NOVEMBER ENDS WITH A WINTERY BLAST

 Monday mornings are hard anyway but the Monday after a long weekend is really an eye opener !!            Hubbie took a silent g-son to school while I watched RL, IR and CA sit silently in chairs and watch cartoons.   When hubbie got back I went out to get chores done and then we all had breakfast.  I gathered laundry and then we all loaded up and went to the Curb Market to get pay roll done for the month . The girls ran around inside market with hubbie close to make sure they didn't touch anything.

We were hoping they would wear themselves out and take naps but that didn't happen.  We left there and picked up some cracked corn at Tractor Supply and then stopped by #2 son's house to look at a tree that is leaning over his driveway.  We picked up lunch then headed home just in time for lunch. CA was the only one who took a nap and she took a long one so that was good. After lunch I got laundry started and then made a couple business calls and helped hubbie watch the girls. They all 3 colored for a while quietly. 

   The temperature outside today didn't get out of the mid 40's but thankfully the rain stopped this morning leaving us with 1" in the gauge.  They have dropped the snow line and we get to see our first snow flakes tonight and in the morning.    

 As soon as the girls left today hubbie and I went up to the garden and put our plastic row covers on the winter crops that are growing. We will also put quilts over the plastic since the temps tonight are headed to the low 20's.   I also put the plastic over the chicken house windows to help block off the cold wind that is supposed to blow. It is a little late this year but it looks like winter has arrived at least for the next several days.    I stood out and watched the "Beaver Moon" rise above the horizon tonight to say good bye to another month of this very hard, strange year.

As November ends I am very very thankful that all of our family have made it through the month healthy and without the covid 19 virus as so many have gotten sick with it in this month.  The weather has been nice all month and we have got to spend many days out in the sunshine with the girls.   We had a very nice Thanksgiving with all the family and I look forward now to my favorite season. To celebrate the birth of my Savior Jesus Christ has always been my favorite time of year.  Thankful for the blessings of this day and looking forward to a new month and what God has in store for us .               God Bless and Good Night

QUIET SUNDAY

 Up to a lazy Sunday morning. It is cloudy and cooler this morning . I got chores done and then had a leisurely breakfast.  We are having spaghetti for lunch today so it is an easy morning.  Hubbie browned the hamburger outside on the grill and I straightened up the kitchen and then we watched out favorite pastor, Don Wilton on TV while lunch finished cooking in the crockpot.                                                       Our lunch bunch today was #1 son's family and daughter's family.   We all ate and then had a nice visit while the kids played and the girls wrestled with g-son . It is always a great time for them when he will get down and play with them.                                                                                                                                  

Daughter, d-in-love and I went up to a neighbor's house that was having a craft sale this evening and then they all went home.                                                                                                                                The clouds have thickened and it looks like rain any minute so hubbie and I got chores done early and got inside just before the rain started. Hubbie carried in wood for the next couple days and built a small fire tonight to fight off the dampness.   We had a light supper and then I took down and put away all the fall decor and cleaned up and got ready to start setting up Christmas decor tomorrow.   We were going to set up the tree and have all the girls put the ornaments on today but EL wasn't feeling good and we were tired last night and didn't get the tree up anyway so we will wait on that until everyone is feeling okay.                                                                                                                                                               Thankful for the blessing of a wonderful Sunday.                                                                                        God Bless and Good Night

SUMMER LIKE SATURDAY

 Up today to a cloudy sky but the temperature is still very warm for this time of year. As I walked past this Forsythia bush it verified how confused things are with this above normal temperature span we are in. It has its pretty fall colored leaves but also some spring time blooms on it.

I got the morning chores done and uncovered the raised beds that hubbie had went out this morning at 5am and put the covers on when he noticed the temperature was 32 and dropping.  Thankfully there wasn't any frost and at 7am the temp was 35.                                                                                               Daughter came by and picked us up to go with her and d-in-love to the Depot market that was having a holiday market today.  We shopped there and walked up the street to a consignment shop and found several things. I found a couple old dishpans that will just fit into my sink for $3 each .   IR spotted a white Christmas tree that was decorated with all unicorn things and fell in love with it. We couldn't buy it because it was part of an online auction that was happening this afternoon. She was very disappointed but picked out a couple stuffed animals for her and CA that made her feel better.     We left there and daughter dropped us off here on her way home.    We had lunch of leftovers and then went to the garden to get our plastic row covers set up and covers for the raised beds of lettuce and winter vegies ready for the cold ahead. We didn't cover them yet because tomorrow is suppose to be another warm day and it is suppose to rain tomorrow night so ideally it would be good to have the ground soaked before we put the plastic on.   After finishing getting things set up for the covers we started getting out the Christmas decorations. While it is almost 70 degrees I want to get all the outside decorations up. We got most of them up unless I decided to add more and got all the decoration containers hauled up and carried into the sunroom. We had to enlist the help of g-son with the carrying but we got it done. Now on the next few rainy cold days I can get things set up.   RL came up with g-son and we were ready for a nice rest break so they had popsicles and we rested and talked for awhile knowing these outside popsicle eating days are certainly numbered for this season.

After they left daughter picked me up to ride with her to pick up the unicorn tree that she had won for IR in the online auction. IR was napping at home and CA was with us. Daughter wanted to get the tree home and get it set up before IR woke from her nap so she would be surprised. 

She was very happily surprised when she saw it for an early Christmas surprise.                                        Then CA claimed both the stuffed animals I had bought for them. 

Hubbie and I got chores done and came inside to rest from all the day's activities which gave both of us back aches.   This big moon was shining bright tonight is known as the "Beaver" moon and will reach it's fullness on the  30th.   

Thankful for the blessings of this day.

God Bless and Good Night 

BUSY ROOSTER HARVESTING DAY

 Woke to a busy day today. I have a feeling today will make up for the restful day we had yesterday. We got chores done and then began gathering our chicken harvesting tools. We have 6 more roosters that are ready for the freezer and today was the only one in the new future we could see that would be a good day to get it done.   We didn't catch the roosters last night as we did last month when we harvested the first ones since we were busy cooking.  I caught them and we put them in a cage in the back of hubbie's truck this morning so we could save time walking back and forth to the coops.   We got everything set up and even with catching all the roosters we still only had about an hour of set up time. Once we get started it doesn't take but about 20 minutes to process each bird .  We started processing at 11:00 and were completely finished, cleaned up and had them in the refrigerator to cool for 24 hours by 2:00.   Daughter dropped IR off to finish a color book page that she had started last night while she and CA ran an errand.  Daughter had spent the morning at Kristen's house putting up her Christmas tree for her since she still can't put any weight on her broken ankle.                                                                          While IR colored I boxed up an order of cakes that needs to be delivered today.   I picked up daughter and CA and another cake order she had and we headed out to meet the customers.  IR stayed home with hubbie to finish her coloring.   One customer was early and one was late but we got home to pick up IR and get all of them home before it was time for me to get home and start chores.                                           I moved some roosters around when they went to roost tonight and then came inside to collapse and enjoy the evening .                                                                                                                             Thankful for more food in my freezer for winter and for the ability to raise and process our own food along with all the other blessings of this day.                                                                                                God Bless and Good Night

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2020

 HAPPY  THANKSGIVING DAY !!!

We are all very grateful for the ability to have the family all healthy and able to gather together to celebrate this year.                                                                                                                                              It was a slow morning for hubbie and I as all the kids have lunch with their in-laws and come here for supper.  #1 son and his family made a trip to Tennessee to visit with d-in-love grandmother who is 90 and in failing health and wanted to see everyone in case she isn't here much longer.  #2 son and Tif have lunch with her dad.  Daughter and her family go to son-in-love's mom and dad's house for lunch with a couple of his brothers and their families.                                                                                                                           I got up and got chores done and then had breakfast before starting the meal prep for this evening. I made a 7-layer salad and cranberry relish early and put them in the frig for the day. Daughter had dropped off the fixings for crock pot potatoes so we got those started about lunch time and put the turkey in the oven. Hubbie and I got a chance to sit outside on this beautiful 70 degree Thanksgiving day and enjoy the quiet warmth of the sunshine.                                                                                                                                     

It definitely looks like late Fall but sure doesn't feel like it today.                                                                After a short rest we went back inside and put sweet potatoes in the oven and eggs on to boil.  We got chores done a little early and then I made sweet potato casserole, deviled eggs, dressing, corn, green beans, gravy, biscuits and mashed the crock pot potatoes to go with the turkey, salad and relish . Tif is bringing pies for dessert and we are all set for a feast.                                                                                  Aa's family isn't feeling well so they had their own Thanksgiving at home.                                                We ate too much and then everyone hung around and had a really nice visit while the kids played together.                                                                                                                                                         This has been a wonderful Thanksgiving day and I am so very thankful for the blessings God bestows on my family each and everyday as we struggle to get through this crazy world right now.                           God Bless, Good Night and Happy Thanksgiving 

DAUGHTER'S MOHS SURGERY DAY

 Up to a different kind of Wednesday morning with no one here but hubbie and I. It has already rained a little so hubbie went out first thing to gather in the covers from our garden beds and spread them out in the barn to dry.  I got chores done and then grabbed a meal bar for breakfast as I made more cake boxes and loaded the Honda with all the orders that were being picked up this morning. Daughter and the girls came to help and then d-in-love brought RL up to stay while she took g-son to have his braces repaired from a part that fell out yesterday.  Hubbie stayed home with the girls and daughter went with me to meet our customers at 10:00.  We had nice visits with customers and then went by Sam's Club to pick my order up that was ready early.   We then came home unloaded the groceries and grabbed CA to ride with us to take daughter to her MOHS surgery appointment in Asheville to remove a basil cell cancer from her forehead. CA went to sleep as soon as we got on the road and we made it to the appointment right on time. The surgery will take several hours so I left her there and son-in-law is getting off work early to go pick her up.  With CA snoozing in her carseat I made a stop at the bank to make a deposit for daughter and then stopped by Target to pick up a Christmas gift curbside order from them that will almost finish all the kids Christmas gifts for me. I was very impressed with Target and there right on time delivery of the order.         I came home and got here at the same time d-in-love got back and she tried to get CA out of the carseat still sleeping but she work up.                                                                    We fed the girls and then she took RL home to clean so they could put up their Christmas tree.              Daughter's surgery took 2 cuts to get the borders clear of the cancer but she came through fine.                 

Son-in-love picked her up and they came by and picked up the girls for her to go home and rest while the feeling came back into her head.                                                                                                             Hubbie and I got chores done early to beat the rain.  We just came inside when it started to rain lightly.  The heavy rains are supposed to get here overnight.                                                                                     I baked and iced more caramel cakes tonight for late Thanksgiving celebrations.                                      D-in-love got her tree up with the help of these 2.                                                                                        

My plans of Christmas decorating keep changing with things coming up that need to be done first so we will have to wait and see when I get my decorating started. Plans originally were for Friday but now we need to harvest 5 more roosters that day and we need to get our plastic tunnels up over our garden beds because of a cold front that is coming in the first of next week with the coldest temps of the season.        

Even the first mention of the "s" word coming just as the calendar turns to December.                              Thankful for the blessings of this day and praying for safety and continued good health for the family.    God Bless and Good Night  


 

COLD MORNING, BEAUTIFUL EVENING

 Up to greet IR and CA this morning as the temperatures did take a dive early this morning near the mid 20's leaving everything with an icy coating .                                                                                                      

I got chores done and added breaking ice on all the water pans to my list this morning.  Back inside I had breakfast with the girls and then we loaded up in hubbie's truck to go run weekly errands a day early.    We made a cake delivery first then went to the P.O. , the dump / recycle center, Sav Mor grocery to pick up supplies for Thanksgiving dinner and then stopped to pick up lunches on the way home. Both girls conked out but both woke up when we got home and had lunch with us.                        They played well together this afternoon but had their "sister" moments also.   Just before daughter got home I went downstairs and started boxing cakes and getting our orders in line for delivery today. She had brought a bunch of her things over this morning on her way to school and went home and picked up the rest of them on her way here this afternoon.  We loaded up both out vehicles and headed out. She took the girls with her and hubbie went with me to help with the multiple customers that we had to deliver to.  Hubbie and I took longer than we expected because one of the customers was a bit late but they all got their orders and we headed home just in time to get started on chores.                                       We got chores done and decided to put the covers on our plant beds even though some forecasters are calling for rain in the morning. The air really has gotten cold this evening and there isn't anything but these whispy red clouds in the sky to greet the moon rising .                                                                       

And this sunset is another gorgeous one .                                                                                                      

Hubbie and I had some fresh greens for supper tonight then we relaxed for the evening.

Thankful for the blessings of this day.                                                                                                           God Bless and Good Night

FIRST WOODSTOVE FIRE TONIGHT

 Up to all the grands here this morning. RL and IR wanted to snuggle in bed with me but we had to get up and watch CA while hubbie took g-son to school. When he got back I got chores done and then we all had breakfast together.   I got laundry started while the girls went off to play and then we all loaded up to make a couple cake deliveries and pick up lunches.                                                                            CA went to sleep as soon as we got on the road and stayed asleep the entire trip and on the couch when we got home.  RL and IR ate lunch with hubbie and I and then they played in the kitchen while I baked some cakes.  They played good together and were quiet so that CA could continue her nap as she got up at 5 am today.   She finally woke up at 2:30 and had her late lunch while the older girls had snacks.        After the girls left I finished the laundry with 3 loads total and some line drying in the cool but sunny day.                                                                                                                                                                 Hubbie cleaned out the chimney and stove pipe for the downstairs wood stove and we had out first fire tonight as the temperatures are supposes to drop into the mid 20's by morning. 

I always hate the first fire because of the smell the first fire causes when it burns in the stove. My nose is already stuffy and and I feel a sinus headache coming on.                                                                          I did weekly paperwork and paid bills tonight to get an early start on this week as we have plans on our normal errand day we will run them tomorrow.                                                                                Hubbie got all the recyclables and trash collected and went over and picked up daughter's.                        I am very thankful for the blessings of this day.                                                                                          God Bless and Good Night

BLESSED SUNDAY

 Up this morning to greet IR and CA who were here to spend the morning with us while daughter and son-in-love went to a commercial kitchen to make 125 mini pies for a customer. They looked very good .          

They took longer than daughter expected but they got all of them done and wrapped before coming home.   Hubbie took lunch to them to eat while they worked.  We had beef stew, green beans and corn with cornbread and biscuits for lunch. #1 son's family and Re and the kids made to lunch with us. #2 son and Tif are at an early family Thanksgiving today and Aa was working.                                              After we ate the kids enjoyed playing outside for awhile in the warm afternoon. It is partly cloudy and breezy so it isn't as warm as yesterday but it is still pretty nice.                                                                    After they all left hubbie and I got chores done and I watered my raised beds. It is supposed to rain tonight but not very much so a little more rain will only help.                                                                     the sunset tonight with the clouds pushing the sun over the horizon was very pretty.                                 

Thankful for the wonderful blessings of this day.                                                                                         God Bless and Good Night

BEAUTIFUL FUN SATURDAY

 Another beautiful morning, just look at that deep blue sky !!!!                                                                            

I got chores done and then I went over to the elementary school with daughter and d-in-love and the kids to ride bikes and play on the playground. The weather is so nice and warm today and the kids had a good time enjoying it.                                                                                                                                                 

They played on the playground for a long time and had fun.                                                                        

We came home and the girls all left and after checking on hubbie who has been cutting firewood all morning I had lunch then relaxed out in the patio to enjoy the afternoon with Rosie .

I made one cake delivery for daughter today and then came home to get chores done and relax for the evening.                                                                                                                                                          Thankful for the blessings of this day.                                                                                                           God Bless and Good Night 

T. G.I . F.

 This is another one of those boring routine days but her goes.  All three grand girls were here this morning RL and IR came in a snuggled in bed with me for awhile after they first got here. I guess this was IR's idea after I found out the heat in her house went off last night and they spent a rather cool night wrapped in multiple blankets.  We got up and I went out to get chores done and uncover all the vegetables after a low morning temps of 28 degrees again.                                                                            Back inside we all had breakfast then the girls played .                                                                          At 10:30 we loaded up and made an egg delivery and then a cake delivery for daughter and then picked up lunch on the way home.  CA napped while in the car and for long enough on the couch for all the rest of us to finish eating out lunch before she came walking into the kitchen.  She ate her lunch while the older 2 took turns riding the tricycle around the table.                                                                           I baked more cakes today for Thanksgiving and then took my turn playing with the girls in the playroom.    RL had another nose bleed today and it doesn't surprise me as I have had a bloody nose the last 2 mornings when I get up.  The air is super dry right now , the dew point is in the single digits on some days.                                                                                                                                              After the girls left hubbie and I went outside to get evening chores done. It is getting darker sooner each day now and it seems to really get dark faster.  One more month to go before we can turn the corner and start lengthening the daylight hours.    These mild November days are nice and makes us wonder how long they will last.   Looks like we are in for some more up and down temps and some more rain for Thanksgiving week.                                                                                                 

Thankful for all the blessings of this day.                                                                                                      God Bless and Good Night
                                                                                          

EARLY THANKSGIVIING LUNCH

 Another beautiful but cold morning, in fact this is the coldest morning so far this season at 26 degrees and it is really slow to warm any today.                                                                                                                    

I got chores done and then had a leisurely breakfast with the girls.  After we ate they played and we thought we might check out a book store for hubbie but it was closed this morning so we just hibernated waiting for it to warm up outside.                                                                                                                      I decided I would go ahead and get my cakes baked this morning while the girls were contently playing.     After I got the cakes out of the oven I went out to school to pick up lunches for the girls.  They were serving their Thanksgiving meal today and IR appreciated the mashed potatoes and wheat roll but didn't think much of the turkey and green beans.                                                                             

And look who now thinks she is too big for her high chair.   This girl is wanting to grow up way too fast.                                                                        

After the girls left hubbie and I got chores done and then I iced cakes and relaxed for a little while before bedtime.   Another one of those days that seems to me very boring and routine to write anything on here about .                                                                                                                                               Thankful for the blessings of this day.                                                                                                          God Bless and Good Night