From the handiwork journal ~ Mexican Street Corn ~ Herb Garden Question

. . .finished these keychains.  I found them in my night stand.  I just had to sew in ends and add the chains (UFO completed).

. . .finished this order of purple hot pads.  Just need to deliver them.

Here is a photo of the Mexican Street Corn I made.

I didn't "char" the corn completely, but it was very good with using thawed (off the cob) corn.  I am sort of looking forward to re-vamping my herb garden now.  The corn contains green onion and parsley.  Yum!  It was also the first time to try the mexican cheese the recipe required.

Yesterday I got smart and did all of my cooking and baking first thing.  Dish washing went much smoother.  I pulled the very last ham bone from the freezer, some split peas, the last bag of frozen garden carrots, a few celery cubs from the freezer, added diced potatoes and some fire powder (vs. onion) from the pantry - split pea/ham bone soup.

I also made biscuits for the first time, using almond flour.  I wanted something to go with the soup other than a sandwich, but low carb.  I found a recipe online, and used my home ground garlic, home ground onion, sour cream I pulled from the freezer and a bit of cheese (all organic).   I literally forgot to add the 4 Tbsp. of melted butter.  

I was a bit worried they browned too much, but they were so delicious.  Very moist biscuit, and very flavorful.  No need for butter.  I will be making these again.  Even without the butter.   

Herb Garden Make Over 2020

Question for herb gardeners - is there a resource to buy green onion bulbs with greens on them (online)?  Or just bulbs vs. seeds?  Organic of course.  I really do not want to start with seeds again.  My green onions I had, I had for 15 years plus, by someone sending me a handful in the mail wrapped in a damp paper towel, in a plastic bag.  T

They grew great and multiplied like crazy until last year.   I will be digging my herb garden out, layering black mesh and cardboard and filling it in with new soil (which means digging out the problematic rose bed across the sidewalk).

Slow Winter ~ UFO's (unfinished objects) ~ Cleaning Update

It seems like winter is slow this year.  Maybe it's being tucked inside all day long.  I don't know.  If your wondering why your are getting odd/silly or boring posts.....well, it is winter.

It is a good time to work on UFO's, clean and purge though.  
I've been contemplating some outings for a day here and there, but so much needs to be done on the "to-do" list here.  First, we are putting one big job on the weekend list - install a new pellet stove.  I'm gonna push on that.  We really need it done.  The electric bill is killing our finances.  It'll be a big job for the two of us.  

Everything we are doing, or need to do this winter is based on what the weather is on the weekends.  They are predicting rain/snow/wind this coming Sat.  Sunday may be cold.

UFO - FINISH!  

My long time followers will remember this fabric.  It showed up again, and this time I got the ends sewed for a tablecloth.  Finally!  While I didn't dig out the sewing machine, it was very nice and relaxing to switch gears and hand sew! 

I don't particularly like the orange one already on the table, but it's vintage and fits the larger kitchen table.  So glad I finished the other one now!


UFO's being worked on:

I found a creative way to paint and allow these to dry.  I used a thin metal rod and ran each end through stacked small fruit baskets from strawberry season. Ornaments (gifts)

(not a UFO, but on the hook)

Hot pads and XL matching pot holders (order)

Cleaning update:  washed and dried all the runner rugs (we have a lot), got kitchen swept and mopped dishes done, and two tables cleaned off (new tablecloth down on one), cleaned out my nightstand and found a small unfinished project (I have no idea how in the world it ended up in there, and found a bunch of un-written in journals {one will be a gift} and books I totally forgot I bought, hallway runner washed and dried, carpet cleaned and boot pile cleaned up, and will resume again today (have no idea what area though).

I started cleaning up the utility room.  I told my husband, "I have no idea where to even start in that room" so I started with the floor.  I really need a new runner rug in there.  I may just start making one with scrap yarn too.  The two braided rugs in there are falling apart and I can't wash them again.

Day 1 in the utility room resulted with 2 bags of tossed items and one bag started for donations.  I took old curtains (which left a tote in the garage) with roosters on them and hung them over the open cubbies that are built in there for coats as well (I asked Hubby for doors in the future, but his list is long right now).

I cleaned up my un-filed recipes.  I have a bad habit, especially over the holidays, to just slip them inside the recipe box under the lid.  That mess is cleaned up.



Blog Posts from 2019 with the most views:

Keeping Chickens Cool - 866 views

Pickled Red Onions - 469 views

Rosemary Gladstar's Famous Face Cream - 418

Happy Homemaker Monday - 271 views

Homesteading - Spring Chicks - 255 views

Storm Updates - 244 views

It appears that my "Tidbits" posts are the lowest views.

Tidbits  - 82 views

Me Time ~ Finishes

Boy it felt so awesome to not have so much to clean on Monday.  I devoted some more crafting time.  Thanks to one of the girls, I am restocked with new candles too.

Finished this UFO.  I think I had it for a gift but never got around to finishing it.  It'll be in my kitchen now with Valentine's Day coming next month.  It can hang around all year though (I did the cross stitch that is in between the red flower pattern that came on the towel).

Finished the remaining sheet music Christmas Tree ornaments.   I think the blue one needs a silver bow at the top of the snowflake on it.

I have only 4 more UFO's, unless I come across more.  They'll take more time to finish, but I'm on it.

I'm thankful for leftovers tonight.  I used all items from the freezer and pantry, and made us Salmon Romanoff using MI caught Salmon (by my older brother), and a side of organic peas.  I'll dig out another veggie to go with leftover salmon romanoff tonight.

I'm not sure what I'll tackle today, but I'm sure I'll be tidying up or purging something today.  Goals!  Spring will be here before I know it.

Finishes ~ Monday Madness

Over the weekend we took a car load of stuff and donated it to a thrift store.  Stopped at the hardware store and picked up supplies.  We made a visit to Mom's too, where one of our kid had also stopped in.  I took her one of the spool ornaments and a jar of homemade taco mix. 

Hubby started on his "to-do" list too.  Nothing is completely checked off, but one job is half-done right now.

I finished another UFO (unfinished object, but I think it should be UFP - unfinished project).  Anyway, the scrap yarn rug went to our youngest for her hope chest. 

We also cut, split, loaded, unloaded and stacked wood.  We didn't want to, but we needed to.

Blueberry pancakes made with whole wheat Einkorn flour, sausage, and organic black coffee.  That's what's for breakfast this morning.

I'm working on this UFO - kitchen towel.  It am using various patterns from library books to finish this project.  Hubby laughed when I told him I think I started it back in 2013 or something.

I took this photo on 1-6-18.  Same day as today, but last year.  We have no snow this year. The baby blanket was gifted to our daughter for our grandson Colt. Who knew so much would change?

I was up at 3am this morning.  I had a ton of dishes to wash.  Fire was stoked and it's a day of laundry and more cleaning.

Taco Night ~ UFO's

New Year's Eve we had tacos, and hot bean taco dip.  I had to refill my homemade taco mix, and since I had my bulk containers of cumin and chili powder out, refilled my pantry jars too.  



We spent New Year's Day taking down the trees and outside lights.  Totes were all put away too. Got it all done by 10am too.  


It was a blistery snowy, windy day New Year's Eve day.  I took advantage of it and cleaned out the fridge, and tackled one of my UFO's.  I am super excited to stay on task.  I got a lot of craft time on Wed.

I had the fabric done, but had to attach them to the burlap and glue them onto the jars.  The final product is on my S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot.  

Sorry for the bad photo - took it before 5am this morning.

I'm thrilled to say I'm using fabric scraps that a wonderful lady mailed me years ago.  I am still using them for gifting.  I also used the embroidery floss for the gifts, which I won from a blog giveaway years ago.  I have more ideas using the scrap fabric as well.  

I finished this UFO as well.  They are tucked away in the right box for next Christmas or gift giving.

I am still working on the spool ornaments, but hope to have them completely done today.  We'll see.  I'm tackling cleaning and purging again.