Happy Homemaker Monday

It's a doozy of a post today, ha ha!  I cut part of the post out, and will post it tomorrow.

I took advantage of the holiday weekend sales, and finally ordered a sheer, double rod curtain, for the side door.  My Mom was always upset people could see directly in ha ha!     I already have the new rods, so I am looking forward to that update being done.

As for the "honey-do" list for these rainy days, we got the walk-in closet inside trim back up,  moved an antique desk from utility room (put there during renovations) to the spare room upstairs, along with the newly painted bookshelf, the last ceiling fan installed, ceiling paint touched up, camper items put in camper for the season, and started on rectifying the utility room.

Before:  Desk buried, with pharmacy door buried.

The utility room was originally the back of the house, so it was an addition before we moved in.  I unburied the desk and gave it a good cleaning.  I already had a nice chair upstairs for it.  I will cover it all with a sheet for now (upstairs).

I tossed out two large paper mache art projects collecting dust, found a shoe box of check book copies, got rid of the board games to the kids, donated one board game, started another box for donations, washed up our rain coats, some doilies, and stuff to donate.  My husband said, "oh we could play Scrabble" and I just laughed.   We haven't played it for over 14 years. 

 That is the problem with cupboards that don't go all the way to the ceiling.  Stuff like games and kids art projects get stored there.  I'll admit the deer is very life like, but if she didn't take it with her, it gets tossed.  We can't save everything.

My husband wasn't happy with his honey-do list, but with a full day of rain in the forecast, I made sure we stayed on track.  However, by 2:30pm, we did not get one drop of rain, and he was upset for not going on a motorcycle ride.  It was very, very humid out, and the rain eventually arrived.

He is already making his own to-do list, as we talked about the fact some projects were sitting un-done and becoming an eye-sore.  We are on the right track to getting it all looking spiffy around here.

Once I get the rest of the floor cleaned up in the utility room, I'll be starting back on this project:

Our handy man put the outside trim on to make it fit, now I will need to paint that trim, and have the door finally installed.  I'll share the story behind this door in another post.

New Recipe Tried:

It's a ground turkey/quinoa casserole (online at iFoodreal.com), and suggested toppings of fresh tomatoes, and snipped green onion from the herb garden.  I'll admit, this was a lot of ground turkey and quinoa, but we like it.   The one thing I will do next time, is add more spices/herbs to it.  I would add more spinach to it as well.  It was good, and has 4 cloves of garlic, but we both felt it needed just a bit more flavor.  It's very healthy, and can be frozen. 

I think other toppings would be good on this as well.  I'd try it with freshly made salsa on top.  Hm.  Maybe I'll add jalapeno to the dish next time.  It's a nice recipe to make if you have any leftover quinoa as well.

Popcorn was a fail crop this year.  The drought may be the problem, so that area of the garden is going to be tilled up.  We got 5 stalks in 4 rows.  First time to have a fail popcorn crop.  Did you have a fail in your garden this year?

Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. I will link up when she posts.

The weather . . .

Hot, humid, and raining.  I'm pretty sure it's too wet in the garden for any work.

As I look outside my window . . .

There is a haze in the air, and the sun is trying to shine, but rain is in the forecast.  There is little to no traffic.  The weekend traffic was crazy going by here.

Right now I am . . .

Writing my to-do's for the day, and sipping coffee, slowly getting my energy to get a start on this day.  We worked very hard yesterday, and I was exhausted by dinner time.

Thinking and pondering . . .

If the garden is too wet to walk in today, and if the heat dries it up by morning, the plan may be to spend the 4th of July in the tomato patch, followed by an full afternoon of purging the garage.  It's all weather permitting of course.  The garage organizing is long over due, and one daughter may be visiting, which would be perfect for her to go through all the Christmas totes she left in the garage.

Listening to . . .

80's rock

How I am feeling . . .

Exhausted from yesterday, but pleased with our progress.  It's strange to have the weekend with my husband, then for him to get up to go to work for one day, then have another day off.  I'll take it.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm just wondering why his company just didn't let them have Monday and Tuesday off.  Most places around here are closed.

On the breakfast plate . . .

Cheddar and Chili Egg Casserole

On the lunch plate . . .

Leftover dinner from last night - Ground Turkey/Quinoa Casserole, topped with fresh tomato and some snipped green onions from the herb garden.

On the dinner plate . . .

No idea just yet.  Possibly cauliflower crust pizzas with home canned pizza sauce.

What I am wearing . . .

Still in pajamas, taking today a bit slower than yesterday. 

What I am reading . . .

Switching to this book, as I picked it up from the library.  I picked up a crochet book, because I am looking for a "hippie" beanie pattern (hat).  The library really reduced their selection, so I have to order from other libraries.

On my TV . . .

Older movies on Netflix

On the menu . . .

-Buffalo Chicken Meatballs, Quinoa, and

-Cauliflower crust homemade pizza with veggies and home canned pizza sauce

-chicken fajitas

-leftovers

Looking around the house . . .

To-do list . . .

-dishes

-laundry

-pay a few bills

-clean both bathrooms

-dust

-sweep and mop floors

-water porch pots

-check zucchini

-exercise

Extreme Clean this week:

 -put all these patterns back in the binder.  It may take all week, depending on days I get to work outside, but they have been like this since we removed the carpet from our bedroom and closet.  It's time to get them in their home.

-working in the utility room now, and trust me it is over due.  I had it clean and spic and span, then we started repairing and renovating.  Everything was boxed and moved to other rooms, and I found two more boxes of stuff in the utility room that were from the living room repairs.  

From the camera . . .

I used leftover door paint from the bathroom remodel, and it turned out great!  Love it!  We put it in the spare bedroom.  

Devotional, Bible Verse, Prayers . . .

Prayers for the family of the deceased man on the bicycle (see yesterday's post).  He was 60 years old, and riding his bicycle on the sidewalk.

 

This and That

We were out pricing a new AC, so we stopped at JoAnn's to check on a crochet hook price.  Wow!  Their prices were much higher than Wal-mart (who was sold out of what I was looking for).  I found that our area Meijer had them, and less expensive than Wal-mart.  No big news, but I was shocked at the high prices at JoAnn's (also much higher than on Amazon).

I am always saying I wish they would put a store back in our hometown, but I'm not sure.  Hobby Lobby was built at one point, putting JoAnn's out of business, then later the Hobby Lobby closed.

Cute bags at store!  I didn't check the price.  We had plans to actually eat breakfast out at a diner, but found them closed for the holiday.  Apparently, many places are closed this weekend to celebrate the holiday.

We are getting lots of rain right now.  If it's dry enough this morning, I'll head out to tie up more tomato plants.  My husband is already asking about zucchini meals ha ha!  Soon, I told him.  Soon.  We have a Mediterranean salad we'd like to try, as well as just enjoy the garden goodies. 

Speaking of Mediterranean style dining, I found it odd, that our Meijer had zero cookbooks on their shelves.  I decided to order books from the library instead.  I just need some fresh ideas.  My husband's doctor told him to think "Mediterranean dishes" when he eats.  He also wants him to work out with intentional cardio and weight lifting.  We have the home gym in motion, but could use an exercise bike, and of course gym flooring.

We are not in a hurry for the spare bedroom to be done, but the floor is first.  The gym is more important right now.  He climbs ladders at work, and I push a wheelbarrow and tiller, but we both need intentional exercise.  We are both looking forward to it, to be honest.

We didn't do anything special for the 4th this weekend.  We can literally see all sorts of fireworks from our front porch.  Despite the rain, there were still many last night.

On a very sad note, and this is why I do not like to be on roads during the holidays, a person was killed yesterday in my hometown.

A drunk driver (day time), somehow created an accident in the roadway downtown,  putting his truck up on a sidewalk and into a tree.  He ran over a person on a bicycle, killing the person.

I am up a bit later than usual, but letting my husband sleep in.  He doesn't know it yet, but I have a honey-do list for today, ha ha!  I'm hoping to get even a few items checked off.  There is much to be painted yet, and I think we decided on a color for the remaining doors, 6 downstairs for now, not including exterior painting for other doors.  He is just now getting used to being home on the weekends, and tends to want to stay home. I'm going to take advantage of that ha ha!

Garden ~ Travel Hack for Cutting Yarn (or other string)

 

Bad photo, but the tomatoes are on, and so are the peppers and squash.  I got a good 2 1/2 hours in the garden, and it's looking pretty good despite the lack of recent attention.

Thunderstorms are moving in today and will stay with us over the weekend.

Tip when you are in a pinch:

I typically keep nail clippers in all our vehicles, which come in handy.  I can use them to cut yarn when I forgot to pack my "emergency" kit or accidently take it out of the vehicle and forgot to return it. 

I put one under the seat in each vehicle.  Anyway...

I just found out if you are traveling, the part where you break off your dental floss, can also cut your yarn?  I gave it a try.  It works folks!    Of course, if you are packing dental floss on your trip like this one.  I tried cotton and acrylic yarn.  Both cut easily, but I would only do this in a pinch.  I would think if you counted on using it all the time traveling, it will dull at some point.  Anyway, in a pinch tip!  Would work for fishing line too I would think.

Bad Air ~ Smoke Haze

 

At 7am yesterday, we were at an air quality of 174.  If you see the chart below, that put us in the "red" zone (unhealthy).  Very close to the "very unhealthy" level on the chart.  So there was no outdoor work at all.  Areas within in hour from us were in the 300's - hazardous, stay indoors at all times.

We've been praying for good winds to change direction and give us a break.  I was miserable all day, and the numbers reached to 204 (purple level) according to our local health department.  I had to run to the store, and the library ( needed their fax service).

Speaking of library.  I walked into our little library for the first time since Feb. of 2020.  It's been that long since I've been to our library.

This morning we did a complete turn with the air quality.  When I look outside, I do not see any haze at all, and the air quality number is a healthy low of 28.  However, today there will be more rain.  I am not sure how much time I will get in the garden, if any, but glad the air is clear again.

Miserable Air Quality ~ Einkorn Pancakes ~ Bare Shelves Shopping ~ New Recipe Tried: Einkorn Banana Muffins

 

We are once again getting unhealthy air quality reports.  I wanted to be out weeding the herb garden, but could not.  The air was that thick with smoke haze from the Canadian fires.

It's this bad again today, maybe even worse.  My husband told me to stay indoors again, no matter the condition of the garden (s).  Late last night, when the chickens were put in for the night, the air smelled like a fireplace.

I'm dealing with a dry sore throat, burning eyes, and partial laryngitis.  Everyone I talk to is experiencing the same or worse.  Never in our lives, have we ever lived through something like this.

I finally found a recipe for Einkorn pancakes that makes a smaller batch.  Recipe is from Jovial online.  I thawed some frozen blueberries and swapped sugar (only 2 Tbsp) for coconut sugar and they were delicious.  It's a keeper, and a great way to add those blueberries in the day.    It's been a long time since I've made Einkorn pancakes, so note to self:  store leftovers with a sheet of parchment paper between them or they stick together.  

I hardly ever shop at Wal-mart, but we went out recently to look at rechargeable sweepers, and decided to pick up some items while we were there.  I needed mozzarella cheese, and they had very little block cheese.  I guess I'll stick with my regular grocery store.  I could not believe how empty the shelves were.

My husband always makes fun of me for not getting all of my bananas eaten (he doesn't prefer them for a fruit choice).  I, once again, had some go ripe.  I hate to freeze them, as I tend to completely forget they are in the freezer.

I tried a new recipe using Einkorn flour and quick steel cut oats.  Recipe is online by the way.  Zero sugar in these banana muffins.  Very good too!  Recipe is from Indulge with Mimi, and you'll need to do some conversions with the recipe.

Moving along and tossing out. . .

There is nothing to harvest in the garden, but the rain is speeding that process up for us.  I know that I will be very busy out there when it dries up ha ha!  However, the rainy days are speeding up my indoor progress.  

Sorry if these cleaning/purging posts are boring.  It was a long time coming.  The big purge/clean.  This is a long post, so you may want to grab a cup of coffee, ha ha!

 My indoor purge/clean up is moving along.  I checked off another area off my clean it list, so that leaves two more areas.  

I will need the assistance of my husband for the last two, as it involves putting some tools and fix-it items away.  The garage will get a complete do-over this year.  It's just not on the "do it now" list.

Anyway, at one point in my early life, I was really into freelance writing.  I had articles published and kept articles in files.  I still had poems I wrote at a kid growing up.  I tossed those.  We got a chuckle out of some of the poems, but I can't believe I still had those.

In that box, and I kid you not, was a bag with brand new rolls of crepe paper for our youngest daughter's grad party (that never happened).  It was still in my office when we packed up the entire office area in the kitchen to cut up the floor and repair it over a year ago.  

It's all been boxed up to donate, tossed, or filed in the right place. 

Like I said, I didn't want to handle stuff twice, so I am cleaning/purging it all as if I was moving.  I ask myself, "would I move this to a new home" and it really helps the deciding factor.  Toss it, donate it, sell it, or give it away free.

I have "divorced" myself from so many craft supplies, and to be honest, it feels great.

I have heard from the recovery place, where I donated my craft supplies.  The women are knitting blankets to gift family when they visit, they are making jewelry, and they used wall paper samples to cover binders.  I'm so happy they are enjoying the supplies and finding uses for it all.

Stay tuned!  We both finally had a conversation about this bookshelf.  I bought it almost 12-13 years ago for $15 at the thrift store.  It was used for craft supplies until now.  It is solid wood, so we decided to keep it and paint it with whatever paint we have on hand, and put it in the spare bedroom upstairs.  

Just ignore the dust, but look at that new growth on Mom's cactus!  I will give it a shower when it gets watered again.

Our youngest daughter has left her career as hair stylist/nail tech.  It became too difficult in the financial world, and she has already started a new job and loves it.  She may go back to hair down the road, but in this world and day and age, you need a steady partner in your life to support that sort of job.  We are proud of her regardless.

Rain and Storms and Rainy Day Indoor Cleaning/Organizing

 Thankfully my husband got the AC back up and running.  Whew!  We will have to replace it next year for sure.  

It's been raining, hot and humid here the last few days.  We are thankful for the rain, but could do less with the tornado warnings or watch alerts.

I took a quick look at the garden, and I will definitely need to tie up tomato plants on the next dry day.  Everything is looking good however, other than the popcorn and spring planted garlic.  Some of my newly planted Gladys in the flower bed are now coming up too.  I'll definitely be busy weeding and tilling on the next dry day.

The upstairs AC was installed, and we are pricing new units for next year (don't want to end up without AC again).  

I brought down two trash bags full of stuff left from one daughter, and there is more to bring down.  I'm starting on the flooring in that room this week ( or next week ).

A dozen crocheted hats were spilling over on a bookshelf in the living room.  Along with the recent scarf I finished, and a few crocheted flower pots (still need the leaf coasters made).  Anyway, that was all put away, but honestly, I think the finished items take up more space to store than the yarn itself ha ha!  Oh boy.  

We actually talked about a camping trip, and we even sat down to check dates.  It didn't happen.  The next 3 weeks are all booked at all the campgrounds we go to.  I will have to do some looking around at other ones maybe, but for now, camping is not happening.

I apologize.  I think I accidently deleted a comment on my post for the garlic scape/radish spread.  I must have been coffee depleted while working on the blog.