Friday, January 28, 2022

Farmhouse Friday 2022 #4 - Making the Best of It

 It's Farmhouse Friday! 

This week, my theme was "making the best of it."  "It" all started where I left last week Friday's post - on my way down to visit our daughter, Anna.  In route, Anna calls and tells me, "they cancelled the soap making class due to Covid."  Ughhh!!

So, we went to Fond Du Lac, where her husband, Jon, works, shopping for the afternoon.  We met Jon for supper.  Then Saturday we went thrifting at all of our favorites by her.  On the way home, I did NOT want to drive through Green Bay, as it was a late play off game and the traffic was going to be busy.  I took a new back road - it's my new way now.  Eventually, I do end up on the highway, but I was going west and literally caravans of vehicles going east.  What a disappointing game - poor Packers!

The rest of the week, well, it was pretty much the same - plans being changed, artic weather (one day was -35!), challenging family with an estate, messaging back and forth with a family member from that sale, the attorney's office and then the storage unit door being hit by the snow plow....I couldn't catch a break!


Here is the current state of my entryway.  Like 99% of that is sold, I wanted to meet with customers for pick ups, but it's just too cold!  Not to mention, I have my boots in the closet behind all that!  



After my "I Will Monday" - I came up with these to move me forward.


I had this happen too.  I rarely comment on stuff, I've seen awful things posted,  vile/hateful comments, but....this!  No!!  It's so annoying!  Moving on.....


Baked Oatmeal, YUM!

So, with a -22 here right now, today's plans have changed too.  So, I will be pulling sled fulls of boxes to the house today, from an estate I picked up inventory from, staging lots and getting ready for the next "Lot Drop" tomorrow for the new on line estate sale.  I wasn't planning to do this until next week, but the family on this estate too (yes, it's not all fun and games) want faster results.  I have no idea where all that will go, I guess I'll have to move these lots into the living room.  Sad thing is....I have buildings....one even has heat I could turn on....but, unfortunately, that one is full.  I must clean out, I must clean out, I must clean out....but, until that day (2022 do it for you) I'll make the best of it!

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Monday, January 24, 2022

I Will Monday - It's the Little Battles

 I'm sure you've heard sayings that mention "lose the battle, win the war;  pick your battles" those types of examples.  Well, I said one to my friend Lisa this past week that really stuck with me.  It was, "it's the little battles that wins the war?"  As soon as it left my mouth, I knew I would blog about it in this way.

I've always been at war with my weight.  I have recently followed the Noom program.  It seemed to click with me, as I lost over 25 pounds in 2020.  Noom's philosophy is not to keep you on their program for life.  It's not Noom's fault that I gained a bit back when I graduated from their program.  Like I said, I have had a lifelong addiction to and problem with my weight.  So, I'm back to keeping track of my daily progress.  

Last week, I was struggling with my cravings.  Al bought some frozen cookie dough from a coworker's child and we made a pan of cookies late in the afternoon.  I did track all of the ones I ate (sad face).  I still wanted supper, but I only had 189 calories left for the day.  I almost gave up, gave in to a big ol' plate of regret, but, I stopped.  I thought about "2022 do it for you" and that stupid TikTok "no one is coming, no one is going to..." (motivational speaker, Mel Robbins) and I changed my thoughts.  O.k, what CAN I have within 189 calories, I made a plan, and the most delicious egg white omelet.  Yay for me!

I had to stop and pick up a gas gift card, I was between appointments and wanted to get a cappuccino and donut, which is how I gained back part of what I lost.  I walked around the cases, I admired them, thought about how they would taste, then I thought about how they were made, what was in them, how I would feel if I did eat one....I left with a fat free vanilla cappuccino.  Yay for me!

There were a few other little examples from the week, that gave me the mental fuel to, the feel goods for, saying no to giving in.  How I felt for not giving in gave me the possitive affirmations for saying NO to to the next thing.  Yay me!  

So, I was thinking about winning those little battles.  You do win the war with all those little battles, as they build upon one another and give you the momentum for success.

Even after having a "cheat" visit with Anna, I still made healthy, moderate choices.  I don't feel guilty for the big bowl of pasta, I enjoyed it!  Today, I'm even more motivated to track my progress this week.  

So, the next time you have something really difficult to do, think about the little battles.  Start small, with something you can succeed in and build momentum from that feeling to propel your progress.   The more little battles you can conquer, the better chance you have to win your war.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  


Friday, January 21, 2022

Farmhouse Friday 2022 - Week 3 - Having Fun

 Good Morning!  Its a chilly....


.... -24 here in Ringle, Wisconsin.  We are always so much colder than even our neighbors.  Our farm sits low down by a little creek.  So, there's that today.

This week flew by for me, how about you?  

I did pretty much finish posting the lots for the "storage unit" estate sale.  Between selling pieces from the unit and the 3 "lot drops" I hope to have the unit empty by next week.  If a few things don't sell, they can come back to my farm so that the family doesn't have to pay another month's rent.  



Some of the items I posted last Saturday.   I do ship, it takes me longer to get it to you, but I do.  Here is the link the the group should you ever want to see what I have available:  Town Hall Trinkets Online Estate Sales

I had fun on my "Lauren Day" my daughter had a conference she was attending, so I was over there longer.  We played "vet" pretty much all morning.  I came up with some pretty interesting ailments for her horses and other toys to have.....ahahaha.  After all that....we both needed a nap.   I know these days are numbered, as she will be going to school in the fall.  I am going to enjoy them all the more!


On the Thursdays that I can, I want to spend it "thirfting."  The picture above shows a few things I picked up yesterday.  My calendar quickly gets filled with things I "have to" do; I want to mark certain days for things I "want to" do.  Now, some of these #thriftscorethursdays, might be in my own "thrift store/pole building/shop/studio/trailer"  I bought out 2 small estates in 2020 during Covid quarantine that I have barely sorted through.


Every time I see these little chenille chicks, if they are reasonably priced, I buy them.  I remember having similar in my Easter basket as a child.  

My friend, Renee and I also went to a very cool quilt shop we go to a few times a year.  They recently built a new facility and retreat center and it was our first time going to that location Primitive Gatherings  Renee, is a quilter and her finished pieces are amazing.  She relies on my "artsy eye" to help pick out fabrics...teehee.  I love going because of the wool!  Also, the clearance and mark down area!  Good deals!   I found a stash of felting needles, on clearance, cheaper than I could have ordered them.  I have 2 classes coming up and I will need them.  

This morning I'm off to visit Anna.  We are taking a soap making class at a the Ledge View Nature Center in Chilton, Wisconsin tomorrow.  Today, I'm sure we will have fun eating and thrifting.  Funny how I said eating first....ahahah

What fun things have you been doing this week?

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  


Tuesday, January 18, 2022

It's About Creativity

Good Morning.  I'm sitting here trying to be creative.  Thinking of interesting content, what I could find to stage a picture, funny little "reels."  I don't know if it's January in Wisconsin kind of thing, I'm old kind of thing, but I'm out of new ways to reach an audience.  EWWW I just thought about that!  An audience...I'm such a 7, the entertainer.  I really don't like 7's...ahhaha...they are annoying....(wink, wink).

I really started this post to somehow work this in:  

I was pleasantly reminded recently from a much younger, very successful, content creator, influencer (2.23M subscribers), that "all 'that' isn't real and didn't make him happy."  He had taken a bit of time away from "working the numbers" and found that he would rather "just be creative" than "having to create content and or collaborate with others."  

This had my thinking about my own progress.  And then I had to think about the word "audience."  I guess I haven't made as much progress as I thought.  Because, I'm still seeking an audience.  On many of the platforms, my ship has sailed.  I was captain for decades, in a sea of rough and placid waters.  Now, I just want to be 2nd mate and go for a boat ride.  It doesn't matter that I'm stranded on Gilligan's Island and others appear to be celebrating on white sandy beaches in Maui.  I just want to be happy and creative; do my own thing.  That is the truth!  Only my 7 gets in the way!  

During Covid, when all the sales were cancelled, Lisa and I were so creative!  We set up these vignette sales.  I wrote story lines to go with the items.  I shared those in blog posts:  Evelyn's Wedding Dress that is a link to one of them.  I miss that!  


I'm not sure how 2022 will go for my business,  Town Hall Trinkets, LLC but, I know I will strive to be more creative.  

Do you have a small business?  Where do you find your inspiration?  I'd love to follow along, please share.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  


Monday, January 17, 2022

I Will Monday - Psych Tricks

 So, I'm at this point....tricking myself.  Thing is, I have always had to do this, I just didn't know it was called psych tricks.  I was thinking, when did this even start?  


I remember this day clearly, as both my mom and a family friend, Rocky, had to trick me into taking my picture.  I did not want to wear that red shirt.  Rocky, just bought a new camera that took color photos, ya it was a big deal, he made all of the colorful vignettes and took our pictues.  

I wrote the blog post about washing dishes last week and the saying "sweeper takes all" - a little "trick" my family had to get someone to sweep.  So, I asked social media, "what is a psych trick you use?"  Most of the answers were about kids or when they were kids.  Here are some of them.

"My mom would say, 'I think I lost a dollar!' to get us to pick up"

"My grandson was 3 and didn't want to finish drinking his milk so I told him it was muscle juice and it would make him big and strong.  From then on, he would drink his muscle juice and then flex his muscles afterward."

"My mom would say, when my niece didn't want to go down for a nap, 'just lay down, I'll count to 100 then you can get up' she fell asleep long before 100."

"When my niece was little, I tried not to swear in front of her, instead I would say 'how rude!' she started saying this when someone did something not nice."

"When my grands didn't want to leave, I would say 'do you want to come back sometime?' they would say 'yes' then I would say 'then you have to go home now so you can come back again."

Tricks work with children, I know, I've worked with lots and on a wide range of the spectrum.  I remember this one time, I was a teacher's aide in the CD/LD room at my daughters' grade school.  Upon entering the room I saw the teacher chasing a student, who was blowing his recorder loudly, around the room.  I said "woohoo that was great!  You sure can play that recorder!  I tell you what, how bout you play as loud as you can and the whole class will cheer for you, but when a minute is done, you will give me the recorder okay?....ready, set, blow."  The whole class with my lead clapped and cheered. "O.k, the minute is done," and I held out my hand.  He gave me the recorder and I turned it over to the teacher....she looked mad....and I said "when you're a mama, you will figure these little tricks out too." 

Tricks/pshych tricks - I say potato/patato, tricking to motivate is as old as mothers!  

Do you have any that you grew up with?  You maybe used on your children?

"Oh, raking leaves is so much fun, we can make a huge pile to jump in."  "I bet, you will find money, if you help me clean up after the flea market, people always lose money."  

The flea market one worked, because they actually did find money on more than one occassion.  So the trick became a reward.  It was because they found a $20 one time that made that #psychtrick work.  

So on this "I Will Monday" I will use my very own #psychtricks on me.  Some will be new and others I've used before.  It is the later that I know from experience holds a reward if I just stick with it.  "Oh Dicky Bird, I bet if you clean out that storage room of yours, you'll find a treasure."  And, I usually do...or at least something I forgot I bought.  You don't have to be a child, just childlike for these to work....ahahah.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.    


Saturday, January 15, 2022

Teaching Needle Felting - Gnome Class

 Good Morning.  I did have plans today to teach needle felting in Shawano County for the 4H Super Saturday event.  However, that has been cancelled.  I have all day now to work on the estate and the lots to be posted tonight at 7 pm.  

I thought I would share the next class I'm teaching for Shawano County.  Needle Felted Gnome.



Just before Covid - I taught a Gnome class.  Here are 2 samples.

Here it the link to the event:  Shawano County Library - Gnome

I was thinking about gnomes, because I found the cutest gnome themed runners and tablecloth at a thrift shop.  




I am going to keep those up as my winter decorations and add some valentines.  I think these are so cute!

I am renting the Ringle Town Hall for a "pop up" style jewelry estate sale.  It costs me the same to rent it for 2 hours as the whole day, so I decided to host another gnome class.   Here is the link:  Jacky's Gnome Class


Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  


Friday, January 14, 2022

Farmhouse Friday 2022 - Week 2

 Welcome to Farmhouse Friday 2022 Week 2.  How are things at your house?  Did you have a good week?  We had a wide variety of weather here in Wisconsin that had me in the kitchen, my happy place.  I enjoy cooking, especially when I have someone to cook for.

I roasted up some sweet potatoes, squash and carrots to make soup and veggie lasagna.






From this I made lasagna, well 2 actually, Al wouldn't like this (wink, wink).  I like to use bread loaf pans as they are 2 noodles wide.  The other is just red sauce.







Extra veggie puree, red sauce = soup for the next day




I was stuck at home because it was too cold for vehicles to start,  so I made 2 pressure kettles of bone broth.  Beef, ham in one and turkey in the other.  I also had some beans soaking in baking soda water to make soup.  








Besides cooking, I did get back to posting lots on my online estate sale business.  I was very happy with the response to a "lot drop" for one estate.  I posted 35 and 32 sold!  Thanks!   

I also, continued my posting for another estate and decided to set up an actual little "pop up" estate sale on February 5 from 10-noonish.  It is for over 400 pieces of designer silver jewelry, make up, hair products, luggage, jewelry cases and other items purchased off QVC - most are new and like new.  

Oh, I did some other "business" related things, but this is getting long already.  However, I will leave you with a picture of some items I picked up Thursday in Appleton when I went "thrifting" with my friend Jean.  


Jean sells on Etsy.  She is very talented and currently is making beautiful clothing out of quilits.  Here is a link to her Etsy shop:  Tilliegirlstudio 

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Dirty Dishes

 

As I was working yesterday, washing several sinks full of dishes, I was thinking about the order that I wash them.  I was thinking of my mom, who probably washed more sinks of dishes than anyone I know.  My memories of this childhood chore involved my sister Lori, she is my next oldest sibling.  She washed waaaaaaay more dishes than I did.  In fact, her boyfriend, who is now my brother in law, use to say...."why can't Dicky Bird wash those dishes so you can go?!"  Well, that's the beauty of being the baby!  

"I wash you dry and sweeper takes all!"  Did you say things like this?  We had a large family, so one never knew what treasure the sweeper would find.  What a way to make that seem like a fun job.  LOL.

I do use the dishwasher daily, but I was really using lots of kettles, utensils in which needed hand washing.  So as I was washing, I was wondering if anyone else washes in this order.  So, like any 2022 person, I asked facebook....ahahah

Are you kidding me, I had so many comments on that post.  It seems, washing dishes, struck a cord with so many.   The consenus is that you wash cleanest to dirties.  Glasses, cups, plates, let silverware soak, pans and kettles in that order for the most part.  It was 50/50 on who still washes by hand and who likes to.  A tip is to fill your sink and wash as you work.   My friend Ronnie reminded me of how we learned this stuff in Home Ec class.  I have a funny story about that class, I'll save it for another post!  

My mom had a little plaque in the kitchen and it said this:  


I was thinking that too....

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Monday, January 10, 2022

I Will Monday - Goals

 I've been thinking about goals.  Webster defines a goal as the object of a person's ambition or effort; or aim or desired result. I have set many a goal in my time.  Often when we do not meet our goal, we feel defeated and maybe even give up on it.  

When you set a goal, sometimes, you've told people, posted about it on social media, in hopes of self accountability.  Then the questions from friends, "hey, how's the....coming along?" that moment right here....this one....that feeling....is where my post about GOALS is, because I hate that feeling!  

So, on this cold January morning, for my "I WILL Monday,"  I will reboot the idea, start over, get back to the basics, adjust the goal to physical ability, keep quiet about it, be nice to me along the way.  

I'm so glad my daughter, Justine, asked us to do the Enneagram personality test.  I have posted about it before.  I am a 7.  As I look more into it, I am able to understand why I do some of the stuff I do and how to work with it.  In fact, we were at the store the other day and I turned to her and said "I'm going to be a 7 so fair warning..." ahahah!  



I asked my friends to tell me what is 1 goal you are working on in 2022.  Overwhelmingly, it was what I would lump into "self:"  be a better human, giving grace to self as I do others, letting go of past hurt, anger, grudges, finding balance in work and home, finding my new normal, time management.  The next would be "education:"  read more, take a class, learn something new each month, hobbies.  The last one I would say would be "projects:"  finish trim, pain the kitchen, work on our fences.  

What this little poll tells me is, when it comes to goals, working on "self" is very important.  Even the "education" is working on that as well.  My hope in writing this post, is to remind us, that as we work on our goals, we need to think about GOALS in a new way. 

Then, I happen to think of what a GOAL could look like:   

G gift                       G giving               G growing

O of                         O ourselves         O our

A allowing             A ability (for)      A acceptance (to)

L love (to)              L long term         L Life's

S self                       S success              S stages

I thought those were good, if I do say so myself.  Our goal shouldn't be to "beat ourselves" up for not meeting it.  Nor giving up on the idea of your original goal.  Our goal should be to love ourselves as we work on ourselves.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

  


Friday, January 7, 2022

Farmhouse Friday 2022 - Week 1

Well here it is 2022 - week 1 

This week, I still let myself get back into working...I mean, I thought about working...I met someone at a storage unit....sold a few things...used the sled to haul some tubs to the house....but, that is about it.  So not much to report on that.

After I cleaned out my pantry, I found so many interesting things to cook with...teehee.  One was a bag of wheat berries.  I think I thought I was going to grind and make my own flour...ya, that didn't happen.  I don't even have a grain mill....I did sell one though...ugh!  

Have you ever cooked with wheat berries?  I looked for ideas on pinterest and made a few things.  First, you need to plan your time when using wheat berries as they need to soak and cook.


 As long as I was doing all that, I decided to cook up a bunch...what was I thinking....one can only eat so many wheat berries.  So it was wheat berries all week.  

Greek, wheat berry, feta salad

Wheat berry granola


I even added them to beef stew, it's like barley.



In the above picture, the top was before I cooked it all afternoon in a 250 degree oven - stop it!  Fall apart tender!  

I also found some dry garbanzo beans, why? I have no idea - ahaha!  So I soaked and boiled some of those too.  Actually, I liked them!  I added them to the air fryer, EVO and garlic salt - if you've never done this, you should try it.  You can use a can of beans too and not have to cook your own.  They reminded me of corn nuts.  I've added to my salads and snacked on them. 


I did work on putting Christmas away.  Ginger, helped....when will they outgrow the chewing?!  Look at my walls in the one picture....


That was a cute little pillow my friend Diane H. made.

Everyone around me has either been sick or is sick.  I was talking myself out of a scratchy throat and decided to drink some spicy broth.  I will do this every day, maybe for a few weeks.

Wisconsin, like many of the rest of you, has had some "weather" it's been cold and getting colder.  So, I added some fresh bedding to the chicken coop.  I do this often in the winter as everything in the coop is frozen - including the poops.  So, I just add more bedding until a nice January thaw day or spring (wink, wink,).




Well that was pretty much my week here at my farmhouse.  What have you been doing at yours?  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.