Happy Homemaker Monday

(area where the new coop will go, so we are "getting two birds with one stone - wood cut and clearing it off as we go, but we have a lot of work to clean it all up).

Saturday morning started off with car and truck repairs.  We'll, an attempt anyway.  We needed a new alternator for the truck and the car was leaking antifreeze.  We just can't catch a break.  As for the car, it's the intake, which will require an entire weekend to repair.

We were completely out of wood, so that also needed done.  We had one day to do it all too.  Or so we thought.  Saturday night (late), Hubby got the call that Sunday overtime was canceled.  

We got up early and him-hawed over our to-do list.  We decided to take a look-see at the larger pellet stove and assess what repairs would get it running vs. trying to remove it and install the smaller one (requiring many hands to move the very heavy large one).  

We worked on the larger pellet stove, need one part, and have plans to fire it up in a few days.  We decided to repair the big stove, since it burns corn as well as pellets.

The humane society is closed for renovations, so I have no one to trap the two stray cats.  They are driving Romeo nuts.

On a good note, with a combination of medicinal teas, tinctures, rest and four thieves vinegar, I am feeling a bit better.

I shopped from the garage again.  One of the kids left a small, flat bottom lined basket.  It went to the kitchen to hold bottles of club soda (that don't stand alone on the wire shelving).  We keep a few bottles year round for homemade ginger-ale.

If you were looking to buy a heart bookmark from my other blog, the light blue one is sold now.

I am taking advantage of a semi-sunny day, but warmer than yesterday.  I had laundry out on the line at the crack of dawn.

Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom, although this Monday, my post lacks photos.  

It's not very often I pull a hand towel with the right day of the week on it.  I do need to make new ones this summer.


The weather outside is . . .
We may get up to 55°F today, but cloudy.  Yesterday we had a wonderful day of sun!  Snow is to return tonight.


How I am feeling this morning . . .
A bit on the mend, but up and at 'em this morning.


On my mind . . .
The garden and vacations.


On the breakfast plate . . .

Another round of coconut waffles and homemade blueberry syrup.  Coffee too.


On the reading pile . . .

Kiss the Girls, James Patterson.  Definitely not passing this book on to my daughter.  The book definitely has more details than the movie, and it'll be recycled when I'm done.  I have printed out the series in order for Joanne Fluke and one other author.  I'll tote it along to any book sales and thrift store visits now.  I'm already 1/2 way through this 400-some page book.

On the TV . . .
Movies on Netflix, Movies from the library



On the menu this week . . .
-Chicken teriyaki, wild rice
-Spaghetti Squash Casserole
-Crock pot pork chops, sweet potatoes
-Leftovers

On the to-do list . . .
-Laundry
-sweep/mop kitchen
-dishes
-dinner prep
-breakfast for the next few days
-master bath
-work in garage for a bit
-Making lotions and lip balm (still on the list)

What I am creating . . .
Slowly finishing an overcast colored XL hot pad, and starting a different bookmark.  

From the camera . . .
I almost had a picture of a red headed wood pecker, but he was too fast for me.

We had some beautiful colors in this morning's sunrise.  


Looking around the house . . .
It all needs a good dusting.  Again.

Chore I am not looking forward to this week . . .
No chore really.


To relax this week I will . . .
Read, write, crochet.

Prayers . . .
Mom, personal requests, our own family.

Clarification on the Garlic

I think I have everyone confused about spring garlic.  Here's what happened last year.

We had a terrible year.  Very wet in spring and we could not keep up with weeding, and had no place to plant the garlic in Sept.  I can't even remember if Sept. was good weather or not anymore, but for some reason, we couldn't plant until October.  I think it was shipped late (we had zero, so I had to order).

I planted them in the grow pots, and they did not have enough time to grow tops at all.  The weather turned cold too fast for them to start.  

So, with all that said, I have zero to plant, most companies ship too late in fall to start over, and if mine doesn't produce in the grow pots, I wanted to spring plant (then fall plant with some of them).

I hope that explains it better.  My first year I spring planted and for 10 years I was able to fall plant some of them.  Like I said our weather in Oct. is never guaranteed for a good start on fall anything here.  

Thanks for all the tips on where to get it.  One year I didn't get a good yield, bought organic at a farmer's market (for making ground garlic) and it cost me $1.00/head of garlic.  Total cost to make half the amount of garlic was $10.00.  

I do not like buying organic in the store.  They are so old, the flavor is half of what home grown produces, not to mention the medicinal values of it homegrown.

With all your tips and recommendations, I am surely to have a crop of garlic if the spring weather Gods are nice to us this year.