Snow Day

Today was a snow day. We have about 8 inches of snow and right in the middle is 1/2 an inch of ice. It snowed 4 inches yesterday before it turned in to sleet & freezing rain and did that for the rest of the night. About 9 this morning it started snowing again and snowed another 4 inches. It is really beautiful. This is looking out my front door.

And this is the woods on our property:

Since I was home I made a pot of soup. I am calling it Calico soup because it looks like Calico. I also made Honey Wheat Bread. We haven't eaten the bread yet but the soup is yummy. I am going to give the recipe here so that next time I want to make it I can remember what I did.

1 package ground chuck

1/2 onion

1 celery rib, finely chopped

2 carrots, finely chopped

1 Bay leaf

1 clove garlic, chopped

1 cup orzo

peas

corn

salt & pepper to taste

3 pints tomatoes

Boil ground chuck until it falls apart and is no longer pink. (if the ground meat has a lot of fat you may want to drain the meat, but I didn't). Add the onion, celery, bay leaf, garlic, carrots, and tomatoes. Simmer until vegetables are tender. Add corn & peas. Simmer until corn & peas are cooked. Add orzo and cook until tender. Remove bay leaf before serving.

I add peas from my left over container in the freezer (about 3/4 cup) and the smallest package of corn in the freezer (about 1/2 quart). Serve with biscuits or hot bread for dipping.

Have a great week.

Mae

May the grace of God’s protection

And His great love abide

Within your home-within the hearts

Of all who dwell inside.

Happenings

Today it is snowing. It looks like we may have a couple of days of snow this week.

Last weekend I created a Homemaking Journal. I think I am really liking it. It made it so much easier to get up, look at the journal and see what I need to be doing that day. I made a list of chores for the morning and the evening. They have to be things that can be done quickly, before I leave for work or after I get home. I work 7.5 hours a day and drive an hour each way. That makes 9.5 hours a day that I am away from home. You would think that my house wouldn't get messy since we aren't home. But we are home just long enough to make a mess. This week the house stayed fairly clean.

I also am planning a menu for the week and am doing a lot of the prep before I leave for work. That is really helping, also.

The new chickens are growing fast. We think we may have a few roosters in the bunch. We ordered only hens so I think I will have to call the hatchery. Maybe they can replace them when we order again.

I am attending a class on Photo shop tomorrow. I am really excited about that. Also, it's a day out of the office. There has been a lot of tension there lately. So that will be a little break.

Next Saturday we are going to take Lily home with us for the day. April is painting the inside of her house and needs us to watch Lily. That will be fun for us. I am going to make sure I have the whole day free so I can just sit and hold her. I haven't seen her for 2 weeks and I am really missing her.

Mae

May you have the hindsight to know where you've been

the foresight to know where you're going

and the insight to know when you're going too far.

BRRR!

I think this is the first time in my life that I have been in -5 degree weather. I don't think I care for it. It wouldn't be so bad if I could just stay home all tucked in and cozy. But when I walked out the door this morning I wondered why I moved here from Florida. I mean, I think I am in my right mind, but maybe not.

To cure myself I think I'll spend some time this weekend planning my garden, looking over seed catalogs, and hopefully ordering seeds. This time every year my thoughts turn to preparing for spring.

Our new chickens are growing and are doing well. It is time to start thinking about letting them out some. They should start laying in March. And we will be selling those eggs at the Farmers market this year. We have to order our egg washer and more cartons. Also, we need to get a banner made to hang under our tent. I will have to start trying to make a logo for our farm. Hopefully I'll get that done soon.

I hope you all have a great weekend with your families.

May love and laughter light your days,

and warm your heart and home.

May good and faithful friends be yours,

wherever you may roam.

May peace and plenty bless your world

with joy that long endures.

May all life's passing seasons

bring the best to you and yours!

Wood Heat

This fall we installed a new wood heater. It is one that is outside and all the heat is vented into the house. It is called the Lil House Wood Stove and this is the link to their website http://www.outsidewoodheater.com/id3.html. I was a little skeptical at first. But now I don't know how we got by with out it. It keeps our house warmer than the fuel oil heater ever did. And the wood is a whole lot cheaper. Free vs. $1500 last winter. We do still keep the oil heater as a backup. Even the floor is warmer than it has ever been. And all the mess from the wood is out side.

I know it is a lot more work for Greg, and I do appreciate all the work he's doing to keep me warm. I am a southern girl and I can't take being cold.

It is really helping our budget. I have been working on other budget cuts, also. I guess every one is working on budget cuts. Here are some things I do to help the budget:
Have chickens for eggs
Grow most of our vegetables
Make most of my own cleaners
Make laundry detergent and use it every-other load
Cook most of our meals from scratch
Pack lunches for work
Almost never use paper towels
Recycle soda cans
Use coupons and buy when things are on sale
We ride together to work at least 4 days a week but usually 5 days
Turn off lights we aren't using
Use Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs
Use leftovers
Use as few garbage bags as possible (this is a pet peeve of mine, buying garbage bags just to fill them and send them to the dump)

I am also considering going on the envelope system. I think I will try this out next pay period to see how it works. I used it for Christmas gifts and thought it worked really well.

I would love to hear other ideas on cutting back.

By the way I am feeling much better now that I have had my treatment. I am good to go for another 4 weeks.

I am falling in love with Irish Blessings. Here is one for today.

May God grant you always...A sunbeam to warm you, a moonbeam to charm you, a sheltering Angel so nothing can harm you. Laughter to cheer you. Faithful friends near you. And whenever you pray, Heaven to hear you.”

Resolution & Update

I finally decided on my resolution. It is to be more health conscience. I am trying to drink more water, eat more vegetables, check my blood sugar levels more often and just keep a better eye on what I am doing with my health.

It has been a really great Christmas season here. The kids were here until Saturday. Then Monday it was back to work after 2 weeks off. It really is hard to get back in the swing of things. I think some of that is because I didn't have my treatment last week when it was due. My nurse was on vacation and so was I. I will have it this Thursday and I am really ready for it. I have Gaucher's disease and am on enzyme replacement therapy. I have an IV treatment every 4 weeks that last 3.5 hours. By the time the 4th week rolls around I start running out of juice. It has been 5 weeks since my last one and with being so busy with the kids, I am really tired now. If you are interested in learning about Gaucher's here is a link: http://www.gaucherdisease.org/what_is.php

This is a picture of Dixie (3 yrs) and Lily (8 weeks). We had their pictures taken while Dixie was here for Christmas! Dixie belongs to my son Daniel & his wife Larissa, Lily is my daughter April's and her husband Pete. They are the most precious and beautiful things I have ever seen! (Okay, I know every grandmother says the same thing!)

I hope you have a great week!

Mae

May the road rise up to meet you.May the wind be always at your back.May the sun shine warm upon your face;the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,may God hold you in the palm of His hand.