Some days are like that.

Do you ever have one of those days...yeah, those days. Kind of like today where nothing really gets done. I overslept to 730am.  Not bad but when you want to get things done before hitting the road and commuting to work , it's late. 

Just hanging out with the old man tonight.  I hope to post pictures of the new ceiling but Dude said the power went out on the wall of the kitchen and needs to figure it out. 

We were to get our cow today but not sure what happened there.

I did get pasta in the crockpot. It turned out well. 

I didn't cook the pasta completely before putting it in the crockpot so it wouldn't turn out mushy. 

I lined the crockpot and simply layered pasta, cooked sausage, onion, pasta sauce and three kinds of leftover cheese.

But just like today... I hoped to post a finish product but Dude ate it all before I got home from work. sigh

Plus my to do list grows longer. 

Yep, some days are like that but you just power on. (There was a wee bit of a silver lining today. I did get a small raise at work)

peace

2nd Sunday of Lent - service to others(we got the help), sewing and dinner...oh and what is on the bookshelf this week.

Last week was extremely rough and I am happy to begin a whole new week!

The kitchen remodel and lighting is still coming along. That's the thing about homesteading, you do things when you can. This is where it was this morning. 

Dude began trimming all the frame.  We left some of it to build a shelf. 

His son drove the almost two hour trip to help us with the lighting. It was so wonderful to get the help. Dude says he wouldn't have been able to do all the options that were done without him. We are lucky, one son is a plumber and  another is an electrician. All six of the kids are extremely talented...

Even our granddaughter jumped in and began to work putting in the cans for the lighting. 

What a difference!  It is sure nice to have light in the kitchen.  They are adjusted by two switches. One can go on alone, or six or all of them at once.  I love it!

I knew there would be no chance to get dinner ready and the kitchen would be a mess. So I put roast beef in the crockpot in another room this morning with this  phenomenal recipe! So easy and actually good. I don't usually like beef because I don't like the way it tastes.  This was awesome. 

My granddaughter did get time to ride the horse.  So, keeping tally, she helped put in the lighting, she rode the horse for a good while and she made a wall hanging from start to finish in one day. 

Tracing the pattern onto applique paper. 

I started one too. 

I introduced her to musicals while we sew! Plus Fiddler on the Roof is a good Lenten movie. Check out how many times there is prayer in the movie then think about how many times a day you pray. (I am severely lacking!) Or how do you treat others who may not be like you?

It definitely helps the time fly by. 

Working hard. 

....and Wa-la!  Finished.

 Books for reading during Lent.  A little of everything but not near all the books we have to study our faith. 

A few of the books we have been referencing this week for the homestead.  Soon they will be swapped out with other we have, probably about gardening.

OH and Norman ended up in the ER for animals. Seems he ate twine and hay he found out by the barn.  All is well though... $250 later but it is always well worth the peace of mind. 

Something about Norman... he LOVES the vet and at eight months he is now 60 pounds.

Back to Normal Norman (as wacky as ever)

peace

Ram shearing, Dude's boredom = new kitchen lighting, and meatless Friday

Our ram Wilbur was sheered yesterday. 

His fleece is a bit dirty but nice and long.  It is a Romeldale wool. 

Last night we had a sudden and rather powerful storm that had me stuck in traffic, only to get to my son's home after 4 hours of trying to get home.  When there is snow on the ground and I don't get home Dude gets antsy.  He decided to begin work on the ceiling and new lighting in the kitchen. 

Here is the before. 

Here is where it was when I finally got home today.  I wasn't feeling well and went straight to bed. I must have needed it because I didn't hear a thing. Almost four hours later he got quite a bit done. 

As you can see we really need the lighting. 

Dinner for a Friday during Lent was veggie fajitas.

Cheese, onions, peppers and a bean mixture of Navy beans, lime juice, chopped onion and tomato, salt and pepper plus a chopped up chipotle pepper. 

Grilled the onion and pepper.  Remove from the stove.

Add a tortilla with the grilled onions and pepper, cheese and the bean mixture. Grill in butter. 

Fold over heat on one side and flip. 

Served with our canned summer salsa. 

Finished my first cross stitch in probably 15 years.  Can you see my big mistake? Dude could - smile. 

There is snow all around and we have a fire lit to keep us warm. Movie night from the library.  It's a homesteading movie of sorts, Far and Away. 

Then to bed early.

peace

Making chicken bone broth

I had to take it easy today and recoup. Your body demands  to slow down at times and mine was doing that. I had a leftover chicken carcass from the roast chicken last week. (it took a bit of convincing to get Dude not to throw it away). I put it in the crockpot this morning to make chicken bone broth. Covered it with water, added 2 tablespoons of apple cider, peppercorns, bay leaves, thyme, parsley, and dried onions.  Turned it on low and headed back to bed. 

Tonight I strained it. 

Look how pretty it turned out.

I spiked mine with more pepper and my dinner was ready. Great when you are feeling punky.

I wanted something mellow to do to pass the time since I didn't feel well. 

I haven't cross stitched in probably ten years. I found this picture online and just enlarged it. There were no directions so I wasn't sure how big it would turn out. 

I wanted something nice and easy to work on.  No thinking, no stressing, just nice and easy. 

I just looked outside. I haven't out all day (which feels weird).  It's not  a clear picture but it is a snowy night.  Our wood stove keeps us very toasty so no reason to really know what it's like outside. Time to head back to bed, safe and sound. 

peace

The weekend... planting, fleece, and Sunday Funday.

My mentor  and teacher is getting ready to move. I went to see her on Saturday. We are farmsisters. Her husband recently had a stroke so we lend support. She has always been there for all of us. I wish I knew how to support her more. 

Anyway... I was greeted by her peacocks. They had no fear and didn't seem to mind the dog that ran past them. 

We hugged and talked and then got to work sorting alpaca and llama fleece.  She suggested that I store mine in plastic bins otherwise these are just a nice fluffy home for mice. 

Since she is moving, she shared many of the bags she had. What a difference they felt after working with lamb fleece.

It was good to be with her but soon her home was filled with people willing to help and it was time for me to leave. 

I came home with a wonderful surprise from my nephew's wife.  An essential oil package. She is teaching me and encouraging me to use them. Fun, I just know nothing about this!

Next up I headed to the greenhouse to get to work. The greenhouse puts me in such a good news. 

First up I separate packages of strawberries. Typically, there are 6 plants in each but I had 7.  I am hoping for a lush  patch of strawberries this year. 

Then I plant the austrees I started in water during the winter. They are rooting well. 

Austrees are a type of hybrid willow tree used as a windbreak, grow fast and help with ground erosion. 

I soaked the roots of the strawberries. 

I had been started apple trees. I am not sure if they will make it but I am giving it a good try. 

Strawberries are tucked in. 

Austrees planted.

All the plants we potted are going into the house since there is no heat in the greenhouse and snow is due this week. 

I did plant some Oriental Greens seeds too. 

The rest of Saturday was spend cleaning for our Sunday Funday party. Family was coming over to celebrate two birthdays.  My daughter-in-law's brother, Rick and my son Nick. 

Sunday

We lined up and plugged in crockpots. 

We filled them with homemade macaroni and cheese, hot dogs and dips.  We also had salads, hamburgers, cheese and crackers , chips and desserts. 

It was a Sunday Funday. 

It is interesting to watch how children try to mimic adults. Be sure you are a good example. 

He wanted Grandpa to know he was strong enough to do whatever he does. 

Kindness to animals reigns supreme on the homestead. 

It was a bit chilly but we did get some horse riding in . 

We did take time to remember the time of Lent . Raising four sons it was always challenging to try and get them engaged growing up.  One way was to remind them it was a time of spiritual cleaning and to try and show them was by carving soaps.  So today we carved soap. (of course, raising sons they used to carve knives and skulls but it got us talking).  We will share later what we do with the shavings. 

Our readings today remind us of our 40 day Lenten journey and that Temptation is real. 

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.  Mark 1:12-13

How is Lent going for you? 

peace