Down on the Homestead 2/26/06-3/4/06

**AmyBoz** · 02-26-2006, 10:52 AM

Okay, first of all, I cannot believe it is March at the end of this week. Where did THAT come from???

Today Rob took Patrick to church and then to his fathers for Sunday bagels with the in-laws.

I'm home with Julia and Matthew. Julia is beside herself with boredom, so I let her out of bed and she's on her computer downstairs in the playroom. The rules are, she stays in the chair and doesn't run around. She is healing at an amazing rate. She feels fine and hates that she's not really allowed to do much. She's not a good sitter. She's done with tv and dvd's and just wants to get outside. Well, that's not happening, but I'm doing everything I can to keep her busy!

I have cleaned the kitchen, taken a shower, and done a few loads of laundry while Matthew sleeps. I have some work to do for the school play, and later, I want to make cookies for Patrick's daycare. His last day is Tuesday, then he's home with Matthew and I until September.

I've made out the grocery list (comparing sale items to coupons, of course) and have that and the coupons ready to go for Rob when he gets home. While Patrick naps, Rob and I will bathe Matthew (2 person job...he's a slippery little baby!) and then I'll probably clip todays coupons.

It's funny, last night, Matthew slept pretty well, and I got more sleep than I have since he's been home. However, today, I feel more tired than ever. Odd.

Dinner tonight is leftovers for Robert, Patrick, and I and Julia will have strawberry ice cream or rainbow sherbet.

**baxjul** · 02-26-2006, 11:50 AM

Happy Sunday!

Today is laundry, and cleaning day! Then back to work tomorrow! Not too much going on, other than that. This morning I repotted some of my houseplants, and one of my impatiens on the front porch. Eleni is currently making a huge mess in the living room, I don't even want to go in there and look!

Have a good day!

**mustang80** · 02-26-2006, 02:23 PM

We went to church this morning and were blessed by some special music that they had today.

I came home and made iced tea, baked macaroni and cheese and banana bread. I'm relaxing in front of the computer with my Chai tea while Courtney is napping. The peace and quiet is wonderful.

Dinner is ham that I will start in a little bit. The race is on later, so naturally I will be watching that. DH disappeared, he's out fixing the mirror on his truck I guess.

I need to file my coupons and plan my meals for the week. I'll light the fireplace later to take off the chill.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

**PrairieRose** · 02-26-2006, 05:39 PM

Hello Homesteaders!

We've had a nice day, nice weekend in fact. Gripey's been in the back yard all afternoon doing part of the annual spring clean up (man all those pretty flowers leave a lot of trash!) and I've washed, vac'd and wiped down the car (the windows didn't need it, did that last time) and done laundry. Got the last load washing now.

For dinner I think Gripey's cooking out a ham steak for him and I may have some oatmeal. I sometimes crave that stuff and it's soooo easy to fix.

I've got a busy week ahead doing the cleaning, starting on painting the insides of the cabinets and putting down new shelf liner. I'll also be paying paying bills and reconciling bank statements.

In 2 weeks we're going down to San Antonio for a nephew's wedding and I'm hoping to have a lot of the kitchen done by then. We have our new appliances ordered (Yay! I'll have an oven finally!) and they should be in when we get back. I'm really excited about this re-do but not feeling motivated yet. Perhaps when I get started on it, that will come.....?

**Strawberry** · 02-26-2006, 07:30 PM

Hello homesteaders

I didn't get to post much last week as we were going through some issues with our ds's. Thankfully we've worked through some problems and things have settled back down.

Friday dh spilled something in the fridge and made a BIG mess. After wiping all that down, there was a mess on the floor so we decided to make a bigger mess. We pulled the fridge out and wash the floor and walls, then cleaned the workings under the fridge. There was dust bunnies we couldn't reach so dh uses some air stuff to blow it out. Well it blew the dust everywhere and now I've got a very clean kitchen because everything got wiped down

It does feel good having that job done and out the way.

Today dd and I went to church then came home and our oldest ds asked to pancakes with peaches so that was lunch.

I took dd out to do some shopping and now I'm home for the rest of the day. I don't have to make supper because there's plenty of left overs. The rest of the day will be for resting and reading

**Emerald_Mommy** · 02-26-2006, 11:44 PM

We've had a nice Sunday. Tonight Philip preached at our church, which was nice. This evening he's been trying to teach me how to make custom computer wallpapers, which is fun but I still don't quite "get it" yet.
Tomorrow I'm hoping to get over to a JoAnne's fabric store that's going out of business. I hope they've got some good deals!

We just heard that my brother-in-law (sister's husband) may be deployed (he's been told to "get his gear ready"). My sister lives in NC, with no family close so I'm really anxious to get down there and see them soon. We're going the first week in April, but it doesn't seem soon enough.

Have a good week, everyone!

**Strawberry** · 02-27-2006, 11:50 AM

Good morning

It's going to be a busy day so I thought I'd post early.

Yesterday and through today, we are under a heavy snowfall warning. Unfortunately dh has appointments today so I have to drive in this.

Before I can going anywhere I have to shovel out from under all the snow. We didn't get as much snow as was expected but there's still a fair amount. My oldest ds left for work early and didn't shovel and ds#2 is home sick so he can't shovel; that leaves me

I'm hoping to get bread made and maybe some cookies or muffins too. I should do some laundry as well. Other then that, I'm not sure what the rest of the day will hold.

Have a great day

**Valerie in WA** · 02-27-2006, 12:55 PM

Good morning all. It's nice to hear that everyone's week is getting off to a good start. Your Sundays all sounded so relaxing. OTOH, I worked my fanny off on Sunday! LOL! I worked and had a busier than usual assignment. It was go GO GO. The time went fast though.

Today, I need to catch up a bit around the house: laundry, picking up, vacuuming, etc. I hope to have some time to quilt this afternoon. Then I take dd to gymnastics. After that, I'll definitely take time to quilt in the evening.

At some point in the next couple of days, I need to plan March meals and shopping. My plans will probably include bread baking this week.

I'm still pondering the garden. I started some seeds indoors (never did that before), but it's becoming apparent that they aren't getting enough light. I'll have to think about (frugal & space saving) ways to solve that issue.

As we are planning our utility room remodel, I'm thinking of adding a freezer. And now I'm wondering about squeezing in a lighted seedling bed. I've become quite crazy about gardening.

**AmyBoz** · 02-27-2006, 01:28 PM

Today I have:
*made muffins to take to Patrick's teachers tomorrow, because tomorrow is his last day at daycare.
*put away three baskets of laundry, with one more still to go.
*called to make Julia's follow-up appointment at the ear, nose, and throat doctor for Friday
*signed up for a free two-week trial at NetFlix
*finished up some paperwork that needs to be mailed this afternoon to various places
*washed out the baby tub so we can start bathing Matthew in the baby tub instead of the sink
*taken a shower

I still have to:
*teach a piano lesson
*make dinner
*empty the dishwasher
*sweep the foyer

**baxjul** · 02-28-2006, 06:47 PM

Not too much going on here, just alot of worrying! Remember, back in about October I was going for various tests for a lump in my neck? Well, it has gotten alot bigger, and is now causing problems with breathing, etc. SO, tomorrow I go for another ultrasound, then I will be going for a consultation with yet another doctor, (no one seems to know what is causing this) then I will have to have surgery to remove the lump and have it biopsied. At first they thought that it was related to my thryroid, but it isn't. So, I'll let you know what they say tomorrow.

Other than that, tonight I have to do the dishes, finish the laundry before bed. Have a lovely evening ladies! Just wanted to check in.

**Valerie in WA** · 02-28-2006, 07:16 PM

Julie!

That sounds serious. From one nurse to another, anytime you think airway... How soon do you think they'll schedule the surgery? I hope its something tidy & easy to remove.

Amy, I think somebody forgot to tell you that you're entitled to six weeks of rest after each baby.

You seem to have plenty of energy. Are you feeling okay?

**homesteadmamma** · 03-01-2006, 10:18 AM

Good morning homesteaders.

Julie, hope you can find out what this is quickly and that you find out it isn't serious.

It's been a busy week and today is going to be even busier. We were on the road all day yesterday, first taking the kids to music lessons and then into the city to consult with a orthopedic specialist for me. We decided to eat out as I was just too tired to come home and fix a meal. I also was suppose to go to the library to card some books, however didn't make it.

Today, I need to:

~do laundry
~fold laundry from Monday
~bake bread
~bake some muffins
~finish working on the kitchen cupboards. I'm decluttering big time and cleaning them because next week I plan on sanding them, priming and painting them
~do another quilt block. I don't really like the one I did.
~clean the post office
~get the kids working on their school work
~make a number of phone calls

Hope everyone has a great Wed.

**flossymae** · 03-01-2006, 06:41 PM

Spent the past couple of days doing more OAMC to refill the freezers, the cow we had has now been packaged and is in the freezer that took up the whole chest freezer, but man can not live on beef alone.....

**peanut** · 03-01-2006, 07:02 PM

I haven't posted to this thread before, so here goes.

It's been a busy week. Dh was home Sunday. I went to church and came home to quilt on a charity quilt. Also re-reading "The Complete Tightwad Gazette".

My girls are 19 and 21. The 19 yo still lives at home with us. She works and we often pass each going in and out doors. Sunday night we had dd#1 (the 21 yo) and her dh over for supper. Made Mandarin Orange Salad, Lasagna, garlic toast and blueberry custard crepes.

Monday I was busy doing an pantry/freezer inventory, making a menu and grocery list. I picked up dd#1 and we both went grocery shopping together. Lots of good deals. I had coupons from save.ca for cleaning supplies. Picked up some Mr. Clean on a bulk purchase deal with an additional $2 off. Also picked up some Endust for .75 less.

Found many of the supposed deals all sold out at the store. Wasn't impressed. However I did buy enough groceries to qualify for a dozen free eggs.

I also worked entering information in my "Homemaker's Journal" for dd#2. When dd#1 left home I gave her a "Frugal Journal". Her dh is dead set against the word frugal, so I toned it down with this one. DD#2 is more receptive to it's title.LOL

Monday's supper was tuna fish casserole from the freezer. I had baked a double batch, ate one and froze the other.

Tuesday was my errand day. I had a dental appointment at 11. Dropped dh at work and shopped on that end of town while I was there. Checking for cheap ways to fill and back quilts. Wasn't impressed with my options. Looks like $30-40cdn. to do a lap size quilt. I was looking for the charity quilt. Found out later in the day that organization I'm doing it with will provide those!

Also checking for plastic drawer units to store scrapbooking supplies, and for a stitching group I'm involved with. Nothing of note found. I DID find 100 tealights for $3.99, which is a good deal here. I picked them.

Came home for lunch after my dental appointment. I'd gone back to the grocery store first thing in the morning, after they'd restocked the shelves. Found all the sale items. I processed everything at noon hour. Simmered some ground beef, saving the broth and freezing it for soup, also packaging the meat in 1 lb. amounts for cooking. Also divided up some pork chops for stir fry and to eat 'as is'. Processed skin on, bone in chicken breasts. Tossed the skin. Kept the bones to freeze for soup. Divided the breasts up for various uses and froze them. Washed and froze a lot of spinach too. Picked up a cucumber on sale and had a cucumber sandwich for lunch today.

Phoning dmom using YAK last night to cut costs. She's okay.

Supper was spaghetti sauce from an mega-cooking session.

Walked to a meeting of stitchers, and home again.

Today has been slower. Spent the morning doing laundry. Some time this afternoon cleaning. Also did some baking this morning - a bread in a clay pot and some blueberry muffins.

I'm still looking at working on the charity quilt tonight and tomorrow. Also some more stitching and rug hooking this week. Should be a busy week. I think I have a doctor's appointment in there somewhere too.

Jean

**peanut** · 03-01-2006, 07:15 PM

Also...
Yesterday...
Ended up shopping at a wholesalers for bulk applesauce and ketchup, which I'll divvy up and freeze.

Also popped in on a group of lady stitcher friends. Lots of advice and help and conversation. I was only there an hour, but we covered a lot of ground! One lady brought old sewing notions and sold them for 10 cents each. Lots of ribbons and lace for crazy quilts. I picked up $2.50 worth. Someone gave me a free knitting pattern for Newfie mitts. Someone loaned me a book on crazy quilting (wonderful book!). Someone else informed me about bus tours. Someone else offered to fix my teapot lid for free! Wonderful ladies I'm proud to know. I even got some stitching done.

From there I did banking and dollar store shopping. Then off to the library to read some current magazine issues. Then off to pick dh up from work.

I'm pretty busy when I look at this. It's supposed to slow down when you're a SAHM and your kids get older, but apparently not!

Jean