from the handiwork journal . . .

...red set of pot holders are finished.

. . . these 3 knitted dishcloths are now finished.

. . . got netting cut and crocheted, to restock a few scrubbies.

. . . a few hemp dish scrubbies.

. . . finished the blue rose cup coasters, making progress on the yellow rose cup coasters (I ended up finishing a set of 4 yesterday).

Woke up to snow again today.  It's hard to believe we had a 67° day this week.

Diggin' Tomatoes Out . . .

Thursday the wind kicked up about noon, but not too bad and it was raining.  I dug out a few more bags of frozen garden tomatoes (frozen whole), and . . .

...simmered down some freshly made spaghetti sauce (seasoned with home grown garlic, herbs etc), dug out some frozen homemade meatballs and wah-la, dinner.  A side of steamed broccoli (organic from the store, but organic).

If they were expecting a dessert, they were wrong.  By then I had already washed dishes 3 times.  I was ready to throw in the towel so to speak.  Youngest had the day off from school, and I never saw hide nor hair from her until way after noon.  

Instead of tornadoes they predicted we had a repeat of rain showers followed by sunshine and rainbows.  It repeated all night.  This morning, it's very windy and the cold returned.

This and That

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.

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.

Happy Homemaker Monday

I'm joining Happy Homemaker Monday with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.  We are making plans for some building projects with the old barn wood. I am just hoping I can keep Hubby motivated and that we have the time to get them done.  I'll link up after she posts.

Although a bit chilly, laundry is going out this morning.


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 . . .
-dishes
-blanch and freeze dandelion greens 
-sweep and vacuum floors
-make breakfast scramble
-laundry
-dust
-cut netting for scrubbies
-get seed starter supplies set up
-label and put canned pizza sauce away
-crack walnuts
-dinner prep
-cook chicken for homemade dog food



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 . . .

The baby chicks are growing fast, and try to escape.  I remember one year, one of the kids said, "um, Mom? There is a chicken walking down the hallway."  Ha ha!  I have chicken wire over the tote they are in, and they'll soon graduate to another home, then finally into the coop with the rest.  It's too early to tell what I ended up with yet.


Something fun to share . . .
Fun for me - we may get a motorcycle ride this week.


Prayers . . .
Kids, us.

Random Tidbits

New recipe tried - jalapeno popper deviled eggs.  Recipe is online.  I wasn't happy with the cheese crisps, so next time I'll use Parmesan for a "crispy" cheese crisp.  I made mine with cheddar/Mozzarella and hot pepper flakes.  I am out of frozen green onions, so that was left out.  Hm.  A lot of work for deviled eggs.  The results?  Yum.  Well liked.

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.

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.