Down on the Homestead-Dec. 28-Jan.3

**Heather** · 12-28-2003, 08:57 AM

Good morning everyone!!

This week will take us into the New Year, hard to believe, really.

We are getting an usually warm day here today with lots of sunshine, I'll take the sunshine!

It's beautiful coming in my east window warming up the kitchen.

I am staying at home today but will be busy. DH is heading out tomorrow morning for the week and we are doing laundry, cleaning the floors, dusting and I want to organize the fridge. It's clean just needs some rearranging and sorting out.....and more eaten!!

I would like to go for a walk today too, it's so nice out and the roads are clear, I know it makes me feel so much better.

Tonight I am starting to re read my simple living books (Simple Living Guide and Frugal Luxuries) and that will be my reading for the month of January!

**homesteadmamma** · 12-28-2003, 10:04 AM

Good morning everyone. Its still snowing here, albeit very lightly. Suppose to snow for the rest of the day. It is warm though. I hope the roads are safe though for those travelling home today from the holidays.

Today is a day of rest here. I love Sundays, where I can do exactly what I want and not have to worry about getting the housework done.

I plan on doing some more hand quilting later today and like Calico, tonight I will be starting my reading of Frugal Luxuries and The Simple Living Guide, along with The Busy Mom's Guide to Simple Living. Those 3 books will also be my January reading, have been now for a number of years. It always helps me refocus on my journey to simple living. I love those 3 books.

Hope everyone has a great day.

**mustang80** · 12-28-2003, 10:33 AM

Good morning ladies!

Today we're working on building Raechel a new bed. The bunks we had were not working in that small room, so DH is building a new lower bunk to match the upper bunk he built several months ago. Now our yard sale dresser should fit nicely.

I'll be heading out to church soon. My fridge needs cleaning as well.

My January reading will consist of the Tightwad Gazette. I need to refocus my frugality, and this book gives me incentive. The next few months have always proven to be lean ones.

It's a beautiful sunny day here in NJ, in the 30's but the sun makes it feel warmer.

Have a wonderful Sunday.

**Strawberry** · 12-28-2003, 03:06 PM

Good morning everyone! It's been a long time since I posted here. Having everyone home has meant a lot less computer time for me.

It's getting colder here again. This morning it was -15C and it might drop to -24C tonight. Time to put an extra blanket on the beds.

Today is a day of rest for me. We need to drop some paperwork off for dd at some point today but that's about it. We had a relaxing morning enjoying fresh blueberry muffins and tea, dks had hot chocolate. We still have lots of leftovers so I won't be cooking today. I think I'll curl up on my bed and read the afternoon away. Tonight we are playing a game and having snacks.

That's it for this cozy homestead. Hope you all have a great day!

**guest2** · 12-28-2003, 04:14 PM

Hello everyone!!!! Hope you all are recovering from Christmas!

We woke up to gorgeous, fluffy white powdered snow this morning and decided not to try and make the long drive to church on the roads. Instead we had a quiet morning with Jaysn making pancakes for all of us for breakfast. We did get a strange phone call from my BIL (yes, the rude one) who wanted to know if we wanted to drive all the way up to his house today to watch him pull the engine out of his old truck (yeah, like that's how we want to spend our day and risk our lives on the 1 1/2 hour trip tp get there). He thought the boys might enjoy it.

Jeff told him no, the roads are bad and we are going to spend the day together here and go snowboarding and sledding, which we did!!!
My hubby and all the boys did very well on the snowboard, but I need lots more practice!

The guys are now all watching football and I'm downloading pictures of my parent's new home in Montana. Beautiful place and I can't wait to go and help them get moved in this Spring. We have free access to it year round even when they are not there during the cold months. I'm going to take advantage of it!!!

**homesteadmamma** · 12-29-2003, 12:14 PM

Good morning everyone - wow did I sleep in. I'm going to be playing catch up all day.

Today is laundry day. I need to get as much done as I can before dh gets home from work because we need to go into the city. I still have laundry to fold from last Tues.

I'm a tad bit behind I'd say.

Not sure what else I'll do today. I do want to get some more hand quilting done on my quilt. Will see though.

**Heather** · 12-29-2003, 01:24 PM

Hi everyone! Nice to see you Strawberry~

Well, to be honest not much is getting done around here today. I have done dishes, put the good dishes away, organized the diningroom and a bit of laundry. I just don't feel like doing anything.

It would have been my Grandma's birthday today so I have been going through pictures and letters that I have received from her. Oh how I miss her

DH is home until Friday, he is picking up a load tomorrow and bringing it back home and leaving for Georgia on Friday. He has gone with DS to pick up his check and get his paperwork. Will be home around supper time. DS#1 is at a friends house from yesterday and DD is watching a movie. Very quiet around here.

Have a wonderful day!

**guest2** · 12-29-2003, 01:37 PM

Good morning! We just got a weather alert on the computer saying we have another winter storm moving into our area and can expect 2-3 inches of snow within a couple of hours!

Luckily our 2 tons of wood pellets arrived about an hour ago and the boys have them all stacked under the awning by the back walkway. We'll be warm and toasty this winter!

The kids want to have their friend over and I told them we have to get our jobs done first. We're also going to see if we can have some close family friend's kids come over for at least part of the day tomorrow. We have to take advantage of this beautiful snow!!!

Almost forgot, we have thank you notes to write today!!!

Today I'm cutting up the rest of the ham and making soup with the bone. I'll freeze some of the meat for use later and make an oriental cole slaw with some of it today. I also need to make 4 loaves of bread and some more hot cocoa mix.

This afternoon I'd love to get caught up on some reading and do my bible study lesson. Hopefully the kids will all be out playing in the snow then so I can have some quiet time.

I'll try to get dinner going ahead of time so that I can just relax then until DH gets home from work.

Have a blessed day!!!!!

**slowtypinwoman** · 12-29-2003, 03:28 PM

Hello everyone!
Yesterday we went to St. Louis to see Michael's family. All in all it wasn't too bad a trip. Alex got a ton more gifts. Luckily most of it was clothing and she really needed that. The funny thing about her is she keeps growing out of all her clothes! My mil took us to dinner at Austin's Steak House where I had a cut of Prime rib that was big enough to feed a small country. Golly, but I love prime rib! My mil gave me a $75 check as a Christmas gift. I put it in my back pocket of my jeans and am planning on using it to go to Branson with Alex this summer. We would like to see Dixie Stampeade but I couldn't justify spending that much on a meal and a show when the whole trip could be for that. Anyway Michael being the thoughtful person he is started the laundry this morning. I ALWAYS check pockets before putting things in the washer. Well, you guessed it, he didn't. I did manage to get the check out before it fussed into one paper mache lump. It is drying on the counter now. Do you think the bank will chash it? Is this what they mean by laundered money? LOL It is still legiable buit you can tell it has been through the wash. Ah he means well. LOL

Well, we are on our second week of break here and I am loving it! Today I cleaned the kitchen and started the fire this morning. I really love the new wood stove. We have saved so much money with it I know. After I was done with the kitchen I cleaned the fridge. No no, don't think I was all that. I just pulled out the gross stuff, didn't do the deep clean. About an hour ago I pulled all the meat left on the turkey off and we are making a white chili with it for dinner. All the little pieces that were left are going to be made into turkey pot pie. That makes such a good comfort food on a cold day pairs with a salad.
I need to go to the bank today but I don't think I'll get that done. I have been such a slug on this break!
have a great day all.

**Mom23boys** · 12-29-2003, 03:38 PM

Good day. Yesterday was a day of rest for us. I didn't even turn the computer on. I managed to finish all laundry on Saturday, so there was none for Sunday.

I have been reading "Love Someone Today". It is a book about encouragement and inspiration for times of our lives. I need to pull about the "Tightwad Gazzette" and reread them as well.

I can't believe a new year is fast approaching. I plan to stick more to my budget this year and keep up with our spending. I want to see exactly where our money is being spent.

My new slow cooker is being put to use today. I am making 7 bean soup for supper.

I hope you all have a wonderful day!

**Strawberry** · 12-29-2003, 04:00 PM

Good afternoon! It has been trying to snow this morning but there's barely a dusting. As least it's not as cold as was forecasted.

Heather

The boys are off "jamming" with friends and dd is having a lazy day reading in bed. Dh and I had a quiet morning talking about whether we should move. On the 15th of January it will be 5 months since he was laid off and there's still no job in the near future. I've wash sheets and towels today but that's all. Maybe I'll bake some cookies. I think I'll clean and inventory my freezer now that it's almost empty.

Not much going on around here today. Hope everyone has a great day.

**homesteadmamma** · 12-30-2003, 10:59 AM

Good morning everyone. Oh Strawberry, I know the feeling. Dh was out of work for a full year and we wondered the same thing. He finally got a part time job and we decided to wait it out. It is very difficult though, so sending lots of

your way.

Today I need to finish the laundry. Then I don't have any until next Monday. I love that I finally have it figured out. Once I get another clothesrack, Monday will be washing day period!!!

I also plan on baking bread today. Dh found another loaf of boughten bread in the freezer, but I want to get some made up ahead and frozen. Nothing like being able to just pull out a loaf of bread from the freezer. Before I can bake any bread though, I need to grind up some grain. I love my Whisper Mill, one of the best investments I ever made.

I'm working on some 2004 goals. I was sitting here thinking about 2003 and what I've achieved and what I didn't get accomplished. It seems like the years go by a lot faster once you begin to age.

Later I'll make up a pot of soup. I burnt the roast yesterday, but some of it is salvagable, so I'll use that, throw in some beans and veggies and have it for supper.

Hope everyone has a great day on your homestead.

**guest2** · 12-30-2003, 11:16 AM

Good Tuesday morning to ya!!!

This morning it's simply beautiful! I was awake at 4 a.m. and just layed in bed until 5 a.m. listening to my hubby snoring beside me.

He got up for work at 5:30 and then I joined him for coffee at 6 a.m.. After he left, I opened the curtains and enjoyed our outdoor lights reflecting in the snow and then watched the sunrise as I did my morning devotions! Simply beautiful!!! The sun is now shining, the snow glistening and I've got to get a move on because we have friends coming over in a short while to go sledding.

On the agenda today is sledding, play time for the kids with their friends and making dinner to take to a friend's house later while we watch the Holiday Bowl! Go Cougs!!!! Should be a fun day!!!

**AmyBoz** · 12-30-2003, 11:19 AM

I hope no one minds my joining this thread! I'm trying to become more active on all the threads since I'm home this week.

Today Julia and I are staying in for the morning and will be running some errands later in the day. We've done some baby wash and priced some items for the garage sale I plan on having in the spring. I'm also slowly starting to organize the computer room.

I'm going to make us some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch and we'll have some Chicken Noodle soup. For dinner I'm going to make some baked macaroni and cheese.

Our errands will take us to the post office to mail out some coupon trades, but we aren't going to go too crazy with running around. We need a day to relax after our busy day yesterday.

**Mom23boys** · 12-30-2003, 11:32 AM

Amy, I am glad you are joining us.

Anyone can post to this thread.

Strawberry, I am sorry you and your DH are having to worry over moving for employment. Sending you a ((((hug)))).

Today is another beautiful day. I love seeing the sun shine through the windows.

I have no big plans today. I need to start a load of laundry and do the floors. Dakota has been cleaning the doors and walls. I just love when he gets in the cleaning mood.

I need to run to town and pick up the car title to Richard's car. I am glad that one is paid for. That saves us 200.00 a month. I know it doesn't sound like alot, but I can now put that 200.00 on the other vehicles we are still paying for to try and get them paid down quicker.

I need to make some bread today. Richard was asking me last night when I was going to make some more bread. I guess that means he wants some homemade bread instead of store bought.

Hope you all have a wonderful day.