Town House Homestead Tuesday

So here we are, Thanksgiving over and Christmas moving in. My daughter had the week off to relax for the Thanksgiving holiday. It gave me a little time to myself. It was just her and I for the week, and of course Hunter. We spent the time doing those little things that have needed to get done. 

Dessert was brought to us by Burwell catering. German chocolate cake for weeks, and oh how good it is. She out did herself again and we got all the blessings.

Chris from CCH Lawn and Landscape delivered the shelves. We have wanted something on this wall for nineteen months and finally they are here. 

Through the week we have continued to unpack items we've wanted on the shelves and added some Christmas decorations. We have unpacked Santa's, dishware, and books. The baskets are new and the one over Hunter's crate hides his toys. We have a ways to go with the unpacking, but it's beginning to feel like a real home.

My daughter found a three foot tree that is on top of a vintage dresser. Very Hunter proof, but I probably shouldn't speak too soon. Some of her Santa collection is on the shelf. I need to point out the new door bell. She found it on eBay and of course it's a vintage 1950's door bell. She installed it this week.

I relaxed a lot this past week because I had help with Hunter. I picked up my knitting needles again to try these ornament cozies. They turned out well and they were a small simple project.

I've also gone back to knitting more socks. This yarn was a gift and it got packed when we moved and I just found it again. I find knitting very relaxing. Once I've figured out the pattern that is. 

I got a bit done on my quilt. Not as much as I would have liked, but my hands and eyes are older now and it's tougher for me to sit. I really wish I'd started quilting when I was younger, but as they say, we were busy raising families and getting by. 

My garden has caused me stress, only because it's not happening fast enough, which I'm learning to let go of. For several reasons my garlic bed is still not in. I'm hoping today will be warm, as predicted, to get a start. One reason it's not in, is my physical ability to do a lot. Another is my budget. I needed, to fence it in which meant fence stakes, fencing, and of course weed cloth so that I don't have to dig the whole bed. My daughter bought the fencing, I bought the stakes and weed cloth. This had to be done because of this guy.

Don't let that face fool you. Of all the wildlife around us, it's Hunter who has managed to dig out a lot of what I planted. Markers are his favorite, but he thinks he can bury his things in my garden, and why not? If I'm digging why can't he? Hunter is growing up, but when I go outside I need to take my vinegar water bottle with me to keep him from jumping on me and I try to give him something to occupy him while I'm out there. It works for a while. Maybe the protection of the fence will allow me to get some garlic planted. 

If you look real hard you'll see Hunter peeking out from behind the gate. He's afraid of the gate, but this is how we get any housework done. It's hard staying ahead of a ten month old puppy, but we keep trying. The funniest words out of my daughter's mouth this past week she had off, was that she had to get some housework done. I laughed and said what? Maybe some day he'll let us just sweep. So, that's what's been happening around the Town House Homestead. Thank you for stopping by and have a wonderful week, share your blessings, and love one another. 

Town House Homestead Tuesday

So we all have them. The "I didn'ts". You all know them, along with the "should we even bothers". It seems some days like the work is endless and the time is not. I could list in fine print on one wall all the I didn'ts. I'm still holding out hope for some to get done. As for the should we even bothers, it's a matter of trying to do something to see things sabotaged by people who don't care. I'm learning to let the things that didn't get done go, but the things that I fight, are too hard to fight, but we must keep going. Living in suburbia means that your neighbors are more interested in a half acre of pretty green grass, that is chemically treated, then they are at saving the bees. This is my biggest "should we even bother" because we have struggled to have a colony and keep them alive. I guess we should be grateful when the neighbors inform us that they are spraying, but please don't let the next question out of your mouth be "When do we get some honey?" So I have let it all go, and will keep moving on with what I can do, and count the blessings for what the universe gives.

I did manage to harvest more sage for holiday cooking along with a good amount of oregano. Shortly after harvesting the cold moved in and it seemed like I did what I needed just in time.

I also harvested a large amount of lemon balm and mint. These grow in five gallon buckets and have now died back to wait out winter.

With snow on the ground and it just being to darn cold for me to be outside working, I have taken out my long over do quilt to continue with. Here I have rough basted the top to the batting. I have had to gate myself off from the puppy to work, but he has to learn to let me work. 

I built the back over the weekend and I have it laid out. I will start rough basting the top and batting to the back in the up coming week. This has been two years in the making and I'm so hoping to get it ready for this winter. I need to decide just how to quilt it once it's basted. Maybe it will get done.

Hunter was too small back in April, when he joined our family, to remember what snow was, but this week he discovered the fun. Thank you Mother Nature for the best puppy entertainment ever. He had to sniff almost every inch of the back yard and it kept him busy for a couple of hours. His blue busy ball conveniently filled with snow when he rolled it and he would shake the snow out and cover himself. So much fun to watch. 

This was my favorite part. Who knew that snow could make a puppy tired. It did not last long. Maybe a twenty minute nap before he was out and at it again. The excitement coming when we have a full blown snow storm is almost too much to wait for. 

Hunter got a new job this week. He became supervisor to the elderly couple next door raking leaves. Besides barking at them, imitating them raking leaves by digging at what he could reach, and running back and forth along the fence, they were feeding him treats. He loves them so much, and they love him too, but I am grateful there is a fence between them. He is very strong and could hurt them without knowing it. The gentleman is 91 years of age and still going and his wife is 86. Some of this work was quite intentional so they could play with him. It makes me happy that he brings them some joy. Well that's what's been keeping us busy this past week. That and getting quotes for attic insulation, more upgrades, and new windows for the house. Getting her up to par will take time and money, but these things have to be done. We will get there. One job at a time. Thank you for stopping by for a visit and have a great week. Share your bounty and love.

Town House Homestead Tuesday

Winter is moving in this weekend, with the first predictions of snow, and I am not ready. Most of the yard is taken care of, and with the shed at least secured, we have been able to store materials, fire wood, gardening supplies, and yard ornaments in it. What a blessing to have it available. 

My herbs that I move indoors a month ago are enjoying the windows. Yesterday I harvested parsley. It was taking over the window and I now have it drying for future cooking. Later today I would like to see what I can get for oregano, lemon balm, mint, and sage before winter really gets here and I put them to bed.

I have collected all the dried zinnia seeds. This is a mixture of red, yellow, pink, and white that I will be packaging up soon. Things that can wait until I need to be inside, but I am excited to have a bounty for adding to the pollination garden next spring. 

I swapped out Halloween for Thanksgiving. I've always loved yellow ware bowls and I had two small ones that fit nicely into the cubbies. I've already cooked a turkey and have a nice breast to serve. Just the two of us and some simple sides. It is going to be relaxing and simple. I've been baking and preparing so our staycation week goes easy on me.

Once again I was gifted more vegetables. Even a couple of vegetables I've never tried before. I can only say that the beets were out of this world and I can't wait to grow some myself.

This post will end with Hunter. At nine months he is still full of puppy power and confusion, but he made it through Halloween. It helped not to have any trick or treaters. His treat was popcorn. He discovered thunder and lightening, but is not afraid of it. He only wanted to chase through the yard to figure out where it was coming from. I have considered changing my homestead title to "Mud Puppy Homestead", but it would make it all about Hunter and I'm not giving that up yet. We can only imagine what will happen this weekend when he discovers snow. That's some of what's been happening here at the Town House Homestead. Thank you for stopping by for a visit and have an awesome week. Share your bounty and love.