To Make

 Most of you who have been around any length of time

have probably figured out that I don't let not knowing

how to do something stop me.

That's not always a good thing, but . . .

I have learned so much by doing.

Children also typically learn by doing

so this can be rewarding on multiple levels.

Perhaps you've not noticed, 😉

but things have been a little sketchy for the past year or so.

It doesn't appear as though the current stresses

are going to be alleviated any time soon.

With that in mind,

I'd like to share something that happened to me years ago.

We lived about 45 minutes from the nearest grocery store.

This was when we were living up the mountain.

I was getting supper ready, making enchiladas

with left over roast beef.

I was getting everything out and ready when I realized

I didn't have any enchilada sauce.

I was evidently set on those enchiladas (still love them!)

I thought, "This is nuts.  There has to be a way to make it.

I'm sure they didn't just go buy it years ago in Mexico."

I think that was it - the moment I started asking the question,

"Can I make it?"

I don't recall ever being afraid of making things,

but that moment sticks in my head as the moment 

I was no longer interested in purchasing things that

for so long I didn't think of as being optional.

That first batch of enchilada sauce wasn't supreme,

but it was good.

I don't think I've purchased enchilada sauce since then.

Like most recipes, they are better once changed-up 

to suit our own tastes.

Since then, I've figured out how to make so many things.

Not just in the kitchen.

It's become a way for me. 

(again maybe not always a good thing)

Regardless of what it is, I tend to ask if I can make it or do it

rather than buying it which is really no more than paying

someone else to do it for me.

Over the years, it's been a good thing.

The first perk is that it nearly always saves money.

Other perks to making your own or doing for yourself are

you can make it exactly how you want it, and

you are not reliant on anyone else for it.

That last part in particular is important right now.

It seems to vary by area,

but I've experienced, read of, heard of 

not being able to find certain items (shortages),

and not being able to have someone do certain jobs.

An example: Some shingles blew off our roof. 

It was about 3-4 months before 

someone could come take care of it.

It's been like that with mechanics for the rigs also.

I could make a longer list, 

but I have a feeling most of you get it.

The thing is, there's a lot we can do our selves.

From changing battery cables to that enchilada sauce,

you can do it.

Changing a battery cable requires only that you know the difference between red and black and are able to operate a screw-driver or wrench.  It really is that simple.

Enchilada sauce is no more than tomato sauce and broth 

(or water in a pinch) with a couple spices stirred in. 

Now, why on earth would we want to change our own cables 

or make our own sauces?

You might choose not to.

That's up to you.

But there is no guarantee that the products & services

will remain available as many of us have learned.

What is available right now is knowledge.

There are online instructions for just about everything.

We each live in our own way, and

we each have things that are important to us.

I could tell you to learn how to make your own cat food,

but if you don't have a cat, that would be useless.

So I guess what I am suggesting is that you ask yourself

the question - Can you make or do it yourself?

I will make a list of some of the things we make or do ourselves.

If I have done a post, I will link it.

If there is something on the list I've not posted on,

feel free to ask.

Enchilada Sauce

Taco Seasoning

Poultry Seasoning

Pumpkin Pie Spice

Meals (cook at home)

Canned Foods 

(multiple canned foods so won't link, please use search tool)

Process Meat Animals

Rabbit Hutch

Chicken Tractor

Pantry Shelves

Small Sitting Bench

Vintage Trailer Restoration

Socks (I'm still learning)

Yarn (spinning)

Rugs

Clothes

Candles

Gifts (so many possibilities!)

Linen Bath Towels

Hand Towels

Pillow Cases

Toothpaste

Deodorant

Lotion & Lotion Bars

Laundry Soap

Body Soap

Apothecary 

Garden Path  (& another)

Tomato Trellises 

(I see they are 8 yrs. old, only 1 has needed repair.)

Garden plants (from seed)

Chicken Coop

Change Vehicle Oil & simple maintenance

I'm sure there are more things I'm not remembering.

Once you get started, you will discover that it does

become a way of living.

You won't think twice about it.

You will also find that many items are multipurpose.

This means with a few basic ingredients,

you can make many products.

An example is tomato sauce:

think of all the dishes you can make with it.

Olive oil is similar in the hygiene/apothecary dept.

A few basic tools will enable you to do many 

mechanical and home/construction tasks.

One more thing to think about ~

Time.

As with most things, experience expedites most projects.

I work outside the home so time is a very real factor.

We can't do it all, all at once, all the time, every time.

We are human and can only do what we can.

This is why humans develop communities.

For me, doing things myself brings peace of mind.

That peace of mind equals less worry and less stress.

Having restored a trailer (with MUCH help from Hubby), 

I'm not sure I'd be up to do that again.

I don't regret having done it.

It was sorta fun (that's a big sorta!) but

it was a lot of work and time consuming.

But now, I've done it.

Nobody can take that knowledge away from me.

Once you've done something,

you can then judge or prioritize accordingly.

I prefer to wash my own car.

I do a far better job and get in the door jams, gas hatch and

double scrub the grill and wheels.

There are times however, I don't have time

and go through one of those drive throughs.

I might grumble a little about the price for the outcome,

but it's all on me, my decision.

It is empowering to be able to make that decision,

not only with a simple car wash, but with many

aspects of our lives.

And lastly, there is something to producing something 

with your own two hands.

There seem to be so many jobs today that have nothing to show for the hours of input.

To actually produce something or fix something 

feeds the soul and is visual feedback for your labor.

I know this sort of feeling well.

I like to be able to see what I've done

even if it's washing the dishes or mowing the lawn.

I can see the results of my labor and that fuels me.

I love the reassurance of pulling up a video if I'm uncertain,

then giving it a shot.

Success doesn't happen without trying.

And. . .

It only takes a question.

Almost St Valentine's ❤️

 It's almost St. Valentine's Day 💖
It's a day I love.
When the kids were little, we had an advent for it.

Each day they got a little tid-bit in their mailbox.

When we first began doing it, they each had a tin cup,

and each morning they would check their tin cup

for a goody.

Then one year, I found little mailboxes.

Those filled with treats was their Valentine that year.

We kept them and used them each year after that.

I still have the tin cups and have given them their mailboxes.

There is even a larger tin cup with a label my daughter made,

because they had each made me a card or surprise.

Alas, my kids are grown.

I just mailed off a little Valentine package to each of them

in this morning's mail.

Several years ago, a friend shared some spice thins with me.

They were a store bought cracker/cookie 

that's now been discontinued.

They were delicious, and I finally found a recipe

 that is remarkably close and equally delicious.

I will share the link to the recipe I used at the end of this post.

So I made some of those and some button-ups.

Button-ups are essentially a shortbread cookie,

partially dunked in chocolate and topped with a cinnamon candy.

I also did some chocolate hearts but had them all boxed up

and had forgotten to take a picture.

Another fun little treat for this week is a blossom.

I have been given multiple starts 

of my great-grandmother's geranium plant.

Each and every one has met its fate.

It is a true deep red.

My mom gave me her plant (from Ggma) at the end of summer.

It needed trimming and was "spent" looking.

I kept 4 stems and stuck them in starter pots of soil.

Three have lived and one died.

Of the 3 that lived, 2 are blooming.

They are certainly a cheery sight during the winter gloom.

They have been fun and easy to propagate.

I don't have room inside so they only get a north facing window.

I guess they don't mind.

And the plant Ma gave me is looking good too.

On a side note:

I also have a pole bean and a tray of spinach planted.

I just can't help myself.

I purchased one of those little green houses on clearance last fall,

but it's still too cold for it.

I will probably set it up the end of the month and

see what kind of trouble I can cause in the garden.

(Never mind the dirty window.  Tis the season.)

All and all, blooms and treats~

It must be Valentine's.

Spice Thins / Pepparkakor

  

~ Quiet ~

 We are making our way through January aren't we?

We've had some wonderful snow storms

and some crazy wind

which actually blew the porch cover off the entrance 

to our house!

I won't go into the silly things that have been done

to this sweet old farm cottage in which we live.

There are better things to dwell upon.

Our temperatures being true winter temps.,

have put a hush on area.

It's one of those quiets you can hear. 

I actually like winter months and long evenings,

though I do miss our wood heat.

And by March, I am among the first chomping at the bit

to be out playing in the dirt.

But for right now I have plenty to do.

I would call this

"the time to keep."

In keeping our homes, there are so many tasks.

It's funny how easily they are overlooked when we are on the run,

but slow down for a few minutes or sit a little longer in the evening and you begin to notice.

How did that happen?

Or, when did that get there?

I will tell you, I have darned 5 pairs of socks

 and have 4 more pair yet to do!

I also saved what beans we harvested just to eat as beans

so have been shelling/cleaning those.

That has to be one of the most boring jobs ever,

but there's time to do it.

And I'm grateful for them.

We had such a strange summer with that "heat dome"

our garden and canning seemed off for the whole of summer.

I also finished the hand quilting

 of a quilt I started some time back.

I have 2 potholders to stitch the binding on and

another pair of socks started.

The first pair of socks I made (for me) fit my dad!

He likes them, says they are warm.  

I'm glad they were green and not pink and purple.

I am almost to the heal of the new sock.

The chickadees are still about and flutter around the feeder

where I can see and enjoy them.

We've now only traces of dirty snow where it was drifted.

Most of it is gone so everything looks grey.

It makes me want to sit and drink tea and read a book,

which I have done a little bit of.

I relish a good read and cup of tea time.

I've been reading "nice" books as a bit of a counter 

to all that is heard elsewhere.

Near my chair are:

"Country Chronicles" by Gladys Taber

"The New England Butt'ry Shelf Almanac" 

by Mary Mason Campbell

"Southern Jack Tales" by Donald Davis

I might start the second book in "The Little House" series.

I read the first book which was good.

I learned that she had originally written it for adults with a lot more description but was told by publishers that it was too dark.

So she rewrote it as she did aimed towards children.

Though dark, it makes me wonder if those original manuscripts still exist somewhere.

Her life wasn't easy.  What lessons we could learn.

And what gratitude it might provoke.

And lastly, I have open to read online, 

"The Lady's Annual Register and Housewife's Memorandum Book

for 1838" by Caroline Gilman

This is an interesting piece in that it will have a recipe,

a bit of poetry, instructions on how to clean a specific item,

information about a ladies' group, etc.

It seems very random but makes for quick reading if you only have a short time.

And since typing the above and having it nearly ready,

I came down with the virus.

It literally flattened me.

I am still recovering but am thinner and weaker at the moment.

I am slowly trying to get my house back in order.

It's amazing how those little things we do daily 

to keep the house all add up.

It will get there.

The perk of sleeping for 2 weeks straight is that I spent

zero dollars for 2 weeks.

Talk about saving money :-)

I am seeing how long I can go without any "extra" purchases,

meaning I will obviously pay our power or get milk etc. 

but no extra things.

We now have only 2 days until February 

and somehow as cold as the month is, 

it seems warmer with endearments since St. Valentine's Day

is a couple weeks in.

When the children were little,

we did an advent to St. V Day.

They loved it.

I've always liked St. Valentine's Day.

Love, Chocolate, & Flowers~

What's not to love?

I prefer to do my "Holiday" baking in February

because there is nothing else going on.

In December, we are always over extended so I don't like to 

add more to the list during that time.

Hopefully, I will be able to share what goodies 

I decide upon as it gets closer.

Until then,

keep well and warm dear friends. 

Glad Tidings of Christmastime ~ A Story for Young and Old

All across the mantel were pine greens and cones and red bows.

The bows were not velvet as seen in some of the more affluent homes but were made with more love and cheer than most of the velvet ones.  These bows however, were of a simple 

cotton and heavily starched so they looked crisp and bright.

To one side of the fireplace was a wood-box freshly piled

with split wood for warmth through the night 

and for the morning water pot.

source

That's the same wood box where little toes perched

in order to reach the nail where a little stocking was hung.

Next to that little stocking was a slightly larger one,

but no perch was needed to hang it.

And between those two stockings, there was a happy feeling 

that wasn't there the day before.

To know what brought that happy feeling about,

we must back up to the day before.

That little stocking usually warms the foot of a little girl

named Alice who has all of 6 years to her name.

The larger of the two stockings is that of her brother Billy

who is a very grown up 8 years old.

Billy had worked hard all year trying to save

 for a cake with white sugar and icing on it.

He was studious but had a sweet tooth and been saving all year

so that he might buy a ten-penny treat.

As hard as he worked, he was but able to save 7 pennies.

He was just a boy after all and those willing to pay a child 

for his labor were few.

The day before Christmas with scorn in his heart for himself and the disappointment of not having a ten penny treat by Christmas

as he had planed, Billy sat on the front step in the cold feeling sour and rolling the pennies in his hand.  As he was feeling such, his mind eventually wandered to Alice and what she might be thinking about Christmas.  She never seemed to mind

that there might be so little for Christmas.

It was then that an idea occurred to him.

He arose and headed into town.

He went directly to the stationary shoppe where old Mr. Watson

tended to customers wishing for specially cut cards and notes with script his young eyes could not yet read.

He spoke to Mr. Watson with some hesitation and explained his situation. He thought if he couldn't have what he wanted, at least Alice should have some happiness on Christmas morning.

She loved to draw and Billy knowing she had some papers 

hoped to find some colored pencils for her.  Every chance she had, Alice would walk through the store gazing in awe at all the finery and colorful papers.  After divulging his narrative rapidly for fear of it being rejected, he waited to hear a response.

  With large knowing eyes, Mr. Watson stood looking at young Billy silently for a moment.

He paused then said he thought he had just the thing

for a young budding artist and showed him some pencils that were 1 penny each.

Billy bought seven of them, one black and one each of the six basic colors.  He thanked Mr. Watson as he put the pencils in his pocket and left the shoppe to return home.

Mr. Watson watched Billy as he walked down the street.

It wasn't until another customer broke his thoughts with a question that he returned to his present task.

That evening Father read from the Bible how the baby Jesus

was born in a stable and wise men came to visit then he and Mother sent Billy and Alice to bed with Christmas in their hearts.

Ever so quietly as Alice was doddering to her bed, Billy

quickly pulled the pencils from his coat pocket and dropped them in her little stocking then followed quickly after her to his own bed.  They both shut their eyes with great anticipation for the following morning.

It was still dark when their eyes did open.  Only a faint light marking the beginning of the shortest day created shadows of trees and mountains out the window.

The two raced to Mother and Father's bedroom to wake them

for it was Christmas morning.

Pulling themselves out of bed with the help of two excited children, 

Mother and Father also rose.

They entered the parlor and Father got the fire going while Mother lit a lantern since it was earlier than they usually awoke.

She put the water on as Father said, "Well, let's see what we have here." He took the stockings from the mantel and handed them to their perspective owners.

In each, there was an orange and a peppermint stick.

Oh but there was more.

Alice put in her small hand and drew out a whole handful of beautiful new pencils.  And Billy drew out three pennies.  

Mother and Father looked at each other since

mothers and fathers have a way of knowing certain things.

The children looked bewildered.

Alice appeared more shocked than pleased causing Billy to question whether or not she liked the pencils.

"Don't you like your pencils?" Billy asked with a sinking heart.

"Oh Billy, they are perfect."

"Then why don't you look happy?"

With the awkward grace of a six year old, she blurted,

"I took my papers in to town to trade them so you could get 3 more pennies and have your ten penny treat."

Billy now had the same expression as Alice.

They both looked at Mother and Father.

Father is the one who spoke, "Well, I'll be. You two seem to have read each others mind.  Maybe just as the baby Jesus couldn't yet use the gifts He was given, you aren't meant to use your gifts just yet.  They are gifts of love just the same."

Still slightly bewildered how it all worked out but happy in their hearts, the family dressed and prepared for the day.  

As they were finishing their breakfast,

there was a faint knock at the door.

Father rose to answer it, but when he did, there was nobody there.  Instead at his feet was a small bundle.  He looked around once more, but there being only a cold wind and no snow, he could not even see tracks as to which direction the package might have come from.

He took the bundle inside and placed it on the table to open it.

The family gathered watching in wonderment as Father revealed sweet potatoes, some papers, and a ten penny treat.  Now this part stumped Mother and Father for they could find no sign of who left such a gift.

But back in town, there was one wide eyed old man with a very happy and knowing heart.

And that Christmas day, 

there was great joy for both sides of the mystery.