Journal of My Week: Cozy and Warm

January 4, Saturday:  Gosh but today was a lazy sort of day and a chilly one, too.  I put a kettle of water on the stove to add much needed moisture and a slight additional warmth to the house.  John and I both felt we were fairly frozen.  

Home Economy in The Long Winter

The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder is a book just full of home economy.

The book opens with Laura and Pa working to put up hay.  Pa decided to cut the Slough grass and put it up, too, even though he said it was not the best hay.  Early frosts came that year and on the first day of October a killing frost hit the prairie.  It finished off the garden the family had planted.  

Their harvest was small.  Pa dug five bushels of potatoes, then they pulled all the dead bean vines and Pa set those aside to finish drying out for more food.   He figured they'd get about a bushel of dry beans from the vines. Ma and Laura gathered the tomatoes, ripe and green.  There were enough ripe tomatoes to make a gallon of preserves. Then Ma made 2 quarts of green tomato pickles from the green tomatoes.  

Pantry/Freezer Meals This Week

 

Technically I meant to begin this challenge last week, but John wanted to take me out to eat last Sunday and I had planned to get Chinese for New Year's Day.    Since this week begins our first full week of January, I think it's fine to begin with our meals on Saturday. 

I went to the grocery on Friday where I purchased fresh produce (broccoli, lettuce, Brussels Sprouts, onions, mandarins, apples, carrots, bell peppers, and cabbage), eggs, and half and half for my morning coffee.  I also bought cheese and cream cheese. For snacks, I bought chips.  John is giving up sugar in January, so I'll pull something from the freezer if I want a sweet of any sort.

To Do List for the First Full Week of January, 2025

 

The week behind was just fine.  I got enough work done to feel I'd made a right good start at the New Year.  I've also 'practiced' a bit at the fasting I plan to do for the 21-day fast. 

I thought I'd go back to my old habit of including a quote about economy on these posts each week.  I came across this quote last week on Jennifer's blog:

Jenny of Elefantz:  I was surprised last year when studying about economy to learn that the original meaning of the word 'economy' has nothing to do with government spending. Big aha moment to be sure! The original word is taken from the Greek oikonomia which means 'the management of a private household'.

Journal of My Week: Oh Deer!

 

Dec. 28, Saturday:  Last night when I shut the shades just as dark was coming in, I saw deer on the front lawn.  They come most evenings to graze on the front lawn.  Not at all unusual.  What is unusual is that a deer has literally been wandering the yard today.  Front and back and around the house, coming nearer and nearer.  That's unusual behavior.  Admittedly it's been nice to watch her.

Today has been easily as overcast as yesterday.  None of the promised rain has come as of yet.  My bones feel this weather.  

What's in Season in January?

 

I laughed when I read the Georgia farm chart for what was in season.  Sweet and to the point we had:

Collards, Turnips and Green onions.

I'm pretty sure there's a bit more food available this month, just not necessarily grown in my state!

New Year's Resolutions

 

I skipped making resolutions last year and you know?  I missed it!  I missed having a goal in the back of my mind to work towards and I missed the sense of accomplishment that comes when you either meet or are well on your way to making a goal.  I don't consider it a failure if I don't complete my goal, as long as I've made measurable steps towards it.