Canning Grape Jelly ~ Scrubbing Wood Flooring ~ Battery Operated Crochet Hooks

I put this job off all summer long.  I make home canned reduced sugar grape jelly, using organic non-sweetened concord grape juice.

I don't need a lot, and it's nice to have on hand.  Another winter job checked off the list.

I started to clean the wood flooring upstairs.  It will take some time.  I have to clean then move stuff and clean, and move it back etc.  I won't be up there every day either.  I also have to scrub the floor first, then clean with a odor remover spray due to pet urine (sigh).

There is a plan in place.  

Question for those with chickens.  We are going to be building a new coop, but prefer not to hook electric up to it.  Can anyone suggest solar operated heat lamps?  Are there ones better than others?

I'm also seeking suggestions for a battery operated coffee brewer (single or pot).  I think we could use one.  We've had way too many power outages here.

Here is a look at the battery operated crochet hooks I have.  It came with a case, and extra batteries.  I believe I got mine on Amazon several years ago.

Painting Barn Siding ~ Seeds Started and other Tidbits

 In the midst of moving everything from room to room, in order to get floors repaired, my cut barn siding boards were unburied.

I cleaned them up with vinegar water, and let them dry for a few days.  I had the brainy idea to paint words on them for a craft show addition.  These boards have been floating around the house for several years (like about 5 years now), so it was on the "get'r done' list.  

The power went out around 8am yesterday, and it never came back on until after noon.  I was lucky I had just brewed some coffee.  

There was an accident with poles down, wires hanging, and then a substation shut down for a while.

Luckily, my portable charger was charged, and I could not only charge my phone, but my neck lamp too.

Quite fitting of a saying for a time with the power outage, ha ha!  I had stencils for these.

All done, so the only thing to do was to read or crochet.  When power goes out, our water pump goes out.  I could not clean or cook.

Most likely the signs will be put into a storage box, and used for gift giving or donations for fundraisers.  I don't see a good craft show in sight for a few years.

My neck lamp is my favorite way to crochet with extra light, or when the power is out, but I also have these battery operated crochet hooks.  I just don't like the way they made the hook part.  You have less control over your yarn, can't catch the yarn or sometimes the yarn falls off the hook to easily.  Anyway....

Almost all of my garden seeds have been started and grow lights are on.

Extreme Clean Update

What went in the donation box:

-one toddler clothes hanger (they show up out of no where)

-two shirts

-one summer bathrobe

-one baking dish (no handles/edge so getting it out of the oven is a bit of a struggle)

We woke up to powering rain this morning.  It should slow down in a few hours.