Temporary Plan ~ Random Tidbits

We literally sat around until almost 11am Saturday morning, tossing around what we'd do and when.  It was that cold out. Saturday we went shopping for more car parts, picked up chicken feed, made a quick stop at Mom's, and spent time on the phone seeing if any of the boys could help work on the car today.

The stop at Mom's was quick due to her not feeling well.  Her friend wants to look at my crocheted bookmarks, so I did a pick up of cash for some already sold items, and handed her the bookmarks.  I hope she feels better soon.  This weather is hard on us.

Check this out!  If you crochet, these are on sale at Mary Maxim for $3.99!  At least they were on sale. I haven't gone back to see if they are still at that price.  The heart charm comes in any color of birth month.  I know it's not "silver" but I've never seen this before.  I left it in my online shopping cart for a few days and him-hawed (shipping was awful).  I got an email for a free shipping on anything, so I bought myself one.  Happy Valentine's Day to me.

Snow and Cold ~ Proud Parents

We cut all but this much of one tree over the years, and this will come down for our winter wood.  We'll get a lot from it too.

The snow was so beautiful.  It was a fluffy snow with no wind, and gorgeous.  The kind that makes you curl up by the fire, under a blanket and with a book.

We slept in until 7:16am this morning, and with due diligent, but not without a cat alarm clock.  We woke up to a furry feline sliding his paws under our bedroom door and clankity-clankity-clankity.  He was ravenous and wanted fed so badly, he was yanking the door back and forth.

It's a cold -3°F.  First order of business was to feed Tiger, then Romeo, who for the first time was lifting his paws on he first outing outside.  It's too cold for him too.

Next order of business was coffee.  I knew to wait until we both had our coffee before bringing it up in conversation - Russell Crowe.  The rooster is so mean, it's leaving the roost today.  

(Far right is a red headed woodpecker)

I had over a dozen cardinals visiting again, and other birds this time around.  I tossed seed out for them too.  I think they are very appreciative as well.

Friday was a whirlwind of regional competition for our 18 year-old daughter.  Competition went until 12:30pm with awards promptly at 1:30pm.  

We killed some time visiting a local used/new book store.  I found it cute, but overpriced.  I quickly picked a few books of my favorite author (used), and proceeded to the checkout.  There, before me, was my worst nightmare - a lady yapping.  She yapped about books about WWII and would not stop.  Twice she turned around and made comments that she'd be out of my way.  Not so.  I was the only other customer.  Hubby said, "I'm going to go wait in the truck."  I was about to say something rude, when she finally stopped yapping and got out of my way.  Urgh.

We arrived at 12:30pm, only for them to tell us we cannot go in to sit for another half hour.  The program, and the parent letter stated "doors open at 12:30pm.

We sat in those uncomfortable seats until almost 2:10pm, in which the awards started.  Thankfully we drove separately, and they go in alphabetical order.  It only took a few minutes for them to get to "Cosmetology."  She won!!  She placed Bronze.  We high-tailed it out of there, congratulated her and left.

She is going to State competition in a few months.  The school is paying for hotel and busing them.  If she places at State (which is difficult), she move on to National, which is held in another state.  

We didn't get home until almost 4pm, in which I was undressing and ready for PJ's, only to get a text from Daughter that she wanted to go out to eat to celebrate.

Hubby and I groaned, but went out anyway.  We were so tired from sitting around, we just wanted to retire.  We also got cheated out of Valentine's Day.  Not sure why competition was held on Valentine's Day either.

No wood was cut, no car worked on, and I didn't even get chocolate or bottled adult beverage for Valentine's day.  What's up with that??  Not even a card.  Hmpf.  I'm declaring the weekend a "Valentine's Day Weekend."

We have no plan yet for this weekend, which scares me.  We need plans when it comes to wood cut, and weather so cold it makes transformers blow (which happened last night, but thankfully didn't affect us). I'm going to go down more coffee and see if we can come up with a plan.

Snow and Cold ~ Proud Parents @ Feb 2020 by Kristina at https://pioneerwomanatheart.blogspot.com/

Cardinals ~ Weather ~ Peace Treaty ~ Cookies!

More photos from the other day.  I went outside for these, and most flew off, but a few came back.  Much better to see instead of through a dirty window, ha ha!

Snow moved in, and we were told it could bring 4-6 inches 7 in other areas.  We woke up to maybe 2 inches and it is 32°F not the 8 degrees they said it would be.  It's still snowing though.  School has a 2 hour delay.

On the breakfast plate . . .

A garbage frittata with some sliced zucchini, topped with garden chives.  I added a pinch of fire powder to boost our metabolism too.

I've been taking treats (peace treaty) out to the chickens when I feed/water and fetch eggs.  So far, it's sort of working.  

In the morning I brought in 3 eggs, and later in the evening 2 more, but that darn rooster went at me again.  I think he has cabin fever or something.  I can't wait for a warmer day to send them out into the run.  Oh, he went at Hubby too. 

Speaking of eggs, I broke down and made biscuits for dinner.  Sigh.  Hubby isn't supposed to have all those carbs, but I've been doing so good at keeping them out of our meals, so I am caved in and made sausage and gravy for dinner.  Along with scrambled eggs etc.

I've been hankering a sweet treat lately.  I've stuck with the low carb/low sugar etc. thing with the Hub-ster, and I needed a treat.  Not being able to make my regular cookies, I googled for a low carb shortbread cookie and wa-la!  

However....they tasted terrible.   Like a mouth full of almond flour.  I'm just gonna bake my regular recipes, but only once in a while.

I got another cross bookmark finished, read my book a bit, and one yarn order arrived for the baby blanket.  I'm waiting on one more color to arrive and I can start that.

Treasures ~ Corn ~ Turkey/Zucchini Meatballs and other Tidbits

In the process of  cleaning the closet, I found 5 crochet hooks, 4 pairs of scissors, one embroidery needle and one yarn needle.  Oh, and one more of my favorite pens!  I also uncovered 4 pints of tinctures that need strained.  They'll be strong ones, ha ha!

The garage is next, but I still have a bit to clean up in the utility room.  I'm just glad I got the closet done (other than Hubby purging his clothing).

Bad news for our area.  The produce stand (has been open for 91 years) announced they will not be opening for the 2020 season due to numerous road closures.  We get our corn and other various veggies from them.  I'll have to look for a co-op to drive to or other source, but it will be drive if we want corn.  They also sold popcorn, so I may be planting it, and hoping for the best this year.

Good news!!! Woohoo!  Mom went to Cleveland Clinic on Monday, and the news came back that she does not have to see a doctor for at least one more year.   No surgery.  So happy for that news!  Thank you all for your prayers, good thoughts, vibes and mojo!

The cardinals came back.  There were so many again.  I have a few more photos to load too.

I had a day in the kitchen - turkey/zucchini meatballs.  I made about 81 of them.  All in the freezer - no breading/oats either.

The cross bookmark pattern is free on Ravelry https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cross-bookmark-or-ornament

I just put my tassel at the top vs. the bottom.  I will also have some up for sale soon.

Valentine's Day Gift on a Budget

My Valentine's day gift to Hubby.  He can't have sweets, our trip was canceled, and I came up with this.  I purchased a small photo album, and have printed photos of him with me or just me, and I'm using scrap paper and stickers to decorate every other page.  I'll be writing personal notes on them as well.  I hope he likes it.

Happy Homemaker Monday

The weekend brought a lot of work.  Hubby worked on the car repair  (cost of parts were around $200.00), while I did the much needed grocery shopping, and bedroom closet cleaning. 

The car is still being worked on, but will have to stay at the garage (extended family) until this coming weekend.

I'm glad I dove into the closet.  I now have all the yarn organized and stored in plastic totes.  I am told to never say I need to buy yarn (bwahahaha!).  Oh, but I am not done in the closet yet.  I found more UFO's, and a lot of other lost things.  I'll be in there finishing it up this week, but Hubby (still) needs to purge his clothing.  It's a good think I haven't moved the totes upstairs just yet.  I keep finding more yarn to put in the totes, ha ha!

I made a magnetic mini clip board to attach to the metal shelving in my closet.  I am writing down all UFO's I find to keep better track of what needs finished.

My second oldest child turned 26 over the weekend.  Sigh....hard to believe.  My oldest turns 28 in a few months.  Double sigh....

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

The weather outside . . .

Rain, 32°F, foggy.

How I am feeling this morning . . .
I feel like I'm getting a head cold.  The weather here is bouncing up and down and so hard to deal with.  It will get very cold again this coming weekend.

On my mind . . .
The car, our youngest daughter's regionals (contest, first step to getting her cosmetology license) coming up (if she passes, she gets to go to state next), and the wood supply.  We are going to need more for the weekend.  This weather is like a thunder-snow-nado type week.  

On the breakfast plate . . .

Broccoli, cheese and egg bake, organic black coffee.  The recipe is online and is so good!  So simple too.  


On the reading pile . . .

On the TV . . .
What If, Netflix

On the to-do list . . .
-laundry
-dishes
-put dinner in the crock pot


On the menu . . .
-Turkey/zucchini meatballs, marinara sauce, peas
-Crock pot Chicken Cacciatore, Brussel Sprouts or roasted veggies
-Cauliflower stuffed peppers
-Chicken sausage sheet pan dinner
-Broccoli/egg breakfast casserole
-Sweet potato/black bean frittata


What I am creating . . .

A set of sunflower cup coasters, and trying to catch up on UFO's (a scrap lapghan), and some cross bookmarks.  I'm also putting together a memory book for a Valentine's gift to my husband.  The mini-photo album was only $1.12, and Im using scrap booking supplies to create it.  I'm also about to start a new baby blanket for a friend of the family.  I just need to check what colors I have before I haul the yarn upstairs.


From the camera . . .

Snow moon.  While I was taking pictures of it, I distinctly heard a coyote out back.


Looking around the house . . .
I need to move totes of yarn from the living room to the upstairs spare bedroom.


Chore I am not looking forward to today . . .
Moving the totes


To relax this week I will . . .
Crochet and maybe read.

Prayers . . .
An extended family member named Brandon (husband's side of the family), Mom (she has her first visit at Cleveland Clinic today)

Bills ~ Books ~ Cleaning and Organizing Continues

The first item on the to-do list Friday was paying bills.  Not the chore I enjoy, but done.

A few years ago, one of my cousins gifted me this book.  I have several regarding essential oils, but totally forgot about using oregano oil for fighting off a sinus issue.  I am hoping it works.

I'm reading this book now.  I am so happy to be back to reading a real book again.  I have already read her first book in this series, so this is the 2nd one.

I have several (like about 30) books from the library, and more to pick up.  I am (gulp) looking for new items to add to my "stock" for craft shows, reading up on writing skills and more gift ideas.

Extreme Clean Progress:
Worked an hour in the bedroom.  I had a lot of yarn and crafting supplies to put away.  I'm still avoiding the closet, but I will get it done.