Down on the Homestead - July 18 - 24th

[homesteadmamma]

Good morning everyone. After having another night of thunder and rain, I'm just a wee bit tired this morning.

I'm making this a day of rest. I have my papers to deliver this morning and then I'm going to quilt and read the day away.

Hope you all have a wonderful day.

[Heather]

Good morning CJ and all to follow!

Sounds like a nice relaxing day CJ

This morning Delaney and I delivered the papers as the boys were camping last night. Sunny here today but they are calling for more rain. The fellow who trim the horses hooves just arrived. Usually does them Saturday, which I prefer, but couldn't this time. The horses will be prancing away today with trimmed hooves.

DH is taking the boys to a motocross race this afternoon so that leaves us girls here by ourselves.

Sandy, our dog, got sprayed last night by a skunk!~ I have a few mats that MUST be washed and hung on the line..just when I think the smell is gone I catch a whiff of it!

Other than that a quiet day in store.

Happy Sunday on your homesteads!

[mustang80]

Ahhh a day of rest sounds nice, unfortunately I can't do that today.

I have tons of laundry to do and just cleaning up. The kitchen is a mess because I didn't get to clean it up last night. I took Ashlee and Duncan to practice driving for the first time. They did fine, and Duncan will be okay if he would lose the death grip on the steering wheel, lol.

Have a great day. Lots of rain again today, we're under another flood watch.

[QuilterMom]

We got up this morning to discover our cable was out so no tv or computer for us. We went to church and stopped by the grocery store on the way home. The pastor and his family invited us to lunch with them today, but dh is in mid-process with cabinet doors he's making so we'll go eat with them next Sunday instead. Dh is working on the utility/laundry room cabinets he's building (making doors and sanding the cabinets). I am going to do some laundry and then go write some Scripture verses on the walls in the utility room. They will be primed and painted over so no one will see them, but they will be permanently sealed on the walls and we know they are there (will be doing that for the whole house as we continue to remodel). We would like to get our lemon tree planted today (planted a valencia orange yesterday) if the weather permits - it's thundering now, but it does that a lot here and never rains. I'd also like to continue prepping ground for the remainder of our raised garden beds - I'm almost done! If the weather permits, we'll go to the beach this evening.

[Heather]

I love the idea of writing Scriptures on the wall.........

[slowtypinwoman]

Good afternoon everyone,

Boy, am I tired. The fair was this week and seeing as Michael and I are senior sponsers, we have been working 10-12 hour days at the funnel cake stand. The kids want to take a cruise to Mexico so it will be an expensive trip for them, but a free trip for us. I feel as if every inch of my body has been beaten with a club.
Today I need to do laundry and weed the garden.
I have been shredding zucchinis and packing them in baggies 3 c. to a baggie and freezing them for this winter. They will be wonderful for bread and Christmas gifts.
I have 2 loads of laundry on the line already. Alex and I are going to go to the lake this week to see my aunt and sister so we will have a little r&r then. Poor Michael. He will be working while we are gone. I need to get things ready for that.
I also want to get at least 5 purses ready for my G/F for her store.

I'm off for now. Have a wonderful day all.

[forestdale]

Hello everyone!

Quilter, I just loved reading that you're writing your secret scripture passages on the wall, only to cover them with paint later. I thought I was the only one to do that sort of thing! When I was the editor of our little local newspaper I used to do that, only in very non-religious way. When I was typesetting the pages, if I was mad at someone and there was a story about them, under the story I'd aways write why I was mad and then hide it with a white box. I'd also do it for people I liked. I'd put in a flower graphic or big kisses. It used to always freak out DH and he kept telling me I'd forget to block it out one day but in all the years I did that paper, I always remembered to white box over my "additions". The woman who worked for me then, Susan, and I used to laughed about it and we still do when we get together. And like you, even though noone knew it was there (except Susan, Dh and I), I loved knowing it was secretly there, staring at everyone. I can be quite evil when I put my mind to it.

I'm taking my sewing machine in for a service today. I've had it for 20 years and it's never been serviced. My sister told me to do it. I was going to buy another machine but she said my old one just needs a service and it'll be right as rain. When it comes home agin I'm going to attempt a patchwork quilt for my guest room. DS said she'd help, I also have my DIL who teaches craft but I'll probably utilise the patchwork sticky here. I'm looking forward to getting started. I already have most of my fabric.

I also need to vacuum the floors today and make some bread. Tomorrow we're doing the homesteaders' challenge. Can't wait!

[guest2]

Today we ended up staying home from church because Chris and Josh were both sick with the flu. Jeff and I headed into town to have a lunch date and do the shopping for the week just in case the rest of us get it. Jaysn was left in charge of the "sick ones" and was really good about making sure they took their temps and dranks lots of fluids. By the time noon hit, Jaysn was starting to feel a bit under the weather and by 2 p.m. so was I. Good thing the shopping is done and we are stocked up.

Earlier this morning I worked in the garden and picked a big bowl full of strawberries. I also cut more brocolli. The watering of the back yard and the side garden were also completed. Now I just have the front yard and flower beds and the other side flower garden to do.

This afternoon and evening we are all taking it easy and the kids and my DH are watching videos. I don't want anyone pushing themselves. We all need to rest to get over this bug.

Here is a big germ free for you!

[Heather]

Debbie, sending healing hugs to your home!

Bethany, I'm sure that's all your machine needs, it'll be working perfect again. How exciting starting on a new quilt!

Marcia, hope you get lots of rest tonight Sounds like one busy week.

[guest2]

Thanks Heather!

[forestdale]

Debbie, hope the boys are well soon. I hope you don't come down with anything. DH had a cold on the weekend and I noone else in the house got it. Surprising really seeing as we are always drinking each other's tea (by mistake) and sleeping in the same bed. Hugs to you and the boys, Deb.

Hether, yep, I'm looking forward to the quilt. I'm craft challenged and have no clue but my sister says she's sure I can do it, so we'll see.

Marcia, what is funnel cake?

I've just come home from doing all my away from home chores and have since put on some osso buco in the slow cooker for the chaps. I'm having vegetables - I bought some delicious looking small brussel sprouts while I was out, I'll cook them with some potatoes, pumpkin and carrots.

I've also just been to the library and got a book about American barns which I'm looking forward to reading tonight.

Toodle Pip.

[QuilterMom]

Bethany, I am LOL at your post from yesterday!

Feel better hmschlmom and family!


We got a lot of rain yesterday, but it cleared up and we still got to go to the beach. The bait fish were running though and extremely close to shore. We saw sharks in less than knee deep water! Yes, I said sharks and yes, plural as in more than one!!! They were no more than 2 feet long each and small, but would still be able to do some damage so we stayed out of the water. The water was pretty cold after all the rain anyway. I wandered around picking up things (certain shells I look for and I collect sea glass). I found a really neat looking sea bean yesterday so I guess I officially started my collection of those. Now I see that ds comes by it honest - he's always picking up stuff and starting a collection. LOL

Today I need to tackle my homeschool/art/craft/etc. supplies again and continue to get them in organized containers to put in the utility/laundry room (the room is 200 sq. feet - what a blessing!). I'm taking ds to a library program this afternoon and need to run a couple of errands while I'm out. Dh is going to try to purchase the paint we chose for the utility room (depending on price) today so I may be painting tonight.

[homesteadmamma]

Good morning everyone. My computer is acting up so if I'm missing in action you know why.

Its extremely hot here, so not much getting done. I do need to deliver papers as soon as they get here. I think I'll take the van for that.

I need to fold clothes as well.

I have company coming at the end of the week, so I need to do a bit of cleaning up. Otherwise, I won't be doing much of anything with it this hot. Its also very humid.

Have a great day everyone.

[canadian gardener]

ROFL Bethany you Machiavellian marvel you! Heheheheheh. White boxes! That would have me in a panic, the computer would freeze and send it to the printer before the white box covered it if it was me I'm sure.

Dd loves to paste scripture verses she is memorizing on her bathroom mirror downstairs. Well, beside it actually, she still likes to check out her makeup.

Debbie I hope you are feeling better.

CJ hope the computer comes back, I always miss it when you aren't on much.

Carolyn, I'm joining you in a big cleaning party!

We got home from the wedding. good time, but so hot and humid down in that area. Nice to be back in the dry heat of home.

I loved that the brides family skipped the receiving line. Saved a good half hour or more, and a lot of tense formal "what the hey do I say now, that the wedding party hasn't heard at least 40 times ahead of me in line?" moments.

I'm saving THAT delicious idea for future reference!!!

Well I'm definitely feeling better. We got home late from the wedding at 1130 at night, and I was able to go to church yesterday only a little gritty eyed. I took a nap, and we went out to dinner but normally I'd be in bed for 3 days after a day like that.

I'm doing my monday clean this morning.

dd left early this morning for her Europe trip. My step mum has invited her (and is paying for) a cruise in the baltic, with side trips to see the Hermitage in Russia and other places.

She is quite happy! I will miss her, but it's kinda fun too, because dh and I will be ALONE for almost 3 weeks.

WOOO HOOOO!!!!

I'm going to cook less, and clean less for sure, and generally enjoy having a house that pretty much stays the way I put it.

And some dates with dh, complete with a nice dinner for two at home, no interruptions. ahhhhhh!

By the time she comes home, I'll have gone from missing her a bit, to missing her like crazy and it'll be time, but I'm going to enjoy my break!

[forestdale]

G'day homesteaders.

Margery, what a fabulous trip for your dd. I would like to visit Russia. I hope both she and you enjoy her time away. Having a house to yourself is a delicious luxury.

I feel for all you ladies who are suffering in the humidity. Try to stay out of the sun and drink plenty of water.

I have a big clean up day today. I also have to bake some bread. I got some delightful books from the library yesterday. One was about American barns - it talked about the amish, pennsylvania dutch, the german influence and there were some great pics of barning raisings. another was a book of the simple daily lives of the french. It's a lovely gentle book about the daily rituals of ordinary french people that have remained unchanged for a long long time. It's one of those books that makes you smile while you're reading it. It was written for the american market so it's probably in your libraries. It's called Joie De Vivre - simple french style for everyday living and it's written by Robert Arbor and Katherine Whiteside.

It's still very cold here with the night temperatures going down to 2 degrees. The entire east coast of australia is under the influence of a cold front with high winds, snow - down south, hail and some rain. We've not had much rain but it's very windy and cold. I have my ugg boot slippers on and I don't intend to take them off today.

I took my sewing machine in for a service yesterday and the man who will do the service called my machine "the old girl". I think I like him.

I notice debbie's not here yet. I hope you're okay deb. If you've come down with the cold I hope you get some rest and recover soon.

Enjoy your day.