Spring Planning

I know I may be crazy already thinking about Spring but I feel like I have so much stuff to do before Spring gets here. Between the garden, meat chickens, and a possible pig I have lots of planning to do.

Last year we tried a few new plants in the garden. Some worked and some didn't. So the task now is to start planning for this year. We always draw the garden dimensions on a spreadsheet and make rows. That way we know exactly how much planting space we have. Last year we left enough room between the rows to get the tiller down each row...who knows what we will do this year? Once the spread sheet is set up we start deciding which plant will go in each row. Sounds easy right!? You have to figure out how much you want to grow, then determine how much space between each plant depending on the variety. It is a fun process figuring out what is going in the garden each year. After the chart is done we make sure we have a enough seed and determine when the seed needs to be started. Some plants we start inside because of Ohio's temperatures.  Needless to say the mud/laundry room is a bit messy during April and May.

Meanwhile, we have to also figure out when we want to raise our meat chickens. We actually have to figure out when, how many, what breed and how to house them.  Last year was our first year to raise meat chickens and boy did we learn a lot.  Nicky made a chicken tractor out of pallets, plywood, and chicken wire.  Then I painted it with reject paint from the hardware store.

We ordered Cornish Cx birds and said our prayers.

We did manage to freeze about 10 birds last year but as we found out (or better RAN out) we realized we needed to raise more. This year I think we will do things a little different so we do not lose as many birds before harvest time as we did last year. It is definitely a fine art.

So not that we do not have enough to think about we want a PIG?!? We had a pig last year briefly that someone had given to us.  We knew nothing about raising a pig on the day it arrived. Again...thank goodness for the internet and FREE pallets.  It was not doing very good when we received the pig which is one reason why we took it. It needed some TLC.  After being hand fed with lots of goodies added to the feed like garlic, and ACV (unfiltered apple cider vinegar) to help ward off any infection she really began to perk up and thrive.

But unfortunately I guess some pigs get certain diseases for unknown reasons and she passed away.  We were offered a replacement but decided to wait till Spring. Mainly because I am much happier hauling water/feed when it is warm than when it is COLD!!! So perhaps we will try it again this year.

So if you are wondering what is going on here... PLANNING, PLANNING, PLANNING!!

I challenge you to grow something this year.  Just one thing.  You may be surprised at how rewarding it really is.  If you have room for a flower or plant you have room to grow food.  Some vegetables and herbs can grow right in a pot. Let your kids grow something too.  My nephew always uses a flower bed on the side of the house and plants a couple pumpkin seeds.  Try a tomato plant or pepper plant in a pot or cucumbers with a trellis. Just pick something you usually buy at the store and try to grow it yourself.

Happy Planning!!

Printer in the House!

There are a few things in life that I find quite impossible to purchase despite the research you put into learning about them. A printer and a mattress. No two stores have the same printer models and everyones reviews are different.  After having read and shopped around for three days now I bit the bullet and just bought one. I feel after all the research I put into learning about these printers I should not have such a knot in my stomach purchasing one. But I do!!! Probably because for every really amazing review there is one that is equally as bad.  So after much contemplation, research, note taking, and questioning of sale people I did it. I bought a new, shiny, beautiful Canon. I really tried for an Epson but ended up with the Canon. I am very excited to try it out but I sure hope it lives up to all the reviews. It is wireless which I am really excited about and it has a tray for the paper so the paper is not constantly hanging out of the printer. Much cleaner look than my current BUSTED HP. I will let everyone know how it turns out once I have time to play around with it.

Other than that it went from 64 degrees yesterday to 27 degrees tonight...to say the least I am hanging out in front of the fireplace tonight.

Stay warm and have a great night!!

All DUE! and Winter's coming back...

We are currently bracing ourselves for the cold again. After having two days in the upper 50's and lower 60's winter is headed this way again.  It gave us time to get some outdoor tasks accomplished: power-washing our latest auction find and cleaning the chicken coop. Oh and it also gave us time to call the furnace guy because it just so happen that three days ago the furnace quick working. I feel quite blessed that it was 50 degrees this weekend and not 15 degrees. But now that the cold is arriving I will be back indoors.  This will give me plenty of time to get caught up on some housekeeping duties related to the good 'ol nursing license. I am not sure how or why but every single license and certification I have is all due this year by September!!! Yes, ALL of them.  Texas and Ohio license due, CPR, PALS, CPR instructor, and continuing education.  Now the goal is to see how fast I can get it all done. Oh wait....I can't print anything because the printer is BUSTED.  Yeah, remember the invitation post...still looking for a printer. I guess that will be the goal for tonight so I can purchase it tomorrow.  Now off to start the continuing education... after I get some dinner!! =)

But last night Nicky and I went for Pho at Buckeye Pho.  I love Vietnamese food.  After dinner we headed over to the International Market in the same shopping center.  It is always a learning experience to see what ingredients other cultures are using.  It was a good thing most of the packaging was also in English or I would not have known what half of the food was.  We snapped a couple pics of the more interesting selections.

Fried Gluten??? Not sure what this is for?

EVERYTHING is better wrapped in Pork skin

AND some interesting trail mix

This market had everything. We ended up walking out with Spicy Peas, Wasabi Peas, and Fava Beans.    We definitely learned something and can not wait to use some different ingredients!! What is life without an adventure every now and then.

Oh, and here is the hair for the peeps who wanted to see it. 

Have a Blessed Week!!! and eat some Pigs Feet...

Making Invitations

Just a quick blog in between making a wedding invitation for my lil sis. We have been going back and forth via email, phone, and text trying different layouts, colors, fonts, wording and even paper type.  It has been fun to use different programs on my computer to try different things. That being said sometimes you run into some compatibility issues. After wanting to pull my hair out night before last I finally got it resolved today.  Always a learning experience!  A few things I learned during this process: one, my printer stinks (and that is as nice as I can put it), two, with out the internet it would take me forever to learn anything, and three, patience and stepping away from the project for a minute or two makes a world of difference.
I admit I had fun making the invitation and I am glad for all the mistakes too.  Next time I can take what I learned and expand on what I did this time. I would love to post a pic so you could see the progress but then it would spoil the big reveal when folks get them in the mail.

FYI: In the end I used a template for the monogram and then uploaded into Pixelmator, did some tweaking in Pixelmator (made a BORDER!!, margins, layers, etc.) and saved it as a PDF. PDF was a must to get it uploaded and printed. Especially since my printer is busted.

Ironic I can describe a three day process in two sentences.

Links for invitations: You can get ideas and DIY help for many types of invitations at the following links:

Zazzle
Etsy
Paper Source
Invitation Consultants
invys
paper and more
Wedding Paper Divas
Pinterest
weddinghchicks
Ann's Bridal Bargains
Basic Invite

Expand your creative mind and try making your own invitations next time. You might even surprise YOURSELF!!

Canvas is HERE

The snow is finally melting here in Ohio. Today the chickens had the run of the yard again. It didn't take them five minutes to realize they could go right to the back door and POOP! Yes, I think they all decided to run straight to the house and leave land mines on the sidewalk.  

Anyhow, I have a bit of a spring cleaning bug coming on pretty strong so everything in this house had better be on it's best behavior or it could go straight in the TRASH! But before the cleaning is to begin I get to hang my new canvas that I finally received in the mail today.  It does look nice but I did learn one lesson from this experience.  The company I used convinced me to send them the unedited file of my photo instead of one that I had photoshopped.  I should have sent them exactly what I wanted because they didn't crop everything the way I had explained. Oh well there is always next time. I ordered the 3 panel photosplit but I like the first panel with the truck so much I may not even hang the other two.

Next on the agenda as always is my dinner. Tonight Nicky made a really good Broccoli and Potato soup. Delish! For further instruction see below per the CHEF.

1- Sauté the broccoli stems with some white potato and onion in butter until translucent then add some chicken stock and cook until very soft. 
2- Puree and add some milk mixed with a touch of flour, and seasonings… salt, pepper, cayenne, etc…
3- Caramelize some sweet potatoes, blanch some cubed white potatoes and broccoli, and crisp some bacon.
4- Mix it all in one pot with some cheddar

YEAH!! 1,000

This is the shortest post ever to just say how excited I am that I have 1,000 pageviews on my BLOG!!!!
I am sure half of them are my mom and my husband but who has to know.... THANKS to everyone for reading. Feel free to comment anytime at the bottom of each post and if you want to join just hit the button on the right side of the page that says "Join this site".

Thanks Again,
ME

PS- I love my new haircut!!

What a way to START the day!!

Oh I am so excited today!! Why, you ask???  It's hair cut day. Yeah I know that may sound a little corny BUT I love getting my hair cut.  The big question is always whether I should grow it out or keep it short. I like it both ways but it is definitely easier and quicker when it is short AND as many of you know I am not afraid to play around with a little color as well.  Blonde, Black, Red, who cares it will be different in 8-12 weeks anyhow.  It always gives me such a renewed feeling to get the old dead hair chopped off.  Two of the most difficult people to find in this world is a good dentist and a good hair stylist. After I left Texas (where I HAD the best Stylist and Colorist) I was on the search for someone just as good. After four salons and four different hair cuts I found her.... ahhhhhh. Miss Natalie at Waldo's on High.  Best of all she listens to what I want and gives great advice. So between the two of us we can rock a cut and color!! LOL

The other thing that got me moving today was this...

Yes those are my morning comfy clothes hanging on the Stocking hangers getting warmed by the fireplace. Thanks to the hubby!!!

Before I go I have to share with you the dinner we had last night. I know I have already told you guys about Perogies before but we changed it up a bit last night. We decided to add some broccoli and bacon to the mix! What could go wrong with anything you add bacon to??!! Nicky also put some cheddar cheese on his but I opted for just sour cream. They were delish!!

Have a GREAT day!!