A little gardening , a little baking and a little creating

After much caffeine I did get one plot ready for the lily of the valley plants I got yesterday. 

I start the same way I usually do...

Cardboard, wool, compost and soil. 

I did pause to go detach the cucumber plant from the peppers.  I heard the peppers yelling that the cucs would not leave them alone!  So, I went and got a tomato cage and strung them up. Everyone is happy now.  ugh.

I did find a couple things around the yard to help it out. 

Next to the kitchen.   This weekend my best friend and I have birthdays. We are going to spend the day tomorrow doing what we love... sewing.  I am made a few things to celebrate. 

We like frogs and octopus but couldn't find any so I got the next best thing... fairies. Next time I will just cut them with my Cricut machine.

The rest I made a cake for Dude and I to share. 

Dinner- I took a bunch of garden goodies and the last of the turkey to make egg rolls homestead style. 

Next it was card night ...as in making them.  I love my teacher , Sherri.  She is so talented. Here is what we made tonight. 

Good night.

peace

Using our garden and pantry for a fun dinner and crafting day

We spent the day doing what we like to do.   Dude, watching football and old cowboy movies .  Me, cooking and crafting.

Dude brought in Summer's saddle to have in the house. His heart is rather heavy not having her around. 

After chores were done this morning we headed to town to get stuff for dinner and a few things for Dude's new adventures in train building.

My mom was heading to her 68 class reunion today.  Her and her classmates still get together about once a month but this time it was an actual reunion.

That got me thinking about meals my mom would make on a Sunday afternoon.  She is a darn good cook.  Usually we had beef on Sunday... a potroast, potatoes, carrots... and if my Dad was home (and not overseas -military) we would have dessert... a cake, pie, or a fruit baked crisp. So, I thought I would combine it all with the fall bounty we have and make beef stew.

Stew was put in the crockpot. We don't usually eat beef but for some reason it just sounded good on this first day of fall (would have made lamb stew but I think we ate it all...we love lamb).

Here's the recipe.

1.5 lb of beef stew meat
flour, salt and pepper to dust the beef
6 garden carrots  pieces - garden
1 medium zucchini medium pieces
1 large onion coarsely chopped - garden
4 red potatoes quarter and cut again into bit size pieces
2 celery sticks sliced - garden
1 bay leaf
1 cup frozen corn - I buy when 10 for $1
1 can of tomato sauce- I buy by the case
2 cans of water
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce


Toss the beef with the flour and salt and pepper.

In a skillet with a tablespoon of oil brown the meat on all sides.  Just brown the meat don't cook through.

Then place all the ingredients (including the beef) into the crockpot. Cook on low for 8hours or high for 4 hours. I cooked mine on high for 4 hours.

Pumpkin Cupcakes.
1 butter pecan box cake mix  - I buy 10 for $1
1 can of pumpkin puree - it has been in the pantry for a month - smile.
1/2 cup of yogurt.

Mix all together.  Bake at 35* for 12-15 minutes in cupcake pan.

Let them cool and top with basic butter frosting and sprinkles.

They turned out more like muffins. 

But ohso good. 

Every month my sister and I send each other a "craft" to do.  Here are this month's.

Decorative balls. You can do these for any season but they look great with a group of them in a bowl.

And a dollar store potholder and kitchen towel sewn together to make a fun hanging towel. 

 Sew a gather in the center of the towel. Then sew the potholder on top of that seam. 

Add a button on the opposite side of the loop for hanging. 

This one I will keep... put the button on the wrong side... grin. 

Crafting will continue through the evening while Dude watches football.

Thought for my journal tonight... What 3 Amazing things happened today? 

peace

Some days on the homestead don't always go as planned.

It  was another gorgeous day in the 70's*.  Chores were done this morning.  Chicken coop cleaned, with fresh new bedding laid down and topped with dried mint and oregano to keep the pest and mites down... plus it smells wonderful. 

It is one of our grandson's first birthday. I think their parents are smart to keep the first one low keyed since he won't really get what is going on anyway. 

I was off today and will be tomorrow. Then it is back to work and homesteading. I am really enjoying my time with Dude. We continued our walking again today and went two miles. Not much but it is building up stamina and helping Dude recover from back surgery.  It is suppose to rain/snow tomorrow so we are heading to the recreational center to swim.  We love going to the pool and hot tub on cold days. We have learned not to dread winter but embrace it where we can. 

But for today, Dude washed the car and truck. The plants loved the run -off water.

I made cupcakes for the birthday boy. 

Then set out to make a fabric cowboy... It has a blanket, pillow, cowboy, bandana, and horse. It's called Howdy and made for Moda.  Adorable.

The blanket and pillow were a breeze. 

We had lunch and started cleaning up the dining room and living room. Before we knew it it was late and time to go see the birthday boy.  I wanted to finish my project but I could hear Dude yelling in the yard.  Angelo, our goat, had gotten out... first time ever. Apparently, he just pushed opened the gate.  Dude was having a fit, chasing him all around. Angelo is my big fat baby, a 3 year old Boer goat. I told Dude to quit yelling and just ask him for a hug and kiss. Dude thought I was crazy. But I just called for him and put my hands out. He came running to me for a goat massage. See...

Everything calmed down, the animals were put "away" and we head off to see my grandson. With all the commotion I forgot the cupcakes and didn't finish the gift. Ugh. 

So here is where I am now.  It will be for Christmas... if I ever get the little cowboy turned inside right.  heehee. 

Some days are like that. 

Happy Birthday to our seventh grandson Master Spencer. 

Time to bring in some firewood for the morning. 

peace