Christmas Shopping ~ Friday Finishes

Even though Hubby didn't want to exchange gifts, I took advantage of a 50% off sale and got him some joggers for the gym, a new pair of slippers with rubber soles (he wanted some to take the dog out), and half price snow boots.   He hasn't had a pair for a few years.  I got them half off and another $10 off that.  A very good deal.  I already gave him the snow boots.  All things he's needed, but never took the time to get himself.

Hubby asked me to write up a list of things to get me. I told him "I have no idea."  

Finished the double wrap infinity scarf.  It's ready for delivery.  She previously ordered the headband, and wanted a scarf to match.

Finished Hubby's hat.  Got it wrapped too.  He has no idea.  I've been working on it while he's at work.  Very warm too.

Baby it's Cold Outside ~ "Sugar Plums in my Head"

Thursday the "feels like" index was 0°F.  It was frigid for sure.  I did the water exchange for the chickens, but the door was froze to the ground on the barn.  After a few minutes I got it free.

I've been dreaming of a better garden year more so then ever.  I sure miss my bounty.

I've also be dreaming of the days when I can dry my laundry outside again.   It's been so cold, and not very windy, nor sunny lately.

We are planning our daughter's 18th birthday party now.  Hard to believe it's arriving already.

I'm just about done with my scarf order.   Hopefully I will have time today for that.

Today is the last day of school for Christmas break.  Daughter is taking her teacher gifts in.   I ended up putting together 3 nail polish crochet ornaments and they each got some strawberry margarita jam.  I hope they like their gifts.

Snow ~ Conversations in my Head

I had plans to make a trip to the "big city" yesterday, but snow squalls moved in, making roads slippery.  I decided to stay home and work on orders and cleaning the house.  

I cleaned up the kitchen, did the dishes, some laundry, put together Mom's Christmas gift, and started on the bedroom closet (again, and a daunting task as it holds my yarn and crafting items).

Pantry Score!  Last jar of home canned BBQ sauce.  It went into the crock pot with organic chicken breasts.

I'm going to try my hardest to stay on track this coming year.  Is it bad I have a 3 ring binder for next Christmas (gift ideas, recipes, ornaments to make)? 

I want to get stuff done during winter so the garden(s) will have my full attention next year.  It also means I need to organize and purge the rest of the bedroom closet, re-organize my patterns (the two I have are a mess and out of order).  

Even if it's getting rid of one item or putting one thing back in it's home, my goal is daily cleaning of the closet to get it done and off my list.  What got done yesterday?  In the closet?

A conversation in my head that's for sure . . .

"I can get rid of this"

"That's where that went"

"This is such a mess"

"I need a craft room all to myself"

"Where in the world am I going to put that?"

"I better get a trash bag"

"I can donate that"

"Daughter can have that"

"Oh my gosh, I DO have yellow yarn"

Snow ~ Crochet ~ Hot Cocoa

Most schools ended up closing yesterday.   Our school eventually closed too. Vehicles were traveling slow past our house, and I never saw one snow plow.  Although I wanted to go out for one last Christmas present, I enjoyed the thought of staying home and crocheting.

I whipped up a batch of homemade hot cocoa for gifting two people.  The gift-it list went down considerably this year.  My side of the family set a gathering date mid-January - no gifts, no Christmas traditional food, etc.  I guess you would call it a winter gathering (same thing happened last year).  They want a taco bar, so with Hubby not allowed to eat carbs we'll just take some low carb spinach or tomato wraps (or stuff for taco salad minus tortilla chips).  I love Christmas, and making homemade gifts, so this sort of depressed me.  I feel like my side of the family lets life keep us from celebrating Christmas anymore.

I indulged with a hot cup of hot cocoa myself.  I'll admit it was delicious.  Hubby can't have the sugar, so most of the batch will be enjoyed by our youngest daughter.

I also used up the last of the apples and baked a dutch apple pie.  I was worried it wasn't enough apples, but the apples needed used up for something.


I spent some time doing some handiwork as well, and finished the nail polish ornaments.

Sold an XL hot pad - more $$ going into the coop fund.

Tuesday Tidbits

It was 11am before I was done putting chili in the crocky yesterday, and making breakfast egg muffins (bacon/bell pepper/jalapeno/spinach).  Everything takes time - chopping, baking the bacon, cooking the ground beef, peeling the garlic....blah.  It was a long day in the kitchen.  By the way, when I have to make homemade buttermilk, my cornbread is a tad dry.  I added a small bit of sour cream, and the bread was deliciously moist.

Woke up to more snow.  No surprise there.  School is delayed though.  

Chicken coop is fine, but still no eggs.  Darn it.  I know they'll start laying again though.

Does anyone know if there is such a thing as a cast iron tea kettle made in the USA?  I checked Lodge cast iron and didn't see one, and everything on Amazon is from China.

Happy Homemaker Monday ~ Power Outage Prep

It rained the entire day Saturday, but we went to town and bought some chicken wire, and took advantage of some sales.  We earned 50% off all general merchandise at the grocery store in the "Big City" and earned some rewards at another store.  We basically shopped for our youngest daughter's birthday and Christmas presents.  

Thanks to our one time 50% off reward, I finally own a coffee press in case we lose power for any reason.  I only paid $4.99 for it too. 

We were exhausted upon arriving home.  Nothing got done after that.

Sunday I was woken up at 5am by the dog, and then I remembered I promised Hubby and our youngest daughter a big breakfast.  Slowly, I sipped coffee and woke up with a power shower.  We ran more errands, but with a $20 roll of chicken wire, old barn wood and a ton of staples, we fixed the coop.  We definitely need to build a new coop.  There better be eggs out there today too.  Our mistake as a new homesteader was building one with chicken wire.  It lasted almost 11 years though.  Lesson learned.

The new coop will be like a shed with windows and doors, very secure, with a run.  We were discussing the location, and we actually have a cement slab where an old chicken coop was years and years ago.  We just have to clean the giant rocks off of it (left there from past owners), and cut down trees that grew around it. It'll be closer to the house too.  At least it's on our agenda now. 

We are talking about using the old goat fence for the dog and future dog, until we can put up a fence closer to the house.  I'll need a push lawn mower to keep it mowed down though.  or a larger gate, but that would be tearing apart the fencing.  It has to stay mowed down due to foxtail in it (very dangerous to a dog).

Homemade biscuits and sausage gravy, eggs, and potatoes (we indulged since we don't eat potatoes that often now).  Oh, and crock pot "fried" apples.

I sold this set!  Woohoo to that.  Adding that cash to the new coop fund.

We named them.  The calico is "Dolly" the coat of many colors, and the black and white one "Waylan" land bedside the road.  They definitely were dumped here.  They respond very well to "here kitty kitty" and they come running when I call them.  They are still too shy to come all the way to me though.

Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

The weather outside is . . .
28°F and snowing.  More snow to fall today as well.

On the breakfast plate  . . .
Leftover biscuits and gravy, eggs, potatoes and "fried" apples.

As well as homemade mochas, using organic coffee, homemade hot cocoa and organic mint syrup.


As I look out my window . . .
We have snow!


Right now I am . . .
Getting ready to post this, stoke the fire and get this day started, and starting breakfast egg muffins.  Oh, and laundry started too.


As I look around the house . . .
It's a mess.  Ugh.  Too much running around this past weekend and daughter had tons of homework.


On today's to-do list . . .
A ton of dishes (a friend is giving us their dishwasher next month so we won't have to look for parts for our current one)
Get dinner in the crocky - Chili
Load money to daughter's school lunch acct
Laundry
Change bedding
Put wire cutters, staples and staple gun away
Clean entire master bath
Vacuum
Sweep kitchen
Breakfast for the next few days
Renew library books
Bake a pie


On this week's to-do list . . .
Finish Christmas decorating
Put totes away
Wrap birthday and Christmas gifts
Finish a set of hot pads (an order)
Work on scarf (another order)
Start another set of hot pads (another order)
Finish nail polish bottle ornaments
Confirm dates to visit the island next year (emails sent)
Confirm a date for the cabin for our anniversary



On the menu this week . . .
Chili, cornbread

Ham beans and leftover cornbread

Chicken noodle soup

Salmon patties, roasted veggies
Leftovers


Currently reading . . .
Nothing


On the TV this week . . .
Netlfix and library movies

What I am creating . . . 

A double wrap infinity scarf that was ordered, and two more nail polish tree ornaments.  On a side note, I made her a headband and she wants a matching scarf.  I went all over looking for the same yarn (not knowing the brand nor color because I forgot to clip the wrapper to it ugh).  I ended up finding the exact color yesterday.



Prayers. . .
My Mom.  She's setting up her tests at Cleveland Clinic.  Not sure yet if they will set a surgery date.  Just so you know, Mom has had two heart surgeries already.  For our 20 year-old and her finances (just got bombed with a $1,000 bill {after insurance} from her car accident last fall).  A family friend.  She borrowed $100 from us months ago, and has not paid us back.  I'm praying she does the right thing.

Random Tidbits

I should have paid more attention to the weather.  It's much warmer, but 90% chance of rain, and it's raining.  No wood cutting today.  Ugh.

My sets didn't sell at the craft show.  Not one, so this one went into my youngest daughter's hope chest.

I found these reindeer antlers in the Christmas totes.  Romeo didn't like them, but let us put them on for a short while. 

I finished the granny square scarf with matching slouchy hat for our 20 year-old daughter.

The stray cats are trusting me a bit more lately.  I found both looking inside the door at me this morning.  They will run off if I open the door though.  Just ignore those doggie nose marks on the glass, ha ha!

I went out to the "Big City" for a few errands and one was to find paint brushes for water painting books.  Believe or not, I found the books at the dollar store, but no brushes. I found those at Wal-Mart.