rockncook

Welcome, Misty!

Well, youngest DD is getting her teeth pulled tomorrow, so I have to do tomorrow's chores today. Need to dry more potatoes, make some applesauce for holiday gifts for teachers, and bake some cookies. Also work on the kitchen. I spent most of yesterday, in between chores, researching rabbit farming. I am hoping to start off with a small "herd" next fall. I will feel like an official homesteader then, LOL. Dinner tonight is ham...yummy!

Magpie, do you hit the Colorado ren faire? If so, I'd love to meet with you, a friend has land where you could stay during the week, no hook ups but not far from the house for when you needed some modern conveniences. We're about 2 hours south of Larkspur.

Morning! I didn't get a whole lot done yesterday, it took me forever to wake up. None of us slept very well. Nothing was said about Baby yesterday, so maybe it was all hormonal. Today I'm going to work on the cabin, and get some potatoes in the dehyrator. I also have some onions I need to put up in the freezer. Dinner tonight is chicken and biscuits and gravy.

Morning! It's so good to see you up and running, Cat! Well I'm not sure how things are going here. It's been a strange weekend. When we moved in here, my oldest DD had a cat that we had rescued as a stray. She was really skittish, and by the time we moved here hadn't adjusted to the dogs. For awhile, she stayed in the tent with us, but the dogs started coming in the tent in the mornings, so she went her independent little way. As much as I hated it, at that point we were keeping the cats outside due to roommate's allergies, so there wasn't much to be done. She would come home to eat and get a bit of attention, so I wasn't too worrried about her. Then one day the dogs treed her in the apple tree. DH got her down, but not without some wounds. We didn't see her from that point on, I guess in about early July or so. I went out looking for her as often as I could, but gave up hope as the months went by. She was a tiny little thing, and even though she had survived on her own before we rescued her, out here we have more worries-coyotes, bears, mountain lions. When October came and went with no sign of her, I gave her up for dead. Friday night, DH goes out to the shed to get the dogs food, and he comes rushing in the house yelling for me. I think he's been hurt cause of the tone of his voice. I walk in to the mud room and he's standing there holding this cat that I"d given up on. I burst in to tears and took her into roommates DD's room and sat there holding her. I couldn't even think straight. I finally got things together and got her some light food. Friday night she weighed 2 lbs 6 oz. The vet doesn't want to see her until we've put some weight on her, because he knows her and is afraid the stress of the tests and travel to town will kill her. She's doing well, eating a bit of cat food mixed in warm milk, with baby cat formula, vitamins and karo syrup every 3-4 hours. The arrival of the cat, who we've always called Baby, has created some stress between me and my roommate. Now, she is going through menopause and is miserable when she has her period, so it could be that, that is the true issue and I just get to be the unfortunate victim. If that's the case I can deal with it, it will go away on it's own. But since Baby has come home she has criticized everything I've done to get her to put weight on, despite the fact that I have rescued many strays and have been a foster parent for our local no kill shelter. She told her 7 year old granddaughter to go pick her up even though I asked that the younger kids not mess with her-I can feel every bone through her skin and am worried that over anxious kiddoes will unintentionally be too rough with her. She says the cat looks depressed and should have been kept outside in the wild, as that's obviously what she wants since she left over the summer. She says the karo syrup that I put in her formula creates worms in cats. She says her hair will fall out and be all over the place. She says I should push food on her now that she's been eating light for two days. I called my mom, who is studying to be a vet tech, to ask if I should add anything to her food, and she told me all of my mother's suggestions were wrong. Now, I love my roommate, but it's very trying to live with a woman who sees herself as your mother, and really does mean well for you, but who insists that things you've been doing in your life for years are wrong. I'll be glad when we can move in to a place of our own. WE did start work on the cabin this weekend. with roommates allergies, it's more essential with baby around (she's a domestic LONG hair) that we get to the cabin. The thing is, I feel like we're being taken advantage of there. We're doing ALL of the labor, at no cost to her. WE have paid for all of the insulation, DH got the windows for free, and we will probably end up buying the wood stove. I'm afraid that if we try to take the woodstove when we leave, she'll have a fit. We ARE paying rent here, so we're not mooching. Anyway, that is what I"m dealing with today, that and recovering from the unexpected vacation my kids had, LOL. Talk to you soon!

Well, we didn't get anymore snow yesterday, and it's supposed to be above freezing today. Woohoo! For some reason, they didn't do a thing on the roads yesterday. They weren't plowed or de-iced, so they are horrid today. I got stuck taking the kiddoes to school, but I got out OK. Not sure what I'm going to get done today-I can't seem to wake up all the way, LOL. When it's this cold, I have a hard time getting going. My roommate says I am a snake!

Well, it's late, but we had a snow day so I didn't get much time on the puter. 5 days in a row with DH home is almost too much LOL. We had to postpone youngest DD's dentist appt. With the weather the way it is, I don't want to get stuck and not able to get home. We didn't officially have a snow day. The school here is desperate for their state funds, which they don't get if they close the school. So they'd rather endanger the children (60% bus, either to the mountains or down the highway in the wind) than give up that money. So we have to make our own decisions. We were forecast to get 4-8 more inches today during the day so we kept them home. It never got above freezing today...very brrr LOL. So I didn't get as much done as I wanted, but still productive...several loads of dishes and 4 loads of laundry. I'm about to go cuddle up with a blanket and DH and enjoy the rest of the football game. Just had to come say Hi!

I'm up for it! I just finished reading The Wheel of Time series-fantastic, engrossing fantasy books-the kind that you pick up for a few minutes before bed and then look at the clock "a few minutes later" and it's 2 am! I reread The Stand by Stephen King and am now reading At Mother's REquest, a true crime novel about a Utah murder in the 70s.

Wow, so colorful! Congrats!!!

Good morning! I've yet to get much done-I'm not really a morning person, LOL, and my kids let me sleep deliciously late today! I'll be working in the kitchen and doing laundry most of today!

Oh, Karen, I'm so sorry you had such a bad day. I wish I could offer more than that. It's terrible that people come just itching for a fight on a holiday.

Oh yeah, I'm full. We ended up not going shopping. I was completely worn out. I fell asleep about 1 pm and slept for four hours, LOL. I was trying to get cleaned up last night and finally started my period...which means all this yummy food in the house and I have ZERO appetite, LOL. Nature's way of saying my hips are big enough I guess, LOL. It's 8:20 now and I'm ready to go back to bed. Will be heading that way as soon as I get the kids down, I think.

If you fedex enchiladas, I'll fedex turkey and stuffing!

Quote: Everyone says add trace and I don't understand. Karen, Those posts should say "Add AT Trace". Maybe they do, and that's what you meant to type, but I did want to clarify that. You don't need to be looking for an ingredient called "trace." At the point that SL described, you'd add the ingredients that were called for at that point. And when you do decide to make soap, don't be disappointed if your first few batches don't turn out. It's HARD to make soap, and takes lots of practice. It is soooooooo cool when your first batch turns out, but don't freak out if the first few you make don't. You won't be alone! There are also some great yahoo groups about soap making, if you'd like specific recommendations, PM me!

I remember... My first thanksgiving in my own house, my oldest DD, her dad, and I. We had smoked turkey breast, mashed potatoes, stove top stuffing and brown gravy, LOL. Watching Pretty In Pink with my dad in the living room at Gramma's house after dinner, 2 days after I got dumped by the love of my life (I was probably 15, hehe). Just thinking back right now, he must have known and given up play time with the guys to be there. My first thanksgiving with my DH. Our first thanksgiving down here with our chosen family. Not many good ones from childhood. But from today I will remember the sound of my youngest children's laughter as they enjoyed some special time alone with their dad, and hope that that is one of THEIR good memories!

Recipes, hmmm...since this is a blending, some of these are firsts for me. I've never made my own stuffing, cause if it doesn't turn out, you've messed up DH's favorite part of the meal. It never occured to me (until just now) to experiment, LOL. Honey Glazed Carrots Recipe Go to www.Schwans.com and order theirs. Pumpkin Pie Family secret, finally trusted to me this year after 5 years of eating it LOL. Pecan Pie recipe from Good Housekeeping cookbook Cream Cheese Pie Graham Cracker Pie Crust Large Package Cream Cheese, softened 1 c. Sugar 1 Small package whipped topping Mix cream cheese and sugar, then mix in whipped topping, put in graham cracker crust, refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Also good in an Oreo crust, or with choc syrup drizzled into crust before the cream cheese mixture is put in. All other recipes posted Friday! Quote: This is a blending of mine and roommates traditions. I tend to go overboard but then I get Friday off from cooking, LOL. Turkey Ham Mashed Potatoes Sweet Potatoes Sage Stuffing Honey Glazed Carrots Cheese and Cauliflower Rolls Choclate Cream Pie Pumpkin Pie Pecan Pie Cream Cheese Pie If oldest DD was here, we'd have fruit salad, too. I'm going to make it for her welcome home dinner in January instead. I haven't started cooking, either...but my end of things is rather easy...I do the turkey, ham, potatoes and cold pies this year. I am making an apple pie today but I think we'll have that today. Oh, and as far as leftovers go, I start working on the bird and the ham Friday morning, so I control what they get Friday, LOL...the rest goes in to the freezer for later meals.

Oh, Theyd, I'm sorry you've had a bad two weeks. I'm thankful you didn't get shot, too! It's cold here today. DH was supposed to be off at noon but he's not, so I"m not sure what's going on in the shopping/dinner tonight area, LOL. We NEED stuff for Thanksgiving since we couldn't go to the store on the weekend, we may have to go tonight late. If that's the case, we'll bring something quick home. It got down to 19 last night, so there is a lot of work for DH-everyone who had a cracked window probably woke up to find it hugely cracked or broken in that kind of cold, and everyone wants their window today LOL. I'm thankful for the work, and I'm sure there's a reason we'll be off to the store so late. I didn't get anything done yesterday...just enjoyed being with the kids. Well, I did clean the bathroom, but that's about it. Today I've made chocolate rice crispie treats, and taken the apple pie filling and crust out to thaw. I swear I'm going to do more, LOL. As much as I enjoy cooking, I love having the day with family, too. We actually ARE going shopping on Friday, but ONLY because the Oneida outlet store about 2.5 hours away is going out of business, and they have single pieces of silverware for $.25 each, and roommate was there on the way home from her daughter's wedding and said there are lots of matching pieces. Every bit of dishware or kitchen stuff that I didn't get from my mom, I have picked up at thrift shops or walmart. I do enjoy thrift shop finds, but since I"m starting completely over, I am going to have a nice set of silverware, darn it! (could you hear me stomping my feet?!?!) Besides, the only plac3e to shop down here is walmart, so maybe this will give me a chance to pick up a few Christmas gifts for the kids. I want to wish everyone a lovely, stress free, good smelling, happy feeling, delightful Thanksgiving! Love you ladies!

This is a blending of mine and roommates traditions. I tend to go overboard but then I get Friday off from cooking, LOL. Turkey Ham Mashed Potatoes Sweet Potatoes Sage Stuffing Honey Glazed Carrots Cheese and Cauliflower Rolls Choclate Cream Pie Pumpkin Pie Pecan Pie Cream Cheese Pie If oldest DD was here, we'd have fruit salad, too. I'm going to make it for her welcome home dinner in January instead. I haven't started cooking, either...but my end of things is rather easy...I do the turkey, ham, potatoes and cold pies this year. I am making an apple pie today but I think we'll have that today. Oh, and as far as leftovers go, I start working on the bird and the ham Friday morning, so I control what they get Friday, LOL...the rest goes in to the freezer for later meals.

Cold here, too, the news guy said we've already hit our high for today...I think it's psychological, but whenever they say that I just can't get warm, LOL. I'm going to do an apple pie today, and some other kind of treat, not sure what. Roommate is handling pumpkin and pecan pies, she'll be back from her oldest DD's wedding sometime this afternoon. Got the bird out thawing yesterday, picked up a ham from our local market, smaller and more expensive than what I wanted, but with the car trouble, had to get what we could. We're doing Teriyaki Chicken for dinner tonight, so yummy. I think I'm going to make a soup tomorrow, and bread. It's supposed to be warmer but not much. Todays's chores are cleaning the bathroom and vacuuming the living room. Roomate is asthmatic so I can't do it when she's here unless we can open windows, so I am going to do it as late as possible before she gets home so it's as free as possible of dog hair before she comes in. I'm also going to try to track down the source of the draft in the living room!

Oh, Mare, you, too, always seem to say or do it so well, without even trying. I love that quality in you. and I second everything that Cat said, LOL. I"m feeling weepy today...after 3 normal periods since going off Depo I'm late, and I know I'm not preggo, and have all those nifty PMS symptoms, including cramps and achy legs, for a week now. This is the second post in two mins that made me tear up, LOL. I keep whispering to my uterus "just start and get it over with already or I"ll be a raving lunatic soon!" HEHEHE. Love you all, too...and I'm having so much fun with the kids home on Thanksgiving vacation...I keep popping in here to read one or two more posts since I can't work. I love it!

Even when you're not trying, Cat, you seem to do or say the best things at just the right time. I do love you so! I'm glad you're feeling better.

Mommy of 5 wonders if buttercup has gotten out of the gigantic ditch filled with whipped cream that she dug right outside the door... Quote: Buttercup sneaks through the backporch door

Oh, man, I knew I forgot to buy something! We want to try the quesadillas recipe on the back, but I don't have jack cheese. When does cheese go on sale again?!?!

Wow, unike, I'm happy to be awake enough to type, have the kids fed, myself fed, and a bit of caffeine in my system. I hope everyone gets to feeling better. Yesterday didn't quite turn out like we planned. We had a tire that was losing air, so DH put Fix a Flat in it...then we had our lovely little storm and everything froze hard, and the car sat for two days. We get in the car and head down the road and DH notices a little bump as we drive...not quite like a flat, but still not right. We pull over and there is a HUGE bulge in the tire that was losing air. We turn around, and stop at the little local market to get a few perishables that we needed for dinner, and then we headed home. I opened my car door to get out, and I hear "Pop...psssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" Talk about perfect timing! Boy was I thankful! DH was mad, cause we're trying to be as frugal as possible, but again, it's the little things...we weren't doing 75 on the highway...we weren't miles away from anything...we need tires anyway, we'll be driving to New Mexico to pick up oldest DD on the 2nd of Jan...we didn't have to pay to have the car towed... With youngest DD's teeth getting pulled next week, I'd rather have waited, but it's OK. Anyway, since we were home I got a bushel of apples put up...made apple pie filling and spiced apples. Got a few red delicious put in the dehydrator. I read everywhere that they don't cook well, but I made a delicious applesauce out of them, so will be doing that today. Also going to work on some Thanksgiving stuff today. Talk to you soon!

Morning! I stole a few mins in here before DH has to work his shift (he's a guide on AOL). We still don't have the satellite back, the kids are picking a movie to watch. Today I'm going to get some apples dehydrating and then do a batch of apple pie filling, and do the grocery shopping. I can't believe how much I still need for Thanksgiving, LOL. I've been trying to buy ahead but I just didn't get as much done as I wanted. I am looking forward to having that whole bird to freeze next weekend! I need to look through old posts here and find a link to water purifiying stuff. WE can't use bleach, DH is allergic, and I don't want to risk it even in that small of an amount. The last thing we'd need to worry about during a major outage is him having a reaction. For now, the water I save will be for flushing only until I can get some purifying stuff. Have a wonderful Sunday! psst, Cat, get that puter fixed soon, I can't do without my cat fix, hehe! Let me know if you think it's just a part you need, DH has a puter junkyard in the shed LOL.