Just a Grillin

Hubby LOVES to grill. And I mean L.O.V.E.S. to grill! I found a veggie basket on clearance at Target so our standby is grilled peppers with chicken (omg my absolute favorite marinade is Salt Lick's marinade. yum!). I had also found some sausages on clearance at Randalls so we grilled those up too. We try to grill a bunch of meats so that I can use them later in the week in meals. We cooked up a whole package of chicken which can then be shredded, diced or sliced. Grilling this way saves us time later in the week.

Can you see Whiskey in the bottom corner? she is always hoping Hubby drops food

A Birthday Wish

Hubby had to work on his birthday so we did an IOU date.  He really wanted to go to the range and shoot.  It was super hard to find an evening when we could both go, but we managed.  We had so much fun!  (This was before our no spend month)  Hubby is passionate about guns, shooting and gun safety.  It is fun to see him in his element and he enjoys educating me.  For Christmas last year he got me a .22 pistol.  I told him I am not completely comfortable using it so he really took his time to explain the hows and whys.  We had a great extended birthday date and are going to try and go to the range more often. 

Antler Jewelry Stand Made by Hubby

Hubby has always had a crafty side.  I have mentioned before how he made me buttons for my sweater.  He really enjoys making things from old deer antlers.  His newest creation is a jewelry stand.  He did it all himself and I couldn't be more proud.  We are going to try and put a couple on etsy to see how they do.  If you know anyone who would like it, we can definitely use the sales!  Regardless, I would love for you to check it would and tell me what you think!

Hubby's Etsy Listing

Fiber Friday- A New Sweater

I am so excited about today's post!  I have been in a knitting craze lately and all I want to do is knit.  This holiday season offered a lot of quality knitting time and I was able to start and finish a big project.  Typically I knit small things- shawls, socks, baby items, etc.  I kept putting off knitting a sweater for me because I said I would wait until I lost weight.  I didn't want to spend hours knitting a sweater and then have it not fit.  I have a whole list of sweaters that I want to knit "once I'm skinny".  Who knows how long that will be since I am not actively dieting.  Why shouldn't I knit a sweater for me, right now, as I am.  I found a flattering sweater pattern and dug through my stash of yarn to find something that would work.  I didn't want to have to buy yarn (and I didn't!).  I wanted to knit a sweater to tell myself that I am good enough just as I am.  Sure, if I lost weight there would be a larger variety of sweaters that would look good.  But until then, my life is not on hold.  I am good enough and damn it, I want to knit a sweater.  So without further ado, I am happy to introduce you to my sweater to celebrate me and all of me.  The pattern is Hey Teach! and is a free pattern that can be found on Ravelry.  Hubby lovingly made me buttons out of antlers.  This sweater is a true compilation of our two strenghts.  Other than the yarn, everything is handmade and that makes me so happy!

Deer Beware

Its hunting season again and Hubby couldn't be more thrilled.  On the weekends he is up at 5 and sitting in his tree stand.  The season opened last weekend and he has seen a couple deer but hasn't had the chance to shoot them.  I understand that people are on the fence about hunting.  But out here there are so many deer.  Daily I will pass at least one dead on the side of the road.  Deer can and do damage tons of crops.  Lots of farmers bring in hunters to help take care of the deer overpopulation.  Hubby hunts for the meat.  Its his way of providing for our family.   He doesn't take joy in killing but he does it because some animal will die for our food.  It might as well be a happy deer.  Since our budget is tight, it helps tremendously if Hubby gets a deer or two.  I personally have no desire to go hunting (although hunting is just as popular with the girls as the guys out here) but I am completely supportive of him doing it.  I can't understand why anyone would want to get up so early to go sit in a tree.  I guess I could if someone told me I would get free yarn out of the deal... Knowing me I would probably fall asleep in the tree because it was dark, cold and way too early...

I do think Hubby is a pretty cute hunter...

So Proud of Hubby

I am so thankful for a handy hubby.  He is super good at fixing things around the house.  He also has an artistic side.  This week, that side of him really came out to shine.  For Christmas he had bought me an antler hair stick (that was on my etsy wishlist).  Once he saw it, he mentioned that he would like to try and make one.

We have had a bunch of antler sheds (each year a Buck will drop his antlers and regrow new ones) around the house.  I figured it would take him a few tries to get it right.  Boy did he prove me wrong!  The first one he made was amazing.  And the second.  Then he made buttons.  Then straight hair sticks.  Then carved pieces to be put on barrettes.  Now he is excitedly talking about craft fairs, and selling items on etsy.  I listed one hair stick to see how it sells.  I can't wait to put the antler buttons on a hand knit garment.  I am so excited that Hubby has found an outlet where he can express his artistic side. 

Sock Time

I love knitting socks!  There is just something so simple about making them.  Once you know the basic construction, the possibilities are endless.  Socks are definitely a labor of love.  They take a good amount of time to make.  Especially if you have big feet.  I recently decided that hubby needed a pair of hand knit socks (he doesn't have any...not a one!).  I cast on and began knitting.  I tried making him socks once.  I made the first one and ran out of yarn.  He has size 13 feet.  Which explains why he has never been on the receiving end of my socks-for-everyone quest.  Even making socks for my size 10 feet takes a long time.  Hopefully this sock I am working on now will have a mate.  Otherwise it might turn into a dusting glove like so many single socks before it.  I needed a project that is thoughtless (this is a simple stockinette pattern) and can be thrown in my purse for on the go knitting.  This is also a great project for night time stump burning!

Bees, chipmonks and laundry

Friday I got an email saying the bees were ready for pick up this weekend. Today was our only free day, so this afternoon Hubby and I drove to pick them up. I had nightmares about driving home and somehow upsetting the box of bees and having a truckful of angry bees. Thankfully the ride home was uneventful. We did buckle in the box, just in case. Once home, we set the nuc (the starter box) on top of the hive (artistically painted by my little sister). Tomorrow, we will transfer the bees into their new house. We are super excited that they are finally here.

On another note, Buttons the cat met her first chipmonk today. She ate the tail and then decided to let it live. I think they are forming some bizarre sort of friendship. Maybe the little monk is thankful Buttons spared his life.

We finally got the laundry lines hung. When my family was here, we cemented the poles. Ever since then it has been raining. Laundry has been piling up inside. Today is the last day of forecasted sun before 9 straight days of thunderstorms. We got the lines up and the sheets hung to dry. Hopefully it wont rain until tomorrow and they will be clean and dry.

Hubby is napping as I am writing. This week has been exhausting for everyone. I am also painting a bookshelf. Check back in later for the pictures...

togetherness

Me "so what do you want to do now?" Hubby "it doesnt matter...i just want to hang out with you" Now, if that doesnt just melt your heart, I dont know what will. We spent the better part of today working side by side. together. we went into town to have a late lunch/early dinner at Texas Roadhouse. Roadhouse is a treat as we dont normall dine there. We promised ourselves when we got our tax money back, we would splurge and go on a date to Roadhouse. It didnt dissapoint. We continued on to Lowes and finally Tractor Supply. We added yet even more veggies to our garden, curtesy of Lowes. We walked out of TSC with goat fencing and Chicken Coop Building for Dummies. We continued our afternoon working in the garden and raised beds. We mixed in rabbit compost with our garden soil and planted our newly bought veggies. On the side of the house Hubby added blackberries. We already have a "hedge row" started of raspberries and blueberries. We are trying to make the backyard more private, and figured a berry hedge would do just that. Tomorrow we will plant our new plum tree. It will join the peaches, apples, and pear trees already established. Together, we added the entire roll of fencing to the ever enlarging goat pen. Currently the goats are confined in a large chain link enclosure, just waiting for hubby and i to finish their ultimate pen. We need one more roll of fencing and then it will be done. We had to quit working outside when it got too dark. I have to say I like this togetherness. We hauled trees together out of the goat pen. We planted jalepeno peppers together. We fed the goats together. We dined together. We laughed together. We had a great day, together.

A portrait of a man

This is what sits on top of Hubby's gun cabinet. The beret is finishing up drying, all stiff and new. The flag is a flag Hubby flew in the skies of Iraq. This is coming from a man who is required to report to work without knowing when he will get paid. If the government shuts down as planned, there is no telling when soldiers will get paid. All that conisdered, when I came home from work tonight I found hubby shaving his beret. To get the perfect shape, he soaked it in water and proceeded to walk around until it dried (using the hairdryer to speed it up at some point). Hubby bought new combat boots today. He takes pride in his job and the uniform he wears, no matter what the pay. Being proud to wear a uniform doesnt get the mortgage paid, or dinner on the table. Being proud to wear the uniform means we will shell out gas money to get hubby to and from work, and trust that the government will work everything out. I could go on and on about how mad I am at the government. How I have no idea how we are supposed to pay bills if we arent getting paid. But what would be the point. No matter what hot mess the government is in, we support our country. Come Monday morning, Hubby will put on his uniform, zip up his jacket, lace up his new combat boots and don his perfectly shaped beret. He will go to work for a government and not ask "when". He will do what needs to be done, along with all the other soldiers. He is proud of his job, of his uniform, of his country. And I am proud of him. Thank you Hubby for all you do for the government, the country and me. I love you!

new old treasures

Today was an inside day. One of the coldest weekends on record. When I left for work the truck's temperature gauge measured 11. I thought it would adjust as the truck warmed up. It adjusted down. To 10 degrees. Yikes! After work, hubby and I worked lots on the kitchen! Hubby cut brick down to the random sizes we needed. I glued them in place and he started morter-ing the inbetweens. We took a break to watch a few episodes of The Office, our current netflix phase. Back to the kitchen, to install lighting in the cabinets, just waiting on the glass shelves now. All thats left in the kitchen is to finish morter-ing (which will take a while) and put everything back. The end is in sight.

Today was also a great day for antiques. One of the antique stores I love in Frederick, had a gorgeous lime green quilt for sale. It is super old, good condition, but out of our price range. Every time I think of quilts, I now picture this one. I was sad that we couldnt afford it, when I remembered that I had Christmas money put away in the safe. Out came the money (thanks Tom and Joyce) and home came the quilt. Hooray! It is now draped across the chair in my knitting room until it finds a permanent home. Speaking of antiques, I inherited a few pieces of transferware. Love! Some of the plates date back to 1848. I love anything old with a story. As I sit under my lime green quilt, I like to picture the people who have shared the quilt before me. As I look at my new blue plates, I like to think of who has enjoyed them. 1848 is a long time ago. More than a few generations. Both the china and the quilt must have been loved or they would not be here today. I too will continue in the tradition of loving and caring for them. Its not just "stuff", this is history! Now I have to figure out how to display the china on the wall (higher than little hands can reach). What do you think about my "mock display"?

The Prodigal Cat returns, some antique finds, and a duck tractor

Last night our cat Mittens returned after running away over a month ago. He showed up on the doorstep, and although skinny and scared, he seems well. Now he is back at home with Buttons and running the house. Welcome home Mittens!

Hubby and I drove down to Ellicott City to pick up a chicken tractor. A simple "A" frame coop with a built in run. Man, how we love craigslist! On our way through Ellicott's Main Street, we saw multiple antique stores. Never one to pass up an antique store (and one open on a Sunday to boot!), we parked the truck and went shopping. Hubby found an awesome milk crate, complete with 24 bottles. I am picturing fresh cut flowers in the spring. He also found an old garrison flag, to be hung on the living room wall downstairs. I was delighted to find different sized flower frogs. Check out just some of our finds...

Ill post pictures of the new tractor tomorrow when the sun is shining. We are hoping to get everone settled before it snows this week.

Pardon the mess, we are remodeling....

At least right now we have a good excuse for a messy house- we are remodeling the kitchen. It all started with a sink I got from my parents for christmas. the sink was slightly bigger (ok loads bigger) than the previous sink. No biggie, we will just redo the countertops. and move the dishwasher. and change the cabinets. and we need new lighting to go with. and a new backsplash. and what color to paint? But I do love my sink. Double farmhouse style. The old sink was a single basin. I hated that I couldnt fill up one side to soak and rinse in the other. I complained to my mom, and for chirstmas she had hubby get the sink and put it under the tree. Way to go Mom and Dad! Way to go hubby!

The kitchen is looking better, but not nearly done. We put the last of the countertop in yesterday, and the sealant is drying right now. Our plans changed for the cabinets when we found out the cabinet doors were discontinued. So we moved them around to make what we had work. Ill post the before (with the green backsplash), and the current (with the new counters, but no backsplash). Hopefully soon I will post a "finished" picture.

Once the counters are done, we can move the kitchen items back in. They are currently taking up residence in the dining and living rooms. I can't wait to have my house back!