Day Out ~ Purge Continues and other ramblings

Daughter K had a day off so we decided to go shopping.  Local store shopping in a quaint little town. I picked up some interesting items for the girls for "Easter baskets."  I found locally made honey lollipops, and some old fashioned candies made in the USA (sold at locally owned businesses).  

The weather was miserable outside - rain, high winds, gloomy.  It was a perfect reason to get out and enjoy ourselves for once. Some would do the opposite, but out of the house it was.

My purge/extreme clean is back in action.  I've filled 3 boxes of books, two more of misc. items, and now donating a travel case.  We had one for camping and one for traveling anywhere else (when we drive).  The bike is different for overnight stuff.  Anyway, I decided the one we use more often holds more in the top tray, and I have one less case to store in my closet.

Oh, and because we both started purging clothing, I was much better at shopping on vacation.  I literally came home with one Harley Davidson top and love it (from St. Augustine, FL).  I have to say, I felt much better about my self control on buying clothing there.   

Much has been on my mind lately, including getting raised beds built.  We hope to be back to finishing the hallway this weekend and other jobs too.

Fog ~ Rosemary's Famous Face Cream ~ Signs of Spring

 

Yesterday started out with a lot of fog.  The weather warmed up to the 60's and felt so great.  Today it's dropping down again with wind and rain.  We are now in the mixed up time of year where we can get snow, rain, fog, nice days, ugly days....just typical for us.

I had high hopes to hang laundry on the line, but the wind was pretty nasty out.

I needed more wood on the porch, but someone left the garden cart out by the coop (full of dirty straw that needed dumped).  Wasn't me.

I finally got my homemade face lotion made.  I use the recipe in Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs book (A beginner's guide).  I will need to make more oil this summer for the next batch.  I store the extra lotion in the refrigerator until I need it.

Signs of spring are showing up in the flower beds now.  Some areas are a bit over crowded, so I may be digging and splitting them up after they are done blooming.  

Update on the general store and consignment  - no response via email.  Although I had to clear up about 1,000 emails, there was zero back from the store.  If I don't get one today, I'll just call and check back in.

Handiwork from on the road and other ramblings

During the recent road trip, I took along yarn and easy projects.  I got one set of pot holders finished, crocheted two washcloths and two facial scrubbies.

While we were gone, the bananas were not eaten, so I tried a new recipe.  It's more of a breakfast, but looked good and healthy too.

I made Almond Butter Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal (from A kitchen Addiction).  We loved this.  No flour and just a bit of either honey or real maple syrup to sweeten it.

Back at the Helm at Home

 

Woke up to one beautiful sunrise yesterday on our first morning back home.  Just gorgeous.

The day started with firing up the wood stove, much laundry, housework, putting travel stuff away and baking.

Did a quick check on the mailbox, chickens and such.  I'll probably hire someone to chicken sit if I am gone for a week anytime this year.  It was too much for Daughter K, as she worked almost every single day.

Breakfast was thrown together with zucchini and dandelion greens.  I need to go shopping for some sweet potatoes.

I took yarn for the drive for our recent vacation.  I hope to share updates on what I got made soon.

I wrote up a to-do list for when we returned from vacation, but low and behold, I can't remember where I put it.  I'm sure I won't run out of things to do, but found it funny.  

Happy Homemaker Monday

My husband and I, along with Daughter E, took a week long vacation.  It was much needed.  We are sick of feeling like prisoners in our own state.

Six states have lifted restrictions now, including mask mandates.  It should be that way across the states.  Anyway, we vacationed mask free!!  Best feeling in the world.  Our first stop in TN to gas trucks up, was the best feeling too - no mask required to enter the gas station.

When we ate out, we ate local and shopped local (other than a visit to a Harley store in St. Augustine, Florida). Even coffee shop stops were local.

While I was gone, I left my seedlings in the hands of Daughter K.  How did it go?

Pretty good I'd say.  I'll be getting the heat lamps on some of them today.  

I can say it wasn't the best overall bike week vacation for us.  

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

(will link when she posts)

The weather outside is . . .

42/36°F, right now feels like 17°F

How I am feeling this morning . . .

Happy to be home, other than not happy the Governor hasn't lifted restrictions here.  I do have a messy house to tidy up, but overall glad to be back in our own home.  I got a good nights sleep despite two days of driving (about 16 hours).

On my breakfast plate . . .

Have no idea

On my reading pile . . .

Nothing right now.

On my TV . . .

To be honest, nothing much.  Hit the hay early last night.  I will have to find something new to watch.

On the menu this week . . .

-Spaghetti, green beans

....have no idea until I check my freezer/pantry stock today

From the camera . . .

I thought it was funny to see a palm tree and barn together.

St. Augustine, Florida.  We ate at local here and the grouper was so good.  We can't get grouper up here and it was worth the stop.

Our lake view at Ponoma Park, FL. Worst location to pick for bikers.  We were not allowed to use the garage so the bikes were unloaded and loaded to the trailer every night, and it had a 1/4 mile sand road access, so the bikes had to be driven thru a hilly yard to a neighbor's long drive that had less sand.

Alligator Farm we visited (like a zoo).

Flagler Beach, Florida.   I think if we return next year, we'd like to be here instead.  We ate at a local restaurant called the Funky Pelican and tried their mahi mahi.  Very good too.  They had no grouper on the menu here, but we had beachside seating and could keep an eye on our daughter.

Looking around the house . . .

Oh boy, oh boy.  I knew that Daughter K works every day and didn't expect much done, so it's housework, laundry, dishes etc this week.  We also need to finish the hallway flooring and trim.

To relax this week I will . . .

Honestly, just chill with my husband.  He was so mentally stressed that just getting home was a mental relief.

Something I want to share . . .

I have nothing today.  First day home from vacation.

Devotional, prayer, quote . . .

Making Tea Bags

 

To make tea making a bit quicker (and travel friendly), I made some homemade medicinal tea bags.  Chickory root works great in these.  Anyway, I tried out my new smaller (travel size) iron for this job.  A hair straightener will work to seal them too.  I bought my bags for the teas from Mountain Rose Herbs.  I can easily put these in my husband's or girl's lunches when needed.  I have amber glass jars to store extra pre-made teabags in.

. . .from the handiwork journal

 . . . progress on one sleeve of the cardigan.  My husband was right.  I may not get it done until summer.  I sort of lost my mojo on this project.  Too many "irons in the fire" right now.

. . .started another rag rug for one shower.  The rug is using up bedding I had in the closet, which also helps clear out the closet a bit.  The very center brown color is actually an old apron.

. . .got all the scrubbies finished for the order I received (new color to work with)

. . .cut netting for scrubbies (cut all of this color)

. . .got more recipe card holders finished and a set of fridge magnets.  I got them packaged for any future craft show.

. . .making a bit of progress with these ornaments.  I just have to paint on the faces and add hangers.