Fun and Food

Sunday was the continuation of fun planning.  We have the hall and band booked for our big 20th Anniversary party.  We are working on food now.  Our honeymoon has already been planned and we are very excited.  It will be simple - loud music, food, friends and family, and of course drinks.

We are making other vacation plans and fun happenings too.  Garden plans and more.  The year is starting out pretty good.

Although we had a tough garden year last year, the garden still provides, along with the chickens and my ability to prepare freezer foods.  I still have a small amount of garden sweet potatoes, jalapenos in the freezer as well as dandelion greens, and some pickled garlic.  Oh, and I found one more container of frozen green onions from the garden, and tossed in herbs I dried from the garden.  It was delicious.

Plum jam.  There is always a good supply of jams and jellies to enjoy too.

Meals have been planned for the next few days too, including a crock pot veggie glazed medley that includes turnips and parsnips.

I pulled a pint of frozen pumpkin puree from the freezer for pumpkin-sage macaroni, which was our dinner last night for our guests.  I also made a crock pot of homemade sloppy joes.

But....guests didn't come over.  Sigh.  Via a group family text, a cook out was being planned at someone else's house last minute.  The weather warmed up to 54 by 2pm and 56°F by 4pm.  Was I mad or glad?  Both.

Guess what we did?  We got the Harley out and got our ride in to their place, minus the crock pot and other dishes I baked.  No worries on the dinner tonight - lots of leftovers.

March is still "flu" season, and with the temps going up and down, I am on germ patrol daily.  Anti-ill sprayed everywhere, homemade "lysol" wipes etc. and of course daily dose of probiotics, greens, nuts/seeds and healthy food.  One restaurant closed Sunday due to flu, and many schools have been closing.  Keep washing those hands!

Exhausted Husband

Our weekend started out with a very exhausted husband.  Thursday he worked 1st shift, leaving at 6:20am and returning 4:20pm-ish.  We had to drive the 33 minute drive to the school for the talent show, and then home, where he barely got a nap.  He returned to work (forced overtime) for the night shift, followed back to back with the day shift on Friday.  Yeah, I didn't expect much to get done over the weekend.

We returned to cold weather on Friday.  It rained and snowed - windy, cloudy and a low of 22°F.  Brrr.  I think we've learned that in our state, you won't know the weather until you wake and and check it.  It changes that often anymore.

Saturday we had a high of 48° and sunny.  Hubby announced he was also working Sunday.

Today it will be a high of 54° but Hubby also announced we were hosting a dinner when he got home.  Hmpf.  

Random Tidbits

A rainy day didn't keep me down.  I had lots of indoor chores to do.  I was a bit sore from outdoor work too, so a break was a bit nice.  I puttered around, refilled the chili pepper, refilled homemade foaming hand soap, etc.  

I made Einkorn chocolate chip cookies.  Although I only had their "all-purpose" flour, and not the Whole Grain whole wheat flour, they turned out delicious.  Just not as thick, but so good.

Here's what our menu has been for the week so far:
Sweet potato chili
Tacos
Breakfast for dinner - blueberry pancakes, eggs, sausage
Lima bean soup
Leftovers

The weather forecast for the weekend changed.  We were so pumped to have a 60-70° day, but that has now lowered to a high of 53° and cloudy.  Time will tell if we get our ride or not.

The bathroom remodel is still on hold until next week or later.  The truck shopping continues.  Hubby joked that he'd have a massaging seat installed for me, after giving me a shoulder rub after two days in the herb garden.

A friend has told me about a local shop that rents out space for consignment.  I am a bit hesitant.  The cost is a bit high, plus they take 10% commission, and 2% for credit card sales.  The garden work has started, so I have less time to do handiwork, so this is on the back table for now.

Our Youngest was the MC for the school's talent show, so we went and watched that in the evening.  She was hilarious too.  She announced one student like a boxing match announcer would announce the boxer entering, so funny!

Fresh Air

I had another successful day in the herb garden.  I think after another 1-2 hours of weeding, I should have it cleaned up.  Then I start in on the rose bed and flower beds.  Daffodils are popping up and spring is arriving finally.  I dumped my weeds just before the rain was due.

Here is just a snippet of what I was working on, and how bad the weeds were last fall.  I left it in disarray.

The cabbage seeds I started are from Baker Creek - Brunswick Cabbage.  I received them free, so I thought, why not?  I have read they are huge and easy to grow.  Crossing my fingers.  

I also started watercress seeds indoors.

I ripped the plastic off the outside of the chicken coop and let them run free.  They were pretty happy.  I had to hike over their run fence to let them out and put them in, sigh.  My back barn door was stuck in the mud.  One more job to do....

Gettin' the "Itch" and other random stuff

Yesterday I totally went bonkers.  I had the itch to get outside and get flower beds, and the herb garden tidied up.  That itch to get outside was raging like a wild fire I tell ya'.

I yanked on my muck boots and got an early start in the very weedy herb garden.  Two buckets of weeds and 1 hour later I felt replenished.  Next visit will require a wheel barrow.  What a mess I left it in, but boy it felt so good to get a start on it and be outside in the dirt.  Green onions and chives are already coming up.  I timed it just right too, and got some sun.  Shortly after, the clouds covered.

Aside from regular chores, I dug into the baking mode. I made homemade granola bars.  I couldn't find my own recipe, so I resorted to the internet, adapting with what fruits, nuts and seeds I had.  They were very good too.  Soft and delicious.

I got my heirloom cabbage seeds planted.  I so wish I had more space right now.  I really need my green house, but we'll see what goes right this summer for now.  My green onion starts are up too.  Last year, most had died off in my garden, so I purchased an heirloom variety to replenish my herb garden this year.

At two weeks old, the chicks are growing their neck feathers.

I purchased a subscription with this magazine.  Now say a prayer, send me good mojo.  I'm bad about sitting and reading anything lately.

Feel Good Moments

Seeds are sprouting.

Sold 2 more dish scrubbies.

Have enough cut barn beams to last the season.

Weekend Updates

The craft/vendor show was a flop.  I sold all three dishcloths I posted the day prior, some scrubbies, one mug/coaster set and one necklace.

We sold very little, and after covering the cost of the tables, get this...made a whole $7.00.  Sadly.  It's the last one until fall, although there may be one in late April, I am declining.  I have gardening, motorcycle rides, wood cutting and other projects to be done.  Not to mention the bathroom remodel

Sunday Hubby cooked us breakfast.  Youngest Daughter did hair and makeup for another school's musical (gaining required hours for cosmetology).  

Our 21 year-old moved back in.

The boys came out to dig out some barn siding to build a horse shelter.  They helped cut beams for us to burn.  It was cold.  Snow moved back in late evening, but we see another warm up next weekend.