Subconscious Collector

I am not one to collect stamps, or magazines, or bottle caps. In fact, I never really thought I collected anything. But, as I was washing the dishes the other day (as there was a *small* pile up of them), it hit me. I  do collect something. Coffee Cups. I have special memories attached to some little mugs that hold my favorite hot beverage. Here is (I think,) all of the special ones. 7 cups.

 The strawberry one is the first one I think I collected. My Aunt gave me a set of dishes, and the cool part? They were just like the first set of dishes my Mom had when she and Dad got married! I kept them in my hope chest and now that I'm married, I use them. One coffee cup that would probably be next is my goat breed coffee cup. I got it when I ordered meds and things for my beloved pet goats one time. It broke a couple years ago.(I used it ALL the time lol). Next is the Saddle Back mug Darling got me (then new boyfriend) when he went skiing with his cousins, the Keagans. Then the red one. My godmother Aunt Jane bought us four of these pretty mugs in my favorite color as a wedding/first home gift.

 Then the IHOP mug. Darling and I got it at IHOP(International House of Pancakes) in Portland one month after we got married. We went to a Family Life Weekend Getaway for couples. It was the first place we had breakfast. The conference was great! We learned tools for marriage, such as communication and how to resolve the conflicts that come with sharing your lives together in marriage. And the white mug. I found it at a thrift store and fell in love with it. It has pretty flowers on it and it was only .05cents!!!!

The brown mug is from the Senator's Inn in Augusta. Darling took me there for our first year anniversary last month and we had a lovely dinner in the Inn's restaurant. I liked the mug so much I asked the waiter if they sold them. He said he would have to check. Apparently, no one had asked to buy one before lol. He came back and said "how about four dollars?"  I said sure and here it is. The tin enamel one is my latest addition. I got it this past Wednesday when Darling took me to the Amish store in Smyrna, I had never been there before. It was so nice! They had skylights and propane lights (no electricity) and neat things like big mixing bowls, utensils, cheese, old fashioned candy, flour, seasonings and so on.
 So, that is my collection that I didn't realize I had going. I hope you have a good day!

Cawfee Tawk

Listened to a "Cawfee Tawk" Webinar by Kathy the tidy tutor http://thetidytutor.com/cawfee-tawk/ Interesting information to think about and apply to daily life in order to make the household run smoother.

This is an introduction video about her organizing class. I have not signed up for her classes, but I have been browsing her free videos and collecting tips.

Hope you have a good day!

A Busy Day

Darling pulled back the plastic on our garden spot today and found that it was fairly dry. So he plowed it and  also expanded the area.

I collected 6 eggs today.

                                          Charlie the rooster.

                                          A new hen someone gave us. She looks like an orpington.

Baked off two loaves of home made bread this afternoon.

Also, I tried my hand at fried chicken for the first time ever...

                                            Darling said it was good.

                                         The potatoes and green beans are from our garden.

It is hard to believe it is almost nine o'clock already! We're tuckered and ready for bed! Night all, hope your day was lovely!

New piglets

Darling got new piglets at the auction yesterday. June loves playing with pigs more than anything!

Also, Darling surprised me and brought home some Pearl White Leghorn chicks just for me!!!!!!!! Just what I wanted! Awwwah....

Hot suppah

Beef stew and coffee, with a glass of juice. Right now, I'm still burning warm apple pie scented candles. Some time soon though, I would like to get a few "fresh cotton", or something like that for this spring. I cannot wait for it to be warm enough to open the windows and let crisp, fresh air inside! And I love the smell of clothes dried on the line, especially fresh sheets in the Summer, *mmm*. But, alas, it is a while away yet.

I hope your day was lovely. I actually had a little nap today, shhhh lol . I have recently been waking up in the middle of the night and have trouble getting back to sleep, which is no fun when you have to work, *sigh*. Oh well, such is life sometimes. Soon I will post about a book I'm reading that I got off www.amazon.com. Well have a good night Dears, "see" you soon :-)

It was supposed to rain today...

APRIL FOOLS! God really must have a sense of humor. I remember one year, we literally got a blizzard on April 1st.
 There was a change of plans. Something came up and I have not yet gotten the supplies for my bathroom :-( I've been busy working this week, and had to work Easter!!! But next week things will calm down and hopefully I can finish my bathroom. Also, we are dog sitting for some friends while they are away. This dog is an American Bull dog, and her name is Izzy (but everyone calls her Fat Turd). Turd and June play constantly, to the point where sometimes I have to separate them for sanity's sake lol. Today is going to be a day of catching up on laundry and dishes. I work twelve hour shifts and really don't want to do house work when I come home at night lol.  This is the Turd. Cute, isn't she?

 Well, I think I will make a cup of tea and get my work around the house done. I can't wait for the snow to go away!!! I'm so sick of the snow and the cold. It was over 50 degrees yesterday and today it is snowing! Winter does not want to let go!

Have a good day all! 

New Idea!!

Hey, I just got a new idea for my bathroom floor! I'll paint it, duh! Way simpler and cheaper. Less mess and aggravation! I will paint it a dark gray in high gloss for easy upkeep. It only took me TWO DAYS to think of this! (a little slow, maybe lol). Ok, I'm good now hehe.

Bathroom Progress

Yay! I have been saving some pennies and tomorrow when I get groceries, I will also get:

• Paint-in shades of green and brown
• paint roller and tray
• stencils (hopefully, if I find something I like)
• a stand for towels 
• "Earth" color shower curtain and such
• decorative stones, candles
• adhesive hooks
• containers for under the sink
• towels
• a plant or two

Eventually we will do the floor in the bathroom, but we'll have to wait until we can get to Bangor (and have more money lol). I'm kind of torn between hard wood and marble tile. I know, marble tile, right? Well, I figured since it is the smallest room in the house, it won't be too bad. Plus, I'm hoping it will look fabulous! Maybe we could find some that look like little stones/pebbles. As I'm sure you can tell, I'm going for an Earth tone, with a spa feel, even though I have never actually been to a spa. (Just in the pool and hot tub at spa, which was *awesome!*). Some day (won't happen for years, I'm sure) I would like a new bath/shower. But, I can certainly live with the one I have.
  So, that is what is on my mind today. I can't wait to get started!!!!! I'll update with pictures when I can.

Perfectionism/Neat Freak gene: A gift, or a curse?

If you are like me, you know what I'm talking about. Things bug you. The paper on the table, the water stains on the steel toaster, fingerprints on the fridge handle, shopping with out a list, or a plan. And, if you are like me, you probably get that sick feeling when someone shows up at your house; unannounced. Don't get me wrong. This can be a very good thing. If you are the type of person who usually has it together, it can be a great gift. It is a gift to make a home beautiful and relaxing for yourself, and anyone who may enter. There is nothing wrong with being organized, being able to find things when you need them. Having things neat and pleasant. However, it can drive you crazy. If you are like me, then sometimes this "need" to have things in their places, and to have surroundings that look like Better Homes and Gardens clippings, can cause way more stress than tranquility. If left unchecked, this compulsiveness can make you grumpy, stressed out, tired, anxious, even depressed. Also, people who are perfectionists, are more likely not to do anything if they know the out come will not be perfect, will not stay neat very long, or that they will not be able to finish the task then. If you constantly let "things" bother you, you will NEVER be happy. I understand people like you, I know how you feel. On days when the house is cluttered, and you get to town and don't have your list, and your lasagna didn't turn out just right, you feel like the walls are closing in on you. You are stressed and feel like a failure. All of a sudden, the clutter in the house seems to be seriously incapacitating you mentally. It is not a pretty picture, am I right? But I do like the feeling of a job well done. At the end of the day, when chores are done, the house is in order and things went rather smoothly, it gives me a peaceful, happy feeling. And no, everything is never all done at the same time. But, on days when it seems almost perfect, or even pretty good, it makes me ecstatic. On days when it is less, I have learned to take a deep breath, and let it go. After all, the good things in this life are time with friends and family, watching a thunderstorm, playing games, puppy kisses, flowers, cheesecake and such. So to sum it all up; If you are like me, embrace your gift, but don't let it rob you of joy in simple things either.

If you give a pig a pancake...

 Yes, this pig is in my house.

Yes, this pig is eating slop out of my *good* cake pan. And yes, this pig has a heat lamp.
 
This is the pig that we got at the auction on Monday. She was shivering and nothing seemed to warm her up. Darling did some research and found that she may have pneumonia or meningitis. She has already had 3 or 4 doses of penicillin. She has her appetite back and is drinking water. Her shivering has also almost completely stopped. This also could have been from an ear infection. But, nonetheless, this pig is living it up in my cellar. If I start shivering, I wonder if my dishes will get washed, dried and put away....? Ha, ha! Anyway... So, today went by fairly quickly. I spent a couple hours cleaning my car, visited at my parents house, cleaned out my rabbit hutch, and did two loads of laundry. Now, I will clean the house until I want to go to bed. On that note, I think I will sign off, now that I need to find a new hobby, as no one will ever eat my cakes again.
:-)  Good night all!

Protein Shake

I almost forgot to post the protein shake I drink after I work out. I have been working out before breakfast, so I actually have the shake for my breakfast.

In a blender:

• 1-1/3 cups skim milk
• 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
• 1 spinach cube
• small frozen beets (when I thinned the beets last year, I froze them)
• 1 TBSP all natural peanut butter
• 2 ice cubes

After blending the shake, I pour it into my Blender Bottle and drink. :-) You don't even taste the spinach or beets, it is sooo good!

Shhhh...

It's 5a.m., there is one load of laundry in the dryer, Darling is off to work, the bed is made and all the clean dishes are put away. Yesterday I made it my goal to do ALL the laundry, to the point of almost stripping socks off Darling to wash them. I was able to hang nearly all the "hang-up" clothing in the closet, but I need more hangers! (I just opened 20 yesterday!) I got the cleaning bug awful yesterday, and thankfully it is still here. We all have days when we don't feel like doing our work (right?) but we have to do it anyway. I confess, I don't always make myself do house work when I don't feel like it, and I pay for it later. And sometimes, it is just so much easier to clean when the husband is off to work, or what have you (am I right, ladies?). I like to put my music on, Classic country radio on http://www.pandora.com/ and get to work. I'm not sure why it is easier for me to stay focused while listening to music, it always has been that way. Because, I don't just listen to the music, my mind goes in all directions, from what's next on my to-do list, to the new recipe I want to try, etc.
     Also, something new I have been doing is a workout DVD by Jillian Michaels. I have not been out jogging or anything since the weather was nice and warm, I am such a wimp when it comes to being cold! But, I used to run every morning, even before work and I always felt way better. I had more energy, and I was happier! (Exercise must do something good for your brain/emotions, or, I'm just weird lol) Anyway, I am also more motivated and am able to maintain better (not perfect lol) self-discipline, which means-I do better at keeping up with my chores! The work out is something I can do right from my warm living room. All you need is a mat and a couple of weights, which I lucked out because I already had those items. Don't you think they might want to mention that on the DVD box?? So, for thirty minutes a day, I can feel better and be more productive and more pleasant to be around lol.
     I was wondering, June Bug (my dog) has an awful mess of burdocks in her tail. I can't just pick them out. I was thinking of rubbing some olive oil in her tail to get them out. Does anyone have any suggestions?
                                                                       
 To Days' Goals

• scrub the kitchen floor
• work on putting together the home office   
• make supper
• clean kitchen windows
• Go to town
• give dog a bath
• vaccume out the car

I got a little cordless vaccume a couple weeks ago and I love it! I got it primarily to suck all the dog hair off the seats in my car *yuck*. It also works on the couch and chairs, and is great for sucking all the bugs off the  
window sills! Plus, if you have one of those sweaters that is too embarrassing to wear because of the lint and hair that refuses to wash out, you can put it on and just suck it all off!!! Total cost of this new form of sanity? $15. I just don't know how long it will last yet, as I've only had it a couple of weeks. But so far I'm tickled pink!


Supper Menu Tonight
Ham steaks
Whipped mashed potatoes
garden peas in a pod
gravy
iced tea

Well, that's all for today. Hope you all enjoy your day!