Homemaking on the Homestead

  I should probably call this post “Last Week on the Homestead ”.   Life here at my little spot on the globe has gotten busy and full lately.   And it looks like it will continue for awhile.   I will post as I can, but right now I need to focus on my family more..     I have a nice big to-do list that I am going keep attacking as soon as I finish this blog post.   On my list today is deep cleaning my living room..   My Pomeranian, Ellie (bless her heart..   ),   is shedding EVERYWHERE and it is driving me crazy..     but we love her and know this will be over soon..   in the meantime..   I am vacuuming even more than I already do (as if twice a day was not enough! )   Other than dog hair duty I have laundry to do, school schedules for the three youngest ones to get done for the week, and just basic house stuff..     Emily has GED classes tonight..   I wanted to say also that I have had...

You know I am one who does not like to get into the political end of things on this blog.. I always figure my blog is about supporting the homemaker. A lady on my message board said she found the following YouTube video on Miss Catharine’s Blog (Cat from Making it Home) and then I watched it.. definitely brought tears to my eyes. No matter where I stand on the political end of this war, I do have a son in the Army and in less than 2 months he will be deployed to Iraq and I do support him and the choices he has made. So I am sharing this video in honor of him and in honor of all the men and women in our Armed Forces who have made the decision to support our country. Let us all “Remember” that these people are the son’s and daughters and husbands and wives, etc.. of those of us back home. (and as a warning that I did not heed and then regretted.. you will need some Kleenex nearby.. )  

Sunday Baked chicken legs Brown rice pilaf Broccoli   Monday Broiled steak Garlic roasted potatoes Carrot sticks and dip   Tuesday Spaghetti French bread Salad   Wednesday Chili Tortilla chips Salad   Thursday Salmon chowder Rosemary bread sticks Coleslaw   Friday Homemade pizza Carrot sticks and dip   Saturday Navy bean soup Homemade bread of some type Broccoli salad

Yea!!   We just got Emily’s test results for the first two GED tests.   She took the math and the reading tests..   she tested in the 99 th percentile on both of them!!    We are proud of her!   She takes the next 2 tests in a couple of weeks. Today is a day at home day..   Finally!!   I do have to run to the post office in a few minutes, that is no big deal.   I have been busy doing home chores this morning and catching up from the week. Right now I am taking a computer break and Emily just made me a Caramel Macchiato (Starbucks copy cat)…   yum..   she did a good job. I have laundry going, my sheets changed and the beans cooking for tonight’s dinner.   The kids are almost done with school too.   This afternoon I need to finish cleaning out the first of my 3 defrosted freezers.   Hopefully that won’t take me too long..   I would rather be outside enjoying some of this sun today. ...

  Today was just a beautiful day.   Finally we had some sunshine and it was so nice.   I was a couple of towns away for most all of my afternoon.   I took Emily to take the first two of her five tests for her GED.    While she was testing I went across the river to another town and went to Walmart and the feed store.   The goats and chickens needed feed and I needed a few misc. items at Walmart.   Emily tested for longer than I was gone, so I spent the time waiting, enjoying the sunshine and reading my book.     I switched my menu around this week and today we had the pot roast.   I put it, frozen, in the oven this morning before I left.   When I got home I made some garlic roasted potatoes and some peas.   It was easy and so yummy.   Hannah came home from work and Emily and Leanne went with her back to the home she is house sitting and goat sitting.   She said she is starting to get worn out with all the driving...

I had a request for the Creamy Onion Soup recipe that I mentioned Emily made last night.   She is turning out to be a great little cook!!   I am very proud of her kitchen skills. This is one recipe she makes frequently with me and Tobin in mind because she knows how much we both like onions.     Creamy Onion Soup Emily Miller   3 medium sized onions, any kind but the sweet onions are my favorite for this soup 7 cups water, divided 4 chicken bullion cubes or broth powder equivalent 2 cups whole milk (you can use 2% I am sure but we always use/have whole milk) 1 T cane juice crystals 1 t salt, more or less to taste ½ to ¾ t pepper ¾ cup whole wheat pastry flour 1 cup shredded cheese, any kind   Cut onions into slices and then cut those slices in quarters and set aside.   In a good sized soup pot combine 6 cups water, chicken bullion cubes or powder and the onion slices.   Bring this all to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for...

Well Tuesday was spent mostly off the homestead.   I had to go grocery shopping today.   I took the whole family with me too.   Hannah has been doing a house sitting, goat sitting/milking job these last few days.   She will be doing this for the rest of the week.   She is also commuting back and forth to work so her life has been hectic..   but today was her day off and she wanted to come to town with us.   We had a nice day.   I went to both Costco and Winco.   While we were gone Tobin took her car for a test drive.   She had been telling him it was making funny noises.   He took for a rather tough test drive and the CV joints failed. We were very happy to see this happen to him rather than to her while she is out driving on the hwy.   Her job is about an hour away from home and her work.   Tobin asked me if I wanted to join him for the trip into town (back into town for me) with him so he could pick up the CV joints...

  We arrived home on Friday after a fabulous time together..    The flights were great..   our return flight was delayed by 2 ½ hours, but that was ok..   We both hope to be able to get away again soon…  It was much needed..   We enjoyed lots of sunshine and warm temps..   It was just my thing.. I even came home with a bit of a tan.... can’t beat that!!   (well I burned first.. now it is a tan ). I wish I had a bunch of pictures to show you..   but I tell you..   I just enjoyed myself and left the camera behind mostly..     I do have these two pics to share..   We went and saw the play/opera Phantom (Phantom of the Opera) and I took Tobin’s pic and he took mine before we went to the play..       For now I am getting back into the groove of life again..   Tobin has officially changed shifts and changed days off..   so that will take the whole household some time to a...

My wonderful hubby is whisking me away for an entire week  …   no kids  and some warmer temps  ..   So needless to say it will be next week before I am back to blogging with you all!!  

  Well it has been a couple of days since I posted..   Monday was filled with my typical Monday busyness around my home..   Mt. Laundry was facing me again and so were all the undone chores from the weekend.   Today started by me taking my daughter Hannah to the airport to hop on a plane.   She is flying down to see my oldest daughter in California .   She is giving her a little packing help as oldest daughter and hubby will be moving soon.   Emily was with me and after we left the airport we did all our grocery shopping and even made a trip to Kmart and were home by noon .   Something unheard of typically!   But then I don’t leave the house at 7:am typically either!   Now it is life back to normal..   laundry continues..   kids needing attention continues..   housework continues and..   I need to go and start a fire. I was hoping the sun would warm things up today but no luck..   oh yes, I still need to ...

  We were up early as usual this morning..   Tobin headed off to work around 5:am we went to church later on. Early service starts at 8:00am and we have to be out of the house around 7:30 or so...   This has become our favorite service to attend.   The sermon this morning was on love, not the silly way the word love is used today for a zillion different occasions and things…   but the love of Christ and how we are to show that to others. He preached from John chapter 13 verses 31 to 35, Jesus was talking to his disciples before His betrayal, death and resurrection ..   A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.   By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (verses 34 & 35)..   As my pastor said, He had to say it twice and went on to say it again before His death .. “love one another”..   there was an ...

Sunday: Goat Stew Salad   Monday: Baked ham Baked potatoes Coleslaw   Tuesday: Split pea soup made w/ham bone Homemade dinner rolls or bread of some type Salad   Wednesday: Mac and cheese w/leftover ham Broccoli   Thursday: Lentil soup Dinner rolls, bread or biscuits Salad   Friday: Homemade pizza Veggies and dip   Saturday: Fiesta Cabbage Brown rice pilaf