This and That

The chicken/gnocchi soup was delicious.  I only made it due to having all the ingredients on hand.  It was definitely different, but glad I had spinach on hand (note to self, freeze more).  I did not take a photo though.  I also need to make celery cubes for the winter.  I simply dice the celery, fill an ice cube tray, and then add a bit of water and freeze, then bag and store in the freezer. It's great to have on hand for soups/stews.

I have had making gnocchi homemade, on my try it list, for a long time.  Does anyone know if you can freeze it after making it?  Or is this something you make fresh for a meal?  I used already made gnocchi for the soup.  I intended to try a new recipe for a mac n' cheese, but ended up using it for the soup on a cold, cold day.

Our weather is freezing cold.  However, they are predicting high 70's this weekend (only in our state ha ha!).

I'm getting a lot of the indoor work done due to the weather though.  I checked a lot off the to-do list yesterday.

Here is the photo of the other scarf I made, using yarn in my stash.  I found two more in brown colors, but it takes two skeins to make the scarf, so I am hunting thru yarn to find any leftover for the fringe.  If not, I will figure a way to use it for something else.

Along with my regular to-do list, I am writing up a list for things that I need done to re-stock, like make lip balm.  I am also working up a honey do list, but with the warmer weather this weekend, I'm not sure I will succeed, ha ha!

We are talking about moving the pellet stove out of the house (we use it to heat the other half as a back up source), and using a propane fireplace instead.  Pellets have gone way up in price as well.  Time will tell.  I cannot get things done with my husband so tired anymore.  

Guess what???  He didn't have to get up at 4:30am today.  I got to enjoy coffee with him.  So thankful for that.  We talked about his temporary position, and we both agree he will not keep it for a year.

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

Another successful donation drop weekend. Four boxes of stuff were all donated to a Habitat Re-Store.  In the process of emptying a plastic storage container, I cleaned it up and am now using it for yarn.

Whew!  The only thing?  I started filling up another box.  I found a few things in the garage we don't use or need.

I've been doing great on using what I have in the house for meals, before going to the store to re-stock.  Now that it's just us two, and an occasional kid, I don't really need to stock up as much as I used to.

I'm taking advantage of the online digital coupons for regular stuff, and I realize I do not stock up enough for things like coffee, toilet paper and fresh veggies/fruit.  I will be now.

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

The Weather . . .

46°F/37°, rain and possible snow in some areas, raining right now

As I look outside my window . . .

I looks like a winter sky.

Right now I am . . .

Getting ready to start a load of laundry.

Thinking and Pondering . . .

Why is it so hard to get rid of things for free?  I'm not even asking anyone anymore.  The boxes continue to fill.  It actually feels good to get rid of stuff in the process of the living room project.  

How I am feeling . . .

Honestly, between the weather changing and my husband's work schedule, sort of on the depressing side.  I may be baking a sweet treat today.  Oh, work asked him to keep this temporary position for a year.  I told him to tell them "Wifey says nope!"

On the breakfast plate . . .

Breakfast scramble/burrito, coffee

On the lunch plate . . .

Leftovers

On the dinner plate . . .

A chicken/gnocchi soup

What I am wearing . . .

Thick sweatshirt, sweatpants....it's cold today.

On my reading pile . . .

On the TV . . .

Movies - Elvis, The Reef

On the menu . . .

-Crockpot potatoes/ham/peas, homemade bread
-Crockpot chicken/gnocchi soup

-leftovers

Looking around the house  . . .

I am gaining on the living room, but my husband ran out of time to find people to move things this past weekend.  We finally (and in due time) got the AC unit upstairs out.

On the to-do list . . .

-make a breakfast scramble

-laundry

-clean off kitchen island

-run cleaner thru dishwasher

-clean out part of the freezer

-sanitize washing machine

-empty dishwasher and wash breakfast dishes

-make out another honey to-do list

-work on a crochet order

From the camera . . .

I took advantage of the sunshine the other day, and photographed items I have to sell.  No fall craft show in sight just yet (affordable anyway).

Devotional . . .

There have been a lot of house fires in my home town.  They say it's due to space heaters most of the time.  Lots of families in need right now.  Prayers for those families.

Display arrived and other tidbits

 

The display finally arrived.  It's perfect for the small area our daughter has at the salon.  I'm donating one for a raffle the salon is doing as well.

It rained last night, and we had pretty bad wind.  There were a few fires in the area, and one being a field fire.  Crazy weather for sure.

I managed to box up for donations.  Just things we've had for years and never use.  Drop off days have changed though.  I guess it will give me more days to find more to donate, ha ha!

The weekend will involve us trying to get my husband into the eye doctor.  He thinks he got soap in one of his eyes, and the drops we have are not working.  It really looks bad, and he's in a lot of pain today.

I re-stocked our fresh fruits and vegetables, and will be making a meal plan based on what else we have on hand.  Prices are crazy high.  I had a short conversation with a person at the grocery store.  He was picking up pie filling and the can was almost $5!

Four Thieves Vinegar

 

I got 2 quart jars of 4 Thieves Vinegar made.  It is good for a year with proper storage, but needs to "brew" for 3-4 weeks.  I use Rosemary Gladstar's recipe.  For those who do not know what it is, you infuse it, drain it, and store it.   It's taken when you start to feel ill.  It doesn't taste that great, but it does work.  In the past, I have also made Fire Cider.

The weather will dip to the low 30's tonight.  Brrr!  I am not really ready for this.  Although it is nice to know the bugs will be gone.

I made beef stroganoff in the crock pot last night, only because I needed to use up the sour cream, but my husband was delighted.  The cost of everything is so expensive, I just can't afford to let anything go bad.

My yarn was piling up on the kitchen table, making hair clips for the salon. I literally filled a large reusable grocery bag, and put it all back where it belongs.  All, except a few colors of worsted weight yarn.  I am making a few more ear warmer headbands.  Daughter E is joining up with a co-worker to put up a tent and table to promote the salon soon.  They are putting together a basket to raffle, and I am donating a headband for the basket.

My husband told me he almost brought home 3 pumpkins for the porch that light up, and some orange string lights.  He knows I have no intention of fall decorations and have already put up the Christmas lights.  We got a good laugh, considering all the work we are trying to get done.  I told him, once the house is all in order, I will do a nice display outside for fall next year.  We may even have our own corn stalks to use.  It's just not happening here this year.

The winter check list is getting looked at.  I have oil for the oil lamps, and extra wicking.  We need to split more wood, and I have enough straw for the chickens.  I am also doing a re-check on seeds I saved and a plan for next years garden.  I really want to add more too it.

Moving into colder days again. . . .

 We did indeed get rain yesterday and during the night.  It will be a few days before I can return to weeding and pulling the last of the last of the garden.  I was glad for the rain though, as our newly planted mums needed it.  We are now moving into cooler days and nights.

So I was sitting on the porch and this decided to hitch a ride on my pants.  They fly fast, so you don't see them until they land.  Man, you never saw someone freak out and grab the fly swatter to get it off then kill it.  Then a few minutes later another one showed up on the side of the house.  We have never seen these at our place, other than a few years ago we saw one.  It was two too many for me in one day.  Not sure why we are getting more of them, but I was told they hitch to semi-tractor trailers.  Ugh.

My main cleaning job was to clean off my night stand.  I put away all the crochet hooks (ha ha!) that collected there, cleaned it with wood cleaner, dusted the framed photos and light etc.

To get some crochet time in, I have been making my make up remover pads (travel size) with black yarn.  I hope to be selling them at the salon along with my other smaller items.

I located one more place to donate lap afghans as well.  The committee on aging creates a basket of items for their monthly trivia contest to elderly that receive meals on wheels.  I believe I have an afghan on the hooks in a bag somewhere too.

Beautiful Weather ~ Christmas Prep

 

That's not all that I put on the clothesline, but I was thankful for good weather and got it out early and back down early.  Beautiful weather!  There was a good wind, so things dried pretty quickly too.

I also took advantage of the weather and put up our minimal Christmas lights.  I don't put many up, but they do make me happy.  It's way better to get them up on a warm day vs. freezing weather.  I had to laugh though.  We took the motorcycle out, as it may be the last best weather day to take it out, and when we got back home, the Christmas lights were on, ha ha ha ha!  I forgot the timer was set the same it was last year.  My husband laughed but quickly said, "Hurry! Turn those off so people don't think we are weirdo's!" Ha ha ha ha!

Not sure what today will bring.  They are calling for rain, thunderstorms, and a lot of wind.  I had plans to pull the last few plants out of the garden, but I may be inside working on the living room.  I have a few more things to pack up and move, and I have to move plants, and more furniture.

Speaking of weather, I planned to grill out tonight, but the weather may change that.

We had a stray cat come around the other night, but it looked to be in bad health.  Not sure if we'll see it again.

I have a long list on the to-do's around here, and realized I need to add some fun on the list, like get my lip balm re-stocked, or maybe get some travel soaps made, or even some Christmas ornaments made.  I am pretty sure, unless we gain speed on the floor in the living room, we won't be putting up a Christmas tree (wahhhhh!).  Hopefully we gain speed on that project.  We found a home for the Armoire in there, but it hasn't been picked up yet.

Good Weather Day

 

There are a few zinnias that I missed and survived the cold nights.  I'll have to make sure I have those too.  Today may be the last best weather day we'll have.  They say it'll get up to around 77°F today.

I am still moving furniture from here to there, cleaning up and getting ideas for hiring help for the living room project.  In order to move some furniture, I have to clear out space in another room.  I decided to let go of my 37 book collection of Janette Oke books.  I put them up for sale, but like I told my husband, everyone is selling and no one has the money to buy.

I just found out that Daughter E's booth rent is not just a whopping $500.00/month, but she has to pay another $100.00/month for the booth to do nails as well.  Horrible rent, so I hope it all works out for her.