MerryHeartCrafts.comMountain Momma… Country Living

This is part of the book shelf that sits in our  dining room.  Hubby  transformed it from an old quilt rack into a darling bookcase several years ago.  I am so blessed to have a husband who is talented in the art of carpentry.  We are back from Jessica’s.  We  got some of the painting done.  We still have to finish painting the trim.  We had a great visit.  The only sad thing is that baby Sam got sick with strep throat while we were there.  This is his first real sickness. 

We haven’t done very much today.  We ran a few errands and visited some with the Horn’s.  It had been a long time since we visited with them.  We just wished it could have been a little longer visit.  We got a little snow over night but it is almost all gone now.  Temperature, though, was very cold this morning about 15 degrees with wind chills down around zero.  I think I would like some warm weather now. 

I am going to watch a movie I ordered from netflix.  It is called Sarah’s Choice.  I think it will be very good.  I saw the preview of it on the inspiration channel.  Enjoy your day and God bless.

Baby Sam LOVES food.  Yesterday, he discovered blackberries.  This boy loves every type of food he has sampled so far.  Brother Daniel, however, is a totally different subject.  Whereas Sam eats and loves everything, to Daniel almost everything is YUCKY.  Jess has to disquise all the fruit he eats.  They eat a lot of “purple snack” (blueberries combined with other fruit and pureed into total smoothness).    He can’t even suspect he is eating fruit.

Today temperature is not near as nice as yesterday.  Wind chills around zero this morning when we go up.  It has warmed up some though-mid 20′s with wind chill around 10 degrees.  Needless to say, I did not hang clothes on the line outside today.  We are doing school as usual, working on history now.   They are learning about Egypt.  Tonight’s menu is undetermined at this time.  I know, though, it will revolve around a deer roast, which is cooking on the wood stove as I type.

Enjoy your day and God bless.

I finally finished the apron using one of the new patterns.  What do you all think?  I think my other apron pattern was a lot easier and faster but I know it is time to step it up a notch.  My thanks to Grace for modeling for me.  I used some material I already had to practice on.  I’m not sure I like the rick rack, though.  I have another pattern to try and then I will decide which one I want to use for the matching mother, daughter, doll aprons. 

No church today due to bad weather conditions.  Dave, Jess, and boys did get to come yesterday however the wind came also.  It was just too cold for Daniel to play in the snow.  Wind chills below zero.  We had a good visit though.  I made fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, and homemade rolls for “lupper”.   For those of you confused by this term, this is when it is too late for lunch and too early for supper.  We also had cushaw pie for dessert with whipped creme. 

Now I must tell the story of why we had fried chicken for lupper.  Earlier in the week, Jess had mentioned she would like to have fried chicken.  As I knew they would not get to stay long, I thought something a little faster would be better.  I decided on hot roast beef sandwiches with green beans.  They called when they were on the way here and she jokingly said David would have liked fried chicken too.  This conversation was on speaker phone.  Hubby overhearing about the fried chicken, which happens to be his favorite meal, said “Oh, I didn’t know fried chicken was an option”.  By this time I am feeling a little out numbered so I decided to give in and make the chicken.  It was a wise choice.  Everyone enjoyed the meal and that makes this mama’s heart happy. 

Enjoy your day and God bless.

I took this picture this morning looking out from our enclosed front porch.  Yes, it really is as cold as it looks.  Actual temperature this morning was zero with wind chills about -15.  Maybe its warmer up north.   We certainly were thankful for the added warmth of the gas logs.   We went yesterday to get the tires on the car.  When we returned our water was frozen.  This never happens during day time hours.  We hooked up the heat light and PRAISE THE LORD it started running again around 8:30 P.M.  Needless to say, we left it on slightly last night. 

We have to take the car back today.  Something isn’t quite right with the right tire.  The car has a bad vibration in it.  I must say I do not look forward to going out in this cold weather but it has to be done.  

I know I’ve already posted a picture of the village but I thought it looked so good with the frost on the window behind it.  Enjoy your day, stay warm and God bless.

Our cheerful Christmas dishes.  These were bought for us several years ago.  We get them out every December to use.  I love cheerful, happy dishes.  After December, we get out our snowman dishes.  We use them through winter. 

Temperatures were too cold for any outside pictures today.  After the snow, our Floyd county wind moved in.  Gusts of 50-60 mph put the wind chills down at zero.  I don’t think our actual temperature will get to 20 degrees today.  Very cold!  We didn’t have church yesterday, the roads were too slick.  We spent the day snuggled in doing fun stuff and keeping warm.   I watched a movie on INSP channel-The Perfect Gift.  It was kinda like the “Joshua” books.  It was a pretty good movie to watch. 

I know I have showed pictures of rolls before but I don’t think I’ve ever shown loaf bread before.  I use the same recipe as for the rolls.  Actually, I use this recipe for lots of different breads.  I tried a new hamburger bun recipe yesterday.  We did not like it as much as our old recipe.  I am cooking a beef roast on the woodstove today.  I think I will add some potatoes and carrots in the pot.  Then maybe open a can of homegrown green beans.  Nice hot fresh baked bread.  YUM!  I also have a peach pie in the oven.  I hope I made everyone hungry.  I sure made myself hungry.

Well, school is calling.  Take care and God bless.

I apologize for not posting anything is several days.  Things have been a little busy here.  Julie is sick with a sore throat and head cold.  We took her to the doctor yesterday.  Thankfully it is not strep throat.  But she feels yucky just the same.  Rest and lots of liquids for her.  Also we have been doctoring Jasper’s (young dog) paw.  He seems to have stepped on somthing and run it through his paw in 3 different places.   The first day it happened he just limped, the second day it was swollen 3 times normal size, the third day it bled alot, then finally it has started ( I hope) to improve.  The swelling is down, he still can’t put any weight on it, but it looks much better.  Of course, he has been allowed to sleep on the enclosed porch, which I am thinking he likes WAY too much.  Cold temperatures here-below zero wind chills.  Wind gusts of about 60 mph.  We had to let the fire go out in the wood stove.  It was just too much smoke coming in the house, especially with Julie sick.  This is definitely on Hubby’s to-do list to fix this problem this summer. 

The pictures are of drifts in our side yard.  They are a little darker than I had hoped but you can get the idea anyway.  I estimate them to be over 4 ft.  Yesterday when we took Julie to the doctor,  the main road was pretty bad.  3-4 ft. drifts blocking one side of the road.  Lots of places had only 1 lane open.  When we came back, the road crews had cleared them.  Our road crews have definitely spent a lot of time working this winter.  Speaking of work, I guess I better get busy.  Take care and God bless.

Here are two new aprons I just finished.  I think the red polka dot is so cheerful.  I think it would make anyone happy wearing it around doing household chores, don’t you?  Today has not been a very pleasant day here in our little section of God’s creation.  High wind has been the main issue today.  Gusts up to about 70 mph and a steady wind of about 40-50 mph.  We tried to go down to the barn a little while ago to get milk.  The drifts were too high for our old 86 Chevy truck to get through even in 4wheel low.  The wind is blowing so hard, the chimney is having a hard time drawing, so it has been a challenge  keeping the fire going.   If you look outside, you would think we live in Alaska.  Of course, I’ve never been to Alaska, but it looks like the pictures I’ ve saw.  We awoke this  morning to single digit temperatures with below zero wind chills.  The temperatures did not come out of the teens all day and the wind has continued to blow stronger.  The weatherman says we are in a “nor’easter” ( I’m not sure I spelled that correct) until sometime tomorrow afternoon and then the wind will calm to about 20-30 mph.  Oh well, that’s winter.  Okay, I’ve complained enough about the weather for one day.  I know things could be so much worse.  We still have electricity, the water isn’t frozen and it’s warm inside our home.  God is good!  As my step-grandmother used to say “Praise the name of my King”  I pray you all will keep warm and safe this night.  God Bless.

Ok, so I’m really getting tired of cold weather and I thought I would have a little summer .  Garden growing, clothes drying on the line.  Mr. Scarecrow on duty.  That’s right.  Stop.  Take a deep breath. Imagine summer in full swing.  Not wind chills below zero, frozen water lines etc. Today has been a nice day, church was good.  The bad news was yesterday.  I went up to my cellar to get some canned goods and discovered my canned green beans had frozen.  I counted 40 quarts frozen and decided I didn’t want to count anymore.  I just shut the door and walked away.  I have never had cans to freeze before so I’m not exactly sure what to do.  I researched this and from what I have discovered,  as long as they stay sealed they should be okay.  I pray this is so.  So much work to lose them all.  Anyway,  it’s all part of life.  I’ve been busy making aprons and discloths to sell.  I have 3 aprons finished and working on the 4th one.  I have about 4 dishcloths made.  I am also working on another wall hanging.  This one will be for Julie.  Oh yea, I also have an afghan in the works.  This is all done in my spare time.  (What spare time?)  Well, it’s time for bible study.  Tonight’s menu includes brunswick stew, green beans(guess who’s bringing them) cornbread, mac & cheese and 2 different desserts, unknown at this time.  God Bless.