Happy Homemaker Monday

I'm up at 5am to stoke the fire and brew the coffee.  We are continuing to work on the downstairs hallway flooring.  It's looking great too.  

It snowed most of the day Sunday.  Big soft flakes that pretty much melted away as they fell.  We had zero sun sadly.

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

I will link up later when she posts.  

The weather outside is . . . 

33°F/24°F, cloudy

On the breakfast plate this morning. . .

Egg/cheese sandwich with Ezekiel bread and a sprinkle of herbs we use that goes great with eggs, adds flavor and a touch of healthiness.

As I look outside my window . . .

It's still dark out. Posting early.

As I look around the house . . .

It's a mess, but it will look that way until we have things back in their places and the flooring done.

What I am wearing today . . .

PJ's and robe right now.

Currently reading . . .

Expiration dates.  Yep.  On food supply and on medical supplies - store bought and homemade.  For those who can cowboy candy, I found a few jars from 2018.  Gulp.  Safe to eat or pitch.  I do have plenty from last year.

On the TV . . .

Live Free or Die Hard 

(interesting that they talk about the government controlling us in this movie).

On the menu this week . . .

Tacos/Taco Salad

Chicken Enchilada Casserole, Green Beans

....have no idea for the rest.

Something fun to share . . .

Nothing.

Favorite photo from the camera . . .

The new flooring.  I love it so far.  Sorry for the glare, I took it at 5:30am this morning.  Will get better daylight photos when we are all done.  I feel like I'm doing an episode of my own "This Old House" ha ha ha!  

Prayers, Inspiration Quotes, Devotionals. . .

Prayers for daughter K, and her friend A, who are flying to NJ this Wed (20th) to visit a friend.  Nothing we could say to either one would change their mind on going.  I just pray for safe travel and safe health.

Progress on Hallway and other Tidbits

 

We have started ripping out the carpet in the hallway.  We started on the lower level due to the baseboard heater.  However, once the carpet was out, we realized the builders put the heater flush with cement, so we'll have to do some cutting that we didn't expect (of the flooring).  Also the tack boards were installed with nails into the cement, so it took a hours to pull them all out.  King says "Hello."  

So far it's been 3 trips to Home Depot.  I know there will be another one, but this morning we will be cutting and splitting wood first.  Then it's back to the hallway if we have time.

We will be replacing the blinds in both large hallway windows as well, so I must add that to my list or it'll be yet another trip to town.  The blinds are broken (just old).  

There was a request for the recipe for Hot Pepper Mustard Sauce.  Here is the recipe link.  I was given this recipe by a family friend's mother who has since passed.  It truly is a good recipe to have.  Makes cooking so simple and delicious.  I have left half the seeds in for a spicier sauce and left them out for a mild sauce.

Bye bye "stuff"

 

Craft supplies are being purged now.  Gulp.  Sorry for the boring posts lately. The kids are grown.  I do enjoy making homemade Christmas ornaments to sell and gift, but I am letting some things go to another home.  I just found out about a charity that takes anything but items that has cloth on it (like couches, clothes).  They will even pick it up  I've taken note of that.  It may come in handy.

What I used them for - Handmade Christmas Ornaments (snowglobe)  And you can bet, I was going through craft supplies, and thinking up what else I could put inside those cute capsules as ornaments (before tossing in the box).  The capsules are only 1 1/4 inch tall, so you can imagine the work that went into that tiny snowman.

Old film containers left too.  I can't believe I still had these.  I, yes again, went to pinterest to see if I could make anything before tossing in the box.  I think I had saved them for when my husband was a leader for boy scouts.

So, is there one thing you bought during lockdown/quarantine online, and completely forgot about it? 

My husband and I were discussing the new coop.  I made the comment I would like to do it before we get really hot weather, because the way they built the coop we have now, it is a hot house in hot weather.  Then I realized, "wait, I think I bought a solar fan."  

Guess you spent the day looking for it?  It is adjustable and can even be used for camping etc.  I'm glad we had our discussion, or I'd not find it until we put flooring in the bedroom and closet.  Oye.

More Cleaning and Purging

The best time to sanitize my washing machine is when it's colder outside.  I actually have a "sanitize" cycle on my washer.  It uses the hottest water and bleach.  

In order to do the remodel in the utility room (adding a bathroom), I will need to purge.  There will be a trip to the antique store and the thrift store this weekend.

My utility room/craft storage is a fairly large but oddly built room. I'll lose my coat rack, so I may talk him into building an room over the side porch for coats and boots etc.  An enclosed area before entering the side door.

Anyway, what's getting purged?

-antique sewing machine

-antique sewing chair (that has a compartment in the seat for storage

-antique table for 2, 2 matching chairs

-2 antique travel cases (from Dad's place)

-antique small TV (from Dad's place)

-egg carton lamp (I will never use it and no one in the family wants it and I can't be the one who saves everything just because)

-two boxes of books, one of odd stuff and clothing

I literally took me almost 3 hours to clean out the drawers of the antique sewing machine.  I haven't been in it since I last used it over 13? years ago.  Mom gave me her portable new one, so the antique Singer has to go. 

Once these items are all out of the house, I'll be purging more storage drawers we had under the counter in the utility room.  The kids had one just for the pets, so that one will go for sure.  We don't store anything in it.  I think we used it for portable watering units for walks etc.  Anyway, I have much to purge yet in there.

No snow here so far.  They predicted some, but nothing yet.  The sun was out yesterday and the chickens loved (and I as well).

January ~ A new beginning

I love January.  A new beginning for the year, a new start and it's the best time for me to deep clean.  I am more excited this year, as we are starting to update the flooring etc.  Most of you are excited to sit and read, relax and whatnot, but I can't do all my deep cleaning over spring, summer and fall.  There is simply too much work with the garden, as I am the only person on weekdays to work it.

We located some flooring on sale, but need to see if other stores have more of it.  My husband is super fired up and motivated now.  I'm so happy for that.

However, my house looks like a hot mess. Boxes of books in three rooms right now, ha ha!  I know it will all piece back together when we are done, but boy oh boy.

My hometown is starting to crack down even more regarding this virus.  It's becoming a less appealing town to visit anymore.  They also have their own mask mandate they continue to update.  It's so frustrating to shop there.  Okay, off my soapbox about that.

Back to my extreme clean.  While waiting on the flooring, I am purging my writing materials.  I have loads of file folders that I have not opened for 10-12 years. I know it's not something that they eye will see first, but doing it as it is much needed.

I also dumped out a drawer in the bathroom.  The kids have destroyed my organizing.  It's the drawer for things like chickweed salve, band-aids, medical tape etc.  Man it was a total mess.  Not really exciting news to post, but maybe I'll motivate someone to dump a drawer and clean it.

Although we recently canceled our out of state trip with biker friends (one has 5 stents), we are concentrating on in state travel for ourselves.  We don't want to be stuck in another state if anyone should get sick.  Anyway, short in state trips, including camping are our escapes.  We will not stop living our lives during all this going on in the world (hopefully it won't get worse).

No one answered my questions about planting mullein and comfrey in the same raised bed, so I guess I'll be doing some research this week.  With the lack of snow this spring, I'd like to get outside work started early on days it's warm enough.  Yesterday was a chilly 21°F in the morning.

On a last note, I weighed myself this morning.  Since we bought our first Harley, I have lost 48.6 lbs. I can't say my exercise was regular in 2020, but I'm back on track.  Just putting laundry on the line, I can rack up 10,000 steps on my fitbit too.

Here is a photo of my embellished Valentine's Day paper clips.  I have also made small flowers as well.  One year I made a set for all the kids for Valentine's day.

Tuesday Tidbits

I had to get back to the kitchen yesterday first.  I had dishes to deal with, books all over one table, and of course the meals for the day.

Dinner was beef stew (another change in the menu) in the crock pot.

Breakfast was a sweet potato and kale frittata.  I started that later, so I could get the stew in the crocky.  I used the last of our home grown sweet potatoes.

My husband started researching new flooring last night.  I'm praying we find enough of one type at a good price for the hallway.

I am not prepared for Valentine's day, as far as selling handiwork this year.  I just realized how close it is, and I have sold all the heart bookmarks, almost all the heart cup coasters, heart dishcloths etc.  I may have some embellished paperclips, but that is about it.  I'm not going to rush into making anything either.  If I get anything made, I will post it.  I didn't realize how much work I'd be doing just to prep the hallway to be ready for a facelift.  

My extreme clean pick was a dresser drawer.  I dumped it out, purged and re-organized it.

Update:  I just realized I posted this on a Wednesday, so think of it as yesterday's tidbits ha ha ha!

Raised Beds and other tidbits (okay mostly deep cleaning updates)

Question for those who grow medicinal herbs in raised beds - can I grow comfrey and mullein in the same bed?  Or should they be in their own raised bed?

Another question?  Is there a difference in planting white or black horehound?  Which is better to plant for medicinal purposes?

I've been busy beautifying the homestead, and so grateful I am out of my depressing "funk" I was in.  I can't believe I didn't do any of this work last year when I was "stuck" at home.  Anyway, I think my husband is happy, other than spending the money (ha ha!) on new flooring and possibly more paint. I'm looking forward to shopping for the flooring.

I haven't had much handiwork time, but I hope to get a handiwork post go up soon.  Last nights dinner was changed to chicken breast and home canned mustard pepper sauce, over red quinoa (what I had), and a side of garden green beans.  I needed something easy, as it took the entire day up until 1pm to go through and remove all the books on the other bookshelf.  Oh my.  I had spiritual growth/prayer journals, several that were new empty journals (note to self: do not buy more), and even found my review for work when I went to Argentina.  I asked one daughter if I should just throw it out, read it and throw it out or what.  She couldn't decide either.  I hate to come across things like this. 

I had a stack of magazines that needed to be read through and then off they go too.  I have so many folders from my freelance writing days (haven't done much in years).  I need to pull each file and go through them now.  

I still have 2 full boxes of binders I need to go through.  One I already decided was completely going in trash - stuff that was outdated and binder falling apart.  I filled two boxes of books to donate.  Felt great to get done.  

I also have this oversized book.  Why oh why I bought it when it's that big and difficult to put on a shelf.  

While putting my Bibles in a box, I told my daughter that was home, I have a Bible in Spanish!  I was about to put it in the donation box, but flipped to the very end and it was signed by Mom as a Christmas present way back in the day when my sister and I at the time, were going to Spain and Africa with a class trip.  I'm on the fence, but I won't use it.  I think it will have to go.  

Speaking of Mom, she is deep cleaning too, but I told her I will only take her boxes if she doesn't send anything back in them ha ha ha!

Good news!  The chickens are using the new nesting box, but Thelma insists on laying in the feeder.