Down on the Homestead - Feb. 27 - March 5th

**homesteadmamma** · 02-27-2005, 10:58 AM

Good morning everyone. Its a beautiful day here with falling snow, albeit very lightly. Our weather has warmed up considerably and soon the days will get even warmer. I love this time of the year when we can turn the heat down even more.

Not much on the agenda today. I need to get bread started once I'm off here. I think I'll mix up a batch of cookies as well.

Then this afternoon I'm going to finish the pjs I'm making and also watch curling. Our Manitoba team plays for first place.

Have a great day everyone.

**slowtypinwoman** · 02-27-2005, 12:19 PM

GM C.J. and all to follow,

Today I need to do housework as we went to the city and were gone all day yesterday.

We went to St. Louis to see Mama Mia. Mike's mom got us tickets. We had lovely seats and Alex enjoyed herself much more than she did at Le Mis. This was a happy up show ans the mini concert at the end was a lot of fun. Today when we were doing dishes and loading the laundry machine we were listening to ABBA. Alex was on overkill mode. LOL

While in St.L yesterday we hit the thrift store. I got about 7 tops and Alex got 2 and a pair of leather shoes. Anzo Angioli (sp?) They are like $65 shoes. She got them for $5! The whole trip to the thrift store only costs us $15 so we got many deals. I was talking with my G/F whith whom I go to the thrift stores. We were saying how we are thrift store snobs. When I buy new merchendice I don't buy name brands. However when I am at the thrift store, I continually get designer things for way less when I buy new. The shoes are just one example. I also got an Ann taylor sweater, A jones top and about 3 others that I can't remember. Does anyone else find themselves doing this?

I have done about 3 loads of laundry already. Mike did the dishes. Alex and I went through her drawers and took out all the too small items. I want to clean the bathroom. finish laundry and vaccum all the rooms with rugs. I would also like to take the dogs on a walk. I got up yesterday at 6:30 a.m. and did this. It was a beautiful crisp morning. I also need to work on some crafts so I have some things ready for up coming shows.

Wow, it looks as though I have a full day so I had better get moving!

Have a wonderful day gals!
Marcia

**kestrel91316** · 02-27-2005, 01:47 PM

Down on the URBAN homestead here.............

Yesterday I roasted a $1 turkey that DBF had given me last Nov. and I stuck in the freezer. I just rubbed it with olive oil and then with Herbes de Provence, roasted it unstuffed............the aroma all day was incredible. I pulled all the meat off, then cooked up the carcass into some rich stock that I strained and put in the fridge.

Now today I will take off the fat, and crockpot up some turkey soup. Also, this AM I handwashed 3 pairs of pants using my HM laundry soap (from ZOTE). They are hanging on the patio as it is finally a warm, sunny day. (I have no washer and with a laundromat 2 blocks away it seems silly to buy one; I do a lot of handwashing in the kitchen sink which works fine for me by myself).Then I will walk the 2 blocks to the 99c Store for some dish soap for my stockpile and some canned salmon for the pantry. No time to work in the garden, but it looks like the 2 weeks of cold, flooded mess rotted my cucumber seeds in the ground................

**forestdale** · 02-27-2005, 02:14 PM

Good morning homesteaders.

As I was walking out of the bedroom this morning in the dark DH said the words I hate to hear: "can you do the banking today?" GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! I really hate going to the bank.

Apart from that, I'll be baking bread and a cake, cleaning out the chicken coop and sowing more vegetable seeds in the greenhouse. This afternoon I have to do some laundry and draw a few designs before I visit my DIL.

I'm falling behind with my sewing and as I didn't list on ebay yesterday and won't have time today, I'll just have to live with being behind with that too. I might do some tonight.

I seem to have lost all my energy since I went to Sydney.

I have all these grand plans about getting things done but I don't seem to get through everything I need to do. Hopefully things will improve as I feel happy and content, just very tired.

Enjoy your day.

**DaisyLady** · 02-27-2005, 03:36 PM

Good Sunday afternoon fellow homesteaders,

This has been one incredibly busy week and I am grateful it is finally over. It seemed like everyone wanted a piece of me at the same time. Definitely not a frugal week either. DH went out on Thursday and shopped

He thought he was helping me but since he didn't check with me first he got things that I had coupons for or knew were on sale some where else. I think he got the message to check first next time

We also bought a treadmill this week. It was on sale for 1/2 price. Now I can walk without worrying about my back or about falling on ice or my allergies ...no more excuses!!

Rhonda ~ I did make sure to take some time for me this week. I am making that my priority.

We had our new sound system installed at church this week and the service this morning was our inaugural run. While it didn't go as smoothly as we had hoped the improvement was definitely noticeable. No more annoying buzzing or feedback

This afternoon I am playing catch up on some paper work, playing here at the village and doing some research on line. Tonight I have a great dinner planned with a bit of wine and then DH and I are calling a family meeting. The kids have been neglecting their chores so we need to remind them of their responsibilities.

We are expecting a couple of snow storms over the next few days. I'm hoping that if March comes in like a lion it will go out like a lamb and spring will arrive early!

Have a blessed day!

**QuilterMom** · 02-27-2005, 04:32 PM

Good afternoon!

Dh had to work again this morning. Ugh! By the time next Sat. rolls around he will have worked 19 days straight with no time off. He's exhausted already! Needless to say, nothing is getting done on our remodeling.

It started raining here during the night and has not stopped. Our electricity blinked off for a few seconds a while ago.

I'm about ready to start building an ark! Ds and I got ready to go to Sunday School this morning, but it started pouring and there was no way I could have gotten our front gate (literally a cattle gate) open without having been soaked to the skin so we stayed home. I ended up not feeling so well anyway and took a nice long nap once dh got home.

We've been watching a double disc surfing dvd this afternoon and dh made homemade chili. Nothing else is going to get accomplished today. LOL

Have a great day everyone!

**Ellise** · 02-27-2005, 06:23 PM

Good Evening everyone

I've been away for a while, but stayed quite busy I assure you. Now that all my rooms are de cluttered, repainted and organized, I can get back into the swing of things.

This am, after breakfast : Homemade biscuits, Country ham (Dh & Ds) scrambled eggs and bacon, Fresh squeezed OJ and coffee.

Morning workout with the guys, two loads of laundry done.
Afternoon quick swipe of the counter tops and all hard surface areas.
Sort out some material to wash and cut for new draperies in Office
Lunch was Fruit and Yogurt plates
Supper was, pan seared terriaki steaks, baked potatoes, green salad and garlic toast.
Tonight will be a movie and popcorn

**guest2** · 02-27-2005, 06:51 PM

Ellise~It's so good to have you home again

Rhonda~ I hate to do the banking also!

Unless I can do it online, I have DH do it!

Kim~I love your new avatar!
CJ~You sound like youa re having a lovely day!
Marcia~Moma Mia sounds like so much fun!
Gayle~Welcome to the thread and I think you did fantastic stretching that turkey!

Chriss~ You are inspiring me to get back on that treadmill that is sitting out in my garage gathering dust!

It has been a lovely Sunday here! This morning we went down to the church here in town that the boys' youth group was doing for the praise and worship part of the service and I was so proud of ALL the kids! They sang beautifully and their prayers were heartfelt. What a great group of young people we have in our town!

After we came home, we worked out in the gardens clearing out all the dead debris and trying to get things ready to till up later and plant when the time is right. Jeff and I then installed the new stereo in the van (ours had a short in it and I talked the dealership into giving us a new one) and then we headed down to the park with the kids for awhile. It's warm here and the park was full of kids playing and people walking aroud the track. We were able to visit with many of our friends that we had not seen in awhile.

Jeff is now busy installing his new stereo (bought on clearance) for his/boys car and I have a housefull of kids! At last count there were 9 kids in our home and it is just busting at the seams!

Our "other son" Dan (the one who had fallen out of the tree last week) came over and told me "It's so good to be at my home away from home!"

That just warmed my heart and I told him we had missed having him "our son" here also.

We did manage to get laundry done and hung on the line today so I suppose I should take it off here soon before it gets dark.

I just love line dried clothes! Jeff and I talked and have made some decisions this weekend reguarding next school year. We are not going to have the boys or me involved in co-op or some other classes and concentrate more on things here at home and making sure the boys are prepared to be out on their own. Jaysn may be taking some community college classes in computers and he will be working more so he will be quite busy. I think this year has been a hard one on all of us trying to fit in too much and the boys are feeling the stress of it also. So...I think this will be best for all of us. It has really given the boys and I some peace on our hearts.

I pray that the rest of your day will be blessed!

**Strawberry** · 02-27-2005, 07:50 PM

Good afternoon friends

It's been a beautiful spring like day with the sun shining brightly.

I never had a chance to post last week. Dh is slowing improving although he has now been having vision problems. He's having double vision and blurring. Friday the doctor will hopefully run some more tests.

We are having problems with the insurance company. What we were told at the beginning is not what we now are hearing. We also will not see any money for the month dh has not been able to work until the whole file is settled. That will be months away

Our friend who had open heart surgery has been having a difficult time. She has being in the hospital again since Thursday. It is really hard on her mom and dad so we've been trying to help with sitting at the hospital with their daughter and also doing some errands and meals for them. While dd and I were at the hospital today they had more bad news. The doctor's are hearing some abnormal sounds from the value repair. There is a possiblity she will be airlifted out to Vancouver tomorrow. I feel so bad for her and her parents. I had a great talk with her mom today outside the hospital. The poor lady is at the breaking point from all the stress. I wish there was more our family could do for them.

Between church and the hospital visit I having gotten much done around here. I need to make some puddings and cookies or muffins for lunches tomorrow.

I am hoping to spend the evening in my bed with a good book.

Hope you all get a little relaxing in today

**homesteadmamma** · 02-27-2005, 07:54 PM

Debbie - I'm jumping up and down here and you know why.

I think you made a very wise decision.

Gayle welcome to the thread.

**guest2** · 02-27-2005, 08:01 PM

Thanks CJ! Me too!

Tina~ My prayers are with you and your friends.

**Kindred-Spirit** · 02-27-2005, 08:51 PM

Hi everyone. I can't wait for spring! We have been planning our garden and thinking about building a larger hen house for more chickens.

My grain grinder is NOT working. I went to grind corn and it stopped. We have tried using a vacum to get out the corn etc.. I need to call the company to see whats up with it.

My husband missed the bread so much he used the old bread maker, lol, it made a pitiful pile of baked dough alais bread. Don't know why he didn't just use my regular recipes and the KA. Guess he thought it was just as good, he has a short memory.

I have spent alot of time this winter reading. It is a passion of mine, that I had gotten too busy to enjoy.

The family and i did a night without electric. We played cards and had alot of fun. I can not get them to go days. Guess we need to rent a state cabin without electric and bring out oil lamps. That would be alot of fun.

**forestdale** · 02-28-2005, 01:12 AM

Chriss, it's good to see you back here. I'm so pleased you're taking time for the important things.

Debbie, looks like you've got you and your family on the right path. I like the way you operate, young lady.

I'm taking a break from drawing. If I see one more heart I think I'll throw up.

**dmvezina** · 02-28-2005, 08:46 AM

Good morning all!!! It is partly cloudy outside and 22 degrees. We're in for a major snowstorm tonight!

I've missed posting but I couldnt' get in for a few days!!
Glad to be back though.

Today I need to:
do 2 loads of laundry
scoop the cat box
clear the cobwebs from the livingroom
clean the livingroom windows
wash the knick knacks & shelves
wipe fingerprints from livingroom
polish the livingroom furniture
wash the livingroom curtain
clean the end tables
wipe livingroom baseboards
clean the livingroom ceiling fan
dust the tv & lamps in livingroom
clean the pictures on the livingroom walls
clean out the chiminea
tidy my desk
mail back movies
mail coupons

If I have time, I would like to do my food inventory too. I like to try and do this at least at the beginning of the month.

Well, the kids are on vacation this week and I got pretty lucky for the first half of the week. dd-16 is at my sisters until Thursday, dd-13 is at her friends 45 mins away, not sure when I have to get her, maybe today, tomorrow or Wed. (lol) and ds-12 went to Maine w/his friend and their family and won't be back until Wed. So, all I have here is ds-7.

Breakfast today was oatmeal and muffins
LUnch will be tuna sandwiches, tortilla chips, fruit & a brownie
Dinner is steak, twice baked potato casserole, peas & cake for dessert

Well, I hope you all have a great day today!!

**guest2** · 02-28-2005, 10:30 AM

Hi Kindred! It's good to see you here again. I hope you get your grain mill unstuck!

Rhonda~I was laughing at your heart comment. My husband made me promise years ago that I would never, ever decorate our home in a heart motif.

It's just too overwhelminly fru-fru for him and I agree.

Dawn~you are one busy lady! Enjoy having some time with you youngest while the others are away!

It's a new week and a busy one at that for us. Last night I ended up going to bed at 7:30 a.m. because I was just dead tired! We had a wonderful weekend full of projects, BBQ's with friends and kids but also with my allergies kicking in and those bring on migraines for me. It feels good to wake up rested this morning and know that although things are busy now that there are plans in place for next school year that will make things easier.

I feel so sorry for my neighbors...this morning they were subjected to seeing me hauling down the trash and recycling to the end of the driveway in my nightgown, house slippers and jacket.

Jeff and the twins had left early and Jaysn was on a walk, so I was on my own. I'm sure I looked a site and I'm praying none of them had their glasses on or their coffee yet!

Chris has a doctor's appointment today to see how his foot is healing. He bumped the ankle last night and I'm hoping that did not set him back. While in town there, I am going to drop off my time sheets and monthly stats for the library at our headquarters and make a quick trip to the grocery store to see what they have in the marked down bins. Then it's back home and work with the kids on their Logic, reports and other schoolwork. I do have to get some more housework done and then head down to work. Jaysn will have to take the twins to driving this afternoon and pick them up afterwards. They can then help him deliver the newspapers and then Jaysn has play practice for the Good Friday service. I have no idea what time everyone will finally be back home tonight but that is life I guess.

Praying you all have a blessed day!