High Wind Warning

Yesterday we literally hunkered in and did nothing but watch movies, and sip hot coffee.  My husband baked some no-bake cookies.

The wind gusts were anywhere up to 60mph.  Although the temperature was in the low 60's, it was not conducive to outdoor anything.

My ankle is a bit better, but still sore.  No one answered my question about dried comfrey, so I went online and dug into my herbal books and made several poultices (update on that later).

I located a person who makes handmade kitchen tools.  I emailed him, but have not gotten a response.  Hopefully I will hear from him soon.  I hope my email didn't go into his "junk" mail.

The glass cutter called me.  He wanted to make sure the cost was okay before he special ordered the glass for the wood stove door.  The prices have gone up 4 times he said over the last year alone.  What cost us under $50 will now cost us $138.78, and it will take much longer to get the glass.  I get so frustrated with this. 

My crafting sales are at the bottom lowest.  I put 17 sets of pot holders up on a social media page.  I got zero sales.  It's my go-do (travel) project, and apparently I have made a lot of sets.  They went back into a storage container, and I will be changing my "go-to" crochet project to another item.

As many people get new, higher paying jobs and sign on bonuses, my husband's salary remains the same, and no bonus for working thru the pandemic.  It's absolutely depressing and frustrating (and why we are not buying gifts not putting up a tree in the living room this year).  I'm usually really excited about Christmas, doing baking, candy making, wrapping gifts, decorating the house and what not.  Not this year.  

I'm still working on the handmade gifts for the two younger daughters (with what I have on hand).  The other kids don't even come around or stay in touch any more.

I sort of feel like that scene in Little House on the Prairie, where they are all hiding in places to make handmade gifts for Christmas.

I don't hear the wind this morning, so I am hoping for a much better weather day, and praying for all those who suffered devastation over the last few days (tornadoes).

from the handiwork journal . . .

I started to crochet ornaments for next year, but realized I need one more color of the yarn.  It's now on hold.

I  have however, switched things up a bit and got out my embroidery.  I will attempt to get the rest of a set of tea towels finished for a present for Daughter K.  We are not "gifting" as usual this year, but I thought at least one thing to open for her would be nice.  I told her the cardigan was her present too.  It was supposed to be her present a few years ago (ha ha, it took me that long to make it).

. . . a scrap lap afghan on the crochet hook. 

Sprained Ankle and boring stuff

Our wood stove door got dropped off, but not by me.  I had Daughter K drop it off for me.  I had something that was irritating my eye, and didn't feel up to that long drive.  Door is there, but the glass cutter was not.  Not sure when it'll be done.  My husband brought me home eye drops and my eye feels a bit better today.

On the sprained ankle.  I can't recall anything I was doing that would cause it,  other than I tripped on Daughter K's boots in the hallway this week.  I am guessing because I walked on it, fetching fire wood, tending the hens, etc.  I made it irritated, because I was not icing it, or wrapping it for 2 days.

Go figure, I have zero comfrey poultices in my freezer, but I do have comfrey salve.  The ice pack will be used for now.  Thankfully, I have a cane to get around, but foot will be up most of this day (sigh).  

Does anyone know if I can make a poultice using dried comfrey and comfrey root?  I think I have both, but in dried form.

I do have to take dogs out, tend hens, get mail etc.  I'll just have to grin and bear it, while muttering under my breath.

I had to laugh yesterday evening.  I put turkey in the crockpot and planned on home canned beets for an easy dinner.  I was in bed watching the cooking channel doing some handiwork (with feet up).  He was really enjoying it.  I went to fetch clothes from the washer to put on drying racks, and he said "Look they are making turkey quesadillas.  Let's make those."

He literally went to the kitchen and made them for us.  They were very good.  We used pepper jack cheese.  Delicious.

I think I have my husband hooked on the cooking channel when he gets home from work.  I better be careful though.  Spring will be here in no time, and we'll be back to the garden in the evenings.  Meanwhile, we'll  just enjoy watching it.  We love Farmer and the Foodie.

On a sad note, I received an email that a old classmate of mine, passed away yesterday.  Her daughter found her at her desk with headphones on.  She was experiencing upset stomach, and couldn't eat for the two days prior to this, and did not seek medical help.  Such sad news to all of us.

Pumpkin Bread

I seem to be spending the first half of my day in the kitchen.  I threw together a zucchini breakfast bake and topped it with freshly grated parmesan cheese.  There is spinach in it too.  I didn't use a recipe.  I just tossed some things together.

I had some thawed pumpkin to use up, and got out my old trusty cookbook. Wow!  I haven't made pumpkin bread in years, and it called for 3 cups of sugar.  That is a lot of sugar for one loaf.  

I went online of course and found one that was a low-sugar recipe.  I didn't have white whole wheat flour, but adjusted to what I had on hand.

I totally forgot to take a photo of it, but it was delicious.  I swapped out the coconut oil for canola.  I just didn't see it staying in a liquid form after adding cold milk and cold pumpkin puree.  It turned out good and my pumpkin puree didn't go to waste. Recipe is called Healthy Pumpkin Bread from Cookie and Kate.

Daughter E is now volunteering for the Humane Society and a charity that gives out food to those in need.  So proud of her.

What is your go-to, crowd pleasing stove top made vegetable?  Not crock pot, but stove-top?  My oven will be busy with baked chicken, so I'm trying to come up with something other than green beans, and nothing with potatoes.  I could steam broccoli, but not everyone likes broccoli.  Hm.  I found a recipe for creamy mashed cauliflower that sounds pretty good too.

This and That.

Our warm and toasty home just went to cold and not very comfortable.  Guess the heat will be back on until the wood stove door glass is replaced.  Yeah, my husband went to shut it and bam!  Glass broke for some reason.  I just had it replaced about 4-5 years ago.  Sigh.

I'm looking for a USA made pepper corer.  Not the ring type, but the metal gadget with handle.  I have found zero.  I wanted one for garden season next year for bell peppers.  Amazon is no help.  They put "USA" in titles of items, but when you go to the description it says "made in china."  I tried Lehman's as well. Nothing.  I saw it on a cooking channel and have emailed, but haven't gotten an answer back.

It looks something like this, but with a wooden handle and handmade in the USA.  If you know where to get one, please comment.

Breakfast Using Leftovers and other tidbits. . .

I ended up making a breakfast soufflé yesterday, using up leftover sausage patties diced, and leftover homemade bread.  While I was in the kitchen I tossed together a meatloaf for dinner.

I finally (finally) finished Daughter K's cardigan!!!!!!  She is so happy and so am I.  She said, "do you want a photo for your blog?"  Ha ha ha!  Of course!

The cardigan was the biggest project I have ever attempted.  I frogged several times, and learned a lot from doing this project.  I learned to crocheted "hidden" pockets and more.  It's very comfortable and warm, and perfect timing as we woke up to 20°F (feels like 11°F).

The wood stove is warming up the house nicely, but I have zero intentions of going outside, other than to tend the hens, and get the mail today.  I have a cough now.  Most likely from being out in the wind all weekend, but treating it with medicinal teas and what not.

The world has already gone mad, and now 3 men have been seen during the wee hours of the night in our town (we are on the outskirts) are trying to steal tires/rims off trucks.  Two occasions so far.  

I just realized I will need to suit up and fetch wood.  We need to restock the porch. I'm just thankful for the dead trees the boys fetched for us.  They are burning so nicely. 

Happy Homemaker Monday

I am starting to dread weekends.  I write out the to-do list, and my husband completely changes it.   I literally had to wait for 5 hours for him to return from helping cut pine for grave blankets.  He admitted his help wasn't needed, and he mostly did visiting.  I was not happy. 

Anyway, he did get a few small must do jobs done at the house, but the list remains and I'm starting to add to it.

Sunday morning there was no sleeping in for us.  At 7:30am a dump truck and back hoe pulled in to do repairs on the driveway.  While the boys were here they went out to the "back 40" and hauled some trees up to split (that had fallen down over the summer).

While he installed a new pull string on the splitter, I knocked nails out of old barn wood to cut for kindling.  Later in the day I went out for kindling and saw 3 hawks circling.  I had good timing with that and locked up the chickens.

We split enough wood for about a week, before we quit for the day.  We had to stop, as Daughter E came out and my husband did an oil change on her car for her, then put new rungs on the chicken ramp for me.  I was thrilled to cross off some of the honey-do list finally.

Mom is out of the hospital.  The recliner we ordered for her back in August is finally in transit, however may not arrive until as late as February.  Although she is back to getting meals on wheels, she is insisting one of us take her grocery shopping (again).  Covid is ramped in the area, so I suggested she just make a list.

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

I will join up after she posts this morning.

The weather . . .

48°/21°F,  Chance of a morning shower. Decreasing cloudiness and windy. Morning high of 48F with temps falling to near freezing. Winds W at 25 to 35 mph.

It rained late afternoon yesterday, and we got lots of it.

How I am feeling this morning . . .

 Well, the both of us are feeling hard work in our muscles, from the work we did on Sunday.  

On my mind . . .

Daughter K pulled all my cookie recipes last year and miss filed them.  I am missing one recipe. I will have to go thru the entire recipe box soon to find it.  Daughter E had a cookie baking party for her co-workers, and I was trying to help give her what she needed to make the cookies. She bought butter in a tub (yuck) to make cut-outs.  Ha ha!  I explained to her what she needed and loaded her up with supplies.

Something Christmas related I've done the past few days . . .

Get Christmas cards out and index cards to write and mail a recipe to a few people.

Christmas movie I watched . . .

The Prince, Single All the Way

What I am wearing today  . . .

Sweatpants and a long sleeved shirt.  I have zero plans to go anywhere today.  I do need to make a grocery list and make a quick trip this week.  We are low on fresh veggies and fruits.

On my reading pile  . . .

My Bible

On today's to-do list  . . .

-write out a grocery list

-Bake a breakfast

-plan dinner

-do dishes

-vacuum

-finish up any laundry

-master bath

On my TV . . .

Shooter, Step-Mom (netflix, which is available for free until the end of December)

What I am listening to  . . .

The radio, Christmas Rock 

On the menu this week . . .

-have no idea, will work on it this morning.

From the camera . . .

Looking around the house . . .

I started cleaning out a shelf in my kitchen (that's behind a curtain vs. a door), to make room for my dutch oven.  I found a box way in the back with a digital camera in it.  Later I pulled open some drawers and found 3 more (one of ours that was broken, sent out for repair twice), and lots of cords.  I extreme cleaned all of that up, and gave one working camera to a daughter.  I had to laugh.  One camera took actual film.  I'm unable to donate it, so it'll find a new home soon.

In preparation for the Holidays . . .

Nothing really.  Just checking the freezer and pantry for supplies for a nice meal for us here at the house. 

On my prayer list . . .

Our nephew R.  He has covid.  So far his wife and kids have not gotten it.  There are more and more close to us that are getting sick (again, and had already gotten it).  Mom.