Five Things Friday

Thanks for stopping in for a little Five Things Friday! This week has been one of my least productive EVER! It must be the change in weather coupled with the time change this month with a touch of laziness thrown in for good measure.

So, my Five Things on this Friday are...

• Last Sunday I picked all the bell peppers left in the garden, chopped them and put them in freezer bags--14 bags with 2 cups of chopped bell pepper in each bag! That should last me for a little while:)

Aren't they pretty?!!!

• I usually order Stampin' Up! products with the thought of how my stamping club ladies will like the products and resultant projects. Today I bought a stamp set I have been wanting and am so anxious to get it! I have no plans to use it for stamping club although I might. I got it just for me:) What do you think? Was it a good purchase??? The projects on Pinterest using this stamp set (Ornamental Pine) are AMAZING!

Sorry about the fuzzy picture...I took it from the Stampin' Up! website

• My darling son has a birthday on Saturday and will be 42 years old! WOW! Where have the years gone?!!! For at least the last 30 years, I have made him a Carrot Cake every year...his favorite! However, this year he asked for something different but didn't tell me what:( So, I am going to make a totally new-to-me recipe for Chocolate Cake and see how it turns out! Wish me luck! I am not a cake person so I would like anything but a cake! 
• I bought the yarn this week to make a beautiful scarf...

Isn't it beautiful?!!! I am so anxious to get started on it; just have two little projects ahead of it to finish. To purchase this pattern download for $5 go to Ravelry. You might need an account (free) but Ravelry is a great source for knit and crochet patterns, many of which are free. I thought this one was well worth paying a little bit for:) I am making it in Vanna's Glamour by Lion Brand in Topaz which has a gold thread running through it. So pretty for Christmas!

• I love a couple cups of Yerba Mate` every morning with a bit of raw honey. I purchase my Yerba Mate` from Oregon Yerba Mate in a 5 pound package although you can purchase much smaller packages. They also have several blends. I purchase the House Blend.

Well, with those tidbits, I am off to get my house cleaned, a birthday cake baked and a big pot of Bean and Bulgar Chili made for tomorrow!

Have a great day and a wonderful weekend! Thanks for stopping by and I will be back Sunday night for Carla's Sunday Night Chit-Chat!

Kat

Happy Homemaker Monday

Good morning and welcome to Happy Homemaker Monday! Being sick half of last week put me behind on so many fronts. According to my doctor, my immune system is at an all time low because of the food allergies but as I am not eating the offending foods, it should get better. Right now I am catching everything that flies by in spite of taking Airborne and lots of vitamin C:( I did get over it pretty quick so maybe that means things are getting better??? I can always hope!

Happy Homemaker Monday is initiated each week by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. Be sure to pop on over to see what she's been up to. She always has a lot going on!!! So let's get started!

Weather...Cold, cold, cold!!! It is 20 degrees (F) and we have had freezing fog for a week or more:( Our deck is like an ice skating rink and it's covered!

Right now I am...Curled up in hubby's extra large recliner with a cup of Yerba Mate tea and for the first time in several days, I am dressed before noon:)

Thinking... of all that must be done today since I haven't done much for nearly a week!

On my reading pile...All the same books as last week:( When I don't feel well it's hard to read--can't concentrate! Sooo, I watched movies and knitted (slowly) instead.

On my tv...Downton Abbey (last night) plus some Hallmark Hall of Fame movies on SpiritClips. I love having SpiritClips:) I will be watching Cash Cab and The Chew while walking on the treadmill.

Favorite Blog post this past week (mine or other)...I have really been enjoying Sandra's Five Senses Saturday! But it's also hard to beat one of Carla's sewing tutorials!

Something fun to share...Do you knit or crochet? Do you know about Ravelry? I have found some of the best free patterns on Ravelry. Many of them I saw on Pinterest and followed the links to Ravelry. Check it out!!!

On the menu this week...
Monday--leftovers
Tuesday--Pasta and green salad
Wednesday--Mizidra (it's a weekly thing)
Thurday--not sure yet
Friday--Potato Corn Chowder
Not sure about the weekend yet.

On my to do list...Everything I didn't get done last week! Looking back it looks like I did get a few things done that were on my list but still need to do:

• Thank you cards--make and send (it's starting to get embarrassing)
• Declutter 50 items since I didn't declutter at all last week.
• The Cupboard Trilogy DT project
• Happy Stampers Swap card
• Dust
• Clean the bathroom
• Send one handwritten note via snail mail:) I am going to try to send one per week. 

What I am sewing, knitting, crocheting or creating...

• Finished knitting a Center Row Lace Headband/Neck Warmer from a pattern I found on Ravelry by Rewind Knit & Crochet. I am knitting another one for a friend.
• Cards, cards and more cards! Will show you soon:)
• Itching to start some granny squares
• Gift for a friend (will have to wait till she gets it to reveal)--working on this week!

Homemaking Tips...Ah, this is a tip I need to start working on again. Several years ago I read about cleaning out one cupboard or closet or drawer a week for an entire year. I did it and it was AMAZING! I am going to start this again this week!

Looking around the house...Dogs everywhere! Seriously, we only have three but one of them is HUGE! Seems like I am stepping over dogs all the time! Also dust everywhere! On Friday when I cleaned house I pooped out before I got the dusting done so it must be done today!

From the camera...

ice buildup on our trees

On my prayer list...

• Hubby to get well
• My brother just going back to work after knee surgery
• My mom--health issues

Bible verse; Devotional...

"Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

I hope you have a great day! I am hoping to get some fun things done today to be able to show you this week. Tomorrow I will update you on my January No/Low Spend and Declutter Challenge plus show you one of our Happy Stamper's projects from last week! 

Kat