Barn Hop #47

This week has been awesome weather wise. I thought it was supposed to be a cold and rainy this winter in Florida, but I guess not. At least I hope not. I know it can still sneak in there but I bought some plants anyway.

I worked on getting my beds ready to plant this weekend. We had 74 degree weather today and the sun was bright. I had a surprise (or four) in my square garden bed too. Four little strawberry plants that survived the hot summer months & multiplied! I had them in a pot, but it got knocked over and I thought they were goners but they just rooted themselves and continued to do well. I actually bought another one today (there were two in the pot) and planted those right along with the others. So now I have six total. I am not sure how much they will produce, but they sure are pretty!

I also bought two tomato plants (Romas), a basil and a thyme plant. My oregano had taken over the area so I cut it back and will dry those leaves. I also had a nice little surprise in that my chives have also survived. My rosemary is looking kind of 'stick' like, anyone have any suggestions on what to do? Should I just cut it back? At least it will fill out more, hopefully. :)

It was supposed to get down to 46 tonight so I brought the tomatoes and herbs back in the house, but they got some sunshine today. I don't think it will get that cold, but that is what they are calling for.

I am not going crazy this year on gardening. I tried to do too much last spring and nothing worked out well, so I got discouraged early and didn't do any fall gardening. But I am getting back on the horse and trying again. Small this time around. I am going to grow some pole beans this time around as apposed to the bush beans. The bush beans did ok, but I am hoping for better luck with the pole beans. I found a latticed piece of board that I will use for a trellis. Yay, free is good.

Speaking of beans, a friend of mine told me about a good recipe for them. Here is the recipe for "french fried green beans". I haven't tried them yet, but my friend swears they taste like french fries.

green beans
olive oil
salt & pepper

Lightly 'oil' the green beans as evenly as you can but don't saturate them (like other roasted veggies). Salt & pepper them and then roast in 350 until crisp. She said it took about 30 minutes. That is it!

I will definitely be trying them this week. :)

You can join up with the Barn Hop here. Enjoy your week!

things

This past week our house has been a wreck...and still is, lol. We are having our bathroom redone. Not for of aesthetic reasons, but out of necessity. (I didn’t take any before pictures, but will take after) This house is 55 years old and it was time. When my dad built this house he did it right and used great materials, but nothing lasts forever and it was past time. The bathroom is in the center of the house, therefore has no ventilation. I don't think anyone really put in a vent back then. Anyway, we are putting in a vent so the moisture can get out! Replacing the walls (mildew), toilet, and bathtub. We have a little wall in there also that had to move to accommodate the new shower too. Everything is going real well. :) We are pretty happy...except for the mess.

It is fine though because while they are in the bathroom working, we can go through the millions of bathroom items that need to be gone through and reorganized before it goes back in the new room! I love organizing and throwing things out. Needless things anyway. We would pass on anything usable but not by us before throwing it out of course.

I also organized all my fabrics, notions and scraps yesterday! Man do I have some scraps! Any suggestions? I finished a baby quilt this week also and I even machine quilted it myself. Only straight lines, but I did it! I just have to bind it and then call the lady to come and pick it up! Yay!

Today I may take a run to Sam’s, go to my sisters to help her with a quilt and then come back and work outside. It is so pretty these days and will be about 74. Perfect! I need to weed some beds and get some veggies going. Clean out the Oregano (need some?) and replant Lavender and Rosemary. I need the vitamin D also. :) It really has been so pretty; I have to get out of the house!

Have a great day!!!

Getting back to normal...

...whatever that is.

This past week has been a whirlwind, starting with last Friday night. My niece Claire and her husband came in from NC to see the baby. Saturday we played around with the kids and tried to get my daughter to go into labor, but no go. Sunday, her sister and her husband came in from Atlanta also. The 'couple' camped in the backyard between the house and the lake and they really enjoyed doing that. They listened to the owls hoot all night long, but it wasn't disturbing to them.

Claire & husband had to go home on Tuesday so we sent them off still waiting for a baby. Tuesday, mom & I took Erin & hubz to a little town nearby called Tarpon Springs. It is a Greek community on the water and we like to take visitors there when they are in town. It is sort of like a tradition. There is a little shopping district there with lots of good Greek lunch places to have eats. The big draw is the seafood and sponge docks. The sleepy community also has a big Epiphany celebration every year and most of the local boys dive for the cross. You can read about this year’s unusual celebration here. The boys who win have an extra special blessing for the whole year.

Tarpon Springs is situated on a bayou but you can drive out to a small jetty where they have built a nice little manmade beach.  There are bathrooms and showers there, but not much else, except the beautiful sand and surf.

Erin & Hubz had to pack up and leave Wednesday and we had to send them off without a baby. We had already found out that they would induce on Thursday though so at least we knew he was coming and coming soon. J

He came Thursday at 12:13! Labor was fast and short and mommy and baby are doing wonderful. He is adorable and I am thrilled!

This weekend I am working on a quilt, catching up from company, laundry and I am finally going to clean up the gardening areas and get some things planted!  I want to do tomatoes and herbs. My oregano made it through from last year and is growing strong too. My strawberry made it too and I have little off shoots! I was really surprised about that one. Of course, I will go see my little baby grandson at some point too. Can’t keep me away!

Have a great week!

My kitty update

I have some very sad news about mama kitty. She passed yesterday about 12:15 pm and she was comfortable in my arms. She was such a sweet kitty and she knew that I could handle this as long as she waited for  little Kai to get here so he could help console me. I would like to hope a little tiny part of her soul passed into him when she passed, but I have no way of knowing. God works in mysterious ways though and I know I will see her again.

Although I am very sad, I am glad she has gone on to live in heaven with those in our family that have passed before. God has a special place for animals too, I believe, but she will be sorely missed here on earth. She was a great companion and loving kitty and to be blessed to have her for 20 human years is astonishing.

Thanks for letting me share.

He's HERE!

:) Isn't he adorable?

His Nana loves him SO much!

For today...

Outside my window... It's beautiful and a perfect day.
I am thinking... that I have a lot to do this week
I am thankful... for my family
In the kitchen... leftover homemade potato soup
I am wearing... shorts and flip flops
I am creating... Keith’s quilt
I am going...to the hospital Thursday
I am wondering... if I'll ever measure up to the type of person that I want to be in my heart.
I am reading...One Thousand Gifts

I am hoping... and praying that my daughter delivers a healthy little boy and they both make it through delivery with flying colors.

I am looking forward to...the next 40 years

I am hearing... the sound of my son in law and nephew in law talk about remote control helicopters.
Around the house... it is messy.
I am pondering...where to start when our company leaves.
One of my favorite things... storms.
A few plans for the rest of the week...holding my daughters hand as long as she needs me to be in the delivery room with her.

Baby Update...

...nothing has changed. Actually, she was due Tuesday and "things" are happening, but no baby yet. :( My poor baby is so ready to have this boy! She is very uncomfotable and just ready to hold his little self in her arms. I just want her to be ok and for them both to have a safe delivery. Prayers and good thoughts are very appreciated. :)

My two niece's and their husbands are coming into town this weekend to see the baby so I hope there is someone to see, lol. And all the "boys" in our family have big plans to go paint balling Monday so more than likely she will go into labor then, lol. The young kids might go dancing tomorrow night, maybe that will get things going. Either way it will be good to have lots of family around and hopefully he will make his entrance into this big old world soon.

Thank you for your prayers and thoughts! Stay tuned...

Tater Tot Casserole

My daughter was due to deliver my grandson yesterday. We are still waiting, lol. I figured she is not going to want to cook when she gets home from the hospital so I am trying out some good quick recipes to make for them after they get home.

I have to make them quick so they don't long to fix (or pre-make) and tasty so

while they are eating, I get to hold the baby! :)

Tater Tot Casserole

I know, it doesn't really look very appetizing,

but it was delish!

And It was so easy too. 

Tater Tot Casserole



1 pound ground beef, browned

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1/2 c onions, saute' with meat

1 bag frozen tater tots (I use mini tater tots)

1 Tbsp dried parsley

1 Tbsp minced garlic

1 tsp Salt

1 tsp Pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brown hamburger and onions. Add salt pepper, garlic and parsley. After the ground beef and onions are browned, put it in the casserole dish you are using and add the mushroom soup. Mix it all together and add whatever else you might like, seasoning to taste and top with the frozen tater tots. Bake on 350 for about 30 minutes or until the tater tots are crispy. I suppose you could add cheese to melt on top also if you like, but I like my tater tots crispy and naked. ;)

Enjoy!

New quilts I am working on

Here are two new quilts I have been working on. The first one is put together, but I am going to attempt quilting it myself. I just need some nerve, can you send me some? I got the "foots" for Christmas so I just need to do it. When I do, I will definitely post. Good, bad or ugly. :)

The front is a whole jelly roll of solids. I saw something on YouTube called "jelly roll races" and it was fantastic, so I had to try it. The back is a black and white French/English verbiage of sayings like "I love you", "Seize the day", things like that. And the purple and green is just pretty. I love purple and green together.

This one is a top from a "quilt along" I followed along with. Actually, they did it last January but I found the blog in September. It was fun to do although it took a while to cut all the fabrics and get it sewn together. I think the back of this one will be some sort of black and white; polka dots or stripes, etc.

These colors are so much brighter and prettier than this picture shows.

I really need to invest in a good camera; and probably should take more pictures outside. :)

Now all I have to do is get it put together and quilt it also. I love my new found love of piecing quilts and sewing!

PS, my daughter is due today! Praying for a safe delivery, whenever he decides to make his entrance into this world!

Have a stupendous week!

Score!

I scored this weekend.

I was looking around on Craig's list and found some brand spanking new canning jars! They were still in the boxes and the plastic wrap was still on them. I was able to get:

1 case of 12 jelly jars

1 case of 12 regular quart jars

1 case of 12 wide mouth quart jars

1 case of 12 wide mouth pint jars

...all for $35! Less than a dollar apiece. :) I am seriously thinking of going back tomorrow to get more if she has any left. 

My other fantastic find was a food dehydrator! I have been looking for one for so long I never thought I would be able to find one at a great price. It is only $25! The couple is moving to Georgia and has to get rid of some things and it is barely used, has extra trays and she even downloaded a recipe book along with the instruction manual. I need both believe me. ;)

 Mr. Coffee Dehydrator

I am so excited to get my garden going again this year and to be able to ‘put up’ some food for next year.  My little sis is growing her own garden this year too so she can use it too!

:) Have a nice week!

Click on the button below to join up with the

Homestead Barn Hop!

My blessings this week are...

My beautiful daughter…

A wonderful Holiday season with family and friends…

Watching the sunlight sparkle on the lake…and the otters play in the water…

My “mama kitty” that has hung in there for a long time but is winding down for the journey ‘home’…

What's been going on...

Christmas morning we had about 14 people over for a big breakfast feast! It was such a nice time and so yummy! I made a sausage, cheese & egg casserole, hash brown casserole, three pounds of bacon and a crock pot casserole or hash browns, eggs, sausage and cheese. We also had fruit, coffee, OJ and cookies. Yes, cookies. lol. It was just such a joy to be able to sit around the room with people you care about and talk, laugh and play! Before all this went on my mom & I went over to little sis's and watched her and the kids open their presents. Good times.

This is our little bitty tree. I also wrapped presents in a natural kraft wrap with recycled Christmas cards too. It was nice not having to go out and buy wrapping paper this year.

I also made this. Tatertot casserole. I saw it on Pinterest and even though mine does not look as good, it WAS tasty & warm!

New Year's was quieter. My sis flew in from NC and we just hung out and watched House Hunters! :) We chatted about children, grandchildren to be and all matter of things. It was nice and quiet, except for the fireworks raging outside. I was paranoid that the property would catch on fire. I don't care for fireworks at all and it has been real dry here. Fortunately, God took care of it all with a very heavy blanket of dew so we were good. I didn’t even need to worry about it. J

We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of little baby Kai. My Miss K is due on Tuesday but she is showing absolutely no signs of giving birth. Nothing. Zippo. The doctor has set the date of the 24^th to induce in case it has to go that way. Poor little girl is so tired and big and her feet hurt and well, anyone who has done this before understands. :} I go to bed every night wondering if I will get a middle of the night call. It will happen soon, but if you could, please pray everything goes well for her and the baby. Thanks.

Well, I am getting the ‘gardening itch’ again. I wasn’t going to start a garden this coming spring, but have changed my mind. As a matter of fact, I am planting some things this weekend. Not sure what yet, but going to plant something! I want to get all my containers and gardening areas cleaned out and ready to go too. My little sis has started one at their house so we can compare notes and such. My Oregano from last year is still doing well and I want to cut some and dry it. I have found a new love for Oregano! I will take some before and after pictures and do a post on this soon.

I have been working on a couple of quilts. I have the purple and black/striped one pinned and ready to quilt. Santa brought me a free motion and walking foot so I can quilt myself. I just have to practice a LOT!

The “brick wall” top is done, but I just have to put it together now. J The colors are so much more brighter than it shows in this picture. It is truly a "Spring time" quilt.

Thanks for reading! Have a lovely week!