Weekend Updates

The eagles were out and about again yesterday morning.  The kids were even flying and later up in this same tree.  They were flying over our place looking for their next meal.  I'm waiting to clean my coop until this week - shotgun week starts.  I'm going to hope the eagles stay away while the hens are in the run, but I'll have to muck it quickly and put them back in.

Sunday was a day of errands and delivering extra food, and what not.  I talked Hubby into cutting wood for a good hour before it turned dark.  Family borrowed the truck for 3 days and we didn't get it back until late Sunday.  Too late to haul our cut wood to the porch or barn, and now it's raining.  Hubby's back is sore from lifting furniture up onto sliders, so we cut our time short out at the barn rubble pile (but have enough wood to last a long, long time).

I got Youngest with the hide-the-rat the other day.  She tried to get me by putting it under a kitchen towel.  Didn't work, ha ha!

We have enough food to last a few days.  The bonus of hosting and having 2 meals this year.  The house is clean too, so I think I'll do some decorating with Youngest.  She's home today.  School is out, but back tomorrow.  However, I'm told some are already closing for tomorrow due to weather.  It's raining right now, but turning to snow later.  

I will have to do constant checking of the property this week.  I've had to run off hunters (shotgun week) in the past.  Some have no respect for other people's property, so I'll most likely put Jesse on a leash this week too.

We left our porch furniture out until the holiday meal, so I'll be bringing in one chair at a time, drying it by the woodstove, and putting them in storage.  What a mess this weather is, but I think being snowed in is a fun reason to do some Christmas decorating.

Tidbits

I got more of these crocheted.

Embroidered a kitchen towel for one kiddo for Christmas.

The bald eagles were out and about again.  The are out and about this morning too.

Thanksgiving meals are behind us now.  Time to get back to cleaning (utility room, bedroom), and get back to organizing the garage.  I'll be back to share a fruit salad recipe.  Not sure what Sunday will bring, as we are worn out from get-togethers, cleaning and cooking.  Family borrowed our truck to move, so it'll be an as-we-go day.  If the truck is returned, we may just get more wood cut.

Bald Eagles ~ Homemade Seasoned Salt

We've been watching a family of 4 bald eagles out in a field by our homestead.  As long as the leave my barn cats and chickens alone, we are enjoying watching them.

I made homemade seasoned salt for a recipe I needed it for yesterday.  It was better than store bought seasoned salt.

I used my homemade onion powder and garlic powder to make it too.

Homemade Seasoned Salt
2 Tbsp. salt
2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. organic paprika
1/4 tsp. organic turmeric
1/4 tsp. homemade organic onion powder
1/4 tsp. homemade organic garlic powder
1/4 tsp. organic non-gmo corn starch

Mix and use in any recipe.  

Happy Thanksgiving! Champagne Punch

I made this punch for the Thanksgiving meal this year.  I'm sharing the recipe.  I wanted to jazz up the holiday, when it can be pretty hectic.  You know, put a few smiles on a few faces.

Champagne Punch
2 bottles champagne (made with organic grapes), chilled
1 bottle organic white wine, chilled
2 cups organic orange juice, chilled
2 cups organic cranberry juice, chilled
1/4 cup freshly squeezed, organic lemon juice

Mix and serve in a 1 gallon container or punch bowl, serve immediately  (yield-13 1/2 cups).

We survived the Thanksgiving meal.  What a busy day, but we had a good crowd.  In the midst of it.  Several deer were out eating in the fields across the way, and we saw a bald eagle.   It's nice to wake up to a clean house, other than dirty dishes.

It's closing in ~ Camper Christmas Tree Ornaments ~ Daughter's first paid hair cut

The holiday is closing in now.  It's time to step up and tidy up.  The overnight rolls were made and will be baked later today.  The ham will be cooked too.  There is a lot of turkey warnings going on, so I'm not even sure I'll eat turkey if it's brought here for the meal.  

Check out these cuties!  More are getting made.  I made a few for the first upcoming craft show.  Hubby and Youngest love them.  I'll be working on more color options too.

Oh my.  I have to share this, ha ha!  Hubby got his first hair cut from our Hair stylist-in-training.  He worked over, and got home late, but she was able to check out trimmers and sheers from her school.

He was yelling through the house for me to come sit in the kitchen and watch.  I literally sat down and he told me to leave.  I pulled out my phone and filmed our daughter working away.

He told me to leave again.  So I did.  Ha ha ha!

A few minutes later I hear, "Babe?  Babe? Where are you?"

I walk back out and sit down to watch him taking selfies on his phone, so I show him the video.  He immediately says, "You have to leave."  HA HA HA HA HA!  

He was apparently nervous to get his hair cut by her, and didn't know if he wanted me to watch or leave the room.  This went on and on until his cut was finally done.  

She did great too!  I do believe we have a hair stylist on our hands, and Hubby paid her for the cut too.  We both told her to start a savings for her future salon, and she agreed.  I sure hope she sticks with it. She has many talents, and has already earned her certificate to run tanning beds too.  She can do nails, hair, eye brows, etc.  She is really going all out for her first year.  We are so proud of her.  It's nice to know she can check out trimmers and sheers from her school, bring them home, do cuts, and return them for free.  It's great practice for her too.

Tuesday Tidbits

We had 4 deer out by our garden the other night.  I'm pretty sure they were munching on the pears I tossed in the pasture.  We may see some drunk deer, ha ha!  

I had lots to do Monday - major laundry (cold outside, wind at 1 mph, cloudy, so I had to use my dryer, sigh..), dusting, tidying up, more deep cleaning, and the other regular stuff like fetch wood, care for the hens, dogs, cats etc.  I needed to tidy up the study, and wipe down more cobwebs (just part of country living).

I bought these to brighten up the kitchen on Thanksgiving day. Only $1.00 each.

I made this for the kitchen to add a tiny more bit of homemade touch.  The dish was only $1.00. They are the new colors in my kitchen.  I'm just loving the new look now.

It only took about 3-4 searches to locate my matching tablecloths.  Whew!  That job is done and ready for Thursday.

Medicinal, restful - beam me up tea was brewed.  

Handiwork Hustle ~ Extreme Holiday Clean

Despite deep cleaning, I've managed to sign up for not one, but two craft shows in December.  And even though I've been doing so much organizing, purging and cleaning, I've managed to whip up these cuties . . .

Scrap yarn Christmas ornaments.   I believe I got the pattern from a library book.  I'll post it if I can locate the book.  I apologize for the bad photo, it was pretty dark out and I turned on a pretty bright light.

I'm also putting the finishing touches on the Starbucks ornaments, and wine cork keychains.  

I've finished another washcloth and scrubbie set, and have another knitted dishcloth almost finished.  I would like to get a few more ornaments made before the shows too.

Hubby is tickled pink to see the deep cleaning getting done.  I'm hoping it will motivate him to get started on other bigger projects that need done here too.  I finally got my antique rug beaters up on the wall.  We've actually used them, but they had been tucked here and there, and while cleaning, I just thought what the heck.  Up they went.

The hefty armoire was moved, carpet cleaned, wall trim wiped clean and whatnot.  We bought "sliders" for this heavy job, as well as for moving he bedroom furniture (which is getting done after Thanksgiving).

The hutch was emptied on the lower end, wiped and cleaned up.  The top (sigh) will have to wait.  I'm getting close to running out of time.  I actually found a cookbook I forgot about, and excited to flip through it later.

I had a visit from Oldest Daughter, and her dog Mia.  Tiger was enjoying his sleep in a kitchen chair, when Mia went nose to nose.  Tiger finally figure out how to hold his ground.  He gave Mia the meanest glare and loudest hiss.  Poof.  Mia backed off.  She'll chase if Tiger runs.

Saturday we had a ton, and I mean a ton, of errands to do.  Our youngest joined, and when we returned said, "Man, I love to shop, but I can honestly say I am worn out!"  We were too.  We were all in PJ's, in bed, watching movies and football by 3pm.

Sunday we were up at 5:00am, and went right to work.  By 1pm, we were thoroughly pleased with progress and hung up the broom and cleaning rags for another day.  PJ's went back on for a well deserved rest of the day off.  It was cold, cloudy, and uninviting outdoors anyway.  

We have set a day to cut wood, so cross your fingers the weather cooperates too.