Hey friends! How are you? How has your holiday celebrations been so far? Ours has been very low-key. And if you follow me over on instagram and checked my stories you’ll know we are knee-deep in some farmhouse renovations and decorating. We’re making some minor (very minor) updates and have been working very steadily on them these past few days. I just wanted to check in, throw some pictures your way, see how you’re doing, and then I’m off and running. Today I’m making bread (need to go put that in the oven), making venison stock (from the deer I harvested), finishing the chalkboard wall, and sorting out the canning jars. Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve and we’re celebrating at home (we were gifted an Omaha Steak package so we’re having steak, twice-baked potatoes, and brussel sprouts. YUM!). Then on Wednesday I’m canning all day–venison stock, grape juice, and beets (I just went to the store and found a 10 pound bag of beets for $5! That’s my kind of deal). Okay. I’m off and running. I’ll check in with you all very soon. Until then–Happy New Years!
PS-be on the lookout for these upcoming posts:
1. Year End Wrap Up
2. Chicken Librarian Reads Book Group-Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
3. January 2020 Coffee and Pie Chat
Daenel T.
I enjoy seeing the photos from your daily life. They’re so comforting.
The Hubs and I have been talking about doing some updates around the house. I think I told you that we’re looking at the laundry room… But we keep getting lazy. LOL
I can’t wait to see your chalk wall. They so fascinate me.
chickenlibrarian
Thank you! What a compliment! It’s fun taking photos from everyday life. I forget to do it sometimes but this whole nesting thing I’ve been going through lately has me wanting to take pictures of it so I can remember (try to capture) that feeling! And all the work we did too. HAHA. It’s been a lot of work and we still have some plans to execute but I’m happy with the results thus far. I don’t blame you and the Hubs for having other priorities other than renovations/redecorating.
I’ll share pics or a video, or both, when we’re closer to completion. I keep sharing pictures and then we change something else! I guess it never ends. You can always find a different place for that basket or that chair. LOL.
Happy New Year!
xoxo
-k
Tracy
Happy New Year’s Eve! Wow, can you believe we are almost through the holiday season? Swooosh! There it went! 😀
Sounds like you and the Mister have been very busy. I *love* the watercolor (?) of the girl and the chickens. So delicate. 🙂 We briefly thought about doing a chalkboard wall in the kitchen when we were deciding on painting , etc. We chose to just paint (sand color) instead, but I do think those chalkboard walls are very interesting.
We use a couple of empty cans with interesting labels as kitchen containers, too! I have an over-sized 6+ pound (now empty) can of SuperDolce Stanislaus Salsa per Pizza that hold all of our folded Baggu shoping bags and a smaller Tuttorosso Tomato Puree can that’s now housing my envelopes of seeds we harvested from the 2019 gardens. I love using the cans because, one, you can swap them out for others and do a decorating change-up when the mood hits, and two, they are recyclable – so no guilt about updating “decorations.”
Sounds like a lovely NYE dinner! Do you stay up until midnight? Mr. Gordon and I were just talking about whether or not we’re staying up until midnight. He’s for it – which is funny since if we “stay up” I’ll be waking him up for the midnight toast. Ha! We’ll see. Speaking of NYE dinner… I must run and start the dessert for tonight. That’s one thing I can do in advance! The rest might be a little tricky. I wish I had two ovens (My Mom had two when I was growing up.) I haven’t revealed the menu yet, hehe, and will be doing that later. I have to draw it up first. (Another New Year’s Eve tradition Mr. Gordon and I have been doing for awhile now.) Hope you and your Mister have a fabulous day! Happy New Year’s Eve! 😀
PS: I LOVE beets. Highly recommend as easy to grow (direct sow) and fabulous – you can get seeds from Hudson Valley Seed Co.: Ruby Queen Beets. If you plant them, they will be among the first produce you harvest from your garden. You can also plant in succession for beets well into the fall. If you are a beet-lover, growing beets is a worthwhile crop IMHO. And, they are easy to put up. We can them and also freeze them!
chickenlibrarian
Happy New Year Tracy! You celebration sounded (and looked) wonderful! What a lovely tradition you and Mr. Gordon have. And I also like that you trade off each year.
The watercolor, yes! I forgot to mention that. Maybe I’ll post about it in my year end wrap up. I need to mention that artist so that’s a good way to do I guess. I found her on Instagram and I think it was pretty inexpensive-$25 or so. I thought it was super cute! I need to finish painting the chalkboard wall. Hopefully tomorrow. Today is canning day. We have friends coming over so we’re having a big crafting day. So painting will have to wait again. But it just needs one more coat. Tomorrow morning, hopefully. I was supposed to finish it yesterday but the power went out so we went out running errands instead.
And I don’t know why I didn’t think about the can idea for holding kitchen utensils. I kept that can because the label is actually printed on the can and I thought I would use it as a planter. But I never did. And I’m glad. It’s the perfect container for keeping utensils. And yes, it’s totally environmentally friendly! It’s the best of both worlds.
Did you make it til midnight? I never do anymore. I used to stay up and then call my mom at midnight (today’s her birthday). But I’m an early to bed, early to rise kinda gal. Although lately I’ve been staying up later and later. I need to change that. It’s funny how quickly something becomes a habit! Hmmm…I should think about this in other areas of my life. LOL.
Okay. Off and running. Trying to catch up on blog reading and commenting in between getting ready for our crafty day. Happy New Year to you and Mr. Gordon! I can’t wait to see what all 2020 brings to you.
xoxo
-k
Bekah
Happy New Year! It sounds like you and your hubby have had a great week between Christmas and New Years. We made it back in town from our annual winter get away just in time to celebrate New Year’s Eve with some friends. It was a great time to get a way to the mountains for a few days and then a fun evening spent playing games last night. I almost made it to midnight…but not quite. Oh well!
I wish you the best this year Kristin!
chickenlibrarian
That sounds wonderful! I’ve seen where a lot of people got together for NYE with friends and played games. I think that HAS to be our plans for next year. I never make it til midnight anymore! One year we watched the ‘ball drop’ so-to-speak in a different country at 10PM and called it good. HEHE!
All the best in 2020 to you and your family Bekah!
xoxo
-k
gkgirl
loved the photos! and mmmmmmm….homemade bread.
yum!
🙂
chickenlibrarian
homemade bread is the best!
Happy New Year!
Shugunna Alexander
Happy New Year my lady!!!! Sorry just making over, couldn’t shake my vacation hiatus, lol. Homemade bread is the best! I use to can fruits with my grandmother when I was younger, I found it relaxing. I’m hibernating so not really thinking about renovations right now but can’t wait to see your chalk wall! Great pictures. Take care…
chickenlibrarian
ooh! I hope you totally enjoyed your vacation!! We need to take a breather every now and again. I get it. I sure missed you though! I’m glad you’re back. I always enjoy hearing from you.
xoxo