Friday, March 9, 2012

Independence Days- week 5

Ok- let's see if I can do this after 2 glasses of wine for with dinner....
It has been a hellish couple of days at work and I'm unwinding.  I've got a three day weekend ahead.  The children are on spring break.  Time changes on Sunday.  We're doing plumbing tomorrow, work on the floor joists on Sunday and Monday I plan a trip to my parents.  Whoosh.  No rest for the wicked... I must be really bad!!
But, it is Friday.  Time to unwind and time to see how I've done on the Independence Days Challenge.
Let's see....
Plant something- some lettuce seeds in the window box to replace those that didn't germinate from the first time. After tonight I'll probably move that box outside onto the deck since the forecast temps aren't supposed to fall below freezing for at least a week and a half.
Harvest something- still only eggs. But 34 this week.  The girls are picking up production again.  Probably because River has started laying again.
Preserve something-  I know I've used this one before- but I think preserving my sanity this week has been well worth it! Yeah, it's a bad joke- but it's been a rough week.  Otherwise I've got nothing.
Waste not- hmm, this category is definitely getting repetitive.  Composted, recycled, scraps to the chickens. I'm sure there were some other things in the mix but my brain hurts tonight.
Want not- hmm,  worked on the 'bug out bag' this week.  That is something that needs done.  I do think I've got V more invested in prepping for a 'mishap'.  It helps that we also got a letter from our insurer this week reminding us that we need to do a photo inventory and update our insurance options.  There are a couple of sales at the store that I want to take advantage of but haven't had opportunity.  Oh, I guess we did stock up on cat and dog food and kitty litter since they are having a 'pet sale' at the local grocery store.
Eat the food- eggs!  Pasta with pesto, some fabulous sauteed hot peppers and onions from the freezer with our burritos last night. We've also been eating my attempt at wheat sourdough bread- it needs some work...    But I've got to do something with sourdough this weekend... we'll see.  Maybe another attempt at crackers. I just need to get them thinner- I think I need to break out the pasta roller.
Build community food systems- another dozen eggs sold at work.  Not much else.  I really do need to get connected more.
Skill up- hmm... I've got some orange/vinegar cleaner started.  I've seen multiple posts from people this week on making your own orange oil cleaner.  Since we still have oranges I've got a quart jar of vinegar with orange peels steeping.  Otherwise... not much here.  This week has been so busy and chaotic that I'm just grateful that I got through it.  Learning something new hasn't been high on the priority list this week.

I'm hoping that next week will be calmer.  There will be no evening concerts and no birthdays.  Hopefully work will settle down a bit (although I've got a student with me next week which always makes life interesting).  I'm hoping to maybe even get into the garden this weekend.  The extended forecast is looking quite warm (at least for the next 2 weeks) so I'm thinking of planting some spinach and/or chard out in the garden.  I'm contemplating cleaning out the chicken coop this weekend and getting that started to compost... but first I need to build a bin for it...  And do laundry with no water tomorrow.... ack!!!  This won't work.  And I've still got to finish a quilt before next weekend... Blaaagh.....

Sorry- I'm feeling a bit overloaded at the moment.   I've got a lot on my plate at the moment.  Adding to the worries is a good thing, but one that will make life more difficult.  One of my co-workers got engaged last weekend.  Sadly, this means that she will likely be moving to Chicago sometime over the summer. We are already one staff member down so this will make life at work MUCH more difficult if she leaves before we have someone new on board.

But.... good news on V's legal issue front (that I STILL can't really talk about until everything is signed and sealed) is that the whole shebang is nearly finished.  And THAT is a weight off our shoulders...

6 comments:

  1. Sounds like you have a lot going on! Be kind to yourself and have another glass of wine when you want it :-)

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    1. Ah... but too much wine puts me right to sleep!

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  2. Sounds like you need to rest and relax this weekend!

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    1. I actually find relaxation in doing things around the house so it should be fine.

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  3. Is there a recipe for that cleaner? I would be interested in knowing that :)

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    1. jj- the basic premise is that you are essentially making an orange peel tincture. I've seen various techniques- some use only the orange zest, others the whole peel, etc. Basically, it is steeping orange peels in white vinegar for 4-6 weeks. Right now I've got the peels of 3 oranges in a quart jar of vinegar. You shake it up every day or so and the orange oil, I guess, leaches out into the vinegar. I've never done this one before. I guess for heavy duty cleaning (stove tops) you use it straight. Otherwise you cut it 50/50 with water and use it in a spray bottle. I've already noticed that it smells more like oranges and less than vinegar and it's been steeping for less than a week. We'll see how it works.
      J

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