TheHomesteadQuilter

Good morning out there in cyber land!  It's time for me to take a moment to update the blog as I haven't had time for days and days!  Did ya miss me?  LOL The weather has been playing some interesting (although NOT FUNNY) games here in NW Montana... We had some lovely 80 degree days a week ago, then the clouds moved in and it was supposed to rain...we just got the cold and clouds [caption id="attachment_158" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Actually quite beautiful when the sky is like this"][/caption] Finally, yesterday we started to get some rain, the deer were loving it! So this is how things looked out my office window yesterday... [caption id="attachment_160" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Deer grazing in the pasture...till the ManCub decided to chase them, little dummy...lol"][/caption] By the time I went to bed last night, it was just pouring down rain and I'm thinking how wonderful it will be for the lawn as The Humorless One spread lawn food out there and refused to water it!  I couldn't wait to get up and see everything so green and lush this morning... [caption id="attachment_164" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Here is the view this morning from my office window!"][/caption] HA...so much for green and lush!  And the sick part is that it's still snowing!  UGH!  The fur kids are soooo depressed...no more chasing bunnies and chipmunks  :( This weekend was rather productive,  I worked on getting my ZenCart customized for my website and made a batch of wonderful shampoo bars!  My DD came up Saturday to spend the day with me and brough me early Mommy's Day pressies!  We drank Oregon Chai Lattes and ate Peanut Butter Cups...WOOO HOOOO!!! I also managed to get another couple feet of binding handsewn onto my queen size Moda Flannel Bear Paw Quilt, I hand quilted it and just LOVE this quilt!

[caption id="attachment_165" align="aligncenter" width="224" caption="Queen size Flannel Bear Paw Quilt, the background fabric is a Moda rose print from a couple years ago"][/caption]

I'm making progress towards the Grand Opening of my online store, on May 1st, it's so exciting (albeit, stressful) to see everything coming together, and I have had so much fun making new bath & body goodies the past few weeks!  The shampoo bars turned out great, the lather is terrific and seems to leave my hair soft and clean without any conditioner at all...I am impressed with is as my hair is difficult on it's best day!  lol

Several new soaps this week, as well, A fresh batch of Oatmeal, Milk & Honey, a delightful batch of Calendula Baby soap, super sudsy and gentle, and my favorite, Honeysuckle which turned out a lovely shade of pink and has loads of lather!  I'm on to more shampoo bars today and to work on getting all the fun products listed on the webstore.

I hope ya'll are having a wonderful day, and that spring is showing it's face to you instead of snow  :)

Love The HomesteadQuilter

Share on Facebook

Did you like this? If so, please bookmark it, about it, and subscribe to the blog RSS feed. Related Posts

• Twitter Updates for 2009-05-09 Baking bread, cutting out borders for another baby quilt and just plain enjoying the peace and quiet with The Man out of town! # Follow Fri Pls help get 100 fans on my wildflower studio pagehttp://bit.ly/UPK7R RT @WildflwerStudio # FREE stuff for any Mother or Father-to-be! http://bit.ly/WyQrQ RT @BabyBlankets......
• Grand Opening of Montana Soap Works I haven't had time to catch my breath the past couple of weeks, let alone blog :( Just a quick note to let ya'll know that tomorrow is the Grand Opening of my online Shop http://montanasoapworks.com So come on over for some special deals and a chance to win a......

Related Websites

• Recap US Open Day 13 & 14 Rafael Nadal is going up against Juan Martin del Potro...
• Starbucks Rant Redux Today's Guest Rant was purportedly posted on a Chicago Craigslist...

Warning: Rant Alert!   LOL Let me start out by saying "yes, I know it could always be worse"... but this has been one of those weeks...more annoying than anything.  Just one little thing after another it seems! First off, when The Man went out to get the camper ready to use, he discovered that he hadn't winterized it...the valve to the water heater froze and broke, so off to town he goes to get a new part. Comes home, installs said part and finds that the same thing happened to the kitchen faucet...off to town he goes again...back home, replaces part... Guess what...the same thing is frozen in the shower!  ANOTHER trip to town, grumbling all the way...and finally (we hope) all is fixed and water not spraying everywhere in the camper...UGH!!! I think The Humorless One just likes to go to town! On Monday, my gallbladder issues decide to flare up, probably cuz I haven't been dilligent about taking my Lecithin, but it has kept me feeling just under par all week!  Sure didn't do much for my motivation, that's for sure. Add to all this, the computer issues for the week... The Humorless One needed his PC reformatted and redone...that went fairly smooth unless you count just the fact that I had other things to do at the same time, so there was about 20 trips up and down the stairs between his office and my office to get it all done. So then I figure, hey, what the heck, that went well...so I'll try to get DD's computer up and going again (it's been sitting here for 3 months waiting for me...meanwhile, she has my laptop which I am desperately needing) so I set it  all up and try to reload Windows...says it can't find the hard drive...the drive just up and died!  All of this after several tries tho...all in all very frustrating to find out that I can do nothing until we get another hard drive for the thing...UGH So this fine morning I get up and begin to work on some formulations and label designs for the new shampoo I'm going to introduce to my line...and guess what.....................MY computer is having a massive brain fart and just bogs down sooooooooo ssssslllllooooowwwwwwwww that I can barely get it to restart.  Many scans and reboots later, all is up and running but now my Outlook is all wonky and I need to try to remember all the settings I had instilled in it previously. Should be fun considering I can't even remember that I put a load of jeans in the washer...THREE DAYS AGO...until I go up to put in a load of socks since The Humorless One tells me that he's out of clean socks after he's put on his last clean pair!  Can you see how things are progressing around here since I've started my business back up?      OH WHAT FUN WE'RE HAVING...LOL Before all the fun of this week started, we took at drive on Saturday up the North Fork just for fun, drove through the burn from two years ago, and the one from ten years ago...what ugliness...but I keep reminding myself that it's nature's way of cleaning things up and keeping the forests healthy.  Still ugly, nonetheless. But we saw a beautiful waterfall... We also drove on up to Polebridge, Montana...there is just a Mercatile and Saloon up there, but the Merc had a BAKERY!  We had Huckleberry Bear Claws and a Root Beer before heading back down to the valley...Turned out to be a lovely drive! In the Bath & Body Factory this week, I've been working on lotions, soaps and bath salts...formulated a super gently Calendula Baby Lotion and some Rosewater & Glycerin Lotion, Both are super on the skin, I know, I'm my own guinea pig...HAHA Working today on getting things added to the web store and getting ready to do another giveaway...after all, I can't be the only guinea  pig and I want some testimonials for the products I'm making!   :)    Check back on Saturday for the newest Giveaway! I guess it's back to work for me, trying to get lotions labeled as well as site updated... I hope all is well in your world, Love TheHomesteadQuilter

Share on Facebook

Did you like this? If so, please bookmark it, about it, and subscribe to the blog RSS feed. Related Posts

• Spring, Prizes & Lazy Cats! Well, I'm not getting much better about daily posts to my blog, heh?   Hopefully there'll be more time for this once the website is up and running and I'm not spending all my time taxing my brain trying to get that all done (too bad using so many brain cells......
• A Little About HomesteadQuilter... Technorati Profile Just time for a short bio... I was born in Oregon near the coast, raised in Montana till age 16 when my folks decided Southern Idaho would be a nice place to live.  Boy did I miss Montana! [caption id="attachment_47" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="HomesteadQuilter's Bratlings!"][/caption] Spent the next 23......

Related Websites

• How to Install a Hard Drive in a Computer [/caption]Installing a hard drive on a computer is not an...
• Hi, My Name is Matt and I'm a Pack Rat There, I admit it! No, I'm not going through the...

Well, I'm not getting much better about daily posts to my blog, heh?   Hopefully there'll be more time for this once the website is up and running and I'm not spending all my time taxing my brain trying to get that all done (too bad using so many brain cells doesn't burn calories...hmph) I've made some progress on the *#&$*# website, how did I forget how much I loathe CODE!  Come on over and take a look, let me know what you think...bearing in mind that it's a work in progress at this point.  I'm shooting for a May 1st Grand Opening Date, but that could turn into a later date if I don't make some progress in the next week or so.  So do let me know what you think so far and I welcome all suggestions for improvements...PLEASE...be ruthless, I can take it!  LOL Those of you that won the lip balm/bath tea prizes ( I still need one more addy)  they will be mailed out on Saturday and will be on their way to you...make sure you let me know what you think of those as well, constructive criticism is the best way to improve my products and when you love 'em I get to puff up and bask in the glow of knowing I've brought a wee bit of happiness to someone!  :) As I sat working at the computer yesterday, I realized that it was AWFULLY quiet around here so I took a break and went to look for the cats...just to see if they'd been locked outside or something evil like that...looked and looked, outside, upstairs, downstairs...only to give up and come back to the office to find this: [caption id="attachment_132" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The girls"][/caption] yes, there are TWO of them...as they are just two different shades of silver/gray, you can barely tell where one ends and the other begins...lol and this: [caption id="attachment_133" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Mancub sprawed on TOP of the quilt rack!"][/caption] What absolute bums!   Sleeping the day away while the moles and mice wreak havoc upon the yard!  HMPH!  Good thing they're cute and cuddly little snots! On a final note, I got some lovely Chai Latte soap made and will be making some matching products to go with it...I adore this scent, and the soap is a lathery, luxurious dream!   Also got some very aromatic Rose Bath Salts made up yesterday..mmmmm, the hosue still smells like roses! I hope ya'll are having a good week and that spring is shining it's pretty face upon you! Love The HomesteadQuilter

Share on Facebook

Did you like this? If so, please bookmark it, about it, and subscribe to the blog RSS feed. Related Posts

• Grand Opening of Montana Soap Works I haven't had time to catch my breath the past couple of weeks, let alone blog :( Just a quick note to let ya'll know that tomorrow is the Grand Opening of my online Shop http://montanasoapworks.com So come on over for some special deals and a chance to win a......
• Twitter Updates for 2009-05-22 Wishing I could include ALL my lovely Tweeples in #followfriday list! You Rock, Folks! # Enjoying watching The Man work on the project list this fine Montana Spring Day...HA HA Ya'll have a wonderful holiday weekend & Be Safe!!! # More Fav Tweeps @WSPNews @AnyasGarden @MontanaMonica @bazketmakr @DaleAnnePotter @nancyoverbury......

Related Websites

• End 87 Percent of Problems at Work in 72 Hours The following guest post is from Neal Frankle of Wealth...
• Why Work in Retirement Since retiring in October 2007, I've worked at seven different...

Been a couple days since I posted, (Sunday, so more than a couple days)

Yesterday was partly cloudy and windy as all get out...today it's snowing again...I need spring, must have spring!!!

Since the realtor is coming Saturday, we figured we'd better get the basement straightened out...

I have to wonder why it is that an unfinished basement attracts so much STUFF!!!   Combine mass quantities of STUFF and finish construction and WHAT A MESS!!!

I repacked the Christmas decorations and such into large clear totes so maybe, just maybe, it'll all make it through the move when the time comes.   I'm really hoping the place sells quickly, I've packed up so much of my clutter that I can't find anything!

I've been working on getting a new website up and running (a large part of the reason for lack of new posts) and ordered a bunch of soap/lotion supplies to get my business up and running again...wish me luck!      The site is www.montanasoapworks.com if you'd like to take a peek and weigh in with opinions and suggestions.  I DO NOT like the template, but have to get everything imported into a program to change it.  This should take no more than the next two weeks or so with the way things are going.

Had breakfast with a dear friend on Tuesday morning, along with her 6 year old DD...we had a lovely time!  I pigged out on an absolutely delish ham and cheese omlet with all the fixin's.  It was a splurge, but hey, you gotta have a treat occasionally, right?

We're having this friend and her DH and DD along with my DD and her hubby over tomorrow night for homemade pizza, should be a nice time.  Cats probably won't be thrilled with the little one chasing them around...they're not used to being chased by anyone but each other.     In fact, they were on a "chasing" kick this morning, trashed what I had accomplished in the basement in short order...now they're all laying around resting from the hard work of wreaking havoc on every room in the house!  Having the ManCub around sure has livened up my two old girls (they're 4 yr old sisters) and it gives them someone to thump on when they're in a bad mood...it's too ugly for them to pick on each other...mean girls!!!

Well, I can say now that I've updated ya'll somewhat and can get back to whatever I'm supposed to be doing...probly deep cleaning the kitchen and making some bread, I have developed an awesome wheat bread recipe that we just love...I'll be posting it this weekend...after the realtor has come and gone!

Hope ya'll are having better weather than we are!

Love the HomesteadQuilter

Share on Facebook

Did you like this? If so, please bookmark it, about it, and subscribe to the blog RSS feed. Related Posts

• Snowy Sunday Woke up to 2 inches of fresh snow, most of it has melted since, but it's drippy and windy now... [caption id="attachment_59" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Drippy, Blustery Afternoon...Melted Snow"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_60" align="aligncenter" width="224" caption="Fine Muddy Mess of a Driveway"][/caption] I decided to make the Humorless One a treat and baked him......
• Ever have one of these weeks...? Warning: Rant Alert!   LOL Let me start out by saying "yes, I know it could always be worse"... but this has been one of those weeks...more annoying than anything.  Just one little thing after another it seems! First off, when The Man went out to get the camper ready to......

Related Websites

• Lady Gaga Brings Contagious Energy To Staples Center After a 72-hour bender of recording new songs, Gaga played...
• Estimated Taxes Due Tomorrow, January 15th. It's that time yet again! If you pay estimated taxes...

Woke up to 2 inches of fresh snow, most of it has melted since, but it's drippy and windy now...

I decided to make the Humorless One a treat and baked him up a huckleberry cobbler and have a pot of New England clam chowder simmering on the stove.  Also threw a batch of soft Italian bread sticks in the bread machine but got lazy and formed them into loaves and tossed them in the oven, they smell delish, so I guess the shape doesn't matter.  There would be pics of all the yummy food I've made over the weekend, but the Humorless One managed to decimate all said goodies before I could get pictures (without bites and chunks missing, that man lives by his stomach alone...lol)  maybe next time, heh? The Humorless One got the doors and trim installed in the basement yesterday, that's The ManCub, Cody guarding my quilting room/office door...and yes it's closed for a reason, that reason being IT'S A DISASTER AREA at the moment!  Didn't want to send you all running screaming from your computers from the sight of it. [caption id="attachment_53" align="aligncenter" width="224" caption="Trimmed out interior doors in the basement"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_65" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="You can even see the little thread scraps and dust/cat hair bunnies trying to escape under the door! :-/"][/caption] and painted the walls in the new basement pantry (oh the food I can store now!!!) [caption id="attachment_54" align="aligncenter" width="224" caption="New Pantry in the Basement Utility Area"][/caption] and this morning got all of his deer meat from last season made into breakfast sausage...German and Sage varieties. [caption id="attachment_55" align="aligncenter" width="150" caption="Venison Sausage"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_56" align="aligncenter" width="150" caption="Freezer loaded with venison sausage, I made HOT Italian sausage a few weeks ago...YUMMY"][/caption] .I'm going to do up biscuits and sausage gravy for dinner tomorrow night with some hashbrowns...dontcha just love breakfast for dinner?  We have breaky for din-din at least once a week!!! I worked on a couple of the baby quilts today, got the main tops done on two, need to finish borders tho. [caption id="attachment_61" align="aligncenter" width="224" caption="Baby Boy Bear Paw Quilt "][/caption] [caption id="attachment_62" align="aligncenter" width="224" caption="Log Cabin Baby Quilt"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_63" align="aligncenter" width="224" caption="Close up of Blocks in Log Cabin Baby Quilt"][/caption] All in all it was a fairly productive Sunday (considering I stayed up half the night working on the website and THEN watching a movie till 3 am) but I sure do wish the weather would clear up and let me outside to enjoy some sunshine and get my hands into the soil (instead of MUD) This time of year really gets to me sometimes, as much as I try to fight it.  I keep telling myself that it'll be 101 and sweltering before I know it and then I'll have something new to gripe about...lol The cats are just as depressed as I am with the weather, good old Susie just sits and glares at the snow and the new guy can't seem to figure out how to go outside without stepping in the mud and tracking it in the house...he has WHITE FEET for Heaven's Sake!!! I thought cats were supposed to be clean freaks, but the ManCub is turning into The PigletCub, such a dirty little cat! (He's not little, only 8 mos old and weighs 17 lbs already!!!)  I keep trying to explain to him that he's not so little anymore and Mommy can't breath (or see the tv, book, quilt) when he lays on her chest now!!!  HMPH    I love my kitties, but sheeeesh, between the construction and the cat hair AND the cats tearing around here after each other I'm gonna need the looney bin soon! Getting late now, so I suppose I'll go upstairs and get dinner on the table for the Humorless One and myself so that we can gobble up some of the huckleberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream (of course) and relax in front of the boob tube. Hope the weather is nice wherever you are, and if it is, enjoy it for me too  :) Love The HomesteadQuilter

Share on Facebook

Did you like this? If so, please bookmark it, about it, and subscribe to the blog RSS feed. Related Posts

• Spring, Prizes & Lazy Cats! Well, I'm not getting much better about daily posts to my blog, heh?   Hopefully there'll be more time for this once the website is up and running and I'm not spending all my time taxing my brain trying to get that all done (too bad using so many brain cells......
• Grand Opening of Montana Soap Works I haven't had time to catch my breath the past couple of weeks, let alone blog :( Just a quick note to let ya'll know that tomorrow is the Grand Opening of my online Shop http://montanasoapworks.com So come on over for some special deals and a chance to win a......

Related Websites

• Stock Market Trends in December 2009: What Should You Invest In At the End of the Year? It's the end of November and another month has passed...
• Backcountry Skiing in the Spring One of the ways to get the most out of...