Down on the Homestead - June 26 - July 2nd

**homesteadmamma** · 06-26-2005, 10:30 AM

Morning everyone. Whew we had a huge storm last night. I'm afraid to go out and see my garden. My flowers in the front look pretty bad so I'm wondering if we might have gotten hail. It was sure a loud one.

We have to go into the city and then we are probably heading over to visit our oldest dd at her farm, unless dh isn't feeling up to it. Then I'll just head into the city by myself as I need to pick up some things.

I was able to get another row done on dd's quilt. Only 2 more rows to go. Its going much slower because I'm quilting each block seperately and then sewing together. There is a lot of hand sewing (which I love), however it goes a whole lot slower.

Tonight its cleaning the post office and then finishing a book I'm reading.

Have a great Sunday everyone.

**dolphin** · 06-26-2005, 01:52 PM

CJ, sounds like you have a full day ahead of you. Enjoy your Sunday.

I'm vegging out on the computer for a bit then I've got to go do a couple loads of laundry and fix something to eat. (tummy growling).

I planted 12 tomatoe plants in the hot house yesterday. I hope they make it. It's already getting up to over 100 here but the hot house has screen shading on it so maybe they will make it. I'd like to atleast have one successfull year of gardening here.

Nothing much else planned for today. Dh will watch NASCAR and then we have a few chores to take care of outside. Dh saved up money and was able to get one of the 3 garages completely finished. The drywall looks so nice and we just painted the floor this weekend with that epoxy garage floor paint. It was expensive but it will last forever and we paid for it with dh's bonus and a rebate on the finishing work.

I hope everyone has a lovely day today.

**dmvezina** · 06-27-2005, 10:02 AM

Good morning! It's been so hot & humid. Today isn't supposed to be AS hot but still very humid.

We had a pretty busy weekend. We had friends over for a cookout yesterday. that was nice!

Ryan had a bit of an "episode" Friday night and ended up falling asleep around 6:30 & slept at least 12 hours.

I need to do:
1 load of laundry **hanging outside
weed gardens
vacuum
declutter magazines & newspapers
mop floors
clip coupons
clean dining chairs
polish diningtable
clean the silverware tray
clean the coffeemaker
tidy the laundry room
wipe down the washer & dryer
wipe down the chest freezer
clean diningroom windows
clean doorknobs/lightswitches in diningroom/laundry room
mail movies back
mail coupons
go pick up medicine
go to library
scoop the cat box
wash the water pitcher
find a couple of movies on ebay for dd

Breakfast was oatmeal, choice of freezer breakfasts & applesauce
Lunch will be potato pancakes, pasta salad & fruit
Dinner is crockpot beef roast, rice pilaf & salad

If I'm going to take the kids to the library after lunch then I need to get moving & get my work done!! lol

I hope you all have a great day!

**Mom23boys** · 06-27-2005, 11:13 AM

Good morning. It is very hot here! I hate Texas heat! You think I would be used to it since I lived here all my life, but I think it gets worse the older I get.

I am so glad to be home. We spent the weekend on the North side of Dallas at the state baseball tournament for Chris. It was fun and exciting, but tiring and very, very hot.

I need to get our house back in order and do some decluttering in the kitchen today.

I hope you all have a great day.

**QuilterMom** · 06-28-2005, 09:17 AM

I finally heard yesterday on the news that we have had the 3rd wettest June in the state's recorded history since some time in the 1940's. If it continues to rain through Thursday as forecasted, we could end up in 1st or 2nd position on that list. Ugh! The hurricanes wiped out our fall garden last year and now all this rain has wiped out the garden again - certainly not the homesteading experience I had envisioned.

The road construction noise behind us started up again today bright and early (we've had a break for a few days due to the rain). I'm trying very hard to ignore it and just be happy. There's a lot I want to get accomplished today. I'm still lacking a lot of energy though and get winded easily so I'll just have to pace myself and be thrilled with what I actually get done.

**QuilterMom** · 06-28-2005, 09:39 AM

I just saw this smilie (don't know when it got added!) and love it!

**Mom23boys** · 06-28-2005, 11:32 AM

Kim, maybe the rain will be done for a while. You can always send it our way. We are going on 26 days of no rain. They were saying on the news that we are in a drought! There are burn bans in effect. The grass is starting to turn yellow. I noticed some of the leaves on the trees starting to fall off yesterday and started watering them. I don't know if the garden will survive this heat or not. I am praying it does. I have to water it either daily or ever other day because the soil just dries up and starts cracking.

I need to declutter the kitchen today. Never got around to it yesterday. I feel like I am zapped and have no energy to spare. I just can't get motivated to do anything after this weekend. It must have taken more out of me than I thought. I think it was the heat...having to sit out all day Sat. and Sun. in 99º weather with no shade!

I hope you all have a great day on your homestead!

**bridge** · 06-28-2005, 05:30 PM

Hello, Today started ou really rotten. I accidently hit one of my kittens when I was leaving for work (It was my favorite one)

I did get the dishes done beore leaving for work and my clothes hung on my new clothes drying rod ( I had a extra shower curtain rod and put it in a large doorway space)

I went to go to lunch with a friend, she even brought coupons for us, (she know's me) It was a nice lunch!!

My afternoon is going better, but I still am sad about the kitten

I hope to get to read tonight and run the vaccuum

**homesteadmamma** · 06-29-2005, 12:08 PM

Well I'm back although I don't know for how long today. Were suppose to get 4 inches of rain and severe thunderstorms. Kim, I'm with you - I'm so tired of this rain. I'm sure when they show us the stats for June, we will have had the highest rain persciptation in our history. In some areas on Monday, they received 10 inches. They are now warning of flash flooding. Our sump pump is running continuously and were praying the power doesn't go out!!

I haven't gotten anything done outside. The weeds in the garden look horrible. I'm not sure how much more rain the garden can take. The flowerbeds are all doing well along with all the weeds. The roses are in full bloom though which is really nice.

I've been reading quite a bit lately (not much else to do) - books on pioneers and homesteading. I read These is my Words yesterday.

I've also been quilting a bit although I have to take it slowly as my shoulder has been giving me some trouble with all the dampness we are having.

Hope everyone has a great day.

**QuilterMom** · 06-29-2005, 12:22 PM

Gloomy day here, but no rain........... yet. It's in the forecast though.

I've been working in the master bedroom today. It is so cluttered with us having 2 rooms ripped apart for remodeling right now. I decided to declutter again and I'm really showing no mercy this time. I worked in the garden for about 15 minutes this morning (until I could no longer stand the heat) and got a bunch of dead stuff ripped out.

It's weed city out there due to all the rain so I've got a ton of work ahead of me.

**dmvezina** · 06-29-2005, 12:51 PM

Good afternoon! I am finally able to get in here. This is really bugging me as to why I can't get in here some days. I've tried everything!! Oh well, as long as I can sometimes!! lol

It's pouring here and thundered a little bit. I hate thunderstorms. I kind of like lightening at night but as long as I'm watching it from inside my house!! lol

I have so much to and haven't even started yet!! I just finally got my 2nd load of laundry in the washer. It's not a very good day here!! The kids are driving me bonkers! Ryan is kind of acting up. I'm trying to keep everyone calm and trying to get them to leave me alone so I can do my work! lol Yah right!! lol

I have to do:
clip coupons
x vacuum--dd did
x mop floors--dd did
clean off desk
dust desks
clean out desk drawers
clean desk shelves
clean out baskets on desk
fling pens/pencils
check desk supplies
clean underneath desks
fill printer
clean keyboards
clean out bill folder
pay bills
x plan next weeks menu
make grocery list
file papers/receipts
clean out fridge
clean out van
update freezer inventories
update pantry inventories
make cupcakes
2 loads of laundry **one in the dryer & one in the washer

Breakfast was french toast, bananas w/oranges
Lunch was homemade tomato soup, grilled cheese & peaches
Dinner will be, well, I'm not sure yet. It's meatless night and I have potato pancakes planned but I made those for the kids for lunch the otehr day so I'm considering changing it to maybe mac-n cheese or something instead.

I need to get moving here. I hope you all are having a great day!

**Michele Annette** · 06-29-2005, 03:00 PM

Hi Everyone!

Kim and CJ I am sorry you are both having so much rain! It just started thundering right now and I am very happy. We have been dying for rain! It has been so incredibly hot and humid. I think it's starting to feel better already! I hate it when it's this hot!

We just came back from a lunch for my boss's birthday. It was really nice. We were initially supposed to have something in the back yard, but it was too dang hot...we all wanted AC!

I'm sorry I haven't been here much lately! I really hate being away from the Village so much. I feel like I miss out on so much just after a few days. So I have been trying to get here as much as I can.

DH has been getting more work. Thank you for all of your good thoughts and prayers. I hope he gets a groove soon.

Michelle- I hope you get lots of veggies from your garden! We were able to plant all of our plants last weekend. Now that we have them in some good soil they have been doing much better. No flowers yet though.

Dawn- I am so glad Ryan is doing better at home. I admire your strength. I hope everything continues to go well!

Rhonda- I hope you are doing well! I have been thinking of you since your DS left. I'm glad you heard from him and that he really likes where he is!

Carolyn- It's so nice to see you here again! Your new garage sounds really nice, my DH would be so jealous!

Welcome Bridge- I'm sorry to hear about your kitten! They seem to be in places where they shouldn't most of the time. Poor baby.

Hi to Chriss, Tina,Marcia, Heather and to all others that I haven't seen in awhile! I hope you are all doing well and having a good Summer!

Have a great day!

**Mom23boys** · 06-29-2005, 05:03 PM

Hello to all!

Another hot, hot day here!! Trying to stay in the A/C as much as possible. Still need rain!!!

Took off a car load of junk to the dumpster. I had the backseat and trunk both full and still didn't get everything taken off. I had to wait on DH to get home so I can use the truck. This is stuff that we never got around to hauling off from the decluttering of the sheds and backyard. I just have one load left and it will look great!!

Dakota and Richard went to work with MIL today. They will insert sales ads into the weekly newspaper. It gives them a little spending money and they like that.

**Strawberry** · 06-29-2005, 07:26 PM

Hello homesteaders, I've been pretty quite lately and probably will for awhile.

To make a very long story short, dh has been getting worse in some ways and better in others. The long term disability company rejected his claim...supposedly there's not enough medical proof that he can not return to work.

We are trying for medical employment insurance and social assisitants; both have 21 to 28 days waiting period. Then today we got a letter from his employer stating he either returns to work July 4th or applies for unpaid leave, which they probably will decline, or terminate his position. Dh has until tomorrow to decide and we also have no more medical coverage as of today. This is going from bad to worse and is very stressful.

Just thought I'd let you know what's going on and why I probably won't be post for awhile.

**dmvezina** · 06-30-2005, 09:54 AM

Good morning! The sun has been in & out, but it's supposed to be mostly cloudy with more thunderstorms later on. It is still so humid!

Well, Ryan had another "episode" yesterday afternoon. He punched me, threw rocks at me & dd, hit us with a bat, etc. I don't know how much more of it I can take!! It's really taking it's toll on me & the other children. For some reason, he does not act like this around dh! Which is so frustrating to both of us. He does not actually see what Ryan is doing, so had a hard time understanding it. It frustrates me because after a lengthy amount of time, he'll just stop when daddy gets home & leaves me all stressed & scared! While he just goes & quiets down! ugh!!
The episodes just wear me right down. I'm tired of trying to keep the other kids safe & tired of being physically abused by an 8 yr old! I just don't know what to do anymore! He is uncontrollable when he gets like that.
Well, anyway, I kind of have a light work load today! lol

I need to do:
2 loads of laundry **1st in washer now
make a grocery list
update the freezer inventory
pay bills
clean out fridge
clip coupons
make cupcakes
make a for sale sign for car
type up dh's baseball practice schedule
make apple crisp
run housecall
run disk cleanup
run anti-spy
wipe all baseboards
sweep cobwebs from all rooms
clean all light fixtures
disinfect all doorknobs/lightswitches

Breakfast today was vanilla waffles w/raspberries & whip cream
LUnch will be bagel pizzas, fruit salad, apple crisp
Dinner is a broccoli quiche w/potato crust & raw veggies

I'm hoping to actually relax some today before I have to bring dd to work this afternoon. then I will leave early to pick her up from work & go grocery shopping as all the stores I go to are across the street from her work.

I hope you all have a great day!!