Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Where Am I, Who Am I, What's Happening?

Ever have one of those periods when The List is just too long, the days are too short, you go, go, go all day but feel like you never get anything done?  Yep, me too.

I had this silly idea that once the holidays were over, my long, slow winter would begin.  Not happening.

We've been fortunate enough to have our dear daughter and her fella volunteer (okay, we're paying them extremely high wages -- haha) to help us on some projects that have been in the works forever, but have just not gotten done.


They assembled this temporary car port we purchased used years ago, but never got erected.  We needed a place for my new-to-me, little runabout car to live in this winter.  (It's in pristine condition and we decided not to subject it to the damaging salt on the roads during the winter months.)  Turns out putting this thing up was not an easy task.  I think they took it nearly completely apart at least twice to sew on reinforcing strips, put in grommets for tie-downs and in other ways secure it so the wind didn't tear it to shreds.  A simple, easy project it was not.

Daughter's fella is mechanically talented (among other things) and seems we've found several jobs to keep his hands constantly "greased up."  No doubt about it, things are getting done, big time.  But this wonderful help means we have to be on top of it enough to know which projects should be tackled first, second and third plus making sure we have the needed materials, repair parts, etc. on hand so progress flows smoothly.

My freezer stash of "convenience" foods is B.A.R.E.  Oh, I still have all the raw ingredients there or on pantry shelves but I get to feeling very uneasy when I don't have any prepared soups, stews, casseroles, cooked meats, breads, etc., etc. on hand with which to whip up a tasty meal with short notice.  I still haven't made my year's supply of applesauce.  Someone needs to get an experienced cook in here with about three day's worth of time to make hay while the suns shines.  (Or meat balls when it's snowing.)

Wouldn't ya know it, I've recently come across some new-to-me blogs that look just too good not to follow.  Thus far, they're still on my "wanna do" list as I haven't found the time to start reading them regularly.

I haven't managed to get to our organic foods co-op to shop in a couple of weeks.  They're running great after-the-holidays specials on many things I want to stock up on from organically raised turkeys to oats to laundry detergent.  (Dear daughter has for the past several years been making laundry detergent for both of us, but at the present since she's taken on a third -- or is it her fourth or fifth? -- part-time job [that would be helping us] she hasn't had a spare moment to whip up a batch.)

I've taken on a commissioned project (making a crocheted rug from heavy duty rug yarn) for our daughter.  She needs it by a week from this coming Sunday as a birthday present for a good friend.  I started the foundation row (the trickiest) and got two beginning rows done last night but, just before realizing how late it was and that I really should go to bed, did a measurement check and now will have to tear it out and start over as the way it is will be too, too wide.  Just goes to prove I shouldn't wield a crochet hook and try to count at the same time after 10 o'clock in the evening.


The view of the Fowl Compound as I
approached it this morning.

We got about 3-4" of new snow overnight.  We've yet to have a really big snowfall but I guess frequent smaller amounts do add up.

You can see we don't suffer from boredom around here even in the long, slow winter months.  (Say again when they start?)  

17 comments:

Sue said...

I agree--there isn't much of a slow-down going on here either.
I'm so glad you're getting some much needed help. Send em down here when you're through with them. I have a list too!!
No BIG snows here either. They call for them, but they just don't materialize. Got a ski in this morning, but it rained all day now, so no more of that. Crazy temps all over the place--freeze a week (Minus 4) then rain and 40 the next day. Bah, I say!

Mama Pea said...

Sue - Now THAT is terrible winter weather! We had snow most of the day but only amounted to around 2-3". Temp is in the mid-20s so it feels pretty good out there. Hoping your rain goes away until spring time!

Laurie said...

Sounds like you gonna be busy all winter. At least you've got something pretty to look at. Good luck on the rug. Show us a picture, when you're done. Ok?

Erin said...

We gave up on those carport shelter things while living in Hurricane country. Every time the wind blew the darn things went airborne, hopefully all those trees will shelter you from the crazy winds. I remember when you did a post about the crocheted denim rug, I faithfully saved all our old jeans and just last month gave 2 bins of them away. Who was I kidding? I was never going to get around to it and after all that work it would never be as pretty as yours! Can't wait to see pics of the finished rug.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

You are definitely entertained, ha ha! We have no snow, but got rain, and wind. Snow may come later, as we live in a place where it can be 50°F today and in the negatives tomorrow.

Mama Pea said...

Laurie - Got the rug going good last night. Will post a picture when done.

Mama Pea said...

Erin - Any rug you made would be just great. But we do have to make our choices as to where to put our time. Wait until you're "retired" like me and you'll have all the time in the world and wish you had saved all that material. (Hahahaha!)

Even though sheltered in the trees we still get awful winds in here so knew we had to secure the car port down, but that didn't keep the sides from flapping like a goose trying to take off!

Mama Pea said...

Kristina - After our lovely, warm weather yesterday, we went down to -7° overnight. And, boy, does that feel cold this morning!

Susan said...

I think that whole, "down time during winter" thing is a complete myth. I didn't come up with any down time last winter, or the winter before, or... I think it's a myth we tell ourselves in order to keep from losing our minds completely during the winter months. But...if you DO find some down time, wanna share? :)

Mama Pea said...

Susan - You'd be the first one I'd share with, my friend, busy little bee that you are! Hubby and I were just talking about how silly we are to think we actually have more time in the winter when winter chores take so much time. I may do a blog post on what keeps us so busy in the cold months. If I actually got it all down in the written word maybe I'd stop thinking it should be a slow time of year!

Sandy Livesay said...

Mama Pea,

It seems there's never enough time to accomplish our chores or tasks in a day even when it's winter time.

Your Daughter's friend will love her homemade rug. Mama Pea, you make the most gorgeous items when knitting and quilting.

Sending hugs, and love your way.
Sandy

Anonymous said...

Down time? What's that?! Responsibilities always take longer than anticipated and new ones always show up at the most inconvenient times--especially if they involve long distance travel. You are blessed to have extra help around the homestead! To maintain any semblance of inner peace, I've adopted a wise friend's baseline attitude of "it gets done when it gets done". Now, on to cleaning off that never ending wood-smoke dust on top of the computer and printer!!-M

Mama Pea said...

Sandy - Aw, thank you!

My daughter once said that saying you are going to put off a task "until winter time" or "when the weather is better" is often just procrastination. There's never a "perfect" time to do anything. Remember that old saying, "Just do it!" Well, I'm realizing it applies to nearly everything we say we want to do. Now, I need to JUST DO IT! :o]

Mama Pea said...

M - EVERYTHING takes longer than anticipated!! :o/ Sometimes I think those folks who can go around with their heads in la-la-land are better off. No guilt, no angst, no problem. (Well, not really.) But I am coming to realize, with the wisdom of all you good readers, that unless we choose to change our lives drastically, there is no "down time." Each season brings its own set of responsibilities and requirements. We just have to keep striving for that "happy medium!"

Nancy In Boise said...

I'm exhausted from driving in all our snow:( nice tarp!

Mama Pea said...

LHinB - I know for me, the exhaustion from driving under bad conditions comes from worrying about what all the other vehicles on the road are going to do! Stay safe!!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.