Coffee Hour and Computer Time

 

I've been spending morning coffee hour looking at paint colors for the next upcoming rooms/hallway.  It's not easy for sure.  I may buy samples again, as the color is never the same on the paint chip as it is on the wall.  Lighting can also change the color in a room or hallway.

By looking them up online first, it saves me a lot of him-hawing time at the hardware store.  It also helps me visualize the room/trim etc.  

I've also been pretty regular at devoting a few days a week to load any useable digital coupons from two stores, but thinking about starting up digital with a third.  The way things are going, any savings helps these days.

Boring post today folks.

Sunrises ~ Tidbits

 

We have had some beautiful sunrises this week.  It makes me want to be outside and enjoy the warmer weather.  The evenings have been cold though.  Yesterday we hit the lower 60's, but with a wind warning.  Today thunderstorms move in.

My wonderful husband had these delivered on Valentine's Day.  This is big!  We live in the boonies, so he paid greatly for these beautiful roses.

I tried a new recipe.  I forgot to take a photo of it, but took a picture of the cookbook.

It's in one of my fix-it and forget it cookbooks - Enchilada Shredded Chicken.  I served it over quinoa (with diced jalapenos, oregano and cumin - I didn't have cilantro).  A nice recipe for a Mexican Potluck Meal.  I honestly don't know how this would be good on a tortilla, unless you drain the liquid off at the end of cooking.  Anyway, we topped it with some shredded cheese and sour cream.  Delicious.

The part for the stove has arrived.  It most likely will be installed this weekend.  I'll update you on that when it's done.

Half of the hallway is cleared of flooring tools and what not, and swept and mopped.  The other half remains full of tools for my husband to deal with.  I started to clean woodwork, to prepare for primer.

It's been nice to see the egg basket filling up again.  We are so thankful for this.  We changed their feed, adding black sunflower seeds and more supplements.  I am working on adding more to their diet - more on that soon.

A few of my favorite things . . .

 

I still have a stand up shredder, that you shred by hand, but we love this hand crank one.  It has a suction on the bottom to stay in place, the cheese goes in the top (pushed down with that red piece and wa-la grated cheese.  Easy to clean too.  We don't buy shredded cheese.  We buy blocks/bulk blocks, freeze and then grate. 

My Oklahoma Pastry Cloth.  I gifted the kids one at Christmas, along with tools for making rolls, and some of my recipes.  Love this cloth!  You can buy them online!  I think I shared this before, but sharing again.

Coop tool!   Don't worry, I took this photo the day I bought it.  I wanted to do that in case it became a favorite tool for the coop.  I have used plastic cat litter scoop to clean roosts for years.  I finally bought a metal one.  I love it!  Works so much easier.

Random Chit Chat ~ Einkorn Berry Crisp

 

I haven't knitted in a long, long time.  I have only knitted a scarf, and most of the time dishcloths.  Socks are still on the bucket list, but I realized how sore my finger tip can get.  I found these at the Dollar Tree for $1.25!

I've been focusing meal planning on what needs rotated out of the freezer and pantry.  Other than fresh fruit on the menu.  You know like the canned ketchup, frozen blueberries, frozen bell peppers, frozen green onions - just anything put up last garden season. 

I use home canned ketchup, and frozen bell peppers in Four Beans and Sausage. A one meal in a crockpot recipe.

A random breakfast dish I layered with cooked sage sausage, cooked (from the freezer) garden bell peppers, and added green onions I froze last summer.  Oh, I chopped to jalapenos I froze last summer, and boy it was delicious.  I also freeze the cheese blocks that go into dishes like this (grated), so I checked that supply as well as butter.  If I have any extra cottage cheese or sour cream, I also add that to these.

 I got 6 cups of blueberries out of the freezer yesterday.  My husband was a very happy man.

Einkorn Berry Crisp!  I used monkfruit in place of sugar, but I do not add 1:1 ratio.  Monkfruit is much sweeter, so I can use a lot less of it in recipes.  I linked the online recipe, but I added extra cinnamon and some nutmeg.  So good!

Of course, cooking/baking results in stacks of dirty dishes.

'We finally replaced this light socket in our stairway.  Only took us about 14 years,  but the kids were too rough and ripped on the pull cord.  We are getting some smaller jobs done while we wait for warmer weather.

I started working on the clutter/tools etc. that landed in the downstairs hallway. Once trash picks up, I have a few things to toss out that landed in the hall (from the kitchen floor project).  They got buried under a stack of tablecloths (already put away), and tools.

The staple gun and staples finally made there way to their home, but golly, my husband needs to gather and put away tools, screwdrivers, screws, nails, and all sorts of stuff. We are waiting on a good weather day to get the garage cleaned up and re-organized as well.  We will have nice weather mid-week, but it will bring rain with it.

There is a few cut pieces of living room trim that need put away today, a few stray garden tools, and a few pairs of shoes.  It's getting there, slowly, but surely.  I have started yet another box for donation.

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

The hot pepper seeds have arrived, and are now started in seed trays.  I am still waiting on my carrot seeds (back ordered for some reason).  I have limited space to start seeds, hence why I have asked for a greenhouse in the future, but these two are new to the garden.  The Datil are similar to a habanero, but more of a "sweet" taste, according to my research.  Seeds for Datil were sent free too.

Replacement part has been ordered for our stove. I will update on that once we see if that was the issue.  My husband almost burned down the stove Sunday at breakfast.  He forgot and used the burner.  I have removed the knob, so neither of us use that burner until the part arrives.

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

I will link up when she posts.

The weather . . .

Warmer that usual, and possibly in the lower 60's mid-week (crazy).

As I look outside my window . . .

It's still pitch dark.

Right now I am . . .

Sipping coffee, deciding on what to bake for breakfast today.

Thinking and pondering . . .

Trying to find a way to sell off my crochet/knit, craft inventory.  I have more than I thought.  I have 16 sets of crocheted pot holder sets alone.  I am just trying to make more room upstairs.

On my bedside table . . .

I cleaned it off!  Just my clock, photos, water and throat lozenges (yeah, still dealing with that).

On  my TV . . .

The Secret: Dare to Dream

Listening to . . .

80's

On the lunch plate . . .

-have no idea yet

On the dinner plate . . .

Four beans and sausage (crock pot meal)

On the menu . . .

-Four beans and sausage, recipe is:  HERE
-Chicken, veggie sheet pan dinner
-leftovers

On my reading pile . . .

Nothing this week.

On the To-Do List. . .

-check paypal, order pet urine solution (will update if it works on the wood floors when it arrives).  They only take paypal, so it has delayed cleaning upstairs floors 
-laundry
-make a breakfast, do dishes
-clean roosts

-run dishwasher
-work on another box of paperwork left from last room move
-make a phone call (if my voice is up to it)
-pay bills

Plans for this week . . .

Start cleaning up the mess we left in the hallway downstairs.  The shoe/boot pile has a mess of tools, gloves and what not.  It's been driving me nuts.  If successful, I may be painting trim in that hallway.  Plant Swiss Chard indoors.

What I am sewing, knitting, crocheting or creating. . .

I was cleaning clutter, and got distracted by leftover balls of yarn.  There is a pile of it at the base of the stairs to go back up now.  Any, I sat at the computer and whipped up one of these.   I have no idea why, other than I was curious and it was over loaded cuteness!

 I noticed that when I sew in the first black line, then go over to start a second (up and down), you can see the black yarn behind it.  I may work up another and work on hiding more of that, but they turn out super cute just using what ever worsted weight yarn I had (her suggestion of yarn does look better).  I used a smaller hook for the hearts.  The link again for the pattern is:  HERE.

Yes, I got distracted, but it was a nice break.  I got back to work, and then later found more unfinished projects.

I worked a bit on this scarf, while my blanket continued to air dry (see story on that in Saturday's post, ha ha!).  To stay on task, I have a dedicated bin for "unfinished" projects.  I am working on balancing declutter, repairs, renovations etc with crochet time.

My simple pleasure . . .

I'm stumped on this one today.  Maybe I need more coffee to think this morning, ha ha!

I got one now....going to the library for random books.  I have not been to the library since Feb. 2020.

Looking around the house . . .

I had good intentions on clearing another area of the house, but we sort of took a break from stuff on Sunday.

From the camera. . .

I finally looked over my items I brought back home from the museum gift shop.  It's no wonder nothing was selling this year.  They marked up the prices way too high.  Sigh.

Bible Verse, Devotional . . .

Continued prayers for our friend Hope and her family, as she lost her husband.

Lack of Supplies ~ Tidbits

Shopping frustrations - errand days.  We finally got some wood returned to Menards, picked up trim to finish the final bit in the living room, bought a new light bulb socket for the stairway (kids ripped the pull chain completely off years ago), restocked some things we were out of, picked up new outlet covers and what not.  

We also made another donation drop. Woohoo to that.

I went looking for 1/4inch ribbon at Wal-mart for $.47/roll vs. $1.99/roll at our local Meijer.  I have looked at two stores now for this.

However, they were completely out of white, baby blue, pink, and almost all other colors I need.  I will have to check other locations.  I guess I have all year to look for it.  My total focus this year is the house/outdoor projects.  

I ruined my slippers in the washing machine, and had trouble finding a new pair (affordable) in my size.  I'm sure Kohl's had some nice ones, but I'm not paying $30 and up for slippers.  Our grocery store had some really nice ones, but again, out of my big foot size.  I found a gray pair at Wal-Mart that will do for now.

Speaking of lack of supply, we had to go to 3 stores to find organic tahini (in fact tahini at all), two stores to find organic canned mushrooms, and two stores to find organic yellow onions.

The weather here is fantastic!  We are in the upper 50's and the chickens are loving it. We are getting eggs again thankfully.

Homemade Spray Oil ~ Kitchen "events" ~ Costs of Propane vs. Electric Base Board Heat

Many years ago, I bought a bottle from either Pampered Chef or Tupperware, that allowed me to spray oil into pans etc.  However, it clogged up, and never worked even after cleaning.  It was many years ago.  I also believe with that container, you added only oil (vs. a mix of oil and water).

I decided to look into making spray oil myself.  I have been buying organic spray, as it's just the two of us.  I have noticed though, the spray cans hold very little, run out quickly and are costly.  They also create trash.

I purchased amber glass spray bottle online, and made my own. 1 part a good quality olive oil (or oil of your choice) to 5 parts water.  So simple, saves us money.  Also, no added ingredients.  Just shake it up and spray.  Oh, the bottles I bought have a sprayer with a "mist" option (bought on Amazon).

Do you have a tip to save money in the kitchen?  I will be giving an update on using this homemade spray oil, after using it for a few weeks.

Crocheting has been temporarily paused, due to a catastrophic event with my mug of hot tea.  Sigh.  I had to take out the color of yarn I was adding, fasten off, and literally wash the blanket.  I also had to change clothes, and wash my slippers.  Oye, by husband got a hoot out of that as he walked in from work.  

However, he also burned the grilled sandwiches on the stove.  Not his fault either.  We not have a problem with one burner on our stove (over heating).  The burner is fully hot red with the knob on 2.  Not what we needed right now.

If we can't a new panel that controls the knob to the burner, we'll be looking (gulp) for a new stove.  It's the burner I can with as well.  It is not the burner itself, but the controls sent from the knob, that is connected to that specific burner.  Just another "fix-it" to the list (or replace).

Update on using propane heat in the main  part of the downstairs vs. electric baseboard (or wood stove back up).  We turned the new heat source on back on Dec. 23rd, but had no heat in there for that entire month, using camper heaters to work in there (installing flooring and painting).

The last electric bill was high due to using the heaters (will invest in a specific portable heater for future winter projects).  Anyway, the electric bill arrived yesterday, and this time it was $156.00 lower than the previous month.  We are considering adding a smaller propane heater now in the other lower half of the house.  By doing this, it turns off all electric heat downstairs, and will save us even more money.  It is a drier heat (I run cool mist humidifiers), but I have to say, I do NOT miss hauling wood all winter long.

We have the highest electric in the county.  We are unable to switch that source due to location.  I think spring would be a great time to snag a good price on a smaller wall heater as well.  It's on the list now.