Happy Homemaker Monday

I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.  I'm so missing the hot tub right now.  Hubby is actually looking for one to buy now, but I doubt we will.  It takes lots of electricity to run one, and we have the highest electric in the county.

It's been a nice break in busyness, and we are all ready to tackle the week.  Lots to do. 

On the breakfast plate . . .

Farm fresh eggs over easy, organic toast with organic butter and home canned candy apple jelly, and of course organic coffee.  I'll admit, it felt weird cooking after not cooking for almost a week.  Hubby did all the cooking over the last week.


The weather . . . 
It's cold out and windy.  Rain is in the forecast. Currently 34°F and 46-48mph winds are expected.  I emptied my ash pail very early to avoid that blowing everywhere.


Right now I am . . .
Listening to the radio station as I zip around the house.  They are doing a contest to help pay bills.  They are giving away $1,000.00 to each winner when they announce to enter via text.  Wouldn't that be nice?  To win $1,000 to pay off some bills?


Thinking . . .
Ugh.  I have been so relieved to have the holidays behind us, but I got a message there will be another on my side of the family.  I'm thinking I am not up to cooking in mass amounts and do not want to make one more cookie recipe.


On the reading pile . . . 
Lots and lots of library books that I have had before the Christmas gatherings.  I really need to take time to look through them and check return dates.


On the TV . . .
The Ranch


On the menu this week . . .
Have no idea.  I have to clean out the fridge first, but I know I have asparagus and brussel sprouts that need cooked.



On my to-do list . . .
-clean out the fridge
-empty ash pail
-make garlic powder
-start organizing the Christmas totes
-clean bathroom
-start crocheting 11 "f" bombs
-put ceramic Christmas tree away
-sort mail that arrived while gone
-write two thank you notes
-pack up nativity set
-make dog food
-send a reminder to daughter to return my paper cutter
-wash bedding
-finish other laundry
-vacuum
-sweep kitchen
-put away dry dishes
-empty dishwasher
-post items for sale on my other blog
-organize office area
-dinner prep of some sort (wish me luck)
-unpack totes we took on the trip
-unpack our bags from the trip
-clean off tables and wash Christmas tablecloths



What I am creating . . .

Lots of stuff.  I got an order for 11 "f" bombs so that's first on the list.  I'll have photos soon of the other items


Looking around the house . . .
Hm.  Not sure where to start first, but I'll get started.  One thing at a time.


From the camera . . .

My favorite (one of them) photos from our 20th anniversary honeymoon.  


On my prayer list . . .
Our kids.

Home again.....home again.....

One of the last stops on the way home from our honeymoon trip.  Best chicken yet.

There were two things that we didn't like at the cabin.  One - the money game.  The first cabin we ever stayed in did this and we first found it fun, but it took much of our time looking for the hidden money, hiding it again, and leaving clues in a journal.  This cabin had the money hidden so we could see if without hunting for it.  We didn't re-hide the money, just left one or two and wrote down the clues.  We wanted to spend our time with each other and taking off on adventures.

Two - they could use another large skillet.  We almost bought one, but when we return we will take one for this cabin.  I guess not all people cook a homemade meal like we do.  Breakfast time we had difficulty (or should I say Hubby) in getting eggs, french toast, bacon, fried potatoes all done for one meal.  I have however, learned how to cook my bacon in the oven now.  Saved so much time and space cooking too. We found a grocery store like ours, but it was very limited with organic food.  I forgot to take rosemary and cinnamon, and found that, but it was very expensive.  Next trip, I'll remember to take my herbs and spices.


Back to homesteading and self-sufficiency, I got another quart jar of 4 thieves vinegar started...

...and another jar of sage tincture.  We ran into so many people who said their spouse was sick or someone they knew.  We of course shared our remedies, but had the oddest looks given back to us.  I swear by them.  

During that time, Hubby fired up "Big Red" and brought me a load of wood for the wood stove.  The old barn "rubbish" has supplied us well.


It's taking a bit of adjustment to get back to reality at the homestead.  I will be working on responding to comments now that I'm back home.  We rarely had phone service (relying on road signs and maps), so I couldn't access my blog via the internet on my phone either.  To be honest I sort of liked not having service most of the time (ha ha!).

With the trip right after Christmas, our Christmas trees remained up.  Those have to come down this week, along with outside lights.  I have lots on my hooks and needles and will post photos soon I hope.

I'm excited to try new things in 2019, and can't wait for more 20th celebrations with Hubby.  Of course I'm looking forward to more new motorcycle rides as well, a bountiful garden year, hoping we can raise meat birds and new homesteading experiences.  Time (and money) will tell, but I'll give it my all.

Here's to a new year, and lots of new experiences.  And finding yarn sales (ha ha ha!). I am very relieved for the holidays to be over now, and the baking and cooking back to normal at the homestead.  

Getting Away ~ Anniversary Celebration #3

My husband is so awesome.  You haven't seen a post here for a week, because we once again got away from home.  I packed up champagne, organic coffee, filters, and yes my rolling pin (well one of them).

Hubby booked us a cabin about a 3 hour drive from home.  I brought the rolling pin to make homemade biscuits at the cabin (although a beer bottle works great in a pinch too).  Even so, Hubby cooked every single meal we ate at the cabin.

We spent 4 nights and 5 days in the hills.  Our cabin was way up in the hills.  We visited three falls.  One involved many, many stairs.

This was the last hill up into the cabin.  The road was a bit scary, but we were so glad it wasn't snowing.

We visited a tiny pencil sharpener museum located at the welcome center.  Motorcycle pencil sharpeners!

Had the best bruschetta in the area, and even had pizza that was voted best in the state.  Visited a distillery that made local moonshine, a local winery and a brewery.

I had my project bag with me, so on day one when Hubby wanted to watch the football game, I whipped up some cup coasters, which we left for the next guests.

We had a hot tub on our back deck and oh my gosh we used it morning and night.  No kidding.  We were in it at 6am.  

Roads were pretty much like the sign.  Up and down and every which way.

Our back deck had a bird feeder, so while in town we picked some bird seed up and the birds went nuts.  We saw lots of red headed wood peckers too.

White reindeer!  These were in a fenced area next to a putt putt golf course.  Goats were in there too.  We fed them for $.25 and made a few pretty happy.  I have never seen white reindeer.  One of the highlights of the trip.

When we arrived home, a box had arrived.  A late anniversary gift from Hubby.  He even brought the island to me!!  A set of 4.

Beautiful scenery, peace and quiet, good food, and a lot of relaxation and rejuvenation.  Hubby knocked it out of the park.

When he asked if I wanted to go to NYC or FL, I had said "heck no."  I wanted seclusion and quiet time.  He did an amazing job.  We'll definitely be back.  Celebrating 20 years married has been so much fun.

2018 Year in Review

2018

Our family lost 3 family members , one friend, and a dedicated barn cat in 2018, but we have some positive memories to share too.  Although, I would love to go through every single new thing we did, or how many rides, trips we were able to take, camping trips, or new recipes we tried, I'll keep this short.  It's always nice to go back and look at the positive things that happened over the last year.  

We pickled garlic for the first time.

We pickled eggs for the first time.

Pickled turnips for the first time.

Made a new homemade deodorant.

Tired morel mushrooms for the first time.

Baked my first strawberry pie.

I canned wild violet jelly for the first time.



I made radish hash browns for the first time, and they were fantastic!

The best part of the year?  Celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary.  

Happy Homemaker Monday

Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.  Sunday we got "Big Red" fired up.  Here's hoping she'll keep starting now.  It (the truck) could need a few parts yet.

We drove "Big Red" to the "Big City" and delivered a gift and Christmas cookies, picked up load of straw and headed back home.  I forgot to renew my library books, but it looks like only a few are late (this time).

On the breakfast plate . . . 
Homemade breakfast burrito and coffee


The weather outside is . . .
Rain is on the way, with a high of 56°F, but will quickly go back to the low 20's at night for the next week.


As I look out my window . . .
It's still dark out.


On the to-do list . . .
-take care of the chickens
-feed barn cats (Leo still comes once every often)
-put away clean dishes
-vacuum
-empty ash pan (depends on the rain today)
-start another tincture
-knock down some cobwebs
-put a few Christmas decorations away
-put a Christmas tablecloth away
-re-file all of the recipes I got out over the holidays
-take down the snowman shower curtain and put it away
-sweep kitchen
-measure out dry ingredients for homemade biscuits



Currently reading . . .
Nothing

On the TV . . .
A netflix series called The Ranch, and another called Rain.  not sure if we'll finish the Rain series.  It's getting weird like the Walking Dead got weird.  I don't enjoy movies where they eat people.  Yuck.


On the menu this week . . .
I'm about to go check my pantry.  Possibly homemade stove top tuna and noodle with some veggie sides.  I'm taking meals much easier this week. 


What I'm creating . . .

More sunflower keyfobs

Sorry for the dark photos.  I took the rest of them very early in the morning this morning.

Started a granny square winter scarf

Working on some mini crocheted hearts

Knitted dishcloth, another scrap lapghan, and more crocheted headbands.

Finished some spring cup coasters

Finished a few knitted dishcloths

Finished a few heart dishcloths

New recipe I tried or want to try . . .
Nothing this week.  


Favorite photo . . .

I haven't been taking a lot of photos lately.  This one makes me smile.  It's always a good day when laundry can dry outside.

Getting Away

2018 didn't go by without another grave to dig.  Sapphire will so, so greatly be missed at the homestead.  Thank you all for your kind words.  We just didn't think that it could ever happen, as both cats came with the place, and we've been here over 10 years now.

We've been running strong over this Christmas, and with Hubby working on our anniversary, we took off for a night.

We started out early and made a few purchases.  We ate lunch at a locally run (nearby big city) Mexican restaurant and were pretty happy with our food.  We made a few other stops and walked through one of the largest (oh my aching back) antique malls.  I couldn't believe I only left with one item - a beautiful red butter dish.  

We were going to visit a local winery and listen to live music, but us "old" people couldn't stay up that long, and retreated to our hotel room (which by the way got a good spray down with my anti-ill oil I brought along).  We were quite disappointed in the steak and potato restaurant though - cold potatoes, dry steak, and the mixed drinks were horrible.  After a first bad one, I ordered one I know and it was the worst ever, finally sending it back.  Overall, it was a fun, fun, and relaxing (other than our hike through the antique mall), and we even stopped at a local chocolate/ice cream shop.  Mmmm.

We brought our youngest daughter home a few goodies, and I bought myself a new sweater (which I need more of).  I of course wanted to visit the yarn store, as we are so limited near the homestead, but I put it off for another day.  I don't think we'll be browsing through many antique stores too often anymore.  We both get to coughing and itchy eyes from all the dust.  I do love them, but we'll stick to smaller ones in the future.

Hubby and I plan to do a lot more celebrations for our 20th anniversary, so I hope that involves more bike rides too.  

I'm back home today cleaning up the kitchen and stoking the fire.  "Big Red" is getting worked on, in hopes she'll be running later today.  It's sunny, but cold.  I'm just glad there's no snow (yet).

Gettin' Fresh Air ~ RIP Sapphire

The weather yesterday was fantastic as fantastic can go in winter.  Not only myself, but the laundry was out getting fresh air.  Low 50's, a bit breezy, but cloudy.  I still took advantage of it and put the laundry outside to dry.  I even got a load of towels dried outside.  Felt great, since it's been awhile to be out.

What went up, must come down.  I am starting early due to our schedule right now.  I feel like it's coming down as fast as it went up though.

I pulled out my recipe book for my 4 Thieves vinegar and was short of one ingredient.  Thankfully, I got an order placed and will restock my ACV as well.  My gallon jug is almost empty.  I have one more jar of 4 Theives already made.

Other than laundry, bills got paid and one daughter came for a visit.  She took her Jeep to a dealership to have the heat looked at (not working properly) and when she took her Jeep home (heat not fixed) it was making a horrible sound.  They told her it would cost her $100 to be tested.  Instead, she drove to our place where Hubby fixed it and helped her fix a few other things after work.

Thankfully, she was here too.  While I had thought someone hit a raccoon across the street from our homestead, she had walked across the street to double check. 

Sadly, it was our barn cat Sapphire.  In all the 10 years we've lived here, both her and Aurora have been safe.  My heart is so heavy.  Sapphire had a thing with me, while Aurora with Hubby.  They'd love on us daily.  Strangest sort of barn cats - kill rodents, but love on us.

The two were like glue.  Always cleaning each other, sleeping with each other, hunting with each other.  We always believed Aurora was her mother, but there was no way of telling.  Sapphire is the gray cat and we called her "Sassy" and I will miss her greatly.  She would kill full sized rabbits and bring them to the porch.  Nothing got past her either.  She was a good guard cat.  I'll never forget the day the cats were screeching out back.  They were warning us of a black water snake at our back door.  Oh, my heart is so heavy today.  She'd be the first to greet me in the morning and the last, while out with the dog.  She even loved on Jesse and the other dogs.  She visited me in the garden, barn and anywhere outside.  Sapphire will be upset she can't hunt in heaven.  RIP Sapphire. Aurora will miss you, but we'll give her extra attention and love.