Weekly Ponderings

So after today there is just one more day in January. I need to share what I did this month as my prep for christmas 2016. If you remember I told you that each month I was going to do at least one thing toward being ready for christmas decorating for 2016. So this month I used all my christmas cards and recycled them into gift tags These will be exactly what I need to top off each gift next year for sure.

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Well I will have to say that since this last change with blogger where if folks were following you with Friend Connect then they have to be signed into google to leave a comment or maybe even continue to follow you. Well my followers are dropping like flies. Don't like the idea behind google doing this but I will say to all of you who are leaving, I will miss you and wish you would stay! I enjoy hearing all your comment and look forward to them with each blog post.

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As I have said many times, I only go to the grocery store once a month. So I really try to have a detailed list to take with me. I like to do most of my shopping at Aldi's, then I have a list of a few things I get at Walmart about every 3rd month. I also might have some items from Big Lots or Dollar General. But I always have this list broken down and ready to take along. So it is getting near the beginning of February, now I never go on the first and looking at the calendar it will probably be on the 8th this month. I don't go near the 1st  and never on a weekend. I might swing into Sam's just to check on clearance items too.

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I am really enjoying doing a journal page and incorporating my daily devotions and my doodling. By only completing one page a week it makes it so doable. Now if I have time or go to the Dr or somewhere I take it with me and I might do extra, but no pressure to complete more than one page. It is amazing how small specs of time can produce a page in a week and do my heart so much good. Here is what was worked on this week.

So tell me, what to you do with those small snippets of time? Like when you are on hold on the phone, or waiting for your computer to come on in the mornings, how about in the waiting room or even waiting for the kids to finish with practice?

Frenzied Friday

Well another crazy week around here. First we got all the snow cleared out from the driveway and sidewalks. And all the streets in our neighborhood as well. 

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Been doing some weaving this week. In fact I completed my first rug.

And I will admit I am mighty proud of how it turned out.

Also been prepping for another rug.

Ripping and sewing strips together.

This is turning out to be a long process and not my favorite part I might add. So if anyone has any suggestions as how to make this a more pleasant task I would love to hear them!

So I will be doing more of the same all weekend long. At least that is the plan. I need to convince others that they do not need me for anything!

So what do you have planned this weekend?

Monday's Musings and Menus

I woke up to a cold single digit morning. But they say we will see the mid 40's before the day is over. This weekend was filled with a lot of snow removal and just plain old hunkering down. But today the deck needs all the snow to be gone.

And then I will be done with the snow......until the next one blows through.

Lets get right to the weeks menus. Last week was a bit crazy with the weather and all and some things got changed up and I did not fix the mexican casserole as planned.

Sunday.......Mexican casserole(so it got fixed today)

Monday......butter beans, fried potatoes and ham, cornbread

Tuesday.......chicken fajitas

Wednesday.......mini meatloaf, mashed taters, green beans and corn

Thursday......chopped salad, homemade pizza

Friday.......leftovers!

Saturday......soup of some kind

This is an easy week in the kitchen. And I admit, a not to creative one either. What are you fixing for the crew? 

Weekly Ponderings

We we are under about 14 Inches of snow and a couple more coming today, or so they say! I really don't mind the snow, we were prepared for the power to go but the snow was soft and fluffy so that was not something we had to deal with. It sure is pretty.

I believe my favorite part of the snow and ice is the quiet that comes with it. The peace that you feel when you step outside or even just look out the window. It seems like all the noise of the world has stopped. Things like car horns, people yelling and even automobile engines are gone and for a brief time we can hear the birds songs, your footsteps crunching in the snow and the wind blowing through the trees. I think if I stood really still I might just hear the snowflakes landing on the lawn. 

If you have snow in your neck of the woods then take some time today before all the blowing and shoveling begins and stop to enjoy some of the beauty that is out there. And listen to the quietness.

And this is Saturday so it is time for me to share this week's devotional/doodle/journal page.

Snow Flying Friday

Well it is Friday and the snow is flying out there. They say we are in for at least a foot. The weatherman is having his heyday, you would think we have never seen snow before in our lives! Oh well it is good for a laugh.

This was taken around 10 am this morning when it had been snowing long enough for me to find new batteries and get them in my camera.(20 minutes)

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I had planned to fix a mexican casserole today but decided that Beef Stew was a better idea. So a big pot is on the stove and I will serve it up in a big pile of mashed potatoes. If we should lose power it will also warm easily on the grill or even in the fire pit.

Here is my recipe:

Beef Stew

2 pounds stew meat

olive oil

2 cups water or broth

1 T. Worcestershire sauce

1 clove of garlic

1 onion

3 large carrots 

2 ribs celery

1 can of peas

2 bay leaves

salt and pepper to taste

1/4 tsp paprika

a pinch of allspice

Brown meat in hot oil. Add water or broth, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, bay leaves, onion, salt an pepper, paprika and allspice. Cover and simmer about 1 1/2 hours. Then remove the clove of garlic and the bay leaves. And add in the carrots and celery. Cover and cook 30 -40 minutes. Add 1 can of peas and allow to heat through. Use cornstarch to thicken.

******Now I must tell you I used my home canned venison instead of the stew meat which shortens the cook time as it is already ready to eat.

******* I also use a tsp of minced garlic instead of the whole clove and I do not remove it.

*********As you probably noticed this does not contain potatoes. That is why I serve it in a pile of mashed potatoes. or sometimes over rice.

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Cold this weekend with snow continuing well into Saturday. So lots of creating and maybe some reading going on this weekend. And I am sure plenty of exercise removing snow from the walks and driveway.

So what about you? What is on your list for the weekend?

If you are located anywhere in the snow region I pray for your safety and hope your power holds for the duration. 

Monday's Musings and Menus

Baby it's cold outside! 7* to be exact. Bone chilling wind up to 30mph.

I stayed in most of the weekend although I did get a walk in yesterday afternoon. But today I am not planning to stick my head outside. I am going to get some creating done today.

But first let me do the menus for the week. It will all be warm comfort food I can tell that right now.

Monday......a huge pot of chili

Tuesday......meatball soup with homemade sourdough bread.

Wednesday..........ham and potatoes, green beans, biscuits

Thursday......leftovers

Friday.......mexican casserole w/ a guacamole salad 

Saturday.....pasta E. fagioli soup  

So what are you eating this week?

Weekly Ponderings

This week has been a good one.

Had a couple of warm days and I needed to take some photos for my Etsy shop, but I was outside working in the flowerbeds and lost track of time. So no photos taken and now it is raining!

I will have to add that God is good. All of our needs have been taken care of for another week. 

Last week I shared here about how I am combining my morning devotion with journaling and doodling. I am doing this so that I can work on one page all week long. This way I work a little on it each day and have a completed page at the end of the week which I am sharing with you. 

Now some have ask what I am doing the pages with and the best way to answer that is to say, whatever I have on hand. I don't believe you have to have expensive supplies. I love kids art supplies and buy a lot of things when school supplies go on sale in the fall. What's some of your favorite supplies to work with? And please share what you been doing this week.

Friday Frenzy

Well I must have done something right this week! Because I can really see a difference in me not running along trying to catch up. Yeah me! 

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I do have a ball cap of hubs that needs washed today and I really don't like the end result unless I do it by hand. So it is done and drying.

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He will be going to a fishing show up state tomorrow with said hat on his head! They will be looking at all the new items in fly fishing, so the "Honey I need it" list will be growing again.

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I had some pictures to take and edit today and they said it was going to be 50's with sunshine. But about the time it hit 48* it started to rain. No sun in sight and it is a cold rain.

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But tomorrow is another day and I hope to get some items finished tonight and maybe it will be nice enough tomorrow to get those pictures and even more.

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I have been doing more of this. 

The end result will be mug rugs. It is so fun sitting at the loom. I think about all the ladies down through the years that might have used this loom and what they might have made or even used the woven cloth for. Have you ever been out walking or hiking and all of a sudden you had arrived at where you were going? And you really can't remember anything along the way? Well that is the same feeling I get when I sit at the loom. I remember sitting down and choosing my waft materials, starting to weave and maybe even a few rows, but then my shuttle runs out of fabric and look at the weaving and I have completed 2 feet of work. It is very mesmerizing. 

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Hopefully tomorrow will be even more of the creating side of life.

What kind of plans do you have for the weekend?

Monday's Musings and Menus

The weekend was warm. (56*)

And the weekend was cold. (25*) 

Now both of those were daytime highs. And the wind on sunday was blustery, sharp and would cut right through you. 

But it is January after all and the cold is the normal around here.

But the beautiful sunshine made it all good!

I have been slacking on menus since the holidays, but I am getting back to it. It saves me time and money.

Sunday.......I fixed Chicken Tortilla Soup and a chopped salad.

Monday.......oven fried flounder and oven fries w/ coleslaw

Tuesday......Chicken and dressing, green beans, sweet potatoes, cooked cranberries and biscuits 

Wednesday.....chopped salad, homemade pizza

Thursday.......chopped salad and leftovers

Friday.....fried potatoes and ham, eggs and homemade biscuits

Saturday........no idea!!

I need to make an announcement. I have been notified by blogger that starting today those who follow my blog with Google friend connect can no longer sign in and follow or comment unless you have a google account. I am not sure how many of you this will affect but I do hope you will want to stay badly enough to get a google account and continue reading and commenting on this blog. I do not want to see any of you leave. Thanks.

Weekly Ponderings

So whats the big idea? The calendar says this is January. But it can't be, because this is my 57th January and I know what January is like and this is just wrong! We are suppose to have super cold, even frigid temps with blustery winds and blowing drifting snow. But no, not today, today we just might hit 60*. Thats right, 60*!! In January, so can you see where I am confused? Make a person feel like they must be getting Alzheimer's or something. Cause I know what January is like and this isn't January!

This is what the sky looked like last night, in January!

I am working on a new item for my shop and also for the farmers market this summer. It feels good to get my hands back to work in a productive and creative way. I will be listing some of these in my Etsy shop as soon as they are complete and pictures can be taken so stay tuned for that. 

Do any of you journal? Well at least I guess that is what you call it. I like to do it but I also like to sketch or doodle in an art pad as well as doodle when I am doing my morning devotion. So what I was finding was that was a lot of time being spent and I was having a hard time keeping up which knocked the fun in the head for sure. So this year I am combining them. I will do a page each week and I can take the whole week to complete the page.

Frenzy Friday

What is everyone doing today? After all it is friday. We just started a New Year and I feel like I am already trying to run and catch up. So with today being friday I want to get the week caught up and have the weekend before me. So today will be a busy day.

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First on the list is hubs is going out the door for a quick trip to Lowes, he is picking up 2 things. First he is getting a couple of sandbags. We are having a water problem when it rains with water getting into the garage. And I have heard the old, "I am going to dig a trench" for over a year. So sandbags will hold it till said hubs gets around to it! And the other thing is new air register covers for the living room. He will pick those up so I can get the holes cut in the new floor and get them put in.

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I have some laundry to get done. And a couple of boxes of pantry supplies to stock the shelves with. This will not take long just a matter of going to the garage and getting it done.

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I have some picture taking and editing to do for my Etsy shop. Things that will spiff it up a bit and get the new year rolling.

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I have plans to spend saturday working on creating a new product for my shop. So wait on it. I am excited about it.

So tell me, what kind of plans do you have for today and the weekend?

Thinking Of Christmas

I know it is the first week in January and everyone is thinking about a new start all. 

But I am trying to think ahead a bit. At least it is part of my plan for 2016. I am trying to think ahead in my personal life and in my creative life. It can't hurt after all.

Now this year I was a little behind on getting christmas decor up since we were completing the hard floors in our livingroom. So I ended up just doing a tree and calling it quits. 

But for 2016 I am planning to do one project a month toward the christmas decor. I will be going through some of my vintage items and some of those may end up in my etsy shop, so keep your eyes open for those. I want to plan several vignettes that will be placed around the house. I will complete them and store in a marked tote so when the time comes to use them it is easy peasy.

I will post on these as they are completed.

Now for the creative side. I have several shows on the books and some I have applied for but have not heard any decisions on yet. I am also trying to get into a farmers market which I will do a presentation for in March. So all of these shows need product and I am already working on that as well.

Also I have started and even completed some ornaments for my Etsy shop for the 2016 holidays.

Trying to stay ahead of the game this year. How about you? 

New Day...New Year.....New Mug!

It is the beginning of a New Year and you have 365 blank pages in front of you. Will your book be a best seller? It will if you give it your all, live each day to the fullest, learn from every experience, share yourself with others, learn something new everyday, love with all your heart and search out God's blessings for you.

I am excited about my "book" and will check back on it from time to time throughout the year.

Make sure you live your life and thrive not just a day to day existence! I hope you might write the best book ever and share it with us. 

Happy 2016!

Here is the mug I am starting out this New Month(and year) with.