Pumpkin Butter Bread and My Day "Off"

If you are like me, and have leftover pumpkin butter you need to use up, you may like the recipe we tried.  I baked a Pumpkin Butter Bread. Although it wasn't our favorite, they ate it up.  I didn't have raisins and walnuts, and that may add more flavor to it.


This year I am trying to give myself a day "off."  We do honor the Sabbath on Sunday, but I really need to give myself a "break" and tend to  myself for a day.


It's been slow going on this.  However, it's only been two weeks of initiating it also.  

Ha ha ha!  A day "off" is a good day to bring home library goodies and browse books.  I found a few great ideas for using up my yo-yo's for Christmas ornaments and some great gift ideas.

I also finished (YAY! I can say the word now) the last of the cat flour sack towels.

I am also making progress on my mixing bowl re-purpose project. Somewhere around the house I have the original magazine article on how to make these:  Garden Mushrooms

Excerpts from a Journal Junkie

from the homesteading journal. . .

I made another batch of homemade dishwasher detergent. This has saved us money and kept the chemicals off of our dishes.


Although many of the kids are not willing to try my homemade deodorant, I can say it holds up to a full workout at the gym, followed by an afternoon of wood splitting.

The snow has melted and the rains have arrived again. The yard looks like it flooded already, so the laundry is being dried inside. . .

{scrap fabric drying on my indoor clothesline}

from the baking/cooking journal. . .


I used to cook from my pantry to keep foods from expiring, but so often I am cooking from my freezer.  With the increased amount of garden and fruit frozen versus canned, I searched for recipes that can use up my shredded zucchini, and blueberries.  

I baked two loaves of zucchini/blueberry bread, and realized that I could also utilize any applesauce I have frozen as well (in place of cooking oil).  I had to smack a few hands from snatching my frozen blueberries.

I also finally canned Cinnamon/Cider jelly for our own family.  Now that the Christmas holiday is over, I can catch up on chores for my own family. 

from the crafting/handiwork journal . . .

I worked like a mad woman all weekend, to try and finish up or at least work on unfinished projects.  While I continue to crochet my sherbet colored afghan, I started painting mixing bowls.....

 {soon to be posted on my S.C.R.A.P. blogspot}

. . .I picked up at a thrift store almost 4 years ago.  I boxed up a few finished ornaments, and finished a few re-purposed projects.  

I finished another scarf. . .

While cleaning up my craft supplies (which could take me weeks), I found yet another unfinished project. . .

I worked a little on this yesterday, and when it's finished, this set of towels will be completed.

The list continues....


from my personal journal . . .

Two kids are home sick, hubby has been having stomach trouble (still went to work), and I am coughing with congestion, sinus pressure and once again the dreaded mucus.  I was so hoping we were all over this, but this is the pits.  

Today I am thankful for:

1. my washing machine
2. mail delivery to my home
3. my kid's jobs
4. the income I earn from writing
5. hot tea
6. essential oils and Vick's Vap-Rub
7. kleenex
8. my Bible
9. God's Love
10. paper   
      

Snowin' and a Blowin'

We are getting some snow right now.  Everyone of course, is a bit disappointed that there wasn't enough for a school delay - ha ha!

I am continuing to work on projects that I started last spring. While digging through my craft supplies, I discovered a lap afghan that I started and never finished - tsk tsk.

This is my project every evening.  During the day, after chores, I work on other projects too.  I'll have some photos to share soon, regarding the ornaments that I am making with the wooden rings.

Crafts are not the only thing that remains on a list.  I have many cooking/baking items I want to try this year too. 



Today I am Thankful for:
~ God's Mercy
~ on-line Bible studies that I can participate from home
~ surprise mail that makes me smile
~ books!  My entire family loooves to read books.  We utilize non-fiction for so many reasons and I learn from them each day.  
~ our animals...all of them...life would be so boring without them.
~ my Uncle!  He is awesome! He gave us his treadmill and I can walk every day for health reasons.  My kids use it too.
~ my Aunt!  She is always upbeat and positive and keeps my crankiness at bay.
~ my Mom! She reminds me so often of the things I am good at.
 

I Got "Notered"

"Dear Mom,
I hope your day is rockin and fun, I miss you but I know inside my heart your there!"


I Love You,
Love....


Not only did I get "notered," but I also was given a piece of candy that she won at school.  It sure made my day.

Full Moon and Other Tidbits

I attempted to photograph the sunrise this morning, however, I ended up catching another moon photo.

It was just starting to go down behind the trees.  I missed the sunrise by running back to get my camera.  The pink clouds were so pretty this morning.  Maybe I'll get a another chance to get a picture of it this winter.

Although I now I should be writing out my seed orders for the garden, I keep taking an inventory over my projects.  The most important ones to finish this winter, will be Christmas presents.  Those are a must to finish now.  Summer gardening, as large as our family is, will be very time consuming this year.

If you have a chance, stop on over to my S.C.R.A.P. blog. . .

I was inspired by another blog I follow, and with her mini-wreath pattern, we created a S.C.R.A.P. Cereal Box Gift Tag. 


Cereal boxes can be recycled in most cities now, but you can use any food box you may have also.  Or use the cardboard from light bulb boxes, clothing, curtains, etc.

I am now on day 4 of trying a herbal oil mix for our immune system.  I am simmering it so that the entire house can benefit from it.  So far, we are seeing results.  Instead of being irritable with sinus pressure, we are seeing many runny noses - the same results of some over the counter allergy medications.  I am also using garlic oil drops for my ear.  I am on day 4 of those too.  I still don't have my hearing totally clear yet, but continue to use the oil.  By day 14 I will know if they worked or not.

Weekend Wonderfuls

I finished the prayer shawl, and two more hats over the weekend.  I am now slowing down to finish some larger, unfinished projects.  I still have ornaments and a few other smaller projects, but I am happy with my progress.

I need to can jellies soon, but today is my "all-out" house cleaning day.  I like to start the week off with a spic n' span clean house.  However, I need to exercise first.  I am slowly working back up to a 4:30am wake up call (I do much better when I exercise first thing in the morning).

Homemade Deodorant and Slip-Sliding Down Project Runway....

My first granny square scarf.  I had fun with this and plan to make another one for gifting.   This one went to the same daughter, that this hat (another finished project)....