Happy Homemaker Monday

 

We had a beautiful sunrise Sunday morning.  After shopping for Mom and Daughter E (and door dashing), we retired at the house with playing cards on the porch.  We have been exhausted, so I'm hoping we both revived after last night's good sleep.  

I should have taken a photo of the cat food at Meijer yesterday.  Both Kroger and our Meijer in the "Big City" are bare.  There wasn't much to choose from, to buy for Mom's cats.

We stopped at 3 stores yesterday, and the shelves at Dollar Tree were bare as well.  We were able to buy Mom 5 boxes of tissues though.

The big "Bash" held in the "Big City" had 30 vendors not show up.  I haven't participated in the event in the last two years, but may next year if covid is not spreading as bad as it is this year.

Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. I will link up when she posts.  As you can see below, I have a lot on my to-do list.

On the breakfast plate . . . 

I'm thinking I'll bake a frittata of some sort.

Looking around the house . . .

There is a lot to do, since we were busy all weekend and took Sunday afternoon off to get some relaxation.

On today's to-do list . . .

-check potatoes in the garden

-tidy the kitchen

-unload the dishwasher

-bake a breakfast of some sort

-bake a crisp requested by my husband

-yank tomato plants

-replant indoor cilantro and parsley

-blanch and freeze greens

-slice up bell peppers for hubby's lunches

-start another jar of 4 thieves vinegar

-start sage and mullein tinctures

-start cleaning up computer area to prep and remove counters and whatnot to plan our weekend to rip up the kitchen floor

-make onion powder

-make calls to check in on Mom and Daughter E

-roast, puree and freeze pumpkins

-dehydrate basil, parsley and rosemary

(in no particular order, and for the week)

Currently reading . . . 

On the TV . . .

Army of One

The weather outside is . . .

A bit windy, low 80's, sunny

On the menu . . .

-Tacos

-Sweet Potato Chili

-breakfast for dinner

-leftovers

If I have a few minutes to myself, I will . . .

Most likely crochet and watch cooking shows if they are on.

New recipe I tried or one I want to try this week . . .

I still want to try the Kentucky pie, but my husband wants a crisp baked, so we shall see.

One of my simple pleasures . . .

Writing my blog.

Something fun to share . . .

I have nothing to share.

Favorite photo from the camera . . .

Praying for . . .

-Mom (health issues due to heart failure), Daughter E (has covid), our friend Hope (hospitalized due to covid) and her husband Steve (also has covid but at home), our friends L and M (recovering from covid)

Cleaning ~ Weddings and Door Dashing

 

I spent Friday cleaning, washing laundry, tidying up, and sanitizing.

It was a great day to dry laundry outside on the line.  Pretty windy too.

I also spent my day making calls to check in on Mom and Daughter E.  Daughter E sounds like she is doing okay, and well supplied with anything to help her heal faster.  

Saturday we had two weddings.  One was outside, and we took camping chairs and sat way away from everyone.  The other one was way under way by the time we arrived, and hardly anyone there.  We literally spent 15 minutes are less there and went home.  We were exhausted, because we did a door dash for Daughter E, and did a check in on Mom.

We plan to do two door dashes today and then we plan on being back home to have a day of relaxation.  

Other than checking in on Mom and Daughter E, we plan on staying in our hidey hole from now on and working on things at the house.  No kids birthday parties, gatherings etc.  Our one friend with covid is now in the hospital with low oxygen.  Stay safe my friends.

Chilly Weather and random chit-chat

I think we are moving out of the temperature drop, and back into the 70's.  

Daughter E is sick.  We tried to buy her some zinc, but it was sold out.  We found her some vitamin D and C, and delivered her some 4 Thieves.  It was a door drop just to be safe, and thank goodness we did.  She went to the doctor and tested positive for covid.  Please pray for her and anyone she was in contact with.  

I sent Daughter K with another door drop for her with other medicinal items that could help her.  She lives alone with her cat, so I reminded my husband we need to door drop some cat food soon.  I pray she recovers quickly.  So many more at my husband's work are getting sick too.

I am dropping out of the craft show for all these reasons.  My Mom needs our help with food, cat food, household chores, getting the mail, putting trash out and many other things.  I can't put her at risk.  She literally cannot walk well, and needs someone to check on her physically vs. just a phone call. Stay safe my friends.

Rain and Wind ~ Dutch Oven Chili Adjusted ~

We are getting hit with a ton of rain and wind.  Flooding is happening in some areas.  The temperature has really dipped too.  We woke up to 48 degrees this morning.

I went scrambling for my chili recipe and could not find it.  I think I have too many tab options in my recipe box ha ha!

I found it in the "camping" recipes, but I adjust it to make on the stove and in the crock pot.

I basically cook the bacon and ground beef first on the stove top (or oven). Then put all remaining ingredients in the crock pot.  I add jalapeno for some heat too.

I'm putting the recipe here, but if you want to make it over a campfire, you'll need a dutch oven and hot coals.

Dutch Oven Chili

2 lbs. ground beef, organic
1/2 lb. bacon, organic

2 5.5 oz. cans tomato paste, organic

2 large yellow onions, diced

2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 Tbsp. chopped celery (optional)

2 tsp. cumin

2 - 28 oz cans of whole tomatoes (I use frozen garden tomatoes when I have them)

3 -  16 oz. cans red kidney beans, organic, drained

I also cook the ground beef with the onions and add garlic last.  I then just add everything to the crock pot, and heat it on low all day long, but it has better flavor the next day too.  I have never added the celery, but that is optional.

Hot Peppers and other tidbits

I did one more picking of the hot peppers.  Some went with my husband to his work to share with co-workers.  Three trays of the rest went into the freezer.

I spent most of the day doing housework and laundry.  There was so much to catch up on.

There are two upcoming large outdoor fall festivals (prior to the one I signed up for selling crafts).  If more people become sick from attending these, I plan on pulling out of my commitment (craft show), for the safety of my mother.

 Once again, Mom's 14 free frozen meals arrived rotten and thawed out.  They are once again shipping another 14 meals.  I however, would personally tell them to not attempt it anymore.  We can pick up groceries, and although the free meals would have helped, delivery is just not going to happen with today's situation.

It's just that more and more people we know are getting sick from attending large event.  Too close to home for us.

It's 58°F this morning, with wind and rain.  

Breakfast ~ New Flowers

 

Breakfast that I baked yesterday - onions, sweet potato, green bell pepper (forgot to add some hot peppers), sausage, garlic, eggs and chives.

I planted the flowers I bought over the weekend.  I love the new red ones.  The pictures were downloaded from my phone, so they are not great, but the dragon's breath is a bright and beautiful color.

The "Big City" held a large outdoor art event recently, and more and more people have gotten sick.  I may be making a decision on the October craft show.  I really, really want to do it, but I also have to think about Mom and being around her.

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

We are still getting some hot peppers.  Rain is in the forecast for the next 4 days.  I'm okay with that.  

We spent a lot of our weekend in the "Big city" running errands, visiting with Mom and taking her food.  Her 6th shipment of her 14 free meals never arrived.

Speaking of the "Big City" more and more businesses have reduced their hours due to lack of staffing.  Many are closing a few days a week, and many have hardly nothing on their shelves.

We went to Home Depot and picked up more organic gardening soil for the grow bags, and they are all set for the garlic.  I also picked up 4 more flowers to plant.

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

I will link up when she posts.  I am heading out to plant my garlic before the rain arrives.

On the breakfast plate . . .

Not sure yet.  I do know it will involve one green bell pepper I picked, one sweet potato and sausage.

Looking around the house . . .

There is much to tidy up and move to prep for ripping up the kitchen floor.  We don't have a day set, but it has to be done before winter.

On today's to-do list . . .

-fall plant garlic

-freeze all those peppers I picked

-make a breakfast casserole

-dump dead flower pots and deadhead flowers

-print a copy of a recipe for Mom

-pack and label some seeds I dried

-place a few orders

-master bath

-vacuum

-laundry

-clean up my computer/office area

-call senior center (to see if we can get Mom rides to her doctors when we are all unavailable)

Currently reading . . .

Mom gave me three books to read.  I decided on this one first.

On the TV this week . . .

Just finished Out Lander

The weather outside is . . 

Hot, rain for a few days, then a cool down midweek. 

On the menu this week . . .

-cheese sandwiches, home canned tomato soup

-

If I have a few minutes to myself I will . . .

Crochet.  Currently on the hook?

Scrubbies.

New recipe I tried or want to try . . .

I would like to try Kentucky Chocolate Chip Bourbon Pie.  It's not on the urgent list right now.

One of my simple pleasures . . .

Porch time, sipping hot coffee and reading letters that were written by or to my Dad that I really need to finish and pass on to the next person.

Favorite photo from the camera . . .

This morning's sunrise.

Praying for . . .

Mom's health, Daughter E, a few friends that are sick right now, the world