Put up a Tree and Cleaning Starts

The garden is too wet, and now frozen.  I think if I even get the last tomato stakes out, I'll be happy. 

I woke up to a chilly 21°F this morning.

Yesterday, after a few chores, I went to drag out Christmas tree #4.  The day ended up with an all day date with this:

First, I noticed the study chair was needing a good cleaning (on my way to open cubbie to get the tree), so I thought I'd get two things done - the chair, then my dresser top, to where the ceramic tree would go.

I flipped the chair upside down and saw spider webs (Yikes!) so off I went to find the vacuum cleaner.  I ended up cleaning the entire desk, cubbie door, chair and my dresser top.  I then proceeded to pull drawers out and wipe them down and the inside of the dresser, which led me to more cleaning, and on and on it went.

However, Christmas tree #4 was put in place.  Whew!  I had to text Hubby that I needed another pair of rubber gloves.  I need them for today's continued wood work cleaning.

While all that was going on, I almost forgot I had bread rising.

Yikes.  Not the best load, but a loaf. The photo makes it look good, but it's lopsided, ha ha!  I really need to find a good whole wheat bread recipe. 

Another yikes - almost forgot to take the dogs out.  "Grad" daughter is home most mornings and she had an 8 hour work day.

Dusting was done, carpets swept, my dresser cleaned off.  Another spider trap is in place.  

Do you ever have to spend a day putting away the "didn't put it aways?"  You know, those items you just put down and tell yourself you'll put it away another time?  I have been diligent in keeping those areas clean, so it only took a few minutes to clean that up. 

If I had a plan for yesterday, it would have failed for sure, but I got much of my deep cleaning done.  I have more to clean.  Much more.  I'm making a list for the girls now. 

Random Tidbits

Today I am thankful for:

 

 ~ my short crocheted cowl.  It's been keeping me warm, and does not get in the way of my work outside.  I wear it inside on days I just don't want to mess with firing up the wood stove.

~ our libraries, with them I can learn so much, and obtain free entertainment, if anything in my last "loot" is worthy to share I will. I have lots of "loot."



I have been cleaning a lot lately.  Computer/office area has been wiped down, spider webs gone, dust gone . . . have lots to file yet though, and a few recipes to take care of.

The orange Asian beetles are trying to all move in lately. Not happening.  We've had two large wolf spiders come in, and one dropped down almost directly on me.  Ugh.  They are no longer alive. 
 

Some of the rugs were washed.  I just ran out of time. 

The dishwasher got cleaned.  I had to purchase a special cleaner for it, but that deep clean job is done.

Tree #2 in the office area was put up.  Tree #3 was started.  To make that story short, Hubby bought 2 boxes of 25 string blue lights for my bathroom tree last year.  I didn't use them due to the cords being green (and the tree never went up).  As we opened the tree boxes, we found all of our tree lights broken, some smashed (not sure what happened), and we had zero to put up.  So, we took the measly small cords of bright blue and used them.  I fell in love with them.  We may only have 50 lights on the tree, but they very pretty.

While out running an errand, I picked up this little ditty - $1.00 pot holder.  I love it. 

I'm still working on the old barn boards.  My wrist is a bit sore, so I may just take the day off from it and work the garden.  It all depends on weather and how wet it may be. Hubby came home tired, but fixed a cupboard door and put the very last knob on (finally after finding it). 

I've now gotten one kiddo all super excited about decorating for Christmas. She went to town and bought an 18 inch Christmas tree for her bedroom, and put handmade ornaments on it (that I gifted each of them).

Slowing Down

Things were much slower yesterday.  I was thankful for that.

Jasper has found a new toy to play with, ha ha!  He loves boxes.  I caught him trying to dig into the Christmas tree box too.  Silly cat.

It's been too wet to work in the garden.  We had a lot of rain dumped on us, and with it cold, it's not drying up.  The wind has died down too.


I have however, removed nails from some of the barn wood.  We are at least reducing our piles out there (ever so slowly).

The homemade hot chocolate jar was restocked and ready for winter.  The girls are happy.  They enjoy a cup after school, and after work.

Random Tidbits

According to the news, we were very, very lucky.  On Sunday, the day we took two girls to the movies. . . a tornado touched down. 

Where?

Right behind us.  Just minutes after we left the "big" city.  Seriously.  It was terrible leaving town - high winds, wet leaves on the road, raining so hard we had to drive slow. 

Passing through a smaller town, we had to pull over for four trucks leaving a fire station heading to the "big" city.

The next day, after we arrived home, and saw what had happened, our jaws dropped.  We had just driven through the area of where a tornado took havoc, and tore up a trailer park area.  Store signs ripped off, cars flipped over. . . but not one person injured thankfully.

It makes my hair stand up when I think about it.  We could have been in that, had the girls taken 2-3 more minutes in the restroom.  We are ever so grateful, and thankful that no one was injured.

As for the new sweet potato dish I wanted to try?

Two voted no.  One voted yes.  And one vegetarian would not even try it. She was feeling a bit sickly (again) and her stomach wasn't feeling it.  Why two no votes?  It's sweet.  Like candy sweet.  Didn't like that, so I sprinkled cinnamon on mine.  Better, but way, way too sweet.  It's a shredded sweet potato dish with sugar, butter, and pineapple juice.  Odd combination, but again too sweet for our taste. I'll stick with my regular recipes for sweet potatoes.

Not much to post today.  I spent time scrubbing out the chicken watering unit, laundry and my list of chores yesterday.  I didn't have enough hours to even get the list done.  I'm not surprised.

However, I made the call to the insurance company.  It took me several times to get a speaking person.  I hate that anymore.

As for the recent medical bill?

It's real.  It's not incorrect.  And, unlike what Hubby thought, I have not met my personal deductible (which is $3000.00).  Sigh....so we gotta pay this one too.  Oh, I am not happy.  Not happy at all.  There will be no Christmas presents purchased this year. Not even for the kids.  We have sat them down and talked to them. I honestly think the ones who were upset are the two out living on their own.  

Don't get sick.  Don't get a crappy doctor, and above all, don't get bit by a venomous spider.

And dang it all. With that said, I couldn't get the free guinea hens.  I'd have to spend money to feed them (and spend money on straw), and we can't do that right now.  Urgh.  I have wanted guineas for years.  

Well, maybe another year.  I mean we got the trees felled, and the big barn down, so I'm not giving up any hope here.

Also, the make up remover wipes (homemade) that I posted about, and loved?  I shared the book too?  Well, they grew mold on them.  I had to toss them.  A waste of supplies, but wanted to share so folks didn't waste money.  I don't think you could add an essential oil if you are using them on your eyes either.  I will stick with my goat's milk soap.  Now I'm wondering if I should even waste ingredients on the facial cleanser recipe?  Hm.  

Happy Homemaker Monday

If you haven't gotten tired of today's posts, I am joining Sandra over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom today.  It's a dreary day here today, so those make me lazy.  I need help staying accountable today.

On the breakfast plate  . . .

Coffee, sweet potato and black bean frittata, a slice of homemade bread with homemade sherry pear butter, yogurt topped with homemade granola.  Speaking of which, I need to get yogurt made this week.  


Right now I am . . .
Thinking my blog header really needs updated, but it will have to wait until I have a cold winter day with nothing to do.  


The weather outside . . . 
Wet.  Wet, flooding everywhere, dreary, cloudy, and colder.  Nasty tornado weather.


Looking around the house. . .
The broken down treadmill was finally moved out, so I can start putting up Christmas tree #2.  I'm not letting any holiday haters ruin my fun either.  Yes, a bit early, but if you got as sick as I did last year, you'd be doing it too.  


Today's to-do list . . .
-exercise
-Dishes! Lots and lots of dirty dishes!
-laundry washed and on the line (we have wind)
-dust
-floors
-call the insurance company
-bring in more plant stands
-clean off hearth, empty ash pan and bucket
-scrub chicken watering unit and hang heat lamp
-write!!  I didn't write yesterday, it was a family fun day.
-make a pitcher of brain booster iced tea
-make a nettle tea infusion
- my list will be for the week because there is never enough hours in my days anymore.


Currently reading . . .
Same novel, no magazines this week so far.



On the TV today . . .
Hm.  If we watch anything tonight, it'll be Christmas movies on netflix.  We don't get the hallmark channel anymore. 




On the menu this week. . .
-hamburger gravy over potatoes (using organic beef)
-stuffed peppers
-homemade pizzas
Hm?



If I have a few minutes to myself, I will . . .

Crochet.  I am working on a secret Christmas present for a daughter, but I'm just thinking I need to give it to her early.  I'm a sucker for things like that.  She's been asking for a specific crocheted item, and I'm secretly making it.  She asked me again last night if I would still make it.


New recipe I want to try or have tried this week . . .
Well, I tried the chocolate pie.  Go back one post and you'll see it.  Oh my, it's a keeper. I also tried one new jerky recipe using my dehydrator.  Loved it.  This week?  A new sweet potato dish for sure.


Favorite photo from the camera . . .

A weekend sunrise from another view other than my porch.

Devotional, Scripture, Key Verses, Quotes. . . .

Surprise in the Chicken Coop ~ Chocolate Pie ~ Dehydrator Jerky ~ Skipping Thanksgiving ~ Tornado

I didn't write this ditty yesterday, as my blog was so very long already for the day. 

I've been free ranging the ladies and stud muffin Sparta all day after about noon lately.  One, they get their grit and dirt baths, two they help me reduce the bug numbers, and three it cuts the organic feed cost down. Oh, and four, they help "till" up the garden too.

I went to put them all in, and I had left the coop door open.  The barn was shut, but once I opened the barn door, the hens followed me in. 

I had a container of goodies in one hand, and a bucket of water in the other hand.  I started to fill the water when all h-e-double hockey sticks  broke loose.  

At first I thought a raccoon was in the coop with me.  It was that dang stray gray tabby that's been hanging around.  It took forever to find the door out, and was literally climbing the chicken wire at high rates of speed.  Once I realized it was just a cat, I stepped back until it found the door.  

Oh my land.  The ladies and I had a scare.  Oh, and one hennie looks iffy.  Not sure she'll be around much.  I'm worming, but hmm.  She's not looking so perky.  Doesn't want to hop up to get in the coop. 

If you read yesterday's post, you saw I made homemade chocolate grahams.  I used 3 cups of them finely ground to make a pie crust.

I tried the new recipe.  Actually two.  The first? 

Chocolate Mousse Pie.  I have wanted to make a chocolate pie for a long time.  Hubby raved about his mother's cake, and I didn't want to pie using chocolate pudding (processed) in it.  

The recipe is in this book (right), "Christmas Made Easy" and you can also find it free online with Mr. Food, although it requires you to register to see recipes for free.

It's worth the look.  My family devoured the pie, and one was moaning as she ate it.  I've pretty much stuck to fruit pies lately and this was a sweet treat to try (for taking to holiday gatherings).  
 
I also made my first teriyaki beef jerky.  I used the oven first, then transferred it to the dehydrator.  Then I realized my dehydrator goes up to 165°F.  Duh!  

I didn't do too bad for the first time.  It tastes great too.  It is a teeny tiny bit over-dried, but still good.  I'll be making more when meat is on sale.  Or Hubby gets a deer this year. Hubby loves it!  Much easier to eat than organic (hard as a rock) jerky from the store.  I'm seeing a meat cow out here one of these days.  I really am.

The recipe for the marinade is from this book.  

I borrowed it from the library several times, and finally gave one recipe a whirl.  I had the meat guy cut the meat for me too.  I will be checking out more jerky books to see which one will land on my "wish" list next.  This one has a lot of recipes, but the author spends a lot of time on "cleanliness."

For now, I can't really try new holiday recipes, although one remains to be tried (sigh).  It's getting too close to the big day(s) and I need to save up for the supplies.  

We had plans to skip Thanksgiving.  Yes.  Skip it.  Hubby's suggestion.  We were to call and get reservations at a restaurant known for their very delicious holiday meal.  I forgot to call.  I'm sure it's too late now.  Sigh....I may be cooking it this year.  Double sigh.  I was sort of looking forward to skipping it (shhh, don't tell the kids). 

As for Sunday's entertainment?  We all went to the movies.  Hubby had 4 free admission tickets and we headed south to the other "big" city.  It was storming, and just as we had left, a (what they believe to have been) tornado hit a trailer park not far from where we had left, taking back roads.  It was very dark, raining so hard you couldn't see where the road was, and as we passed through another smaller town, several trucks from a fire station were sent out.  We were darn lucky.

That's a lot to take in for our Sunday here, and I may still join up with Monday's Happy Homemaker. I kind of need to get back on track after a day off.  Sort of a day off.  I still had a few minutes on the porch.

...until the bugs attacked me.  And before the really bad storms rolled through.  See the wet porch floor?  Rain was blowing up under the roof.

Oh.  We got more rain last night.  Like we need it.  Flooding everywhere here. 

Reubens ~ Homemade Grahams ~ Mullein Tincture

First thing yesterday morning, after warming up with a pot of hot organic coffee, I put corned beef into the crock pot.  Yum.  It smelled so good cooking all day.  Remember that homemade sauerkraut I fermented?  

Well, we enjoyed ruebens again.  Using that delicious loaf of homemade bread, the meat, sauerkraut, homemade thousand island dressing (made with my canned sweet pickle relish and canned ketchup) and swiss cheese.

I also made a batch of chocolate grahams - homemade of course.  Yum.

Started a new jar of mullein tincture.  Only this time I have to use dry herbs vs. fresh.  I am tickled I found it growing wild this year though.  It's just not enough. Unfortunately, this will take 6-8 weeks to sit before I strain it.  I don't use anything higher than 80 proof either.  Stronger is not always better.

To read about the uses and benefits of mullein, there are many herbal books at the library  (and you can google it online too). 

I recently borrowed this book to check it out (because there is not one complete herbal book printed just yet).   I don't always like to share a link anymore. The ads are terrible on some sites.

Hubby had to work Saturday, and it rained off and on, and continued to be cold.  The girls were both gone, despite neither feels completely better.  So, happy to be home alone, I got up to 6697 words out of this month's 50,000.  Not including the short story. 

Hubby texted he'd be rather late, so we would be skipping the wedding reception.  I guess a mechanic had to go to the hospital for stitches.  Anyway, it was getting dark early, so I put the hens in for the night (more on that later), took the dogs out one more time, and put on my cozy clothes, aka pajamas.  

I spent the night crocheting a handmade gift for one of the girls.  I just hope it turns out nice, that I can finish it, and that I can keep it a secret.  The kids may be getting all homemade gifts this year.

The budget crunched on us again.  

Another medical bill showed up.  And it's larger than the last one I shared.  Gulp.  I am calling insurance Monday morning to be sure the bill is correct.   

On a happier note.  I didn't let that bill stop me from enjoying my day.  I also put up Christmas tree #1 - the bathroom tree.  It's red, white and blue, ha ha!  Not on purpose.  One string of lights stopped working too.  I don't have the money to buy blue lights on white cords, nor a new tree skirt (as planned), so the old red lights went on, with my thrift store blue ball ornaments (obtained several years ago with an all blue Christmas in mind).  Sort of looks funny, but in the day, very pretty.  My "happy" part of my day.