This and That

 

To our surprise, guess who showed up?  Yep. Our handyman showed up, took all of the flooring out and started to put it back in.  It is looking so much better though.

Two kiddos came out for a visit.  I made a batch of hummus, and it did not last long.  I'm glad they showed up, as one was needed for some work on the computer.  I had to link up late, as it was doing many updates (see yesterday's post for an update on the living room).

Bad weather is heading our way, and we are down to one vehicle due to broken down parts.  Lovely.  I think I can hitch a ride with one of the kids for groceries this week (so I don't have to do it after dinner). Just to be sure we are stocked up good for a few days.

They are predicting snow, 50 mph winds, possible power outages and more.  I stocked up on extra oil for the oil lamps and wicking as well, so that is off the list.  I do need to fill water jugs for the chickens (just in case).  If the power goes out, we will not have water (pump runs on electric).

Just say a prayer our handyman has the flooring in, and the propane heater hooked up and running before Friday.  It will dip to 5°F.

Happy Homemaker Monday

Busy weekend....we met up with Daughter E (hair stylist) and she gave us hair cuts on her day off at the salon.  It was nice to be there without other people, and we re-stocked her groceries.  She was very happy about that.

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

Will link up later when she posts.

The weather . . .

31/23°F today, and we dip down to 5°F by the weekend.  Snow moves in just before Christmas.

As I look outside my window . . .

It's cloudy and dreary.

Right now I am . . .

Getting ready to make a breakfast, brewing more coffee, as Daughter E is coming over to do laundry.

Thinking and pondering . . .

An antique store we often visit has those shade for oil lamps.  They suggested I bring my glass piece in to be properly fitted for one.  I guess I thought they were all standard size.  I'm thinking of doing that for the one on the kitchen table.

How I am feeling . . .

Frustrated - see "from the camera"

Listening to. . .

Rock station on the radio.

On the breakfast plate . . .

Working on that.

What I am wearing . . .

Sweatshirt, sweatpants and slippers.

On my reading pile . . .

It's been halted for now.

On the TV . . .

Mystery channel.

On the menu . . .

-chicken with a home canned sauce, veggie

-literally have no idea yet.

Looking around the house. . .

Still a hot mess.

To-do list . . .

-make breakfast

-put dinner in the crock pot

-pay bills

-unload dishwasher

-do other dishes

-write up menu

-mail in another rebate

-work on crocheted blanket.

From the camera . . .

We had a very, very busy weekend, and we didn't see this until we got home Saturday, could not sleep and woke up Sunday with another busy day intended on taking out this flooring (again).  It is hard to show you with out a close up, but our handy man apparently doesn't know how to do flooring.  He literally lined up the seams with full planks in between.  It looks terrible.  The seams need to be staggered (he did all 6 inches), looking like a real wood floor.  The more we looked at it over the weekend, the more we hated it, and with the cost of flooring we were not going to leave it that way.

Our handyman declared more money to take it out and do it right.  Guess who got fired and guess who is putting the floor in every night my husband is home from work?  Yeah, us.  

Out with the old....it came with the house about 14 years about, globe missing, just ugly and hangs low....lights didn't work right...

In with the new....remote control too.  Simple, farmstead style, and we can control the fan for winter or summer (will work either direction).  My husband and I took the old one out, put together the new one, and he re-wired it. The top still needs hooked to the ceiling, but it's in working order.

There is much work to do yet in the living room, and now we are behind getting the heat hooked up, but spending that much on flooring we want to enjoy the new room as well.  It's a head shaker for sure.

What I am creating . . .

Devotional, Bible Verse, Prayers . . .

-prayers for Jim, a brother to a good friend of ours with MS.  He was life flighted to a hospital due to half his body not functioning.  No update on if it was a stroke or not yet.

 

Homemade Lip Balm

 

Homemade lip balm has been made.  I originally made it with calendula infused oil, but now make it with lemon balm infused oil, plus essential oils.

Instead of buying the holder to hold up the tubes, I just wrap a few with rubber bands, and it works great.  I save the rubber bands from any mail delivery.  I also use a can, washed and dried (from chickpeas/beans etc.).  I bend a "spout" for easy pouring.

I did not write down the source for my recipe, but there is one on Mountain Rose Herbs online, and many other recipes to use online.  Trust me, it took some work to get the binder out of my office, ha ha!  I'm just glad this is done.  I use the lip balm all the time.

I try to keep notes on my recipes.  I had written this makes 10, but I got 9 tubes.  I guess it will depend on tube size.  Anyway, the benefits of growing medicinal herbs.  

Flooring Snafu and Tidbits

 

I caught a short glimpse of another beautiful sunrise.

I spent most of my morning making a breakfast casserole with dandelion greens, but guess what while it was baking?

The new flooring did not work with our floor.  As well as a new level floor was, this flooring was not working (thin, and locking side would not stay locked).

It was all taken out, and our handy man went home.  New flooring was picked up, so we will find out this weekend if it will work better.  It's thicker, and actually less expensive.

The rain arrived last night as expected, and it's is to rain all day long.  The weatherman says, "do not let this rain fool you."  A winter storm is on the way.

My few outdoor tasks today are halted, but I have plenty to do inside today.  It's still not feeling like Christmas at all.  I can say though, I'm glad I'm not running around crazy busy baking and cooking this year.  

This and That

 

I ended up cooking eggs for breakfast, using my English muffin rings.  I cooked bacon as well for sandwiches.

Although upside down, the order has been started, and the one color I needed I found online with Michaels store.  I found a great deal, considering prices - buy 2 get one free, made the skeins $2.99/each (7 oz).  Free shipping.  I had to order yarn for me, so it got me the free shipping, but what a deal.  It's been shipped, so as soon as it arrives, I will continue making it.

Flooring started to go in, but our handyman has a few doctor appts. this week, so it has been slow going.  My house is still a hot mess.  I can't put anything where it needs to go, so I keep telling myself to be patient.

We are being told there is a winter storm coming our way.  It is to arrive before Christmas.  Lovely.  I'm checking freezer supply/pantry supply, paper product supply etc. and making lists.  Just in case.

Our truck gets a new windshield today.  Of course they tell you, that you have to be available from 8am to 5pm.  More loveliness.  I just love those text messages too.  No sir, I do not need new wipers.  Anyway, I'm just glad they come to the house to do it.  We've been thru this before.

I need to remind myself today, that I need to put some things from the flower beds in storage.  I keep forgetting, and every time I go out to get the mail I mentally put it on a list in my head.  Sheesh.

Our youngest daughter is no longer doing nails at the salon. Apparently, it is not producing enough income to pay for the booth rental for nails.  She is still doing hair.  I sure hope she continues to do well.

I will be working on lists today, but mainly writing them ha ha!  I have soooooo much going on right now it's crazy.

Happy Homemaker Monday

 The weekend was a long work weekend.  The walls in the living room are completely painted, the trim is almost done (we literally ran out of steam and time on Sunday), and the gas heater line goes in this week.

The walls are a light gray, and the floor trim is not getting painted to match the windows.

We put grave pillows on Mom and Dad's graves.  We picked up salt for the water softener, and I could not believe how high the price is right now.

My husband was called away for several hours, so that put us behind in painting the floor trim.  A nephew is having electrical issues, and he went to help.  However, for the family's safety, he plans to go back and re-wire their house.

It doesn't even feel like Christmas here.  We've already told our broke kids to not buy us anything for Christmas. Once the house is in order (could be late January at this rate), we will have them over for a meal.

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

The weather. . .

39/28°F, and we dip down to the 20's this weekend.

As I look outside my window . . .

It's the same gloomy skies.

Right now I am . . .

Making another pot of coffee, getting ready to fry some eggs.  I'm thinking egg/cheese/bacon breakfast sandwiches.

Thinking and pondering . . .

Wondering when we'll finally get done with the living room ha ha!

How I am feeling . . .

A bit frustrated.  The hardware store sold our flooring, but no matching transition pieces.  We had to order it online, and that puts us, once again behind.

Listening too. . .

Radio.

On the breakfast plate. . .

Ezekiel bread with peanut butter, coffee.

What I am wearing . . .

Painting clothes for now.

On the reading pile . . . 

Nothing. It's halted for now.

On the TV . . .

Whatever we find on regular TV.

On the menu . . .

For once, I have no idea.  Possibly thawing some fish.

Looking around the house . . . 

The same - hot mess.

On the to-do list . . .

-paint the last of the floor trim
-make a breakfast
-figure out dinner and menu
-laundry

-write up grocery list

-clean chicken roosts and put fresh straw in them

-put trash out

From the camera . . .

When we drove to the cemeteries, a passing truck threw a rock up and cracked our windshield.  One more thing to repair now.  It's about a 5 inch circle.  We are thankful it did not go all the way thru, as it would have hit me most likely.

What I am creating . . .

I started the blanket order.  I am just waiting on one more yarn order.

Devotional, Bible Verse. . .

I literally can't get into my books, and I cannot wait until everything is back in it's place. Prayers for my friend Dean, whose mother fell and broke her hip.  She has had surgery, so prayers for a quick and healthy recovery.

Weather ~ Yarn Prices ~ Painting Update

 The weather is moving colder again, and the entire week has been nothing but gloomy days.  It's been dark, cloudy, rainy, and now snow showers.

Unfortunately, all the resources for yarn online, have once again raised their prices.  I'm holding off for a sale, but geeze, this is getting ridiculous.

Windows are now painted, other than the very tippy top.  Those will be finished today.

I checked in at the Museum gift shop (where some of my handiwork is sold), and they are pretty well stocked.  I found out they are closing at the end of December for a month.  I will have plenty of winter time to restock items.

We also picked up grave pillows I had someone make. We did a barter for that, which was nice.  Not sure when we can deliver those yet.  The weather is an issue as well, and we are on a time line to get the rest of the painting done.  

Oh, and as far as the flooring goes for the living room, we found out (should have checked sooner), that our hardware store does not carry the transition piece to match the flooring.  So now we are delayed even longer.  The flooring can go in, but seriously, why carry flooring with no matching transition piece?  She even checked a sister store.  Nope.

December is a pretty busy month for us - our baby girl turns 21 this year, we are approaching our wedding anniversary, then there is Christmas, followed by New Year's Eve party.  Goodness, life needs to slow down right now.