This and That

 

Brr!  It's 20°F out this morning, but feels like 9°F with the wind.  We'll only get up to 26 and a low of 15°F today.  Fire is stoked and animals fed, other than the chickens.  

My husband has to work outside, and comes home exhausted from the cold weather.

I am sure the chicken's water has froze.  In the new coop I want a watering unit the heats in winter and I may spring for one for the barn cat next winter.  She is getting older and it's hard to keep water out for her when she needs it.

On a good note, our state curfew was lifted from 10pm to 11pm.  That is good news for businesses and their employees.  If the number of hospitalizations drop again, they will do away with the entire curfew.

Daughter K took a covid test after returning from her trip to NJ/NY out of respect to others (especially because of Mom).  It was negative.

I came across another reading challenge.  Just wanted to share it, although January is about over.  I can't say I'll follow this one, because I came across so many un-read books of my own while cleaning.

The wooden window panes in the hallway are a bit worn.  What would you suggest to spruce the wood up?  I thought about Murphy's oil soap.  The wood is dull and needs some life put back to it.

Shopping online for the curtains I want has been troublesome.  I am unable to find the same ones I bought for my living room, which I absolutely love.  I may resort to a swag with the new blinds.  I'll figure it out.

I whipped up a template of my own, using cardstock, my printer and some "loot" bags from the dollar store.  I think my packaging turned out pretty professional looking.  Don't you?

Today I need to come up with packaging for the soap saver bags.  I had every intent to get a few rows done on daughter's cardigan and get a few other restock items worked on.  It didn't happen.  Today, I will get my treadmill walk done early and get started early on chores.  I'd like to sit and curl up with yarn this afternoon.  Especially with this cold weather.

Tonight's dinner is partly crock pot - roasted turkey.  I will prep fresh broccoli and steam it later and maybe another veggie.  The crock pot will help free up more time to get some crochet work done.  I feel like the days are flying by lately.

I'm off to brew another pot of coffee.  May your day be bright and full of of positivity.

Day in the Kitchen ~ Compiling Lists

Although I thought winter would be a restful time and much handiwork would be done, it hasn't been.  We have been prosperous with starting small on remodeling.  It however, puts me behind in regular chores.

Instead of snow, we got something in between, like a mix of freezing rain/sleet.  There was a layer of ice on everything.  

Tuesday was a busy day in the kitchen.  First on the list - infuse a hearty nettle tea.  Second, clean up the kitchen to boil chicken for our dinner casserole.  I had to boil eggs, make a breakfast scramble with greens, and make organic pudding for a side dish.

There was laundry to do, kindling to fetch, firewood to fetch, chickens to tend, rugs to spot clean, carpets to vacuum.....long day.

By the way, fetching the firewood was a bit tricking with the driveway a total sheet of ice.  I have spikes on my boots, but I still had trouble getting the cart back to the house.

Dinner was Mexican Chicken Casserole, so I pulled some homemade creamed soups out of the freezer to make it.  I used organic Chia/Quinoa tortilla chips.

More lists were compiled - craft store, dollar store, groceries, a trip to Aldi's etc.  Aldi now sells organic white quinoa.

Today we have leftovers, so I'm truly happy for that.  Also, I heard back from the museum gift shop.  They want to sell my dish scrubbies (another happy moment).