Happy Homemaker Monday

 

The weekend went by fast, and was not what I had intended.  My husband, oddly after a first weekend off work, had us running around all weekend.  I was exhausted by Sunday night, and felt like we didn't get anything done at the house.  

It rained all weekend, and it's still raining.

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

I will link up when she posts.  I'm starting my day early to get my kitchen back in order.  There are paint cans everywhere, and it's in disarray.

The weather. . .

Rain!  Lots of rain!  Now they say possible snow today.  Yes, I said snow.  Sigh.  I had to bring my rosemary plants back inside.  They will not be planted until after Mother's Day anyway, but snow???  It could be something like a snow/rain sleet mix.

As I look outside my window . . .

Dark, dreary, and raining.

Right now I am . . .

Drinking hot coffee, trying to wake up to our regular schedule around here.

Thinking and pondering . . .

Trying to decide if I want to keep my macramé supplies or donate them.  Prices are high, so I'm on the fence with this decision.  I may keep them for now.

We've been pondering about which type of electric solar fencing to get, and my husband is not taking care of that. 

How I am feeling . . .

Tired.

On my breakfast plate. . .

Leftover omelet with grits casserole and cheese.

On my lunch plate . . .

Have no idea yet.  Egg salad?

On my dinner plate . . .

Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole, Veggie, Strawberry Crunch

What I am wearing . . .

Right now?  Jammies, robe and slippers until the coffee kicks in.

On my reading pile . . .

I'm still reading Atomic Habits.  I'm not getting a lot of reading time, but I do try to read each day, even if it's a page.

On my TV this week . . .

Movies on Netflix/Amazon Prime

On the menu . . .

Have no idea.  Will try and think about that today.

Looking around the house . . .

It's looking better, but I still need to gather the donation items and get them out of the house.

On the to-do list . . .

-laundry

-check on asparagus 
-complete kitchen clean up, could take all week

-work on upstairs flooring

-gather all donations and load them into the truck
-finish making lavender sachets (only 2 more to make)
-bake a dessert

My simple pleasure. . .

Popcorn made using our whirly pop stove top popper, using organic coconut oil, and fine salt.  So good for a movie binge/crochet evening.

What I am creating . . .

Lavender Sachets.  You can read my post on how to make these on my S.C.R.A.P. blogspot:  HERE

I'm still crocheting this blanket. (old photo)

From the camera . . .

I have nothing today folks.  It's been raining here for days.

Prayers . . .

Prayers for our friend Jim, who had another stroke.

....from the handiwork journal

. . . still working on the scrap crochet blanket.  I had plans to donate it, but Hubby and one daughter are fighting over who will get it.  We'll see.  This is my project to unwind on cooler evenings here. Right now it's 55 inches wide by 42 inches long.

Thursday Coffee Hour ~ Barn Wood Herb Drying Rack ~ Eye Rolling Moment (kids)

Grab a cup of hot steaming coffee, tea or your favorite beverage.  It's one of those posts.

A while back, I bought a bag of curtain hooks for $.75.  I actually figured out where I had stored them.  I'm recycling them into another barn wood herb drying rack.  They look awesome in the house too.  You could call it re-purposed or recycled I guess.

It Begins ~ Rhubarb ~ Recycled Vintage Coffee Filter

Canning season started early for me this year (giddy excitement).  I canned jelly yesterday.  

This was the first time canning with my new stove.  It heats up much faster.  I wanted to get a feel for it, before I start canning fruit jams, which tend to be the beginning of my yearly canning.

Updates

I am really enjoying the new way I have organized my sunglasses (and a pair of safety glasses, which was not on this when I photographed it):

The little things that say "I love you"

Happy Valentine's Day!

I wanted to make something useful for the kids this month - a little something to say "I love you."  I don't like to simply wait for February to tell them, so my challenge to myself is to tell them more often.

I used scrap fabric to make these homemade cards (right), and old book pages (left) to create the envelope.  I used a fine-line black marker to make dashes around the scrap fabric heart (adhered with fusible web). 

What's inside?

From the Handiwork Journal . . .

. . . crocheted a few washcloths, with yarn I had in my stash.  These are made with a 2-ply, 100% cotton yarn.  At the time I purchased the yarn, yellow and white where the only two colors in 2-ply.  It makes a thinner cloth and dries faster. I simply used single crochet for these.

(I really like the 2-ply for a hand towel, versus the 4 ply cotton.  I will be making more until my  yarn is used up)

Cleaning is discovering treasures again (and garbage too)

In the midst of cleaning my desk, I found a bookmark my 18 year-old made me when she was seven years old.  Ha!  I'll have to laminate it now.

Homemade Hard Tack Candy ~ Tidbits

The younger kids have been pestering me to buy Valentine's candy from the store.  I just shake my head, because of what's in that stuff.  Not to mention all those dyes they use to make them so appetizing.  So....you know me.

Winter Slow Down ~ Making Decisions ~ Christmas Ornament

I'll admit, the chilly outside air has kept me indoors more often.  I do have to enjoy it and slow down.  So far, we have avoided the flu, although our 15 year-old recently came home from a sleepover sick.   The more I am home, the less contact I have of airborne and other nasty germs.  I am, however, considering banning sleepovers during the remainder of the winter (flu hospitalizations are up in our area).   I just want to keep sickness out of our home.  This is the second time this season that she has come home sick from a friend's house.

Although it is snowing right now, we did have a warm up, and the weather was perfect for drying laundry outdoors.  And it was warm enough to let the ladies out and clean the coop.  We tried last week (to clean the coop), but everything was simply frozen to the ground.  

I've taken some time to think on things, and ....

Coffee Pot Collection Re-do ~ Sadie Update

Almost a year ago, I shared my antique coffee pot collection.

This year, I decided it was time to use them or lose them.

Closet Update ~ Sharing Tea Knowledge ~ Homemade "Vaseline"

My extreme closet cleaning was 90% successful.  Okay, maybe 80%, but I am still pleased.  I listed all my current projects (which were way fewer this time) in my crafting journal, just to make sure this mind of mine didn't forget them again.  One empty plastic storage drawer is now labeled "current project" so I stay on task with one until it's done.  Then I can move on to the next.

Several things made it to the donation pile, one garbage bag was filled, and a few pieces of clothing were passed down.

I still need to go in and vacuum (yes there is carpet in there), and work on the rest, but it feels so good to get it done.  The sun was out all day too.  I even put on some music.

Handmade Christmas Ornament ~ Infused Honey Update

Although these can wait to be finished, I did get one done for photo sharing purposes.

Here's this year's next (I say next, because I'm always making more than one) newest Christmas ornament:

Leaves are falling

It was pretty cold yesterday.  However, we are not heating just yet here.  I like how the leaves on the ground make a dark day bright.  I could not rake them up just yet.  These will eventually go on the garden (unless a big wind whips them away before then).

See that pot of geraniums?  I have two actually. Mid summer when my original plants died, I bought them at the grocery store, half dead and for pennies.  They are still blooming, while the hostas are turning for the fall season.

I was successful in drying an entire.....

Button Switchplates ~ Quinoa Burrito Bowls ~ Walnut Shells Going Camping

Man, I just can't win for losing.  My doctor now has me on another prescription.  This frustrates me.  Although I am enjoying the time resting, I am getting that itch to get things done, and tired of getting tired in a short time when I am up.  Hopefully this one will do the magic I need.  I did clean out 3 complete binders yesterday.  I know, what was I thinking?  I am a pattern hoarder no more.  Phew.

Here is one magazine page that did not make the "cut" when cleaning.  It's cute, but I could see this being a dust collector and difficult to clean if I made them.  It came from a 2000 issue of Woman's Day magazine.

Soup, Pears, and Playtime

The temperature here dropped to the 20's last night, so I made soup to warm us all up.  I admit, I had my doubts that the kids would eat this soup, and I was pretty sure a few would refuse to even taste it.

I've been experimenting this week with sweet potatoes.  They were on sale, so I stocked up on some.  This recipe comes from Allrecipes, and contains sweet potatoes, carrots, an onion and an apple.  It also contains freshly grated ginger and red lentils too.

Bottle Cap Jewelry ~ Military Mom

I've been playing around with recycling more bottle caps here.   This was the first one I made.  The center is hand  crafted with embroidery work. 

When I first talked to the girls about this idea, and they saw me painting at the kitchen table (I don't have a "craft room"), they cringed at what it would look like.  I guess wearing bottle caps did not appeal to them at the time.

However, when I finished it, my 11 year-old was begging to wear it to school.  

How did I make it? 

From a Journal Junkie . . .

From the Homesteading Journal . . .

. . . made my own bird deterrent for the strawberry beds - recycled pie pan, string, and a piece of recycled tent pole.  I used what I had, considering the budget is tight right now (from the tile project).  Later in the day I saw robins snacking away as soon as the wind stopped (and the pie pans stopped banging away).  I guess I better start saving up for bird netting and supplies.  However, I did spray paint some small stones red, and placed them under the plants for now too.  We'll see if they return after pecking at a stone. 

. . . planted new curly parsley, and more tomatoes. 

 . . .in preparation for hot days, I started to save and fill empty plastic bottles with water.  They are being frozen to place in goat water buckets.

. . . the bathroom tile project continues - humidity is a huge factor in it's completion. I cannot wait to use my shower again.

. . .found a way to recycle the plastic from an old, broken portable closet.

. . . made a homemade non-toxic, herbal fusion, disinfectant.  I'm looking forward to seeing the results.  I can make it from everything in the garden, with the exception of the organic apple cider vinegar (for the recipe and others:  14 Bleach-Free Surface Disinfectants).

. . . dehydrated 2 lbs. of organic carrots (with another 2 lbs. to dehydrate) I bought on sale for $.99 at the grocery store.  The only bad part about buying these, is the leftover plastic bag.




From the Handiwork Journal. . .

. . .crocheted another rag rug.  It's made from old sheets and pillow cases. 



From the Family Journal . . .

 . . .my youngest daughter gets to spend a few days with her Grandma.

. . . my son surprised me by cleaning out the refrigerator.

. . . my allergies are flared up from spending so much time in the wind this past weekend.  I hope to get some relief today.



From the Gratitude Journal . . .

 Today I am thankful for:

~ Much cooler weather. It's nice to have a break from the heat.

~ My rose bushes blooming again. 

~ My herb garden.  It's come in use for more than just cooking and baking.

~ God's promises.

~ The quiet morning here today.  I can't hear anything, but birds, and my dehydrator.  

 

Grandma ~ Her Creative and Frugal Living

Both of my grandmothers had their own talents and special ways, in which they enjoyed living life.  I am lucky to have one container of crafting supplies that belonged to one of them.  She made jewelry from beads, crafted with empty styrofoam egg cartons, and made so many usable things from other people's trash.

During the Great Depression, my grandfather, repaired vehicles for extra cash.  My grandmother (both on my Dad's side of the family), made everything and anything.  She grew everything, canned everything, sewed everything she wore, and was very resourceful.

My Dad used to tell me stories on how Grandma would get lamp poles from people's garbage and re-build them into useable lamps.  She would then sell these.  She was good with carpentry also.

In memory of her frugality, perseverance and love for creativeness, I posted a re-creation of her Egg Carton Jewelry on my S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot.  Enjoy! 

 

Weekend Work and Relaxation

I've been taking a bit of morning time to watch the birds on our property.  Every now and then I am able to get somewhat of a good photo.  I have seen a red-winged blackbird only once, and did not have my camera.