Happy Homemaker Monday

Woke up to a stone cold wood stove.  Hurumph!  We both worked so hard Sunday, we woke up feeling like we just spent the first day in the garden kind of feeling.  I feel like I'm feeding an army of animals too.  Thankfully our daughter K has a flight home today.

The tree the county cut down a year ago is still providing for this winter.  We cut it on better weather days, move those cut pieces to the barn and split any day we need it.  Not the best plan, but it's working.  One of these days we'll be prepared over summer if I can motivate my husband.

I sent an email to the one place in the "Big City" I sell my soap saver bags at.  I'm inquiring on selling another item there, and crossing my fingers.  I miss having craft shows, and the cash it brings in.  I received a check this past week for items sold on consignment there (happy for that).

I have another project for us to do.  More on that tomorrow.

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

The weather outside is . . .

33°F/29°F, Snow predicted.

How I am feeling this morning . . .

Great.  Slept well.

On my mind . . .

Oh lots of things.

On the breakfast plate . . .

Bean, sausage, egg and cowboy candy breakfast burrito.

As I look outside my window . . .

It's dreary - no sunshine today.

Currently reading . . .

Nothing today, but may be later this week

On the TV this week . . . 

Cobra Kai, although I am getting sick of the back and forth fighting, so we will take a break and watch something else.  The not getting along in the movie is not exactly uplifting.

On the menu this week . . .

-Turkey breast with hot pepper mustard sauce, veggie

-Mexican chicken

-Ham, zucchini/corn 

-Baked chicken, crock pot sweet potatoes

Something fun to share . . .

ha ha ha!  My to-do list?  

-dishes

-laundry

-master bath

-take 4 boxes of books to the thrift store in another town

-organize sewing supplies

-put up new blinds

-paint second coat of paint on wine corks

-possible trip to the hardware store

-replace kitchen runner rugs with the long runners I used to have in the hallway (old ones will be used in the garden this year to keep weeds down).

-start purging out the hutch

-Boil a dozen eggs

-dump ash pail

Favorite photo from the camera. . .

We got the upper flooring done over the weekend.  Next?  The steps.  It'll be challenging for sure.  I need to take down those broken blinds, wash the windows and put the new ones up.  Shopping online for new sheers is a pain.  I can't find the ones I bought a few years ago, but the search goes on.

As I look around the house . . .

I have things that need put away, but pending the purge I'm doing.  I have a new porch sign I need to hang up outside as well.

New Recipe I tried or want to try . . .

New fruity muffin recipe.

To relax this week I will . . .

Crochet most likely.

Prayers, Inspiration Quotes, Devotionals. . .

Cold Weather

It's been cold here lately.  Like waking up to 16°F cold.  Brr.  Saturday was a wash as far as working on the hallway.  We finally had a Christmas with the grandkids.  There have been so many close calls with the virus at my husband's work, we haven't been going around too many people.

While out looking at new trim, I picked up new toys for the dogs.  I laughed so hard upon walking in the door.  King literally jumped up and grabbed a long stuff dog toy I had in a shopping bag.  He is so happy.  

Saturday morning, my husband and I had breakfast at a local restaurant that has been open for 75 years.  Good food, homemade and delicious.  We thought we wouldn't get a table, as it is small and a dinner type setting, but we did.  So good!  The best part?  I didn't have to cook nor do any dishes.

I got rid of 3 of the boxes of books I purged as well, while we were in that particular city.  Woohoo to that.

We picked up a blade to grind down any uneven cement areas, and some new LED lights for the garage.  Now we are in business to cut flooring and other wood in the garage.  We may need to do a propane exchange for the heater, but otherwise ready to work.  I will need to do something for a long window by the door.  I may also put sheers up over the blinds, but excited to do the upgrades.  I'm already thinking of some changes to do in the kitchen too.

Random Tidbits

I decided to take a break from purging Friday.  I did a few tidy up areas, but focused on a day without dust (ha ha!).  I can't believe how many books I really had.  Oye.

I cleaned up part of the other kitchen table.  We have two tables, because I use them a lot during tomato season.  One way or another I want a Christmas gathering here too.  They are saying with the vaccine now, we should be back to almost "normal" this year.  

Anyway, I made room to cut more netting.  I've had a few requests for scrubbies and needed netting cut first.

I'm thinking about doing a give-away soon.  I think I can part with some things I found that I've just decided I don't want, need or will make. Maybe that will boost my spirits by making someone else happy?  I just ordered some shipping boxes from the usps store, so when they arrive I will post pictures of the give-away.

Here is a photo of the embellished paperclips I made with tiny crochet flowers.  I'll have to do some looking around to see where I found the pattern, but there may be similar patterns online too.

I used the last of my dehydrated mushrooms.  I am rotating the freezer/pantry pretty good this winter.  I do need to re-stock just a few items, but rotating well.

Last night we called daughter K.  She had a fun day in NYC and had more plans.  She said it was not crowded, but stores had limits on how much time you spent inside.  We then had two more calls with extended family.

 

. . .from the handiwork journal

(old photo, but you can see I'm working from bottom to top)

.. . . Up to row 81 (out of 84) on the crocheted cardigan, with the sleeves getting started after that.  Just a basic pattern, but my first clothing for adults to even crochet.

. . .started new Christmas tree ornaments for the 2021 Christmas (using up wine corks in my stash).

. . .got one "scrap" Christmas ornament crocheted.

 . . .finished a set of hot pads

. . .started another set of hot pads

 . . . got more dish scrubbies made to sell.

Random Tidbits ~ Journal Junkie Purged

I am taking this dog watching as a test to see if I really do want one of my own then the girls (if they ever) move out.  One morning it was 20-something, but felt like 13°F.  Of course the two dogs of hers woke up at different times - two trips out in the dark early morning cold and snow.  

Two blank journals went to each of the girls.  I found them on my other bookshelves.  One was a holiday journal I haven't used since 2007.  It basically had a few comments, lists of foods, guests and a few photos - it went to the trash.  I don't keep up with it.  Photos go in albums now and journal in one main journal.  Two or three were empty, and one was short stories

I've donated 2 boxes of books and now filled 10 more.  I had so many handed down, some I still had from homeschooling, and other topics that needed to go to a new home.  I parted with a few series that I bought from library book sales too.  I just have to find places to donate to other than our Goodwill.  The charity place has strange donation hours and a long walk in and out.  I'm too old for that, ha ha!  I need a drop off at the door kind of place.

Many were from a Humane Society book sale.  During the last hour they had a big sale and I guess I went nuts.  Another time a library book sale and the same after that.

A few were my husband's old books and he said get rid of them.  These I may put up to sell.  Not sure.  I did a search on some other books, but found several copies for sale (low prices) and no bids on ebay.  These however, are oldies and goodies.  They are not in great shape though.  He read them a lot and have been stored in a closed book case.

I took an inventory on canning supplies.  I am set on jars and rims, just not the lids.  I will be on the look out each trip to town.  The last pectin I bought was expired (didn't see it until I got home).

Snow Mustache and other random ramblings

I had to laugh at this.  I took the photos, because of the odd snow formation.  As Youngest's car sits to be looked at, the car grew a mustache!  Ha ha ha!  I just thought it was pretty cool (and funny).

The to-do list for the week:

-call library to see if they take book donations for book sale

-call charity to see if they take books and do pick ups next

-purge books

-do dishes

-laundry

-trash out

-bake a breakfast 

-boil chicken and shred for another dinner

-bring more wood in

-clean table off

-purge utility room cabinets

-fold towels

-write a list for crochet/knit items that need restocked first (f-bombs, scrubbies, baby booties etc)  I need to do this to stay on task

-install knobs on some utility room cupboards (still haven't done that)

-sweep kitchen

-mop kitchen

-clean hallway windows 

-install new window blinds

-dust small bookshelf 

One table got a fresh tablecloth on it, but the other awaits as I purge books/binders and journals.

We got some more snow last night.  As I sit here and type, I can hear traffic going pretty slowly.  We haven't heard a word from our daughter K and if her flight left on time at 5am this morning.  I hope to hear from her later today.

Our library is not taking any book donations.  The charity however is.  I have 5 boxes ready to go, but more to look through.  The charity takes donations, sells them, and puts the money towards any local charity that needs help.  It's run by all volunteers.  They are new to the area, so I hope they do well.

I had so much to do yesterday, I had zero handicraft time. At dinner time a friend of ours came to pick up the bookshelf we had in the hallway.  Now we can resume ripping out the carpet and putting in the rest of the new flooring.  I am so glad I did this.  Even if it's the only project this year, I am glad I did it.  It forced me to de-clutter the hallway, purge books I didn't need, and give the hallway a brand new look (which was needed).

Day 3 of Flooring

I'm so glad we are getting rid of what carpet we can.  Man the dust!  Cough, cough!  My allergies will be so much better.  

I had to laugh about the whole thing though.  Hubby said, "no problem, we can knock this out in a few hours."  Ha!  That didn't happen, but we are glad we are going it.  We have two steps in the hallway, and those take a bit more work to get it right.

We haven't done anything like this for almost 15 years.  I'm so, so glad we dove into into it.  I have no idea what made me all the sudden want to do the updating on the house, other than it keeps me busy and my mind off of the world and what horrible things the government is doing to us.  

It's hard to get a good photo of the actual flooring, as it was cloudy and snowing.  You can see in the top photo that halfway thru putting in the flooring, that my husband had the idea to beautify the walls a bit.  We started the lower half, but still need to finish the upper half (two steps, long and wide hallway).  I will need to paint that garage door come warmer weather, along with the side door. The paint on the walls look yellow, but it's a tan color.

I however, after seeing how nice it is looking, do not want to put the bookshelf back in the hallway.  There is literally no where to put it in the house.  It will not fit up the stairs either. This is a problem for me now.  I'll have to purge all the books in the house, and make room for what I really really want to keep if I do this.  I have all week to decide.

My husband is back to work today, so we will be working on it on weekends.  Unless we install better lighting in the garage anyway.  We have been relying on daylight to cut the flooring, wall pieces and trim.

Today is like our "Monday" and I have much to catch up on that was neglected to do the hallway.  I won't be bored for sure.  There is laundry, dirty dishes, a breakfast to bake, dinner to plan, towels to fold, and a lot of other cleaning and sorting.  I also need to purge the books (again).

Both girls are working every day and have barely any time to help nor do their own laundry.  At least they are working.  I however, am back to no vehicle.  Youngest's car is running rough, and we haven't had time to check it out.  It sits for another day.

I also have a list of things that need made - hand lotion, teas, salves and other medicinals.  Orders to place and whatnot.  I hope to get a bit of handiwork time in as well.

I better get my second pot of coffee going, stoke the fire and get this day started.  Have a great Tuesday!