I thought today would be more like, ahhh yes, crochet and TV.
It ended up being more like, AHHH, fidgeting with printing things, a little bit of crochet, slow cooking a chicken for the week, making chili for dinner, visiting with a lovely friend & talking all things homesteading, running to the store, eating dinner, cutting up said chicken, saving bones for chicken stock, baking a cake, making frosting, frosting said cake, and making pie dough for tomorrow’s birthday dinner for my dad. AND doing all the dishes.
I am exhausted and my back hurts. But I’m happy. I got to do ALL the things I love to do. Except dishes. Those I don’t love to do. But, it gives me time to think on things, say little prayers, and just be thankful that I had a reason to dirty those dishes in the first place.
All in all, today turned out just like I’d hoped it would. Feeling accomplished and thankful.
Spent about an hour today digging in the dirt and loving on my little plant friends. Harvested some lemon balm and chocolate mint leaves and am having myself a delicious little cuppa. With just a splash of honey.
This would be so good as an iced tea, too! Doesn’t look like much, I know. But the flavor packs just the right wallop!
Happy first day of Spring! Spring has officially sprung here at the cozy cottage. The bedding has been switched from red and white to aquas, pinks, and blues. The bunnies have hopped out of hiding, and the flowers are beginning to bloom. The chalkboard even got a fresh spring makeover (it needs a true makeover in the sense that I have been meaning to paint it for ages now).
The first day of spring couldn’t be more beautiful if we planned it. High of 72° and sunny is the expected forecast today. Perfect day to go to an open house for a 1903 farmhouse nearby! Also perfect for finally getting our garden turned over!
Here are a few glimpses of our cozy cottage in spring…
I love changing up the chalkboard for all the things!Penny overseeing the makeover. This hutch so beautifully displays my grandmother’s strawberry Corelle dishes & my darling vintage Pyrex! Oh, and a cute crocheted chocolate bunny. Crocheted throw pillows can brighten or soften any space. Crochet = cozy
I do hope you enjoyed this little peek into our humble and cozy little cottage! Do you switch things up for spring?
That’s what this post will be all about today because I have one bajillion and forty-seven things rattling around in my brain. Maybe I should have titled this “Brain Dump #687”. Who can relate? I expect to see quite a few hands, friends.
Let’s just dive in, shall we? Chickens. We want chickens. We want a LOT of chickens. ALAS, we live in town, so we can have max 6 chickens. Nope, no room for chicken math here. Just 6. Our biggest obstacle in acquiring these little egg-laying darlings is the coop. No matter which way you spin it, unless you are gifted a coop, you’re going to be dropping some sort of wad on this puppy. I have been blessed with access to an endless supply of pallets, but even with that, there’s going to be a couple hundo in other materials and equipment needed. And that’s just for building the coop. And the last I checked, my rich uncle Maury hadn’t been released from the poor house, yet. Soo…. I have begrudingly pulled back on the task of getting my birds set up this spring. Instead, I will focus on my garden(s) and launching my baking biz and we will gradually work on our coop over the next year or so to be ready for our little darlings next year. Unless some other God-sized awesomeness meets us halfway. It could happen.
I just get so stinking excited to get things up and running, that that is all I focus/obsess on/over and then I get nothing else done. I’m just really ready to be out living my best life on my little farm. Who can blame me? *breathes* I just need to slow my roll and put all that energy into building the bank account to fund it. Heh.
Then there’s the garden. I WANT TO PLANT ALL THE THINGS. But I have one 4×8 bed and several containers. So I cannot plant all the things. Are you seeing a pattern here? Mmkay.
Then there’s my little crochet hustle. I WANT TO CROCHET ALL THE THINGS. Alas, I am one person. I currently have to make, no joke, 30 adorable chicken potholders.
Behold! The cutest chicken potholde/hotpad you ever did see!
But I love it. I am forever grateful and thankful for the gifts the Lord has given me. I have to give my attention to this avenue and figure out where I want to take it. How big do I want to go? Or do I want to go home? #SWIDT. I also want to get a head start on some other items and, of course, as a maker does, start thinking about holiday/seasonal makes! It’s never too early for a maker to be thinking of the holiday season. Especially, those who crochet, sew, and knit. These things take time! But, I digress.
Then, there is the whole dating thing. Good heavens. Dating in your late 40s is ROUGH, my friends. Add into that the fact that I am a diehard Jesus Freak and require the same of my potential spouse, and well. I’m just not sure the pickins can get any slimmer. Fix it, Jesus. But, I know He has a plan for me and it is far better than I can even ask or imagine. So I trust in Him. I will continue to do the work on myself and my relationship with my Father and become the best Ruth for my Boaz. With the trust of Hannah and the faith of Ruth, I press on! Because there has GOT to be some tall, dark, handsome, jack-of-all-trades, burly-ish, godly man looking for me. I JUST KNOW IT. Bless his heart.
And lastly, maybe, is the baking. I WANT TO BAKE ALL THE THINGS. But I need to hunker down and work out a plan. Right now I’m still getting feelers and collecting resources. We’re in the research stage. And by ‘we’, I mean me. For St. Patrick’s Day I had the hair to make something fun to celebrate with our traditional Colcannon and sausage dinner. What better thing than chocolate cupcakes with Irish cream buttercream frosting? It was a great opportunity to practice my cupcake decorating skills. My whole plan and idea for my little baking biz is NOT to do fancy. But simple, classic, and delicious cakes and cupcakes, breads, rolls, and cinnamon rolls and the like. And probably basic cookies. You know, like the kind mom and grandma used to make, but you don’t have time (or know-how) to do. Or, hate to do. Whatever.
Chocolate cupcakes with Irish cream buttercream. SO GOOD.
In the end, it will all work out as it is intended. I serve an awesome & MIGHTY God who loves me and wants the best for me. I continue to put my trust in Him and wait on His perfect timing.
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21
From Cottage to Farmhouse 