Down on the homestead - Nov 20 to 26

**forestdale** · 11-20-2005, 08:41 PM

Good morning homesteaders, welcome to another week. Christmas will be here soon, it's amazing how fast time goes by.

I didn't post much last week as I was missing my son and feeling a bit down because of it. I'm feeling better now so I'm back posting and not just reading.

Everyone was so busy last week. I hope all those wives and mothers who were frazzled then take a bit of relaxation time.

I'm back to book writing again this week. I sent the submission to the publisher last Friday week and now I'm back tapping away. I've still got a lot to do.

I hope everyone enjoys their week.

**dwallyfam** · 11-20-2005, 09:00 PM

Alright Rhonda.

Today I Fall cleaned parts of my dads apartment. I will be so happy when I finish next Friday. He is paying me to do this. He said better me than a stranger.

Stocked up at the Dollar General. I love that they now have dog treats and take coupons. I save so much there.

Then I spent the rest of the day just doing odds and ends at home.

Hoping to go through some back issues of the paper to see if the pizza ads that I clip for money are there. Need to get a few more.

**Valerie in WA** · 11-20-2005, 09:21 PM

((Rhonda)) Last week was hard on a lot of us for a variety of reasons.

Your American friends are probably going to be busy again this week, as our Thanksgiving holiday is Thursday.

I have more than my usual on the calendar again next week, but it's not too bad. Tomorrow, I am going to enjoy being back at home after working for two days. I want to bake again (rolls) and I really want to work with my older dd on her sewing project. All we've done is pin and cut, and I really had to do most of that. Hopefully tomorrow she can do some of the sewing. It's amazing what a 6yo can do on an electric sewing machine.

I think dh and I are also going to put the duck pen on the garden (and spread straw for bedding). They'll stay there for about 4 months. The areas of the lawn that they've been rotating on (since March or April) are starting to look a little weary. Plus I feel like I'm "wasting" their manure on the lawn, when I want it on my garden.

If I can find enough hours tomorrow, I also am hoping to steam, puree and freeze my very patient pumpkins.

I'm going to talk to the girls about coming up with some 'routines' for our unschooled (i.e. child-led) homeschool. We've been pretty unstructured for two months now and I'm feeling the need for a little bit of structure. Maybe that means we're not 'pure' unschoolers, but as long as we're all getting our needs met, I'm happy.

**Strawberry** · 11-21-2005, 01:01 AM

Rhonda, I'm so glad you're feeling better now. I missed you last week and was thinking of you

dwallyfam, that's nice that you have a win-win situation between your dad and yourself. My parents dislike having a stranger come into their home to clean too.

Valerie, I hope you can take some time for yourself to relax this week. Have fun making your rolls

Saturday was a long day working the elections. The station I was at was not very busy and another station was drowning with people. They asked me to go over and help there. My job was very tedious but I got to say a few words to over 4000 people

I was helping voters put their ballots into the machine. The worse part was having to stand on my feet, in one spot, for 8 hours with only two short breaks. By the end my ankles were killing me. I did enjoy my time away from home though

Today I refined my lists a bit and spent lots of time looking through old Christmas magazines. I also finished up my ornaments for gifts.

Tomorrow I need to make bread and do some housework.

Now I off the bed to read for awhile. Good nite

**hollyhill** · 11-21-2005, 01:37 AM

Hello everyone.
It was a busy weekend!
We had lovely sunny warm days up here on the hill, while we looked down into the fog in the valley. I ran around and did alot of washing so I could hang it out on the line.

But I couldn't get out in to the garden

Because of visitors and other commitments.

But I did make a big apple crisp and cooked the remainder of the apples (they were getting past their prime) into applesauce. I also froze more cooked pumpkin.
Youngest Dd went to a fiddling workshop and older two went to a master class and presented their musical compositions. The composer loved Ds cello piece and was very critical of Dd piano piece (he was hard on all the children who wrote piano pieces) I felt like giving him a lecture on tact!
So I had a very happy son and very unhappy daughter.

It was childrens cheque weekend! Yes! all of it goes to pay bills I put off paying one small bill so that I could buy some eggs, milk and cheese. I really wanted some cheese! I will get some pay next week and I will pay the bill then.

**dmvezina** · 11-21-2005, 08:18 AM

Good morning Homesteaders!!!
I know I've been away for a long time. I've just been so busy and preoccupied! Ryan was in the hospital again. The other children had their sports & therapy appointments as well. I really wish my slower paced life would come back!! But, I don't think that is going to happen any time soon, so might as well get used to it and adjust! lol
How has everyone been? Other than being too busy, I've been ok. We've had colds going around our house but that's about it.

I'm just going to try to jump right back into the swing of things here and maybe try & catch up on everyone!

Breakfast today was oatmeal & poundcake
Dinner will be sweet & spicy kielbasa, rice & peas

With Thanksgiving this week, I'm going to TRY and cram my week of housework into today, tomorrow & Wed. So today I am:

washing all bedding
clip coupons
clean out the fridge & wipe down in & out
wipe down the chest freezer
clean the microwave
wipe down the dishwasher
clean the oven & hood
wipe down the washer & dryer
clean the toaster
wipe down the breadbox
soak the stove burners & knobs
clean the stove top
mail coupons & movie
scoop the cat box
clean the coffeemaker & teapot
clean the tv, puter screens & mirrors
plan next weeks menu
dust
make some mixes
wipe down all tables
clear the counters & clean
disinfect lightswitches & doorknobs
wipe down the cabinet fronts
clean the baseboards
disinfect the telephones
wipe down the window sills
separate & freeze bologna

I think that's it, i hope!!!! lol

What is everyone doing for Thanksgiving?
My mom & dad are going hunting in the morning but then coming here for dinner. I am cooking. Mom is bringing the desserts & maybe some snacks.

Well, I have a lot of work to do, so I'm gonna get going.
I will try my hardest to not stay away so long!!!
I miss you all!!!!

**Jellybeanz** · 11-21-2005, 08:38 AM

Good Morning All Homesteaders

I've got a really busy week ahead of me so I'm just stopping in to say hi. By the way, I'm sorry you are missing your son so much Rhonda..... I know how that is.

On todays to do list is a trip to the store to pick up a few last minute grocery items for TG. I forgot to get ginger the other day and I want to grab a couple fresh herbs to stuff inside my turkey like maybe some rosemary , parsley and thyme. My plans are to start growing my own herbs, just gotta figure out how I'm going to do that with no place inside to do it. I'm seriously thinking of putting together a greenhouse out of some scraps we have.

After I get back home, I hope I don't have to make any more trips because I need to clean my house really good and get to cooking by Wednesday so I'll have it all organized and ready to eat by noon TG day. It's looking like I'll have quite a few extra guests, so no time to waste.

Then Friday or Saturday I hope to take a good long nap and recover from it all. LOL

**RuthNY** · 11-21-2005, 08:55 AM

Good morning everyone. Not much planned here for the next couple days.
Yesterday was a totally by myself do nothing day. I'm so glad to be out of that rat race of a week in Florida I needed some quiet 'me & the dog' time. Not that I didn't have fun, but I can only take so much.
Dave is off hunting with his BIL. I'm thinking he'll be back around tonight so I'm going to bake lasagna for dinner.
We're going to call today and set up the time for the closing on the house and also set up home-owners insurance. Then I'm turning in my notice here at the apartment...YIPEE!
Before I can move in tho we have to tear out the old attic insulation and put in new. We also have to tear out the old carpets and also paint.
We've got our fingers crossed that under the living room carpet is a decent hardwood floors so we can refinish it and put ceramic tiles in the kitchen. There is a continuous flow from the living room thru the kitchen then to the family room. We'd LIKE to have hardwwod in living room, ceramic in the kitchen then pergo in the family room, with carpeting in the bedrooms. If the living room floor is bad we'll probably do pergo all the way thru.
Anyway, time will tell.
I've shown my daughter the house and I think my son is stopping by today and I'll run him over to look at it. Dave's kids haven't seen it yet. They're all pretty ok with the idea of this 'investment' house. It's a smart step for us.
Well, I should go get busy. I've got laundry to do and I've got to get some breakfast.

Rhonda I know ALL about missing your kids. I went thru empty nest pretty rough and then the divorce that contributed to seperation till things fell into place. It's rough, no matter how much people tell you that that's what it's all about.

**homesteadmamma** · 11-21-2005, 10:10 AM

Good morning everyone. Dawn I am so glad to see you back. You were missed. Sorry to hear Ryan was in the hospital again.

We had a very relaxing weekened. Dh worked on Sat., so I spend most of the day quilting. I almost finished another top for a charity (baby) quilt and I pinned another one to get it ready for quilting this week.

Sun. dd had another recital, this time in Brandon. She did really well and played by memory this time. Both her and ds#1 both have recitals on Tues. and Wed. night, at the senior's complex and the nursing home in the next town over. It's going to be a busy week.

Dh called on Sat. from work and the guy he is working for gave him a deer (buck). It's a really nice size, however it now means on the weekend we will be cutting up deer all weekend. It will be nice to have a freezer full of meat though, probably around 125 lbs.

Today is baking day. I need to get some grain ground up, then bread and cookies baked. I've also been experimenting with baking rye bread. It's getting close to where I want it. Hopefully today it will be a success although everyone has eaten each batch I've made so far.

For schooling today (part of it), we will be disecting one of the deer's eyes and looking under the microscope. Were also thinking of doing the same with the brain, although I'm not sure any of us wouldn't pass out doing so.

I told dh if he came home and we were all laying on the floor, he'd know why. I was never meant to be a nurse, that I'm sure of!!!

I also have a Red Hat luncheon. I'll walk over to that as it's just over at the restaurant that is about 5 mins. away from our home.

Somewhere in there, I'd like to get some quilting done.

Hope everyone has a nice Mon.

**forestdale** · 11-21-2005, 03:41 PM

Good morning homesteaders.

Thanks for your kind thoughts. I packed a Christmas parcel for my son and I realised this is the first Christmas in 24 years I won't get to see him. I've spoken to him on the phone and I'm feeling fine now.

Welcome back Dawn. It's good to see you again.

I'm doing laundry and cleaning bathrooms today. The rest of my day I'll be writing. It's getting hot and humid here. I haven't turned on the aircon but I need a small fan when I'm here on the computer.

Ladies, don't forget the second bread challenge. You have 2 weeks to do it. I'm looking forward to seeing some fancy bread.

Take care on icy roads everyone.

**Michele Annette** · 11-21-2005, 04:29 PM

Hi Everyone!

Dawn- It's good to see you!

Wow CJ! I hope the disection goes well!

DH went grocery shopping today. This is his first time with a major grocery shopping trip without me. He did good! I am so thrilled that I don't have to do it. I have so much else to do. DH has been "walking" with his brace for two weeks now and is feeling better every week. I am so happy about that.

I have to work tomorrow, but have the day before Thanksgiving off. So I will be baking all day on Wednesday.

I hope you are all doing well!

**bamamomto4** · 11-21-2005, 06:18 PM

Welcome Back Dawn

**Mom23boys** · 11-21-2005, 06:41 PM

Rhonda, I am glad to hear you were able to talk to your son and are now feeling better.

dwallyfam, enjoy your stockpile!

Valerie, enjoy those days off!

Tina, I am glad you were able to finish up your ornaments for gifts.

Holly, I bet the big apple crisp was delicious!!

Dawn, sorry to hear about Ryan. I am glad you are back!

Jellybeanz, good luck on trying your hand at growing herbs! I bet you will do great!

Ruth, I bet your home is going to look great when you get it the way you want it!

CJ, I hope you had a great "Red Hat" luncheon.

Michele, I am glad your DH is getting around well. I think it is great that he is doing the grocery shopping to help you out!!

Today was a work day. I only have to work one more day this week and we are off for Thanksgiving holidays! I am sooooo ready for the break. I think the boys are too.

Chris is at football practice. DH will be picking him up.

The varsity football team is still in the playoffs. They won regionals this weekend and are playing for Quarterfinals this Friday. If they win the next 4 games, they will win state! Chris is excited that he gets to be part of it. He doesn't get to play with them since he is only a freshman, but he gets to practice with them and on game nights, he is on the field with them keeping the stats!

Dakota finished his football season Sat. night. They ended up coming in 2nd place for the season. He said, "that's ok. I will be back next year." Love his attitude.

I managed to declutter 4 bags of clothing. I plan on taking it to Goodwill. I also decluttered 2 bags of games/toys/skates that noone every played with anymore. I gave them to my MIL to give to my nephew.

**seatosea** · 11-21-2005, 07:12 PM

Hi everyone!
((Rhonda))))
Been a very busy few days. Yesyerday was my one day off and I worked like crazy here at home.
-turkey out of freezer, into fridge, hope to brine this year!
-cleaned kitchen top to bottom, took stove top and oven apart to deep clean
-put pumpkins into compost (big ones from front porches) the frost hit them hard....

-ordered coupons
-washed and dried bedding
-made my Turkey day list for market, I have almost everything but the lemons and oranges to stuff inside Mr. Tom!
-made 2 loaves of Amish bread
-pizza dough for freezer
-fixed yet another fence post that came loose from the wind
-redid one pantry plus rotated my stock

**Strawberry** · 11-22-2005, 12:18 AM

Good evening homesteaders

Dawn, it's so good to have you back. I'm sorry to hear Ryan was back in the hospital

Another busy day in my house today. Dh was working on siding the back of the house. I went grocery shopping and found some good deals.

Driving down to the grocery store I thought my brakes felt funny. When I started the van to come home my brake light came home. I drove home anyways

Dh and I were worried that it would be something that cost a lot of money but thankfully it wasn't. The brake fluid was out. Dh filled it and everything was back to normal.

I tried a new recipe for cookies. I made Eggnog Snickerdoodles and they are very good.

I'm off to knit for awhile and then I'm going to bed.