Just the Bits

We hit a high of 53° yesterday, and the chickens were loving it, as well as the full day of sunshine.  

The paint brushes/rollers took a break for a few days. February is starting out with some hiccups.  

However, I have finished washing down the rest of the hallway walls (all but a small section).  I can now proceed to spackle any holes, allow them to dry.

 

Laundry got caught up.  I had some to fold and some to put away.  I also caught up on some paperwork.  Bathrooms are getting cleaned.

Healthy breakfasts were prepared.  We decided that the next time I make this sweet potato hash, we prefer two eggs per serving.

Meals got made and meal prep (lentils cooking for a dinner recipe).

I got another rug washed.  I love the ones we bought at the flea market in Amish country.  They are the "washable" ones, and more expensive, but boy do they wash up nicely.  I have had cheaper ones from the box stores, that did not hold up to washing them in the washing machine. 

I had time to look through a library book I've had for over a week now.  There is one interesting recipe in this book that would come in handy for someone who is sick (Chicken Noodle in a jar).  They say to use a "Gift Jar" but I'm guessing a quart jar with 4 cups of dry egg noodles.

The book also has gift jar recipe for dog and cat treats, and body scrubs.

I made homemade hair detangler (spray).  I will be back with a review after I use it for a while.  It was super easy to make.  I have never brewed marshmallow root, and when I squeezed the cheesecloth, when straining it, the tea has a conditioner type feel to it.  I put it in a spray bottle, and it will need to be stored in the refrigerator (has no preservatives in it).

Go figure, just when I start tackling blog drafts, the draft selection function is not working properly.  Now it brings up all your posts, and it when you select "drafts" it should only bring up your drafts. 

Just the Bits © Feb 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

End of January 2024

January is ending way too quickly, and we (I) figured we'd have the brunt of the home repairs done by the end of February.

Did you know that the hardware stores sell smaller pieces of drywall to patch walls with?  About 2 x 2 feet or so?  I didn't measure them, but we have successfully cut out the damaged drywall section(s), and doing the repairs ourselves.  The cost alone for supplies is over the top.  

Over the years the kids all had one or more pets (one had 3 at one time), and the pets ruined two areas of the hallway drywall.  I'm really re-thinking if we'll ever have pets after all these repairs now (just because of the cost and time to repair).

More trim was taken down for cleaning, priming and painting.  We replaced one door hinge on the door that leads into the garage.  I was surprised the cost for the hinge was less than $3.00.  

The hallway ceiling has been painted, and one light fixture removed and a new one installed.  The second fixture is on order.  I absolutely love the new fixture, so we plan to replace one in the master bath with the same one too.  Each has a "night light" feature.  Talk about being giddy with an upgrade.  The actual light is much brighter than our old one.

We will purchase a new smoke detector as well.

It is taking me more than one day to wash down all the walls in the hallway (it's wider and longer and part of it has a taller ceiling).  I have gone through several buckets of hot soapy water.  I'm more mindful about swatting any bug/spider on the wall now, or putting my hands on the door trim to take off my muck boots.

It's going to be all worth it, but time consuming over all.  Everything has to be washed first - doors/trims/walls.  I needed to prime everything other than the walls.  It's not an over night job for anyone.  

We have come to a small halt.  My husband is seeing a doctor about his back.  My elbow needs a break (it's still sore from my fall).  

We do need to eat, and have clean linens and laundry, so I'm catching up on that.  I have library books to pick up, that I have ignored, and one that I have not even looked at yet.  Bathrooms need cleaned, rugs washed, and windows cleaned in the kitchen.

In the process of putting total focus on the hallway renovations/repairs, I am slowing preparing for the master bath repairs/renovations.  I'll need to remove all the old ones from the bathroom cabinets and replace them with new.  Eventually. I eye-spied them while out for other supplies, and picked them up to be ahead of the game.

On the brighter side of all of this work, is that I have organized all of our painting supplies into one tote (and labeled the tote).  Aside from paint cans themselves, our supplies are all in one organized space (as it should be).

I hope your January of 2024 was successful, happy, memorable, and filled with living life (and not just work).

End of January © Jan 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart