Making progress. . .

 I can now get up the stairs, but the office is so jam packed with stuff, there is no way to access my recipes in there.  It will be a while before it's emptied. The white door is my office, and the black plastic to the right of that is covering the stairway.

I'm glad I can get back upstairs, due to a yarn order I recently placed.  It was a great deal during the week of Thanksgiving, and even lower in price that Wal-mart.

The ceiling fan is now taken off, so I resume the removal of the popcorn ceiling.  Lots of work done, but there is a lot more to do.  We have no heat until the room is completely done.  We'll be bringing in a propane heater to be able to work in there.

I can't recall if I updated on my Kitchenaid mixer, so I'm sorry if this is a repeat.  My husband took it apart and fixed it.  I am so happy that is off the "replace it" list now.  The new ones are not built like the old ones, and are pretty expensive.

Not wanting to pay for another helper, we will be finishing the living room ourselves.  Once I have the ceiling painted and the ceiling fan/light installed I will post an update.

I'm trying a new crockpot recipe today.  I'll post an update if we like it or not.  

I'm feeling a lack of holiday spirit.  Not sure if it's because my house is a hot mess, we don't have a tree up in plain sight, or if it's the fact I can't decorate if I wanted to right now.  Or because Mom is not here this Christmas, and I am usually making a handmade gift for her.  I know the fact I cannot do a craft show has made me feel somewhat depressed as well.

The weather is not very inviting today - windy and raining.

....from the handiwork journal

 

....new ripple blanket for the living room sofa.  I'm considering 3 colors maybe.  I had to make a trip to the store for this yarn.

....current scarf being crocheted.  I had the yarn downstairs.  I'm not quite halfway done.

. . .daughter E requested these.  She feels they will sell well at the salon.  I luckily had the yarn downstairs, and will possibly make 2-3 more colors depending on what is accessible right now.  These cute nail polish Christmas ornaments will get hangers attached as well.

Happy Homemaker Monday

 We had our last Thanksgiving gathering, and we all laughed and joked about why I didn't have homemade rolls.  I took deviled eggs and cheesy potatoes, and there was not a drop left when we went home.

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

The weather . . .

42/36°F, and rain mid week.

As I look outside my window . . .

It's cloudy, and looks like rain possibly.

Right now I am . . .

Filling the sink to wash the dishes from yesterday's gathering, loading the washing machine and looking up a recipe for using up the spaghetti squash.

Thinking and pondering. . .

Considering a getaway for our upcoming anniversary. It all depends on the progress of the living room.

How I am feeling . . .

Feeling a bit groggy from the holiday festivity adult drinks from yesterday.

Listening to . . .

The radio.

On the breakfast plate . . .

-leftover sausage/egg/cheese breakfast sandwich with Ezekiel bread.

What I am wearing . . .

T-shirt, pull over sweatshirt, and sweatpants.

On the reading pile . . .

Crochet patterns, and new recipes.

On the TV . . .

Yellowstone.

On the menu . . .

-Sloppy joes/Ezekiel bread, a spaghetti squash side
-Cajun sausage and beans (new crock pot recipe)
-leftovers

Looking around the house . . .

It's the same hot mess.

To-do list . . .

-laundry, wash bedding
-dishes
-make a breakfast
-clean out chicken roosts, and put clean straw in them

-order my husband new joggers

-check emails

-put dinner in the crock pot

From the camera . . .

I have nothing today, but plan to get pictures of current handiwork for tomorrow's post.

Living room updates.....

 

Not wanting to pay anyone else, nor add more pay to the current handy man, we did a trial on the removal of the popcorn ceiling. 

We did the 50/50 fabric softener/water spray first, then realized we didn't even need the spray.  The popcorn ceiling was coming off lickity split with just the scraper.  About 1/4th of the ceiling is down and cleaned up.  We are waiting on the rest of the subfloor to be installed to remove the rest.  

Now my husband understands why I wanted the ceiling done.  The spider webs were dangling at the edges of where he was removing the texture.  He understands my frustration with having to "sweep" the ceiling every year.  It was ugly as well.  

Still needing done?

-remove remaining popcorn ceiling, remove current ceiling fan

-paint ceiling and install new ceiling fan/light

-wash down all trim/walls

-paint trim

-paint walls, re-install floor trim

-install new flooring and move furniture back

Meanwhile, we wait for work to resume on Monday.  No other interesting news, other than I saw a stray cat the other day.  I set food out, but have not seen it again yet.

The weather is high of 56°F today, but it's raining and very windy.  Looks like it will be that way all day today.  I'll try and get a photo of the current handiwork (nothing really exciting ha ha). As soon as the rest of the floor is in, I will be able to get upstairs for yarn and other supplies.

This and That

 The gutters have been cleaned!  Woohoo to that!  His timing was perfect as well.  He helped carry in the subflooring for us after he was done with the gutters. Actually, it was my husband and him that carried it in.  As soon as he was in the house (he's family), all the sudden our handy man's tune changed to "oh I can't carry that at all, blah blah blah"  so who did he think would carry it in?  Just a head shaking moment, or eye rolling.  Also, Handy man told my husband he was "on break" when it was time to move more subflooring in.  My husband is now also frustrated.  It was just a fluke that my husband was off work for the holidays.

Subfloor is going in now!  However, it may not be done until week 4 of this project.  I can't say that even half is in right now.  He doesn't work weekends either, and remember he took Wed. off, and Thursday was a holiday.

We are going to do a test run on the removal of the popcorn ceiling this weekend.  If if comes off as easily as they say it will, we will do it ourselves, but we will have to wait for the rest of the subfloor to be installed to get it all off (and painted).

I'll be honest, we have a gathering this weekend, and I am not feeling up to it.  I think it's because it is the first holiday season without my Mom.  I think my kids are feeling this way too.  I can't really explain it, other than I just don't have the energy to cook a lot (entertain) nor be around a lot of people.

We did head out to the grocery store, for a few things, and we stopped at the local area Dollar General.  I was looking for a cuticle tool (wooden) and they had one left, but I could not believe how bare the walls/shelves were in that store.  It has always been completely stocked.  

Oh, on a good note, my wonderful husband fixed my 22 year-old kitchenaid mixer!  He took it apart, cleaned it up, tightened a few screws and wa-la!  That really made me happy.  I do not like the new updated versions they have now, and the same one I have is anywhere from $250-400.00.  I am so happy about that.

Anyway, I'm still waiting on my lip balm tubes to arrive, as well as the essential oils for making the travel soaps.  I would like to get a few more nail polish ornaments made, but I'm also waiting on one more skein of yarn for that.  I still cannot get upstairs.

It's starting to get colder again, hence the urgency to get the floor done.  I want to fire up the wood stove keep the house warm.

I will try and get some photos of the scarf in progress, the ornaments and possibly the living room.

Homemade Seasoned Salt and other ramblings

 

Thanksgiving morning was a beautiful morning.  They day was a perfect porch day as well.  Rain slowly crept in as the evening fell.  I can't say we really did much.  Daughter K came over for a visit.

I was given a pass on all that holiday cooking, but I did restock my homemade seasoned salt.

Our guy to clean gutters called and was to come Wed. morning.  I then got a message Wed. morning that he said the weather may be better on Thursday.  It was too.  Anyway, he never called, messaged or arrived after that.

I finally got around to setting up an account to register any new tools (and register any we purchased this year), for the lifetime warranty.  So get this?  I was reading over receipts from the living room supply runs.  I have been giving the handy man our credit card vs. cash (easier to keep track of and we trusted him).  It may sound petty, but he purchased two energy drinks with our card.  We haven't said anything, but any and all purchases will be made by us from now on.  We are taking note of it.

The truck is still full of sub flooring, so if he doesn't arrive today to install it, we will unload it.

I think this Thanksgiving was a bit hard on us, as Mom was not with us.  I know it was really bothering one of the kids.  They say it gets better, but this holiday was definitely difficult.  I set the Christmas porch lights on now.  I am hoping it lifts my spirits.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

We are having beautiful weather in the 60's. The deer are very active in the early evening time.

Happy Thanksgiving!