Weekend Vibes

 Weekend Vibes

Quilting and bread making, two of my favorite activities.

Finally getting a few moments to stitch up the backing for this quilt. A quilt top I finished two years ago. I presently have 12 finished quilt tops that need to be quilted and bound.

Sadly, I haven't been very motivated in my quilting journey and a journey I am very passionate about. In 2026 I hope to be much more motivated and re-spark my quilting passion.

A new passion of mine is bread making and I hope it continues in 2026 as well.

Leaf Peeper

Leaf Peeper

👀

It's that time of year where the leaves here in Tennessee really put on a beautiful show. I absolutely love this time of year.

These photos are trees in my yard and neighborhood. I took these this morning.

We had rain in the night so I knew I needed to get some photos before all the leaves have fallen.

Gardening Goals

 Garden Goals

For several years I have been wanting to build my backyard into a gardening haven of vegetables, herbs, and fruits ...

and year after year I fail miserably.

In the coming year, I have decided that I am going to focus on a small doable area. My inspiration comes for this book.

I've been complying the types of vegetables, herbs, and fruits I would like to grow. Along with some garden elements I would like to implement. Then this coming spring it is my thought to establish one garden element at a time. 

Once that garden element is fully established, I will add another ... and so on

Maybe 2026 will be my backyard gardening year!

Prepper

 Prepper

... of sorts

Over the weekend I prepared several 2 quart size crockpot meals to put in my freezer. I enjoy being able to put dinner in my crockpot before I leave for work and come home to a nice hot meal ready to plate.

I'm getting much better about prepping meals in advance. I shudder to think of all of the food I have wasted and/or thrown away because I didn't get around to preparing it before it spoiled.

Waste not Want not

Christmas Gift Giving Prep 101

 Christmas Gift Giving Prep 101

Homemade Vanilla

Several years ago I made homemade vanilla to give as gifts and it was a big hit. Since then I've been asked if I had anymore vanilla, so earlier this month I decided to make another batch.

As with the Cherry Bounce, vanilla takes it least 6 months to cure. This batch will be ready for Christmas gift giving.

BREAD

BREAD

I'm becoming more and more comfortable in my bread making. I believe that I have perfected the artisan loaf baked in my dutch oven. 

I believe it is time to start branching out and begin making different breads.

Sourdough, white bread loaves, yeast rolls ...

I think I am ready

 

Putting the Garden to Bed

 Putting the Garden to Bed

A late afternoon storm with wind knocked down the sunflowers that were still growing, so I figured it was a good time to clean up my little raised bed garden.

My sister sent me the seeds for these beautiful sunflowers.

The sunflowers did really well and the rosemary bush continues to flourish.

As much as I would like to be as good a gardener as my brother, that's just not the case. I enjoy playing in the dirt but I think I will stick to a few herbs and pretty flowers. 

Salsa Garden 2024

 Salsa Garden 2024

In November of last year my good friend, Alvin, gave me a raised bed garden knowing that I really would like to be a gardener.

In May my brother got me several bags of dirt to fill up my garden and shortly there after I planted a salsa garden.

Tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, rosemary, basil, and sunflowers.

At this point I realize that I am not much of a gardener. I don't think I have the patience for it. But we will see ...

AFTER - Privacy Fence Rescue

 AFTER

Privacy Fence Rescue

It is completely repaired, pressure washed, and ready for paint in a few days once it dries out a bit. I'm so happy with the results.

It is straight, sturdy, and pressure washed!

Thank you BRO for saving the day ... yet again!

#wearefamily

PROGRESS - Privacy Fence Rescue

 PROGRESS

Privacy Fence Rescue

And to think this all started when my brother offered to bring me dirt for my raised bed garden container ... YIKES!

So many things ... I'm amazed by my brother's knowledge of so many things, gardening, repair fences and mailboxes. Amazed and oh so thankful for his willingness to help me.

One of the privacy fence support beams had to be replaced. Post hole diggers and concrete were involved. Not to mention the removal of one panel to remove and replace the beam in question. He also stabilized the boards on both of the panels correcting the warped panel completely.

And, he brought the dirt to fill my raised bed garden container too!

BEFORE - Privacy Fence Rescue

 BEFORE

Privacy Fence Rescue

When I moved into this house 6 years ago, I should have stained or painted the privacy fence. The key words here ... should have.

6 years without paint/stain and neglect on my part and the privacy fence is warped, leaning and almost ready to fall down.

The Fence Doctor, a.k.a. my brother offered to come and help me make some needed repairs. Actually to assess if the privacy fence could be saved OR if it just needed replaced.

Happily, my brother assures me that it can be saved!

Stay Tuned for the rescue progress.

Homesteading - Gardening

 Homesteading

My goal is to mold my little plot of dirt into a sustainable little homestead. Presently that consists of learning about food. Learning how to cook, can foods, and bake from scratch.

Over the years I have also been working on gardening a bit. One year I helped my brother in his garden. I have my own small herb garden. I have also been reading about homesteading and gardening. This past weekend I built my first raised bed garden.

This raised bed was a gift from my dear friend whom also helped me put it together.

Getting ready for spring.

Bread

 Bread

I'm pretty determined to become a darn good bread maker ...

Proofing the dough ...

With the extra hour - due to the time change - I woke up early to bake my bread

The bread turned out beautiful and delicious!

WIN WIN!!!

Garden Window Update

Garden Window Update

I love my kitchen and my kitchen window garden.

My sister gave me this jade plant ... it was tiny ... now it is in two containers.

This container and the one below.

All of the plants love this window and seem to thrive not matter the time of year.

No matter the season, I love my little garden window.

As you can see ... the window garden is beginning to over flow a bit.

This garden planter has been purchased and it is my plan to begin doing a little gardening outside as well. It is my goal to one day have a proper little homestead of sorts right here in my very own backyard.

 

Sourdough Bread Starter FAIL

 Sourdough Bread Starter FAIL

Okay ... my first attempt at making my own sourdough bread starter was a fail but I'm ready to begin again.

I've purchased organic all purpose floor, a recommended mineral salt, and I continue to watch YouTube tutorials on making one's own starter.

I have decided to wait until the weather turns and becomes cooler ... and I switch over to heating my house as opposed to cooling my house.

Stay Tuned ...

I'm determined to figure this out!

My daughter keeps telling me that there is this new phase young people are talking about, it's call "Grandma Phase". She tells me that people her age are wishing they were taught the skills their Grandmother's have/had. Skills such as making their own bread starter and breads, cooking, quilting, knitting, sewing, crocheting ... and so on. When she first told me about it I wasn't sure whether I should be offended or proud that I'm in my "Grandma Phase", as she tells me. I have decided to be proud.

😃😃😃

Side Note: I have no grandchildren ... I do have two grandkitties - Maybelline and Jasper ... and two grandpups - Bella and Beau

Home and Hearth

 Home and Hearth

Getting ready for spring!

Spring?

I've lived in my home for 4 years now and I've been making a list of things that I want to get done. My Honey Do List, if you will. This year I had some landscaping done.

I had the monkey grass and landscaping beams removed from the flower bed in front of the house and from around the tree in front of the house.

I'm not a fan of monkey grass and I really dislike landscaping beams.

I love a soft scape when it comes to landscaping. 

It is my hope that I will be able to softly expand the flower beds in the front of my home.

I had heavy mulch laid down and the bed shaped.

I've decide on hydrangea and lavender for this end of the front bed as it gets a lot of direct sunlight.

I'm still not sure what to plant in front of the porch. It gets a lot of water from the driveway drainage and it is total shade. I would love irises but not sure if the bulbs would survive.

Anyway, the beds are ready for spring planting ... so I have a bit more time to decide on what to plant.