Hallway Progress ~ Knobs are on and other ramblings

Yesterday we delivered Youngest her car before she had got off work.  She was so happy that we not only got the tire fixed, but she had her car back before her shift was over.

I also delivered a large box of "doodle" paper to my niece and nephew.  I had to laugh, because my niece showed me a book she made with a lot of paper.  The are well supplied now, ha ha!  I also gave them 3 boxes of colored pencils and two of markers.

When we got back home, we had some time to do a few things around the house, and I am a happy gal.

My husband helped me put up the window film.  I also put up my new lace valance.  I absolutely love it.  I may do the front door this way too.  That framing on the window is inside the window.  I am glad I found window film I liked and was long enough to only have to cut one piece as well.  The window is next to the side door.  I'm not putting it on the door (which looks just like the window), because the dogs will jump up on it when someone delivers or knocks.  When Daughter K moves out, I will cover that door too.  I love, love love it.

I bought some for the bathroom window 12 years ago, for a window above the tub.  It has stayed up for 12 years.  It's the kind you wet and stick, is removable and no adhesive on it.

Anyway, I am hoping we get time to finish the hallway paneling and trim work.  Then come spring, I can paint the side door (inside and out), and the garage door.

Remember the knobs I bought last year?  They are finally up on the utility room cupboards.

Woke up to 19° and we'll warm up to 24°F today.  I sure hope the sun comes out too.  It's a bit windy out and more drifting, but so glad they were wrong about below temperatures.

Fire is stoked and this lady is going to make some coffee and get to work.

 

Winter Woes and Wins

I noticed we had a visitor when I went out to empty the ash pail.  We got more snow yesterday.

The leak ended up 2 leaks, and since we had to turn the water off, the other water pipes froze.  It's not been fun.  My counter is full of dirty dishes.  The drain froze too.  It'll be a long day for me.  When I do get water and a clear drain, it'll take me a week to catch up.  So frustrating, but leak was repaired, just not the softener line.

I spent most of my day on handicrafts, although I attempted to purge.  I didn't get very much put in the box for our daughter and grandkids.  My husband got a chuckle watching me though.  He said, "aren't you supposed to be cooking cabbage?" Ha ha ha!  We'll, I'll have some items for a fall craft show, prepared well in advance anyway.

Anyway, I heard my husband talking to himself over and over for not heat taping those water lines.  I tried to get him to do it several times over summer, and he wouldn't listen to me.  I think he got the picture this time.  

While he was trying to thaw out the rest of the house, I started yet another craft project.  More on that later.  I'll probably be purging the last two boxes of books.  I can't control myself when I'm purging crafting items (ha ha ha!).

........

Attempted to get this post up this morning, but had to literally throw on sweatpants and a shirt and head out.  Youngest broke down.  I had to pick her up and take her to work, only to come home and find my husband and a friend in the drive.  He had left work to tow her car home, but found out her tire blew (what happens when you drive too long on a tire with low air, but maybe she'll learn).

We had to go back to the big city and get a new tire, then back to the car and then back home.  I needed a shower and to brush my teeth.  Once we get the fire stoked, we'll make a 3rd trip into town (it's 20-25 minute drive each way).  We'll deliver her car to her work location and head back home.  

What a morning.....hoping the day goes way better now.

Curtains and other ramblings

 

The two curtains I ordered for the hallway windows arrived.  These are different than the fiasco for the long window in the hallway.  I love them!  It's hard to see, but the sun hasn't been shining.  I have ordered a new curtain for the other window, so stay tuned on that.

Pipes are thawed.  However, we had another flood in the utility room.  It stumped us, as it wasn't when the water was running to the washer or sink in there.  I told my husband it looked like it was coming from the wall behind the sink.  I told him the last flood we had.  We opened up the wall (thankfully we made an access).  The hose coming from the salt softener came loose and was leaking. 

Guess who is off work today just to fix the leak?  Yep.  Sigh.  Water has been shut off until then, so I am glad we had the jugs filled.  Plus, Daughter K brought home more drinking water just in case.

My Amazon curtain (rag) has been labeled on on the way to return.  What a mess.  It took two trips to buy printer ink (forgot it the first trip).  When I put the new ink in the printer, it automatically prints an alignment page.  Had to do that twice to get the darn thing to print.  Then the label printed blank.  Finally got the label and my packing tape malfunctioned (must have been cheap tape).  Finally got it all done and wrote them a review.  What a hot mess.

I still need one sheer panel for the front door, but that can wait.  I have lots of new ideas for the kitchen in the way of updates.

The snow finally stopped, so we may be cutting more firewood today if the leak project goes smoothly.  Soup beans are going in the crockpot this morning.

Ideas for revitalizing and energizing yourself (cont.):

41. Contact new people

42. Do something for others

43. Take charge of getting involved

44. Give the other person a break

45. Don't criticize and blame others

Need a Good Laugh?

 

Sorry for all the laughing in the video, but it was so hilarious!  King got winter boots for the first time.  Hoping it puts a smile on your face, or makes you laugh.

Happy Homemaker Monday

I'm up again before my husband gets home, but the worst part is that today he works a double.  Meaning he won't be home this morning, it'll be after he works another shift (1st).  It'll be a long day for sure.

Woke up to 9°F and frozen water pipes in the kitchen area.  Thankfully, I was prepared and filled large jugs.  The rest of the house has water.

Oh, and he is sick now too.  He works outside in this frigid weather, and working midnight runs you down.  He's getting medicinal teas, essential oils, Four Thieves and dandelions in his egg scramble.

Forgot to post 5 of these yesterday.

Ideas for revitalizing and energizing yourself (cont.):

36. Dress the way that feels right.

37. Practice good posture.

38. Utilize medical checkups.

39. Seek out good friends

40. Share yourself with significant

I'll admit purging my crafting supplies has been hard.  I'm finding fun items that make me sit down to figure out if I can or want to make gifts with them (or for sale at craft shows).  I've already opened one box for our daughter (with the grandkids) and taken out one bag.  Yikes.

I have however, completely cleaned out a 4 drawer cabinet.  It's going to Youngest for her apartment.

We've gotten just a wee bit more snow here, and the colder temps continue.  It's snowing this morning.  

Today's post is a little long.  Sorry for that.  

Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

I'll link up when she posts.  I need to get going, as the hours of the day go by way too fast anymore.

The weather outside is . . .

20°F/15°F, snowing

How I am feeling this morning . . .

Cold!  I am really not liking these temperatures lately.  We were lucky last winter I guess.

On my mind . . .

Trying to find a good day to get to the city for items I need.  Also trying to figure out which city, as one has a Hobby Lobby and the other direction does not.  Tough decisions.

Also on my mind, I miss family gatherings, going dancing (a lot), going to the library just for fun and browsing, and having the freedom to go out in public without a mask.  There were so many babies born in our family in 2020 that we didn't get to see or hold once yet.

I have many items I need to re-stock for a possible craft show this coming next fall.  I need to fill one order for scrubbies first, but have so much to re-stock.  

I'm already a worry-wart over Youngest moving out.  She hasn't learned to cook much, and I am already worried about her eating healthy.  I have a few months to work on that with her.

"If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours!" -Dolly Parton

The sad part of this quote is that the younger generation won't know what a smile looks like and we can't see each other's smiles with the masks.  

On the breakfast plate . . .

Egg, dandelion greens, sausage and bean burrito, organic coffee

On my reading pile . . .

As the Earth Turns, 1933 copy

On my TV . . .

Dead to Me when my husband is at work.  Otherwise what ever we find interesting.

On the menu this week . . .

-Soup beans, fried cabbage

-Baked chicken parmesan, veggie

-Stuffed Bell Peppers

-Either cod or salmon, two veggies sides

-leftovers

From the camera . . .

A recent sunrise we enjoyed.

Am I the only one who has a husband that comes home from work and does a donut in the front yard?  Ha ha ha!  Letting off some steam perhaps?

Looking around the house . . .

Oh boy, it's in worse condition than last week. I really need to take stuff to donate and free up tables.  The more I purge the worse it looks.  Although I know the final results will be amazing.

New recipe I tried last week, or one that we really enjoyed . . .

I haven't had time to be honest.  I've stuck with favorite recipes and continue to purge the house.

To relax this week I will. . .

Work on the clothespin crafts (so I can finish up and put remaining supplies back in the donate box), possibly cut netting and crochet scrubbies.  Maybe even read.  

Something I want to share . . .

"Little Acts of Kindness" (5 of 35)

1. Say "Good Morning" to a person standing next to you in the elevator.

2. Pay the toll for the driver behind you.

3. Take a minute to direct someone who is lost, even though you're rushing.

4. Write a letter to a child who could use some extra attention .  Kids love getting mail.

5. Offer to pick up groceries for an elderly neighbor, especially in extreme weather.

Devotional, Inspirational, prayer list or Bible verse . . .

Mom, she was given the green light for the vaccine, but can't find a place to get it.  My husband...he's sick.  Youngest as she ventures into her own apartment in a few months (and me, because I will miss her and Tiger her cat). For our kitchen water pipes to thaw.

Can't make this stuff up!

Saturday my husband and I went into the big city to get specific items.  Well, we left and completely forgot to take 4 boxes ready to go the thrift store.  We forgot the propane tank to switch for a full one.  I myself forgot to buy ink for the printer and shipping tape.  Those two items were needed, but it'll have to happen another day, and here is why.

 

I have to return this.  It's supposed to be a very pretty lace valance.  I am not making this stuff up.  It's literally a rag. Package said "curtain" and this is what I got.  I got it on Amazon.  I'm putting up a review for the product and will not be buying from Amazon again.  I'll wait and buy one in Amish country or another smaller store.  The one in the photo was made in China.  Go ahead chuckle.  We all did.

My husband is working midnights and day and a weird weekend schedule.  It's another weekend of not working on the hallway project.

I'm deep into purging more crafting do-dads, and working on  my second new project:

Woke up to a brisk 7°F, with a "feels like" -6°.  I'm glad it's not a -25°F like they predicted. I'm up before my husband is home from work.  Feels weird.  Fire is stoked and coffee is brewing.  I'm sure I'll be in the utility room today purging more crafting supplies.  He'll be sleeping all day.

Weather and other Tidbits

I did not get to town yesterday.  Youngest had to take my truck to work.  Her car doors were frozen shut.  Sigh.  Speaking of Youngest, she and a friend are looking for an apartment.  I don't blame her.  Her drive to work is difficult during inclement weather (from our homestead).  She is planning to take her cat.  I'm gonna miss them both.  I guess if it does happen, I'll be adopting a house cat soon.

I'll admit, knowing I wasn't leaving the house yesterday caused me to catch the lazy bug.  Boy oh boy.  Lazy.

Thankfully the "freeze" that was predicted won't be as bad, but next weekend looks like it may be.  

I had intended to start the day yesterday purging more crafting do-dads.  Oh my.  I filled one box half way and started two more craft projects. Ha ha ha!  I'll have some nice Christmas tuck in gifts and other gifts ready early for this next holiday time.

Thanks to a post over at Mamas Mercantile, I found a way to use up some scrap wall paper, and re-purpose some buttons. Thanks for the inspiration, and helping me use up and create!

You can see the project over on my S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot.

Ideas for revitalizing and energizing yourself (cont.):

31. Get proper rest

32. Get regular vigorous exercise

33. Eat a nutritionally balanced diet

34. Lose weight

35. Control all your input