It's closing in ~ Camper Christmas Tree Ornaments ~ Daughter's first paid hair cut

The holiday is closing in now.  It's time to step up and tidy up.  The overnight rolls were made and will be baked later today.  The ham will be cooked too.  There is a lot of turkey warnings going on, so I'm not even sure I'll eat turkey if it's brought here for the meal.  

Check out these cuties!  More are getting made.  I made a few for the first upcoming craft show.  Hubby and Youngest love them.  I'll be working on more color options too.

Oh my.  I have to share this, ha ha!  Hubby got his first hair cut from our Hair stylist-in-training.  He worked over, and got home late, but she was able to check out trimmers and sheers from her school.

He was yelling through the house for me to come sit in the kitchen and watch.  I literally sat down and he told me to leave.  I pulled out my phone and filmed our daughter working away.

He told me to leave again.  So I did.  Ha ha ha!

A few minutes later I hear, "Babe?  Babe? Where are you?"

I walk back out and sit down to watch him taking selfies on his phone, so I show him the video.  He immediately says, "You have to leave."  HA HA HA HA HA!  

He was apparently nervous to get his hair cut by her, and didn't know if he wanted me to watch or leave the room.  This went on and on until his cut was finally done.  

She did great too!  I do believe we have a hair stylist on our hands, and Hubby paid her for the cut too.  We both told her to start a savings for her future salon, and she agreed.  I sure hope she sticks with it. She has many talents, and has already earned her certificate to run tanning beds too.  She can do nails, hair, eye brows, etc.  She is really going all out for her first year.  We are so proud of her.  It's nice to know she can check out trimmers and sheers from her school, bring them home, do cuts, and return them for free.  It's great practice for her too.

Tuesday Tidbits

We had 4 deer out by our garden the other night.  I'm pretty sure they were munching on the pears I tossed in the pasture.  We may see some drunk deer, ha ha!  

I had lots to do Monday - major laundry (cold outside, wind at 1 mph, cloudy, so I had to use my dryer, sigh..), dusting, tidying up, more deep cleaning, and the other regular stuff like fetch wood, care for the hens, dogs, cats etc.  I needed to tidy up the study, and wipe down more cobwebs (just part of country living).

I bought these to brighten up the kitchen on Thanksgiving day. Only $1.00 each.

I made this for the kitchen to add a tiny more bit of homemade touch.  The dish was only $1.00. They are the new colors in my kitchen.  I'm just loving the new look now.

It only took about 3-4 searches to locate my matching tablecloths.  Whew!  That job is done and ready for Thursday.

Medicinal, restful - beam me up tea was brewed.  

Handiwork Hustle ~ Extreme Holiday Clean

Despite deep cleaning, I've managed to sign up for not one, but two craft shows in December.  And even though I've been doing so much organizing, purging and cleaning, I've managed to whip up these cuties . . .

Scrap yarn Christmas ornaments.   I believe I got the pattern from a library book.  I'll post it if I can locate the book.  I apologize for the bad photo, it was pretty dark out and I turned on a pretty bright light.

I'm also putting the finishing touches on the Starbucks ornaments, and wine cork keychains.  

I've finished another washcloth and scrubbie set, and have another knitted dishcloth almost finished.  I would like to get a few more ornaments made before the shows too.

Hubby is tickled pink to see the deep cleaning getting done.  I'm hoping it will motivate him to get started on other bigger projects that need done here too.  I finally got my antique rug beaters up on the wall.  We've actually used them, but they had been tucked here and there, and while cleaning, I just thought what the heck.  Up they went.

The hefty armoire was moved, carpet cleaned, wall trim wiped clean and whatnot.  We bought "sliders" for this heavy job, as well as for moving he bedroom furniture (which is getting done after Thanksgiving).

The hutch was emptied on the lower end, wiped and cleaned up.  The top (sigh) will have to wait.  I'm getting close to running out of time.  I actually found a cookbook I forgot about, and excited to flip through it later.

I had a visit from Oldest Daughter, and her dog Mia.  Tiger was enjoying his sleep in a kitchen chair, when Mia went nose to nose.  Tiger finally figure out how to hold his ground.  He gave Mia the meanest glare and loudest hiss.  Poof.  Mia backed off.  She'll chase if Tiger runs.

Saturday we had a ton, and I mean a ton, of errands to do.  Our youngest joined, and when we returned said, "Man, I love to shop, but I can honestly say I am worn out!"  We were too.  We were all in PJ's, in bed, watching movies and football by 3pm.

Sunday we were up at 5:00am, and went right to work.  By 1pm, we were thoroughly pleased with progress and hung up the broom and cleaning rags for another day.  PJ's went back on for a well deserved rest of the day off.  It was cold, cloudy, and uninviting outdoors anyway.  

We have set a day to cut wood, so cross your fingers the weather cooperates too.  

Holy Dust Balls!

I apologize on not getting around to reading blogs, commenting, etc.  Two days of the internet issues slowed me down, so please be patient as I get time to do that.  By the way, it's day 3 of internet issues.  In the midst of it, I got a text alert that someone was trying to hack my microsoft account as well.  Hm.   Hubby immediately mentioned our internet provider.  Who knows, but I'll be on the phone again today, so my patience will need more coffee perhaps.

I took the plunge and emptied this . . .

My breakfast bar.  I just have to empty the drawers, but those will be done after the holidays.  I just needed it empty to move from the wall, wipe down cobwebs, clean wall, trim and carpet, which will happen later today.  School was closed due to weather.  It's an icy mess out there.

I'm thinking I need to host here more often.  I'm cleaning things I haven't cleaned (yikes) in years.  Like the carpet under the larger furniture.  It does feel good to get it done though.

Just a note on the internet issue - I can't access my email.  Hmpf.  Yet.  I will be asking them for a refund on my internet bill today, so it may hurry them up to fix the problem. 

Our youngest daughter has been accepted into the National Honor Society. Induction was to be tonight, but with school closed they will most likely change the date now.  We are so proud of her.

. . . from the gratitude journal ~ Internet Issues

I'm thankful for all the recipes I haven't tried yet.  The anticipation keeps me fired up, looking forward to something.

I'm thankful for having Jesse with us.  He's been a blessing and he's getting much needed exercise on the homestead.  And of course he's a great watch dog.

I'm thankful for anti-ill oil spray.  It's been killing off germs for us.

I'm thankful for coffee.  Without it, I would be a bear to deal with, ha ha!

I'm thankful for one daughter who has stepped up to the plate with helping out at get togethers.  She's bringing pie, cookies and other items to the meals, and I am so happy for that.  Woohoo to her helping out.

Here's what's been going on at the homestead.  First off, our internet provider has caused us problems.   We cannot access the internet on the desktop computer, due to a problem they created, and most likely to force us to use their DNS server to track and sell our browsing history.  I have already called another provider and we cannot get them (dish, and no clear path to a tower).  It's day 2 and they are telling me the same ol' story.  

I am using an old laptop, so all of my photos are not on here.  Another frustration. 

I had the pleasure of an all-day visit from our oldest daughter the other day - fed her breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Even the wifi cut out about dinner time, while she was doing her homework (college).

Here is what's been going on in the kitchen -  a large pan of overnight Mexican breakfast casserole, more einkorn peanut butter cookies, and a large batch of breakfast burrito filler (sausage, bacon, egg, potato, pepper, onion and dandelion).

...so what's going on in the living room?  

This job was completed, and I'm onto the next now.  I completely emptied my pie safe, dusted everything, purged, moved it from the wall, cleaned the wall, wall trim, and carpet.  What a job that was.  It has screens, so everything needed dusted.  I have to store my mixer, food processor, and as you can see many other kitchen items due to space in my kitchen.

I'm dusting off the emergency candles (literally) too.  Oye, the dust bunnies are everywhere, so I am thankful to stop and get a few breaks.

It's been cold here, and too early for November.  Hopefully, our internet issue will be resolved soon.  It's happening to other people, so I'm not the only one.  

Happy Homemaker Monday

I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.  I'm a bit slow today.  Oh my....

We delivered a meal to Hubby's best friend (who recently lost his wife) and son last night (his daughter was away in another state), and we brought along our daughter.  I baked chicken spaghetti and corn casserole (just like a lighter corn pudding, but baked).  They loved it thankfully.  But...but....here's the kicker.  Stories where shared all night, although we had intentions of leaving early, the bottle of Jack was pouring shot after shot.  He he.  Oh my land.  I'm  gonna be putting honey on everything today.  Yep, I am hungover for the first time in a very long, long time, but all in good.  We loved spending time with them, and they kept thanking us for the food we took over.  Thankfully, we had a driver.  She was a trip too.  Kept talking to us like we were the children and she was the parent.  And in truth she was, ha ha!

On the way home, guess what we saw.  A coyote.  A lone one.  Sitting a the edge of the road, halfway down the field south of our place, which is adjacent to our property.  Yep.  Not good.  Not normal for this late in the season either, and the farmer has yet to take his miles of corn out across the road.  It's just harboring animals of different kinds.

Speaking of corn, someone hit a deer last week (same place one was hit last year, almost across our north drive). One crossed the other night while I was out with Jesse too.  Anyway, I noticed someone came during the night and cut the head and tail off.  I'm guessing it was buck, but why, why, why?  Who would want to pay a taxidermy for a deer you didn't kill nor even put in the freezer? Do poachers sell that sort of stuff?  I just don't understand the logic of taking a deer head to mount if you didn't kill it yourself and harvest the meat.


The weather outside is. . .
So-so.  Snow is on the way though. There is no wind and it's 29°F.


On the breakfast plate . . .
Blueberry pancakes with honey.  And about 3 pots of much needed coffee, followed by hot tea with honey.


As I look out the window . . .
There is not much of a sunrise this morning.


Right now I am . . .
Washing a crocheted blanket my daughter's friend used to sleep Saturday night.  She came over for a sleepover, but came sick.  Yes.  I said sick. Coughing and hacking the entire time.  Who does that to people???  I sprayed the entire couch with vodka/lavender spray and anti-ill spray.  Man alive.  I went to town and sprayed everything she may have touched too.  I'm sorry, but do not, do not go out if you are sick. 


As I look around the house . . .
Deep cleaning must resume.  I am having a Thanksgiving dinner here this year.  It needs done anyway.  I like to live chaos free.


On the to-do list. . .
-a mountain of dishes
-anything I can manage to get done today, ha ha!  Literally.


Currently reading. . .
A stack of old writer magazines.


On the TV. . .
Nothing.


On the menu. . .
A new recipe!!  I'll be updating if we like it or not.  It's breakfast dish, but we are having it for dinner.  Other than that, I don't have a menu planned. I have a HUGE stack of dishes to wash this morning before I write one out.  I need to consume lots of honey today, so my brain can function normal enough to even sort out a menu (ha ha!).


What I am creating at the moment . . .
Crocheted Christmas tree ornaments, and embroidered kitchen towels (photos to come soon I hope).


Favorite photo from the camera. . .

My Dad.

Prayers, inspirational quotes, or devotionals. . .
Continued prayers for Hubby's best friend and family, as they continue to grieve.  

Peanut Butter Einkorn Cookies

Although Saturday felt like I was running around, and not catching a break, I got some einkorn peanut butter cookies baked.  Recipe is online.

Breakfast for the next few days will be einkorn blueberry pancakes.  I made a big batch while Youngest slept in.

Man what a day yesterday - cold, cloudy, snowing etc.  The water in the chicken's watering unit froze.  There was just a lot to get done.

I finished one handmade Christmas gift.  I may post photos, but I may need to wait until after the gifts are gifted too.

Today's another run-around day, so I surely hope to get Monday off for once.  Things will just need to sit so I can catch my breath.

I'm up early doing the usual homestead hustle.  I'm letting Hubby sleep in on his only day off.  It's 25°F, but no wind thankfully.