Soon to be the Ides of March!

March is coming in like a Lion... I am so hoping that it just fades away and in doing so it brings back the warmth that I so actively crave. I am still walking my 10k a day and haven't missed a day. But there is only so much walking the floors I can do. I pass by the windows from one room to the other. I look out at all the snow and can feel the cold coming from the old windows. I long for the windows open and a warm breeze. I so want a gentle rain tapping at the window, with soft rumble of thunder off in the distance. 

With that still being a ways away... I started another scrap-ghan. It is in the colors of Autumn. I was really shocked how much yarn I had that would work together.

I'm using the moss stitch again. I just love it. I makes the warmest blanket. The last one I made I wish I would have made it bigger. It was only big enough to use as a throw. This one will be big enough to use as a blanket.

Oh, I took the monsters to the library last week. They were doing this thing called a blind date with a book! The books are covered in paper so  you have no idea what book you're getting. I ended up with a book called the "Anansi Boys" by Neil Gaiman. I am on chapter 6. I love this book... It is a little trying at times... but the humor makes up for it! I would definitely recommend it!

Today would have been my Gram's birthday. She was a wonderful woman. A little sprite, she was! She grew up in a mining town, married and had 6 children. When she still had 3 at home my grandfather passed away. She had no pension and had to learn to survive... Not only did she survive but she thrived. She picked up bottles on the road side, she coupon'd, she yard sale'd and resold. She leased out the back property to a neighbor farmer. She was a very ingenious woman. She would barter to get vacation cottage for the summer. She would take me with her as her traveling companion. We traveled all over. We visited with family. She taught me so much. She was such a treasure. When I was 15 she had a brain aneurysm that leaked. They were able to do surgery, but Gram was never the same. She couldn't remember names and had a hard time talking. She had seizures. And she renamed me. She would go down the list of names to find the one she wanted. But with me, once she renamed me I was to forever be known as Bridget. I loved that wee bit of a woman that she was! And I miss her terribly.

Happy Birthday, Gram!

Don't cheat the Angels to much at cards or they may not want to play with you anymore!

All my Love!

Bridget

Beginnings and Ends

Yesterday, I mailed out the application for the address on the property and check! They say that once they receive it the time it will take is only 5 days. So before St. Pat's I'm expecting to be the proud owners of a Street Address! It sounds funny to say that. Even though people have owned the property before us... We will be the first to own the address. Since we can't get there to do anything or even see how much snow is on the ground! I can only imagine...

So I have to turn my attention to what's going on here.

This is the garden area... This is the first time I looked out this window all winter... In my defense it's because I put bubble wrap on the windows.... So I couldn't see out. LOL! I am going to try and put in a carefree garden this year. You know the type that will take care of itself other then for a little water. Since we will be doing weekend trips north to the property, I don't want to put to much time or energy in down here. At least for this summer. 

I will have a couple of garden areas that will need to be filled in as I will be taking the blueberries and the golden and black raspberries and planting them on the property. So that is going to free up the 5 sets of tires and the 1 bed.

But since Spring is still away's off... I have to keep busy in the house.

Firstly, I have resumed following the Flylady! She has helped me in the past to get the CHAOS under control. She will help again this time. For as lackadaisical as I seem... I am a very organized person, I even have lists & follow the calendar. So far so good! Living Room... check! Now on to the kitchen. I just wish they could put the calendar from cozi to yahoo. It would make my life easier! Just Sayin'!

The autumn afghan is all done but for tying off the ends.

The finished measurements are 45" wide and 59" long. I used Red Heart Love and Bernat. That was the only way I could get the colors I wanted. I think it turned out very nice. Now just to tie in the ends.

Yart

Question, Comment / Complaint?

I don't know if you remember but Grim and I bought property last summer. Now mind you it isn't in the Yukon... but its close... LOL! Not really... It is in the UP of Michigan, where they get an average of 150 inches of snow every winter. There will be snow on the ground long after the first day of Spring. With that being said...

I got an email from a very reputable company that sells fruit and nut trees. The email states that they have this great sale and come check out the site... Wellllllll, since one of the things on the agenda has been to get the orchard planted this year, I thought WOO HOO! So I go and it tells me to plug in my zip code so that we can see when the best time to plant and what zone I'm in... Cool!

First let me say that the property is a zone 5a. I really don't know much about this zone other then its for plants that can handle more cold then where I am currently residing. The next thing to do was see what the Next Ideal Planting Time is..... Drumroll?!? No, alright.... Its March 31st.

My question, comment / complaint is there will still be snow on the ground at the ideal planting time. The weather really doesn't start to turn until the end of April and I still need to clear the area. So can I buy the trees now, put them in the garage until I can get up there the middle of June and plant them then? Or if I miss this date is it then to late to plant for this year? I have a book on fruit trees but when I changed my bedroom around all my homesteading books got moved and I don't know where they went. So I am asking my readership, does anyone know?

I would really like to get trees in the ground this year... But I'm afraid to spend the money for them to not survive! The joys of being a newb! :(

Yart

Where has the Time gone

Just so you know the rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated! LOL!

How has everyone been doing this winter! Man o Man it has been a doosy. My monsters have been home more then in school the last couple months or at least it seems. Our state beat all kinds of records for snow falls in January and now February. We are in the process of getting another 6-8 inches tonight. And as I type, I wonder will there be another snow day tomorrow!?!

Well, lets see what have I been up to. I was able to get 3 pairs of leg warmers done. Oh, and all the squares for the Autumn afghan. Just need to put them together. I have half of the living room done with Spring Cleaning. The other half will be done this week as I have a lilla rose party and have lots of people invited. 

I have recently been put in charge of taking care of my MIL. Over the past year she has been going down hill... But none of us could figure out why. Well, over this past month we have found out that she has been taking medication that was mislabeled at the pharmacy. Not only that but that she was actually allergic to it. We didn't find that out until she landed in the ER last weekend because she fell... and was disoriented. She was there for almost 24 hours when she requested something for pain.... Within 20 minutes of getting it she was disoriented and slurring her speech and didn't know where she was. I really thought we were going to be contacting assisted living. After a long discussion with the doctor we took her off those pain meds and she has been improving greatly. I am now making her doctor appointments and keeping track of the medication so no more mistakes happen. It is an adjustment for both her and I. But we will make it through.

I am very thankful that I am doing the direct sales, as it is giving me the opportunity to be available to my MIL now that she needs more help. Both of the companies are starting to pick up, so you never know... I might just hit my goal of $500 a month before the end of the year!

Speaking of goals. The only two that I have been hard at work on is the walking 10k a day and going paleo. I haven't missed a day of walking... The paleo has been more difficult. I have given up bread, pasta, rice and flour 95%. I have noticed a huge difference in the space between my ribs and belly button. That area is shrinking. All of my pants no longer fit me. I can't wait for warmer weather so I can get back into my skirts and it won't matter. My first weigh in is coming up. March 17th is close to the half way point. I didn't want to make it a numbers thing this time.

I know there is more and I have pictures to prove it... But I'm off to bed to await another snow day! 

Hugs,

Yart

Witch Hazel

I found this on Facebook. And since I thought it was interesting, I thought you might also. 

Yart

Well....

We are in the WTF zone... LOL! So far its just snowing like crazy, multiple inches on the ground.... Grim and the monsters have been out a couple times shoveling and snowblowing!

I love this type of weather!!! It reminds me of my childhood...

The monsters will be home tomorrow!

SNOW DAY!

Several of the surrounding cities have already called for school closings for Tuesday already. I think it has to do with the wind chill. It will be in the minus area. So Christmas break may continue well into the week!

Since it was that type of day. I made chili for dinner. Then since there is so much snow I made snow scream and honeyed bananas. Huge success!

Since the monsters were suppose to be gone and tomorrow was suppose to be my first day of work... With the Uppercase Living Business for this new year! I'm still planning on running a new type of marketing. Come on over to my facebook page tomorrow to become part of the fun!

Yart

2014

There is no point in doing a year in review.... There was so much that happened and most of it I didn't post about.....Sad I know, but no worries... On to bigger and better.

We had a couple folks over last night. Everyone was gone before midnight, so we watched the ball drop in our room. Then Grim watched Counting Cars and the monsters played on the computer. I finished knitting the first of the second pair of leg warmers.... By the way I wore the first pair yesterday with my boots and I got a compliment on them... YEAH!

Today we took the monsters sledding. We were there for almost an hour. Since it was still snowing they really weren't doing very well. They had a ton of fun though and hope to get back there before Un-monster has to go back to school.

While they were out there I sat in the truck and knitted. I got a got 3 inches done of the second of the second pair of legwarmers done... I like this yarn, its Loops & Threads Impeccable in Charcoal Tweed... Black with flecks of other colors. pictures will be coming soon.

Today I officially started being Paleo. Bacon and eggs for Breakfast, spaghetti squash and sauce for dinner. Plus, I'm also juicing 1x a day. Also did 10k today. I would like to be down 50 pounds by my b-day in June. But it not at least I'll be healthier, even if I'm not.

Yart