Better Late Than Never

I'm sorry I didn't update last week or post but truth be told we haven't done anything of interest lately.  Still cutting wood when the weather permits.  We got the dirt bikes out last weekend but the track was a little too wet so we didn't ride.  Buddy cut his ear out playing in the creek.  It bleed something terrible but finally got him fixed up and he seems to be ok.  There for a while I didn't know he lost so much blood.  All in all a rather low key last few weeks.
We had company last week and that was fun as usual.  but made for a busy time so not much was accomplished.  We skipped our weekly meeting this week there wasn't much to discuss other than the grocery shopping list.
One thing that's worth a mention is the amount of food that Zach has started to consume.  he can now put away as many biscuits and pancakes as his dad.  That makes for a change in the quantity that I have to cook.  Just this weekend he was sitting at the table and says " I hate to see good pancakes go to waste"  and forks the rest onto his plate.  That child ended up eating five pancakes that morning.  But he ate that amount every morning over the long vacation. 
A few errands have to be run this week.  This week we should also be having a budget meeting again.  Time to start thinking about getting the garden broke up and seeds started inside.  The weather has been so pleasant the last few days it makes me think about replacing the sand in the pool filter a little early.  If the weather holds I may go ahead and bring up the deck furniture.  I'll have figure out a new placement for things since we have added the mudroom. It shrunk the size of the deck more than I like but we'll just have to make the best of it.  One good thing is it provided a more shady area that will be welcome come the middle of summer.  Normally we have to put up the gazebo tent for shade but i think we will be good without it this year.  "There's no great loss without some small gain."
Have a great day!
Until next time.....Kristi.

Dog Treat Update

Zach and I made the Peanut Butter Dog Treats from yesterday's link post.  They were very simple to make and the dough was easy to work with.  The dogs seem to love them.  We will definitely be making these again. 

Happy Monday to you! Thought I'd show you a nifty wood rack that Chuck built and Zach helped put together.

Here it is place. 

(Note: Yes, that's osb board for the floor.  We will put down flooring in the spring once we can take down the stove. It doesn't have to be pretty now to be useful now.)

The guys on the roof patching a few places.

Zach nailing in a shingle.

This is what Bud did the entire time they were hammering up on the roof.  He couldn't figure out who was knocking on the roof.  (smile)

On a totally different note, you can tell we are nearing the end of the month.  The shelves in the frig are looking rather bare.  Ha!
But the door is still full of condiments, go figure.

Have a great day!

PS.  This is what you do after all that hard work:

Excuses, Excuses

Just a note to say I am sorry for not answering your comments. I have tried but for some reason ( atmospheric pressure, invisible force field, approaching cold front, etc. ) it won’t let me.

I do appreciate your comments and I will answer them all, even on the older posts, once the bugs are worked out. Thanks again!

Recipes will resume tomorrow, so come on back!

With much love………..Kristi.

Moving forward in 2012!

One Last Look Back

In reflection…..

　

2011 was a year of firsts. The first year of mom being in the nursing home, the first Thanksgiving without her at the table, the first Christmas without her here, and the first birthday without her calling. It was a tough year for me.  I don’t want to go back and start it over. But I did learn from it. Both about others and myself. Some good and some bad; some weak and some strong. I learned that the ‘Be Aware” wasn’t just about being aware of others as I’d thought. It was also being aware of yourself and what you do to impact others. I succeeded sometimes and I failed miserably most of it. I take some small consolation that I realize where I failed in hindsight. That, at least, means I have grown to some slight degree.

On to the next……


I’m ready for the new year. I’m ready to look ahead and move forward. Last year we were aware of where we are, now lets look ahead to where we are going.

One step at a time, bit by bit, and day by day.

Moving forward in 2012!

Update

Hope everyone had a great Christmas weekend.
　

Last week leading up to Christmas was a bit hectic. The week started off with a power failure. The power was off for about an hour and a half. Seems there was trouble with a transformer in the area. Due to that most of the digital projects I had in mind to accomplish got tabled instead. It was just as well though, for I stayed behind all day. I just couldn’t seem to catch up no matter how hard I worked. I stayed busy and the day passed faster than I would have liked.

Monday evening we brought out the grinder and ground most of the deer he got over the weekend.

Tuesday was spent making fudge and pecan logs for Charlie to take to work.

I got up at three on Wednesday morning to make cinnamon rolls and sausage balls for Charlie to take to the guys at work. Fifteen minutes in and elbow deep in rolling sausage balls the power goes off. We lit the coal oil lamps and two eyes on the stove and I went ahead with making the dough. The sausage balls went into the frig to wait until the power came back on. I can use the eyes on the gas range if I light them with a match but the oven works strictly off of power.

The power finally came back on at 5:30 just in time to pop the rolls in the oven. I was thirty minutes later than I had planned but the rolls made it and everyone seemed to enjoy them.

If we had a wood cook stove complete with an oven I wouldn’t have been late at all. Just goes to show how dependant we are. There’sa something to be said for those living off grid.

After we dropped the food off at hubby’s work, Zach and I went for a mother-son breakfast and had a great time. We then went shopping for a few odds and ends. I enjoy his company so much. I know I’m partial but he IS a great kid. We get along more like friends most of the time whether that’s good or bad is yet to be seen. But the lady that waited on us at breakfast did remark on how well mannered and polite he was. Made me proud. I preened like an old mother hen!

Thursday was a miserable rainy day but also a perfect opportunity to finish up a few things around the house before the holiday dinners and guests.

Friday I went to visit Mama and take her presents to her. The throws turned out better than I thought they would. Now to see how well they hold up to being laundered in industrial washers and dryers. Doesn’t matter though, they were a joy to make.

When Charlie got home on Friday he worked on the wood shed. 

First he took off the back tin. 

Then used it make a lean-to roof.  Then we stacked the wood from the side under the new lean- to.

The neighbor's horse came over to see what we were doing and beg for a nose scratch. 



I had to work on cheese logs for the dinner at his mom’s on Saturday and then sat back and waited on Christmas to arrive after that.

Christmas was very good to us this year. I received insulated bibs and jacket for working outside this winter. Zach got a set too. The guys got me a night gown (I needed that) and dishtowels ( needed those too), and for my birthday, a coffee percolator to use on the wood stove. ( now I can have coffee even if the power goes off this winter - love that!)

Me in my new bibs moving wood from one pile to another.  Love this pic because Buddy is climbing on the wood pile.

Zach got lots of goodies. An air soft gun and target, he’d been eyeing them for a while, a new style nerf gun, a new radio charger for his iPhone and a new cover for his iPhone. Plus a new XBOX game. One that he can play with his dad.

Zach opening a present with Buddy opening one at his feet

For Charlie we got a book by his favorite author and a 54 disc set of a favorite tv show of his.

Plus he picked up new gloves and new pants last week all that counts for Christmas. And we put lots of chocolate in his stocking.

The cat got treats, the big dog, Bowie, got bones and a toy, and Buddy got a toy and chew bones and thought every other present was his too. For the rest of the day when you rattled paper he came running to see what he got this time.

It was a very nice Christmas. A beautiful day with the sun shinning.

This week is going to be busy. Chuck took the week off and we are wanting to knock out a lot of things that need doing around here.

Tuesday is my birthday but we will celebrate it on Wednesday since I have a doctors appt then. They’ll take me out to eat afterwards.

Daddy is giving us his wood stove. So we have to go pick it up this week. And possibly get it installed into the shop.

There is a shed to extend and more wood to chop and a wall to finish in the mudroom. Plus having to trim out the door into the stove room. I’m sure Charlie will want to work on tanning that deer hide and hewing out his boards in there some where.

I'll try to post when I can this week. 

Hope everyone has a great week and a safe New Year. 

Until next time.......Kristi.

Back Again

First of all, thank you for allowing me to have off the last half of last week. I needed that time to practice cooking on our wood stove. Plus learning the temperament of it. We are slowly coming to accept one another in a begrudging sort of way. For instance, instead of calling him Mr. King as I once had, I took to calling him Miss Scarlet for his haughty disposition. He apparently resented that. But we have compromised. I no longer resort to name calling and he tries to accept the fact that I actually am quite fond of him. Seems like he is beginning to realize that and he is starting to feel useful once again.
As long as I feed him, he tries to please me, so we are coming along in our relationship. ( that last line sounds a lot like marriage doesn’t it?)

I didn’t spend my whole time away just feeding the fire. I declared Wednesday an anti-procrastination day. I spent it trying to finish up projects I’d been putting off. I finished the flannel lap throw for Mama. I was to the point of sewing it together last month when I decided to add a few more strips to make it longer. It would only take just a few minutes to add three strips on each side but I put it away instead. To sit in the closet and gnaw at my peace of mind for the next month. I hate when I do that. Have I learned nothing from my soap box preaching on here? But it is complete all except for the snipping all around. And I’m not putting that off, it’s just going to take several days to get each one cut. My hand can only hold out for about fifteen minutes at a time.

I’ve also been putting off wrapping Christmas presents. My tradition is to usually pop in The Preachers Wife and have a marathon wrap session but I haven’t had any alone time and wrapping my son’s presents while he is here is an adventure. I can lock myself away in my bedroom to wrap them as I’ve had to do in the past but I can feel him trying to see under the door the whole time. I’ve also been reluctant to wrap them because then I get the twenty questions per day…. PER DAY! Things like, “how much is the most expensive gift or which box was the most expensive or I’m just going to shake it lightly ok?” . All these are necessary questions in trying to determine what is in each box. Though he knows the fun is in the waiting, it’s the same thing every year. So this year I’ve been acting like I haven’t even went shopping for him yet. Like I just haven’t had the time. And I have just slid under the wire because every time I turn around his dad is telling everyone we are finished with our shopping! Sometimes men are truly the enemy. It’s like a conspiracy to make life difficult for the women folk then they smile and wave as they exit the rubble to go hide out at work. Gives us plenty of time to think up ways to nuke their little behinds too! (smile) ‘Tis the season for giving! Bwahahaha!

I spent a little time being sick earlier in the week. Chills and achy and that was after the sinus shot. Can I just say they should have you read and sign a waiver with those things? I mean it’s like they are packing Quik-Rete in those syringes. I drug my leg around for the rest of the day. It felt like there was cement in my shoe. AS the day wore on I was calling out, “Save yourselves! Go on without me just leave me a little food and water if you can spare it. “

And that was after I got home. Never mind having to take the thing in the first place. Now I’ve had shots in the hip before but this was something unlike anything I have ever experienced. She tells me to take all the weight off that leg then you’re going to feel a little stick. I’m thinking ok yeah there’s the stick, not so bad. What she failed to say was the stick is going to be the good part. When she started squeezing the medicine in, the leg that was holding me up started to give and I’m crying out in my mind “ She’s taking on water boys! We’re going down! " But then in the next instant it’s all over and my breathing is returning to normal. I turn to take two steps to retrieve my jacket and of course I start out with my now lame leg and thousands of pins and needles are spreading in my hip and heading for my sitting cheeks. I stop in mid sentence and grab my hiney and start doing Lamaze breathing techniques all the while trying to remain dignified in front of this nurse, who, by the way, is looking at me as if I am the first to ever experience any of this. Yeah right, save it sister! Needless to say I had to start my sentence over.

I kept waiting for them to stop me before I got out the door because there’s no way someone can drive in this condition. But no they all just smile pleasantly and say have a nice day. I know good and well they were peaking through the blinds and watching me load my leg into the vehicle with both hands. And probably placing bets to see if I could drive out of the parking lot or not. And yep you guessed it. It was the accelerator foot attached to that leg.

Any way we made it and I survived but I am convinced that shot had no healing qualities other than to make the sinus problems seem minuscule in comparison.

Until next time…….Kristi.

Last Week

Some notes from last week:

Charlie saves his hinged lid Altoid mint cans and gives them to a friend at work. His son uses them to store his little collections of interesting things. This past week Charlie, Chuck to everyone else, received this thank you note.

So cute!  

And talented. Notice the Angry Birds character on the right?

Love it!

It is currently on display located on the frig.

*******************

Also had to cut more wood while we had nice weather. But it is deer season around here and tromping through the woods can be a health hazard if not careful. Too bad we forgot to drag out the flare orange. Luckily Charlie had a vest and a boggin in his truck and his chainsaw is orange. It was a very mild day and wearing the boggin got hot very quickly. So Zach took the vest and I ,with the help of a scrunchie and clips, attached the boggin to my bun and it worked out well.

 

I tried to take a pic but it’s difficult to see my trend setting hair switch! ;)

It was a beautiful day.  Hard work but beautiful.

Until next time.....Kristi.

Just A Note......

Busy, busy weekend with lots of running.  I'll try to be back on track tomorrow, but not to worry, Wednesday's recipe will post as normal.

 Have a great day!

November Update Part 1

Lots of things in updates this week so I divided it into two parts. So not to bore you to tears in double time this time! :) First up I made two loaves of bread this week. It was so good! I have always chickened out on making bread. It used to be that I was intimidated by using yeast. But through the years I started making things that took yeast, cinnamon rolls, doughnuts, and pizza crust, and had success on them. But white bread was still my Mt. Everest. I couldn't have asked for a better first batch. I'm not bragging, don't mistake what I'm saying. I'm saying it with excitement, disbelief and a little awe. This week I'm thinking that I'll only make one loaf and make rolls out of the rest. I'll let you know if it works.

Zach's birthday was Thursday.  I made him a cake, a sheet cake, I know I'm a terrible mother, it isn't even fancy or decorated and he had to put the candles on the cake himself.  But it's what he asked for.  He wanted white on white so he could share with the dog since we would be celebrating his birthday also. 

While fixing the batter, I decided to make the dog his own cake instead of giving him a slice of Zach's.  So I saved out a little batter and put in my smallest cast iron skillet.(  about 6 inches in diameter.)  Then we put icing on it and for candles we cut a Pup a Roni dog treat in half and stuck in the top. 

Yes, I know, the dog's cake looks fancier than my sons.  Like I said I'm a terrible mother, but I make up for it by being a good dog owner.  (smile)

One of his gifts.  A nerf water blaster.  He also bought a new scooter with some of his bday money.  Plus we took him out to eat at his restaurant of choice....O'Charley's.  He came away with a new video game as well.  We had a lot of fun shopping in town together.

Zach trying his hand at splitting wood. 

We had toyed with the idea of heating with wood.  It was going to mean adding on to the house and purchasing a stove. So the idea got scrapped until his father started talking about adding on to their house and making a wood stove.  That set Charlie to thinking and now it appears we are going to start our addition pretty soon.  We have decided to go ahead with the room because it will serve as a mud room (something I have always wanted).  Then we can add the stove later as we find a used one or Charlie can find the time to build us one.  In the meantime, we came across free wood and took advantage of it.  A tree had fallen across his uncle's field road and we offered to help him move it, so he gave us the wood.  Yay!  Remember the rule:  cheap is good, free is better. 

This isn't all of it, but this is what we had at the end of the first day.  One whole row and almost half of a second. 
This kind of stuff is exciting to me.  It reminds me of my childhood, going to the woods with mama and daddy to chop wood for home.  Good thing I married a man that enjoys it too!  ( since he had to split it all)

Hope you have a nice week...........Kristi.


Tomorrow, update number two-moving the trailer.

Update

This past week was crazy so I'm not even going to bother with it. Nothing much got accomplished and we all felt rather blah! The weekend was much nicer!

Some of the things on sale this week that we purchased in bulk.  Not pictured was 25 lbs of all-purpose flour.  They had them for $1.49 each so we bought five bags. That was a great price.  I was so happy!   They went into the freezer before we got a pic. 

The past week was a use it up week for sure.  A bunch of bananas were ripening way too quickly so they went into Banana Walnut Bread. 

I had to use up potatoes and eggs this week also.  So I made deviled eggs and potato salad.

Nothing spectacular but I kept the food from going bad and we had a bit of variety in our usual menu. 

This past weekend the little man went hunting and seen a bobcat!  He was so excited over seeing it that it made up for not getting a shot at a deer.  He seen some but just never could get a shot at any.

He was goofing off that early in the morning.  Had to be the excitement.  He isn't a morning person at all!

A tradition at our house is when hunting season gets here then cinnamon rolls are made.  So I got up when they did at 5:30am and got the dough started and set at 6:00am.  Then we sat down to eat them at 9:00.  (Yeah, they don't ask much of me, do they?) Just kidding, they aren't that much trouble and I enjoy fixing them for the guys.  Plus it's nice to have a tradition that just emerged on it's own. 

We got out and rode around a little this weekend.  Went and seen my dad and looked at the river.  Took a few back roads we hadn't took in a while.  It was nice and relaxing. 

Then got home, cranked up the dirt bikes, and got the adrenaline pumping!  (undone the relaxation-smile)  The field was perfect for riding this weekend after the rain.  It was a little slick but so much fun! 

Hope you had a great weekend as well, and wishing you a great week!

Until next time...Kristi.

Update October

This week was pretty busy in spite of doctor appointments, impromptu trip for critter bedding, and visitation with mom, plus the usual agenda squeezed in there too.

First thing this past week I made my liquid soap I had been wanting to try out. More about that later this week.

Wednesday we had planned to work in the house and school but Bowie the dog had other plans. Buddy the little dog is forever in big dog’s (Bowie) face. Growling every time he turns around. Bossing him, nagging him, snapping at him, etc. You get the idea. So Wednesday when the weather man was calling for it to cool down and with frost in the forecast, Bowie gets in Buddy’s bed, drags his nice warm bedding out and shreds it to pieces. How’s that for revenge? Off to town we go to get something that can be used that night.

Coincidentally Dad left work at half a day and had a dr. appt. so we met up with him and did a little grocery shopping afterwards.

Once home I took the fleece throw I bought at Goodwill and made two pillow beds for Bud. So he was snug as a bug in a rug that night.

Thursday we went to see mom and take her new pajamas. Last week we went on a Wednesday and she was really sleepy. I couldn’t get her to wake up enough to visit. But this week on Thursday she woke up and talked to us for a while and gazed out at the sunshine. We had a nice time.

This is how Friday morning started out bright and early. The guys started while the temps were still under forty degrees.

We had a clog in the drain pipe that leads outside from under the house. It has plagued us for awhile but kept getting worse and worse until it wouldn’t be ignored any longer. The guys started while the temps were still in the thirties.

Brrrrr……

I worked in the shed getting things moved around to make room for the patio furniture.

Then moved it all down there.

Now the deck is bare.

Saturday the guys put up another clothes line for me. This one is across the deck so I don’t have to wade the mud or wet grass during the coming months. Pics coming tomorrow about this.

With a few mornings of frost the rose bush blooms took a hit but there were a few still pretty so I took them inside to pretty up the kitchen.

We still have the roof to do once Charlie is up to it . We also have to work on Bowie’s new dog house.

The air line in the shop still hasn’t been completed. But we are getting there. If new projects would stop popping up we could complete the ones on the list!  :)

Got several things to post this week. Coming up Wednesday will be the next installment of Use It Up. This week will focus on Saltine Crackers. Hope to find you there!

Have a great week and I wish you luck on completing your own projects!

Until next time……..Kristi.

Update in Pics

These are pics from last week that I didn't get to post due to internet problems.  Lots of projects needing done before the temps drop later on this week. 

Touches of fall.

***********************

Now that's a big tater!

My what big eyes you have!

New bed for Bud in the office.

Stake of granny squares for mom. 

Kyler trying out the field on Chuck's bike. 

   Chuck managed to fix a leaky faucet this weekend in between riding and working on the field.   We also did a little stock up shopping to replenish the food storage.

Lots to be accomplished this week but busy hands are happy hands!

(Y'all tired of me saying that yet?)

Have a great day!

Update Last of September

Last week was such an odd week. Full of sickness and healing and worry and thankfulness and disappearances and revisits.

It started with Charlie’s visit to the emergency room Sunday night week. So he stayed home on Monday. That day was spent running after his prescriptions and watching him sleep so there was no school.

Tuesday he went back to work but was draggy. On this day Buddy hurt his paw somehow and hobbled around and whined and whimpered and needed constant attention and carried up steps and stairs. Buddy’s paw has gotten better. He is walking on it finally and to be honest I think he’s missing the baby-ing he was receiving as a result of his injuries.

Our cat , Queenie, has been missing for over a month. I figured she was gone for good. I didn’t know what had happened but I figured she must of gotten hurt or up and moved on us, never to be seen again. She just appeared out of the blue, very vocal and hungry. She’s been by every day to eat and visit until we put her out at night.

I have been coughing my head off. My sinuses can’t seem to adjust to this weather. I had my doctor appointment on Thursday but with the week being so screwy I hadn’t had much time to worry about it. It turned out pretty good. At least I don’t have to worry for a year. LOL!.

Zach finally got over his coughing this week. So thank the Lord for healing around here!

In sewing news: I finished one rug I’ll post pics later this week. It wasn’t the oval one I started. (remember the side-tracked syndrome I told you about?) I got to wondering how one would look made in granny squares. Only one way to find out!

On the home front: We moved the loveseat up to Zach’s room. It doesn’t look as cozy in the living room now but boy do we have room. I don’t know what we’ll do if we have company but we all like the results. Zach has a nice place to sit and play video games. He has a regular bachelor pad going upstairs. He has hinted that all he needs now is a refrigerator to save all that running back and forth downstairs! Funny, ain’t he? (insert sarcasm there)

I sprinkled a few fall decorations throughout the house too.  I love this time of year!  The colors are so pretty.

School didn’t happen this week because of Dad’s allergic reaction and my doctor appt. I wasn’t going to try to cram the civil war into two days! It was a cruel, devastating, yet interesting war and it deserves more than speed reading! I hope he enjoys it as much as the French Revolution. There was just something about all those heads rolling in France that he loved! Boys! That’s why Treasure Island couldn’t hold a candle to Robison Crusoe; there weren’t any cannibals!

The field is coming along! All that’s left is to fix the rhythm sections and plant the rest in rye grass that we aren’t using. Then maybe our free time can be used to get some of our projects done around here before winter; sort of batten done the hatches before old man winter comes around. Plus, maybe some of that free time can be spent riding.

Hope you all had a great week and I wish you a fun and safe and productive week this week!

Until next time…Kristi.

Just When You Think You Have The Night Wrapped Up

I had the scare of my life last night. Charlie had one of his allergic reactions but this one was the worst yet.

He’s had theses from time to time and benedryl usually works. Not so last night.

He took a dose of benedryl and gave it time to work but it just slowed the hives down some what. He took another dose and in an hour it was still spreading. He took a third dose and went on to bed; thinking the medicine would knock him out. I couldn’t sleep so I laid in bed and read. He was tossing and turning beside me. Around ten he got up and went down the hall toward the restroom. Shortly after that he called for me and my heart stopped. It was the urgency in his voice that scared me. Zach heard it and rushed down stairs. You have to understand that Charlie is our strength. He is the strong one that we lean on and when he sounds like he did last night then there is something major wrong. This man is always calm and never jumps to conclusions while this rest of us are rushing around in a panic. (or my personal defense mechanism is just to pass out with instructions that say “ wake me when it’s over“) His hives hadn’t gotten any worse but he had broken out in a cold sweat. It was pouring off of him. He was making a puddle in the floor. He was red in the face, on his hands and feet. There was pressure behind his ears , he felt dizzy and nauseous. I was afraid he was going to pass out before I could get him loaded in the car. After a call to 911 we headed out for the emergency room. 911 dispatch called the emergency room to let them know we were coming. I believe that was the longest trip that I’ve ever made.

By the time we arrived he was shivering and shaking and his speech was slurring like his tongue was thick. He wasn’t always making sense when he spoke.

They put in an IV, got him stabilized,  and took blood.

He started feeling better and they pumped him full of more antihistamines so he would sleep and discharged him armed with a couple of prescriptions. We made it home around 12:30 am. He slept until 9:30 the next morning.

He’s been groggy today. But he’s much better. Your prayers would be greatly appreciated.

I told him when he married me he made me a Gray and now he is proceeding to turn me gray!

Until next time……..Kristi.

Update for Week of September 19

I’m going to spread this week’s update out over the course of this week because there’s just too many pictures!  The weather prevented us from getting some things done but we worked when we could in between . I have to say I felt off my game this week.  I have been so preoccupied lately.  Hopefully that will be resolved this week and I can get back in my groove.  I was grumping about having to wait a month for an appointment and ,now that it's almost here, I'd kind of like to have some of that time back. (although I don't think my mentality could stand it, :) ) Your prayers this week would be greatly appreciated. 

Last Monday I put up some of our winter things. The swim suits were put away and I cleaned out the pool bag. It will now get delegated to a sewing bag until next summer. Seemed appropriate since Friday welcomed Autumn. It is such a pretty season and I try to find the beauty and joy of each season. Of course I do my fair share of complaining about them too! But they are each lovely and bring good changes to us otherwise life would be quite boring.

Just a note from last week: I thought I had learned my lesson with the contact paper but no, not me. On Monday I found somewhere else just begging for it. Have you ever tried putting it around an ice cream bucket? It looked so unassuming. So non-threatening . Ha! ( can you feel the sarcasm?) I’m going to spare you the details but let’s just say I was muttering to myself again. ‘Nuff said.

Monday night it was raining. Our niece came over, so we decided to have a movie night.  We had a great time.

Three days this week were spent on the phone with Apple trying to figure out what was wrong with my iPhone. The proximity sensor was messing up and they suggested updating or restoring the phone to factory setting. Problem was it wouldn’t do either. But after numerous hours on the phone, Charlie managed to speak with an actual tech named Steven and he figured out the problem. Bless his heart!

I worked on my sewing this week and I’ll be posting about that soon but I will tell you that crafting is serious business and dangerous at times. Take a look below and see what I mean.

I fought the iron and the iron won.

How do you burn yourself there with an iron? It’s a long story. Only someone with “red hot ice pick” war wounds on her thumb would understand! (Heather, you are a true inspiration!)

This burn, plus the poison oak, and bruises I got lately the doctor will think Charlie is abusing me!  LOL!  I am a sight!

We spent time out in the shop this weekend. The guys worked on reloading and I cleaned up the office. The tanning area is now ready for use once again now that cooler weather is here. On the way out to the shop I noticed I still have roses hanging on. I’m not the only one reluctant to let go of summer.

Coming up this week:
I want to show you what my little man has been up to.
I want to update you on an outside project.
My sewing project that I have been working on.
Beans! What to do with leftover beans complete with recipes.
And anything else that pops in my head! LOL!

One last thought:

We rode over to the field to see what damage the rain might have done and this is what greeted us.

Beautiful!
Seemed something enjoyed the rain!

That's it for today!

Have a great week!


 

Update

In spite of not feeling the best in the world last week, we still managed to get several things done. On Monday Charlie worked over at the field.

The reason it takes me twice as long to finish a project is that I get side tracked on one and start another!

Some of the pockets on my clothes are just too small to tote my iPhone. When I go out to hang up clothes or just go to the opposite end of the house I have to go off and leave my phone or try to remember where I laid it down. I have my cooking apron but I wanted one more light weight and just a half apron and complete with at least one pocket to hold my phone. So, on Tuesday I made a utility apron. The material was some left over from early home school days. It was our Spring bulletin board background cover.

　

Tuesday afternoon I mowed and weed eated around the house while the guys worked on two dirt bikes that weren’t running. They got them fixed. I started up Little Red. She cranked on the second try. Guess she’s raring to go. I also moved edgers from around a flower bed so Charlie could mow it. It looks so much better now.

Wednesday I finished weed trimming a few places and trimmed a few tree limbs that were bugging me. A few storms passed through later that evening and soaked the ground pretty good.

Thursday morning was really cool. Zach and I had to wear jackets to town that morning. We went to Wal Mart for thread and can you believe they were out. Out of white all-purpose thread. Oh well, maybe next time. Charlie went and helped his dad work on the dump truck that evening. Once the field dries enough they are going to haul extra dirt out. Then maybe we can get it finished.

Zach has been learning a lot about working on dirt bikes in the evenings with his dad. He seems to be really interested in mechanics. I don’t think he has ambitions to become a mechanic. I think he just wants to be able to work on them if they need it. It gives him a sense of accomplishment. He likes knowing he doesn’t have to wait on dad to work on them. He wanted me to ride dirt bikes with him the other day. I told him my tires needed air and he popped right up with, ” I’ll do it.”
So he checked them, added air, if he added to much then he let some out, checked them again and declared them perfect. Just love that little fellow.

Friday was spent in overtime for Charlie. That means sewing projects for me. I needed to finish some of them up but with the nights turning cooler I wanted to get the dogs some bedding for their houses. I had an old quilt off of our bed that I cut up into smaller sections and hemmed up. I got several so I can trade them out. I made them small enough that I shouldn’t have any trouble getting them in the washing machine to be laundered.  The bedding plus an insulated dog house and heat lamp should be warm and toasty come winter.  Before anyone emails me about taking your pets inside in very cold weather, let me remind you that Buddy would and could do that but Bowie is still pretty wild.  He's come a long way but he's still very jumpy about any kind of confining areas.  I consider it an accomplishment that he sleeps in his doghouse now.  The shop is heated but I think he would absolutely panic if I put him in there this winter.  So you work with the situation you have.

I also asked Charlie to fix me a strip of wood in the bottom of my cabinet. A bottom cabinet by the stove where I keep cutting boards and cooling racks. They are just propped up under there and when I go to retrieve one or put one up they slide down. That’s really annoying! So I asked him to screw a strip of wood down there as a bumper to put an end to that. While I was getting everything out of the cabinet for him I decided to give it a good scrubbing and then of course that starts a chain reaction in me and I'm thinking new paper would be pretty in there. And I don’t get my sewing done. More on the paper subject tomorrow, so stay tuned.

Saturday we worked around the house. We “doctored” several ant hills around the place. Charlie put the strip down in the cabinet that I had asked for. We finally couldn’t resist any longer and took the bikes over to the track. I can now say I know what it feels likes to go over a tabletop. We had a blast! So much so that we rode again that evening and then again on Sunday. Now we are so saddle sore we groan every time we sit down. But so worth it! The more we ride the more we’ll get back in shape.

A picture of the newest tabletops.

Pic of the berm and longest tabletop in the background.

The rest of the week will depend on the weather. But rain or shine the housework and school will go on and on! LOL!

Just a note about the blog. I have a recipe to share this week. One I developed and have kept close to my vest but I’m finally ready to share after all these years! Ha! Nothing too special but a good “knock-off “ version of an old classic.

I’d also like to start a series on here of ideas and recipes on how to use specific ingredients and how to use up leftovers. Just little things that work for our family in keeping the grocery bill down.

Have a great week! Until next time…Kristi.

Sewing Project Update

The Halloween banner that I showed you on here a few weeks ago is finished and then I went on to Frosty the snowman. No, he isn't my Christmas door hanger but he will be my winter decor. January and February if I can stand his gaudy self that long. A few things about him: I embellished him with real buttons on his cuffs and down his front, the flag wasn't suppose to be quilted and instead glued to a dowel and glued to him. I didn't like that so I quilted it and am going to tack it on where you see it pinned.

The flag had white dots for the stars and just looked rather plain so I decided to embellish it with clear and white buttons in various sizes. I believe it turned out rather well. The button stars give it a more country feel I think.

I finally got my sheets tore into strips and started my rug.  I'm freestyling here on the pattern and the color changing.  Flying by the seat of my pants to put it plain and simple.

I started mom's lap throw.  These are flannel receiving blankets, cut into strips and sewn together.  After the front and back are sewn together you go back and snip about every inch or so and then toss in the dyer to sort of fray the edges.  I thought she might stand out more and make more of a statement with this type instead of the traditional quilted throws!  One side is sunny yellows and the other is pretty pinks.  

Things are coming along. Of course, like everyone else, for every project I complete, two more takes it's place.  But..........

Busy hands are happy hands!

Until next time.......Kristi.