Tidbits

Hubby: "When is your birthday?"
Me: "Tomorrow."
Hubby:  " Oh Sh*t!"

That was Thursday night, ha ha!

My birthday morning excitement was getting up at 5:30am and packing Hubby's breakfast and lunch, making my own breakfast, running the dishwasher, feeding the animals, washing a pair of jeans, and making a tea infusion.

I visited Mom and took her a Mother's Day gift.  Hubby didn't have to work 2nd shift, but it was a rather boring birthday.  No flowers, no gifts, no cake or ice cream etc.  I know he's working a lot of hours, so I gave him a pass.  As for the older kids, I'm lucky to get a "Happy Birthday" text message.

Hubby and our Youngest daughter later took me out for a steak dinner, which was pretty good.

I checked on the hens early.  Move in day was Thursday night and it was the battle of "Who is large and in charge."  I went to make sure they were all okay.  They are skiddish, but they'll just have to put the big girl panties on and fight for the food and water.

The slackers are finally giving me some blue-green eggs.  Haven't gotten any for months.  

Steak Sheet Pan Dinner ~ Whiskey/Blue Cheese Butter

I made a steak/potato/asparagus sheet pan dinner the other night, and all of us were disappointed in the steaks - organic ribeye and expensive.  They were more fatty than I have ever purchased.  These are typically not available until "grilling" season starts, and I was super excited to have them again.  This time?  Not so.  I'll be checking out a new organic, grass fed farm that is one hour away.

I however, made our delicious whiskey/garlic butter (Black and Blue Cheese Butter) to top the steaks and potatoes, so now I have to use up that butter one way or another.

The recipe for the sheet pan dinner is from Rachel Ray's show.  Just google it.  Super easy, I just need a new steak to use for it. 

Please be patient with me catching up with your blogs.  I have so much to catch up on in my kitchen alone right now.  Hmpf.  I know it'll be so nice when I'm done.  Now, if I can get Hubby to start on that bathroom.  Again.

Rain is in the forecast for the next 15 days.  

This and That

I'm slowly trying to get order of the homestead.  Thankfully we hired our biker friend to mow the almost 6 acres on the only sunny dry day, while we were gone.  Whew.  

While I put loads of laundry on the line (cold but windy), I picked the asparagus.  It's still doing well for us.

Also, while the washer hummed away, I cooked up dandelions, potatoes, onion, bacon, jalapenos and eggs for a scramble.  Poor Youngest was complaining about missing my cooking.  Not that I was in the mood to jump back in, but it was done.

Hubby is back to work, and in full swing.  It's that time at work where they shut down and work double shifts, 16 hour days for 4-6 weeks.  

Not the greatest picture since it was super windy, but my bleeding hear is in full bloom right now.

A late bloomer.  Nice.  I hope it keeps spreading.  It's the only purple one I have right now.

Our youngest was being bullied (was threatened by a student) at school prior to leaving on our getaway.  So far things are good since we contacted the school, but I still want her to learn to fight.  I refuse to tell my kid to sit there and not fight back (if needed).  Things have really changed in school these days, and they do have outside cameras, but it's still a problem in schools. One girl was suspended and one in-school suspension, but that girl is back in class.  We'll see how the week goes.

The Big Bash!

If you have been wondering where I've been, we've been here.  Total seclusion.  It is one mile up a hill, chained gate, and no other cabin around.  Just peace and quiet and relaxation.

We held our anniversary party the night before we left and it was fantastic - food, live band, drinks and fun.  We didn't have much food left, but we are proud of ourselves for doing it ourselves (catering was over the roof expensive).  We brought home a lot of booze, so we hope to have a few cookouts and a camp out possible down the road.  All depends on weather.  We had a good turn out at the party and got to see lots of people.

I do need to restock my comfrey poultices now.  Hubby had a "whoop-sie" at the party and hurt his shoulder (he he!).  He had to sleep with one Sunday night, and travel with one there and back.  He's feeling a bit better now.

The best part of the cabin.  Although smaller hot tub than at the last cabin, this one will be on our "visit again" list.  

We had a front and back porch with rockers on both, and the cabin had a loft with two twin beds upstairs.  We had a full kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, 2 TV's, fireplace, sofa and table for 4.  

Wide open windows and just the sounds of birds for 2 nights.

We even rented a pontoon boat and cruised a large lake.

Although the trip was a "second honeymoon" we were bombarded with phone calls the evening of the second night.  Our 17 year-old was "held captive" by a wasp in the kitchen and her big sister wasn't home from work (and wouldn't have for a few more hours).  We put in calls to just about everyone we knew to go kill it for her (yes she is that deadly afraid, even thought she's never been stung).  Her 19 year-old sister came out and killed it, but now I have to wash a set of kitchen curtain.  Kids!

We had a very nice time, and we are really not ready to swing back in to reality today.  We went from 76°F and sunny to dreary cloudy and 52°F here.  And....and...more rain tomorrow.

I have so much to do, like find homes for all the extra plates, napkins and cups we brought home from our party.  My house is in chaos.  It'll all depend on the weather, and I've already been asked to drive to town to pick up school intern papers (for the one in cosmetology). A run to the "big city" always puts a huge dent in what I have time to get done here.

Oh, Hubby's birthday was the day we left for this trip.  We had the best BBQ dinner on our trip (local) and he was super happy.

We did a lot of celebrating, and are happy but tired folks.  Today may be a day of just tidy up, cook and a possible nap (ha ha!).

It's Raining It's Pouring.....

Thursday morning "sunrise" for us.  Blah, blah, blah...more rain, thunder, etc.  It was 94% humidity too.

The snow didn't kill off the remaining wild violets.  Good to know, but I've talked myself out of making jelly, although staying busy indoors is a good thing.  I just have zero canning mojo right now.

I think I got about 5 minutes of vit.D yesterday.  Better than zero I guess.

Jippity Do Dah

Up at 4am, couldn't sleep with some weird and crazy dreams.

Rain is now a "four letter word" around here.  We finally got up to 77°F, but couldn't do a thing outside.  It's getting depressing, so I have been turning on every light in the house, putting on music and staying busy with cleaning.  Found some division flash cards and phonics - in the goodwill pile now.  

The heat lamp caused major dust in my utility room, so I'm glad I never got that room deep cleaned prior to the chicks being in there.  What a mess.  I can't wash coats and jackets until the rain stops either.

Let's just say that the clothesline is not in full swing.  I caved, washed bedding and towels, and used the (gulp) dryer.

Lost my "jippity" in this mass of rainy do-dah days.  Now the forecast says rain here almost every day until May 15th.  Not sure after that.

Question for soap makers out there?  I bought essential oils from Hoegger to make goat's milk soap, and they are about 5 years old.  What do you think the shelf life is on them?  I do not plan to have dairy goats in the near future either.  No source to get goat's milk right now either.    Or if they are still good, anyone have a recipe for soap making that doesn't use goat's milk (won't be the same, but I don't want to waste it if it's good oil).

Memory Boost

I keep reading that smelling rosemary will boost your memory.  I need to hang some from a hat and sniff it all day.  I've been on the hunt for things I can't find lately.  Besides, rosemary can't be planted just yet, so there goes that theory.

I went in search for a business card.  I literally emptied 6 or 7 purses to search for it, cleaning them all out for about 2 hours.  Later, I found the card in my jewelry box.  

I also went on a hunt for a flash drive.  Cleaned my entire dresser and other stuff.  Never found it.  It'll show up when I clean something else, ha ha!  I used another, loading umpteen photos to it for 2-3 hours, only to hear Hubby change his mind.  "Don't bother with it, it's just one thing to mess with at the party."  Ugh....

The photos were to be printed and put up on a board for the anniversary party.  I agreed.  No board.  

I couldn't find a store that sold photo corners anyway, and Hobby Lobby closed in the closer town.

No other interesting business going on here but rain.  Rain, rain and more rain.  Weather says it will be up to 77°F today, but rain at the exact time the weather peeks.  I'm not getting that septic dug, the garden remains saturated, and I'm stir crazy.  I'll have to dig into some sort of deep cleaning again today.  At least all my purses are cleaned out now.  In that process, I found $19.00.  I earned a little reward for that cleaning job.