Saturday, January 24, 2009

I've got the flu or something!

I'm sorry I haven't been around much lately. I've got the flu, Kevin has it too, and it's hitting us both really hard. I haven't even left the apartment since Jan.5th, it's that bad. Kevin and I haven't had the strength to do much of anything around here, including eating right. We just don't have any appetite, but we are trying to eat just to keep our strength up.

I will be back to catch up my blogs as soon as I feel better!

Miss you all!!

Hugs and Blessings,
Brenda

Monday, January 19, 2009

Another Award!



Karen at has given me the Lemonade Award. Thank you so much, Karen!

This award is passed to bloggers for showing great Attitude and/or Gratitude.

The rules of this award:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.

2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!

3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.

4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

And now I get to pass the award on to:

1. Gina-- http://catnapinnprimitives.blogspot.com
2. Lea-- http://farmhouseblessings.blogspot.com
3. Beth-- http://myprimcottage.blogspot.com
4. Sharon-- http://primthymesblog.blogspot.com
5. Tam-- http://yakiddyyakyak.blogspot.com
6. Cora-- http://hiddenrichessecretplaces.blogspot.com
7. Tipper-- http://www.blindpigandtheacorn.com/
8. Ginger-- http://primitivesbythelightofthemoon.blogspot.com
9. Sue-- http://countrypleasures.blogspot.com
10.Susan-- http://foodiefarmgirl.blogspot.com

Saturday, January 17, 2009

12 Pints of Chili !!!!

I was hoping I would at least get 8 pints but had enough for 12 and some left over for supper! I was soooo happy. I haven't canned anything since about 1997 just before mom started taking a turn for the worse. Mom and I canned 50# of potatoes and froze 20dz. ears of corn plus other veggies that we canned then too! Mom wasn't able to do much of anything the next year and I had to keep a close eye on her, darned Alzheimers.

I was a little nervous at first but it all came back to me like I had been canning all along. I was definitely doing the "Happy Dance" . Kevin looked at me like I had lost my mind or something because I was so happy about canning again. I will be able to can up most of our left overs now instead of freezing them. It will help a bunch because I like to make extra so we have meals ready if we need something in a hurry.

We finally got temps above zero again. I know we haven't had it nearly as bad as a lot of you, but these old bones just don't like the cold the way they used to! LOL. I hope you all have been able to keep warm through this cold spell. I'm thankful our electric didn't go out or it would have been really bad here. These apts. heat with electric heat pumps and we have no back up heat. We aren't allowed to have kerosene heaters here....so it would have been candles and oil lamps for light and heat, but we would have made it with Gods help!

I have been trying to read some of your blogs to catch up on what you all have been doing. I hope tomorrow I can just take the day to play on here so I can read and respond to the many things I saw while skimming through messages. I'm so glad to have made so many new friends on here, you all have such interesting lives. I just love you all.

I had better get off here now and get some supper started. Tonight is "movie and popcorn" night!! We both love the older movies!

Have a great evening and see you all tomorrow!

Hugs and Blessings,

Thursday, January 15, 2009

A Good Day to Can Chili !!

Sorry I haven't been around for a few days. I've got that cold/flu bug that everyone else has and it's really been getting me down. Kevin has it too and hasn't felt a bit good either. I know it's bad when I don't even feel like getting on the computer much!

I made a huge pot of chili yesterday...good comfort food! I made plenty extra and I'm going to can that today. I know I will have at least 4 pints and I'm hoping maybe there is enough to make 8 pints, we'll see. I'll let you know later how it went. It's been a while since I have canned anything. I got the parts I needed for my pressure canner a few days ago and put it together yesterday and tried it out and it seems to be working good. I was so happy, I've really missed being able to can up leftovers! I will take pictures if I can find some batteries that have enough charge left in them for the camera!

It is so cold but the good thing is we didn't get as much snow as they predicted. I heard the snow plow last night around 11PM clearing out the streets of the apartment complex. It is done by a private contractor. I wish we had a wood burning stove I so miss that good warm heat. We are all electric here and have a heat pump which does not put out much heat when it is cold. We have to keep 2 electric heaters going 24/7 to make up for what the heat pump doesn't do. I hate to see what the electric bill will be next month!

I'm hoping after I'm finished canning the chili I can get back on here for a while so I can visit all of your blogs and catch up on what you all have been up to. I've missed sharing the good and bad times with you, my friends.

I had better go for now and get ready to mess up the kitchen for a while.
Take care,

Blessings and Hugs,
Brenda

Friday, January 9, 2009

A Sweet Award from a Sweet Friend



I received this award from Tam at Yakiddy Yak Yak

Thank you so much Tam ! You've been such a sweet and supportive friend!

Hugs and Blessings,
Brenda

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Notice for Blog Updates!!

I have added a new section in the right hand column------>>>>>>> over there called:

Updates for Store & Cookbook Blogs.

I will post a little note there whenever I add something new to either of the sites in that section. I have a couple of notes there now .

I hope this helps in letting you know when I've updated something on the other 2 blogs!!

Blessings,
Brenda

Back to Normal ?? ...I hope!!!

I hope things are finally getting back to normal around here! LOL

The tree and decorations are all down and put away for another year.!!
The first of the month bills are all paid!
Groceries for the month are all bought and stored away!!

Now maybe I can get back here and get things caught up. I've tried to check in when I could but it just seemed like I never had much time to post here or anywhere else, I hate that!! I've missed all of you!!!

I hope you all had a nice Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year. We were asleep long before the New Year arrived!! Real party animals here !! LOL There was a time many years ago I had that life style..... but I'm older & wiser now... well at least older!! ;<{

I plan on giving the apartment a good cleaning in the morning, it's not that big so it doesn't really take long and then I hope to do some sewing in the afternoon. I've been going through my patterns and fabric and have gotten all kinds of ideas floating through my mind. I just hope I don't for get what all I have thought about. I've been trying to make a list of things as I think of them so I don't forget!...Now where did I put that list.....???

Oh, just in case you haven't noticed I write like I'm talking directly to you. I hope I don't get you all too confused. I never claimed to be a writer!! I just write things as they come into my mind, boy can that be confusing,,, just ask Kevin, my husband!!

I'm going to try to catch up a few more things here and there on my blogs before finishing up supper...chicken is in the crockpot and I'm going to throw some rice in the rice cooker and it a should all be ready around 5PM if I'm lucky!!

I hope you all have a good evening and I will be around a lot more now I promise!

Hugs and Blessings,
Brenda

Friday, January 2, 2009

Sale Items..CRAFT BOOKS.....

Have been listed on the store blog..
I have listed a bunch of craft books today and will have some cookbooks to list later for sale too.
Take a look if you get a chance, great prices!!
Thanks for looking ,

Hugs,
Brenda