Down on the homestead - April 2 - 8th

**homesteadmamma** · 04-02-2006, 10:28 AM

Good morning homesteaders. I woke up th is morning to beautiful sunshine, the promise of nice warm temperatures and birds singing. Love this time of the year.

I'm off to do some volunteering at the local library today. Not sure when I'll be going or how long I'll be there. Dd will be coming with me and we will be carding donated books.

I also want to get a couple blocks done on my Batik BOM.

This week is going to be crazy so I'm glad I don't have a lot to do today.

Hope everyone has a nice Sun.

**Strawberry** · 04-02-2006, 06:33 PM

Hello homesteaders

I've been busy today getting everything ready for our trip to Vancouver. I have one suitcase FULL of paperwork for the lawyer.

I won't be around for a few days as we leave tomorrow morning and fly back late Wednesday night. This is the first time we have left all our dks home together. The only thing I'm worried about is the oldest being extremely bossy and rude to the other two. Oh well, I guess they live through it; I just don't really want to come home to fighting young adults.

Hope you all have a great week

**Mamaw** · 04-03-2006, 05:03 PM

Happy Monday everybody! This has been a very busy productive weekend in my neck of the woods. The weekend weather was beautiful! I managed to put out some Easter decorations and get the plastic off a few windows. It was so nice to turn off the heat, open the windows and let some fresh air into the house!
DH ran the rototiller in the first of the veggie gardens and we hope to begin planting the onions and peas this week. It is always nice to begin the veggie garden and to anticipate the wonderful fresh meals! We also pulled a few weeds and began to do the yard clean up. What a mess the winter makes of it! It will take us a month at least to get it put back together!
As some of you may know, we also added 2 little ducklings to the family this last week. They are just little yellow fluff balls right now but oh so cute. Ying and Yang. It felt nice yesterday to look in my yard and see the goat grazing, the ducklings pecking the grass, the dogs lazing about and the chickens bustling about. Only the cat was not thrilled and I think that was only because she was not getting all the attention!

Today is sure a different story though. It is getting cold and supposed to go back into the 30's tonight. We have had rain and hail today and are under a tornado watch. Tomorrow is supposed to be snow flurries....I wish spring would come and STAY for a change! LOL

Tonight I need to run and pick up a prescription for DD but other than that, theres not much on the agenda. I might try and clean the utility room or paint on a decorative bench DH made for me. Or maybe...the standard...curl up with a book or one of the magazines in the stack! Hope you are all well, safe and sound!

**dmvezina** · 04-03-2006, 06:20 PM

Good evening!!! Even though I really haven't read too many posts, but have posted a couple, I feel like I'm right back at home!!! Things have just been so crazy here.

I hope everyone is doing well. And welcome to all the new members!!
I'll have to post more in the morning. I only have a few minutes right now and thought I'd spend it coming back here!!!

**peanut** · 04-03-2006, 07:30 PM

Busy running errands with dd#1 today. Put 50 km on the car. Thankfully dd#1 gave me some money for gas. Did find some good deals though.

Went grocery shopping. Picked up vitamins 20% off. Picked up drugs from pharmacy. Mailed stuff. Pit stop at the liquor store for dd#1. Then to a local bookstore to look at a gaudy pub style clock dd#1 is thinking of buying for her apt. I don't think it will go, so discouraged her. Took her to Dollarama. It's the first time she's been there. Picked up some super fridge magnets for her. Also some tiebacks for my bedroom curtains. And a candle plate for some big candles I made using milk cartons for moulds. Went to Starbucks for coffee on dd's gift card. Then to a fabric store to try and buy 1 1/4" twill tape for rug binding by the roll. They couldn't do it. Ended up at Michael's buying 5 m./$7.99. An awful price, but the only place to get it locally. Will mail order it for less than half the price before I need it next.

Came home exhausted. On-line ever since. Grabbed pea soup from the freezer for supper.

I love these days with dd#1. She is so full of life and learning new things. Getting her life in order.

Jean

**homesteadmamma** · 04-03-2006, 10:03 PM

Dawn it's so good to see you back.

**hollyhill** · 04-03-2006, 11:12 PM

When the sun is out the weather is warm here too....and then it rains again and then sun....April showers I guess.

Everyone slept in today becauseof the time change. And when everyone began showing up I announced a schoolfree day. More for me than them (usually by this time of year I am more ready for the school holidays than the kids!). Eldest went off to work on her costume for Fiddler on the Roof. Ds and youngest settled down to read.

I did laundry, hung laundry, put away laundry and ironed Dh "good" clothes for an interview tomorrow.

I then walked (to save gas and for exerxise) to the post office to mail two resumes for Dh.

Lunch was soup and bread.....the children were hungry an hour later....they must be growing again. Soup just doesn't fill them up. So I made popcorn.

Paid bills.

Then got the news from DH reguarding the bursery ! The GC's and food hamper!!!!!!! YES!

Treated myself to tea on the deck (a lovely tea I recieved for my Bd from a FV friend, thanks). It started to rain even though it was sunny and warm. I stayed out anyways enjoying my tea.

Then I made Falafels for dinner with potatoes and veggies, and a rhubarb crisp (from our garden). I never made Falafels before but I wanted something "different" today, instead of the usual bean dishes we have been eating. They were awful! No one liked them. So I won't make those again.
Thank-goodness everyone liked the Rhubarb crisp.

Ds wasn't feeling well in the late afternoon so I decided to skip orchestra practice, and put him to bed.

Dd is practicing piano and Dh is doing something on his project in the garage with youngest Dd's help.

It was agood day, just wish i squeezed in some gardening. Maybe tomorrow.

**homesteadmamma** · 04-04-2006, 10:52 AM

It's one of those weeks where I've forgotten already what day it is. It's going to be crazy here.

Yesterday I quilted the day away. I needed an outlet to get rid of some frustration. I managed to get 2 of my Batik blocks done. I think I might have to change one block from a couple weeks ago. I don't like how the colors are, we shall see.

This morning I've been to the library already and in about an hour I'm taking a friend and her dh to Brandon for day surgery. If we are back on time, 2 kids have recitals tonight. If not, they will have to miss it. That's okay though because they have recitals tomorrow night and again on Thurs. night. It's going to be a long day no matter how it ends up.

Tonight it' s over to the post office to clean.

Our town is in the throws of the movie Outlook being filmed here for the next 14 days. It's crazy trying to find parking places with trucks lined up to forever. It is an exciting time for our little town of 450 people.

Hope everyone has a nice Tues.

**Mamaw** · 04-04-2006, 06:32 PM

Hello everyone!

Peanut, you made me remember making candles in a milk carton when I was a teenager. We filled the carton with crushed ice and poured the hot wax over it. The melting ice would make a snowflake, lacy look for the candle. It was such fun!

Hollyhill, how do you make rhubarb crisp. I had thought about trying to grow some or buy some and try it but have no idea how to cook it. Have never tasted rhubarb before. Any hints?

CJ, you also brought back memories. My daughters used to have recitals every year for dance, gymnastics and baton. I miss it so very much. Such excitement and fun! I hope you enjoy every minute of it!

It is still cold in my part of town. In the 30's and kind of dreary. I simply spent all day today at work. I believe I have sprained or pulled my left arm as it is giving me quite a bit of pain. Maybe too much Pc work....hummmmm..

Last night DH came home and dragged me out to look at a new riding lawn mower. The one we have is on its last legs so we really did need a new one. I really did not want to spend the $$ but ended up doing so anyway. DH works alot of crazy hours so I cant see us trying to cut the lawn without a good mower. But it is a bit depressing to have to spend when I dont wanna!

Tonight I think I am going to curl up and watch American Idol. I just love to see the people perform and think some of them are quite good. I may also try to install a router on my pc, take out the trash for pick up in the AM and clean up the spare room. DGD is spending the weekend with me so I need to be sure her space is ready for her! And for me to sleep in with her also! I just love, love to cuddle up with her and doze off!

Am looking forward to the weekend since we will be taking DGD to the circus. We got a great deal on tickets and have great seats. I hope she enjoys it. She is just a bit over 2 so this will be her first circus experience. Should be fun.

DH and I also hope to get those peas and onions in the ground. If it ever gets warm again! I did manage to cut some branches off the pussy willow tree/bush and bring them in the house. They look lovely in the dining room in a big vase. Free decorating! YEAH!!!!! My poor little tulips and daffodils are peaking out of the ground. I hope they jump back in until it warms up a bit! LOL
Well you all have a nice night and enjoy!!

**dmvezina** · 04-04-2006, 09:06 PM

Thank you CJ!!
I've been trying to get in here all day today, but couldn't. I tried everything with my computer, checking security levels, etc. I came in to shut the computer down & thought I'd try one more time. But, of course, I don't have time to catch up on my day!! lol

Hopefully in the morning I can get in!!
Good night.

**dmvezina** · 04-05-2006, 09:57 AM

Good sunny morning! We actually had snow last night!! Last week the temps were in the 70's & yesterday we get snow!! Only in New England!! lol

I have my oldest home sick today. I'm not sure what's wrong with her though. I'm thinking it's just boyfriend problems!! She told me she "got sick" while taking her shower this morning. So, I could I say you're going to school! I'm so glad I'm not a teenager anymore!! lol

Breakfast today was peaches & cream french toast, juice & hot cocoa
Dinner will be tortellini and/or gnocchi w/marinara sauce, garlic cheese biscuits & a salad.

I went through some of the flyers for this weeks sale yesterday. Not too much which is a good thing! lol I just need the flyer for the sale that starts on Friday. Hopefully I will get it tomorrow. Sometimes I do & sometimes I don't!! lol

Today I need to do one load of laundry which is the dryer now. My drying rack broke so if I can't hang the clothes outside, I have to put them in the dryer!! I'm going to have to buy a new one!
I also need to do:
plan next weeks menu
call the Dr to make an appt for both girls
make hot cocoa mix
fill the soap containers
make bread
scoop the cat box
do a pantry food inventory
dust the diningroom
disinfect the door knobs & light switches in the diningroom
polish the dining table
clean the dining chairs
clean the pictures in the diningroom
clean the diningroom windows
clean the chandelier
spot clean the dining walls
sweep down cobwebs in diningroom
clean out the china cabinet
make a snack for the kids

A quickie update on Ryan. We were "forced" to have him admitted in the hospital yet again a couple of months ago. They just sent him home Saturday on an extended visit. If he does well all this week, then they'll discharge him. I'm a little nervous about this as he hasn't slept since he's been home. We get no sleep, dh has been sleeping on the couch every night because within 1/2 an hour to an hour of us going to bed, Ryan starts yelling for daddy & wont' sleep. The Dr at the hospital called in a prescription for him to help him sleep. But, it's not working. Eventually, this no sleeping is going to lead to his "bad" behavior again. This is what happened before we had him admitted! So, we just don't know what to do!! I'm tired of not getting enough sleep. I'm tired of dh having to sleep on the couch! And poor dh has to get up for work in the morning. If I get up & try to "help" Ryan, it won't be good enough, he'll still call for daddy but even more! So, I don't even bother anymore. Not only does dh sleep on the couch, but we even let Ryan keep his bedroom light on all night! There really isn't anymore we can do! Except wait for the "outbursts" to begin again!!

That's about it here!!
Baseball season is starting for my other son.
My oldest daughter is at that stage that she thinks she can do whatever she wants because she's "almost 18"!! I keep telling her that almost only counts in horseshoes!! lol
My other daughter is doing well!!

Well, I guess that's it for now!
I hope everyone has a wonderful day!!

**peanut** · 04-05-2006, 12:10 PM

Mamaw, I forgot about the ice candles! I'm going to have to try that next. I keep recycling old wax into new candles. Dh laughs at me. I think I have to learn to put fewer wicks in the big milk carton candles.

Yesterday was pretty slow. I was awfully tired for some reason. Went for a walk to do errands...banking, grocery shopping and yarn shopping. Carried too much weight on my back going home I think. At least that's what I'm blaming my being tired on.

Spent the afternoon visiting some ladies and stitching some Christmas tree ornaments with leftover supplies from dd#1's wedding dress and dd#2's cross-stitch projects.

Finished reading "Solviva" and am onto "The Food Revolution". Don't know that I agree with both authors, or see how they relate to the Canadian prairies, but they're interesting reads none-the-less.

Went to bed early last night. I was not only tired, but cold.

Jean

**marym** · 04-05-2006, 12:25 PM

It's strange weather we are having today. It snowed so hard it was almost a white out and now the sun is shining. So far today I cleaned downstairs and scrubbed the kitchen floor. I am taking down my living room curtains to wash them. They are lace. I am staying home most of today, I just have to run to the post office and drop somethings off. I need to work on my quilt blocks for class. I was going to do some raking outside but everything is wet, so that will wait. I want to get all my work done by tonight. Tomorrow I am going to the quilters heritage quilt show in Lancaster, so all I want to do tomorrow is throw dinner in the crock pot and leave!

**djs** · 04-05-2006, 12:36 PM

Hi everyone!

It's going to be a busy month here. Moving alot of dirt in the front yard to level it and then filling in the back. Planting, planting, planting!! Getting everything in shape before company comes for sons wedding, besides it's Spring and I love gardening!

**SAHMWannaBe** · 04-06-2006, 09:58 AM

It's been EXTREMELY busy around here. Our house was in the middle of the tornado's. Luckily the tornado turned slightly east about a mile and a half from our house or it would have been destroyed too. There is a lot of damage and rebuilding that must be done here. Even though our neighbors have lost a lot (some everything as whole houses are gone and tractors and combines flung around and ripped in half) we are eternally grateful that no lives were lost.
It's hard, though, driving past places that used to hold grain bins, barns, and farm equipment and looking at the mass destruction. We are strong though, it's not for nothing that our community is called "Hard Times"

mel