The Case of Missing Spoons

It's Monday cleaning day, and although I typically don't get it all done, I get a good majority of it done.  I look forward to sitting, crocheting and sipping hot tea later.  

It looks like I'll be needing boots to put my bedding out on the clothesline today.

Made another batch of homemade taco seasoning mix, and plan to make taco salads tonight.

Taco Seasoning Mix

1/4 cup dried onion flakes

4 tsp. cornstarch

2 Tbsp. salt

3 tsp. cumin

4 Tbsp. chili powder

1 1/2 tsp. oregano

3 tsp. dried minced garlic

3 tsp. crushed hot red pepper flakes

2 tsp. beef bouillon

Mix ingredients and store in airtight container.  

2 Tbsp. = 1 package

I do use whatever dried herbs I have from the herb gardens I grow, such as oregano.  Last year I attempted to grow cumin, but the heavy rains killed off my plants.  I will attempt it again this year.  Now that I have my dehydrator, I can dry my home grown onions and garlic too.

My bread crumbs are stored nicely in a canning jar.  I hope to dehydrate more today.

If no one in the house can find a spoon to eat breakfast this morning, it's because my 10 year-old put them under everyone's pillows last night.  Her school principal once told them that if they put ice cubes in the toilet and put a spoon under their pillow, that school would cancel.  It did cancel today.   

Excerpts from a Journal Junkie

from the Homesteading Journal . . .

  Made another batch of homemade dishwasher detergent, our chicken coop project is delayed due to rain, read a bunch of information on what to expect when Peanut is ready to kid (I sure hope it's when my daughter is home).

 Had a load of stone brought in, and filled the holes the buses are making in the driveway.

 Dehydrated a bunch of soft pretzel sticks that my Mom gave us.  I made them into bread crumbs.

from the Crafting Journal . . .

Weekends are more work than play this winter, but I still try to squeeze in time to get projects finished...

Finished the last coat of decoupage on the clipboard

 (Found at: Rainy Day Projects.... )

Started making items from old records...

Ironed on the first embroidery pattern to start another daughter's towels.

I continue to braid rag balls for my braided rag rug.  My strips are not 2 to 2 1/2 inches wide, so they are not folded to have a flat look, and strays of fabric are sticking out, but I don't care.  I have about 16 feet braided now.

 

from the Family Journal . . .

   A stone was placed on Joey's grave, and a handful of fresh flowers, stones are around it for now, but we are talking about fencing it in with small fencing.

  Last Sunday the kids got bored, which sparked a creative and funny episode - three of the girls created a rock band and dressed up in items I have in our costume boxes.  Hilarious!

I spent a day sitting on a chair in the 60°F weather, reading a good book.  All of our summer lawn furniture is still stored away, so I used a chair from the house. 

The elementary school canceled their "family movie night" and we had one at home instead.  My 10 year-old was so upset about not having it (we had plans to attend in our pajamas), so we rented a DVD and had fun snacks, including cotton candy at home.  They girls loved it. 

from the Gratitude Journal . . .

Today I am thankful for:
~my dehydrator
~the extra food Mom brought us
~our DVD player
~blankets
~God's Mercy
~friends, for lending an ear to listen
~family, for bringing in our load of stone
~my kids
~pretty vintage tablecloths - they bring cheer to the kitchen
~our cordless drill...tools are so essential here

A Roaming We Will Go

Who's that lurking in my wood barn?

Who? Me?  

Orion, with the wet ground, pulled himself free yesterday.  We caught him munching on tree bark in the wood barn. 

Vintage Jewelry ~ Cooking in Canning Jars ~ Thrift Store Finds

During our antique mall visit, I also purchased this vintage necklace.  It's handmade with beads.  Right now I'm trying to locate a few of the darker red beads to make matching earrings for it, and possibly a bracelet.  I love wearing vintage jewelry when I can.

A closer view.  The sun was shining, so I took a better photo after taking the first. 

The vintage towel behind the necklace was also a good find.  I will most likely use it for a hand towel in my master bathroom.  

(before)

 (after)

I have been wanting to try this recipe, and finally did.  They are Individual Brussels Sprout and Potato Frittatas.  The recipe is from Eating Well.  Mom gave me some old magazines and this was in one of them.  

I did not have 10 oz. ramekins that the recipe called for.  I simply adjusted the recipe using my farm fresh eggs and used 1/2 pint, wide mouth canning jars.  I love this recipe.  I am so ready to plant more brussels sprouts, potatoes, dry more herbs and use goat's milk for this.  You can add about any vegetable to these too.  Yum!

I donated items to a local thrift store that benefits children.  I took the time to look around and brought these fun finds home with me:
 

 A vintage dish towel ~ $.69

A vintage crocheted doily ~ $.50

 Another dish towel ~ $.50

A ceramic bowl made in California ~ $2.00

 2 placements with camper pattern ~ $1.00 total

Retro stapler that works ~ $1.00

 3 books

Stephen King's "On Writing" ~ $3.00

A bit high, but anything sold used on-line has about $3.99 shipping anyway.

"Walking West" a Pioneer story ~ $.50

Antique book on Sentence and Theme ~ $1.00

What a fun time I had, and now we have more towels for the house and for camping.

I also bought 2 glass bowls for $.25 each for the cats.  I don't like to buy paper plates all the time and it's more eco-friendly.  They are made in the U.S. also.

I guess I better start "spring" cleaning the closets, so I have another reason to visit the store again soon - ha ha ha!

Joey is in Heaven

A very sad evening here today.

Our oldest dog alerted my 15 year-old daughter that a cat was inside the tote.  We have two totes on their sides, filled with dry bedding for the barn cats to keep warm.

When my daughter checked the tote, she found Joey.  He was already gone.  

Most likely he was hit by a car.   He walked himself to the house and went into the tote.  He rested there until he went to Heaven.

There is a blog that was written about him:  The Little Orange Cat the Could 

Joey was loved and will be greatly missed.  

We love you Joey!  

Cleaning, Cooling Down, and Crafting

Mondays.....the day of my all-out house cleaning.  Yay!  A fresh start to the week and a freshly cleaned home.  My clotheslines will be working over time today.  The sun is shining and blessing us with peace of mind.

I look forward to sipping hot tea, and relaxing with some crocheting....or a good book.

Excerpts from A Journal Junkie

from the homesteading journal. . .

 We are trying to buy USA made items when we do need to shop.  I actually found a clipboard at Wal-mart that states it's made in the USA.  

 We bought chicken wire to start a much needed outdoor coop off the "chicken" barn.  

 Split wood again, but the weather is not too cold here.  

 We are bartering service work on our broken down van, with home canned goods again.  The van was delivered, so I need to get busy so I have canned jelly to barter.



from the crafting journal . . .

 I finished the new dishcloth pattern, and actually put another one in my store.  I have already started a third one.   I'm finishing up another knitted block for the block blanket, and have decided to put my tatting aside until the blanket is finished.

 Two projects "in progress"

I started decoupaging another tea bag box, and this time I'm using old book pages.  The handle is recycled oxygen tubing.  I'll be posting that later on my S.C.R.A.P. blog.

I recently discovered it's much easier to have a clip board for my knitting pattern, so I bought a very inexpensive clipboard.  I painted it.  Now I am decoupaging paper with a rose pattern on it.  I will be placing my pattern in a plastic page protector, slipping in a note pad, and attaching a pen.  Then I can take my basket weaving pattern, for my knitted block blanket, anywhere in the truck, van or car.  I can keep track of rows, and not get behind in my work any more.  I also have a fun, jazzed up, clip board for it.  I may have to make a few more of these for other projects.

from my personal journal . . .

 Hubby and I headed out for goat feed over the weekend.  We had trouble finding the right brand in stock, and had a bag being held in another town.  We had no time limitations, so we stopped at a brand new gun store and browsed.  The store was packed with people too.

Next, hubby surprised me by taking me to a very large antique store, that we had not been too in about four years.  We had so much fun walking around and browsing. 

I did more than browse too.  I was so excited to find this lipstick holder that I just had to buy it.  I had no idea they existed until another farmgirl shared photos of the ones she has found.  

Underneath the lipstick holder is a dish towel I found, that has tatting as the edging - $3.00.  What a deal.  What great finds, and useful too.

I bought his $5.00 vintage chopper also.  Why?  Well, it's a perfect container to hold elastic hair bands in my vintage decorated master bathroom.  

I cleaned it up and when the chopper handle is lifted up, it brings up hair bands on the bottom piece.  I'd rather buy USA made for every day use, and this chopper was made by the  Lorraine Manufacturing Company in New York City.  According to my research, they started up around 1868.  What fun it was to find this out after I got home.

I had a very fun day, and hope to do that again in a few years.



from my gratitude journal. . .

 Today I am thankful for:

~ being able to pay off one dentist bill
~ getting a day away and relaxing
~ the beautiful sunshine we are having
~ having enough firewood
~ tea
~ my outdoor clothesline
~ books
~ once again, I am thankful for pen and paper
~ God's Promises
~ slippers