Freezing Weather is Great for Baking Days

I'm taking advantage of some rotten bananas, some extra whole wheat flour (from the stone mill) that was in the freezer, and baking a double batch of banana bread.

Freezing temperatures, down to zero, are perfect days to do some baking.  It helps heat up my unheated kitchen, and we have a healthy meal or snack.

While the bread is baking, I can write, and enjoy the delicious aroma that works its way through the house.  Oh, and I can stay warm too.

Retreat at Home

Winter weather keeps most people indoors.  After a long week of work, whether it's a paid job or non-paid job, couples tend to burned out emotionally and physically.  The recession also kept many people such as ourselves, from taking vacations.  We did go tent camping in late summer last year, and had a blast for $17.00/night.  We cooked over the campfire, and hiked.  It was a retreat of a different kind.

I was reading the newspaper they other day and read about a couple who placed a cabin on their 1 acre of land for a place to get away from it all.  I have to admit, I was jealous.  I would love to place a hideaway on our property and use it for a personal retreat, or a mini-home vacation with my husband.  I think it's time to add a it to the family wish list.

You may also enjoy reading:  How to have a weekend getaway in your home

Making Progress ~ Flyday Guide to Cleaning and Organizing

This week I focused on the bathroom, although we did go back to the kitchen and clean light fixtures (badly needed it! Blech.).  I tackled one drawer in the bathroom, and lined it with scrap wallpaper that was simply taking up space in my craft closet.

Before

After (drawer lined with scrap wallpaper also)

Now...if you asked what I wrote today, I'd have to tell you zippo.  Ugh.  I need an inspirational "coach" for daily writing, as Flylady is with cleaning and organizing.  They work together for me, because I can't sit and write when my house is a mess.

In search for daily writer's inspiration, I found these Web sites:

The Writing Coach

Daily Writing - Prompts

Writer's First Aid

Liz Curtis Higgs

Although I found these sites very encouraging, I would have loved to find a Web site that has fun daily writing goals for writers.  For example, Monday: write in a journal, write a letter to someone and mail it, or similar.  Sometimes I get into a rut with a fiction story, and just need inspiration to write something else, so I can move on. 

I can rest easy, as far as the bathroom goes.  But what's on the cleaning agenda for next week?  

.  .  .  . the master bedroom.

It's a "noter" day

I had a nice surprise today.  I came to my computer to find a "noter" from my youngest daughter.  A "noter" from me is in her lunch bag already.  Her note reminds me to take time to write today.

Comfortable or Not Comfortable?

Meet Sadie.  It appears as if she is dreaming of a nice soft pillow to rest her head.  Sound asleep and drooling.

Laundry Day ~ Just an ordinary day

So many people have asked me "do they really dry" and I have answered "yes they do."  If there is wind, they dry completely.  If there is a small amount of wind, they dry almost 90% and then it only takes about 5 minutes to dry them in front of the wood burning stove (on drying racks).  I have not yet used my dryer.  It's there if I need it, but I have not needed it yet. 

This is only one of my lines outside.  The other line was drying blankets that we keep in boxes for the barn cats.  I do put the laundry out early, so it has more time to dry.  It's all a matter of a little "hard work" and letting go of convenience and spending money for convenience.

I am truly a pioneer at heart, with a urge to learn surviving without.  Do you know how to dry your laundry if your power was eliminated?

When I wrote the above article (click on highlighted link in above paragraph) on drying laundry without a dryer, I wrote it from true experience.  We have 2 drying racks and one, 5-line retractable indoor clothes line.  The next step is to add lines in the garage, and a washing tub such as this one:

 

(photo borrowed from Lehman's)

We learned to survive without a dryer, but have you learned to survive without a washing machine?  We go through a lot of dirty clothes around here, especially in the summer with the garden work.  We have however, taught the kids to reuse bath towels to lower the amount of dirty clothes, and the amount of washing time.  Simply hang the bath towel to dry and reuse again.  Are you not clean when you get out of the shower?  Again, it's a matter of living without convenience and thinking frugal and smart.

Embroidery ~ Relaxing and Fun

I am reading the diaries from pioneer women who crossed the U.S. in the 1800's and it's been interesting and amazing.  Many women took extra needles and thread with them and traded with Indians for food.  Embroidery work, on hankies and other items were also given as gifts.  In my quest to embroider, learn more, and improve my skills, I have completed several projects.  Here are photos of my progress so far:

Here is my first embroidery sampler (posted before)