Down on the Homestead: August 14-20th

**Michele Annette** · 08-14-2005, 05:53 PM

Hi Everyone !

Yesterday was really hot, but I had to run some errands. DH was away for the day and so I went to the bank, downtown to pick up something for DH then stopped home for some lunch. I then went back out to Joann Fabrics because they were having a one day only big sale and I need clothes so desperately. I had a budget of $30 in cash only and I knew I wanted to at least make two skirts for Fall. So I get in there. Simplicity patterns are on sale for $1.99 each. I already have some fabric at home for one skirt already, just needed a pattern for that. I am there for two hours, but I make it out of there with 5 Simplicty patterns, and enough new material for 2 long, Fall skirts, 2 Sundresses and 1 Summer skirt. All for $30.21! I had the rest of the change in my change pocket!

The fabric is so beautiful and I have found my creativity again. I am so happy for that!

DH and I are having a really nice day today. It's raining and I 'm glad after such a hot week. Tonight is a simple dinner of veggie burgers and homeade bakes fries and a movie.

I am now off to sew. I hope you are all having a great weekend!

**psjkmom** · 08-14-2005, 06:26 PM

Michelle, sounds like you hit the jackpot! How great that you have the skills and creativity to make so many pieces of clothing on so little cash! Kudos to you.

It rained here yesterday too and we were thrilled. We went to a picnic last night and my dh and ds1,2,3 have gone to another today. Dd and I are home just hangin' out. Right now she's trying on her big brother's shoes - her favorite thing.

Hope everyone has a great week.

Emily

**forestdale** · 08-14-2005, 06:57 PM

Hello homesteaders! welcome to homesteading, Emily

Easy day for me. I've already done the floors and a load of laundry. I'm going to make salmon patties for dinner soon (it's 8.50am now) and a lemon meringue pie later. I have a million lemons to use up. I noticed our first macadamia nut flowers on the tree yesterday - I did the happy dance when I saw them. I adore macadamias.

I'll be writing the day away and checking on the new chickens every so often.

Happy sewing Michele. I'm sure you'll make some beautiful clothes.

I hope everyone has a great week.

**Mom23boys** · 08-15-2005, 12:25 AM

Hello to all!

It has been really hectic here lately. Chris and Dakota are both involved in football and practice everyday. School is starting Tuesday for the boys. I have been going everyday the past week and am tired. I thought I would take it easy this weekend to get back into the swing of things once again, but that didn't work out. Chris had a scrimmage game early Sat. morning and Dakota had a practice late Sat. afternoon. Then I took the boys to get their haircut. I just didn't want to do it this time.

Last night at midnight DH decides he needs to go to the ER, so we do. I thought they would just give him some pain meds and send him home. WRONG! They decide he needs to be admitted. He was put in a room at 6 am. I hung around until 10am to see the dr. to find out what the plans were. They are going to run more test in the morning. Not sure really what it is yet, but they have an idea. I called my principal and asked if I could take the day off tomorrow. She said yes, of course. I am glad I work for a great person.

Tried to mow the yard yesterday, but didn't finish. Maybe sometime this week.

I hope you had a great weekend.

**forestdale** · 08-15-2005, 12:27 AM

Good grief, Michelle! I hope your DH is okay. Let us know what happens and try to get some rest.

**homesteadmamma** · 08-15-2005, 10:14 AM

Michelle, I hope your dh is okay. Please update us when you can.

Good morning everyone. Its nice to be back after the weekend off. I've been really enjoying shutting down the computer on Fri. and not coming back on until Mon. However this weekend I wasn't feeling well. I'm feeling a bit better today though.

I did manage to get quite a bit of quilting done this weekend along with lots of rest.

Today I need to:

~freeze some Swiss chard
~check the carrots and see if they are ready for freezing
~make a few phone calls
~find a clip board and start making lists of what we need to do when we are in the city. With gas prices over $1.00 a litre, our trips need to be few and we need to combine everything in one trip. Its an hour to the city (one way).
~clean the post office tonight

Hope everyone has a great Monday.

**Michele Annette** · 08-15-2005, 01:09 PM

Michelle- I hope your DH is doing better soon!!

Welcome Emily!

Rhonda- I love macadamias too! You actually have a tree? I think I would love your climate!

Hope you are feeling better CJ!

Just a quick post. The sun is shining, but it's still cool. Perfect weather! I hope you all have a good day!

**Strawberry** · 08-15-2005, 02:53 PM

Good morning homesteaders!

Michelle - I hope your dh is ok

Try get some rest.

CJ - Hope you're feeling better soon

Yesterday I spent a wonderful day outside. I puttered in the yard weeding, cleaning, gave my greenhouse some tlc, picked 8 more tomatoes and 1 more cucumber, and read on my swing. It was such a relaxing day

Today is a cooler day so after I drive dh to his appointments I plan on canning some spiced crabapples. I've done one load of laundry so far and baked a sour cream coffee cake.

I keep thinking about dd and wondering what she's doing. One week down, three more to go.

Hope you all have a wonderful day

**QuilterMom** · 08-15-2005, 03:43 PM

Tina - Sour cream coffee cake sounds divine!

Rhonda - We love macadamias, too! We can grow them here and I have been begging for a tree, but dh is reluctant since we want to move and he insists that is going to be sooner than later. I was just looking through some Hawaiian recipes yesterday and so many of the fishes they use a mac nut crust on and of course I started craving mac nut pie!!!!!

Michele - Have fun making all those new clothes!

Michelle - Hope everything is okay with your dh!

Emily - Welcome to the homesteading forum!

CJ - I am off after this post to see your newest blocks.

I have been doing something yesterday and today that I should have been doing all along - labeling videotapes! I tape so many things for ds, some educational that we use for homeschool and some just for fun, but I never take the time to label the tapes and write down what's on them (like specific show titles if I tape several of a series). I have been doing that and it feels so good to know what's where now!!!!!

Gas is out of control here, too. I watched for prices as I drove back from the medical facility this morning and I saw prices anywhere from $2.42 (station far from my house) to $2.69 (of course those were near my house).

This is hurting us terribly. I already combine errands so I'm going to have to figure out somewhere else for the extra money to come from. Ugh!

**Strawberry** · 08-15-2005, 03:54 PM

Kim - I made the same cake yesterday and the boys had friends over and the cake disappeared. Today I made another one at dh's request

**Mom23boys** · 08-15-2005, 05:39 PM

Hello to all.

Taking a break from the hospital. I had to come home anyway. Richard and Chris have to be at the high school tonight to get their class schedules for tomorrow. Dakota has football practice tonight too. I plan on dropping Dakota off at practice, going back to the high school with the other two and then going back to the hospital with DH. Richard and Chris will go back to Dakota's practice and wait on him to finish and then they can come back home.

We still have no answers from the hospital yet. Dh seemed to be in better spirits and then the pain kicked in again, so they medicated him. He should be resting comfortably about now.

Tomorrow school starts. I guess we are all ready. I plan on going to work, but keeping my phone near me just in case DH calls. I don't really want to miss the first day, but will if he needs me.

I guess I need to do some cleaning before the mad dash.

Have a great evening.

**Mamaw** · 08-15-2005, 09:24 PM

Hello all! Well, had a wonderful weekend with my grand daughter Morgan. She is not yet 2 and is such fun. We took her to a water park and she loved it. That child is certainly a water baby! This morning, I said my good byes and made the drive home. Then went to work as normal. Long day but so worth it!
This week I need to go clean my sisters house, ( she is disabled) and hopefully clean my own a bit too! LOL

I hope you all have a great week and that everything turns out for you all for the best! Take care

**homesteadmamma** · 08-16-2005, 02:28 PM

Michelle, thinking of you and wondering how your dh is doing?

Whew its been one of those days today. I slept in which isn't good when you have so much to get done in a day. Once up I got the kids up and fixed them their breakfast.

Dd and I then headed over to a friends to pick crabapples. We picked as many as we could. When I got home another friend phoned and said she had a pail of crabapples for me.

I also had to make a phone call in regards to the committee library group and find out what was happening there.

Now I have all these crabapples to get done, along with carrots and another batch of Swiss chard to get froze. I don't even have last night's dishes done yet.

I'm going to be doing crabapples most of the afternoon.

Tonight its over to the post office, then home to phone a friend (long distance) and then read. Don't even think I'll get another block made today although I did yesterday. I just don't have the time to post it today. Hopefully I'll get it posted tomorrow.

Have a great Tues. everyone.

**cthy1954** · 08-16-2005, 03:02 PM

And I thought that I had been busy.

I was suppose to spend the day finishing cleaning our bedroom. I let it get out of control, what with the garden and all, and then start on the computer room. However, I had fireants on the cabinet this morning and spent the day in the kitchen, tracking them down. Didn't find them, but put out some ant stuff. I don't like to use poisons, but when it comes to fireants in the house, I do not mess around.
Tomorrow I clean the rooms as intended.

**Strawberry** · 08-16-2005, 04:26 PM

Hello homesteaders

I can so relate CJ. I just finished dealing with all my crabapples that were given to us. I canned 9 qts of spiced crabapples last night and boiled more to strain overnight for jelly. This morning I made 6 - 1/2pints of jelly.

I need to finish up the laundry and maybe bake bread. After that I'll relax and read.

Have a great day