Traveling - Happenings

We have been traveling for the past week to pick up a car. The first car didn't work out. It had some un-diagnosed issues that we were not willing to take on.  We were blessed by our friends with this car instead. Plus, we had a wonderful visit with them. Blessings all around...

The car averaged about 32 MPG. This will save us on fuel. The chickens
are checking it out.

We discovered a new dip made with smoked beef brisket. It is delicious!

It was good to see Pikes peak again...

When we got back to the homestead it was a relief to see that everything was just as we left it. We had our prayers answered with safe travels and with keeping our home safe too. The chickens were glad to get out this morning. I spent hours unpacking and putting everything up. I lost my favorite hair clip and my favorite water bottle.

We divided up the trip on the way home and that sure made the trip back a lot less tiring. I went to bed last night about 7 pm. I slept for 12 hours. We stayed busy while we were gone getting up very early every morning and going to bed late. We had good food and great company. I'm hoping for another get together this fall. It may turn out to be a girls' trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. We also have some company coming at the end of May.

I took pictures. I will post them as soon as I can. It was so green compared to here. It was snowing when we got home. We were able to avoid all the severe storms by just a few hours. Severe storms frighten me. 

It was kind of a last-minute trip, so I had to catch up on laundry when I got back. I cleaned out the refrigerator and made Refrigerator Soup with the vegetables that needed to be used up before they succumbed to the inevitable waste that occurs when left in the refrigerator too long. 

I picked up a couple things from the Dogwood Festival. The leopard wood
scrapper is for cleaning my cast iron pans. The applewood smoked salt is
flavorful and smokey. A little goes a long way.
   

I opened the blinds this morning and discovered that it had snowed.

Number One Husband fed his kefir grains a half gallon of milk and put them
in the refrigerator before we left. He set them out on the counter when we got
back and they are very happy and ready to strain. 

This is what we have been up to for the last week. I almost have everything caught back up. I need to finish up posting all of our receipts in my expense journal for the month. I have a lot of receipts this month with two trips under our belt. I'm ready for our monthly grocery shopping trip next week. The refrigerator is in dire need of some fresh vegetables. I hope to catch up on my studies over the weekend. That's about it unless something else pops up. We are ready for the upcoming Sabbath to begin so we can have a proper day of rest...

Shalom,

Mrs. Smith

Alone...

Coming Soon! Extending the Table Cookbook Recipe Series.

I spent a week by myself while Number One Husband traveled to see a sick friend. I would have traveled with him, but he gathered all his (male) friends to show up over two days for a surprise visit and I felt that I would have been in the way. All of my friends (wives) work, so I decided I would be more comfortable alone in my own home.

And stayed home I did. For a week I did not see another human being. I spoke to Number One Husband just a couple of times. Our phone connections were not the greatest. It was frustrating, but we survived. By the end of the week, both of us were more than ready for him to get back home. 

I stayed busy for the most part. I did some much-needed darning, organizing, cleaned house, ate freezer meals and cleaned out the chicken coop. Towards the end of my alone time, I prepared biscuit dough for the freezer, made and froze breakfast sandwiches, marinated pickled chicken breasts for Number Ones return dinner, baked bierocks and for the Sabbath I made a large pot of soup that lasted beyond the weekend. You can find the recipe here: Nora's Hamburger Soup

I still had hours and hours of time to burn. In the evenings, I would do my studies and go through my new cookbook. I read each little story that described each recipe carefully marking each recipe that we would enjoy. 

I watched some of my favorite movies like Out of Africa and Pride and Prejudice. I really enjoy time period shows. I watched the first two seasons of Empress in a short time. I stayed up until 3:30 am that night. I only had two episodes to go, but I couldn't keep my eyes open. I woke up at 5:30 am and couldn't get back to sleep. It was preparation day, so I just stayed up and did my chores.

I stayed off the computer for the most part, hence the lack of blog posts last week. I still had a lot of time on my hands especially in the evenings. I found little projects to keep me busy during the day, but at night I was bored stiff. I could only take so much television after my Empress marathon. 

It's amazing how little effort it took to keep the house in order with just me at home. It snowed for three days, so there wasn't much I could accomplish outside until the weather cleared. I opened the blinds one morning and was blessed when I saw a pair of bald eagles flying low during their mating ritual. Eagles mate for life and raise their young together just like humans do. I truly missed my mate.  

I cooked all of Number One Husband's favorites to have on hand for his return. I was able to plan his arrival within minutes. I had fried pickled chicken sandwiches on homemade buns ready to eat when he arrived. I just needed to deep-fry the hand cut fries. I missed him dearly and wanted to show him how grateful I was that he returned home safely.

We have both been catching up on sleep this week. We must have needed it. We are getting back into the groove of things. I caught up on the laundry that came back home. We emptied the car and put away his traveling equipment. (Ice chest, suitcases etc...) 

Number One's trip down South was marred with weather related issues. He was re-routed over a hundred miles due to heavy snow and blizzard conditions. Other roads had winds so strong that it overturned semi-tractor trailers and trucks towing RVs. The wind was incredibly strong. The weather was perfect on his return trip. 

Absence truly does make the heart grow fonder. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my alone time. In fact, I seek solace daily for my studies, reading and to quiet my spirit and gather my thoughts. The world can be a very loud place. 

The sound of silence is just as loud. It is a constant dull hum from our eardrums trying to connect to any sound available. I really appreciated the sounds of the wind, birds and even the sound that the inverter made to help drown out that silent hum while Number One Husband was gone. 

This is what I have been up to lately and now it is time to rest. Have a blessed Sabbath...

Mrs. Smith