Take Back the House and other ramblings....

 I was so busy cleaning, I did not get one photograph for today's post.  The pantry is almost done.  It's been wiped out and re-organized, other than waiting on two containers for my pasta.  We have really cut back on pasta, so the container is getting downsized, and it's cheaper to order online and have delivered than to make a trip all the way to the "Big City" with gas prices.

Once those arrive the pantry will be completely done, and much easier to take inventory for grocery days.  Daughter K had lots of stuff in there that had expired.  I imagine she forgot about them after she moved in two years ago.  Anyway, as I was in the process of that job, I found a few items in that room to toss and donate as well.

Our handy-man was out.  He tuned up our wood splitter, and we talked about the to-do list a bit.  I explained my washer was on the fritz and we chatted about that in case I need to hire him to help me.  My husband's long hours should be coming to an end in the next few weeks (thankfully).

I managed to find a few more boxes for the living room.  I do believe we finally found a few helpers to hire this weekend (yay!).  The treadmill will be moved finally, and this lady needs to get back on it too, ha ha!  I have to move some things around for ease, but we are finally starting to get things moving.  Hence "take back the house" phrase for this post, ha ha!  It's great to get things in order and have them stay that way for once.  

All the cut wood we had was split for winter.  We have to buy a few parts for the chainsaw before cutting more.  Always something needing something around here.  

Mucking the coop is still on the list.  Sigh.  I need to re-attach some pegs they knocked off too.  The ladies should be happier with today's weather.  Yesterday, it was cold, raining, and windy.

Weather

 

The morning sky was so beautiful the other morning.  Today it's raining.  The cooler weather returns.

The battle of the leaves ha ha!  As soon as I blow them off, they are right back on the porches.

My rainy day projects are back on track today.  The pantry is still under construction, but I will be so happy when I am done.  It just got out of hand with a kids grocery shopping as well.

Mom's Cactus and other ramblings

 

Mom's cactus is blooming again.  It is so, so pretty.

I spent most of the day putting laundry on the clothesline until I ran out of room.  My washing machine needs tuned up.  I kept getting an error in regards to water it was adding (not enough apparently).  Not what my husband wanted to hear, but hopefully he can fix that.

I started the pantry project.  Daughter K had stuff in there that had expired.  I'm gonna be so happy to finally get some order in those cupboards.  

I yanked the last of the hot pepper plants and was surprised at the size of some of them.  It was rather hard to pull them too, as it was pretty dry out there.

Happy Homemaker Monday

 If you are wondering why there hasn't been a post lately, it's due to great weather here.  Sunshine, high 70's meant motorcycle rides.  I could not, as hard as I tried, get my husband to work on the to-do list.  

One ride was to our grandson's birthday party.  The other to deliver a foldable lawn chair to our youngest.  She was set up at a pop up show for a new store in town, to represent the salon.  She did not have a chair, so my husband said he'd load up on the back of the bike, and yes he did ha ha!

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

The weather . . .

Awesome weather for the first few days this week, high 70's again, and then rain returns mid-week, followed by the temperature dropping again.

As I look outside my window . . .

Leaves are everywhere.  I'm charging the leaf blower as I type to get them off the porches before the rain cements them to the pavement.

Right now I am . . .

Making another pot of coffee.

Thinking and pondering . . .

We are thinking of visiting a town one hour away, to check out a store that carries discounted items.  I heard they carry flooring and items we may be able to get for the living room at a discounted price.

How I am feeling . . .

Tired.  We both didn't sleep well last night for some reason.  We both are not ready to tackle a Monday.

On the breakfast plate . . .

Leftover omelet my husband made us on Sunday morning.

What I am wearing . . .

T-shirt and garden work pants.  Tackling that job first today (after I get the laundry going and the dishwasher running)

On my reading pile . . . 

On my TV . . .

We watched The Watcher, and were disappointed at the ending of it.  Now it's whatever is on TV, if it's even on.

On the menu . . .
-leftovers
-on cooler days, a new butternut/kale soup

-salsa verde chicken tortilla casserole

-leftovers

Looking around the house . . .

It's a hot mess. It'll be that way until the living room project is done.

To do list . . .

-label more jars and put away
-laundry
-wash bed quilt (great weather for outdoor drying)
-re-organize pantry and take inventory

-clean kitchen

-run dishwasher

-wash yesterday's breakfast dishes (gulp)

-make a breakfast for the next few days

-yank the last of the hot pepper plants

-blow leaves off porches and driveway

...for the next two weeks

-empty pantry, check dates and re-organize

-empty boxes from living room

-muck coop

-put a new garage seal on

-tidy up computer area

-write list for paint needed for living room and other supplies

-take a table apart and move upstairs

-get more totes for yarn upstairs

-make travel soaps

-make chapstick

From the camera . . .

Sunday morning sunrise.  It was not as pink as usual, but pretty.

Devotional . . . 

Still can't find my devotional, but found a book with 365 days of "Brighteners."

"A good friend will sharpen your character, draw your soul into the light, and challenge your heart to love in a greater way."

Question ~ Spreadable Butter~ Errand Day

 Our stores do not sell organic milk by the quart.  We buy the half gallon, but find that it goes bad before we finish it.  I decided to start freezing half of it, as we buy it.  I'll have it on hand, and it won't be wasted.  We have no access to goat or cow milk in our area either, so it's purchased at the store.  Heck, I couldn't even find goat milk for soap making, so we are back to buying it.

Speaking of soap, I think I asked this before, but how much essential oil to add to 1# of soap base?  I have some to use up, and want to make travel size soaps for traveling (and to get the base out of my closet, ha ha!).

Spreadable butter was made.  It's great to have on hand when the weather is cold.  We keep our butter on a butter dish in the kitchen, and during colder weather, it's not spreadable on fresh bread, or to grill sandwiches.

I am starting to dislike "errand" day ha ha!  I got 'er done though.  I was tickled pink to find gruyere and aged cheddar at our Aldi's (way cheaper than the main grocer).

The credit union sent this to my husband.  Literally.  Wasted money to encourage us to buy a new vehicle.  I guess it'll go to our grandson.

It went down to 35°F last night and is predicted to be 70°F today.  Crazy weather for sure.

Whiskey Butterscotch Sauce

 

It was another cold miserable, dreary day.  Of course I am not out of inside work either.  However, I managed to squeeze into my day, by making whiskey butterscotch sauce.  We drizzled it over the apple crunch cake for dessert.  No we didn't need the sugar in our diet, but it is so good. I only make this once a year if that.

Now that my youngest has found out, she wants my flourless brownies for sundaes.  The sauce will last in the fridge for 1 month, so it may happen.

We did not plant pinto beans this last summer, so I had to order those (dry).  Our stores do not sell organic brands of those.

First it was the mower that broke down (it's old and passed down), then the smaller AC unit died.  Now?  My 20-some year old Kitchenaid mixer.  Sigh.  I use it a lot.  My husband wasn't happy that he couldn't do anything to fix it either.  I guess I will be hoping for fall sales (if we are lucky to get those this year).

It's still pretty cold here.  It's hard to believe that we will be in the 70's this weekend.  Hm.  I wonder if their prediction will be correct or not.

Baking day and other tidbits. . .

 

Spicy Apple Crunch Cake went into the oven.  I had some home canned applesauce I needed to rotate out of the pantry.  So good!

I baked skillet bread to go with our leftover Chicken/gnocchi soup.  I'll definitely be making the soup again.  

The view out of the windows is definitely screaming fall.  However, our weather has been colder than normal.  They say we will warm up, and I hope so.  We have some work to do outside.