Lack of Supplies ~ Tidbits

Shopping frustrations - errand days.  We finally got some wood returned to Menards, picked up trim to finish the final bit in the living room, bought a new light bulb socket for the stairway (kids ripped the pull chain completely off years ago), restocked some things we were out of, picked up new outlet covers and what not.  

We also made another donation drop. Woohoo to that.

I went looking for 1/4inch ribbon at Wal-mart for $.47/roll vs. $1.99/roll at our local Meijer.  I have looked at two stores now for this.

However, they were completely out of white, baby blue, pink, and almost all other colors I need.  I will have to check other locations.  I guess I have all year to look for it.  My total focus this year is the house/outdoor projects.  

I ruined my slippers in the washing machine, and had trouble finding a new pair (affordable) in my size.  I'm sure Kohl's had some nice ones, but I'm not paying $30 and up for slippers.  Our grocery store had some really nice ones, but again, out of my big foot size.  I found a gray pair at Wal-Mart that will do for now.

Speaking of lack of supply, we had to go to 3 stores to find organic tahini (in fact tahini at all), two stores to find organic canned mushrooms, and two stores to find organic yellow onions.

The weather here is fantastic!  We are in the upper 50's and the chickens are loving it. We are getting eggs again thankfully.

Homemade Spray Oil ~ Kitchen "events" ~ Costs of Propane vs. Electric Base Board Heat

Many years ago, I bought a bottle from either Pampered Chef or Tupperware, that allowed me to spray oil into pans etc.  However, it clogged up, and never worked even after cleaning.  It was many years ago.  I also believe with that container, you added only oil (vs. a mix of oil and water).

I decided to look into making spray oil myself.  I have been buying organic spray, as it's just the two of us.  I have noticed though, the spray cans hold very little, run out quickly and are costly.  They also create trash.

I purchased amber glass spray bottle online, and made my own. 1 part a good quality olive oil (or oil of your choice) to 5 parts water.  So simple, saves us money.  Also, no added ingredients.  Just shake it up and spray.  Oh, the bottles I bought have a sprayer with a "mist" option (bought on Amazon).

Do you have a tip to save money in the kitchen?  I will be giving an update on using this homemade spray oil, after using it for a few weeks.

Crocheting has been temporarily paused, due to a catastrophic event with my mug of hot tea.  Sigh.  I had to take out the color of yarn I was adding, fasten off, and literally wash the blanket.  I also had to change clothes, and wash my slippers.  Oye, by husband got a hoot out of that as he walked in from work.  

However, he also burned the grilled sandwiches on the stove.  Not his fault either.  We not have a problem with one burner on our stove (over heating).  The burner is fully hot red with the knob on 2.  Not what we needed right now.

If we can't a new panel that controls the knob to the burner, we'll be looking (gulp) for a new stove.  It's the burner I can with as well.  It is not the burner itself, but the controls sent from the knob, that is connected to that specific burner.  Just another "fix-it" to the list (or replace).

Update on using propane heat in the main  part of the downstairs vs. electric baseboard (or wood stove back up).  We turned the new heat source on back on Dec. 23rd, but had no heat in there for that entire month, using camper heaters to work in there (installing flooring and painting).

The last electric bill was high due to using the heaters (will invest in a specific portable heater for future winter projects).  Anyway, the electric bill arrived yesterday, and this time it was $156.00 lower than the previous month.  We are considering adding a smaller propane heater now in the other lower half of the house.  By doing this, it turns off all electric heat downstairs, and will save us even more money.  It is a drier heat (I run cool mist humidifiers), but I have to say, I do NOT miss hauling wood all winter long.

We have the highest electric in the county.  We are unable to switch that source due to location.  I think spring would be a great time to snag a good price on a smaller wall heater as well.  It's on the list now.

Canning Grape Jelly ~ Scrubbing Wood Flooring ~ Battery Operated Crochet Hooks

I put this job off all summer long.  I make home canned reduced sugar grape jelly, using organic non-sweetened concord grape juice.

I don't need a lot, and it's nice to have on hand.  Another winter job checked off the list.

I started to clean the wood flooring upstairs.  It will take some time.  I have to clean then move stuff and clean, and move it back etc.  I won't be up there every day either.  I also have to scrub the floor first, then clean with a odor remover spray due to pet urine (sigh).

There is a plan in place.  

Question for those with chickens.  We are going to be building a new coop, but prefer not to hook electric up to it.  Can anyone suggest solar operated heat lamps?  Are there ones better than others?

I'm also seeking suggestions for a battery operated coffee brewer (single or pot).  I think we could use one.  We've had way too many power outages here.

Here is a look at the battery operated crochet hooks I have.  It came with a case, and extra batteries.  I believe I got mine on Amazon several years ago.

Painting Barn Siding ~ Seeds Started and other Tidbits

 In the midst of moving everything from room to room, in order to get floors repaired, my cut barn siding boards were unburied.

I cleaned them up with vinegar water, and let them dry for a few days.  I had the brainy idea to paint words on them for a craft show addition.  These boards have been floating around the house for several years (like about 5 years now), so it was on the "get'r done' list.  

The power went out around 8am yesterday, and it never came back on until after noon.  I was lucky I had just brewed some coffee.  

There was an accident with poles down, wires hanging, and then a substation shut down for a while.

Luckily, my portable charger was charged, and I could not only charge my phone, but my neck lamp too.

Quite fitting of a saying for a time with the power outage, ha ha!  I had stencils for these.

All done, so the only thing to do was to read or crochet.  When power goes out, our water pump goes out.  I could not clean or cook.

Most likely the signs will be put into a storage box, and used for gift giving or donations for fundraisers.  I don't see a good craft show in sight for a few years.

My neck lamp is my favorite way to crochet with extra light, or when the power is out, but I also have these battery operated crochet hooks.  I just don't like the way they made the hook part.  You have less control over your yarn, can't catch the yarn or sometimes the yarn falls off the hook to easily.  Anyway....

Almost all of my garden seeds have been started and grow lights are on.

Extreme Clean Update

What went in the donation box:

-one toddler clothes hanger (they show up out of no where)

-two shirts

-one summer bathrobe

-one baking dish (no handles/edge so getting it out of the oven is a bit of a struggle)

We woke up to powering rain this morning.  It should slow down in a few hours.

....from the handiwork journal

Crocheted plant leaf coasters that fill a "pot" when not in use.  It turned out super adorable.  I used what colors I had on hand and think they were perfect.  I may or may not make more of these.  Daughter E's suggestion.

Finished this blanket finally.  Only 40 hours of labor (love).

I'm back to working on our own blanket now.  My husband is happy about this one.  I have not made us a blanket in years.  The dogs destroyed the last one I made when we first moved here.  I'm so happy to work on it again.  I decided to rotate soft white in between the black and heather grey yarn.  I'm  hoping to get it done before winter is over.  Summer is not an ideal time to crochet a large blanket.

Future possible project - a crocheted Valentine Tic-Tac-Toe game.  Is it not adorable or what?  On the possibility list for next year.  I have a house to get in order this year.  Pattern is free online HERE.

 

Collecting Recipes Addiction ~ Deep Clean Continues ~ Tea Healing Trick ~ Longest Egg Laying Hiatus Ever!

 I've been going thru a box of recipes from Mom's house.  I know where I get the collection addiction from now.  Golly.

It appears that Mom started to create her own cookbook many, many years ago, in a binder (by typing it up).  She saved every recipe the local newspaper printed, and she used to sit and listen to a radio show where they shared recipes.  There were notepads filled with recipes she wrote down from that radio station.

I found her recipe for Chop Suey.   When I was a young kid, Mom made me sit at the table until I finished chop suey, and I hated it.  I remember being forced to sit and finish another meal I did not like, but chop suey was on the top of the list.  Not sure why I did not like it, but the memory of that was traumatic.  I never forced my kids to sit and eat something they did not like.  Anyway, the box has been delivered to the next sibling.

I copied only two recipes that involved rhubarb.  I think this box has cured me of collecting recipe, ha ha!  Now I need a cure for collecting crochet patterns.  Sheesh.  Do you have a "messy" habit of collecting something you really don't need? Or something you collect, and then neglect?

I got one more kitchen cupboard shelf cleaned and lined, and one more drawer.  I have more to do, but I feel better if I do at least one a day (or every other day), so I can still rest up after regular chores.  

My laryngitis is still hanging on, but slightly better.  Trying a trick my Dad taught me about curing sinus infections (but will also help laryngitis) - add a few drops of oil of oregano to my teabag before brewing (food grade oil).  I rememebered this hack, after someone suggested I drink oregano tea.  As you can see, the cool mist humidifiers are going, plus one diffuser.

My washing machine was giving a code again, so my husband took the filters apart and cleaned them (both water incoming and water out going).  He found a quarter blocking the out going.  

This winter was the longest hiatus from egg laying in history.  Not one egg since last October.  So it got me thinking.  I checked the ingredients on the organic feed we buy.  I am pretty sure they dropped the amount of protein in it, so we switched it up, and I picked up some black sunflower seeds.  Of course they get kitchen treats from me too.  Never, have we ever,gone this long without fresh laid eggs.

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

The museum gift shop has closed their doors.  Water damage from back in December.  I sold my jar openers, dish scrubbies and soap saver bags at the museum gift shop, and with success.  I picked my inventory up over the weekend.  They will be seeking fund raisers to repair the historical building.

The weekend, which was to be one full trip for errands, ended up two days.  We had to stop at the feed store, pick up groceries, make a drop, donate stuff, get my hair cut, and so on.

I also saw a doctor at our Urgent care.  I wanted to make sure there was no infection.  There was not.  She said to "not talk" and that would clear the laryngitis.  So frustrating.  The only possibility is it was stress induced in Jan (makes sense).  

We have put a larger humidifier next to my bed, but now we may put one in near the living room as well.  It should help.  Anyway, no infection.  I asked the pharmacy for suggestions, and came home with two different throat lozenges.

Update:  all of the stairway, upstairs carpet has been removed.  We are deciding on how to sand and paint the stairs, and flooring for up there.  I have a dresser in storage here, I still need to sand and stain, but have come up with some other ideas to get it nice and pretty this summer.  It will go upstairs in the spare bedroom.  It's been added to the "get'r done" list.

I'm slowly clearing up the mess we made by moving stuff from one room to another, putting paint cans away, and the tools away.

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

The Weather. . .

We are getting up in the 50's, and several days of rain.

As I look outside my window . . .

It's still dark out.

Right now I am . . .

Sipping hot coffee, trying to wake up.

Thinking and pondering . . .

The menu this week, what needs done, and cleaned.

On my bedside table . . .

New throat lozenges to try.  Hoping to get relief this week.

On my TV . . .

Right now the weather.

Listening to . . .

Rhythm and blues today.

On the breakfast plate . . .

Scrambled eggs, blueberry sausage and french toast.

On the lunch plate . . .

Ham/cheese sandwich.

On the dinner plate . . .

Mexican chicken most likely.

On the menu. . .

Breakfast - crock pot steel cut oats/apples/cinnamon

Dinners-

-Mexican Chicken, corn or other veggie
-???

On the reading pile . . .

I was cleaning up more piles of stuff that were shoved into the office, and found a stack of old magazines.  Don't laugh!  2019 is the date on them.  I'm reading thru them now.  Not like I need more recipes, ha ha!

I'm also reading some books on my homesteading shelf, and looking over chicken coop building plans.  I'm also looking up how to mix up my own chicken feed. 

On my to-do list . . .

-laundry

-run dishwasher

-master bath

-dishes

-work on cleaning a few more kitchen cupboards and lining with new shelf paper

-start sorting another box from the room projects

-look for a burn barrel

- pay a few bills

-make a few phone calls (or leave that to my husband, because I'm not supposed to talk)

Plans for this week . . .

*see to-do list, ha ha!

-start painting the hallway window trim

What I am sewing, knitting, crocheting or creating . . .

Still working on this blanket. First priority, but daughter E shared another new project with me...

If it works out, I will share soon.

My simple pleasure . . .

Painting my fingernails in the winter time.  I haven't done it in a long time though.  It's the only time of year when my hands are not in the dirt ha ha!  

Looking around the house . . .

It's looking so much better.  Whew!  I haven't gotten all of the boxes unpacked yet, but looking great!  Plus, I'm feeling so much better going into spring with clean cupboards (more to do).

From the camera . . . 

Prayers . . .

Continued prayers for healing of this laryngitis.

Our  handy man  Arron.  His dog got very sick with cancer and had to be put down.  He is struggling daily with his loss.