At noon today, my husband and I closed on this house, it is now ours. The feeling is surreal, I still can't believe that we own our own home, that we never have to move, that we can do whatever we wish and that we finally can put down roots for our ourselves and mainly for our children.
Its been a long month and a half, the stress, the back and forth of paperwork, the worry, and thrown in, family coming in from overseas.
To say I'm physically and mentally exhausted, is an understatement.
But, I am forever grateful to my wonderful God who has not only provided this beautiful home for us, He managed everything, moved mountains and has done things that we are still shaking our heads at, in disbelief.
I have so much, but sooooo much to tell you all about, but don't have the time right now.
I just wanted to come in and thank all of you who have prayed, send positive thoughts and indirectly followed our journey. It means the absolute world to us.
I promise that soon, very very soon, I will be back to full time blogging again, and you will get to follow us on our new chapter, changing, painting, pulling carpets here and there, and making this home truly our own.
We are off to celebrate. Much love to you all, sending all of God's blessings to you and your family.
I hope you are all still around and haven't disappeared, like I have. I am missing my blog so much and just wishing that things were back on track. As it is, I will only be returning to full time blogging around December 29th because that is when the last family members leave.
Until then, it is going to be as it has been, just my Happy Homemaker Monday posts, unless I find a spare minute to come in and put up a quick post.
So much has been going on, I may actually do a quick update tomorrow, and catch you all up on what has been going on around here.
For now though, let's get right into today's post, as I need to get dressed and out the door in the next hour, to take my daughter to work.
The weather outside is::::
Pretty cold at the moment, 30 degrees. The rest of the week we will stay in the 60s although there does seem to be a 70 degree day thrown in there. So weird.
I am finishing up a cup of coffee with White Chocolate Raspberry creamer. I don't know if I will eat anything for a while, maybe some toast later.
As I look outside my window:::
The sun is just starting to rise and it looks beautiful. There is frost on the grass and ice on the car windshields. Our Christmas lights are still on, and I need to turn them off here shortly.
Right now I am::::
Just sent hubby off to work, and am now quickly typing up this post, while also thinking about what I'm going to wear and all that I need to do today.
As I look around the house::::
There are boxes with Christmas decorations, boxes with Fall decorations needing to be closed and put away. There are a ton of old gaming systems like Nintendo and Sega laying around as well, as the family has been enjoying those.
Honestly, looking around my house right now is stressing me out, my carpets need desperate cleaning, the house needs dusting and organizing. I need to do that today as I've been so incredibly busy and running around, that I haven't had a chance.
On today's to do list::::
Laundry....No laundry, all laundry was done over the weekend. Cleaning....Carpet cleaning, put away Fall decorations, bring out the rest of the Christmas decorations and put those boxes away as well. Give the house a good dusting. Sweep and mop kitchen floors. Cooking.....Not really sure what we will do for lunch. Dinner is Gnocchi Bolognese, Garlic Bread and Salad.
On this week's to do list::::
Take Jasmine to work and pick up.
Closing on the house either tomorrow or Wednesday.
Last minute shopping with my brother before he returns to South Africa
Drop off brother at airport on Thursday morning, then drive an hour over to my mother in law's to see her and my father in law. They've both been dealing with health issues so we are going over to spend a few hours with them before returning home.
Schooling with Nick.
Find some time to go see my younger brother at my other brother's house. My brother Bruno and his family just arrived yesterday morning and will be here until the 28th.
On the menu this week::::
Monday - Gnocchi Bolognese, Garlic Bread, Salad Tuesday - Probably out to dinner to celebrate house closing Wednesday - Beef and Broccoli with Sesame Noodles Thursday - Away at in laws for the day, Jasmine and Nick will be home and will order pizza Friday - Chicken Curry and Rice Saturday - Panda Express Chow Mein Sunday -Fried Chicken, Macaroni and Cheese, Fried Okra
Currently reading::::
Stay by Catherine Ryan Hyde.
On the TV this week::::
Youtube:
Vlogmas has started.
To be completely honest with you, I have not watched any television for about 3 weeks now. I have so much to catch up on, but just don't have the time.
Prayer Starter: Father, help me to always be a person of integrity. Help me to honor You by keeping my word and doing what I say I’ll do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
* The past few weeks I have had to go in and delete links that are NOT related to Happy Homemaker Monday. Folks, I have asked repeatedly to not add random links to other posts on your blogs, or just a link to your blog in general. It is a lot of work for me to sit and go through and manually delete them from the linky, and it's also incredibly rude to the other participants who are just looking for the Happy Homemaker Monday posts. Please be respectful!!!
Good morning sweet friends, hope you're all doing well.
It's been a week since I've posted on the blog, things have been insane around here. Aside from the house stuff, my older brother flew in from South Africa, last Friday, to spend Thanksgiving with us and to surprise my other brother.
They hadn't seen each other in 11 years, so the reunion was so sweet to witness. I'm blessed to have been able to watch it unfold before my eyes.
On Sunday the 1st of December, my younger brother and his family are also arriving from South Africa, and they will be spending Christmas with us. For the first time in 11 or 12 years, all four of us sibling will be together in the same place. So exciting!!!
So yes, lots has been happening here. House wise, we are on the last stretch, the repairs have yet to be done and we are predicted to close on the house in exactly a week. I don't know what the seller is thinking, I just hope they get what needs doing, done, within the next few days.
Actually, I know that God is in control and it will all be done and dusted in plenty of time.
Right, let's get going with our day, I have a lot to do. I will put up a post this week with photos of Thanksgiving, but aside from that I really don't know how much I'll be around. Apologies for that.
Anyway, enough talking.
The weather outside is::::
Though it's been pretty chilly, today we are expecting a bit of a warm up. It also looks like half the week we will have temperatures in the 70's, how weird. I get so frustrated with the constant change in temperatures, as it just causes health issues and everyone around is sniffling and cold. Crazy weather!
Just had coffee with Peppermint Creamer. I'll have some toast later.
As I look outside my window:::
The sun has risen although it's cloudy outside. I always enjoy this time of year, early mornings, golden light and frost shining on the grass.
Right now I am::::
Just said goodbye to my husband, he is off to work. I am sitting in bed with Marley, and working on this post, while trying to catch up on youtube videos. I'm about a week behind so have lots to catch up on.
As I look around the house::::
I need to tidy up a little, with family over there's always a bit more to tidy up. My kitchen needs some work today, I have dishes from last night's dinner, in the sink just waiting for me.
On today's to do list::::
Laundry....I have a load of whites to wash, everything else is done. Cleaning....Basic every day chores, also want to vacuum the carpets. Cooking.....We have leftover Lasagna and Chicken Stroganoff, so that's lunch taken care of. Dinner will be Chicken Pot Pie and a salad.
On this week's to do list::::
Need to pull the turkey's out of the freezer today, and find some room in the refrigerator for them to thaw.
Cook all the sweet potatoes so they're ready for the casserole and pie.
Make pie dough for Thanksgiving pies.
Shell out more pecans for the pie.
Pull out the serving tables and get the table ready for Thanksgiving.
On the menu this week::::
Monday - Chicken Pot Pie and Salad Tuesday - Family Burrito Bake, Steamed Broccoli Wednesday - Spicy 3 Pepper Fettucine with Italian Sausage Thursday - Thanksgiving Friday - Leftovers Saturday - Sunday -
Currently reading::::
Stay by Catherine Ryan Hyde.
On the TV this week::::
Youtube:
Homemaking Vlogs
Hallmark Christmas Movies
Will also be watching some classics for this time of year, like Planes, Trains and Automobiles and some National Lampoons Vacation, Christmas Vacation etc.
Nothing new on the meal plan, just sticking to good ol' favorites.
Favorite photo from the camera::::
Prayers, Inspirational Quotes or Devotionals::::
1 Kings 8:56
"Blessed be the LORD who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised. Not one word has failed of all his good promise, which he spoke by Moses his servant."
* The past few weeks I have had to go in and delete links that are NOT related to Happy Homemaker Monday. Folks, I have asked repeatedly to not add random links to other posts on your blogs, or just a link to your blog in general. It is a lot of work for me to sit and go through and manually delete them from the linky, and it's also incredibly rude to the other participants who are just looking for the Happy Homemaker Monday posts. Please be respectful!!!
Mine was wonderful, aside from the usual homemaking chores, we harvested our pecans and the rest of the weekend was spent relaxing. I even took a nap on Saturday afternoon which is something I never do. I'm not a napper, I find that if I do nap during the day, I wake up in a super foul mood lol
Anyway, I hope you all have a wonderful week ahead. We are expecting some small repairs to be done to the house, by the seller, and we're hoping that they get to it sometime this week.
Well, let's see what we have going on around blogland, shall we?
The weather outside is::::
Though it's been pretty chilly, today we are expecting a bit of a warm up. It also looks like half the week we will have temperatures in the 70's, how weird. I get so frustrated with the constant change in temperatures, as it just causes health issues and everyone around is sniffling and cold. Crazy weather!
Coffee with Coconut Creme Creamer. I'm not sure what I'll have for breakfast, just not really feeling like eating anything at the moment.
As I look outside my window:::
The sun is rising and it's casting the prettiest of orange light all around. Fall is one of those seasons that make sunrises even more stunning than usual. I don't know if it's the reflection of the golden light on the frost outside, but it looks absolutely magical.
Right now I am::::
I just got hubby off to work and while he was driving off, 3 huge deer came running through our property and took off across the road, into the trees. I always love this time of year because it's when we see a plethora of deer running around.
I am sitting in bed and working on this post, also forwarding some home related emails to my husband, watching a vlog on the tv and thinking about what I need to do today.
As I look around the house::::
Everything is bathed in an orange glow. My Autumn tree is lit in the corner of the dining room, making it all look so cozy and warm.
On today's to do list::::
Laundry....Just have some kitchen towels that need washing. Although I did all my laundry this weekend, the basket is full again. What on earth? Cleaning....I want to give my carpets a good clean. It's been a few weeks and with the constant influx of inspectors and different people in and out, they need a good cleaning. Cooking.....I'll be making the kids and I some Grilled Cheese sandwiches for lunch. Dinner will be Portuguese Chicken and Rice.
On this week's to do list::::
Put up the pine garlands on the windows
Perimenopause doctor's appointment, this afternoon
While meal planning for the next two weeks, I pulled out my Pampered Chef cookbooks and jotted down a few meals or desserts that I wanted to try. One of those was for a really easy and quick homemade carrot cake. I made it yesterday and it was divine.
I'll share the recipe sometime today.
Favorite photo from the camera::::
Prayers, Inspirational Quotes or Devotionals::::
♥♥♥ Curt's stepfather is still gaining strength so that he can have his heart surgery. He did get to go home from rehabilitation on Friday, so that's wonderful news.
♥♥♥ My mother in law, she is continuing her infusion treatments for breast cancer.
♥♥♥ Our home buying journey. The inspections went amazingly well. As you know, we are using a VA loan and have now been conditionally approved. It basically means, they just needed some more documentation sent in before giving the go ahead to close on the house.
However, there are some minor repairs that the appraiser wants done before closing, basically the whole trim around the house needs to be peeled and repainted. Our back patio overhang is super old, the paint is peeling and there are some rotten wood planks. Hubby and I had full intentions of redoing it, but it's not up to us, so the VA wants the seller to replace all that wood and repaint it all.
This all needs to be done within the next two weeks, so we will be on them to get this done as soon as possible. Thank you all so much for the prayers you continue sending our way. We are ever so close to owning this home, and it really would be a dream come true.
* The past few weeks I have had to go in and delete links that are NOT related to Happy Homemaker Monday. Folks, I have asked repeatedly to not add random links to other posts on your blogs, or just a link to your blog in general. It is a lot of work for me to sit and go through and manually delete them from the linky, and it's also incredibly rude to the other participants who are just looking for the Happy Homemaker Monday posts. Please be respectful!!!
Typically, we like to get the Pecans harvested as soon as they're ready, which for us could mean middle of October, but usually very beginning of November.
However, with all the craziness happening around here, it is not something we had a chance to do, until yesterday.
We've been blessed with 6 Pecan trees on the property.
When we first moved into this house, I had no clue we had so many, and the first year we didn't even realize there were pecans to harvest. The second year we had quite a bit to harvest and we got as many as we could.
What we also didn't realize is that Pecan trees don't produce a huge crop, every single year. So last year we were all set on harvesting and were quite disappointed not to see many at all.
This year however, we have an abundance. Two of our trees put out a huge crop, enough that last week, my husband went out back to check on the trees and came back after an hour, with a full box.
Yesterday we decided that we needed to take some time and get out there, so we could gather as many as we could before they went bad, and before the squirrels went through them.
As it is, one of the trees was depleted and all that was left were a bunch of shells scattered at it's feet, with half eaten pecans. Those silly squirrels!
However, there were still plenty to harvest. We spent, maybe two hours and came back in with boxes full. I have never seen so many pecans in my life.
The job is far from over, I now need to cure all these pecans. If you don't cure them, you run the risk of mold growing and the nuts being inedible.
Now that we've harvested them, they will need to be placed in a single layer, on a surface that allows for good ventilation. They will have to sit like this for about 2 weeks, and then we will shell them, freeze some, make pies, make pecan milk and all sorts of goodies.
These are the kind of chores that some people will turn their noses at, wonder why bother with all this work, just go to the store and buy them. Absolutely, if you're willing to pay over 6 dollars for a small bag of pecans. I don't know how much they are where you live, but I've always found pecans to be incredibly expensive, it's almost heartbreaking paying that much for a small bag of crushed pecans.
When you have an abundance that the Lord has blessed you with, you use it. You make the effort, you harvest and cure and then enjoy the rewards.
For us, it's just part of living in the country, of homesteading so to speak.
It's not easy work, and after harvesting for just a few hours yesterday, my lower back was killing me, but it's work that I do with a smile on my face.
If we are blessed to stay in this house, Curt and I have so many plans for the property, and I can not wait to take you along.
