February Goals: Final Update

February was such a crazy month.  I felt two steps behind the entire time.  Now here I am dragging up with my goals update on the last day of the month. Here is hoping that March will be calmer, and I can get back to a regular schedule.


1. Finish Five Styles of Easter Baskets
I only managed to finish two styles of Easter baskets.  I am planning to work hard on the other three over the next week as we are expecting rain and then cold temperatures.  I ended up staying busy with coin purses and the pet in a jar.

The chick and frog baskets both turned out well.  Thank goodness Easter is a bit later this year. 


2.  Organize My Makeup Drawer - Done
I have kept this area neat.  I still have some samples to use up. The ones that are left are corralled together rather than being scattered everywhere.


3.  Clean Out/Inventory Freezer and Make Some Freezer Meals - Done (Mostly)
I still need to take the squash to my mother-in-law.  I have been using the inventory sheet to keep up with what I use.  I did make a few freezer meals just not as many as I hoped.  I am going to call this one a success.  Having the freezer organized is very helpful.  Now if I can just keep it from getting into a mess again!


Please come back tomorrow for my March goals. 

Pet in a Jar

Several weeks ago "wolfek" asked if I had seen the small fish suspended in a jar.  It reminded me that W had shown me the same thing.  I searched and found the pattern here by Eden Reborn.  The original design and most others I have seen use a glass jar.  These are nice for adults, but I see them as wonderful gifts for children.  Other children may be very careful, but the ones in my family can be a bit clumsy.  I pictured the jars dropping and shattering.  I opted to go with plastic jars.  The trade off is that they are not perfectly clear - even though they are close. 

They turned out so cute that I decided to see what else I could crochet to put in a jar.  I found a octopus pattern by Sarah Hearn.  I used a thinner yarn and smaller hook to make it fit into the jar.

W decided that the octopus was his favorite.  I currently have four colors of those. 

I hope to get them on Etsy soon.  For now I have the information about them on my Facebook page.  A big thank you to wolfek for reminding me about this project idea. 

February Goals Update: Week 3

W and I made two trips to Florida in less than a week and just felt terribly out of sorts all week.  This week started off less quiet than I had hoped.  After today things should get back to normal. 



1.  Finish Five Styles of Easter Baskets
I did nothing on this goal.  Instead I worked on some small items for an upcoming farmer's market sale.  I do need to get serious about this one.  The baskets are not terribly hard to do.  I just need several hours to focus on them.

2.  Organize My Makeup Drawer
I did not use too much out of there this week.  I am finding that I can wash my hair 3-4 times using one sample.  I did wear lipstick/lip glass more this past week since I could actually find them.

3.  Clean Out/Inventory Freezer and Make Some Freezer Meals
I added taco seasoned meat to the freezer this week.  I did cook more from the freezer.  Having an inventory and an organized freezer made it easier to find things.

Weekend Book Reviews

Violet Tendencies by Kate Dyer-Seeley is the second book in the Rose City Mystery series.  Britta and her aunt Elin are thrilled to be designing a float for the city's rose parade.  A group of protesters are doing everything to stop the parade and ruin the town's peaceful setting.  When the group's leader is found murdered, the situation reaches a breaking point.  The subject matter was a touch heavy for a cozy mystery.  The author handled including politics better than other books I have read.  I do prefer the more traditional cozy storylines.  The plot moved along quickly and kept me entertained until the end. 

The third book in the Rose Avenue Wine Club Mystery series by Christine E. Blum is The Name of the Rose.  Annie and her fellow wine club members find themselves in the middle of another mystery when one of the members is accused of being involved in illegal drugs smuggled through the local airport.  When a mechanic at the same airport is murdered, the mystery becomes more complicated.  The characters are fun and quirky.  While I know very little about wine, I do enjoy this series.  This book did not disappoint.

The Body in the Attic by Judi Lynn is the first book in the Jazzi Zanders Mystery series.  Jazzi and her cousin Jerod are house flippers.  While working on their latest project, they discover a body stuffed in a trunk in the attic.  It turns out to be Jazzi's aunt who everyone assumed had moved to New York and never looked back.  Jazzi teams up with the local detective to solve that mystery when another body turns up on the property.  The characters were fun, and the series has promise.  My only issue was the rush to romance.  It worked on some level, but I hope to read more mystery than romance in future books.

Game of Scones by Mary Lee Ashford is the first book in the Sugar and Spice Mystery series.  Sugar and her friend Dixie "Spice" Spicer have started a cookbook publishing company.  Their first project hits a standstill when two women get into a fight over which scone recipe to include.  When one of the women ends up dead, Sugar and Dixie add crime solvers to their resumes.  This was a quick, light read.  The mystery was not particularly strong, but the characters were fun.  If you are looking for an easy read, this is a great choice.

disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

February Goals Update: Week 2

1.  Finish Five Styles of Crochet Easter Baskets
I added the handle to the frog basket so he is done.  I have made no progress on the chick though  This ended up being a rough week with some family stuff so I was pretty much in survival mode most days.  My plans are to get back to it this week.


2. Organize My Makeup Drawer

I think this is a big improvement over the first photo.  I still have samples to use up.  The shampoo and conditioner ones are in the shower.  The black bag on the right side has nearly all of the smaller face cream samples.  I am putting myself on a no new lipstick restriction.  I have piles of lipsticks.  I think it is because that it something easy to change with the current trends.  It can be frugal if purchased on sale, but I do not need any more.  Progress feels good!


3.  Clean Out/Inventory Freezer and Make Some Freezer Meals
I will share a picture of this next week.  W has frozen squash to take to his mom this week.  We took time to do an inventory, and I made a spreadsheet of what we have on hand.  It helped when I was making out the February menu as I could make use of what we already had.


I did manage to add some meals to the freezer.  I made a big pot of Brunswick stew.  I also made pita bread which went into the freezer.  While grocery shopping I found ground turkey marked down.  I picked up two packs as well as a pack of bacon.  I chopped the bacon and added it along with seasonings to the turkey.  Then it was frozen in hamburger size patties.  These will make easy meals at a later date. 


I am not sure much will get added to the freezer this week.  I am just going day by day for the time being.  I am happy with what I have done so far.

Weekend Book Reviews

Slay in Character by Lynn Cahoon is the fourth book in the Cat Latimer Mystery series.  Cat, her friend Shauna, and her boyfriend Seth have their hands full with another group of writers at Cat's monthly writer's retreat.  The group of writers are all friends, but they take the guest writer/student Jessi from the local college into their group. When Jessi's roommate is found murdered, the signs point to Jessi being the intended target.  As the situation goes from bad to worse, the writers along with Cat and her friends find themselves in a mystery more twisted than anything they could have dreamed up.  I love Ms. Cahoon's writing style, and this book did not disappoint.  The characters are delightful, and the setting makes me want to become a writer and attend a retreat.  While this book could stand alone, I think it is best enjoyed if you have read the previous books.


The eighth book in the Caprice de Luca Mystery series by Karen Rose Smith is Cut to the Chaise.  Caprice wedding is fast approaching.  She is planning a church wedding with a reception at a local winery.  A murder and financial issues at the winery put her special day in peril.  The story seemed to jump all over the place a bit.  I enjoyed the mystery but found that I really had to concentrate on keeping everything straight.  So much else was going on with family stuff, wedding issues, and other people's issues.  This is a good addition to the series just not my favorite. 


disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

In the Garden

We did not get hit by the polar vortex temperatures here, but it got cold enough to finish off the basil and pepper plants outside.  The other herbs held up well.  W covered the pineapple sage and parsley so they were fine as well.  The garden peas are growing slowly.  For the time being my gardening will be mainly indoors. 


The pepper and eggplant seedlings are growing well.  All were started with seeds that were either left from last year's purchases or saved from last year's garden.  Gardening does not have to be expensive.

I just got around to planting the jalapeno seeds.  I misplaced the seeds I saved to plant.  Rather than buying seeds, I waited until a couple of peppers go to the past ripe stage and harvested more seeds.  I will not plant outside until after the middle of April so I still have time.

I did extra of those since my dad loves to grow a bunch.  He tends to harvest buckets of jalapeno peppers at a time.  It is a good thing most of our neighbors love spicy peppers.

February Goals Update: Week 1

1.  Finish Five Styles of Crochet Easter Baskets

I have the frog Easter basket almost done and a good start on the chick basket.  I am working on the handles. W came up with an idea that I plan to try this week.  I should be able to finish up both the frog and the chick this week.

On a side note wolfek mentioned a crochet fish in a jar project.  W showed me the same thing recently, but I had forgotten about it.  I looked up the pattern and bought the smaller size crochet hook I needed.  Keep an eye out for that in a few weeks.

2. Organize My Makeup Drawer

I am only four days in and have not made enough progress for an updated picture.  I have been using shampoo and conditioner samples rather than my regular products.  I have also been using face and eye cream samples. I find that I am getting into the habit of nightly moisturizing.  It could be my imagination, but I notice my eyes are no longer as puffy.  I might have to add an eye cream to my daily routine.  Hopefully by next week, I can show you a photo with some actual progress.

3. Clean Out/Inventory Freezer and Make Some Freezer Meals
Clean out and inventory the freezer is at the top of my to do list for today.  I expect I will find some things that will have to be tossed.  I hope to find a few surprises that I can work into our meal plan for this month.  I have three freezer meal ideas already. 

Weekend Book Reviews

The Novel Art of Murder by V.M. Burns is the third book in the Mystery Bookshop series.  When the new girl at Shady Acres is found dead, Samantha's Nana Jo is the prime suspect.  Samantha makes a deal with the local detective to find the murderer and keep her nana out of jail.  At the same time Samantha is writing another book in her historical British mystery series that mirror the real life crime.  I enjoyed both mysteries.  The book is a light, cozy mystery and perfect for reading when you need an escape.  I look forward to the next installment.

The fourth book in the Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery series by Bethany Blake is A Midwinter's Tail.  The holidays are fast approaching to Sylvan Creek, and petsitter Daphne is excited.  Things are not looking so jolly when the former town resident, CeeCee French, returns to town with plans to open a big chain pet store.  That could be disaster for any number of the pet themed shops in town.  When CeeCee is found murdered, the suspect list is long.  It starts with Daphne's best friend, Moxie.  This is a wonderful pet themed cozy series.  I love the setting and characters; my favorite has to be Socrates the dog. 

Deceased and Desist by Misty Simon is the third book in the Tallie Graver Mystery series.  Tallie is happy to be working for herself as a housecleaner even if her lifestyle is less glamorous than when she was married.  She is torn with working part-time at her family's funeral home though.  While cleaning windows at a local bed and breakfast, she sees a body in one of the upstairs rooms.  When the interim detective appears to be sweeping the suspicious death under the rug, Tallie wonders why and begins her own investigation.  I found this book to be just as good or better than the previous two.  It can easily stand on its own.  My favorite scene was the woman who does a dress rehearsal of her funeral.  I could read it again just for that!

disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

February Goals

1.  Finish Five Styles of Crochet Easter Baskets

One of my plans for this year was to stay ahead of the seasons with items in my Etsy shop.  I have some cute Easter basket patterns.  I want to make a sample of each so they are ready to list by the end of the month.  

2.  Organize My Makeup Drawer

This is the way it looks most of the time.  The truth is I use very little makeup and products.  I have piles of samples and other items that I just need to use.  I hope by the end of the month this area is nice and organized.

3.  Clean out/Inventory Big Freezer and Make Some Freezer Meals

This is a two part goal.  W has wanted to clean out the freezer for a couple of weeks, and I want to do an inventory.  I did not take a picture but just imagine the makeup drawer with frozen foods instead and twice as bad.

Now that I have multiple tutoring jobs and am trying to make things for my Etsy shop, I need some easy meals for hectic days.  I would like to put two extra meals a week in the freezer.  The pantry challenge is officially over so I have more flexibility in the grocery budget.  

Even though Monday is just a few days away I will update my progress then.