Free '23 - January

 Ending the month of January in my "Free in '23" challenge.

What have I been able to be "free" from?  

Well, on one small corner of my house (teehee), I decided to devote the top of my favorite cabinet to display monthly themed decor.  I really loved this month.  I reused some of the Christmas decor and added my little bear collection.  

I love the tiny bear!  Taking front and center is my newest bear, I'm calling him Charlie as I bought it from the Charles & Judy Melzer estate we did.  I love him!  

So a little work on "clutter free in '23" 

I also made up a recipe, really good actually, only I didn't write it down.  I plan to remake similar soon.  "Fat free in '23" is a zucchini, cranberry, applesauce muffins.  

I am now "garlic free in '23"  I used up all I had planted and in storage from my '22 garden.  I want to be better at planting only what we will use and not have so much spoil.  Although, on our list of things to do in '23 - is to build a root cellar in one of the stalls in our barn.  

Working on "guilt free in '23" too.  I always make myself feel guilty about things.  I mean not bad things.  Things like saying no or staying home or working when I don't want to (I'm self employed and my boss is terrible)!  So, I said no to going out of my way for several customers and chose time with my family instead.  I made a post on my business page and it was so well received.  It made me happy!  It's one step closer to saying "yes" less.  

I grew up in an extremely legalistic church.  As pastors changed the degree of legalism varied - which should have been a sign that maybe some of that wasn't biblical.  You can't "guilt" people into a relationship with Jesus!  You can't "guilt" them into a fear of going to Hell either...I experienced both.  I still believe the salvation issues of my faith, but no longer bind myself with the legalistic church standards.  My brother is my pastor now and I only feel guilty because I love him and want to show up to support him.  Anyway, it's been cold, icy, dark January....and I didn't want to go to church on a Thursday night....so, I sent this to the group....

Still working on me in '23.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Farmhouse Friday January 20, 2023

 

I had to quick take a picture of the barn while the sun was out.  We've hardly seen the sun for a month!  This week we had the whole gamut of weather.  I've been called "little miss sunshine" but, this is getting even me down!  

We live in Ringle, Wisconsin on 39 acres.  We have raised just about every farm animal you can think of here when our girls were home and in 4H.  I still have 2 rabbits (my little loves), a barn cat, 2 dogs and around 40 chickens of various breeds and ages.  Speaking of that, mine are laying again, just enough for us.  I hear eggs are expensive.  Well, you should try raising chickens....they are expensive too....ahahaha!

I'm still a 4H leader and we had our meeting this week.  I brought the recipe and ingredients to make a no bake cookie.  I was planning on leading it to the cloverbuds (K-2nd).  However, Esther, she is a few years older, came in with her little sister.  I asked "hey, Esther, do you want to run the project?"  Without missing a beat, she said "yes!"  It was so cute how she was talking and sharing tips.  I have to say, I was pretty proud of her!

I tweaked my neck this week - doing yoga I believe.  Good thing I had a therapeutic massage planned.  She really worked it over good.  I'm like 98% better.  

I worked at my little office space I rented.  I was pleasantly surprised that people are picking up their stuff.  I'm only open 1 day a week for now.  I have rows of boxes of "up coming" lots and when a customer comes in they can always pick in those before I post.  Truthfully, I can't believe how well this is working.  Not too many complaints.  Can't please everyone.  

This morning we worked early at our current estate house.  We have to go back early again in the morning.  We have the last lot drop tomorrow at 7 pm ish.  I say 7 pm ish as my nephew is getting married tomorrow.  A very small gathering and everything will be at their church and should all be over by 7 pm.  But, just in case...I added the ish.  

Well, I hope you all had a great week.  What plans do you have for the weekend?  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Silly Things Thursday

 I was in junior high school, home economics class.  We were divided into groups.  Each person in the group had a "job" to do for our project of making beef stroganoff.  Mine was to write down the recipe.  You know, you only have a class period to make it and be graded.  Anyway, my nerves got the best of me.  As we were making the stroganoff, ours didn't look like the others.  We called the teacher over and she said...."look at the recipe, it calls for 1 T of flour, you wrote down 1 C of flour!"  Oh, the other girls in my group (some of them were normally 'B oeches' anyway, hence my nerves to begin with) were so mad at me!  We had to put our whole dish in a strainer and wash it off (to save ingredients) and remake it.  Needless to say, I wasn't involved in the remake.  I still think of that today and now laugh as I think of their mad faces!  It's a funny food story.   Here are few funny food jokes:

"I like to cook dangerously, I take whisks in the kitchen."

"What do you say to an avocado who's done a good job?  Bravocado!"

"Did you know the first French fries weren't actually cooked in France?  They were cooked in Greece."

O.k. that's enough.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Farmhouse Friday - January 13

 It's Farmhouse Friday and it falls on the 13th.  Are you superstitious?  I'm not really, but I am cautious.  I'm super cautious lately, walking on the ice.  My sister fell and cracked her humerus in 3 places and her best friend fell and broke her wrist.  I have fallen a few times, but not nothing broke.  

My calendar unexpectedly opened up this week.  I have been wanting to clean out some of the food in the freezer, so, I did some cooking and freezing of extra meals.  Needless to say, I spent a lot of time in my tiny kitchen and I loved it.  

I roasted a small turkey and that pretty much featured the meals I made this week.  

The extra butternut squash, was made into the most tasty soup I've ever made!  It was so good!  I used the bone broth from cooking down the turkey carcass and heavy cream.  I could have licked the kettle clean....ahaha.  I did make enough to freeze and have another day soon.  

Turkey sandwiches ..... 

Turkey pot pie with puff pastry...

....and one for the freezer.

A bag of frozen, cut up apples from our trees, no sugar only cinnamon ..... to chunky applesauce

A couple tablespoons of that stirred in oatmeal, 1/2 cup warmed in microwave topped with a bit of whip cream (who needs the crumble) or just spread on some toast...so good.

We bought a whole hog from one of our 4H's, this is smoked ham hock and bean soup.  O.k. that's probably enough food pictures....wink, wink.

We have a new Aldi's near us.  I have never really shopped there, but I have been now.  The produce is amazing.  After my chiro appointment I went shopping and I ran into my friend's husband, he also said "this is the best place ever!"  They also just discovered it.  It's actually the closest grocery store for us.  Anyway, I spent several hours, washing, cutting up and preparing fruits and veggies, salads, pasta salad, tuna noodle salad for Al's lunch....it was hours!  I said to Al, "why does it feel like it takes forever to something right and good, but I can scroll Youtube and the time just fly by....ahahaha."  

I was happy to meet a couple at the Antigo estate for pick up of a huge icebox cabinet, yay, it sold!  While there, I did post several photos of items that are still available.  I worked at my office on Tuesday and posted the $10 Tuesday lots.  I was only able to work 2 hours at the Kronenwetter house, but Al is helping me over there tomorrow as I will be doing that lot drop at 7 pm.  

Lunch dates with my friend Dawn Thursday and my friend Renee today.  Good thing I ate all those fruits and veggies during the week.  

On the funny note, you know that post I did yesterday with the dolls in the chair.  I only posted that photo on my business facebook page, not the whole blog post.  I had someone say "I know where that shop is, it's in Stillwater, MN."  She even shared her photo of that same group of dolls.  I have had the greatest response to that single picture, silly as it is, than so many other posts I put more effort in.  I guess, more fun less business....in my posts.  

Well, I hope you all have a great weekend!  Enjoy whatever it is you will be doing.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Silly Things Thursday

 "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."  Proverbs 17:22

A few jokes to make you laugh:

"I inherited my great-grandfather's wig making equipment.  It's a family HAIRloom."  

"I have a friend who writes ballads about antique sewing machines.  He's a SINGer, songwriter it SEAMS."  

A sales rep, an administration clerk and the manager are walking to lunch when they find an antique oil lamp.  They rub it and a genie comes out.  The genie says, "I'll grant each of you one wish."  "Me first, me first!" says the admin. clerk "I want to be in the Bahamas, driving a speedboat, without a care in the world."  Poof she was gone.  "Me next, me next!" says the sales rep. "I want to be in Hawaii, relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse, an endless supply of Pina Coladas and the love of my life."  Poof he was gone.  "Ok, you're up," the genie says to the manger.  The manager says, "I want those two back in the office after lunch."  

Not sure what shop had this, but I think I would like the owner.

We did a sale with some pretty "interesting" dolls this past fall. 

 

I spent the night there with all of these....I had a customer say, "nope, nope, not me...." when she found out I slept there.  I didn't let my imagination run wild...it wanted to...ahahah!  

Happy Thursday!

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Farmhouse Friday January 6, 2023

 Well, not much going on at this farmhouse.  Winter is here, rounds of ice and snow.  I am still taking down the Christmas decor.  Redecorating with winter themed areas with a few Valentine things to be added soon.  I really enjoyed my home for Christmas.  I loved all my little vignettes.  

This was a shorter work week.  I started my January sales, $10 Tuesdays in my selling group:  Town Hall Trinkets Online Estate Sales.  We stated working at the next estate, everything will be posted in lots on the group.  I will do "lot drops" on Saturday evenings for that.  Fingers crossed, we may have sold a huge cabinet at the Antigo estate.  I wish I had room for it...ahahha.  It's been hard to meet up in this weather.  

I made an interesting banana cookie, which I was going to share, but I think I want to tweak it and make it my own recipe.  It may end up being a banana nut muffin.  

Many of our scheduled plans were cancelled this week.  It was all from the ice, in one way or another.   I was still able to have my Gramma Bird afternoon with Lauren (and Justine).  She is in half-day Kindergarten.  I pick her up and we "play" until Josh gets done with work.  Anna sent me pictures of my little grandson, Ezra, he is such a happy boy!  He is crawling and standing up next things.  He is tiny but strong.

We bought snowshoes for Christmas.  Al already was out in the woods with the dogs using his.  We are planning to go tomorrow.  I haven't been snowshoeing for years! The plastic cracked on my old ones and broke.  Anyway, something we can do together.  Well, he will be waaaaayyyy ahead of me...ahahaha.

Tacos for supper tonight, applesauce and some kind of ham bone bean soup tomorrow.   Do you soak your beans overnight?  Doing that helps with the "gas."  Beans, beans the musical fruit, the more you eat the more you....I do want to eat more, just not the other.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Silly Things Thursday

 We are at the point in the week where we all could probably use some silliness or maybe it's just me.

There are some real benefits to being silly.  Scientific ones!  

1.  Helps with anxiety, depression

2.  Boosts your immune system

3.  Lowers your blood pressure

4.  Relieve pain from chronic illness 

5.  Bible once again is ahead of the science...as scripture says:  Proverbs 17:22 (NIV) A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.  Laughter is a gift from God.  Laughter is a great way to stay encouraged. 

So, let's get silly.

An elderly man was boasting about his new hearing aide.  "It was $3,500!" he told his friend.  The friend asks, "what kind is it?"  The man replies "it's half past 4." 

Sandy, just returned from a trip.  She waited by the luggage carousel, but did not see her bags.  She goes to the desk to report her luggage missing when the attendant says, "you don't need to worry, we have professionals that handle that."  In her next breath she asks, "did your plane arrive yet?"  

o.k. one more for good measure.

What did the cat say after making a bad joke?  "Just kitten!"

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

January

 

January

by:  Jacky Luetschwager (Dicky Bird's Nest)

January, all cold and bleak,

icicles hang from every peak.

Your gloomy days seem so dark

but, your sunny days they warm our heart.

You're a fresh start to a new year,

with days full of planning and minds turning gears. 

No matter the challenges you may bestow,

I will not be discouraged, instead I will grow.

So welcome January 2023

I'm looking forward to what you will bring me.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

"My"onday #1 2023

Back to "My"onday - Mondays are My On Days

January 2, 2023 - #1

I had no idea how much the "Free in '23" would resonate with my followers.  I'm glad.  WE can be free of some unwanted things in 2023.  

Al is on vacation for 1 more day, so I'm not sure how much "my" on this day will be.  He and Paul are helping Lisa and I today at an estate sale house, so part of today will be working. 

I do love these first days in a new year to write in a new planner, set goals, plan new events and adventures.  I also love closing out the old year, putting things in a folder and filing away.  Part of "My"onday will be to do this.  

Our Sunday school service was very encouraging to me.  Our pastor read a portion of scripture I've read before.  However, he shed a different light on one word.  It really had my thinking on it and how much I think his view of this word in this scripture was true.  When we are in our "later days" - not as in the last days (end of times), but our body and it's age, the Lord God is merciful and will not abandon you.  (Dueteronomy 4:31).  

I think back on my mom, when at one time she had to go to a rehab center after a hospital stay.  She was unable, due to a stroke, to get up and "defend" herself if something happened to her.  She was always a fighter.  She made "kleenex bombs"....it is just what it's called.  She took kleenex and filled it with baby powder (all things in her bedside tray) and twisted up the ends.  She told me "well, Dicky Bird, if someone comes in here and hurts me, while trying to transfer me or move me over (that did happen), I will hit them with one of these "kleenex bombs."  It ended up being the facilities reason for "your mom will have to leave."  It's funny/not funny.  I wish I would have known to comfort her with this scripture - "in your later days, He will not abandon you, He will protect you."  I know she knew this, but acting on faith in it was tough for her.  As I age, I see why.

So for this "My"onday, I am encouraged in the message and motivated to act on my faith in His ability to help me too.  I first need to help myself, so He can help me move forward.

My parents, Henry and Christal.

Blessing from Ringle, Wisconsin.   

"Free in '23"

In case you missed this post, I explain my concept for 2023.  https://dickybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2022/12/2022-coming-to-end.html 

I'm going to pick things I want to "free" myself from in 2023.  The first is "Resolution Free '23" for January.  However, I was thinking my doing this "free in '23" is like a resolution....(eek).  

I like to make things "fun" or do things in "themes" it's a part of being an Enneagram 7 personality.  Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.  I plan to post the "free in '23" things I do throughout the year.  

1.  Resoultion Free in '23

2.  "Yes Free in '23" 

That is the current one I'm working on.  I have to say, I already was able to say "no" to something that would have been something I would have done out of "obligation."  I want to quit saying "yes" to things that over obligate me and my business.  I tend not to say "no" too much, as I am a people pleaser.  However, when I say yes to please others, the people who get pleased the least is me and those I love.  So, working on "Yes Free in '23."  Maybe it should be "yes less" but, you get where I'm going.  I need to catch up with what I already have going on, play pick up, clean up with what I have - all before I can say "yes" to more.  Moving forward.  Happy New Year!

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.