My $13 Shopping Spree

I love Goodwill. I always seem to luck out and find what I am looking for, sometimes that which I am not looking for. Thr other day was a perfect example. I had about 20 minutes to spare in between appointmets so I whipped in and began my search.

A few months back I passed up the dome of a cheese dish. I have two dishes and no dome. They were broken by an adorable curly haired little boy who had an obsession with mommie's cupboards. (Mommie should've moved them higher, she hadn't expected her precocious child to explore so soon. That's only been about 9 years ago. You can tell how much I use a cheese dish/dome. I want to now though. I'll begin making goat cheese soon and would like to have a little display plate. I searched and searched. Last time I was in the store, I found two. This was before I remembered I needed them. I then forgot about it until my cleaning exercises this week, at which point I vowed I'd find a dome.

About to give up, my little eye spied a brown bottle. Perfect. I could already see sunflowers in the top. Score! I also looked for short skirts (not too short, we'll get to that in a minute.) I've come to LOVE wearing skirts and not just for going to town either. Like knitting, I don't know how this happened. I just woke up one morning and POOF, I wanted to start wearing skirts. I'm kidding, it wasn't that dramatic! Perhaps it is the path I've taken to embrace and honor my femininity or my love of previous eras? Whatever the case, I enjoy wearing skirts, I'm not questioning it any more, I'm going with it. I happened to come across two skirt that matched my cre8tive cowgirl style. Little did I know the green one would come in handy (keep reading).

As I walked out, giddy with my finds, I noticed out of the corner of my eye and adorable pink table. It's the perfect size for sitting a flower arrangement beside the back door or for BS to use with her kitchen set. The price though is what made me jump.......$1.25. The old garage sale, junk finding adrenaline kicked in. YEE HAW. I ran back in, slapped the cash on the table, put the back seat down in the subaru and head to my appointment.

I didn't not, at this point notice that the wind had come up. An hour later, on my way to Shopko, I was shocked to experince the gust of wind. Not nearly has shocked however as the man behind me that may be now scarred for life. Right there in the parking lot, the wind did a perfect "Marilyn Monroe" on me. I am blaming it on the wind. I was utterly embarrassed, trying to collect the bottom of my dress and get it to where it should be, just above my knees. I didn't realize that it was so poofy. I also didn't realize that anyone would ever see my underwear! Gasp. I'm sure I turned a billion shades of red and scrambled as best as I could to the safety of the indoors. Dear God! I would never have worn this dress had I paid attention to the weather forcast.

I looked hard to see if he was gone before I ran back out to my car, this time with my skirt stashed between my legs, and gathered up as much as I could with my hands. I still had three more stops, one lifting a laundry basket out of the back of the car. Sitting in front of the dry cleaners I decided to try out the green skirt. The plan was to shimmy it on and wear it under the red plaid dress. I wasn't any place where I could buy leggins and really didn't want another pair. I have two right now, that's plenty. So I hiked up the skirt. Sure I was sitting in the front seat of my car but I checked the size and thought it was fine. Why was it tight? I couldn't even zip the damn thing. To my surprise, it had been altered, stitched on the size by someone who also loved the color but had about a two inch smaller inch than I. Drat. I tried to rip out the seam and realized it wasn't going to happen without the appropriate tool. It was tight enough I was sure it wasn't going to fall off. It didn't and since it was under my short shirt dress no one had any idea that it was halfway UNZIPPED! It made me giggle then when I went into Menards, the last stop before my 30 mile trek home, when a girl said to me, "I like your outfit, it's really cute." Yeah, that's how I roll. I always plan my outfits.............!

I went home and promptly changed into a much longer skirt. In fact, I am wearing a similar one today. There's no wind, so I think I'm safe! We are headed to a football game shortly. Our boys qualified for the Punt, Pass, and Kick competition. After that we'll load up and head north. I'll be attending a writing workshop in the morning. I am really excited about it. The kids are excited too, they are going to go hang out with Uncle Carl and Melissa. The boys are really wanting someone to take them fishing. Poor things, neither of their parents are into such sport. I told them when they were little that I wouldn't touch a fish........or a worm. They've stopped asking. They know if they are ever to learn, its not going to be from me. Nope, not my gift. I'll eat 'em, but do not ask me to bait a hook, catch one or clean one. I admire people who can. I knit. I hike. I read. I garden. I clean. I cook. I can ride a horse and rope a steer if I had enough time. I do a lot of things but I don't bait any hooks! At this point in my life, I do know where my strengths lie!

So here's to enjoying a beautiful autumn weekend with your family and friends! May you find an abundance of treasures and good deals!

Rare Sight: Clutter-Free Table

I am taking in the accomplishment of today......the living room, laundry room, pantry, bathrooms, our bedroom and my closet have been reclaimed. Praise the Lord!

I can feel the efforts physically, my feet are killin' me, and I wore good shoes. I do wonder how many miles I trekked today; it feels like 20.

The feeling I get from a clean, organized, dusted and sparkly home is probably comparable to a "runner's high". I feel as sore!

I scrapped my original agenda when I realized my clutter and cleaning issues were a little worse than I had imagined. If this tells you anything, I didn't even turn on the ipod.....! I know, rare. I'm not sure I would've even heard the music, I was on a mission. I still am. My approach led me to go through my closet. Here I was relentless. I let go of several "oh if I just drop a few pounds these will fit item". Forget it. Not even trying.
So while I'm exhausted amd may appear to spend the entirety of my days cleaning, I assure you there will be different content on this soon. Very soon. Right after I get this house back into shape!

PS if you want a fab granola recipe, let me know......I found a keeper. BS is taking it for snack tomorrow!

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Happines Is A Clean Fridge~Inside and Out

I actually despise this fridge. It is nearly impossible to keep clean, no matter how much I scrub it. I had hoped the darn thing would die but alas, after 16 years, it seems to be working fine. I'd love a wider version and an entirely different set up. The freezer compartment is a joke, very "slim" and hard to reach anything. I do have it stuffed to the gills, but that's beside the point.

My pet peeve is having my fridge covered with papers and magnets, at least the front of it. I know it is a very popular spot for art work, reminders, etc. but it makes my already small kitchen feel even tinier when the fridge is covered. This summer I created an actual message board that I think is pretty darn cool. I post "notes to self" as well as leal plan, school lunch menus, to-do's, grocery lists, invitations, and about anything else that we needs to be kept track of. It hangs on the wall nearest the kitchen. I think Chad thought I was insane when I brought it home and asked him to hang it up ("You want this where?")  but it's proved to be a perfect place and now the kids are even using it too! Way cool! And yes, there is one picture of the kids. Just one. Its from last Christmas and I loved the memories that it reminds me of. It makes me happy to walk in and see their smiling, non-fighting faces.

White has never been a favorite color so I am thinking of painting it. I think a copper would look really cook in my kitchen so I'll be researching to see what the steps are. Since it hasn't died yet, I'll give it a go. Has anyone tried painting a fridge? If so, I'd love to hear about your experince. I'm going to paint the hood above my stove too. I figure if I can paint a `67 Forester camp trailer, surely I can paint this ugly beast!

View From The Top

Here's the look from the top of my fridge~ I had sooo much fun crafting this look! I'd been wondering what to do with my cool wire basket and today my cre8tive energy met with the opportunity to design. Like the classes I teach, I rarely put the same things together twice. Though I have a place for the cookbooks, this will provide quick and easy access. I intend to do a lot of cooking this fall. My family is ready. I've taken a break since my focus has been on canning. I'm about to wrap up the season.

I realized today............I have a lot of cookbooks! These were just a few that made it in the basket.

Pretzels and A Clean Kitchen

Today was a productive day, one of the more efficient ones this month. It is nearly 10 pm and I am finally in a chair with my feet up. They hurt! The counters were scrubbed, the fridge cleared and organized, dishes were washed and put away and the cupboards no longer look like the scene of a tornado. As strange as it sounds, I actually HAVE to clean the kitchen before I can cook it in. This must revert back to my obsessive need to make a bed before I go to sleep?!  I feel better in a clean kitchen, I feel like cooking and cre8ting and that is what I did!

The cleaning didn't start as soon as I wanted it too. There were follow up phone calls to make, appointments to schedule and some time on the internet (aka time warp/black hole). I ordering craft supplies that I haven't been able to get locally. We also found the perfect prop for the 2010 Halloween costumes. Sparky has wanted to be this character for three years. We finally found just the right article of clothing and his brother thought it was so COOL that he wanted one too! I'd love to share more but........they've sworn me to secrecy!

The above picutres shows today's favorite project. I finally got around to using the wire basket I found this summer. Though I have a cupboard, I decided to showcase my favorite cookbooks for the the fall. I added my favorite plaid thermos and a few colorful flowers to perk up the space.

Once things were in working order I started into the cooking projects. First I made three batches of soft pretzels  two batches of soft pretzels, one didn't turn out so well! Pecos was happy to devour the "hard ones" as he worked on his homework. The pretzels are for BS's preschool snack tomorrow.

After the pretzels, I snuck down to the craft room to work with the new alcohol inks. WOW. I love, love, love them. I made a fun tag for the snack basket and my little helper also whipped up a work of art with her animal stamps. My goal is to get this room back in shape by Thursday. I'm going to need at least a day, maybe two. It's in sad, sad shape. I hate to admit it, but it's become a "toss n go" room. Its probably my favorite room in the house but it doesn't look like it right now. Anyone want a job? hee hee

Next, I went for a walk. The day was just too gorgeous not to get outside. I love this time of year and the cool evenings that greet us. Every year the crop near our house is different. While I love the wheat, there is just something magical about corn. As the breeze billowed through the shucks, I settled into a peaceful walking meditation. Though I had been on my feet all day, this was the kind of refresher I needed.

Back at the bard, I did the goat and chicken chores and then started in on the soup. I really should have paid attention to the recipe when it said 3. 14oz can of diced tomatoes. It would have been faster! Instead, I used my own. They were delicious, but being short on time, it would have sped up the process.

We dined on a wonderful Sausage Tortellini Soup. Everyone agreed that it was a "keeper". Two out five voted for more hot sausage next time. Majority wins though, especially if I am the cook! This may be an excellent holdiay soup, we'll see. I'm still quite fond of Chicken Corn Chowder. I like to start my experimentation early in the fall. I buy all my ingredients in November. My goal is to not step foot in a grocery store during December!

I've sketched out a schedule that will include reorganzing every room in the house. I really (x 1,000) want to put in new carpet in the upstairs office and bedrooms in October. I'll feel better knowing that I've got through and prepped before I begin. It is unknown at this time if 1. I have the funds and 2. if I have the help to move furniture out and back in again. I am proceeding though, I cannot stand to see the gross, disgusting, stained, old carpet any longer. eeeeek.

I think I finally found my mojo! It's long overdue. If I can get this house back into shape, I'll have more time for doing the things that I really want to do. I have a feeling this fall is going to fly by. I want to enjoy it and I know I'll enjoy it more when all my cute little duckies are in a row! Right now, three of those duckies are in bed and I suppose I should get there too. Tomorrow morning I'll tackle our bedroom, closet, bathroom, laundry room, floors, sinks, drawers, and pantry. In the afternoon, I'll resume my tomato killing canning, and peack jamming. Wednesday is town and errand day. Thursday, I meet with the dreaded basement disaster.....

Do you clean and reorganize each season? If so, please share any tips and suggestions you have!

Go Big Red!

We had the opportunity to take in a Husker game on Saturday. We had four tickets so Chad arranged for BS to go to her Aunt and Uncle's house. This was fine by her, she LOVES playing with her cousins.

It was a super fast trip down to Lincoln. We made time for one stop, just ONE! Chad went to look for supplies, he's got an elk hunting trip coming up. I high tailed it to Michael's, oh how I heart that place! I found some adorable stamps for a buck apiece and a few more essentials for card making. I'm going to explore the world of alcohol inks! I've been studying the technique and I'm excited to try it! Some on my Christmas list will be receiving a stack of specially designed greeting cards. I'm in the mood to craft and cre8te.....I just need the TIME. I know,...... don't we all?!

I will be tackling my annual "go through every room in the house and organize" this week. I'll leave no room untouched. And I will end up in the craft room and I WILL LIVE THERE FOREVER! Ok, that was a bit overzealous, I'm sure the point is clear!

I put off my cleaning efforts today though. We slept for four and a half hours and headed north for my adorable niece's baptism. She is such a DOLL! We had a yummy lunch and enjoyable visit with the Johnston and Sitz families. The cousins all had a blast! We now have quite a range too, from ages 12 to 2 months. There's rarely a quiet moment and we love it!

We're on our way home now. Supplies have been gathered. Our larder will be a bit more full by the time we unload. I'll be making granola and pretzels for BS's preschool snacks. I got ingredients for Tortellini and Italian Sausage Soup tomorrow night. Peaches didn't get canned :( beans didn't get "dilled" :( tomatoes didn't get sauced :(

We did have a fun time watching the Husker game with our boys and spending time with our family today. What a great way to relax into fall!

I hope your weekend was wonderful!

This Spud's For You

I didn't know if I'd be able to say this! I planted potatoes that had gone to seed in my basement, not sure if we’d have much to harvest or not? This summer, I’d gone out to dig up some “new” potatoes for a Sunday dinner dish. Much to my dismay there wasn’t much to dig up. I blamed this on the horses. They are excellent escape artists and unbeknownst to me, they’d trekked over to the garden for nibbling and rolling. GRRRR!

They made a serious dent in the potatoes and beans. I wasn’t sure what would or could be recovered. I did my best to keep bugs and pests off of  the ones that hadn't been smashed. I've not had the best luck this year, remember the goat ate the tomato plants.......twice. The kids and I picked off beetles and took them to the chickens for afternoon snacks. When canning season hit and I forgot all about potatoes. That is until last night………….

Chad and the “little garden helper” dug up one hill. It produced these two large spuds and several others. There’s something quite magical about digging up potatoes in the fall; it’s like finding buried treasure……that you can EAT! And, eat we do! We smash, mash, roast, grill, bake, hash, broil and fry taters. Chad bought a french fry cutter, which was used often last winter, usually on Sunday nights. Although I despise the smell of deep fat frying in my kitchen (*barf*) because it lingers for days, it truly is one of my family’s favorite way to devour spuds. I LOVE the crunck of kettle chips, delicious.

It looks like we’ll have another nice harvest this fall,  digging will commence soon. My wish at this time is for a root cellar. The store room downstairs is a bit on the warm side, my onions are trying to sprout. I’ve a mind to bury one of the box car storage units we have. It is insulated and I think it would do the trick. We’re going to need to do something with all the jars that I’ve canned this summer too. Though I never feel like I do enough, it does appear that we’ll not run out of green beans for awhile……….57 jars worth!

I got several jars of salsa, chili base, spaghetti sauce and tomato soup. I didn’t get a lot of sweet corn put up (thanks cows, again, grrrrrr) but we had quite a few bags left over from the previous year. I hope to put up at least a couple more batches of tomato soup and mild salsa. I also have dill beans to make, peaches to jam and cantaloupe bread to bake. I wish my harvest was done……..when the snow flies, I guess that’ll be my sign.

Everything seems to be about a month or two behind. I normally have things a bit more organized, tidy and on track than what I do. By this time last year, I’d already switched the summer clothes out of closets and had the fall/winter ones in. The canned goods were neatly organized and on the shelves and I could walk across my floor without stepping on a sandbur! I feel like I am moving in slow motion and I don’t like it one bit. I look around and see so many things that need attention, yet only those things at the top of the list are what get done. I've abandoned all hope of getting to item number four on my list, one through three take the entire day! (I’m trying to remember how often I’ve mentioned this in blog posts! Sorry if I’m redundant.)

We'll be taking our boys to a Husker game tomorrow. We lucked out and got four tickets. Since there are five in our family, the youngest will be going to hang with her cousins. She'll be much happier with them than watching football. Sunday will likely find me a. resting and b. making jam and freezing the lug of peaches in my fridge downstairs. Harvest is here, isn't it? As least we have an amazing moon to look at!

I'll bet you've been working hard too; doing what you need to do to get ready for winter. If you can, take a break tonight, pull up a chair, light the firepit and grab a refreshing beverage........ THIS SPUD’S FOR YOU!