{ Storm winding down and a book finished }

The snow has fallen, slowly, steadily, covering the streets, driveways and every nook and cranny with it's white flakes.  I love snow, I don't mind it, what I don't like are the cold temperatures which have come with this storm.

 

It has been so cold that some of my windows are covered in ice on the inside.  Our house is old, built in 1969 and it's becoming increasingly obvious that some of these windows are poorly sealed.  It is something we need to look into and fix.

 

 

We are at the tail end of this awful storm and thankfully the temperatures will start going up.

 

Our day has been spent mainly indoors with constant checking in on the outside animals.  Waters have been constantly refilled, ice having to be broken and melted from the feeders, straw has been placed around in many areas and the birds have been taking shelter in the straw mounds we've created.  

 

Thank God the outside strays are safe and so are the birds.  I honestly don't understand people who don't care about such things, it grieves me during these cold days to think of all the strays with nowhere to find warmth and food.

 

The deer came by right before the storm then stopped coming, and finally showed up again this evening.  All 12 of them, looking for food, but also just so happy to be in the yard playing and running around.

 

They make me smile.

 

Just look at that gorgeous buck above, how majestic looking is he?

 

 

The birds have also been around, pecking at everything and anything they can, trying to find food under the snow and ice.

 

It has given me ample opportunity to get some gorgeous up close pictures.  

 

We also have a cardinal couple that has shown up.  I didn't know for the longest time, that the males are the red colored and the female are the brown, honestly thought the females were the bright red.  Either way, they are so stunning, especially when in contrast with the white snow.

 

With all this staying inside, I managed to finish my first book in January, which was the Megan Soja Spark of the Revolution.  I really enjoyed it, love a good Christian fiction and plan on reading plenty of those this year.  

 

I have since started the second book in the trilogy which is called Secrets of the Revolution.

 

I hope you've been keeping warm wherever you are, I know this storm is affecting many of the States, almost feels like the whole country is under this cold, snow and ice threat.  Please stay safe.

 

I will see you all back here in the morning for our Happy Homemaker Monday! 

{ Cozying the winter storm away }

If there was a way that I could snap my fingers and make the winter storm leave, I would do it.  Alas, I can't, and though I've prayed over it immensely, ultimately it is in God's hands, and so leave it be and concentrate rather on getting through it.

 

Outside the wind rages, the snow continues to fall and the temperatures cut through to the core.  

The birds are trying to find shelter, sweeping down, pecking at the ice, trying to find something to nibble on, then finding a place to get warm anywhere they can.  The chicken coop is a favorite for them because of the heaters and enclosed runs, along with any place there is straw, or under garden chairs.

 

If there is one thing I hate about storms like this, is the outside animals.  I know, I know, they were created to sustain the weather and the changing temperatures outside, but it still makes me sad to see them out there in -5 degree weather.  Makes me want to scoop them all up and bring them in. 

But as the storm rages on outside, inside I have created a cozy cocoon where I have snuggled into my bed under warm blankets, am indulging in a day of no cooking, copious amounts of coffee and other cozy things that I consider perfect for these kind of days.

 

Reading, watching tv and knitting are at the top of the list, so here's what I plan on doing over the next two days. 

I want to....

keep the fire going, and I have so far.  Logs have been thrown in, moved around, stacked upon each other and the warmth is seeping through the house.

I am still....

knitting my hat and I wish at this point that it was finished so I could pop it on my head and enjoy the warmth.  But that's ok, the mere act of knitting is so calming and relaxing, that I don't mind having this project on the needles for a while longer. 

 

I am reading.... 

the last chapter of the first book of January, which is Spark of the Revolution by Megan Soja.  I am zipping through it because I'm enjoying it, it's an easy read, but also because I have a new one that I have been waiting for and it just arrived. 

Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset.  This is a massive beast of a book, 1100 pages but it is a trilogy all in one, so technically it's 3 books in this big monster of a book.  I only recently heard about it and immediately knew it was something I would love reading, so quickly ordered it off Amazon.

 

Kristin Lavransdatter is a Nobel Prize-winning historical fiction trilogy by Norwegian author Sigrid Undset, set in 14th-century Norway, that chronicles the life of its strong-willed heroine, Kristin, from childhood through a tumultuous marriage and old age, exploring themes of love, faith, sin, and redemption against a backdrop of medieval society, politics, and religion. 

Also want to read....

A King Washes Feet, as I received it for a book review and it looks fantastic.  It is a Bible study, illustrated and just seems right up my alley. 

 

I want to eat....

French Bread Pizzas for dinner.  I made the french bread baguettes a few days ago, so will use those for some nice pizzas for dinner.  Something quick and yummy. 

 

I want to watch....

Two new series on TV.  The first is called The Pendragon Cycle: The Rise of Merlin and the second one is A Knight in the Seven Kingdoms.

 

Hubby and I have already watched the third episode of the new Star Trek Series, Starfleet Academy. 

 

 

{ Storm incoming }

 My goodness, if I could tell how you how cold it feels outside right now.  Brrrr!  

 

There is a look to the sky just before it opens up and dumps a ton of snow.  If you've ever seen snow or live in an area that gets snow every year, you will understand exactly what I'm referring to.  It's a special kind of cloudy sky, not the usual rainy overcast day.

 

As I look outside my window, I am met with such a sky, the wind is blowing, the cold is chilling to the bone and I am preparing and working on last minute things, the best I can.

 

Unfortunately, I have some sad news.  Our cream stray is no longer with us.  We had to make the difficult decision to put him to sleep.  

 

We tried so hard to help him and we're thankful that God brought him to us.  We were able to give him a warm, safe place to be at the end of his life.  He had love, he purred so much with us and it breaks my heart to even have to post this.

 

He was not doing well, so Curt took him back to the vet yesterday and he was admitted.  They did a full blood work up on him, gave him a bath, and worked on all his wounds.  Unfortunately he was in bad shape, kidney failure, feline leukemia and just extremely dehydrated.  The vet also said his ears were filled with ticks.

 

It was so hard to make the decision but we knew it was the best for him, and he would be free of pain.  It wasn't cheap, everything came to $700, but we are blessed that God has provided for that cost as well.

 

Over the years, God has constantly sent Curt and I, sick animals.  Whether as our own personal pets, or strays that just show up at our home.  We have always done our absolute best to help them, but I have to say, it is weighing on me more and more.

 

I want to be obedient to God and take care of these animals, but I get very attached and every time we lose one, it is devastating to both Curt and I.  Please pray for us, that we are strong enough to do whatever God wants us to.  I understand that to do this we need to have empathy and love for animals, which we do, but it's so difficult to lose them over and over.  It's downright traumatic, and I need to learn to work through this so that I can do what is asked of me by the Lord, but also shield my soul and heart from the trauma and heartbreak.

 

Our sweet cream is no longer in pain, and we chose to bring him back home and bury him next to our other pets on the property.  ♥ 

{ Blog 365 #31 - Another Winter Storm }

 

Brrrr!!!!

 

It is another cold day here in Northern Texas, as we are currently under another Winter Storm, this time an Ice Storm.  There was no work or schools yesterday, nor today, and apparently not tomorrow either.

 

There is a cold air storm moving in from Canada, and then we have warm air moving in from the South of us, and it is all converging where we live.  South of us will get lots of rain, north of us will get lots of snow, and we are in what they're calling The Battle Zone.  Right?  Makes you want to run doesn't it?  

Apparently it means we are where they meet so we get the ice, freezing rain, and sleet conditions.  It is dangerous, it is nerve wrecking and above all it is cold.

 

 

Curt and I were up early this morning, and by early I mean 3:30 AM.  Kaia needed to go potty, and then we couldn't fall back asleep, so we laid in bed chatting, playing with Kaia and by 4 just figured we might as well get up.  So we did.

I made my way, coldly, into the kitchen, and started our coffee, and while the water boiled, I got a fire started, and mixed together a dough for some Portuguese bread.  Pao Caseiro.....which literally means Homey Bread, because this the kind of loaf you will find in old Portuguese homes in the quaint little villages in Portugal.

There is nothing to it but 4 ingredients, but honestly, you can't beat the taste of rustic warm fresh bread, slathered in butter.

 

With the house being so cold, I set the bread to rise near the fireplace, where it stayed nice and toasty, and within an hour, it had doubled in size.

In the meantime, I got 2 packs of bacon into the oven.  Curt and I were craving bacon and egg sandwiches for breakfast, and I needed to cook the two packs before they expired.  The rest of the bacon is in a ziploc in the fridge, and will be used throughout the week.

 

While the bacon cooked and the dough rose, I also made a batch of Homemade Peppermint Mocha Creamer.  I find it not only cheaper, but also healthier to make it at home, especially when you actually take the time to look at the ingredients on the back of the store bought creamer.  What on earth?

It's a bit scary.  It's also getting more and more expensive, so for the moment I'll just make it at home.

 

The rest of the day, I didn't do much at all.  I have a horrid hormonal headache, cramps and the usual Perimenopause light headedness.  It makes it hard to get much done, so I'm thrilled I got so much sorted early morning.

We are now bracing for the incoming snow and ice overnight, and into Thursday morning.  I just pray our pipes don't freeze again.  

If you're in the path of these Winter Storms, stay warm and stay safe.  I'll be praying for us all.

Right, I am going to sign off, I just got out of the shower and washed my hair, now I want to go give it a quick snip snip, just on the ends.  Then I'll be reading, watching some tv and going to bed early. 

 

 

I will leave you with a little peek at one of the Kitchen Towels I sewed last week.  I am in love with it, and it matches my kitchen perfectly.

Have a wonderful night ladies, and I'll see you all tomorrow.  

By the way, I can't believe I was able to post every single day in January.  Wow!!!  It is getting easier to post, at least for me, although I'm sure there will be days that I'll probably feel like I don't know what to talk about.  Hahah

Anyway, we will deal with those as they come. ♥

{ Do not fear, but be prepared }

I wish I could say that I am having a great day, or that my heart is full of joy.  The truth however, is that my heart is heavy, and my soul burdened with the current situation in Ukraine.  It is mind boggling to me that in this day and age, we are still observing these kind of wars, these kind of invasions and total disregard for human life.

Here we are, sitting in a warm house, safe, joyful and free, while thousands of miles away, mothers are trying to soothe their children under the sound of sirens and explosions, and husbands and fathers are picking up arms, and preparing to fight for their nation.  It really is heartbreaking.

But my heart breaks for the citizens of Russia as well, because they too did not choose this at all, and are also being thrown into the middle of this conflict.  

As Christians we have to pray, pray for the innocent lives that will be caught in the crossfire of this senseless war.  We also need to pray for the people in power of both nations, for discernment, for wisdom, that the Holy spirit speaks to their hearts and they listen to God.

So although our hearts may feel broken or burdened, we are not to be fearful.  We need to prepare because if you have ever studied history or researched wars of this kind or any kind, for that matter, it ends up having an effect on everyone.  It has a trickling effect that absolutely touches every nation in the world.

So we pray, and we prepare.  Make sure that you are stock piling, even if you can only afford a few extra cans of soup when you get groceries, that's fine.  Just remember that gas prices will soar even more, it will affect food chains, and so on.  This isn't meant to scare anyone, but we need to be keeping our eyes on God, and praying ourselves, our families and the rest of the world, though this season.

I'll close in saying, remember to read Matthew 24:6.   

 

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

 

The winter storm we've been under, is still hanging on.  Our roads are so icy, so icy, that we are pretty much stuck at home without being able to leave.  Traveling is tricky, I have seen many videos of traffic on the highways sliding and struggling to stay on the road.

Thankfully the snow and ice stopped last night, but the temperatures are still pretty cold, and without sun and warmth to start melting the ice, we may just be stuck again tomorrow.

Schools in the area have been closed all week, and so has the base.  

I tell you, I love winter, but at this point, I'm ready for it to leave, take it's snow and ice and let spring come alive.  

As we were all sitting around talking about what is happening, Nick made a comment that made us laugh, because he said that it's my moment to shine, if things get difficult.  He said that I have spent years reading up on history, learning about the great depression, world war I and II, wartime recipes, rationing and so forth.

I found it funny that he said that.  But truly, the more I think on it now, the more I realize that all that knowledge I learned about in books and documentaries, really can come in handy were we to be thrust into similar situations or difficult times.  The prices of everything right now are already quite bad, and if they continue to rise, I definitely need to take a look at our budget, and start figuring out what to feed my family with the food I am able to get.  

I've even thought that maybe I could do a fun series over here on the blog and together with the food blog too, on easy, cheap meals, ration recipes, wartime and so on.  It would be educational for us all, but also provide some ideas on inexpensive meals to make.

If I do decide to do that, I will need to do a lot more research, but I think it could be interesting.

 

For dinner tonight we are keeping it easy, everyone wants to do just leftovers, or sandwiches or cereal.  I guess no one is very hungry for a big meal, which is fine with me.  I will probably have a cup of tea and a sandwich later.

 

Right now, I am going to read my devotional for today and my Bible, and then probably read my book.  I haven't felt much like watching anything on TV, nothing is catching my interest today.

 

I am praying I wake up to clear roads tomorrow, so that we can all get back on track, back to work and our normal routines.

 

Have a wonderful rest of Thursday.  Please remember to stop for a few minutes and pray for the people of Ukraine, Russia and the world in general.  We all need prayer right now.

 

{ Another Winter Storm }

This week, oh this week has been a bit unproductive.  Partly because we've been dealing with another winter storm, which has actually shut down the base today, and caused icy roads.  But also, partly because I've taken the past two days, Monday and Tuesday, to stop, sit and recharge.

Ok so what was I recharging from?

I need to be completely honest with you all, and lately social media, news, the world in general is really starting to get on my nerves.  There is too much noise, too much nonsense, too much going on.  Althought the only social media I really stick to is Instagram,  even that is starting to irritate me.

Can we just talk about the new influx of reels on that platform?

Why?  It used to be a place where we enjoyed a feed of beautiful photos, and then of course stories, if you wanted to.  Now, it is a constant push for videos.  I try to scroll down my feed and it is just reel after reel, I may as well be on TikTok.

 

Sometimes all that constant visual attack becomes a bit too much.  So I took Monday and Tuesday to sit.  I just did my housework, sat and had coffee, read and basically just turned things off.  I feel much better now.

I caught up on one of my Portuguese soaps, snacked on things I shouldn't, and finished my Year of Wonders book.

I also:

Used some of my book credits on Paperbackswap to order a book series that I have been wanting.

Janette Oke's Women of the West.  I got books 1 through 8.

 

Made a delicious but simple cake for our afternoon coffee.  It is a condensed milk cake, all done in the blender, so really easy to throw together.

Talked back and forth with my stepmom in South Africa.  My mother is not doing very well and may need to be put in a home, which is a very difficult decision to make.  We are trying to figure out what to do, which home is best and how to go about this without making my mother angry.  

You know I always heard about situations like this, and knew that one day I may be faced with it myself, but when it finally comes knocking at the door, you're never really prepared to make that decision and all the consequences that come with it.

I also took some time to deal with all my plants in the house.  I'm propagating my Heartleaf philodendron right now.  It was so full, and had many hanging branches, so cut it back a bit, cut off some of the dead leaves, and have a ton of cuttings sitting in water to root.

 

I was going to propagate my money tree as well, but it doesn't have many good branches yet, and I didn't want to mess with it.  It is looking beautiful though.  I actually need to get a new bigger pot to transplant it.

The weather.......what can I say that isn't summed up in one single word.....CRAZY!!!  I will never understand going from 83 one night, and waking up to 20 degrees in the morning.  

It does make everything look beautiful, so there's that at least.  Funny thing though is that just a few days ago, I was commenting with Curt on how the grass is all starting to turn green.  He loves it but also doesn't look forward to that simply because of the time it takes to cut all the grass, in a 3 acre property. 

The past two days, I did a quick tidy up on my bookshelves as well, rotated some out, moved some to the front and others to a different shelf.  I got some review books in the mail that I need to place in my usual "Book Review" shelf, so that I don't get them mixed up with my own books.

 

Which reminds me, I need to check my emails and make sure all the review books have made it in from the publishers.

Dinners these past two nights have been some of our faves too.  Monday night we had Spaghetti and Meatballs, and last night we had Sausage Rice.  Tonight I'm making my dad's favorite chicken with carrots, will pair it with potato and carrot mash and a salad.

We have snow coming down at the moment, and this winter storm is lasting until tomorrow night, so we may all be snowed in again tomorrow.  It will be another day of reading, watching TV, and spending time together.

I also went through my Youtube and removed some subscriptions to channels I don't watch anymore.  I've done the same with Instagram, and have removed any account that is anything political related or news or anything of that sort.  Instead I have kept my feed to homemaking, crochet, and other pretty things that bring me joy. 

I don't know folks, the older I get the less patience I have for nonsense.  I want my life to be surrounded by good Christian things, pretty things, people that I find inspiring and so forth.  I've struggled lately even with some homemaking channels and accounts who have become exhausting to follow.  

Everything is about keeping up with the Joneses, the latest trend, making money, bringing in more followers and the kind of things that do not interest me at all.  I just want peace and quiet  Hahahah

Anyone else feeling the same way lately?

Just peace, just quiet, real homemaking without commercializing it, reading good books and staying true to ourselves.   Let's get back to exchanging recipes, talking about our families, showing our crochet doilies and things of that sort.   Maybe it's just me, but that's how I've been feeling.

Anyway, that's where I've been the past 2 days and what I've been up to.  I am going to type up the recipe for the cake, so that I can post it on the food blog.  I hope you're all doing well, and keeping warm.

I WILL be back tomorrow with another post, so see you then.

xoxo