Happy Homemaker Monday

We had a busy weekend, but sheesh, these birthday parties are taking over all our free time.  We have a lot of nieces and nephews that have lots of kids, and again, had a birthday party to attend.  I however, love that we can see family this year.

Sunday the weather was awful.  Humidity was over the top. 

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

The weather . . .

88°F/64°, sunny

How I am feeling this morning . . .

Not ready to take on the week, ha ha!  

On the breakfast plate . . .

Leftover French toast, coffee

Looking around the house . . .

I have a lot of extra camping stuff I need to either donate or put away.

On my reading pile . . .

Nothing this week, nor last week.

On the TV . . .

Virgin River

On the menu . . .

Honestly, I have no idea.  I'll need to take a look in the freezer and pantry and come up with some ideas.

From the camera . . .

I finally got around to try an Aperol Spritzer.  Not bad, but not cheap either.  It was a welcoming cold refresher on a hot weekend.

I am thankful for. . .

A bit cooler weather today.  Sunday was miserable.

I am hoping to . . .

Get to town for a few items I forgot over the weekend.

Prayer list . . .

No personal requests, but prayers for our country

Pop Up Camper ~ Garden

My first day of the camper purge was pretty successful.  Rain was in the forecast, but very little.

The table in the camper folds down, and is a bed for 2.  Under one side of the table bench is a storage area. It's the biggest storage other than the outside front storage bin.  

I tackled that area first. I kept extra pillows in there, because we often forgot to pack pillows for camping trips.  Lots of stuff went into a box for goodwill.  Some sheets were washed a saved for those spring frost blasts we get late in May (when we have to cover plants).  I also saved sheets for rag rugs, gave some enamel plates to one of my brothers.

Games and doodle books went to Daughter E for her new apartment, along with a pizza pan (have no idea why that was in the camper), some cups/mugs, drawer storage tray, antique counter top mug holder, and other items.

Some items went in the trash, like a pot holder that was beyond it's lifetime.  I had 10 pot holders in that camper, ha ha!  Many that were in good shape went to Goodwill.  

A few things needed washed down, and a few screws for the door top needed replaced, but all in all, the camper is in good condition considering it's a 1999 camper.

I brought these mug covers in to wash.  I had a color for each person.  They are made to fit a specific mug, and we don't use them anymore, so I'm torn on what to do with them. I may see if they fit any of my mugs in the house.  If not, they may (gulp) get donated.

Of course with so much going out, I added a few new items - collapsible strainers for the camper.

I finally harvested our first zucchini of the season.  My yellow is way behind.  I have made notes in my garden journal to not only change resources for seeds, but to start the yellow plants indoors next spring.  I've had trouble with them the last few years.  Of course we've had weather issues, but for some reason the seeds from High Mowing (for yellow straight neck) have taken longer to harvest and less to harvest.

Camper Cleaning Day!

 

Today is camper clean up day.  Outside and inside.   There is a lot to sort from the inside, but super excited to get it done.  We've attempted to do this for the last 3 days, but my husband has spent every night working on the mower.  I finally convinced him to set the camper up before he work on the mower, so I can work on the camper while he works on the mower.

It's time to purge the camper.  We have bedding for 7 people and we don't need it anymore.  I'm sure there are kids games and odd stuff that will need to go to a new home.

Out with the old and in with the new.  I've had that tan strainer since pre-kids.  Seriously.  It's cracked, stained and time to replace.  My husband is gonna faint when he finds out.  I kept telling him it was my most used strainer. The new red one is bigger, which I do like.

Sunrise from a few days ago.

Busy Day

Yesterday I had more laundry than anticipated, so the clothesline was working over time.

Hot peppers are doing great again this year, but darn it all, the rabbits are killing my greens and beets.  I'm so frustrated this year. Oh, the cayenne must only be working to deter the snakes, not the rabbits.  I put two more flood lights out there now, but need about 3 more.  I chased off 3 deer the other morning too.

The first year to see wild grapes growing.

My mad hatters are getting big and plants are loaded.

The ladies are happy with their nicely cleaned up coop.  Yes, they need a new ramp, but it's not high on the list since we plan to build a new one for them.  By evening they had kicked half their straw out the door.

Mower ~ Trip to the "Big City" ~ Coconut Waffles ~ Baked Walleye

The day our mower guy came out to mow, he hit something and bent the mower blade.   New blades were purchased, but half the mowing was done.  It was a battle to repair, but hopefully it'll be completed tonight.  My husband had a heck of a time getting the old blade off.

I made it in to the "Big City" for some errands.  I needed more twine to tie up the tomatoes and other items.  I also needed some items to work on the pop-up camper.

Daughter K had the day off, and when she is off all day and home, it typically involves an adult beverage.  Ha ha!  We were just refilling out wine rack at home.  She put another bottle in the cart after I took that photo.  We wanted to try a new cocktail, but one ingredient has been hard to locate so far.

Arriving back home, I scrambled to get things done before dinner.  First, I made a batch of coconut (no sugar) flour waffles.  My husband had a to-go breakfast this morning.  In between each waffle, I multi-tasked unloading the dishwasher and loading the washing machine.  

I had a front porch visitor just before dinner was started.

Dinner was baked walleye and steamed broccoli.  We have a lot of walleye in the freezer thanks to friends of ours.  So good!  The Parmesan cheese made the fish delicious.  Normally, my husband would insist on deep frying, but this was a healthier alternative.

We him-hawed on putting the pop-up camper up, so I could clean it today, but we both lost our mojo later into the evening.  The plan is to do that this evening.

The weather is in the mid 70's today, and so comfortable.  However, it looks like rain could move in (not in the forecast).  My plan is to muck the coop and tie up more tomatoes, but we'll see what the weather has planned.

. . .from the handiwork journal

 (since the last handiwork post)

. . . finished the XL purple pot holder.  It was made to match some hot pads I recently made.  Although, I used the solid color to edge it.

. . .spray painted two more mini clip boards for future gift giving.  I decorate them, add a pad of paper.  Instructions are on my S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot.

. . . spraying a clear coat on Daughter E's latest craft project.  I wanted her to buy the ladybug, but she insisted on this one.  It's a garden stone.

. . . crocheted a set of pot holders

. . .crocheted a matching XL hot pad

. . .progress on a knitted dishcloth.

Happy Homemaker Monday

My husband had to work all weekend, but we managed to get to the gathering regarding the loss of one daughter's boyfriend a year ago.  Oh my, we love those families/friends.  It was a good turn out, including classmates of his and daughter E's.  So many good laughs and good times and even tears, but so thankful we all got together.

Something I learned (although some of you may already know this). . .

I have never cooked with flank steak before (believe it or not).  I bought some last week and sliced it and grilled it for philly's sandwiches.  What did I learn?  Well, I was watching America's Test Kitchen (love that show) and watched them prepare a recipe using flank steak.

What did I learn?  I learned it has little fat and you must pound it before cooking, to tenderize it.  I literally did not know this until I watched the show.  

I will be buying flank steak again and giving it a try the right way. Ha ha!  It always makes me excited to cook when I learn something new.

I made a double batch of homemade taco seasoning.

I made a comfrey salve.

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

The weather outside is  . . .

86°F/66°F, sunny

Heating up and we are finally drying out!  

How I am feeling . . .

Rested.  Ready to take on the week.  

On the breakfast plate . . .

Coconut flour waffles, bacon, coffee

Looking around the house . . .

I have some boxes I need to take upstairs for Daughter E, for her big move coming up, but the kitchen is almost pristine.  I spent quite a bit of time cleaning yesterday while my husband worked (really stinks because weather was great on Sunday for outdoor work, bike ride, cards on the porch).

On my reading pile . . .

Nothing last week.

On  my TV . . .

Finally finished the entire season of Heartland.  Ending wasn't exciting either.

On the menu . . .

-Baked walleye, steamed broccoli
-Meatballs with homemade teriyaki sauce, asparagus

-something on the grill 

-have no idea

-leftovers

From the camera. . . 

The rain brought us some new blooms, and one glady finally bloomed.

I am thankful for . . .

A few dry days to allow the garden to recover, and give me time to do more weeding (not to mention get the grass mowed). I had more handiwork time over the weekend, which was a nice change (everything outside this weekend was soaked and road still flooded).

I am hoping to . . .

Get to the "Big City" to get errands done this week.  Maybe.  Nothing I need is an emergency, but needed.  The list is growing.

On my prayer list . . .

No personal requests, this country could always use prayer though.