The bathroom remodel is ongoing. Just trying to find a shower to fit to replace the old one, and someone to install the flooring (we may do it ourselves).
Go figure. I finally get a 60-70 degree day today, to clean the over loaded chicken coop, and the winds are expected at 45mph with the risk of bad thunderstorms.
We are still truck shopping. Hubby has a knack for this, so I am not a bit concerned. He knows what needs fixed on our one daughter's car, so that's ongoing as well.
Hubby announced he may be forced overtime on the day I booked the next craft show. If he works, I have to be a no-show, and that is bothersome. But....his income is far more than I could ever make a craft show. Time will tell.
We almost went on a motorcycle ride last night - high of 54°F, but the driveway was pretty wet yet. We stayed in. We won't be going on one today, unless the weather prediction is incorrect.
We are on the search for some old clay field tiles. I found some, but it's quite a drive. I'm hoping we locate a farmer around here with some laying around. I need some for the garden this year.
Not much else going on here right now. I should have some handiwork photos to share soon. Garden seeds are started, and I received free heirloom cabbage seeds from Baker Creek. I will be starting those today to see how those do in the garden.
Thursday, March 14, 2019
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
Here comes that word again - Prepare
I'm finally getting around to researching some poultry travel crates for meat birds. If you have purchased any, and have reviews, and prices, I'd be interested in your thoughts.
It's time to prepare seeds for this year's garden. Sending up prayers and goof vibes we all have a grand one this year.
Hubby's cousin found free maple (dry) for us. She and Hubby (or with myself) will either team up to fetch it, or she'll deliver it so we just have to split it. It's 2 truck loads of wood. So thankful for that, and helps us stay ahead of splitting wood this spring.
It's time to prepare seeds for this year's garden. Sending up prayers and goof vibes we all have a grand one this year.
Hubby's cousin found free maple (dry) for us. She and Hubby (or with myself) will either team up to fetch it, or she'll deliver it so we just have to split it. It's 2 truck loads of wood. So thankful for that, and helps us stay ahead of splitting wood this spring.
Monday, March 11, 2019
Happy Homemaker Monday
On the breakfast plate. . .
Bad photo, but it's a scramble with just a bit of bacon, sweet tades, white tades, collards and jalapeno. Youngest dibbed into my prepared bacon, so Momma wasn't happy this morning when she grabbed the container to find 3 lousy pieces. GRRRR!
We are still enjoying garden sweet potatoes and jalapenos.
...and a clementine.
The weather outside. . .
Feels like 22°F. Much calmer than yesterday. Winds were 30-some mph, and finally died down.
Right now I am . . .
Struggling to adjust to daylight savings time.
Thinking . . .
I better not forget to spray down the kitchen with anti-ill oil. Of course after I get the cleaning done. The kids at schools are getting sick. Youngest did volunteer work at another school to gain hours for National Honor Society, and said there were kids leaving the set to go to the bathroom sick. Ugh. Germs be gone!
On my reading pile . . .
Nothing. No time to read. Too much to do. Crafting more often than not.
On the TV . . .
Movies I gifted Hubby for Christmas.
On the menu . . .
In no particular order
-Tuna and Noodle, roasted rosemary potatoes, asparagus
-Spaghetti and meatballs with freshly made sauce, roasted brussel sprouts
-Roast, carrots, potatoes, homemade rolls
-Hamburger gravy, mashed tades, steamed broccoli
-something using zucchini
-Breakfast scramble for the next few days, using bacon
On my to-do list . . .
-sweep and vacuum floors
-dust
-label and put canned pizza sauce away
-crack walnuts
Looking around my house . . .
It's in semi-chaos until this remodel is done, and the wall has been fixed with a closure (still not done). The toilet and shower in that particular bathroom are in usable shape, but the floor is still ripped up, covered in old rugs for the time being. Patience, patience, patience......
What I am creating . . .
Cup coaster set with blue roses.
On the camera . . .
Something fun to share . . .
Fun for me - we may get a motorcycle ride this week.
Prayers . . .
Kids, us.
Sunday, March 10, 2019
Random Tidbits
There is a Kmart that I've shopped at since we've moved here over 10 years ago. It's closing. We stopped in, only to find out they hiked the prices before offering the current 40% off. Washcloths were almost $5 each with the closing price. I walked out with only a new pair of readers. The only thing not priced up before down. They'll be closed by next week. That shopping center is a ghost town now. Sadly, their Family Dollar closed too (didn't care for that store, only bought ginger snaps for the goats). I heard Dollar Tree's are closing too. The kids are hoping the one they use will stay open. They rely on it for their budgets.
Saturday morning we drove 92 miles to go look at a truck. Test drove it, and undecided returned towards home. We spent the day running errands. Finally making it back home by 3pm, I declared it Pajama hour. I was plum tuckered out.
Today? Well, we are putting the toilet back on, so daughter has a working bathroom. I forgot how hard it is to share one when they both leave about the same time. Anyway, it'll go back for a short time period, while we wait on supplies to put the new flooring in.
We are reaching in the high 40's and according to the forecast, may even hit as high as 67°F next Thursday. It's raining this morning.
We welcome back daylight savings time. Whew.
Friday, March 8, 2019
Frazzled Friday
We were so busy making trips to the hardware store, that I plain forgot we were out of coffee Thursday morning. We also had to make a 45 minute drive so that Hubby could vote again (by the way the contract passed, although Hubby still voted no). Could be worse on both situations, but not bad either - I had instant organic coffee and the contract wasn't as bad.
I had a lot on my plate. First, Mia is coming today for the weekend, and my chicks were still in the living room. She'd eat them for sure. Yet my kitchen was a mess too, and laundry? Don't get me started. I have to act quickly, and organize a portion of the utility room to move the chicks back in (that room has a half door to shut to keep the chicks safe.
By the way, the chicks have been giving me a chuckle lately. One time I checked in on them, one was standing way on top of the feeder trying to escape. Another time one had a wood chip in it's mouth. Oh boy, they are so much fun to watch.
Treasures I found while cleaning the utility room? a brand new pair of garden gloves, 3 pints of pickled beets (yay!) and two containers of margarita salt (a margarita should be my reward when I am completely done). This could take many days though. With the chicks in there, it's tough to move around and clean.
I also managed to clean out and reorganize my tall storage cabinet that holds canning stuff etc. I actually made room for all that replaced tupperware that I just got back. I typically use it all during the holidays, so it's out of the kitchen now.
Update on my hair oil that I infused. I have been adding some jojoba oil, and like it better than simple olive oil. As soon as stinging nettle is in season, the new oil will incorporate jojoba. Although I am pleased with jojoba oil, have placed an order for a hydrating oil, so I'll post as soon as I give it a try.
On a good, and different subject, we ran into a neighbor. We were informed our nuisance neighbor moved to another state, allowing one of his daughters to live in his house. The best news? A farmer purchased the land that is adjacent to our property at the backside (woods, river). We should be quiet around here, at least for a year or so, until we expect he'll be back when he runs out money. Word is, he has never worked a job in his life.
I just realized that this is my second picture-less post. Sigh. I best get back in gear, but cleaning resumes.
I had a lot on my plate. First, Mia is coming today for the weekend, and my chicks were still in the living room. She'd eat them for sure. Yet my kitchen was a mess too, and laundry? Don't get me started. I have to act quickly, and organize a portion of the utility room to move the chicks back in (that room has a half door to shut to keep the chicks safe.
By the way, the chicks have been giving me a chuckle lately. One time I checked in on them, one was standing way on top of the feeder trying to escape. Another time one had a wood chip in it's mouth. Oh boy, they are so much fun to watch.
Treasures I found while cleaning the utility room? a brand new pair of garden gloves, 3 pints of pickled beets (yay!) and two containers of margarita salt (a margarita should be my reward when I am completely done). This could take many days though. With the chicks in there, it's tough to move around and clean.
I also managed to clean out and reorganize my tall storage cabinet that holds canning stuff etc. I actually made room for all that replaced tupperware that I just got back. I typically use it all during the holidays, so it's out of the kitchen now.
Update on my hair oil that I infused. I have been adding some jojoba oil, and like it better than simple olive oil. As soon as stinging nettle is in season, the new oil will incorporate jojoba. Although I am pleased with jojoba oil, have placed an order for a hydrating oil, so I'll post as soon as I give it a try.
On a good, and different subject, we ran into a neighbor. We were informed our nuisance neighbor moved to another state, allowing one of his daughters to live in his house. The best news? A farmer purchased the land that is adjacent to our property at the backside (woods, river). We should be quiet around here, at least for a year or so, until we expect he'll be back when he runs out money. Word is, he has never worked a job in his life.
I just realized that this is my second picture-less post. Sigh. I best get back in gear, but cleaning resumes.
Thursday, March 7, 2019
Chicks in my Living Room and the Saga
Hubby immediately went to work, skipping dinner the day I had to shut off the entire water supply. Most of the bathroom ended up in the kitchen, and some of the utility room ended up in the hallway. It was squeeze and step over stuff for a few days.
Not to mention, dirty dished and laundry piled up.
Chicks were moved to the living room, to make room to start moving the washer and dryer, but that didn't happen.
The bathroom floor (kitchen bathroom) was ripped up, boards removed to be able to see where the leak was. Found it. The toilet was removed, the boards cut to access under the house (we do not have a crawl space). The wall to the right in that picture is connected to my utility room.
However, the first cut of drywall in the utility room wasn't quite spot on. Second cut? Spot on.
Four trips to the hardware store .... off and on verbal extremities coming from the utility room, there seem to be problems to deal with as he worked. Meanwhile, I watched some tutorials for my own projects, made phone calls for one big ticket job, and other stuff.
We also did some pricing on new flooring for the bathroom, and heat tape while we had pipes exposed (by the way it wan't a water leak from the pipes cracking due to cold, it was a connection that had split apart in the wall (oh yeah for that).
Sitting down after the water was back on.....
Me: "Well I shouldn't have kept saying I needed to get that utility room cleaned."
God listened. God motivated. Not good, and not all bad either. For the first time, I stayed calm in this "storm." Knowing that my "MacGyver" husband and I would team up and fix it. Or should I say fix "things." Many things.
I'm trying to get things back to normal. The utility room cleaning will soon be underway. Thanks to this situation. I am purging, and thankfully a few kids in apartments are taking some items.
I'm thankful we had homemade "lysol" wipes on hand to keep our hands clean and sanitized.
I'm thankful the leak was in an area we could get to.
I'm thankful I keep flush water on hand year round.
What concerns us, is why after all these years, the pipe split apart. Bad work? Poor quality of water lines? Hm.
Oh, we found a second leak in the same area. Apparently we are not done.
Not to mention, dirty dished and laundry piled up.
Chicks were moved to the living room, to make room to start moving the washer and dryer, but that didn't happen.
The bathroom floor (kitchen bathroom) was ripped up, boards removed to be able to see where the leak was. Found it. The toilet was removed, the boards cut to access under the house (we do not have a crawl space). The wall to the right in that picture is connected to my utility room.
However, the first cut of drywall in the utility room wasn't quite spot on. Second cut? Spot on.
Four trips to the hardware store .... off and on verbal extremities coming from the utility room, there seem to be problems to deal with as he worked. Meanwhile, I watched some tutorials for my own projects, made phone calls for one big ticket job, and other stuff.
We also did some pricing on new flooring for the bathroom, and heat tape while we had pipes exposed (by the way it wan't a water leak from the pipes cracking due to cold, it was a connection that had split apart in the wall (oh yeah for that).
Sitting down after the water was back on.....
Me: "Well I shouldn't have kept saying I needed to get that utility room cleaned."
God listened. God motivated. Not good, and not all bad either. For the first time, I stayed calm in this "storm." Knowing that my "MacGyver" husband and I would team up and fix it. Or should I say fix "things." Many things.
I'm trying to get things back to normal. The utility room cleaning will soon be underway. Thanks to this situation. I am purging, and thankfully a few kids in apartments are taking some items.
I'm thankful we had homemade "lysol" wipes on hand to keep our hands clean and sanitized.
I'm thankful the leak was in an area we could get to.
I'm thankful I keep flush water on hand year round.
What concerns us, is why after all these years, the pipe split apart. Bad work? Poor quality of water lines? Hm.
Oh, we found a second leak in the same area. Apparently we are not done.
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Peach Chicken ~ Warming Up with Soup ~ Another Finish
During the polar vortex I collected many new recipes to try. I made Peach Chicken (Ellie Krieger's recipe online), adapted with organic ingredients and my own homemade croutons.
I ground up the croutons in place of making fresh bread crumbs. The only fail? I should have sliced my chicken breasts thinner. They required much longer to cook, but very good. So, if you freeze your own peaches, this is a winner dinner.
Not the best photo, but I dug out one of the few bags of snap peas I froze from the garden and made sauteed asparagus and snap peas. An old time favorite when asparagus and peas are in season. I toss in some red pepper flakes.
Speaking of pulling items out of the freezer, it was a cold day, so I pulled out a turkey carcass, frozen carrots, the last bag of green beans, dehydrated mushrooms, celery cubes, other veggies, and some frozen rolls. Barley-Turkey broth soup was perfect for a cold evening.
I also pulled zucchini for a breakfast frittata, and split the collard greens for the frittata and soup.
Pumpkin hummus was made for snacking. Daughter loves to pack this in her school lunch. I love the fact it only takes 2 Tbsp. of tahini to make it too. Delicious and nutritious - using pumpkin puree from the garden.
Hubby picked up my replaced Tupperware. I already love this lady. I'm considering of hosting a party in the future with her just because she put a special gift in the bag for me. I can always gift the kids whatever I earn free too.
The special gift? It's a keychain. I collect keychains and do not have this one. Bless her heart. It just made my day.
As for the rest of the day yesterday? Well, I had to shut off the water about noon. I pay attention to sounds, and noticed our water pump running non-stop. After checking faucets and toilets....I shut it off and messaged Hubby. I told him I heard water in the wall. He thought I was crazy.
God motivated us to start a few new projects. I'll be back in a few days as we get them in progress.
Speaking of pulling items out of the freezer, it was a cold day, so I pulled out a turkey carcass, frozen carrots, the last bag of green beans, dehydrated mushrooms, celery cubes, other veggies, and some frozen rolls. Barley-Turkey broth soup was perfect for a cold evening.
I also pulled zucchini for a breakfast frittata, and split the collard greens for the frittata and soup.
Pumpkin hummus was made for snacking. Daughter loves to pack this in her school lunch. I love the fact it only takes 2 Tbsp. of tahini to make it too. Delicious and nutritious - using pumpkin puree from the garden.
I finished another pair of baby booties. Although it looks pink, they are a darker peach color
Hubby picked up my replaced Tupperware. I already love this lady. I'm considering of hosting a party in the future with her just because she put a special gift in the bag for me. I can always gift the kids whatever I earn free too.
The special gift? It's a keychain. I collect keychains and do not have this one. Bless her heart. It just made my day.
As for the rest of the day yesterday? Well, I had to shut off the water about noon. I pay attention to sounds, and noticed our water pump running non-stop. After checking faucets and toilets....I shut it off and messaged Hubby. I told him I heard water in the wall. He thought I was crazy.
God motivated us to start a few new projects. I'll be back in a few days as we get them in progress.
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