Random Tidbits

We've been a swamp in our parts of the "woods" this week, and there is another onslaught of rain to come.  I am hoping for a dry day today, but it'll be very limited outdoor work for sure.

We had planned a big May birthday bash - cookout and overnight camp out for this weekend.  Campers, tents and all.  Sadly, the rain forced us to cancel.  We hope to reschedule soon.

I've been doing small gardening jobs in the rain - pick asparagus, and cut the flower heads off the rhubarb.  

Yesterday morning we had a short, but shift storm.  It knocked a huge limb off of a tree, which landed on my clothes line.  Thankfully, it missed our swing, and didn't damage the clothesline. The limb goes all the way behind the swing and is pretty large.  You can also see the grass has been cut to the upper right but not behind the patio.  It's hit or miss with mowing right now.

Happy Homemaker Monday

The weekend weather was wacky.  Friday I got very little done outside.  I started weeding the herb garden, got a corner done, and it started to rain.  It rained until noon, and it was cold, dark and windy.

Saturday it was raining again, and pretty cold.

Sunday morning we had more rain and thunderstorms.  I had to build a tent in the kitchen for old man Jesse.  I put an afghan over the backs of kitchen chairs to keep him calm.  We can't find his thunder jacket.

I'm joining Sandra over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom today.


On the breakfast plate . . .

Birthday ~ Sparta ~ This and That

Woke up to a chilly 48°F this morning.  Hubby and I have been getting up earlier and having coffee on the porch.  The sun rises just about the time he rolls out of the driveway for work.  It was beautiful this morning, but right after I took this photo it was cloud cover.

Yesterday was my birthday.  I was home all day waiting for Hubby to get off work.  He had a dentist appt. after work too, so for me, it seemed like a looooooooong day.  I literally did not do any garden work.  It was too wet to weed too.  I did some crocheting on the porch, sat and talked with a few of the kids when they were home, and really just chilled all day.  When Hubby pulled in, he called me to the car, and surprised me with this Harley Davidson gift basket.

Treating Scars ~ Venomous Spider Bite Update

The post you've all been waiting for (maybe). . . 

I have had a nasty scar on my leg, left from a venomous spider, and have been putting homemade calendula cream on it for over a year now.

Did you know that calendula has the properties to help new skin growth?  I just learned this even though I was already using the cream/lotion.  It has helped too.

Warning:  Graphic photos.  If you do not want to see the bite before and after (some of the before) do NOT click to continue reading.

Wild Violet Jelly ~ Garden Tidbits

My homestead has a somewhat good amount of wild violets.  

I was itching to pick some wild purple violets, for my "new" jelly to try this year.  I've never made it and we had a very busy weekend.  So...I picked the violets....

In Motion

I went to the barn early yesterday to fetch the hoe before the bumble bees woke up (terrible again this year). 

(steps I got on my fitbit yesterday)

The hoe and I had a date.  I got the beets in finally, and started weeding some of the flower beds.  I had a ton of laundry, and ran out of clothespins.  The day went way too fast, but work was done.  It was a nice 60-some degree day, so it wasn't sweltering either.

I found one of my rain barrels completely drained. Hubby and I will have to put a clamp on the hose.  It's a different set up than my barrel looking ones.

Weekend Updates

Did we survive the weekend?

Friday was clean up, grocery shop, everything day.  Saturday was get up early and tidy up the last of the last, join up with some bikers (sounds so funny after all these years of just wearing muck boots), and take a ride to the lake.  We attended a fundraiser for a co-worker of Hubby's (stage 3 cancer, in his 30's and has kids).

Sunday we hosted a breakfast for Hubby's family and friends.  He made his famous breakfast burritos, I whipped up a sausage and egg souffle (overnight dish), and I could not let the young ones down, so I made chocolate chip waffles too.  However, I was greatly disappointed with the turn out.  All that cleaning and cooking and only 4 people showed up (when 12 or more were expected).  No young ones showed up either.  There were many more to be here as well, but over the weekend two babies were born into the family - one on the 4th and one on the 5th.