Sunshine to Snow

Although we had frigid temps here, the sun shined brightly all day long.  That is always a huge bonus.

However, the white stuff returned.  I just want to dial up Mother Nature and put in my order.  If it was that easy, right?

At least the animals can go about their business and not freeze their paws.

Home Canned Potatoes ~ On the Wild Side

We were to get a low of an actual temperature of -15°F last night, but it we may have hit -17.  We were told the wind chill could be as cold as -23°F last night.  

Okay, okay.  I retract on saying I wanted this month to slow down so I can meet goals.  It can speed right back up and pass on by.  I'm so ready to get out of "dodge" right now.

Almost every school closed today, so I actually slept in this morning.  I decided to make blueberry pancakes for breakfast. 

Yesterday I had to open my bill paying folder.

The most random yet....Homemade Slaw Dressing ~ Homemade Celery Salt

I revamped the family favorite broccoli salad yesterday.  The original recipe calls for Marzetti Slaw Dressing.  

I looked up the ingredients in the slaw dressing and the first ingredient is soybean oil (many salad dressings contain this).  It also contains "corn-cider vinegar."

INGREDIENTS: SOYBEAN OIL, SUGAR, CORN-CIDER VINEGAR, WATER, EGG YOLK, SALT, MUSTARD SEED, XANTHAN GUM, ROSEMARY EXTRACT.

Contains Egg.

- See more at: http://www.marzetti.com/products/product/3/208/marzetti-original-slaw-dressing#sthash.VJ9fSV9Z.dpuf

INGREDIENTS: SOYBEAN OIL, SUGAR, CORN-CIDER VINEGAR, WATER, EGG YOLK, SALT, MUSTARD SEED, XANTHAN GUM, ROSEMARY EXTRACT.

Contains Egg.

- See more at: http://www.marzetti.com/products/product/3/208/marzetti-original-slaw-dressing#sthash.VJ9fSV9Z.dpuf

We already use an organic/non-gmo safflower mayo, so that part was easy.  Making it ourselves, also cuts our cost.  I used

The other one ~ Crocheted Rug

Television has not been so entertaining lately (and the news is depressing), so I had the brainy idea of digging out some  yarn for a rug.  The one at my back door needs replaced badly, and I figured I could whip up something.

I opened the tote and found yarn that had a half-way crocheted dishcloth attached to it.  That was the "other one" I found a few days ago.

Slumping my shoulders, and lowering my head, I felt like those pesky projects where my worst nightmare this winter.  I straightened back up, smiled, and did what anyone else would do.  I ripped that booger out, and wound that yarn back on.

Then I grabbed a few more colors of yarn, and got to work.

I got "Notered" ~ Granny Square Crochet Bookmark ~ Random Tidbits

I woke up with a hot cup of coffee, and sat down to read my email and discovered I was "notered" by Youngest Daughter.

(The history of the "noters":  for years we exchanged uplifting notes.  I'd put them in their lunches, and Youngest loved to write me back often).

Here is what I found in my email today:

 
 "Soo I don't really have anything to write about but I love you mommy. You're amazing and you care for me and I love you. Also check facebook :) I couldn't help but brag about how amazing my mom is.. I love you. You do a lot for me and there should be more than one day of the year that I show my gratitude to you and how much I appreciate you, and of course the work you do for me. You are AMAZING. I love you. I love you times 10000000 <3 :d="" are="" br="" hearts="" lol="" love="" mom="" symbols="" those="" you="">

Sent from my iPod=


That just made my day start even better.  I did hack into Hubby's facebook to see what she posted too (Sigh....in a good way).
 


Lookie, lookie! (just trying to be funny)  I found another one!  (actually I found two, but I'll explain the other one on another post).

While shuffling through my leaning-tower-of- Pisa stack of magazines, I found this:

Honey-Ginger Carrots ~ More Ways to Use Millet ~ Cold Coffee

I pulled the last two bags of garden carrots from the freezer.  I added them to dinner last night, and made Honey-Ginger Carrots.  It's very simple to make too.

 (Homemade tuna and noodle using homemade mushroom soup and soy free tuna, honey-ginger carrots and organic peas).

Boil the carrots

Winter Woes

We got another arctic blast Saturday.   This morning it's a whopping -5°F outside with a -26° wind chill (and the sun is shining). 

There was one thing we were struggling with yesterday.  How to protect Orion (our male lamancha goat) from the -25 to -35°F wind chill we were expecting.  We were told it would the coldest yet.  They might be right, as the wind chill is to stay at low at -35°F today.  Looks like our high will be 0°F.

If this winter was worse than last year, then what's next winter going to be?  Our cold blast will last a week here. I sure hope it kills off some ticks and other nasty bugs.

Anyway,

The little things that say "I love you"

Happy Valentine's Day!

I wanted to make something useful for the kids this month - a little something to say "I love you."  I don't like to simply wait for February to tell them, so my challenge to myself is to tell them more often.

I used scrap fabric to make these homemade cards (right), and old book pages (left) to create the envelope.  I used a fine-line black marker to make dashes around the scrap fabric heart (adhered with fusible web). 

What's inside?

60 minutes and three miles later....

When walking three miles didn't de-stress the stress yesterday, I gravitated to the kitchen where the singing began.

Instead of writing poems in my head, I was singing Johnny Cash's "Burn, burn burn...." as the shallots burned my eyeballs.    Oldest Daughter thought I was cracked in the head until the shallot fumes wafted into the living room, where it burned her eyeballs. 

New Foods ~ Tidbits

(organic tofu soaking in organic vegetable broth)

Over the years, I've kept track of new foods we've tried.  It looks like the only thing I journaled for 2014, was millet.  I'm sure there were a few other new foods.

Our vegetarian daughter, asked for us to buy tofu for her.  I've never tried it, so we bought organic tofu when it went on sale.

From the Handiwork Journal . . .

. . . crocheted a few washcloths, with yarn I had in my stash.  These are made with a 2-ply, 100% cotton yarn.  At the time I purchased the yarn, yellow and white where the only two colors in 2-ply.  It makes a thinner cloth and dries faster. I simply used single crochet for these.

(I really like the 2-ply for a hand towel, versus the 4 ply cotton.  I will be making more until my  yarn is used up)

Slip Sliding ~ Spreadable Butter and other Terrific Tidbits

Getting to the barn and back, and out there and back again, was no easy task yesterday.  We woke up to frigid temperatures after being spoiled rotten with warm weather. 

However, all that half melted slush, froze, and muck boots don't have spikes on the bottom.  It took everything I had, to get back with the eggs and not fall (and break any or break something on me). 

Homemade Liquid Hand Soap

I was looking around my master bathroom, and noticed that my hand towel, soap saver, and hand towel holder, are all homemade.

Tidbits ~ Steep or Infusion?

Last night we had a beautiful sunset.  They sky was filled with pink hues.  Just gorgeous.

My boxes of homemade items

Cleaning is discovering treasures again (and garbage too)

In the midst of cleaning my desk, I found a bookmark my 18 year-old made me when she was seven years old.  Ha!  I'll have to laminate it now.

Chocolate fixes everything . . .

Actually, chocolate doesn't fix trucks.  It may make me feel better, but.....

Just when you think you can't take one more awful, bad, miserable thing happening, it happens.  

I started cleaning again (no big surprise there, right?), and at noon, I get a call from Hubby.

Goats ~ Recipes ~ Talking Walls

There is a beautiful sunrise this morning, but I am too lazy to go put on the right slippers to trudge out onto the porch and snap a photo to share.  There is a fresh layer of snow to walk through, but it is beautiful.
 
Although it was almost noon, when I started my deep cleaning yesterday, I was successful again for a day.  My day first started with emptying the ash pan in the wood stove, restocking the wood inside, fetching eggs and watering the animals.  

When I arrived to the barn, and pushed the door open, I was greated by Misty (our white female Lamancha goat).  She was happily walking about, and not in her pen.  The others stayed put, even though the gate was wide open.  The wheel barrow was tipped over, shovels scattered, hay a mess, and goat poo all over the barn floor.  Daughter forgot to put the latch in when she did the evening barn duties. Ha ha!  What a mess that girl made in there too.  As soon as I approached her, she ran into her goat pen.  I'm sure she knew she wasn't supposed to be trapeze-ing all over the barn.

Cleaned, Organized, and a Happy Mom

I never knew it would be an all day job.  Especially for one bookshelf (top only). This is a boring post today.  Just warning you.

Sigh.  But what a happy sigh it is.

Homemade Hard Tack Candy ~ Tidbits

The younger kids have been pestering me to buy Valentine's candy from the store.  I just shake my head, because of what's in that stuff.  Not to mention all those dyes they use to make them so appetizing.  So....you know me.

Snow Day ~ Tidbits

The "snow fairy" came and plowed us out last night, but it's still snowing this morning.  The weather forecast expected about 13 inches of snow, but we are to get another inch today.  The wind (and wind chill) will be the worst to deal with today.  As you can see, the fields are flat, and the snow drifts at our place.  

Mattie

Mattie (16 years old) has gone to Heaven. January 31, 2015 was our last day with her.

Getting Through and Gearing Up

Yesterday, you could hear a pin drop in the house, when normally it would be filled with chitter chatter, laughter, screaming, running through the house, and dogs barking.

It was one of those days when you feared giving a hug, because it would induce a bucket full of tears.

Sadie

January 30, 2015 (today) was the last day we had with Sadie Lou.  She was a wonderful dog, and will be greatly missed.  Click on "read more" for photos.  She was a part of our family in so many ways.  She was the "mother" to all.  She was the protector to Oldest Daughter.  She was greatly loved.

 

January 20, 2015

 

January 24, 2014

Writing Mojo Needs Fueled

The wind always makes the house feel colder, but the wood stove was going good and strong when I got up this morning.

I abandoned all chores (aside from animals) and retreated to my room to write yesterday.  I started out pretty well, but found myself wandering to the kitchen desk, and fiddling around on the internet.

"Mom?! What are you doing?  Get back in your room and write something," said Oldest Daughter.

"I will, I just have to find something."

Tidbits ~ Egg-less Blueberry Muffins

People driving by often ask Hubby if he makes me put the laundry out in winter.  Nope.  For show?  Nope.  It's my real life.  It smelled so good when I brought it in, and it dried completely.

Sittin' Pretty

I happened to look out the back window, and I spotted a small, bright red moving object.  

Pinto Beans ~ Pantry Lunch Packings ~ Handiwork Developments

I finally broke down and rinsed our home grown pinto beans.  The piddly harvest....we all know that story right?  Either way, I am cooking them to go with breakfast burritos, snacks and after school burritos.   We get creative with breakfast burritos.  Which reminds me, I better open a jar of zucchini salsa too.

Savory Soup ~ Snow

I tried a new white bean soup recipe - White Bean Soup with Greens and Rosemary.  I found it in a book my Dad gave me years ago (Super Foods Rx), but there are many versions of it online as well.  The rosemary in this soup makes it taste wonderful, along with a pinch of cayenne.

Handiwork Developments ~ Home Canned Potatoes ~ Hand Lotion Update ~ Library Blip?

I am afraid to dig into more boxes, as I have found another dishcloth I need to finish crocheting.  I must have taken it camping, along with other "go-to" projects.

Here is the latest development ~

 Before

Gratitude

I woke up to an orange furry feline, sitting on my stomach, nose to nose with me, and every so gently pressing one paw up on me over and over again.

"Wake up sleepy head," he was silently saying.
 
His eyes were begging me to get up and feed him, as his master is away at a (gulp) sleepover.  No one is on agreement with me regarding sleepovers this winter, so if this one comes home sick, then my opinion is getting enforced.
 
Well, it's been a long time since I did a gratitude posting.  Oddly, I am thankful for being in bed for two days, because I finished one book before the month was even over. 

I have one book left in my personal stash.

Recovery ~ Sadie Update

We are recovering.  The sickness got three of us (if I could only teach one to wash her hands more often).   We used hot herbal teas (ginger, mullein, thyme and others),  homemade vapor-rub, eucalyptus inhalation steams, homemade ginger-ale, and homemade elixir.  I encouraged them to gargle with salt water too.  It really helped me.

Sickness ~ Hubby ~ Homemade Graham Crackers ~ More Hand Lotion

The only reason I am up this morning, is to locate the school's transportation number and cancel the bus today.  Both kids that ride it are sick with fevers and whatnot.   As luck would have it, the school was calling me as I was calling them, and they closed today due to snow and bad roads.  Traffic outside, is moving extremely slow.

As for me?  I woke up at 4am freezing cold.  I knew at that point I was the next to get the sickness (that our 15 year-old brought home from a sleepover).  My temperature was 101.4 and I am not feeling so well.   

Winter Slow Down ~ Making Decisions ~ Christmas Ornament

I'll admit, the chilly outside air has kept me indoors more often.  I do have to enjoy it and slow down.  So far, we have avoided the flu, although our 15 year-old recently came home from a sleepover sick.   The more I am home, the less contact I have of airborne and other nasty germs.  I am, however, considering banning sleepovers during the remainder of the winter (flu hospitalizations are up in our area).   I just want to keep sickness out of our home.  This is the second time this season that she has come home sick from a friend's house.

Although it is snowing right now, we did have a warm up, and the weather was perfect for drying laundry outdoors.  And it was warm enough to let the ladies out and clean the coop.  We tried last week (to clean the coop), but everything was simply frozen to the ground.  

I've taken some time to think on things, and ....

Coffee Pot Collection Re-do ~ Sadie Update

Almost a year ago, I shared my antique coffee pot collection.

This year, I decided it was time to use them or lose them.

Handiwork Developments

The cat blanket is finally finished.  I got the ends sewn in, and it's on the couch....out of the closet and into good use.

Sunrises ~ Smoothies ~ Smacking Myself

The last few mornings, we've has some beautiful sunrise skies.

Spring planning ~ New Seed Catalog

It's hard to believe it's already January 16th.  Pretty soon winter will be over and we'll all be back to our regular spring routines.

What are you looking forward to?  I'm looking forward to

In the Kitchen ~ A Year of Ernest Hemingway

Chore time was so peaceful and quiet yesterday.  If fact, it was beautiful outside.  I had to go inside and get my camera out and take a few photos.

Updates ~ Tidbits

Homemade "vaseline" - I have used more than half my jar already.  After bitter cold weather (even with my face covered out there), my skin was very dry.  I even used this on my face when it was very dry from winter air.  I will definitely make this again.

Happy Homemaker Monday

I'm joining Sandra over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom today - 1/12/2015.

The weather outside is. . .

On the breakfast plate this morning . . .

I kind of made this up as I went.  I'm out of bacon, so I simply made it with baby kale and beets - breakfast quiche.  I opened a jar of home canned (spiced) beets for this breakfast.  The ingredients I used:  onion, garlic, chopped baby kale, fresh eggs, Greek yogurt, beets (canned spiced beets from this past garden season), and salt and pepper.  It was actually pretty good.  I saved some for Hubby.

Dehydrating Orange Peel ~ Orange Peel Powder

Our grocer is finally carrying organic oranges, so I have been saving the peels and dehydrating them.

This is a first for me.  I've never dehydrated the peels due to not having access to organic oranges.  My plan is to use them for recipes for now.  We use orange peel in our hot cranberry punch, and now that I am making more teas, I think it would be nice to have some on hand for tea making.

I plan. . .

Suited Up ~ One Roasted Chicken

Okay, Mama Pea said she wanted "picture proof."  

Here it is:

I'm not moving very fast in all the get-up either, but it is keeping me warm and well covered.  I just have to be careful when walking.  Hubby's old carharrt is a bit long for me (oddly).  I had a problem with steaming up my sunglasses, but that morning sun was piercing my eyeballs yesterday.  I am thankful for it (sunshine), so no complaints. I wear Hubby's hat over the face mask in colder weather too.


Want to know how far one roasted chicken stretched for us?

Normally, one home raised, roasted chicken lasts about two days around here.  However, with Son gone (and oldest Daughter gone more often), we have more leftovers.

Tidbits and Herbal Tea Making

I have only tried my home canned pepper mustard sauce on chicken so far.  I know meatballs would be wonderful, but this time I tried it on organic pork tenderloin (in the crock pot).

Delicious.  Another winning way to eat from our summer stock up.  We topped it over organic brown rice, and had a side of roasted brussel sprouts.  

We are having another cold day. 

Cinnamon Maple Macadamias

With the cold of winter here, we are enjoying hot oatmeal for breakfast.  Something (nutritional) we discovered to top it with is this recipe.  It also heats up the kitchen on a cold day.

Simply chop 1 1/2 cups (non-gmo, organic) macadamia nuts and mix in 1 teaspoon of organic cinnamon.  Next. . .

Drinking Kale? Bitter Cold Returns

The most recent issue of Country Woman magazine contained an article about ginger.  

They included a recipe for a Kale and Ginger Smoothie, and Youngest wanted to try it.  I was skeptical, as I have never put raw greens into a smoothie. But....

Snow arrives...

I took this photo Monday morning.  Winter has officially arrived - rain, freezing rain, snow and bitter temperatures (but not as bad yet as last winter).  

Yesterday, although a bit cold, the sun was shining and there was a pretty good wind out there.

Larger towels were dried in front of the wood stove.


I've sort of been hibernating and ever so slowly finishing up some crochet and knitting ventures.  

I took this crochet project camping in August of 2014.  I found it in a bag in my closet while cleaning. . . .

Christmas break ends for.... ~ My Herbal Journey

Normally, I'd start my morning around six o'clock, by putting wood in the wood stove, feeding barn cats, letting dogs out, and feeding house cats (all before a cup of coffee).

This morning?

My alarm went off at 2:35am, I slipped on shoes, brewed a pot of coffee and was out the door by 3:00am with Hubby, Son, and Youngest (one daughter didn't make it back out of bed, ha ha!).

Randomness ~ Barn Kitty ~ Last Christmas Tree

It's raining here this morning, and the step is a sheet of ice.  Every dog did the "bambi splits" this morning.  Needless to day, the didn't go far to do their business.  
 
I can't really say I am writing out my new year resolutions, but I am randomly writing down a "wish" list of needs and other possibilities for this year.  Of course that is after a good strategic financial plan is in order.

Honestly, I told Hubby that if we only had one thing to reflect on at the end of 2015, I would be elated to write down

Cold Temps ~ Tidbits

I was pretty happy with our "system restore" here, by getting the Christmas decorations down and put away, but slumped my shoulders when I entered my bathroom.  I forgot about the Christmas tree in there.

It's coming down today.  Then it's all back in storage. All but the outside lights.  Those will have to wait for a warmer day.
 
It's been pretty cold here lately.  I'm not complaining.  I am glad we don't have snow (yet).  I have family traveling about the same time my Son will travel, so we are praying for good traveling weather.  We are dwindling down to the last few days before he has to leave again.

Although I forgot to take a photo, I do have a new recipe to share.  Our grocery store is stocking more organic pasta (I know, I know, I should be making my own noodles right now). 

I decided to make

Happy New Year ~ Sister's Question ~ Popcorn Storage

Happy New Year!

I was out getting wood for the wood stove, and snapped this quick sunrise photo.  It's not the best photo, but winter sunrises here are difficult to catch. 

 At our Christmas family gathering, my one sister asked me, "so now what are you doing?  You're done with the garden right?"

To answer her question,