Snowed In!

Not good.  Opened the door to a 2 foot drift blocking my way, and the barn cat's food box buried.  

Yesterday, before the roads got bad, we drove clothing and items to our Youngest at her work.  She stayed in town over night with my Mom. 

Daughter K works in the opposite direction, and I begged her to get off work early.  The roads were horrible.  She did and barely got into our giant U-shaped driveway.  She said some drifts on the road were taller than her car.

Husband tried to plow thru the drifts with the truck to get to work.  Truck is stuck and awaiting to see if the boys can plow us out.

We are at the highest level on our road emergency plan.  There is no one on the road right now.  It's very bad.  The worst part?  If we can't get the snow plowed, we have to hand shovel before it goes to a very cold temp tonight (-7°F).  

I officially can say I dislike winter.  It's 15, but feels like 2°F.  Not a good time to say we wished the wheel horse was fixed.

Guess I'm getting some hot coffee and getting my full body winter coverings on and heading out to shovel off the 2 foot drive to just get out of the house.  Then it's back out to get at least one side of the drive shoveled.  Mail won't deliver if the snow plows buried the mailbox access.  So there is that too, and it's heavy snow there.

Oh, and it's still snowing, so there is that too.  We don't own anything to plow, other than the wheel horse.  I did find numbers to two people in our country town who plow, but want too much.  I totally sigh over these decisions.  Should'a, could'a, would'a.....fix the darn wheel horse come spring.

Happy Homemaker Monday

Another upgrade for the kitchen (front door).  I replaced the plain sheer with a lace one. It's scalloped all around.  I love it!  I have more plans to upgrade the kitchen, so those will be posted as they unfold.

Sunday we needed to cut more wood.  They are saying we'll dip again on Tuesday below zero.

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

I'll link up as soon as she posts (or later after a trip to town).

The weather outside is . . .

15°F (feels like 4°F).

Snow moving in by the bucket loads, starting tonight. However, there is snow coming down as I type up this blog post and the snow plow has been past the house several times already.

How I am feeling this morning. . .

Happy that my husband is off work today.  We may make a trip into town for a part we need for the hallway.  Just depends on how long he sleeps in and what else needs done today.  I forgot to pick up cat food for the barn cat, and we could stand to re-stock toilet paper, so a trip to town before more snow falls might happen.  I'm just happy he is home today.

On my mind . . .

Well, I'm not happy to see that there is talk of banning state travel (meaning no travel in or out by the Federal Government), and Florida is it's first target.  It's getting so ridiculous.

We recently dined out for breakfast at one of our favorite local eateries.  Not any more.  I won't dine where the servers are wearing gloves.  I literally watched a waitress pull down her mask, blow her nose with her gloved hands, put the mask back up and served food to customers wearing the same gloves.  The glove wearing is not doing anyone any good as you can see.  Gross!  Blow your nose...wash your hands.  

I hope we can find someone to plow us out. The trash gets picked up tomorrow, and the mail won't deliver if the mailbox area is not plowed.  Not to mention everyone works tomorrow, and the girls turn into anxiety girls when it snows this bad.

On the breakfast plate . . .

Bean, sausage, egg and cowboy candy burritos, coffee.

On my reading pile . . .

As the Earth Turns

On my TV . . .

No Tomorrow (Netflix)

On the menu this week . . .

-Crockpot cod, corn relish, roasted veggies

-Pizza casserole (new recipe I want to try)

-Baked chicken, sweet potatoes

-leftovers

-new treat recipe (more on that if I try it)

From the camera . . .

Sunday morning sunrise.

Looking around the house . . .

Dirty dishes.  Dirty dishes everywhere.  Kitchen sink pipes are not thawed, so I'll be hauling hot water to the kitchen in tubs.  Hubby says he doesn't want to put the propane heater on it yet.  We have water everywhere else in the house.  It's dripping, but not that much and frustrating.  This snow and wind won't help either.

New Recipe I tried, or one we really enjoyed. . .

I tried a copy cat dairy queen hot dog chili recipe (food.com).  The results? My husband said, "perfect!"  You can find the recipe online. I used home canned BBQ sauce and the chili sauce can be made homemade using home canned tomato sauce.  

The story behind trying this.....

My husband and I grew up in the same area, and Dairy Queen was a regular hang out hot spot for years. However, the owner and his wife sold it a few years ago, and opened up a pizza place in the southern states (taking their recipes with them).  Anyway, we dined there a year ago maybe, and the chili sauce on the hot dog he ordered was terrible.  They changed the menu, serving sizes and it was all a bad experience.  

For some odd reason I was thinking about it, and I made it using organic ingredients.  He loved it.   I will probably make it again and start freezing some for summer camping and cookouts.

To relax I will . . .

Watch netflix with hubby, sip hot cocoa with peppermint vodka in it, crochet and work on my scrubbie order.  If the dishes are done quicker than I expect, I would love to make the new treat recipe.

Something I want to share . . .

Little Acts of Kindness:

6. Give a homeless person your doggie bag

7. Say "I love you" to someone you love

8. Put a coin in an expired meter (if these even exist anymore, s our big city has machines to put your debit card in, which I do not like).

9. Each time you get a new item of clothing, give away something old.

10. Bring your assistant coffee

(I had to skip some on the list I have, as they can't be done anymore with covid restrictions sadly).

Prayers . . .

Mom - she's getting her first covid vaccine Tuesday.  The entire business of the development of the vaccine (when there is worldwide treatment for it) scares me.  Plus, she has the weather to deal with too, and isn't supposed to be doing her own shoveling.

More Snow ~ Hot Pepper Pickled Eggs

We got more snow.  Not what we wanted, but then it's great for the garden (poor man's fertilizer). 

Work on the hallway project was delayed.  One toilet kept running, and after checking it we discovered it needed a new float.  While we were out and about, I picked up a new 5 gallon bucket and lid for my homemade laundry detergent.  It needed replaced.

I finally talked my husband into buying a new mail box.  After it was beat up last year by someone, it wasn't latching and the flag was beat off.  It's not good weather however to put it up.  Freezing cold weather, and by the time we returned home the roads were drifting pretty badly.

We got some work done on the hallway before retiring for the night.  I'm thankful for that.  We are not finished, but we are gaining.

Good news for our state!  The state-wide curfew was completely lifted, but not with the threat he'd do it again if he "needs" to.  I hope this Gov. is not voted back in. 

I finally dug out my ingredients to make lotion, but need one item.  I guess it's on the to-do list for next week.

I got some hot pepper pickled eggs made.

I purged craft supplies, and this time without starting a new project.  I am filling a 5th box for our daughter and grandkids.  I hope she has room for all of it, ha ha!

from the handiwork journal . . .

. . .got more fridge magnets made and packaging them. There were more that didn't get in the photo.

. . . more recipe card holders in the making.  They need embellished with buttons, and packages up for a craft show this year.

(sorry no photo yet)

. . . finishing up the back panel and started one sleeve on the cardigan.

. . .more progress on the wine cork ornaments

. . . got the black netting cut and rolled into balls for the order I received.  It took me almost 3 hours to cut and roll the entire 10 yards, but I got it done.

. . . finished my latest craft project.  If I have enough scrap wood, I will make these to sell as well as gift.  I love it.  Instructions are on my S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot.  I may make some with coffee packets too.  Maybe even small packages of candy or mints?  Lots of ideas for this one.  Makes a nice random act of kindness too.  While cleaning my craft supplies, I had everything already packed up to give to our daughter.  Sigh....I just couldn't help myself.  

Hallway Progress ~ Knobs are on and other ramblings

Yesterday we delivered Youngest her car before she had got off work.  She was so happy that we not only got the tire fixed, but she had her car back before her shift was over.

I also delivered a large box of "doodle" paper to my niece and nephew.  I had to laugh, because my niece showed me a book she made with a lot of paper.  The are well supplied now, ha ha!  I also gave them 3 boxes of colored pencils and two of markers.

When we got back home, we had some time to do a few things around the house, and I am a happy gal.

My husband helped me put up the window film.  I also put up my new lace valance.  I absolutely love it.  I may do the front door this way too.  That framing on the window is inside the window.  I am glad I found window film I liked and was long enough to only have to cut one piece as well.  The window is next to the side door.  I'm not putting it on the door (which looks just like the window), because the dogs will jump up on it when someone delivers or knocks.  When Daughter K moves out, I will cover that door too.  I love, love love it.

I bought some for the bathroom window 12 years ago, for a window above the tub.  It has stayed up for 12 years.  It's the kind you wet and stick, is removable and no adhesive on it.

Anyway, I am hoping we get time to finish the hallway paneling and trim work.  Then come spring, I can paint the side door (inside and out), and the garage door.

Remember the knobs I bought last year?  They are finally up on the utility room cupboards.

Woke up to 19° and we'll warm up to 24°F today.  I sure hope the sun comes out too.  It's a bit windy out and more drifting, but so glad they were wrong about below temperatures.

Fire is stoked and this lady is going to make some coffee and get to work.

 

Winter Woes and Wins

I noticed we had a visitor when I went out to empty the ash pail.  We got more snow yesterday.

The leak ended up 2 leaks, and since we had to turn the water off, the other water pipes froze.  It's not been fun.  My counter is full of dirty dishes.  The drain froze too.  It'll be a long day for me.  When I do get water and a clear drain, it'll take me a week to catch up.  So frustrating, but leak was repaired, just not the softener line.

I spent most of my day on handicrafts, although I attempted to purge.  I didn't get very much put in the box for our daughter and grandkids.  My husband got a chuckle watching me though.  He said, "aren't you supposed to be cooking cabbage?" Ha ha ha!  We'll, I'll have some items for a fall craft show, prepared well in advance anyway.

Anyway, I heard my husband talking to himself over and over for not heat taping those water lines.  I tried to get him to do it several times over summer, and he wouldn't listen to me.  I think he got the picture this time.  

While he was trying to thaw out the rest of the house, I started yet another craft project.  More on that later.  I'll probably be purging the last two boxes of books.  I can't control myself when I'm purging crafting items (ha ha ha!).

........

Attempted to get this post up this morning, but had to literally throw on sweatpants and a shirt and head out.  Youngest broke down.  I had to pick her up and take her to work, only to come home and find my husband and a friend in the drive.  He had left work to tow her car home, but found out her tire blew (what happens when you drive too long on a tire with low air, but maybe she'll learn).

We had to go back to the big city and get a new tire, then back to the car and then back home.  I needed a shower and to brush my teeth.  Once we get the fire stoked, we'll make a 3rd trip into town (it's 20-25 minute drive each way).  We'll deliver her car to her work location and head back home.  

What a morning.....hoping the day goes way better now.

Curtains and other ramblings

 

The two curtains I ordered for the hallway windows arrived.  These are different than the fiasco for the long window in the hallway.  I love them!  It's hard to see, but the sun hasn't been shining.  I have ordered a new curtain for the other window, so stay tuned on that.

Pipes are thawed.  However, we had another flood in the utility room.  It stumped us, as it wasn't when the water was running to the washer or sink in there.  I told my husband it looked like it was coming from the wall behind the sink.  I told him the last flood we had.  We opened up the wall (thankfully we made an access).  The hose coming from the salt softener came loose and was leaking. 

Guess who is off work today just to fix the leak?  Yep.  Sigh.  Water has been shut off until then, so I am glad we had the jugs filled.  Plus, Daughter K brought home more drinking water just in case.

My Amazon curtain (rag) has been labeled on on the way to return.  What a mess.  It took two trips to buy printer ink (forgot it the first trip).  When I put the new ink in the printer, it automatically prints an alignment page.  Had to do that twice to get the darn thing to print.  Then the label printed blank.  Finally got the label and my packing tape malfunctioned (must have been cheap tape).  Finally got it all done and wrote them a review.  What a hot mess.

I still need one sheer panel for the front door, but that can wait.  I have lots of new ideas for the kitchen in the way of updates.

The snow finally stopped, so we may be cutting more firewood today if the leak project goes smoothly.  Soup beans are going in the crockpot this morning.

Ideas for revitalizing and energizing yourself (cont.):

41. Contact new people

42. Do something for others

43. Take charge of getting involved

44. Give the other person a break

45. Don't criticize and blame others