Norm the Gnome

Edited to add that Norm is already having a great time at Oreo's. Go check out the pictures of all the fun things he has been up to. Thanks Heather and Oreo for being so nice to Norm... I just hope he wants to come back home after his vacation!!!
Norm has arrived at his next vacation spot! He is now visiting Oreo and his mom Heather in Virginia. So be sure and check their blog over the next couple of weeks to see what he gets into.

Here are more pictures of the babies.
We have: feather footed and cochin bantams along with australorps, giants, turkens, buff rocks, sussex, brahmas, and orpingtons, which is a mix of brown layers. The bigger ones seem to get along with the bantams even though the bantams are so tiny. Having fun being a mother hen!

Its so nice to be back home again. We enjoyed visiting some of the kids but I was happy to sleep in my own bed again. We spent a couple of days in Lexington at Ray and Sharons and then went on to TN to visit my daughter Maggie and her family. We spent one night in a nice little motel that had a wonderful country restaurant. We had a nice picnic lunch beside the river near Maggie's and watched the geese in the water. What was surprising was all the buzzards in the trees and flying around. There wasn't anything dead around, and Maggie says they stay in the trees there all the time. We also went by the cemetery and placed flowers on dads, mothers and my stepdads graves. While at Maggie's I took a photo of Lincoln's grave. Lincoln is my little grandson that didn't get a chance to experience this world. So there were some fun, happy moments and a few sad moments, but all in all we had a nice trip.William left this morning going to PA (wave to him Ms Maggie). My day will be getting self and home back to a normal routine. Enjoy your day, enjoy your home, enjoy your family and of course enjoy your blessings of the day!

What, know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 1 Corinthians 6:19

There's a thing to remember; that you don't belong to yourself at all; and are bound to do the best you can with your time, and strength, and everything.
Photos above are from our picnic at the river in Newport, TN

Momma Hen is Home with the Babies!

Finally made it home with the chicks and we have 54! One was dead upon arrival and one died soon after but the rest are healthy and doing great. William fixed a BIG box for them with sand in the bottom and 2 heat lamps so they are running around eating and drinking and I am having fun petting them. Dimples runs from the noise and Whiskers thinks I have brought a snack home for him. Don't worry we have cat proofed the box. Here are some photos of a few of the babies that would stand still. Will take better ones tomorrow after we have all had a rest.

Rainy Day Blues

Everything I had planned to do today were outside things. This morning the rain came and I am inside. I wanted to do laundry and hang everything on the line instead I used the dryer. ( I hate using the dryer) I have about 100 leek plants waiting to be set out and when the rain slacks a little I will go ahead and set out a few. I am rearranging things in the guestroom as that is where I will be putting the baby chicks when they get here. No they aren't sleeping in the beds! *grin* I am keeping them in 2 big boxes with heat lights and feeders, waterers, etc. So they won't be roaming free around the room. Anyways I almost have the room ready for them. I have cleaned the sitting room, the kitchen and swept the floors. So instead of being disappointed it rained I should feel blessed that the rain allowed me to do the things I needed to do inside. We are suppose to have a few days of warm weather after the rain leaves so I will be able to work on my outside things. I need to be thankful for each day and what it brings instead of complaining when it doesn't go along with my plans. I am sharing a photo of some old grinders that William and I have collected. These are only very few of all we have. When we redo the kitchen I am having shelves just for them on one wall. Enjoy your day, Enjoy your to do list, enjoy your home, enjoy the weather and most of all enjoy your blessings! I am taking a few days away from the computer to spend with my hubby and will be back Monday with photos of my baby chicks. Have a wonderful week and weekend.

Is it well with thee? 2 Kings 4:26

One mischief with Christians is that when we sit down to think of these matters, they are not personal. I am apt to ask whether people act as though they thought religion the most important matter in life, instead of asking whether I have this day lived as though I thought religion the most important matter with which I had to do.

A couple of years ago William and I were driving down a street when we saw a iron bed frame laying with a pile of trash waiting on the trashman. We stopped and William walked up to the house to ask if we could take the bed frame. It was a double size and our mattress set was queen so we got a friend of ours to weld a few inches to each rail. He did such a good job you can't tell anything was done. So yesterday after my stepson brought down this bed and our antique highboy and dresser I did a little rearranging. The king bed that I had made the headboard for is gone (given to William's daughter). The white nightstands are moved to another room along with the white chest of drawers. I now have my room back to looking antique (like me). There is very little money in any of our items. The bedframe was free, the old whiskey barrel used as a nightstand was $10, The highboy William picked up years ago (before I came into the picture) for $25, The dresser we purchased at the Goodwill for $15 and the vanity I got at an auction for $10. The only thing purchased new was the bedding and my little night table ( which opens up for storage). Some people enjoy lovely new bedroom sets that match and are modern. I am glad they do cause it makes it easier for me to find the old "junk"!

Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. Ephesians 5:14

Perchance that sleeping Christians might have been startled and aroused, could we have realized that days like those would never come back to us; that being misspent they had passed away.

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Today I made laundry soap. Its easy cheap and gets clothes as clean if not cleaner then name brand. I saved a 2 gallon laundry container with a spout to put the mixture in. That way I only have to open spout for 1/2 cup and there is no trying to pour or spilling.
If you are interested in making your own here is my recipe:

Take 1/3 of a bar of Zote soap and grate it into a saucepan with 3 pints of water. Heat over low heat until soap has dissolved. Stir in 1/2 cup of borax and 1/2 cup of washing soda (baking soda will not work)
In a gallon jug add 1 quart of hot water. Pour in the soap mixture and finish filling up jug with hot water. Let sit 24 hours before using. It should thicken.You can add scents to your mixture if you wish. Use 1/2 cup mixture per load of laundry.

Norm Update

Heather has posted more photos of Norm's visit with her. This Gnome is having way too much fun, just hope he wants to come home when its time! Thanks Heather for being so nice to Norm and I think your niece is a doll!

I Have Been Tagged

Delete the first blog in the list.Move each of the blogs up one spot. Then add your blog to the bottom slot
1. Cocktails and Smokes
2. a girl named inky
3.. snickerdoodles
4. Fireflies&Frogs
5. Hidden Haven Homestead
Next, select five people to tag.
1. Mindy
2. Connie
3. Brandy
4. Wendy
5. Robyn
What were you doing 10 years ago?
I was living in Florida, driving a convertible, working a dream job of going to all the nursing homes and drug treatment centers in Brevard County to do their labwork on patients. This kept them from having to transport patients. I would start my day at 5am and be finished by 10am and unless I had a stat call the rest of the day was mine to spend at the beach, on the boat or scuba diving. I got a very large salary plus milage, plus stat callback fees, plus amount to just carry the pager. I lived there for 5 yrs before coming back to NC to be near daughters and grandchildren.
One year ago this month: We were living in Lexington and I was managing a antique & collectible shop. We were planning to move to northern Minnesota to a cabin we had bought across the river from Canada.
Five snacks you enjoy:
1. cheese and crackers
2. pringles chili cheese chips
3.chocolate
4. sliced apples with carmel dip
5.pretzels
Five songs you know all the words to:
1. most any song form the 60's
2.most any song from the 70's
3. Unchained Melody
4. Butterfly Kisses
5. Daddy's Hands
Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:
1. Pay off all debts
2. Get Hubby to retire
3. Fence in property and redo house, gardens and yard
4. Help family
5.Donate money to help build a hospice care center
Five bad habits:
1. no patience
2. not managing my time better
3.staying on computer too much
4.Not listening
5.Not saying NO more often
Five things you enjoy doing:
1. Gardening
2. Taking care of animals around the homestead
3. Baking
4. Decorating our home
5. Reading
Five things you would never wear:
1. A tube top
2. A string bikini
3. A thong
4. Anything polyester
5.spiked 5 inch or more heels
Five favorite toys(/games):
1. The computer
2. Crafts
3. Soap making
4. Scrap booking
5. Playing any board game with the grandkids

If you are tagged leave me a comment and a link so I can check your answers out and if I didn't tag you but you do this let me know so I can check it out.

Chickens!

Hidden Haven will have 50 baby chicks very soon! I ordered them tonight and they will be here the 27th. I am so excited and can't wait to see the cute little things! It will be a few weeks before they can go outside so I am going to find a huge cardboard box to keep them in in the spare bedroom. I have the heat light and have ordered the vaccines, food and water treatment for the first couple weeks. I have attached a latch on the outside of the bedroom door so I can make sure the cats don't get in that room and get any babies.Have some work to do on the chicken house and it has to be fenced in but am putting that on Williams to do list ! Slowly the homestead is getting in shape..... now where can I find a couple of goats??????

Happy Birthday Melissa!

Have a wonderful birthday Melissa! May your day be filled with love, laughter and happiness. I wish your day to be as special as you are!

Garden Order

I think I am going to have to take out a loan! I just finished getting my seed and plant orders together and ready to go out in the morning's mail. The total of all made me say ouch! But I can't wait till I am getting dirty planting everything. I ordered the normal corn, beans, potatoes, tomatoes but I also ordered red, white and blue corn, red, white and blue potatoes, Burgundy okra, white cucumbers, moon and stars watermelon, blue berry bushes, strawberries, and every kind of herb I could find. I ordered these pole beans that have beautiful red flowers so I am going to grow them tepee style to enjoy the blooms. And of course I ordered tons of flower plants and seeds. Not only do I plan on having a beautiful, colorful garden I plan on canning and freezing a lot of food next fall. If you get hungry next winter... Come on over, hopefully we will have plenty!

Norm the Gnome

Norm has been visiting Heather for a few days and seems to be having the time of his life. If you want to see what he has been up to, go on over to Heather's and see the photo's. Now Norm behave yourself and don't forget to use your inside voice! Thanks Heather for letting Norm visit with you and your adorable pets!

Pretending Its Spring

Since I can't seem to get a decent winter around here I decided to just go ahead and pretend its spring. I cleaned off the patio set, cleaned off the deck, set of this waterfall thingy that William bought me a few weeks ago. (it was suppose to be $69.99 but he found a minor flaw in it and the manager let him have it for $39.99) I set it up on the deck by the back door and love it! It sounds like I have a real waterfall outside and it looks nice with the fake plants around it (will use live ones in real springtime). So today I have enjoyed the outdoors. The birdfeeders are clean and filled, backyard is raked, deck is all ready to enjoy. I even got out my bird books and binoculars. Enjoy your day, enjoy the outdoors, enjoy the birds, enjoy living and most of all : enjoy your blessings of the day!

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18

Some sorrowful places there may be for your feet and mine on our journey home. Bear the thorns of the way in patience, for they are only on the way through the woods; not a thorn in the home.

Ms Robyn is getting another seasonal swap together. We have had such fun with the last ones so I am very excited to join again. If you think you would like to be part of the seasonal swap click here and get the details. We will be paired with someone from our own country to save on postage and we keep the price low to make it easy and fun. Please don't sign up if you aren't really sure you want to take part. In the past some have signed up and received their seasonal care package but didn't send one out and that was unfair for others. These swaps are great fun so think about it and maybe I will be sending a package to you!

Stuffed Meatloaf

I was in the mood for meatloaf last night so decided to make a recipe I hadn't made in a few months. This is very easy and very good.

Mix 2lb of ground beef (or chuck) with a cup of Italian bread crumbs and 1/4 cup pizza sauce. Once its all mixed well place it on sheet of foil and spread out. Put half cup of Cheddar cheese and half cup mozzarella cheese down the center. Fold outer sides of meat to center and seal together. Using sides of foil, left up meatloaf and flip over into baking pan (making sure the seam side is down) Spread a cup of pizza sauce over top and bake 35 to 40 minutes in 350 oven. Sprinkle more cheese on top and bake another 5 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes and slice and serve.

Happy Valentine's Day

Vintage Hankies

I had a wonderful time doing the vintage hankie swap that Ms Robyn got together. Everyone sent me absolutely lovely hankies and I didn't want to hide them away. Since the collages turned out so good when I framed and hung them I decided to do the same with the hankies.
I had 3 left after hanging the others around the vanity so I thought they looked perfect on the vanity. Looks like they are waiting for a vintage lady to tuck one in her sleeve.

These swaps sure have made decorating my walls easy!

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2Peter 3:18

Are you quite happy as a Christian? Do you find your love growing stronger and your hopes brighter from day to day?

I finally got the vanity moved into the bedroom. Its all polished and has some vintage items on it but I am at a loss of where I put my silver dresser set. The brush, comb and mirror would look perfect but I can't remember where I put them until I got the vanity set up. It hurts getting old and not remembering things!!

But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:15

Suppose Christ should forgive only those who had treated him well, would you be forgiven today?

Tag I'm It

Fairycake Girl has tagged me for a MeMe so here goes:
What were the three things when you were little you wanted to be when you grew up?
A mommy of 12 with 6 of them being adopted,
A farmer's wife (did that)
A teacher
You can live one day from your childhood, what will it be?
The first time my dad took me fishing and spent the whole day getting my line out of trees and never scolding me. We had a wonderful day talking.
You have two minutes to grab 5 things from your home before it morphs into a polka-dotted hob globbin and hops away. What will you take? Food/friends/family excluded!
Family Photos
Pets
Mother's Bible
Change of clothes
Computer
You have to paint one quote on your kitchen wall. What will it be
Live This Day Like It Is Your Last..... It May Be
What is the one thing you want to have accomplished by the end of the year?
Have House Repairs Finished!!!
You are moving to the moon for a year and can only bring one flower. What will it be
Daisy
Aside from that flower, you are also allowed to bring 5 books what will they be?
Created to be His Helpmeet
The Road Unseen
Bedtime ( A family companion)
Living Without Electricity
Living The Good Life

Now I have to tag 3 people

Brandy

Lori

Sher

How Did You Spend Your Saturday?

I spent mine in the kitchen. We didn't get snow, just lots and lots of rain. Which will be ice tomorrow since the cold temps are getting here tonight instead of last night. (just my luck) My grandkids got snow so at least some of the family is having fun. With no snow to play in and not wanting to play in the rain I decided to work on my kitchen. I changed the valances
Decided to put the rooster ones back up. Then I cleaned my kitchen rug.
Can you tell I like roosters? Then I had to rehang my vintage sifters but decided to hang them over the sink instead of back on the valance.

But that's not all I did today..... I painted my fridge!!!!! It was off white and now its desert storm beige. While hanging valances I kept looking at the fridge and wishing I could change it so I did! It has 3 coats of paint with sealer inbetween each coat and it looks so good! (lots better than the picture shows).... That's how I spent my Saturday, now I have to figure out how I am going to spend my Saturday night!!!!

And they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13

To live so that when people spoke of me at all, the most marked thing they could say about me would be, not how I dressed, or appeared, or talked, but how strong my faith in the Lord Jesus was, and how it colored all my words and acts. Wouldn't that be a grand ambition?

Soap and Snow

Have decided I like soap molds better than recycling pudding and jello cups. Had a hard time getting them out but they sure smell good! Ms. Robyn next week I am making lavender soap. Have had a couple of emails asking for soap recipe so here goes. I posted one a few months ago but I have changed it a little here and there so that this recipe is fast and simple:

Mix together-1/4 c sodium hydroxide (ask for it by name at the soap supply places as regular lye is getting hard to find thanks to friendly neighborhood drug producers) and-1 cup goatsmilk (you can use canned from grocery if you need to)-this mix will turn bright yellow, heat up quickly and smell really bad. Remain calm.-while this is cooling down pour the following into a blender (I use a blender I got at thriftstore that is only used for soap making or you can hand stir for 5 minutes)-3/4c olive oil-3/4c palm oil-1/2c coconut oil-1/8c almond oil-add the cooled lye/mixture to the blender, COVER, and blend on the lowest setting till it has a 'soft peak' to it when you stop it-IMMEDIATELY add essential oil for fragrance if you want to- lemongrass, lavender and peppermint are all good (but not together ) and give it one more quick blend-IMMEDIATE pour into soap molds (cupcake tins lined with the paper liners work, also empty snackpack pudding cups)-cover with an old towel-the next day- pop soap out (peeling off the paper if you used cupcake pans)-place the freed soaps on a rack with a little airspace between soaps and let cure for at least 4 weeks before using.
The whole eastern United States is sitting and waiting for snow. There is a northeasterner coming along with moisture from the south which is suppose to bring snowstorms. We will probably get rain with a little snowfall early morning. I am keeping my fingers crossed and hope that there is a snow angel ready to smile down on me. I really, really, really want snow! I love cold weather and snow very much. I have always lived where it snowed except for 5 yrs in Florida and now here in the flatlands of NC. We do get snow here on occasion but mostly rain or ice storms. I have my fire, books, food, oil lamps, and lots of tea so come on snow!!! Heck I will even settle for a ice storm just bring the cold my way.

No I didn't make pudding today... But I did make green tea aloe goatsmilk soap and lemon grass aloe goatsmilk soap. Wanted some small guest bats so used empty pudding and jello cups that I recovered from the grandkids. Can finally walk thru the house without climbing over boxes. Still have lots to unpack and put away but am slowly getting the house the way I wanted and even boxed up some of my vintage items to sell later because the house was starting to look cluttered with all my stuff. Downsizing is what we are really trying to do so I am going to have to let go of things and only keep my very favorites. Some I will put on eBay and lots I will put in yard sale or flea market. By letting go of some items I will be making more display room for my favorites. I have my mothers and grandmothers sifters along with a few other old sifters and I really wanted to keep them but didn't have the shelves like I did in the other house to display them so I came up with this ideal for now. In the spring we will be gutting the kitchen and changing it and I will have lots of shelves. But this works for now even if it is "different"!

Look Real Close... Snow!!!

It really is snowing! It is soooooo pretty falling and is just now starting to stick so hopefully I will get some photo's where you can actually see the snow.
Enjoy the snow, enjoy a nice cuppa, enjoy your homefire, enjoy your family and friends, but most of all.... enjoy the blessings given you today! Update..... the snow only lasted 2 hours but was beautiful while it was here. We are suppose to get snow saturday morning so hopefully I will have enough to actually show up in a photo! LOL

Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Galatians 6:7

Suppose we knew all the histories of all the happenings of one day? With what awe, and dismay, and terror, and gratitude, they might fill us, according as we had, with our little thoughtless words and ways, helped or hindered the march of a soul!

Ms. Robyn and I seem to be so much alike I think we could have been sisters in a past life. Whenever one of us posts about the way we do something or something we have the other one says "me too"! I was just over at Robyn's blog and saw her photo of her pottery and it was sitting with an old blue glass jar. Well I just had to jump up and take a photo of my pottery sitting with some blue glass jars though they aren't exactly the same I do have several exactly like hers on another shelf filled with dried beans, rice, etc. What better person to have something in common with then Ms Robyn!!!

This is one of my old jars sitting with a old enamelware bucket with sunflowers.

Norm's First Stop

Norm is on his way to Heather's right here in NC. If you want to check out what he is up to you can visit Heather's blog. Give him a few days to get settled before you hear about the fun things Heather has planned for him.
For those asking for the oat pan roll recipe, click on Sher's blog in that post and she has the recipe. Thanks again Sher!
Enjoy the sunshine, enjoy laughter and smiles, enjoy yourself, and as always; enjoy your blessings!

Every one over against his house. Nehemiah 3:28

Every woman owns a little piece of the world; I do, so does everybody, why can't each of us look out for our own little corner?

In between carrying things in from the van and putting them away I decided to make these yummy oat pan rolls . I got busy and almost let them burn, but thank goodness I got them out in time and are they ever tasty. Sher over at Old Crow Farm posted the recipe a few days ago and I have made them twice as they are easy and fast and did I say yummy??? Just don't get busy and forget them like I almost did.
Heather, Norman the Gnome will be leaving home tomorrow as I couldn't get the van emptied of all the things we packed in it from the other house. William had it so packed that I still have several boxes to get out and put away. He is all ready boxed and ready to go so will be on his way first thing in the morning. I will email each of you closer to your visit from Norm and give you the address of where he goes from your house. Make sure Norm behaves himself and don't spoil him cause he has to spend some time in the garden when he gets back! LOL
Don't forget to enjoy trying a new recipe, enjoy your friends and family, enjoy your day and most of all enjoy your blessings of the day. Each night I have a book I write 5 blessings I received that day.
So the Lord shall make bright clouds. Zechariah 10:1

It is His own voice speaking. Go to Him for help, and as sure as the sun shines above these clouds you will get just what you need.

Lost

Poor little seagulls are so lost. They got blown inland during the hurricanes this past summer and don't know how to get back to the ocean. They are 4 1/2 hours from the coast residing in a parking lot between Burger King and Chinese Buffet in Lexington, NC. I want to load them up in the van and take them to the ocean and set them free. Sweet William told me if I figured out how to catch all of them ( over 100 total) he would haul them to the coast in his semi.... course he knows I have no ideal how to catch one seagull much less over 100!!! You think the Humane Society would do something instead of letting them stay there so long.