Down on the homestead Jan 11-17

**mustang80** · 01-11-2004, 06:29 AM

Good morning!

Today's goal is to stay warm! It's only 10 degrees outside! Brrrr! In Philadelphia they're already starting to report deaths from the cold-usually it's elderly or homeless people, but people nonetheless! So sad....

The older girls spent the night at their Aunt's house so it's just DH and Courtney here today. DH is still sleeping because he has been so sick. He's getting better, but has been coughing at night and losing alot of sleep.

I'm not going to church today due to the cold and all. I plan to catch up on the laundry-probably only 2 loads to do. Hopefully I can hang 1 of them up in the bathroom.

While Courtney is napping, I hope to work on some decluttering-maybe in the basement, but it's not heated so it's kind of cold down there. That may have to wait until next week.

Raechel has a basketball game at 5:00-right when the Eagles/Packers game is on AAARRRRGGHHH! The league won't reschedule the game-DH is having a fit! (he's the coach).

GO EAGLES!

**simplemom** · 01-11-2004, 06:53 AM

Goodmorning Danielle!

Hello everyone!

Yes, isn't it COLD! I hope your dh feels better soon.

Goodluck to Raechal for her basketball game tonight!

Go Eagles!

I'm up early this morning with Patrick....oh how I wish he would sleep in on the week-ends...alas...6h00 am, he is ready to start his day...while I would happily sleep a little more...

At 9h00 am I am meeting with an educator of Francine. She has so generously accepted to help me with Francine, on week-ends. Once every 2 or 3 weeks, she will take Francine out for lunch, take her to a movie or out to shop...I am soooo relieved to get help! And she is doing it as a volunteer!...I sure will make sure to thank her and give her some gifts once in a while. She is a real angel for me.

At 12h30 we are ging to my cousin's baby girl babtism. I'm happy to go, but there's a part of me who wants to saty home...I'm not sure I'm in the mood to see alot of family....

Well, today will also be a day to get ready for school tomorrow...lunches to make, make sure th boys have all *something* to wear, etc...

I'm wishing you all a beautfiul day in your little home! May the warmth of Frugal Village warm your hearts.

**slowtypinwoman** · 01-11-2004, 09:29 AM

Hi Ladies!
Danille, so sorryto hear that your Dh is under the weather. Hope he is on top of the world again soon.

Lucie, sounds like you have a busy day ahead of you.

Just because I think you need one
.
Today I have already put some laundry in the washer and I hope that when I get to the jeans it will have warmed up enough to hang them on the line. It is supossed to get up to 54* today so I think I will try to hang some things out. Later Alex and I are going to make pumpkin muffins and work on her Native American project. We have to make a tepee from a paper bag. She wrote the report last night. Boy was that an ordeal. Her father puts so much presure on her at times. He forgets she is nine.

I'd also like to take the puppies on a walk and gather some wood if I have time.

For dinner tonight we are having lasagna salad and garlic bread.
Have a warm day all.
Marcia

**homesteadmamma** · 01-11-2004, 09:55 AM

Good morning everyone. Its warmed up here to -12C, but its not looking good for tomorrow and the rest of the week. Hope everyone stays warm. I'm wondering how Heather (Calico) is doing.

Danielle, hope your dh is feeling better soon. Not nice when they are sick.

Today is just going to be a day of rest. The kids and I had such a great evening last night watching more of the Canadian championships. We haven't done that in a very long time, but I moved the tv and now we get really great reception, so we can watch a few of those types of programs.

I was able to get some Taste of Home magazines that Margery and Strawberry have mentioned, at our public library so I'm going to go through those this afternoon and see what kind of new recipes I can find.

I also plan on doing some hand quilting.

Have a great day everyone.

**Heather** · 01-11-2004, 10:11 AM

Hi everyone, I'm back!! The power has been restored and I'm crossing fingers and toes that it stays back on! Thanks for your concern~!

We are not going to church today as the roads are slippery and not very good at all. Snowing here since yesterday but the bitter cold has gone....-15 here today. The kids and I will have a story and such here instead.

I am getting caught up on a few things today, laundry and baking some more.....so much for a day of rest but I want things back to "normal" for tomorrow.

CJ, you'll love Taste of Home. My cousin gave me this as a gift and I love it everytime it comes. I usually try to make at least a couple things from each issue. I have gone back many times and made more.

Danielle, I hope your DH is feeling better real soon~;

((((HUGS))))))Lucie!

Marcia, good luck with the project!

**mylittle4** · 01-11-2004, 10:13 AM

This homestead is spending the day packing and moving. It is supposed to warm up to 55 today so I would like to get as much done as possible. I will wash bedding today too so I can get it out on the line while it is so nice. I have been packing fabric and it makes me so sad to close it all in dark boxes.

I hope I can get it back out soon.

**guest2** · 01-11-2004, 04:57 PM

Hi Ladies!!!
This morning we were abruptly awakened by the radio alarm clock turned on way too loud. Scared hubby and I both! He got up to shower and Molly (one of the kittens) decided that she just had to crawl back and forth over my head to get my attention.

One and one half hours later we headed out to church and drove in and out of fog. It kind of reminded me about how life is, it will be sunny and bright and then you go down into some fog, but you know the sun is out there somewhere!!!

Church was wonderful!!!! We missed last week due to bad roads. Today our family were Greeters and we also served communion for the second service. We met some new poeple and got them settled in at church and got their free coffee cards for them. It's amazing what a free cup of coffee or latte will do for a first time visitor. It's a gift that our church gives to all new visitors and a wonderful outreach tool. I also found out that a good friend is expecting again!

We got home close to 2 p.m. and had leftovers for lunch. I wanted to take a nap, but hubby said that he and the boys were going to wash the van while the temps were above freezing. Unfortunately, a football game on TV was calling their names, so now that it's almost 3 p.m., they are finally getting out there to do it and the temps are dropping fast.
I did get some reading done in some older issues of "The Homeschool Digest" on my way up and back from church. I am always so inspired after reading articles in that magazine. It seems to really challenge my thinking and I like that!

I still need to work on lesson plans for the week, go over our calendar and send some emails off. I have no clue what we are doing for dinner yet, but it will be something we have on hand. If I feel ambitious, I may make bread tonight, or maybe I'll just do that tomorrow!

Be blessed!!!!

**simplemom** · 01-11-2004, 08:39 PM

AngeLee...are you moving?...Looks like you are sad...((hugs)) to you.

Thank-you for the hugs Marcia and Heather...

I just wanted to say I had a nice time at the baptism. Due to the bad weather, there was less family than I thought would be there. It was small and nice. The baby was adorable! And her big 2 yr. old sister, too!

The only thing is that Pierre is feeling depressed tonight. He just told me that he enjoyed being at church, but felt sad and alone at the gathering after...

...if you could have a small thought for Pierre in your prayers....

Talk to you tomorow...

**Heather** · 01-12-2004, 08:08 AM

Good thoughts and prayers for Pierre!

Today is milder here which is nice. I went out to start the van first thing to deliver the papers and it wouldn't start. It started in
-30 weather and wouldn't today in -5!! I have someone coming out to boost it for me soon.

Today will be spent in the laundry room, I am doing all the bedding and towels must be done. I want to also do the couch and loveseat covers. Boys are enjoying muffins like crazy lately so I'll make another batch of those.

I am getting our taxes sorted out to send soon so I'd like to work on those tonight.

Tonight we are having spaghetti, salad and homemade bread.

Have a wonderful day everyone!

**homesteadmamma** · 01-12-2004, 08:29 AM

Good morning everyone. Its a bit cooler again today, but were not in a deep freeze yet.

Lucie, prayers being said for Pierre. Sending

your way.

Today is laundry day. I need to get as many loads done as I can and then hung on the clothesracks.

I need to grind grain and then bake bread. Heather, my kids are into muffins as well, so I probably will make some with the leftover ground grain. I'd like to freeze up a batch as well.

I'm still working on my quilt. Its slowly getting done. I'm so enjoying the hand quilting, just so relaxing.

Have a great day on your homestead.

**mustang80** · 01-12-2004, 09:01 AM

to Pierre!

Home today with a sick DD. She just has a virus, so just Tylenol and fluids for her today...and lots of rest.

Working on a little laundry. I have dishes to wash up and the bathroom to tidy. Also make my bed, straighten and dust my bedroom.

I want to try to make homemade bagels, but using the dough setting on the bread machine. Wish me luck!

Work off of my chore list. Have some phone calls to make and junk I've been putting off. I love crossing things off of my list!

Eagles Fever has taken over the region. Go Eagles!

**Strawberry** · 01-12-2004, 11:23 AM

more

for Pierre

Good morning! It must be a muffin day. I need to bake up a couple batches too. I should bake bread and make granola as well. I am cooking up some pinto beans so I can make refried beans for our burritos tonight.

The dks cleaned their rooms this weekend and now I have a mountain of laundry waiting for me.

I'm not sure what else I'll get done today. I will have to go out and drive ds#2 to college later. The buses don't run much out where we live so it looks like I'll need to drive him everyday

Hope everyone has a great day!

**guest2** · 01-12-2004, 11:56 AM

Even more

and prayers coming your way Lucie!

Today we are trying to keep on track here. The sun is hsining, so I have the boys hanging the laundry out on the line. Mondays always seem hard to get back in the routine don't they? Chris informed me that we are very low on laundry detergent and since Jeff doesn't get paid until Friday, I did a search for some dry homemade laundry detergent that used the things I already have in the house. I found one that uses baking soda instead of wasing soda, borax and a bar of soap. I'm going to make this later and try it.
We are again low on bread, so I'll be making 4 loaves of WW bread and a casserole using some ricotta cheese , spinach and noodles. I'm not going to put meat in it because the protien in the cheese should be enough for us. Gotta save anyway I can at this point.

Other than that, we have school today, returning dvd's to the library in town, mail and some reading to do. I'm also hoping to get my dresser top decluttered (baby steps in 15 minute incriments right Amy???). Since the weather is good, I'd love to get out for a walk also!!!!
Be blessed!!!!

**mylittle4** · 01-12-2004, 12:24 PM

Thanks for the concern Lucie but I am actually very happy we are buying our first home. I am tired though.

Hope everyone's loved ones get well and feeling happy again!

Today I am making sure all laundry is caught up and packing everything but just a few outfits apiece. I am also going through the very few cookbooks I have and coming up with a meal plan for the next month.

**canadian gardener** · 01-12-2004, 01:22 PM

congrats on that new home angelee!!! You go girl! take lots of little breaks and snacks to keep up your strength. Hugs!!!!

Lucie, prayers going up for pierre from here too. It's hard to struggle with that feeling.

Hi to all and happy Monday! I am doing laundry and

WAITING FOR MY NEW TO ME second hand elliptical excersiser to be delivered at noon! yee haw!

OK we can now officially REstart the debt reduction plan!

Ystrday afternoon, dh had to go to the cell phone people for his work for 10 minutes, and I popped in next door and the exercise machine people had a return that they were selling.

Returned because it wasnt' a long enough stride (I have short legs, and a long torso, and most machines are uncomfortabley long) and its the smallest i've seen. So dh and I had a conference and went back and got it. It's due soon.

Also the cheapest I've seen barring one at Sears that looks like it would fall apart, light plastic and a nylon tape attached to a flywheel. $480 including the tax

which will be somewhat covered by the rest of Christmas savings that were going into the Visa bill, and the Visa. akkkk

You can all remember this moment when I get all preachy at a newbie at debt reduction and tell them to never buy anything else ever ever ever on the Visa.

I've been doing pretty good with using the weights, and this will be the cardio. Weights on M W F and cardio on T, T, and Sat.

I'm down 4 lbs now.

so to sum up,
Weight loss and fitness we are doing great
Debt reduction, we definitely suck
here on this homestead!