . . .

-write out a menu plan
-write out lists for errand day
-laundry (still living out of a suitcase)
-sweep and mop master bedroom (where I can)
-paint door trim for master bedroom
-pay a few bills, and open remaining mail
-Spray urine treatment on spots on upstairs flooring (got behind on this job)

-mail in rebates

-move a bookshelf upstairs and worry about painting it next year

Plans for the week . . .

Honestly, I have no plan.  The master bedroom has been so nerve wrecking due to the disorganized decisions.  My husband is all over the board, so I never know what we are doing in there until the next weekend arrives.  Although is sounds like I am complaining, we have gotten some things done, but yesterday I had to empty a lot from the walk-in closet in order to cut and hang a new closet door (current center of the longest wall made no sense and difficult for furniture placement).  Also, we need someone to come help us move an electrical line in the attic, in order to move the closet light switch (access is smaller than normal to get up there).

I'm thankful for. . . 

-ceiling and walls are painted
-most electrical boxes have new covers, still need to install two boxes
-new closet door is cut and framed
-I primed about 4 pieces of door trim so far

-one piece of floor trim has been installed

What I am creating . . .

Old photo, but still working on our own blanket.  I got it out a few days ago and had to frog several rows.  I need to finish the gray color section and start back on the last color section of off white.  I may get time today, as my husband is at work, and the only thing I can do in the bedroom is paint those 4 pieces of trim (there is much more to paint, just limited to space where I paint).

My simple pleasure . . .

Amish cheese curds.

Looking around the house . . .

It's a hot mess!!!  Utility room stuff is in living room (explain that later), 1/2 my bedroom closet is in living room, air mattress is in living room, kitchen is full of stuff we need to donate and is where our suit case is, floor is covered with paint cans, hall has part of the bed, more tools, bookshelf, paint cans,....bedroom now has half the closet.....HOT MESS!  I cannot wait until it's done, but like I said, this room/closet has got to be the most head banging work we've dealt with right now.

From the camera. . .

Nothing exciting here today.  I bought this back when we first started with the kitchen floor repairs.  We are close to filling it in, as we find which goes to what with repairs.  I'm losing one electrical box, but gaining one in a new spot on one wall.  It's been a challenge for sure.  The new circuit directory actually comes with a plastic pocket, so I can start filling it out now, and slip it into the pocket vs. a sticker to the breaker box.

Bible Verse, Prayers . . .

Prayers for Tiger.  His blood work reports are due to come in today (Daughter E's cat).