Happy Homemaker Monday

Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.  Sunday we got "Big Red" fired up.  Here's hoping she'll keep starting now.  It (the truck) could need a few parts yet.

We drove "Big Red" to the "Big City" and delivered a gift and Christmas cookies, picked up load of straw and headed back home.  I forgot to renew my library books, but it looks like only a few are late (this time).

On the breakfast plate . . . 
Homemade breakfast burrito and coffee


The weather outside is . . .
Rain is on the way, with a high of 56°F, but will quickly go back to the low 20's at night for the next week.


As I look out my window . . .
It's still dark out.


On the to-do list . . .
-take care of the chickens
-feed barn cats (Leo still comes once every often)
-put away clean dishes
-vacuum
-empty ash pan (depends on the rain today)
-start another tincture
-knock down some cobwebs
-put a few Christmas decorations away
-put a Christmas tablecloth away
-re-file all of the recipes I got out over the holidays
-take down the snowman shower curtain and put it away
-sweep kitchen
-measure out dry ingredients for homemade biscuits



Currently reading . . .
Nothing

On the TV . . .
A netflix series called The Ranch, and another called Rain.  not sure if we'll finish the Rain series.  It's getting weird like the Walking Dead got weird.  I don't enjoy movies where they eat people.  Yuck.


On the menu this week . . .
I'm about to go check my pantry.  Possibly homemade stove top tuna and noodle with some veggie sides.  I'm taking meals much easier this week. 


What I'm creating . . .

More sunflower keyfobs

Sorry for the dark photos.  I took the rest of them very early in the morning this morning.

Started a granny square winter scarf

Working on some mini crocheted hearts

Knitted dishcloth, another scrap lapghan, and more crocheted headbands.

Finished some spring cup coasters

Finished a few knitted dishcloths

Finished a few heart dishcloths

New recipe I tried or want to try . . .
Nothing this week.  


Favorite photo . . .

I haven't been taking a lot of photos lately.  This one makes me smile.  It's always a good day when laundry can dry outside.

Getting Away

2018 didn't go by without another grave to dig.  Sapphire will so, so greatly be missed at the homestead.  Thank you all for your kind words.  We just didn't think that it could ever happen, as both cats came with the place, and we've been here over 10 years now.

We've been running strong over this Christmas, and with Hubby working on our anniversary, we took off for a night.

We started out early and made a few purchases.  We ate lunch at a locally run (nearby big city) Mexican restaurant and were pretty happy with our food.  We made a few other stops and walked through one of the largest (oh my aching back) antique malls.  I couldn't believe I only left with one item - a beautiful red butter dish.  

We were going to visit a local winery and listen to live music, but us "old" people couldn't stay up that long, and retreated to our hotel room (which by the way got a good spray down with my anti-ill oil I brought along).  We were quite disappointed in the steak and potato restaurant though - cold potatoes, dry steak, and the mixed drinks were horrible.  After a first bad one, I ordered one I know and it was the worst ever, finally sending it back.  Overall, it was a fun, fun, and relaxing (other than our hike through the antique mall), and we even stopped at a local chocolate/ice cream shop.  Mmmm.

We brought our youngest daughter home a few goodies, and I bought myself a new sweater (which I need more of).  I of course wanted to visit the yarn store, as we are so limited near the homestead, but I put it off for another day.  I don't think we'll be browsing through many antique stores too often anymore.  We both get to coughing and itchy eyes from all the dust.  I do love them, but we'll stick to smaller ones in the future.

Hubby and I plan to do a lot more celebrations for our 20th anniversary, so I hope that involves more bike rides too.  

I'm back home today cleaning up the kitchen and stoking the fire.  "Big Red" is getting worked on, in hopes she'll be running later today.  It's sunny, but cold.  I'm just glad there's no snow (yet).