Happy Homemaker Monday

It was about time we were blessed with an entire weekend rest, relax, and rejuvenate. 

My camper ornaments have been delivered and are for sale in a store on our favorite island.  I'm creating another new items she is interested in.  I'm praying I have time to work on them, and get the painting done, garden kept up, and so forth.

We are not the only ones dealing with a busy schedule.  Our friends on the island could not meet up with us due to a very busy work schedule.  We did stop and visit with another friend we have other there though.

My new smaller tiller finally arrived so garden work, while my husband is back to long hours, is much easier on me.

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

The weather . . .

85°F/66°F, scattered thunderstorms, windy

As I look outside my window . . . 

It's still dark out.

Right now I am . . .

Sipping coffee, trying to wake up.

Thinking and pondering . . .

Too early for that, ha ha!

How I am feeling . . .

Sad.  Sad we have to be back on the mainland with my husband back to long days, but I do have a lot to keep me busy, and the younger two girls come and go with visits.

On the breakfast plate . . .

Egg/sausage/cheese muffin, organic coffee

On my reading pile . . .

Picked up a new book.  I am pretty sure it will be a fast read, so I'm putting this first before I finish my current book.

On my TV this week . . .

Whatever looks good.

On the menu . . .

-chicken teriyaki, homemade teriyaki sauce

-Rueben's, but most likely will be next week

-grilled brats, side veggie

Looking around the house . . .

I have to make a trip upstairs and try and juggle working up there as well.  I need to (still have not) make room for the treadmill.  Next flooring project is the living room/kitchen bathroom.

On the to-do list . . .

-water and till in garden

-paint another drawer

-tidy up kitchen where I can

-water flower pots

-laundry

-vacuum

-dust

-water house plants

-check emails (getting so bad at this)

-start working on the back patio

From the camera . . .

Devotional/Prayers . . .

No special requests right now.

Storms and other ramblings

We had thunderstorms and some areas had damage from them.  I'm about to head out and check on the garden.  It'll be too wet to work in, but need to do a look-see anyway.

Limited to what I had on hand, I dug out some crochet thread and worked on something one of the kids suggested I make.

The strawberry turned out a perfect size, but will change the keychain part to something different.  The watermelon turned out a bit too big, so I'll make it smaller next chance I have.

I am finding out how many muscles I have while painting.  I was down on the floor on my stomach painting under cabinets.  I had to laugh when I told my husband this, and his response was, "I can take the trim off or you."  He's been saying that since the beginning of May (he has no time to do anything but rest when he gets home).   Most smaller trim was already off and is all painted,  One more coat and floor trim is done.

I am not running out of things to do, that is for sure.  As soon as the flower beds dry enough I will be weeding those, along with the herb garden.  I yanked a honeysuckle from the flower bed yesterday before the rain, and replanted it on the property line for a wind block.  I figure the birds gave it to us, why not utilize it elsewhere.

My lemon balm, and oregano are fully really to harvest.  The green onion and bunching onions are doing great thanks to the rain.

I tossed down more swiss chard seeds, and took a look at the kale.  It's doing pretty good, but not ready to harvest.

I did a quick check on infused oils, and need a few made this year.  I use them to make my homemade lotion, chapstick etc.  Speaking of list making the other day, I am about to start another one - restock items that need made that go in the freezer.  I must stay on top of what needs stocked up.  The way the gas prices are going, it's become worrisome.

Newest Crochet Project - Mini Camper Keychains and other Tidbits

I made this for Daughter K's birthday.  I'm not sure I'll get the other project done in time.  I'm heading out to the garden this morning early.  Anyway, it turned out super cute.  She is into a black and white theme in her apartment this year.

I got two more made in other colors, but it takes quite a bit of time to make these mini campers.

I got a strawberry crunch cake made yesterday evening.  I'm trying really hard to rotate out of the freezer, so I don't waste anything in there.  I forgot to take a photo, but my husband was pretty happy to come home to it.

Found out my husband's boss is out sick with covid right now.

All of the loose floor trim is painted but one piece.  The flooring guys broke one piece in half, and I didn't find out until the other day.  Frustrating for sure.

I'm off the hook with making breakfast for my husband's crew.  However, he needs scrambled eggs now for the weekend burritos.

I'm the queen of list making right now.  There is a list for the day, a continued list for the grocery store, a list of things that need re-stocked that require another list to pre-start those, like infusing oils.  I'm doing my best at this, but evenings are the hardest I think.

 

Banana Peel/Water for Tomato Plants ~ Hot Day!

 

Has anyone tried this with your tomato plants?  I keep seeing it shared online.  You put a banana peel in a jar, add water, let it sit for 1-2 days then pour it at the base of you tomato plant for a better harvest, bigger plant etc.  There are so many different directions to make this as well.  Some say cut the peel up, only let it sit one hour.  Then there are dehydrated recipes to chop the peel up with egg shells.  Any tips on this would be appreciated.  I already crush and drop egg shells in the garden.

It's going to be even hotter today, and my husband insisted I stay out of the garden today.  I'll water, even though it says it will rain, because if I don't it won't rain.

I actually got some crochet time in yesterday, and created something new.  I'll be sure to share a picture soon.

Working Solo

I've been busy weeding the tomatoes.  All 112 of them.  I am using a hand hoe until my smaller tiller arrives.  I have to stay on top of it.  Yes, the flower beds and herb garden are still waiting on me.  I am working solo.  My husband had to work Sunday and today.  No outdoor get together for us this year.  No grilling, no anything but garden work.

However, the heat sent me inside.  I finally finished this order for a shop.  I had all but one already made, so that was nice.  I do need more buttons for making more though.  A trip to the craft store is on the agenda, but not soon.

The heat will be worse today.  I'll be out there early to beat the heat and keeping an eye on things.  Yesterday I found that something dug up my cherry tomato plant, but left it.  It's been replanted and watered.  Praying it comes back to life, as I do not want to spend more money on a new plant.  It already had cherry tomatoes on the plant as well.

My wheelbarrow has a flat tire.  Hubby promised to replace it, but he's not had time for that.  It may be on my to-do list this week.

I feel like I am juggling all things that need done really.  Painting continues, but limited to space (painting floor trim on saw horses).  I finally cleaned out the leather trunk that was on our first motorcycle, and it's up for sale.  Today, I really need to remember to check on laundry.  The garden work makes me forget the regular chores around here.

My trips to the grocery have been very few lately.  My last trip was to get some quinoa chips for queso to go with tacos.  I was in complete shock to see the price almost $6.00!!!  I am so glad we planted what we did, after sticker shock at the store.  I'm am, however, keeping an eye on staying stocked up.  

This and That

I had just finished a mountain of dishes, when I remembered I needed to find an un-finished project that needs done ASAP.  I spent about a half hour  finding the project, but no pattern.

Well, I need to organize my patterns on a day I have nothing important on the to-do list.  I could not, for the life of me, find the pattern anywhere.  Of course, the house is in chaotic order right now, but I am thankful it was still on the internet.  Whew!

Today's morning project - bagging garlic to fend of raccoons and deer.  Be sure not to put this near some vegetables that do not like garlic.  I am also hanging in the fruit trees.  Someone told us they do this and it works.  We'll find out if it works or not.  I bought some cheap garlic from the store to do this project.

I have spent some time searching for close, fun destinations for my husband and I.  He sometimes has a day off, some weeks not.  I am having fun finding about new things to do and visit on his day off, and still get a few things done here at the homestead.

Meanwhile, the herb garden and flower beds are weed fests.  I have to wait for the rain to stop, and the beds to dry up just a bit, and then I will tackle those.

Rain ~ Baking Day ~ Mowing Day

 Although we didn't get a lot of rain during the day yesterday, we got a good amount last night.

I took advantage of it, and did some baking.  I make Mom's favorite snack (just because), and I tried a new recipe (as well as a 2 crock pot dinner - hot pepper mustard sauce over meatballs in one and sweet potatoes/thyme/garlic in another).

The new recipe?  Bacon, cheese, jalapeno bread.  I used the frozen jalapenos from last year's garden, estimating "2" jalapenos, and left the seeds in (that is the way I freeze them).  We both loved it!  I'm adding the recipe to my "taco" night family get together.  It took time to make it, and a lot of ingredients, but so good!  I added the optional green onion, because the herb garden is producing well, although needs weeded badly.

Daughter K arrived for another pick up, but did not bring her trash bags down stairs.  I was busy in the kitchen, and didn't realize it until she already left.  Anyway, more is out of my front room and upstairs.

Painting continues.  I can only paint one thing on the saw horses due to humidity, and the AC remains off.  The mowing was done.  There was a window of opportunity in the day, where the sun came out, before the rain came back.

I worked for a bit in the utility room, but that is limited due to all the bathroom stuff put in there.  We are still waiting on our hired help to start gutting the smaller bathroom, which reminds me, we still need to buy the flooring for in there.