Thursday, November 2, 2017

It's a cleaning, cooking, and crafting frenzy!!!!

I mentioned yesterday that I had vacuumed my laundry room and kitchen and also washed both floors.  I want a 'tiny house'.....this house has a lot of floor space but I have a new mop and bucket system and cleaner.  I got them at the suggestion of Debbie at Nobody Needs to Know on You Tube.  She has some wonderful cleaning videos and she has been cleaning houses for over 30 years...I think she started when she was 16.  I  ordered the mop system she recommended and it is an O'Cedar Ultra Max and in Canada it is called a Vileda.  Debbie is from Canada.  I found it on Amazon......where else?  I like it because it is flat and it has a removable microfiber mat that you can throw in the washing machine.  I need to order a spare as I only have the one.  With the flat rectangle you can get in corners and also you can rinse it and squeeze it out in the special bucket.  It bends in half to rinse it and then you just hit it on the floor and it snaps back to flat.  You can also easily use it for walls and ceilings!  No more dripping rags in your face or drip marks on your wall.  You can use it dry to dust your walls too.
This is the bucket....
As for the cleaner, she uses Dr. Bonner's Lavender Liquid Castile soap for many of her cleaning chores.  I was a bit skeptical as she only uses a few drops of it like 3 or 4 in the bucket of water......but it cleaned great and the room smelled great too!  I was amazed!  My floor is over 40 years old and coming up in places but look at it!  Take my word for it this floor looks better than it ever has!
Today was back to the garage....I really haven't done much out there since the garage sale except I took a carload to the Thrift Store and threw out a bunch of stuff.  I've been working outside but now it is time to finish up and get my car back in the garage.   When the new pest control guy came for termite control he drilled holes in the foundation both outside and in the garage so things had to be moved away from the walls.  Afterwards he was going to move things back but I told him to leave it that way so I could sweep and clean.
I swept first and then vacuumed with my cannister....I got this area done .......
and part of this area....4 hours and that is all....but again....this is my Dad's stuff and I have to go through it and clean, organize and decide if it goes in the garbage or to the Thrift store  or if it is something I can use.......if I was planning on staying here I would tear out those shelves and build a work bench for myself
This may take awhile......
On the cooking side; I made my salads in a jar again....I really am addicted to them.....
as for crafting, of course Mrs. Claus's Workshop has been going strong but I can show you things that are not gifts that I work on for relaxing in the evening....my Cozy Memories Blanket which is using my old acrylic stash.......this is a fun project and also addictive!  I try to do 4 squares a week or more and I'm trying to get it as wide as I want it  and then I will start on the length of it.  It will be the blanket for my bed.
  That's all for today folks!  Hope you had a great one!
Happy Trails!!!

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Post Halloween post..........

I did a lot last week prior to Halloween and then this week.  We had our first frost so I had to bring in all the plants and when I say 'all' I mean ALL.....I am such a softie!  I can't stand to leave them out there if they are in a container and some I even dig up....even though I know they will probably not make it in the house.  But I have to try else I will feel terrible!
 Even my green beans and wax beans as they are still producing although without pollinators in the house I doubt I will get much more...........
Miss Peeps was 'helping' me according to her but not necessarily according to me.............
I got them all in the house before the frost but then it took me 3 days of trying to find places for them that Miss Peeps wouldn't knock over or dig in them.......I also repotted quite a few.............
I think she was waiting until I left the room.....I can tell she has a plan............wide-eyed innocent she is not but she tries to give you that impression......... 
 I fixed a lot of eggs this week as I needed the energy and they really do fuel me when I have a 'big' day which has been every day the past 2 weeks..............scrambled eggs in the microwave are so light and fluffy....just don't cook them too long or they end up like rubber.....ask me how I know.......but done right they are my favorite way to scramble eggs in a butter greased pie plate......and English muffins with butter and honey..........the past 2 mornings I've made egg McMuffins...........
Threw more lights up....one can never have too many holiday lights....it doesn't look very professional but it works for me!
I've also been stocking the pantry and freezer 'just in case'...........I bought a big package of not organic but hormone and antibiotic free  ground beef and broke it up into 1 pound packages that I froze...........I used Press'n Seal and then labeled each package.........

I then put them all in a gallon size bag so I know right where to look in the freezer.............and I can also tell when I am getting low on ground beef if they are all in the same place............
I knit on my sweater on breaks as it is such an easy and relaxing knit....who knew?  I thought sweaters were difficult and I'm sure there are some patterns out there that are but not this one.....so far so good and it is zooming along..............the light blue yarn is where the stitches for the sleeves are hanging out until I finish the back and sides of the sweater.
I'm having company for Thanksgiving if all goes well.....my 2 sons and one grandson so I am motivated more than ever to clean and organize and try and get gifts done so I can send them back with them to Iowa but I may be delusional.......cleaned the frig really well....just the inside...the outside still needs to be done.
Yesterday I cleaned a bathroom too and today I vacuumed a lot and washed several floors until my back said to knock it off.......so I'm done for the day and I've been up since 3:30 and it is now 4:11 so I think that's a full day.  Now, I'll feed the girls get my pj's on and work on some Christmas presents if it's not too difficult.....lol!   By this time of the day I don't really want to concentrate too hard on anything.....I just want to veg and do veggie activities preferably from my bed.  I also cleaned the litter boxes yesterday, I rolled up the hoses outside and put everything away for Winter plus replaced outdoor light bulbs so the Trick or Treaters would  have plenty of light.  The girls love getting Trick or Treaters...it's really the only time anyone comes to our door......which is fine with me! LOL!
Happy Trails!!!!








Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Happy Halloween!!!!

 Some of my favorites....I hope you have a fun and safe Halloween!  Turn those porch lights on!



 Just me and a few of my friends getting together for an afternoon tea...........
And the scariest witch of all!!!!!!  Every time I look at this picture the music replays in my head.....she was frightening alright...still is!
Happy Trails!!!!