2016
12/05

Category:
food
Life
Shopping

COMMENTS:
2 Comments »

“Hang on tightly for a wild ride”week

img_0012This week was one to “hang on tightly for a wild ride”  and try to enjoy the ride as the disasters happened.

  1. A shattered cell phone

  2. A broken cooktop

  3. A computer not working

  4. 2 now defunct microwaves

I’m hoping we are at the end of this ride.    The phone has been replaced for a very small fee, courtesy of Apple.    A new cooktop sits here in the entry way awaiting the installer.  The first microwave died after many good years of use.   We went to use it and it was too tired to move.  So we brought in the other one which was given to us several years ago and had seen little use.  It worked for 2 days.  After an on-line search yesterday, I found one to purchase at Amazon – yes it did cost $13.00 more than if I went out and picked one up.  However, it was snowing in the morning and they delivered it in about 6 hours to the front door.   We were willing to pay for that convenience.   And so far it works wonderfully.

The computer was quite another story.   I spent Saturday night and most of yesterday, until midnight, working with the Geeksquad on-line to get it back up and running.  We don’t know why it misbehaved, but after all that time, and 3 different “geeks” on their end, it is up and working again sans my email list of addresses.  Their advice is to get a different email program before it happens again as it has been happened to others as well.

God has blessed us that we are not usually big spenders, grow much of our own food, and only buy necessary clothes, so we had the savings to handle these issues.

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   Look at this blessing that opened out of season.   There is only one stem, but unexpected and we are enjoying it

Today, we went to exercise, bought grain for the sheep, and took a nap.   Maybe tomorrow, we can get back on track.   It’s time again to clean surfaces that attract “stuff”

2016
12/04

Category:
Life

COMMENTS:
Comments Closed

Computer not working

I’m all right – just sorry, please give me another day to get this computer working.

2016
12/02

Category:
Life
Sewing
Shopping

COMMENTS:
Comments Closed

Sweetpea Pods for gifts

img_0007sLazy Girl’s Sweetpea Pods are fun and make up quickly.   They are marvelous for small items that you would like to keep together and not lose.  If it was holding liquid, I would estimate about 1.5 cups.  It measures about 3 x 6″.   The first one took a bit more time to make.   The  zipper trick was knew to me, and was a bit fiddly the first time, but once you do one, it becomes easy.   The directions are VERY clear.

img_0003sOne needs only a 10″ square of fabric, another of lining, and another of batting to make two of these.   One zipper with two pulls is also needed.   So you can really make these little cuties with scraps.

img_0006sHere is my first one.   They will make perfect little gifts.   I want to look around for some fun zipper pulls to attach.    I highly recommend you make some of these for yourself and for gifts.  The patterns are available at quilt shops as well as on line.

JUST for fun:

img_0001sBig red, medium red, and little red cars were parked in front of us at the grocery store.  It amused me.   It doesn’t take much, does it?

I want to thank each of you who sent suggestions in the medical field.   We have an appointment in a couple weeks and are lining up questions to pursue.

We wish you a wonderful weekend.

 

 

2016
12/01

Category:
Life

COMMENTS:
2 Comments »

New phone, new cooktop, woes

New Phone:  There are no photos because yesterday, my screen on the phone shattered.   Today we went to the Apple store and asked them to both repair the screen and replace the battery.    When they tried to take the battery out, it broke a tab and when that happens, they give you a new phone (after you pay for the new battery).   But,  I was not charged for the screen repair.   This whole session with Apple took several hours because one has to wait in line to get an appointment, then wait for the repairs etc.  So we got there about 11 and left at 3.    However, my computer does not recognize this new phone though it looks like the last one and is plugged in the same cord, so tomorrow, I get to call the company and ask for help.  Just remember though- – without modern conveniences, we would not have these issues.   So I’ll take the issues.

New Cooktop:  The cooktop is also glass and has had a corner broken for about 2 years, but it was no big deal – until now when the crack decided to go from the front through the left side burners to the back.   So while we were out, we picked up a new cooktop as well.  It is still in the car and hopefully the service will happen tomorrow.  I enjoy having a nice indoor cooking stove as opposed to a campfire situation.  So again, it is a blessing that I have this issue.

Yesterday before the woes started, I spent most of the day entering data from our checkbooks, credit card bills, etc. into the new version of Quicken that I purchased on Monday.   DH has been paying the bills and our bookkeeping methods are very different.  It appears it will soon all be my job once again and I need to have it  organized to get the bills paid on time.

Now if you are still with me, I have a personal question that I hope one of you will be able to help with.   We have been to two different neurologists who both say that DH does not have Parkinson’s.   However, the signs are there, the shuffle, the slowness, the body and mind not working together, the handwriting getting more difficult to read, the mind feeling like in a fog.  Do you know of a disease that mimics Parkinson’s that this could be?   The doctors did not have a suggestion.  I’m fairly sure it is a type of autoimmune disease, and we do have an appointment for an alternative doctor later this month.   Meanwhile, I thought I’d ask if any of you have seen this type of disease and if so, what helped.

 

2016
11/29

Category:
Garden
Life

COMMENTS:
1 Comment »

Peppers, Swiss chard and carrots

ac   Iimg_5715November 29 and the peppers are done!   They are no longer ripening properly, so I  picked the peppers to finish ripening in the house and pulled the plants.   It’s hard to believe that the weather has been this mild.  By late October, they should have frozen.   As soon as they ripen, the extras will go into the freezer to remind me of summer when I use them.

img_5716Here is a sink full of Swiss chard and a few carrots, I pulled on which to munch.  The chard will also go into the freezer to be used in smoothies and other recipes.  The carrots will be pulled throughout the winter as we need them.   I would have been more than happy to share some of the produce, but it seems children don’t want food that they know comes out of the ground – they prefer food from the pretty racks in the store.  And adults don’t want to pick their own food.   It’s too much work.  Interesting, isn’t it?    So this year the sheep and chickens ate the extra pumpkins, cabbage, peppers, celery and other foods.  They do enjoy them.

Tomorrow, the kale and parsley should be picked.

 

 

 

 

2016
11/28

Category:
food
Knitting
Life

COMMENTS:
1 Comment »

More canning and knitting

img_5710sMore canning today – the beans – pinto, great northern, and garbanzos –  for now are finished.   And while waiting on the pressure canner,

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I did more knitting on these socks.   I am now ready to start the heel flap.   But if tomorrow is a nice day, I’ll be outside.

img_5707sJust look at the beautiful sunset the Lord prepared for us to enjoy as we were preparing the sheep for the night.  There are massive benefits to caring for animals.

2016
11/27

Category:
food
Life
quilts

COMMENTS:
2 Comments »

Rain – canning – internet buying

img_5704mAll this rain has given me time to work in the kitchen.   Between last night (cooked beans) and today, I have cooked and canned 4 dozen pints of beans.   It is wonderful to be able to just open a can of beans and heat them or not to add to a meal.   I still want to can another 3 dozen pints of beans and energy permitting, some potatoes.  Potato soup is so tasty when it’s cold outside.  I could do more if I had another pressure cooker, but then I’d have more to store.   It takes about half an hour to heat up, 75 minutes to process and another half hour to remove the pressure, so there is a lot of time in each kettle full.   And most of the time, we are very close by so that we can keep the temperature and pressure where it should be.

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Today, I also rescued from the refrigerator a number of red and orange peppers which I cut up and froze.   And yes, I pushed the date just a bit on both items.   It is nearly the 12th month!  And I like to know when I processed them so I can use the older items first.

I also had a bit of time, so I removed all the stitches from the quilt that I felt needed to be removed.   I’m very happy that is not a huge quilt.  Now to start again on the quilting.

img_5705nThis package arrived – wonder how that happened.  There are now 27 wash clothes waiting to be made.  Or maybe these will turn into something else.  This is the problem with internet.   It is too easy to spend money.   No, it wasn’t necessary, but the price was right and I can use it for small, easy projects.   I did manage to ignore most of the weekend ads.   However, I ran out of empty pint jars and went to buy some, when what to my wondering eyes, one of my enabling friends posted that Target was having a sale on Ball jars.    I did order what I needed and will pick them up at the store tomorrow.   I also need some ink for my printer, but that is not on sale this weekend.  Therefore, I have not purchased that, yet.   So really I have done very good at ignoring all those temptations that have been flowing into my email box.   The ads will be coming in for awhile yet, so I still have to be careful.    How about you?   What tempted you that you yielded to?

2016
11/25

Category:
food
Life
quilts

COMMENTS:
1 Comment »

Autumn quilt finish + welcoming kitchen

img_5703The Autumn quilt is finished  (except I for the hanging sleeve).  Actually, I’m not sure if I’ll put the sleeve on, so maybe it is finished.    It’s wonderful to have a finish as it has been awhile.

img_5701mI wanted to share my daughter’s kitchen with you so you can see how much room she has after her remodel last summer.   Isn’t all that space wonderful when one has guests?  And it is so inviting, all the guests hang out here.

I hope each of you had a fulfilling Thanksgiving, a wonderful Black Friday and will have a most needed Sabbath this weekend.

 

 

2016
11/24

Category:
Life

COMMENTS:
1 Comment »

Thanksgiving

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We wish you the Happiest of Thanksgivings.

2016
11/23

Category:
Knitting
Life
Shopping

COMMENTS:
Comments Closed

Swirl E socks begun

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I have begun the next pair of socks = the Swirl E socks.   This yarn is Knit Picks “Felici” rainbow and the pattern is a Prairie Girl Design by Susie White which is free on Ravelry.  With all this gray weather, I’m enjoying knitting with the spring colors and they are knitting up fast.   The yarn is nice and soft even though it is a superwash fiber of 75% merino wool and 25% nylon.

We did go to the gym this morning and then grocery shopping for the last minute items.   I also spent several hours on the computer doing research.   Tomorrow, we are going to our daughter’s and enjoy the family and friends.   One of our children and family will be missing since they are on a trip to Israel.  But we’ll get together for Christmas.

To all our American friends:  Enjoy a

Happy Thanksgiving and drive carefully.