Happy Homemaker Monday

Today's post is a dewzie.  Meaning long.  I tried a few new recipes this past week.

I've been doing some searching on the internet lately, and have been reading up (Better Homes and Gardens) how to make my own seed tape.  It will make planting my new green onion seeds so much easier this spring.  I may also just plant them in starter trays this year for easier planting.

Good news!  We are warming up, so this snow will start to melt and we can get outside comfortably to fix the wood splitter.

Thank you all for your oohs and ahhs over the new switch plates.  I have them up for now and deciding on if we need to replace receptacles with another color.  So far I LOVE they way they look, but missed buying for one more outlet.  

.....and guess what?  I think I want them for our master bath now, and one for the living room.  Sigh, I just think we are due for upgrades in this house to perk our spirits.  The old switch plates and screws will be bagged and donated either to the thrift or Habitat location.  I have more ideas for the kitchen.

I've been working on making Monday's and Sunday's an all one meal crock pot day.  It gives me a break in the kitchen, and if we are working outside or in the hallway, we can relax when we are done for the day.  Sunday I made Four Beans and Sausage.

My husband's way of a quick fix (wood splitter) on Sunday?  Buying about 1/3 of a cord of wood.  It was really too cold to be out and fixing the wood splitter.

Woke up to 7° yesterday and today?  At 5:30am it was 38°F.

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

The weather outside is . . .

38°F/31°F, but may hit 36°F during the night tonight.

How I am feeling this morning . . .

Feeling like our weekend work was simply problems that needed fixed, so no work done on the hallway.  Otherwise feeling good.

On my mind . . .

I was happy to see a bill passed a second time to reduce our Governor's control on lockdowns etc.  It has a better chance this time, as more were for yay than nay and that stops him from putting a veto to it.  

I'm starting to know what the empty nest feels like.  We haven't seen Daughter E (youngest) since last Thursday.  She doesn't like the long drive with the snow.

On the breakfast plate . . .

Not sure, but this is what we had yesterday.  

On my reading pile . . .

As the Earth Turns

On my TV . . .

I love watching Create (cooking shows) during crochet time.  Avoiding talk shows and news has definitely lifted my spirits (sick of the lies, and tired of biased shows).  As for evenings we rely on netflix, movies we own (the best out because they are older movies or funny) or Amazon prime - whatever looks good.

On the menu . . .

-Crockpot roasted turkey breast, roasted asparagus or brussel sprouts

-Beef stew (Monday crock pot meal)

-Philly stuffed green bell peppers

-Sunday crock pot meal - sweet potato chili or a roast with veggies

- Snacks, homemade hummus, kamut flake bars with nuts/seeds

From the camera . . .

Looking around the house . . . 

Looks the same as last week. I need to take boxes to donate and deliver purged crafting supplies.

To relax this week I will . . .

Watch Create (cooking shows) and crochet.

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

Pizza casserole (my version)

1 lb. sausage of your choice (we like homemade sausage using organic pork)

1 box Organic Einkorn Penne

1 organic green bell pepper diced (or equivalent from your freezer)

1 onion, diced

2 pints home canned pizza sauce

2 cups your favorite pizza topping cheese or cheese blends (we love some Parmesan in ours).

Cook sausage in a skillet. When the meat is halfway cooked, toss in the diced green bell pepper and onion (and any additions you'd like - olives, mushrooms, pepperoni).  Stir in the pizza sauce and heat.  

Cook noodles per package instructions and strain water.  Add cooked noodles to the pizza sauce mixture and combine well. 

Pour half of mixture into a prepared 9 x 13 baking pan, layer with cheese, add last half of mixture.  Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes.  Add another layer of cheese and bake until cheese is melted.  Serve.  Note: You could also add extra pizza toppings with the last layer of cheese.

Crispy baked chicken.

Recipe is online from the Salty Marshmallow.  I adapted organic ingredients.  I can only find organic chicken drumsticks, so that's what I used.  It was so easy, healthy and delicious.  A keeper recipe.  If you are interested in my favorite way to make sweet potatoes, it's basically diced sweet potatoes, loaded with thyme, some fresh minced garlic and olive oil cooked in the crockpot all day.  The other recipe is a corn and zucchini saute (also very delicious, but I prefer to make it with fresh organic zucchini and our corn off the cob we froze).

I really like the chicken recipe, because it's something we could make on vacation when renting a home or cabin.  The chicken tastes great re-heated the next day too.

Something I want to share . . .

Ideas for revitalizing and energizing yourself (cont.)L:

51. Don't do wrong

52. Learn to let go

53. Allot time for daily meditation

54. Engage in organized religious activity

55. Encourage your gentleness

Prayers . . .

Texas.  Mom - she gets her vaccine this week (shipment was delayed).  Youngest - she is still mentally having a difficult time after losing her boyfriend last year.  Some things just remind her of him.  Some times too often for her to handle. 

Consignment Sales~ Whoops! ~ Repairs

 

Good news!  I am looking into selling my jar openers in a smaller town with a general store.  I have to raise the price due to the percentage they want to sell consignment, but happy they are considering.

Whoops!  I did it again!  While waiting on my husband to open the wall access, I came up with another craft.  By the way a fitting came apart and yes, another water leak as we guessed.  Kitchen drain is thawed.  Two down one to go today - fix the wood splitter.

You can find the easy instructions for the mini-sun catchers on my S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot.

They are perfect as they are, or can be Christmas ornaments or given as sun catchers (random act of kindness during these uncertain worldly conditions).

Our warmer weather is arriving starting today.  It's a brisk 7°F so I am thrilled we are moving to warmer weather.  I haven't been able to put anything on the clothesline this winter.  It feels so wrong ha ha!

A Warm Up

 

Although they say we'll dip to a low of 5°F tonight, yesterday the sun was out all day and the icicles started to melt.  What a joy that was to see.   I knocked them down over the door to avoid any falling on us.  The warm up is approaching thankfully.  I am prepared for a big muddy mess, but so glad to be moving out of the cold spell.

I had a lot of indoor house chores, and after doing laundry all day, I pulled the rug from the washer only to notice water on the floor.  Yep.  Guess what my husband is doing today?  Ha ha ha!  Fixing the softener line that runs into the water lines behind the utility room sink.  Water is shut off, so thankfully I had jugs of water to make coffee this morning.

Speaking of rugs, the rug at my master bath shower is a rag rug, crocheted from old bedding.  I do think it's time to make a new one, but time will tell.  I was exhausted from housework, but at least that is done and will free up time this weekend.  We need to tackle fixing the wood splitter too.  

Mail is running very slow in our parts.  There has been times when we are not getting anything for 3 days, which is very unusual.  We typically don't go one day without something (mostly junk mail), but I do worry about a late bill, so guess what I am doing today?  Writing down due dates and bill names on my handy dandy planner.  I pay them all online, so I can check my planner every day from now on.  

Oh, and speaking of late mail, the IRS said we didn't pay our taxes in 2020.  I typed up a letter, gave them the online bank confirmation number, sent them the interest they were charging us (which we should have had to pay).  Guess what they sent back?  Yep.  They interest.  Guess it was worth writing a letter with a real check vs. paying online this time.

Okay, sorry for the boring post.  I'm trying to get my husband to start this day.  I had to tell him about the mess in the utility room as he was literally walking in the door from work last night.  Hallway progress will depend on how long it takes to tackle today's repairs, and of course splitting some wood so we can turn off our expensive electric heat.

Crafting ~ New Kitchen Project

Not sure if we will get more snow yet today, but we definitely got at least 3 inches yesterday.  Had to shovel out the mailbox (again).  After getting sweet potatoes in a crock pot, and walking 2 miles on the treadmill, I piddle-dinked around with the scraps of wall paper.  I just want this particular project done so I can really resume the purge.  Got one more dish scrubbie crocheted too.

My new switch plates arrived for my kitchen.  USA made.  I just need my handyman husband to replace the receptacles to match the color.  Although, after he saw them he thinks the color of receptacles we have may look okay.  I'll be putting one up to day to see.

There was of course more shoveling of snow to do, so I warmed up with a mug of homemade hot chocolate and a splash of peppermint vodka.

 

 

A Day of Sitting in the Parking Lot and Things that Stopped Working

 

Just a few days before yesterday, I sat in the Verizon parking lot waiting on my husband to get a new cell phone.  His phone was 5 years old and got a free trade in thankfully.  However, if you have a cell phone, you know buying a new one takes about an hour or more.  I had no projects with me that day either.

Yesterday morning, I had zero plans to leave the house.  It's cold, snow covered, and I didn't need a lick of anything important.  I him-hawed around in my slippers and pj's sipping coffee, stoking the fire, feeding the cats etc.

Hubby gets up and says, "Your daughter's phone died so you need to go with her to get a new one."  My best eye-rolling moment happened.  Sigh.  Another day of sitting in the parking lot.

We rolled in at 11:02am.  I see a truck pull in, and Daughter K was taking her time getting out of the car.  I literally ran in the store to make sure we got in there first (knowing the wait time). I go in, sign (which now it pops up on your own phone, you sign and it goes back to their tablet).  Anyway, I do all the things I need to, and an elderly lady came in but approached the counter with impatience.  Remember I said phone buying is at least 1 hour to do?

She apparently went over on her data and was charged, but not even the clerk could explain what "data" was.  The clerk at some point just shut off her data.  That women will be back for sure.  

Anyway, I'm thinking "oh my gosh, that would be my mother" then I ask about flip phones.  Thankfully they are continuing to sell them, so later that day I let her know (her flip phone needs replaced).

After I did what I needed to give access to our account, and she picked out a phone, I went to the car to crochet.  One hour later the clerk sends Daughter K out and suggests we go get something to eat and come back.  

We did, and we went back. 

Daughter K drove me all the way home, and went back and never got out of that Verizon store until almost 2pm.  She had that much to transfer from her old phone to her new phone.  

...and that my folks is how I spent most of my day yesterday.  

Once home though, I got 2 dish scrubbies crocheted.  I have 3 more to make for the person who ordered, but glad I at least had crochet time.

Our smaller bathroom has running water, but the drain is still frozen.  Don't get me started on the kitchen.  I hauled hot water from the master bath, washed dishes and when I dumped the dish tubs into both sinks a water line below sprung a large leak (drain froze and I didn't realize it).  I was grabbing whatever I could to fill until it was done.  Hubby walked in and said, "is it safe to come home?"  

He apologized over and over and said he'd heat tape it this weekend.  He also said, "why don't we think about doing this stuff over summer?"  I told him to not worry, I have a list and will put it in plain sight so we stay on task this year.

Oh, and get this....wood splitter is broke down.  So, if we stay on task this spring/summer/fall with wood splitting, we'll have wood and not have to deal with things like this in winter.  We ran out of wood, so the electric heat is on until Saturday.  Or until he fixed the splitter.  Always something.....

Snow and wind are back this morning.  We may actually get up to 26°F in our parts.  On a good note, the hot water line works in my utility room, so I can at least do laundry today. 

Ideas for revitalizing and energizing yourself (cont.):

46. Give in occasionally

47. Make clear choices

48. Face painful questions directly

49. Work toward deepening your life

50. Keep things in proper perspective

Tidbits

 

The boys also shoveled me a path to get to the other side of the drive, but I needed to shovel out getting into the coop.  There was snow in the coop and a huge drift in the run.  Lovely.

We got 12 inches of snow by Tuesday morning.   We have 17 inches on the ground.  A nephew came and plowed us out, but more snow is coming.  Sigh.

They predicted -8°F last night.  I filled water jugs.  Woke up to a wind-chill of -11°F.  I made sure there was plenty of food for leftovers for today too.

Daughter K made it to work yesterday, as the downgraded us before she had to be to work (level 3 is a level the Sheriff can give you a ticket for being on the road). She got to work, but said all the stores in the strip she works in were closed.  She just wanted to go home, as the roads are still not good and no one was shopping (as should be).

Youngest was told she should not go to work, and if the salon opened, they'd just have two people there.  They ended up staying closed.  My husband who got his truck stuck yesterday, got it out with the nephews and he made it to work (although drove during a level 3).

I got busy in the kitchen, by first making a breakfast bake - zucchini, yellow squash, broccoli, onion, green pepper, jalapeno, garlic, dandelion greens, bacon and chives.

Next up was a strawberry crisp, using strawberries I froze.

Made some more homemade seasoned salt.

Made a double batch of my version of "chex mix" for the girls.  I normally only make this for the holidays.

Dinner?  A new recipe - pizza casserole (posting recipe soon) using Einkorn penne. Our side dish?  Zucchini and corn saute.  However, I didn't get the side veggie made.  I will get it made today though.

The craft supply purge continues.  It's gonna get me into more trouble.  I found these and they are USA made.  I may be making something.  Or not.  We'll see if the craft bug stays or goes.  

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.