Soup day here

 I decided today would be another soup day. Beef broth leftover from cooking a pot roast a while back. Froze the broth and I added frozen vegetables plus onion and celery. Then I added canned tomatoes from my garden last year. I added a diced potato and also some dried parsley. Cook it all until veggies are tender. should be a nice cup of soup after while.

After I took this picture you really can't tell what is going on. We have hoarfrost. When the air is heavy with moisture and the ground is cold. It leaves a coat on the branches of frozen moisture particles. We had fog earlier and it was really thick. Snow is starting to melt and suppose to be about 41 degrees tomorrow.  Nice Winter thaw. 

Going out to start the laundry and see how  far I get with it today. My sister is coming on Sunday and grandkids are coming home for a visit tomorrow. so people in and out over the weekend. 

OMGosh doe the air in here smell good. Chris

I want to see this again

This is Russian Sage. I would like to see it blooming again. This was a picture from last Spring. Weather is suppose to get warmer in a couple days. Like in the 40's. Which is warmer than usual for this time of year here. 

The Winter is by far not over with, but I can want I guess. Knowing I have more of this weather to face wishful thinking helps for a couple hours. 

Today I need to get a positive attitude and get my backside in gear. Had an emotional setback last night and it wasn't fun. so today thinking has to be positive. It was out of my control so I don't feel any satisfaction in trying to solve the issue.  Learning things not in my control I need to walk away from. I think this is one of life's hard lessons to accept. We as parents like to shield our family members from defeat. Ok enough about that.

Today needs to be positive because the next few days are going to be hard to face. My Mother's surgery is Monday and certain parts of our lives will be forever changed. Decisions need to be made and lifestyles need changing. Make sure you know what your family members want their end of life to be. Quality is very important. My mother's outlook is very good, but as she ages we know things will change. Have the difficult conversation while good choices can be made. After such a dark subject I'm going to go and sew. Yes you heard me. sew! Have a good day. Chris

Well I lied

Thought I was getting better and today sore ear and sneezing. I can't win. No temp so Dr's office will say they don't want to see me wear it out.

Tonight is grilled cheese and tomato soup for supper.

Still haven't gone in to mend the clothes. I plan on doing it later and if not later I will go in early in the morning and watch a program on Netflix and stay there until I get it all done.

My husband has been watching Leave it To Beaver on TV. Boy that brings back memories. Did we really believe them when we were younger? Chris

I'm here and still trying to get better

I get laundry and dishes done, but not a lot of constructive work done. I get up and do  a couple things and then have to sit down. This is the worse crap I have had for a long time. Hope no one else gets it. I'm still using yarn I have been storing so this is the latest pattern to try. It is a three row pattern and I can't count. Had to rip back several times to get on track again. This is a free pattern I found on Pinterest. So many free things to use on there. 

As you can see it is a scalloped edge. This particular pattern was an afghan pattern and I cut it down to be a scarf. I think it goes fairly fast if you can count. 

Today I have to go in and sew. I have some mending to do for neighbors that I have had to long. Being sick hasn't helped any. I also need to go to the store for a few things. 

I have been looking at scrap quilts on the net and also trying to make myself want to get a quilt top pin basted or hand basted to get it quilted. The other thing is trying to make some bags. I need a couple tote and also some shopping bags to go to the store. I have denim and why not recycle it for shopping bags. 

Goals today are the store and getting the mending done. Hope you all meet your goals today. Chris 

Got this in my email today

Kate is 3 months old now. She is growing so fast. 

Yum, Yum, Yum.......

I am going to walk you through a recipe of Baked Potato Soup. This is a knockoff of The Machine Shed restaurant that is in the Midwest. It is something we really like and not real hard to make. It takes 2/3 cup of butter in a dutch oven pan.

6 strips of bacon cooked crisp and crumbled. 

I drain it really good to get the excess grease off of it.

These are three huge potatoes. Or I use 4-5 large potatoes. I scrub them and pierce them. Lay them in a baking dish and cover with foil. Bake at 350F for 1 hour. You can boil diced potatoes, but I prefer the flavor of the baked potato. When you can handle them peel and cut into chunks.

Melt butter add diced onions and saute until tender in the butter. I used about 1/2 cup.

 This picture isn't real clear, but it is 2/3 cup of flour added to the pot with the tender onions and the butter. Stir and cook the flour for a minute or so. This is a rue. Now add 5 1/2 ups of milk., I use 2% milk. to the pot and cook the mixture stirring to thicken. Add the chunked up potatoes to the soup base.

I use 2 cups of mild cheddar cheese to the potato soup mixture and stir until it melts.

Nice and thick soup and then the crumbled bacon add to the mix. Flavors  meld together and it is really good. Salt and pepper to taste. You can save back some bacon crumbs and also some cheese as garnish if serving guests. We like it so well we just mix it in. This makes about 3/4 of a dutch oven

full of Baked potato soup.

Bake 4-5 large russet potatoes
2/3 cup butter melted
1/2 cup of onion sauteed in butter til tender
2/3 cup flour mixed into butter and onions stir until cooked
5 1/2 cups of milk. Stir until thick
Add peeled and chunked potatoes
2 cups of cheddar cheese shreds to mixture and stir until it melts.
Add bacon crumbles.
Enjoy. Can serve with garnishments of more cheese and bacon crumbles. Hope you try this.

Not a lick of sewing in two months.

Yes I hate to admit it, but I have really been slacking. I think about it and then never get in there to do it. I wish I had a small finish to do ikt would help maybe get me started.

We both have been so sick I need to go around with a bottle of Clorox and wipe everything down. I have worked at it, but it isn't easy when both of us are sick. I keep thinking everyday we will improve.

I guess I just need to pick a corner and work my way out. Today I am going to make soup. We want baked potato soup and also corn chowder. I have all the stuff to make it. Plan on making  big pots so I can freeze smaller amounts for my Mother for the next few weeks.

On the 19th she has surgery and for about two weeks she will be out of commission. So meals will have to be prepared and ready for her to heat up. I found out m y sister is coming to help out. Which will help me I hope. Still will have to make appointments and do her shopping.

Well off for another cup of coffee and try and get a game plan going. Chris