Tree or no Tree that's the question?

With Christmas coming up,and room wise,I have to ask myself whether or not we have room for a tree this year.I was thinking more in the line of maybe not this year but next year.I was toying with the idea of gathering pine boughs and placing candles in them. Put a wreath on the door and call it Christmas.It's hard to decide when you only have two people during the holiday and you know your family goes with whatever you decide.

We do have room for a small tree but do I want to go thru putting one up.I'd have to buy ornaments and lights and such.

Here's a thought,what if I don't put one up but plant some kind of fir tree and let it grow? That would be good uh? I'll let you know what I decide.

A Quiet Morning

I love how quiet the mornings are here.The trees have lost alot of their leaves and now the floor of the woods are covered for another winters' nap.Some trees here have turned and the fall colors are so pretty.It's cool and some what windy but not bad.I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and now in a few weeks it will be Christmas.

I am debating on whether or not to go get some pine boughs and decorate the house.We don't have a tree yet.I would really like to set one up this year. We have no ornaments or lights either.Maybe fix one up in the old fashion way? Usually what I do when the new ornaments come out,I always buy one,why?,I have no idea,I just do.I go through and pick one that looks natural.

I finally got back on my meds for my Bipolar.So far I'm a little goofy but I have slept alot better being on them.It's no fun not being able to sleep for days at a time.So now I'm ok with them.

I wrote this this morning and now I'm writing this evening.It has been a very nice day,the gray clouds cleared out and it was sunny.We done some cleaning around the yard,burnt some trash and wood.This was wood I couldn't put in the compost bin. Hubstead seen one of our deer in the yard.There has been alot of shooting going on and I'm hoping the deer feel safe coming here.We have them in the backyard all the time.Orion got over being stuffed,he ate like a pig for Thanksgiving.I think he ate more than we did.What a hound!

I stripped the turkey and got all the meat off the bone. We had extra to put in the freezer so we are good to go for abit.Well the next thing is getting some little things done around here. I have my beads whining at me.They're sitting in a tote next to the couch.Yes I hear them,I have always considered my beads being my kids. They love to be made into beautiful things.

Beer Bread

Yeah I got a new love! I was looking to try to find  a recipe for bread using self rising flour and I came across this little beauty. Beer Bread. And since I like trying out new recipes,here you go!

 Beer bread

3 cups of self rising flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup of butter
1 (12 oz.) beer

Melt the butter and pour a little in 9x5  loaf pan just to coat the bottom.
In a large bowl add the flour and sugar and beer,mix together.
Pour batter into loaf pan and pour remaining butter over batter.Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes. wait 10 minutes to cool.

Yeah I didn't I love the smell of it.I had to put some butter on it while it was still hot.My little oven cooked it a little too brown but it was still fabulous.

Today I have to make my cornbread dressing. Hey I'm a southern gal,got to have it! Ready for Thanksgiving?

Looking forward to Thanksgiving

The fortunate thing when there are only two people to celebrate a holiday,there isn't a whole lot of expectations.Usually it's just hubstead and myself.This year will be another year like that.My brother and sister-in-law are going to her mothers' and we won't see them until Sunday.

BUT.... we do smoke a turkey and fix stuff for us.I have already gotten everything ready for the day and the good thing I can take my time.I learned how to make cornbread dressing and fell in love with it.I don't put a whole lot of stuff in it cause of my allergies but it still turns out pretty good.I get to use some fresh sage I grew this year in it.

Yeah smoked turkey from a Thanksgiving before.This was the best bird we ever done.This year we got a 21 pound  birdie.We get big birds then that way we know we'll have enough left over for other meals including my turkey salads.Like I said no rush and we can take our time smoking it.We always had a hard time in Texas because of the wind was always blowing,here,it's going to be easier since we can do this on our porch.

I hope all of you are up in the north and northeast can have a great Thanksgiving and not get too snowed in or rained on.I don't see how you guys do it.Living in the south is pretty good even though we still get the cold but not like what you get.I'm watching the weather channel now and nope I wouldn't like living up there.You're braver than I am!
I would like to see some snow but not like we had this past winter.

Well Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!!!!!

A Little of This and That

I remember when trees had color during fall but now they just turn brown.

Finally finished the pine  straw basket for my sister-in-law.

He really hates it when I take his picture but he did enjoy the grass.

Well the peas took a dive ,the cold snap we had killed them.They put out some before hand so I can't complain.They sure were good too.I'm still getting Kale out of the two rows that were planted. They are almost gone.I really enjoyed planting this year and can't wait til next year to get going again.

Guess what? Hubstead is planning on putting in a smokehouse next year! I was amazed he even had been thinking about it.I have always wanted to do that.I got a feeling the yard is going to fill up fast.We also got to put in the chicken coop too along with the raised beds. Sure going to cut down on cutting grass in the back.I love smoked meat and it'll be great to smell when you walk outside. Getting in the groove here!

Got This Year Cold Whipped(so far)

I guess we're ready.Got the gas going and got the house as insulted as possible.The cold hasn't got here but it has been really chilly.Today it was nice and I had the front and back doors open. It's suppose to go down to 34 tonight. This new heater will definitely sweat you out of the room.Hubstead likes it hot,me I like being somewhat cool,especially when I try to sleep. I'm happy about the couch we got,I have already fell asleep in it,It has a recliner on both ends.

If everyone remembers we spent most of last winter holed up in the bedroom and I was bound and determined not to be there this year.So now that much worked out!

So now an update.The peas are almost gone,I'm sure the cold will wipe them out.The kale is doing great.It has been worth planting. I brought the rest of the plants in and I'm hoping to have some grape vines going next year too.

Kale and eggs this morning.

I know now what it feels like wanting to constantly grow thing.I can't wait until springtime. I keep ordering seed books and am drooling!

But at least this winter I can sit and be comfortable to make stuff.I've been trying to get back into my beading.

Mom showed me that this wasn't going to happen this year!

She said I got my own couch and blankies and I'll stay nice and warm instead of having to cover up! I can't wait til it snows,I love playing in the snow and then coming in and getting warm.

If some of you are not getting my emails or being able to comment just see if you can send me an email and I'll try to fix this.I haven't worked out the bugs from this yet.Takes me alittle while to catch on how to set up pages.

Heat,Heat and more Heat!

Yah I'm excited,we got a heater this year.Yep sitting here looking at it.Oh it's not hooked up YET.I'm hoping come Monday,the gas man cometh.Right now I'm freezing.But I keep thinking how good it's going to feel when the warmth comes out of this thing. We have been trying to figure out a place too put it,it has 5 burners  and it's going to hot once they get fired up. The only place we have figured is in the diningroom and just move the small table and chairs over some.I got the house insulated as much as I can,the OSB board we put down has been a big help with the cold.Our bathroom however is still cold so today I got to go in there and figure out where the cold is coming in.

We've been bundled up with blankets and I am happy I got the comforter from my neighbor next door over the summer.It kept me warm last night.

I've been watching the weather channel with a close eye and hearing about all the cold coming.I tell you right now,all of you up north,I don't know how you do it.I couldn't be in weather that cold!And all that snow,nope,I'll stay here.It's been damp and wet here in the south but that can be dangerous too I know.Please stay warm and I hope it won't be too bad for you.

Grape seeds and Loofahs seeds done.

Today I got the grape seeds I had in the refrigerator and put them in small pots to sprout.I'm crossing my fingers on this one. If I get half I'd be happy. I've never tried to grow grapes before so this is a trial run. We could of bought grape vines when they were in season but hey what's the fun in that.If I don't try how will I know? These I have are Concord grapes I won off an auction online.

So far when I got them out of the refrigerator,the seeds were nice and plump.I had them in there since September. Something call stratification.Then I have to keep the little ones warm until they sprout and when they get bigger,transfer them to a bigger pot. it says to keep them in pots the first year.


For the last two days I have been doing Loofah seeds and bagging them up.  I'm gonna have more than what I bargained for. So anybody want some I'm selling them. I'm using the money to help build my chicken coop next year. Here's the newest loofah.

I think I got it ! See the seeds,so many off of one.

And yes when the rest of the loofahs are done I'm selling those too. So remember Christmas is coming up next month!

I have come to the conclusion I am now addicted to growing stuff. 

We finally bought a heater.This week we get gas.I can then at least keep my plants warm.It's going to be freezing in the southeast this weekend and I'm not looking forward to it.I hope we don't get snow but it may happen.

I pulled some Kale from the garden and cooked it yesterday but I decided to put it up in the freezer for later. I need to go out and cut some more.

This stuff is great!

You ever get a chance try it! 

Who turned on the Cold Air???

Ok where did Fall go and who turned on the cold air,the crap isn't funny man!Had to get plastic to cover the plants but the wind kept blowing it off.I think I have it secured now.  I can't wait to taste the kale.I got loofahs drying and hopefully this cold won't hurt them.

I'm piled up on the couch with my blanket,Orion is hogging the heater.We love this dog so much we put a heating pad under a thick towel for him at night. Pretty spoilt uh?He loves it and he's comfortable.I try to keep him off the bed because I'm afraid he'll hurt himself again jumping off it.Yes we let him on the bed sometimes.But he is not a bed type dog,he'll only stay on it for 5 minutes and then he'll get off.

Yep Rotten to the core!See that yellow blanket?That's the one he came with.I throw it in the wash and he loves that. He was cute wrapped up in it when she took him out of the her truck and he was so scared when I brought him home.But it didn't take long after much exploring he settled down.But he loves his blankey.















Makes ya kinda wonder how I will treat our chickens when we get them?I'll be a wreck during the wintertime hoping they are warm in the coop. But those ideas are going in a list.I got my chicken book in and have been looking at different breeds.I don't know yet which breed(s) I'll go with.

Halloween has been quiet here,since we are back from everyone in the pines.I don't like getting out on nights like this because of children being out.We didn't buy candy nor did we go to any parties.I'm not a social butterfly anyway.I hate crowds and being around people I don't know.We were invited to a Halloween party but turned it down. Instead we stayed home and I did loofahs and separated seeds.
I'm getting quite a collection and want to try to sell some loofah seeds. I got some really nice seeds from the summers' crop. Got so much to think about for the coming spring.