Happy Homemaker Monday

 Our weekend was busy, busy, busy, but we did have time to relax later on Sunday.  We had three events to attend, all in different towns, and one being a funeral. We didn't get home until 9pm.

We got one AC unit taken out and put in storage.  The smaller one fritzed out on us (14 years old), and will be scraped at a later date.  

My husband wanted more mums for the flower beds, so we added 6 plants.  

We had to replace the shower head in the camper, as it was leaking, and the RV store told us it was put together (took the old one there) using a home shower head, sigh.  

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

The weather. . .

We will heat up to the mid 70's this week for a few days and then we go back to he 50's during the day.

As I look outside my window. . .

The trees out front of the property are getting trimmed.  We are at a halt as the chainsaw broke down.

Right now I am . . .

Brewing another pot of coffee, waiting on the washing machine.

Thinking and pondering . . .

I'm considering freezing some brussel sprouts.  Has anyone done this?  Wondering if they thaw well for roasted ones or in other recipes?  

We are considering installing an alternative heat source while we are fixing the living room floor.  We are just getting up in years to the point we do not want to mess with splitting wood every year.  We are not eliminating it, but if you heat with wood you'd understand.  We are lucky to have ease is sourcing wood to cut, but have to have the boys come and bring the equipment to bring the dead trees to the house.  Once again, we are way behind on that as well.  We have some wood cut, but needs split.

On the breakfast plate . . .

Egg, cheese and sausage muffin sandwich, coffee.  My husband prepped the sandwiches yesterday thankfully.

On the lunch plate . . .

Have no idea just yet. Probably PB and Jelly.

On the dinner plate . . .

BBQ Western Ribs, Sweet potatoes and possibly another veggie.

What I am wearing . . .

Sweatpants, t-shirt and slippers until I need to do the outside work.

On the reading pile . . .

On my TV this week . . .

We just watched Fried Green Tomatoes, but have been watching all the movies we have with Loretta Lynn in them.

On the menu . . .

-BBQ Western Ribs, Sweet potatoes
-Something grilled on the warmer days
-Beef Stroganoff over noodles and peas
-Leftovers

Looking around the house . . .

My to-do list is long, as we prep to clear out the living room to start ripping up old carpet.  We have 3 people lined up to take the Armoire, and hopefully soon.  We are working on hiring a few people to move a table and treadmill for us as well.

The to-do list . . .

-empty dishwasher and fill it
-wash the other dishes

-wash bedding
-put some things back into storage
-clean more out of the living room

-put outside Christmas lights up (best to do when it's warm out)

-locate place to take more donations

-take other donations already packed up to their new homes

-take down the wind chimes and put in storage

-wash all camper bedding and put back in storage

-muck the coop and add extra straw for the up coming cold weather

-wash a window and put the curtain back up

-take down hanging porch pots, dispose and store hangers

From the camera . . .

Oops....got nothin' today

Devotional . . .

Prayers for Renne's family.  He and his wife were hit head on and Renne did not survive his injuries (funeral we attended).

Last Chance for the Herb Garden ~ Weather and other ramblings

Our weather is now in it's persnickety season, where you put on a thick sweatshirt in the morning, and a t-shirt in the afternoons.  You all know me, and I'm a die hard put-it-on-the-clothesline woman.  Some days are great for drying, and others take much more time.

We got some rain, which is great for my fall garlic, but keeps me from weeding flower beds.

Our weather dropped down to 31°F last night, so I spent the day putting up more green onion and chives.  I also cut all the zinnia heads and brought them in, as well as flowers that were about to bloom.  

We also canceled camping and winterized the camper.

Daughter E is getting bookings, but has had to drop some prices to do that, so I hope she is still earning enough to set sail with her being her own boss.  She asked me to bring in some ear warmer headbands to sell at her chair.

I've been working on some headbands in fall colors.  It's been a while since I pulled the pattern out too.  

Daughter's Advice .....

 

While cleaning off our breakfast bar, I found the jars my Aunt J packaged up for me (later sent by my Uncle after she passed).  They were tucked behind photos.  I kept them all the way packaged them except for the one that had candy in it, which of course I ate.  The other jars have teabags, popcorn and buttons.

In conversation with my daughter K, she advised me that we can't keep everything, and sometimes we need to change things.  

The story about the jar, is that I sent her jars of jam.  She packaged and intended to return my jars filled with goodies.  She was the best snail mail buddy I ever had.

I used to send her the funniest stuff around Halloween for her grand kids. 

So....the jars will be emptied and the buttons saved for something.  The jars will go back into rotation for canning again, but Aunt J will not be forgotten.

Refreshing the Flower Beds

 

It was high time to refresh the flower beds, however I am not done.  We are talking about possibly adding more mums, as some of ours have died over the years.  I just depends on if I can get them all looking spiffy.  The mowing is being done today, so I can't exactly do any weeding, but they do look much better.

We had a beautiful 70 degree day yesterday, but boy did that weather wake up the stink bugs, bees and wasps.

I was so excited to find a craft show in November, only to decide it won't happen.  Instead of the usual $20 a table and $10 for a second one, they want a whopping $30 per table this year.  As of now, it won't happen this year. Paying $60 to participate is outrageous.  I don't have high priced items, and even if I did, they would not sell.  

Gas prices are soaring as well.  Everyone is selling and no one is buying, so there is that too.

I hate mowing days.  It puts me out of outdoor work, putting anything on the clothesline, so hopefully we are nearing the end of mowing season.

Self Care Day ~ Donation Drop Off Day

I finally got up to the "Big City" and got a hair cut and hair treatment.  Next self care day may be a manicure.  Just depends on outdoor work progress.  

I also filled the cab of the truck with boxes, which were donated to a re-sale store that helps area businesses, and is run by a church.  The crafting supplies I don't use anymore were donated to a business that helps patients with recovery of addiction/mental health issues.  I also donated them an adult Halloween costume.  They were asking for them and I had (of course I did, ha ha!) a prairie woman dress with apron and bonnet).

Another friend is stopping by to pick up two camping meal cookbooks I don't use anymore.  Feels great to get the house cleaned out, but we still have a few things to deal with in the living room.

I have another stack to deliver soon too.  One pile is hand crocheted lap afghans and a wind chime, that will be donated to a home where my husband's sister lived for years (assisted living).  The other is a stack of serving trays to another family member on my husband's side.

My hand crocheted hair clips are nicely displayed and sold at the hair station at the salon where Daughter E works.  The display was only around $14.00 too.  I forgot to take a photo of it to show you all.  I'll be selling ear warmers there as well.  I just need to take inventory on colors I have made.

I found a future fall craft show, and they said they would be "in touch" but no one has contacted me.  It may be a year of no craft show sadly.

Sweet Chili Sauce update and camping

 I forgot to mention, I baked a sheet pan chicken dinner with brussel sprouts and carrots when Daughter E visited.  We cracked open a jar of the sweet chili sauce I canned this year, and it was very good.  In fact, we enjoyed it on the veggies as well. 

We took our first, and possibly the last, camping trip this year.  We met up with friends and had the best time ever.

It's back to reality and garden/house work.

This and That

 

I had overly ripe bananas, so banana bread was baked with some mini chocolate chips in it.  Good thing I did too, as Daughter E stopped out and was hungry.

I created a watermelon ornament for a future craft show, and decided to make lemon and orange slices too.  I am also wondering how many to make?

I created this key hair clip per a special request.  She is a real estate agent, and I think it turned out super cute.

We are starting to get very cool nights now.  I'm so far behind in putting the garden to bed for the winter.  I feel like we are being slammed with all sorts of things that need fixed, repaired, lack of supplies in stores, expensive parts.....stress at my husband's work....sigh....

On another note, I am still filling boxes to move the living room items to other rooms.  In the process I am filling boxes for donations as well.