Down on the Homestead - May 16 - 22nd

**homesteadmamma** · 05-16-2004, 07:32 AM

Good morning everyone. Looks like its going to be a very nice day here today.

Its normally a day of rest for me, but I have to bake bread today and want to wash the last 2 loads of clothes, considering there is a possibly of rain tomorrow.

I need to deliver the papers first this morning though and get those out of the way.

This afternoon, I plan on cutting squares to do more quilting.

Otherwise a pretty quiet day here on my homestead. Have a great day everyone.

**QuilterMom** · 05-16-2004, 01:59 PM

We all had a pretty sleepless night. Ds complained of his tummy hurting and was sick a couple of times during the night. I personally think it's from all the crap we've been having to put down and spray due to the massive flea problem that came along with our new house. Dh thinks I'm wrong. Stuff like that bothers me though - I'm feeling kind of quesy and I am itching all over. That kind of stuff always breaks me out. That's why I'm so anti-chemical, but we really had no choice.

I am working in the kitchen trying to clean out the cabinets and drawers that are usable and get stuff put away. Dh has been working out in the laundry room/utility room busting out all the cabinets and such out there (none of them were usable). I think his next project is the garage. He's supposed to put new toilets in the bathrooms today as well.

Dh's electrician friend was supposed to come this afternoon to fix the wiring on the water system, but he had an emergency and won't make it now until tomorrow or Tuesday.

Off to work in the kitchen some more............

**guest2** · 05-16-2004, 04:28 PM

I'm taking it really easy here today. I woke up exhausted and went back to bed until about 11:30 a.m..

DH took the boys up to church, so the house is rather quite and I like it that way. One of the cats knocked some things down behind the entertainment center including DH's time card, so he will have to moved a bunch of stuff to retrieve it. I'm not even going to attempt it since I hurt my back again several days ago.

I'm hoping DH remembers to pick up some bread on his way home from church today because I just have no energy to even bake today. We had 25 people here last night and I had been cooking, cleaning and baking for days for that and the kids band fundraiser. Yesterday I was gone all day working the kids booth and them going to their concert that night before returning home for our party. We all had a great time, but I'm paying for it now.

It's raining outside so I can't hang out any laundry which is just was well. I can't life the heavy baskets at this point anyway. I'm thankful for the rain though. We needed it so badly and it held off until very early this morning so yesterday was perfect weatherwise for our town's celebration.

Praying that you all have a blessed week ahead of you!!!

**couponchic** · 05-16-2004, 04:35 PM

Been awhile since I posted to this thread... but here's what's happening on my homestead. DH is gone fishing today with one of his buddies, so it's just me and the dog today. Love nice peaceful days like this with nowhere to go.
I have been doing some heavy duty cleaning around here today. Just taking a break from flinging in the computer room right now. The dog keeps barking his head off, but when I go look to see what he is barking at, there is nothing out there. Not even so much as a bird. Guess I'll have to get the water bottle after him.

**couponchic** · 05-16-2004, 04:51 PM

OK, I figured out what the dog is barking at. This is nuts. When I went to the door this time, he was looking straight up in the air outside, so I fully expected somebody to be standing at the door staring back at him. Well, when I get to the door, no one or nothing is there as usual. The dog keeps barking and looking up and finally, I see what he is barking at. There is a stupid spider hanging on the front door stoop ceiling. Ugh!!! That, evidently, is what he has been barking at all day long. I sprayed it down with the water bottle and (knock on wood), it's been a few minutes and the dog is not barking.

**forestdale** · 05-16-2004, 09:53 PM

welcome carrie, it's great to have you here.

Debbie, I'm glad you have some time alone to relax after your big day yesterday. Take it easy today and let those men of yours look after you for a change.

I've been dejunking this morning, I've done two kitchen cupboards and my welsh dresser drawers. I also cooked the dogs food for the week, cleaned the chicken coop and applied liquid fertiliser to my vegies. This afternoon I'm spoiling my son who is on holidays till Wednesday. I'm cooking him and dh a roast leg of pork and roasted vegies for dinner + a carrot cake with lemon cream cheese frosting for dessert.

Tomorrow I'm going to see my son who lives over at the beach and I'm taking him out for late breakfast/early lunch before he goes to his weekly technical school for chefs thingo in the afternoon. We'll try to get his grocery shopping done too. I've made him a batch of homemade laundry liquid and I bought him the makings for more of it so I'll show him how to make that while I'm there. He's a real environmentalist so he loves it when we share green living ideas.

Okay ladies, I'm going to have some lunch now and do some more work on my homestead.

Just a reminder, I've set a challenge in Chosen Path, which I'm lucky enough to be moderating with CJ. Check it out if you have time.

**homesteadmamma** · 05-17-2004, 08:55 AM

Good morning everyone. Nice and sunny outside today, perfect for drying bedding which I plan on doing.

As you know I love challenges. Bethany and myself will be doing a challenge a week in the simple living forum, so please do check them out. They'll be simple and fun to do.

I need to deliver papers this morning and pick up a few items at the grocery store on my way back. I'll pick up the mail while I'm at it. It is such a nice walk and I've organized the route so I can do both at the same time (I have 2).

Once the bedding is washed, I'll also do the vaccuming as well and do the beds again too. Want to keep those dust mites under control.

We may all take a run into the library later this afternoon. Were all short on books.

Then quilting. I've almost finished cutting out the squares and triangles to do another wall hanging. Later this week, I plan on quilting what I have done.

Have a wonderful day, down on your homestead.

**dmvezina** · 05-17-2004, 09:38 AM

Good morning! I haven't posted in at least a few days. Things have been crazy here. Most of it because of my new pda! I've been spending so much time trying to find the programs I need for it, that I've been letting the housework slide! No more!! Today I need to get back on track!!
I've already fed everyone and got them out the door, watered my gardens which are growing so beautifully. We planted potatoes yesterday. I've exercised and showered already. Now, I'm ready to begin my day!! lol I need to do my house cleaning today, or as Flylady says, my Weekly Home Blessing. I will vacuum/sweep, wash the floors, change the sheets, dust, clean the mirrors/monitors/tv's, empty all the trashcans, and do 2 loads of laundry. The first load is in the washer now and ready to be hung out. I also need to call the electric co, make the kids a snack and there's more but of course cannot remember right now. lol
Breakfast was farina and strawberry muffins. Dinner will be tender & tangy pork ribs in the crockpot, rice and some veggies.
I would like to get the onions and celery that I started in the house out into my garden today too.
It is supposed to be a beautiful day. My son has a baseball game tonight, but I most likely wont' go. I went to his games Friday and Saturday. The week nights are tough for me to go because of our 6 yr old son. On school nights, he needs to be in bed promptly on time due to his trouble with sleeping.
I am having a much needed cup of coffee right now!! lol I feel so tired already and I haven't even begun the biggest part of my work yet.
Well, I suppose I get started! lol

Have a great day everyone!!

**Jeanna** · 05-17-2004, 10:01 AM

Good morning ladies,
I do so envy the ones of you at home. I am at work this morning but after work I have laundry to do and also finish some cleaning in my dining room. It is a room that is rarely used so it has seem to become a junk pile. I am cleaning it out and am going to move my computer and desk in there out of my bedroom. Since it is a room that you have to walk thru to get to about anywhere in our house I can setup a control center.
I also am working on organizing my "utility/mud room. Actually the house we live has a very small kitchen so the room beside it used to be a back porch and was closed in. We have our pantry, refrigerator, freezer, washer and dryer, and also our coat/shoe place. So that will be for about Wednesday, my day off.
I did get my herb garden started Saturday. I had a large one at my other house so I am starting over.
Well enough rambling. I will talk to everyone later.

**QuilterMom** · 05-17-2004, 11:01 AM

Ds's tummy woes continue so I've had a sleepless night and he's still cranky, clingy, needy, and whiney. We think it's a virus that's going around so hopefully it'll be out of his system soon.

We've been to the library to return items and stopped by the post office on the way home. I need to tackle laundry, wash kitchen items, unpack more boxes, and try to get kitchen stuff put away.

**guest2** · 05-17-2004, 11:50 AM

Goodmorning All,
Today started off rather roughly with some serious character issues having to be dealt with 2 of my kids. I was in tears and had to call DH at work just to get it all out and to get his advice on how to handle things here at home.

Things are a bit better since the kids and I all talked things through and came up with a plan on how to deal with things and those character issues.
It's overcast but we are praying it does not rain so we cang et all the laundry done and hung up on the line to dry. We got behind on it this weekend and need to catch up. I've got 4 loaves of bread to make today and the fridge to clean out again. We may make a run into the library today to return some things and to get more books from the kids reading list. We are also working on record keeping and having the kids redo some tests they forgot to record in their record keeping books (they are in chrage of entering their daily work and scores, I'm trying to get them ready for college and keeping track of assignments and tests).
That's what's going on here today! Be blessed!

**canadian gardener** · 05-17-2004, 06:44 PM

Hi ladies, finally checking in. Been quite tired. I drove Dulce home to Kelowna, and drove back. I'm getting the house sorted out again today but feeling pretty wiped out. I'm taking a few days to just veg out and recuperate.

No more ancient members of the family should need help at this time, I'm taking time out to rest.

Hugs and I'll be back posting soon.
Love to all
M

**couponchic** · 05-17-2004, 06:55 PM

Had to work today and woke up with a throbbing headache, which hasn't eased up in the least after countless tylenol and ibuprofen, and it's after 7:30 at night here. I think it's due to the high pollen and mold counts today as well as the fact that I am out of my allergy medicine. Guess I should schedule a doctor's appointment for that. At any rate, not much is happening on my homestead today/tonight. Have a good rest of the evening ladies! I'm signing off for now as it's been thundering here for a bit and it keeps getting louder. Hopin' DH gets home from mowing grass soon!

**FarmLady** · 05-18-2004, 07:28 AM

Good Morning everyone, I hope this day finds you well and quite content. I have been up for quite some time, as we are to have heavy rains today and I would just as soon get my chores done before the rain sets in! Now that the animals are all taken care of I can relax and work on some quilting and baking this morning. I have lots of eggs to get used up so some custard is first on my list; then some cookies and maybe an oatmeal cake. I had lots of company over the weekend so I did get a little behind around here. I am excited because I have been invited to a cookout at a totally off-grid homestead on Friday to hear Carla Emery speak. Well have a wonderful day!

**homesteadmamma** · 05-18-2004, 08:21 AM

FarmLady, can I come join you. I'd love to hear Carla speak. I know she is travelling all over speaking. Your going to have to share with us all about your day. I know your going to have a wonderful time.

Well I woke up early this morning to much warm temps and beautiful sunshine. It always makes for a much better day when the sun is shining. I thought we might get rain last night, but it missed us.

Today I have planned:

~deliver the papers - its a great walk. Dh comes with me for part of the route and the rest I do by myself. Love it.
~bake some goodies for the family
~go to the library. We had planned on doing this yesterday, but changed our minds.
~rake up the smaller branches that are on our lawn. I need to also finish pulling out weeds from the flowerbeds and I want to dig up a couple more flowerbeds along the front walk. I want to plant some roses there and a few perennials.
~do some more quilting