For my Five on Friday, I decided to post 5 things that inspired me this week.
1. The unseasonably warm weather we have enjoyed this week in my "neck of the woods." I was outside in only a sweatshirt...it's February in Wisconsin. The snow was gone, but like Winter in Wisconsin it returned today with 12" expected.
2. At the beginning of the week, I posted about "just keep swimming" - in relation to my business and slow sales. Well, I had a great week at my booths and even sold a huge cabinet I was not looking forward to moving to another booth...so YAY!
3. With the warm weather, I was able to go out in my pole building and dig for new inventory. I had a pile of hangers from various estates in my way, they were a tangled mess so I made myself organized them. I actually found $350 in a wallet that was sewn into a cover over one of those hangers. I was so excited....like a treasure hunt. This normally never happens, just so you know.
4. My daily bible reading. I find the more I read, the more His word is applicable to the world we live in. I was reading in II Corinthians 13:13 and this really struck me; "...live in peace and the God of love and peace will be with you." You all know that it has been a very contentious time here in the USA. Everyone is at odds over everything....it's really difficult to even have discussions with people. Anyway, I found comfort in that verse and happen to think...those rioting and protesting violently, are not at peace or living in peace...they won't find peace either. I'm all for standing up for what you believe in - having a voice - showing it...with actions...but, peaceably.
5. My husband's work ethic and ability to fix stuff himself and save money. He had a problem with his truck. He looked on you tube and found other people with this same problem and they showed how to fix it. He was able to fix it without taking it to the mechanic. He does this all the time. We had some bad news about our well...it is over 60-70 years old...anyway, he has figured out a way to "make it work (fingers crossed...)" until Spring when the professionals can dig in the ground....it's been warm, but it still is February in Wisconsin.
I hope you enjoyed reading my 5 this week. I look forward to reading others in the links too.
Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.
Linked to: http://lovemademyhome.blogspot.com/2017/02/five-on-friday-linkup-post-12.html
We have had unseasonably wonderful weather here in Wisconsin. So, I've taken advantage of that and worked outside in my trailer and pole building - shuffling inventory. Well, I did make some boxes for Goodwill, had a burn pile and found....$350! Yes, $350 in CASH. It was hidden in a homemade hanger cover...a wallet...I almost didn't even go through those hangers - yet again - they are such a tangled mess. However, I made myself do it and was rewarded (smile).
This is why, when you help grandma move, clean out a house or buy out an estate - always look in EVERYTHING.
I also went to look at a farm and barn pick. I took 1 load and will be going back for more. I will also be helping them with a digger sale at the end of April.
Those who dig, find treasure!
Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.
Linked to: http://www.mittenstatesheepandwool.com/2017/02/simple-homestead-blog-hop-92.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ClearwaterFarmJournal+%28Clearwater+Farm+Journal%29
"From This Side of The Pond" asks the questions, we answer...link here: http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/2017/02/gone-fishin-in-hodgepodge.html
1. Have you ever been fishing? Did you catch a fish? If so did you keep it or throw it back? If you haven't been fishing is that something you'd like to try?
I have fished plenty. If they aren't big enough we throw them back. The last time I went fishing, I took 2 boys from our church. They were catching fish like crazy.
Fish out of water, big fish in a small pond, living in a fishbowl, packed in like sardines, this is a fine kettle of fish, plenty of fish in the sea, or cut bait...which fishy phrase most recently applies to some area of your life?
I just did a blog post Monday - I say that I'm a little fish in a big pond. In relationship to my business and what I do.
2. What's something you're always fishing for in your purse, wallet, desk, or kitchen junk drawer?
Keys or a pen
3. Your favorite fish tale or movie?
This was also in my blog post Monday...http://dickybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2017/02/motivational-monday-just-keep-swiming.html Finding Nemo.
4. Are you sunrise, daylight, twilight or night? Explain why you chose your answer.
I am a sunrise, I love to wake up early and see the day begin.
5. What's the oldest piece of clothing you own and still wear?
Probably a pair of pajamas, they are old, but comfortable. No one sees them anyway...well....
6. We've got one more month of (officially) winter here in the Northern hemisphere. Are you feeling the need for a getaway? What's been the best and worst part of your winter so far?
Yes, I wanted to just keep driving the other day and end up someplace south of here for an adventure. The best and worst are the same...my husband had surgery and was off for 6 weeks. Best because we were able to spend time together and worst because I had to shovel and use the snowblower.
7. The Wednesday Hodgepodge lands on National Margarita Day...will you be celebrating? Frozen or on the rocks? Are you a Jimmy Buffet fan? If so, what's your favorite JB tune?
I don't drink. I do love non-alcoholic ones; raspberry or strawberry would be my favorite. I don't really know any Jimmy Buffet songs, but I do know the Alan Jackson song with him in it.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
Our state bird is the Robin. Here in Wisconsin, when you see a Robin, you know Spring is on it's way. We have an old saying, "it has to snow 3 times upon a Robin's back before we can see Spring." Do you have any sayings like this where you live? I would love to hear them.
Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.
Finding Nemo, is one of my favorite movies. Dory and her "just keep swimming...just keep swimming..." I can relate to that especially this past two weeks. As I have shared with you on my What I'm Working on Wednesday's posts, I've been busy getting ready for a sale and restocking my booths. Well, you know how things go, it just seemed that all that effort didn't equal the bottom line...not that I didn't do well...just, I had higher hopes.
I didn't get down about it, I just kept saying..."just keep swimming..." Without missing a beat, I kept marking and loading; driving here and there restocking and switching inventory from one booth/shop to another...it really is a job. I do all of this by myself. This past week, rolling a huge galvanized water/feeding trough from my van, around the corner, down the sidewalk to the shop, through the front door, squeezing down the isles, pushing it upright on it's end into the elevator door, squeezing myself in, once to second floor without a dolly, pushing it on the carpet all the way to my booth....ya, this is work! That was just one load. I did several at that shop and many others to another. However, I had a great weekend of sales! Yay! So, last week's work, paid off.
There has been some changes with how I have been trying to operate my little business (s - I'm involved in a few...)...."just keep swimming..." Even if you are a tiny fish in a big ocean, "just keep swimming."
Just when you think you might be swimming in a shallow pond...you get rain....it fills up your "pool" and you can face a new week with a new desire to swim.
In fact, today, I will be "swimming" at a farm/barn pick from a country neighbor who happen to call yesterday and say..."Jacky, we want to sell!" Yay! "I'll just keep swimming.....in my own pond....and not worry about other fish or where they are swimming" and I will EMBRACE it.
Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.
My refrigerator was beginning to stink...something was rotten. As I dug to find it, I started to fill my stock pot with the not so fresh vegetables I found. The rubbery mushrooms, the 1/2 of a red pepper, some bendable celery...you get the picture. I found the stinky...it was a piece of ginger I forgot about in the back of the crisper...not so crispy now.
The pot wasn't full yet, so I added some wrinkly potatoes, 1/2 of a container of dried tomatoes, bay leaves and some spices and then filled the pot with water.
Once it reached boil, I turned it way down to simmer for about an hour. After the vegetables where nice and mushy, I strained them off (that I fed to the chickens). The stock was a rich, dark color (was the mushroom and red onions).
I took that beautiful stock and added some fresh veggies, a jar of my garden canned tomatoes and beans. It was so good!
For me, one of the most rewarding things to do is take something that normally would be tossed or deemed "not worth the effort" and turn it into something great! Trust me, cooking this way IS worth the effort.
Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.
Linked to: http://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2017/02/simple-homestead-blog-hop-91.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OakHillHomestead+%28Oak+Hill+Homestead%29
Gingerbread Cupcakes:
1/2 C soft butter
1/2 C brown sugar
1 large egg
1 C heavy cream
1/2 C molasses
1 t vanilla
1 1/2 C flour
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1 t ginger
1/2 t nutmeg
1/4 t allspice
Cream butter, sugar and egg together. Add heavy cream, molasses and vanilla. Mix together with flour, baking soda, powder, salt, ginger, nutmeg and allspice. Line muffin tin, fill 3/4 full. Bake 350 for 30-35 min. Makes 12 muffins.
Frost with ginger butter cream - beat heavy cream, powder sugar, butter together with 1 t ginger - beat until light and fluffy. I didn't measure...sorry, but just like a normal frosting. I did grate some fresh nutmeg on top.
Tomorrow is our ladies bible study. I am talking about "God's Conversation Hearts" to us. I am making another batch of these cupcakes for tomorrow. Al really liked them - they are good without frosting as well!
Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.
Linked to:
http://strangersandpilgrimsonearth.blogspot.com/2017/02/the-art-of-home-making-mondays-please_13.html
http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/2017/02/foodie-friday-and-everything-else_16.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FkkeNxN+%28Rattlebridge+Farm%29
