I Really Dug My Weekend!

Honestly, the weather was lovely, so I spent most of it on outdoor chores. Take a walk with me...

This is going to be our strawberry patch (this picture was taken on Saturday morning):

This one is as far as I managed to go before I ran out of steam (I don't use a tiller for many reasons too numerous to list -- plus I wanted some of the grass):



Here's what I wanted the grass for -- to plug some spots where the Japanese Beetle grubs attacked last year (we're investing in milky spore this year -- it's been ten years since we applied it last time, and it's clearly run its course):



I found a mama spider when I was digging ... I felt just awful messing with her "house". She's guarding her egg sac here. They actually carry the egg sac around with them and I didn't want her to get so freaked out that she left it behind, so we built her a little "house with rocks where she could hide while we finished. I think she appreciated it :-)



The daffodils around my well pump are blooming and look lovely:



But we're already having visitors (that's a deer print for you city folk):



I found these odd holes in some of the spots the grubs killed -- I think they're from the robins (who are eating the grubs -- GO ROBINS!):



We still have a LOT of work to do, but DD got her garden cleared:



And we'll get peas and spinach and chard seed planted this week.

All in all a pretty good weekend.

How was yours?

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A Vignette

Friday afternoon.

DH: "I'm STARVING."

Me: "Fix something to eat."

DH: opens pantry, stares, closed pantry...opens fridge, stares, closes fridge...goes to basement, opens freezer, stares, closes freezer...glances at bookshelves, wanders back upstairs "There's nothing to eat in this house."

Me: wonders how DH can look at this:



or this:



and say we have nothing to eat.

How was your weekend?

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You Are an Ice Storm

You are much more serious than you look. On the surface, you're quite calm and even a bit enchanting. However, under the wrong circumstances, you can be a real pain. You're not as good natured as you seem. You come on slowly and deliberately. You take your time when planning your attack. You are meticulous and a perfectionist. As they say, the devil is in the details... and you're all about the details!

What Kind of Storm Are You?

Ha! Mostly right ... and my least favorite weather.

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Of Pies and Men

I had a remarkably quiet, relatively drama free weekend. I could use more like that. Did a little Christmas shopping with my mom and DD. Cleaned some house. Did some work. But about midday yesterday I realized that I hadn't felt stressed out in a significant way all weekend. That's seriously unusual and I'm very grateful.

On Saturday, DH went to a friend's house to do some auto repair stuff (he was welding a part for another friend). Turns out that the friend had baked bread and a pie! My DH was suitably impressed to the point he took pictures of it and showed me.

Last night, not to be outdone, my DH decided he had to bake a pie as well. He kept asking me questions and I finally told him it was HIS pie and handed him my 1952 Better Crocker cookbook where everything is from scratch, got him the pastry cutter and pastry mat and let him work.



He was so intent and determined to make it the best pie in the world (he's still convinced that he succeeded -- it's amazing how much a little sweat and blood contributes to the flavor of your food). Honestly, he really did do a great job, and I told him he could bake ALL pies from now on.

Here's the crust... pretty good, huh?



He made pumpkin pie, btw. The recipe in Betty Crocker was for two crusts, so we ended up with two pies. A little heavy on the cloves, but otherwise very tasty.

Still no word from Samhain. *sigh*

How was your weekend?

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You Are the Recipe Creation

You try to keep things open. You dislike committing to people. You are self-contained and self-sufficient. You know how to take care of yourself. You are a risk taker. You love to roll the dice on everything. You have high morals and live life right. You have great confidence in yourself and others.

What Part of Baking Are You?

About 50/50...

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Weekend in Review

Crazy weekend here ... still waiting for a video to upload to YouTube while I type (apparently my phone takes really big videos which is YAY for the resolution, but UGH on the amount of time it takes to upload), so I'll share this with you first. My friend, Maria Zannini released a new book! It's the second in her Second Chances Series, Chain of Souls. Check it out:

Banished from Heaven for refusing to harvest an unwilling soul, Liam Chase drinks to forget night after night until the Angel of Death pays him a visit.

For the price of a few humans souls, Ziva promises to get him reinstated into Heaven. Liam doesn’t doubt her influence, but milking humans of their light is an unspeakable crime, punishable by eternal oblivion.

He’d rather rot on Earth than commit such a monstrous sin. But the Angel of Death didn’t get where she was by taking no for an answer. Ziva is a huntress of extraordinary skill and cruelty. If he refuses, his loved ones will be her next targets. And Ziva never misses.

Ziva has already set her sights on Shannon, the soul he once refused to harvest, and his beloved servant, Evie. He’ll do anything to keep them safe, even if it means his death.

But something goes wrong just as he concedes, and the chain of souls picks a new mistress before he has a chance to deliver.

Brought for trial before the most feared angel in Heaven and Hell, Liam discovers he has failed to protect his loved ones and now they too could share his fate.

Sounds good!! If you think so, too, know this: It's only $2.99 (the cost of that Starbucks you were going to get this morning ... but this lasts for more than a few minutes) and you can get it here: Amazon, B&N and Smashwords.

:::checks back at YouTube::: "About 4 minutes left"

*sigh*

So, DH decided that we should spend Friday, Saturday and part of Sunday taking down trees, stacking the branches and dragging logs in from the woods to load on the truck, bring home and stack in our yard for next year's burn.

It's not that I mind working. It's not that I don't LOVE free wood (we use about three cords a year, and it runs about $250/cord right now, so YAY for free wood). It's not that I don't love a warm house in the middle of winter.

What I mind is spending ALL FREAKING WEEKEND doing it. Because, hello, already have a full plate of chores and work that doesn't do itself while I'm off doing something else. I didn't get the LASR/WC website built for this week until last night. I have twenty-six active virtual tours on Goddess Fish that I'm filling, organizing and promoting. We won't talk about the 50+ reviews I edit weekly or the house that I cleaned. And DD wanted to practice basketball, so I needed to fit that in somewhere, too (amazingly, it didn't hurt my knee AT ALL).

It all got done (barely), but it wasn't fun. Nevermind trying to plot something for NaNoWriMo in a week.

:::checks back at YouTube::: -- Upload Progress 100%!

Okay, so I took one video of DH felling a tree. He did this when SIL wasn't there (she was driving the wood to our house with SIL#2 and stacking it) because she tends to flip out and stress beyond belief every time he takes anything down. It's not like he's dropped one on her house (he did hit the edge of her shed once, but that was actually her fault... long story). I videoed it because I knew she'd want to watch. It's pretty amazing actually, and DH is a lot braver that I would be. The times he gestures to me in the video, he's asking if the tree looks like it's falling the right way (it was). I was worried a minute because the wind picked up just a smidge, but it was blowing the right way.



That's a big tree. We had to clear and pile all the branches in the canopy, plus find all the bits of wood he cut ( we don't waste any -- even the smaller branches are cut up to burn) and haul it out the woods. SIL will have some very happy birds and chipmunks this winter living her her brush piles.

There are three more trees she wants taken down. That's on the agenda for next week.

*sigh*

What did you do this weekend? Anything fun? Let me live vicariously!

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You Should Get Your PhD in Business Administration

You love to work on a team, and you do your best to bring out everyone's strengths. You only work when it is very meaningful and profitable. You don't want to waste your time in a job. You have what it takes to be a top business owner or consultant. You have a head for money. Your work doesn't have to have a higher meaning. Making money is its own reward.

What Should You Get a PhD In?

Mostly right.

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The Weekend in Review

We had an absolutely gorgeous weekend -- sunny, warm, beautiful. Hard to believe it's October in New Hampshire! We're having a late 'leaf peeping' season, though, because it hasn't been cold enough to turn the leaves until this past week. The color is starting, finally, and it's breathtaking. I'm consistently surprised at the vivid reds and florescent oranges that the maple leaves turn.

I didn't pull up my garden yet. Friday was busy with errands. Saturday, my friend from Massachusetts, Michele, came up to spend the day (YAY! Sadly, the last time I'll see her until late spring) and Sunday was filled with wood-stacking fun.

Unfortunately, by late last night, one of my wood piles fell over. Wood stacking: so much fun, you'll want to do it TWICE!

Today, I promised DD some fun, so we'll be seeing a movie (complete with popcorn) and a few other things. She also needs (wants) a few more school supplies (including a three hole punch she can keep in her binder).

My plans this week include trying to conquer Word Press (it can't be that hard, even if my brain doesn't want to wrap itself around the instructions) and cutting down my dead perennials so they can sleep the winter away. If I'm feeling really ambitious, I may put in some bulbs or a mum. I have some frog's tongue seedum that I hate and want to dig up, too.

Next year, I WILL find the time to enjoy my garden.

Anyone do anything fun this weekend?

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You Are Handy

You are a generalist who does everything well. You find every subject and skill to be interesting. You are practical and productive. You continually figure out a way to get things done. You take on huge projects and see them through. You lead the way when it comes to success. You like to have a little excitement in your life, but you don't go overboard. You stay grounded.

The Wood Test

Pretty much right.

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Busy Weekend and a sick day?

DD fought with a cold all weekend (it's just allergies, Mom!) and I'm waiting to see how she's feeling this morning. Typically she'll have one really bad day -- all stuffed up and feeling miserable. I'm hoping that was yesterday. I gave her night time cold meds last night at 7:30 so she could sleep (yes, she wanted to go to bed that early), heard her snuffling around 1 a.m. and gave her one more dose. Hopefully a good night's sleep helped kick the bug.

I don't want her to miss school (not to mention I have NO idea how to handle a sick day for her) but I don't want to send her sick (because THAT is why she's sick ... someone else sent their sick kidlet to school... last week she told me about the girl she was partnered with being sick and DD hoped she wouldn't catch it). Yet another thing that was easier when I was homeschooling...

Maria Zannini asked me "what about the time you used to spend teaching DD?" ... the fact is, there wasn't much. She was on a DVD curriculum where there was an actual classroom and teachers TAUGHT. She'd sit down, watch the class, do the work, etc. My job was to correct papers, make sure she stayed on schedule and answer questions or help when she was confused (much of which, except the correcting papers part, I'm still doing).

Here's the thing -- I KNOW this is a wonderful place for DD to be. She's thriving (aside from the germs!) and completely enjoying school. She's happy and challenged and I wouldn't change that. But homeschooling, as it turns out, was much easier on me. Who'da thunk it?

I spent this weekend being Suzy Homemaker. Our grocery store is selling local apples (from the farm where we would have picked anyway) for only $0.69/lb -- they're smaller ones, but otherwise perfect (and I was making sauce, so didn't care about the size). I bought about 15 - 20 of apples and spent much of Saturday cutting and coring apples. I ended up with eight quarts (seemed like an awful lot of work for only eight quarts ... but there you go) of unsweetened applesauce.

Sunday I baked bread. Lots of bread. It was a challenge since my house was opened up to air out the smell of polyurethane (from the hardwood stairs DH put in all weekend ... another story) and it was VERY cool inside. I had the oven on "warm" and used that to raise the bread, but I think it didn't raise as much as it should have as most of my loaves were a bit doughy and heavy. Will try again when I have more flour (I ran out .... went through about 20 cups) and it's warmer in the house.

DH spent the weekend tearing out the carpet from our stairs, pulling off the treads and then putting down hardwood treads. Thankfully, we have a second way upstairs (through the garage ... so while it's good we could get upstairs, it was a massive ordeal). Yesterday was spent covering them in the poly ... and we still can't use them this morning. We're supposed to wait 72 hours ... but I don't know if I can hold out that long -- never mind how confused the dog is about it all. Yesterday I had to lug two baskets of clothes from the basement where the laundry room is, out the door to the garage, hold them OVER MY HEAD to get behind the car and the truck and past the mower through the door (which barely opens wide enough because the generator and snow blower are in the way) and up those stairs to the bedrooms.

I am glad for the stairs -- our carpet was old and worn (clear through in one spot), but next time DH has to do something like that, I'm getting a motel room for a week.

It also meant that I got none of the deep-cleaning done that I'd planned for upstairs and will need to squeeze it in this week instead.

Next weekend, I'm going to try mega-cooking again to save me having to cook from scratch during the week, and see if that helps me with time.

How was your weekend?

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You Are a Green Apple

You're a pretty traditional person. You believe that if something has lasted, then it's probably good. You think that living the good life is pretty simple. If you behave responsibly and ethically, good things will come to you. You are a loner and prefer to keep to yourself. You love solitude. You are super productive. People are amazed by how much you are able to get done.

What Color Apple Are You?

Um.. yeah, that's pretty much right on!

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Busy Weekend!

Missed yesterday ... sorry! The day just got away from me. I had a crazy weekend and I think I'm still recovering.

On Friday, DH is off work and decided we needed to go up to the lake. Keep in mind, we couldn't leave early (had to take DD to school) and then had to be BACK early (to pick DD up). It was the quickest day on the lake every (the lake isn't exactly nearby).

Saturday I did some running around in the morning with DD and my mom. Got home slightly after noon and spent the day cramming three days of website work into an afternoon (had to build the LASR/WC website and edit all the reviews for the next week, plus Goddess Fish stuff which is a little crazy).

I also got really annoyed that I was spending so much time on others (personally and business-wise) and decided that I was going to FINISH "Now and Forever" (the Kitchen Matches sequel) and get it submitted. Don't remember what set me off, but I was so mad! LOL... guess it worked. I hunkered down, finished the scene in the middle (involving Zach and wedding dresses *G*) and rewrote the ending (which was much more satisfying for me ... hopefully the publisher feels the same), then edited the synopsis, wrote up a query and blurb (since I was "fired" by Samhain for not submitting in the past two years -- means I have to go through the slush pile again -- means I have to wait 12 - 14 weeks to hear back, darn it) and sent that sucker off.

Here's the blurb (which I'm sure will change):

Zach Weathers doesn’t believe in marriage. He’s tried the whole commitment thing before and got taken for everything he had and then some for his trouble. So it’s surprising when he finds himself seriously attracted to his sister’s all-things-love and romance wedding planner.

Mena Smythwhite believes in happy-ever-afters and after spending years helping other couples get theirs, she’s on the search for one of her own. She’s not into one night stands or serial dating and is certain her Prince Charming is waiting to be found. So why is she intrigued by the one man who laughs at romance? A man who sneers at love and simply won’t do?

Sunday, we attended the local shelter's fundraiser. What a crazy time! DD sold a few things (all pet oriented -- she has some gorgeous shepherd's hook book marks with dog and cat charms and beads, some cat and dog earrings and more).

My mom had crocheted some dog sweaters (SO CUTE! They'll be going up on DistinctivelyDD soon ... which is morphing into a store for three generations: DD, me and my mom) and cross-stitched the most adorable magnets (which will also be going up on DistintivelyDD when I have time).

The most amazing thing about the day was that there weren't more kerfluffles between dogs. I saw one and there was a rescue dog wearing a muzzle who was there to be socialized, but otherwise, everyone seemed to get along famously.

I was exhausted when I got home, but still had work to do. So when Monday morning came, I did NOT want to get up. Then it was rush-rush-rush to get DD off to school, then I met my mom for some couponing and other errands, and didn't get home until after noon, leaving me little time before I had to turn around and go get the daughter.

The hours just disappeared.

Today, despite actually needing to go to the grocery store, I'm determined to stay home. We have food (though I need to make dog food...) so it can wait one day.

I'm sure there's more, but I'm out of time this morning. Gotta go wake the kidlet.

OH! One quick note, because I'm so proud: they tested the eighth grade kids to see if they should be in pre-algebra or algebra I for the year. DD made it into Algebra I! I was so proud of her (and ... I'll be honest, of me, too. It means I didn't totally screw up schooling her *G*).

Now, going to wake her up and toss her into the shower. Have a great day!

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You Are Focused

You know what you want, and you know how to go after it. You feel equipped for whatever may happen. You are good at putting things together and following directions. You stay focused. You lay the groundwork for months or years before you act. You like to be completely and totally prepared. You are a late bloomer, and you may be coming into your own right now. You're still figuring out who you are.

The Hummingbird Test

About 60%

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