SPICE BAGS FOR WARM DRINKS

 

This looks great for any Fall and or Winter time celebration or Cozy evening spent in front of a fireplace. I am thinking of making a few outer covers of holiday print and then filling with a couple of  muslin or Cheesecloth pouches to send to family this next Season

 

 

SPICE BAGS FOR WARM DRINKS

 

8 sticks cinnamon, broken into small pieces
2 whole nutmegs, crushed
1/3 C. whole cloves
1/3 C. minced dried orange peel (or 1/4 C. ground)
1/4 C. whole allspice berries
Optional: garnish with cinnamon sticks, slice of orange, lemon peel

 

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl. Tie in sachets of 1 tablespoon
each in a double thickness of cheesecloth; transfer to an airtight
container (perhaps into a canning jar with a decorated lid and tied
with
a big fall-ish bow!!).

 

One sachet of the mixture will flavor 1 quart of cider, tea or wine.
To
use, simmer 1 quart of the chosen beverage with 1 sachet for 20
minutes;
ladle into mugs. If desired, add a garnish or a sprinkling of
additional
spirits.

 

Billie C.

Jan 19 update

 

 

    Hello. Just a quick update.

We are doing well. the pets are keeping us busy. The cats all got out yesterday, and when they came back, left prints all over the camper, including the lid on the toilet. Now I have more cleaning up to do. (Thanks cats)

 

The dogs are not liking the mud but are dealing better with it than I am. I have been slipping and skidding around. At least I've not fallen yet. 

 

 

Billie C.

Update, Jan 16 2015

Hello and good morning.

 

I am trying to catch up and am surprised at how quickly I have gotten behind in just keepig up with the day to day things   When our water line froze we were able to deal with that. but when our black water holding tank froze and wouldn't drain we knew we may be in trouble.  I have a bucket I can dump waste into, but it is only a temporary fix. Good news is, we now have running water since Hubby went looking and found out that the gray water does not go into the holding tank, So we can shower and clean up as long as we have running water (I'm going to miss showering at the motel) and there has been some progress in the holding tank thawing. Not a lot of progress but some never the less.  With today's high going to be in the upper 40's we are in hopes that it will totally thaw today and we can get back to a more normal life in the camper.

 

Hubby is not feeling well. He took yesterday off of work and is taking today as well. If he can't make it into work tomorrow then he will have to get a doctor to sign off,  that he has indeed been very sick.  We are fairly sure it isn't flu because he doesn't have pain in his joints but he does have a stuffy head and is over all not feeling well.

The Pets a re loving that he is home and are sleeping around him. He will give them bits of his meal when he's home and I don't give treats until after I am done eating. 

The snow is melting and the ground is getting mushy. Barney will miss snowballs. Not that he is thrilled with them but I have been trying to make one and then toss it at him. Most of the time, the snow is so dry that it breaks into a million flakes before it even fully leaves my hand. but when one does stay together, the look on his face when it breaks in his mouth and then he looks for where it's suppose to be on the snow at his feet, is priceless.

One of the cats (Strips) got out during the time we were trying to thaw things in the back and he stayed out about and hour, now he's been trying to get out every time we open the door. I know he wants to go out but the wild cats around here have not had any shots and I don't want our cats to catch anything from them.

We have been doing a lot of eating out. Mainly to prevent having to use a lot of water, not knowing that the gray water was not going into the holding tank and the fact that the drain line was frozen at the end of the camper. I finally got that to thaw enough that water could pass and now it's almost all gone according to Jerry. Not sure if there is still ice there or not, now. I was putting rock salt in water then bringing it to a rolling boil then pouring down the sink closest to the ice block and that did wonders on that ice. I'm ready to be doing my own cooking again.

 

Billie C.

Update on me, From yesterday, Sunday Jan 4

Howdy....
Sunday, We Slept very good in our  own beds, on bew mattresses.
Macon woke me up at 6 am, needing to go out. Barney added his voice to the matter. I had to get dressed, feed the cast, then put on a  jacket with a hood under my coat. It took me longer to get dressed than it did for the dogs to do what they had to do. We had breakfast at Niland's Café, then we went  to Walmart to get the paycheck cashed and send some money to our older daughter and to pick up a money order to pay our power bill. Looked for a electric blanket for Hubby, but I couldn't find any. Bought a few Christmas things that are on sale at 75%. We went to Target and Hubby found a blanket there as well as good mattress covers. I found the $1 bins. I picked up a few things.

 

We ropped off the power payment on the way home. Where we brought everything we bought in. Hubby put the water line on, but no water to the camper. He put the heater on it but it's still frozen two hours later. Talked to Beth for a bit. While I was talking to her, I cleaned the cat box.

 

Found ou why the water hose was frozen. The heat tape got unplugged some how. We tried to thaw it by putting it in a dog kennel, Covering the kennel with a tarp and then put the torpedo heater in front of it. Oops, the end end of the hose fell in front of the heater and melted. Now we have to replace water hose and heat tape and pipe insulation. We picked upa  new water line, heat tape and pipe insulation at Lowe's  befor going to Dinner at Perkins. I ran into Wal-mart to picked up 3 diet coke for Hubby, and 9 gallons of water before we headed  back home. Oh and we are expecting to get 4 to 6 inches of snow between Monday night and Tuesday noon.

 

Outside my door ... It very cloudy and looking like the snow is going to start at any time
The Dogs and Cats ... are sleeping on the beds I made this morning.I am waiting for them to come to me to let me know they (the dogs) need to go outside. I know it's going to take me longer to get ready to go out that its going to take them to do what they need to do, again. It is cold outside. Earlier Rocky was trying to walk on only three feet because his other foot was cold, then a different foot got cold and he just didn't know what to do.

 

From the kitchen... I have some hamburger that needs to be cooked. I'l going to add a can of Chilie to it and serve over Frito chips and put cheese on to.
I am hearing... Mid day news is on. The heater Fan.
I am wearing... Sweats.  Sweat pants, sweat shirt with a t-shirt under it and two pairs of socks
I am reading... I still need to pick out a book to read.
I am hoping... That this cold spell does not last long and we dont get any more cold weather like this for a while.
I am creating... I'm not working on anything at the moment
One of my favorite things... talking to Beth each morning.
A few plans for today... Staying warm, taking the dogs out in a bit. making dinner...
A few plans for the rest of the week... Same plans for the rest of the week. Staying warm, taking care of the pets and making dinner.

 

Billie C.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year. 

 

It is going to be a bit of a learning curve to remember to to now write 2015 instead of 2014.

 

We Welcomed the new year in  by sleeping in, at Colo motel. Our Breakfast was  at Saints Avenue Cafe in Boone. I Wore a small hat with fancy, flashing lights.

 

 

 We Spent most of New Year's day, trying to thaw  the sewer holding tank. We Had to find a heater that could blow hot air into the back of the camper. I think it's called a torpedo heater.  Plus we had to find insulation to wrap around it to keep it from happening again. We fogot to get the tarp and Jerry will have to pick that up today after he gets off work early.

 

 

 

Our Dinner was  sandwiches, nuts,and apple pie. Jerry also had chips and ,I had a banana.

 

 

While trying to thaw the holding tank we discovered   that the solids have blocked the outlet and now we are  dealing with that.

 

While trying to thaw that tank, We had to stop, shut off the heater and unplug it so we could run to town again, only to find out the place we were going to get two propane tanks filled was closed for the holiday. Just as Jerry was starting some water to heat up on the stove and pour down the toilet, the propane tank for the kitchen stove ran out.  The tank for the heater is so low it may as well be empty. 

 

 Ah. the thrills of living in a camper, in warm weather and cold.

 

 

 Today, Jan 2.

 

Jerry still had to go to work or risk losing his job because of not going in, and not having a doctor's excuse for why not.

 

Jerry still has to find a place to fill the tanks and will do that after he gets off work. He is going to try to get off as soon as he gets his check so we have some light and it not be below freezing while we work on having  to wrap the sewer line in a tarp and insulation in hopes that it will not freeze solid again.

 

While he is at work, I will be straightening up the camper and picking up and taking the dogs outside a couple of times.

 

Sunday, we are going to go pick up two special made mattresses we ordered just before Christmas, for the beds in the middle of this camper. The twin mattresses we picked up three years ago have gotten worn out because I cant turn them as needed. I can't flip them, because they are not made to be flipped, and I can't rotate them because there is not enough over-head room to get them over.

 

About the only thing I can't get done today is washing up dishes.

 

 

 

For Today ... Dec 15

For Today ... Dec 15

 

Howdy.... And Good Afternoon.
Jerry only had to work 8 hours on Saturday and he was hombe just a few minutes before 4 pm. We went to town for dinner, then shopping for the week. Sunday we ate at a new to us Buffet place in Boone and it was good. I think we will end up going back more often.  We had the laundry with us and did it on our way home.  Took it into the camper and let the dogs out for a few minutes.  We talked about going to De Moines and looking for Costco. Jerry looked it up and found out where it's at so we went and got a membership and did some more shopping. Now I really need a larger camper. I forgot just how limited space we have in the kitchen until we brought in the things we bought. Yikes I need more room but the bargins were worth it. So worth it.

 

I woke up extra early this morning (3am) and just could not get back to sleep.  I can't do house work that early or I'll wake Jerry up so I did a few things on my computer. Discovered that our new Connection was not as secure as we thought and when Jerry woke up I told him about it. We are back on the old Belkin until he can get home tonight and set up a password for it. He got a bit behind in getting ready for work and forgot a few things this morning. His watch and his phone are still here at the house. 
It's been a cloudy day and we have had rain off and on as well. Enough so, that when I take the dogs out I need to wear a light jacket just to keep the damp off. They went out then came right back inside. They didn't want to even sniff the air for new scents.
The cats are enjoying sleeping together on Jerry's bed where it's nice and warm. They are curled up around each other.
Dinner is going to be Bread and Parmagane Chicken tenders over noodles with a Salad. It is so quiet here that I have the TV on for the noise almost all day long. I have been playing a few Christmas CD's and still have a few more to play before I start over again from the begining. I am also catching up on shows I've DVR'ed over the past few weeks.
I am wearing... a purple T-shirt and black sweat pants. I've been straightening out my drawers and found few things I still need to go through. I think I'm going to put off folding the laundry until tomorrow afternoon at this rate.
I am reading... Reading Ezra in the Bible, I read a Children's Christmas craft book over the weekend and I'm always reading emails.
I am thankful for... Warmer weather even though the rain makes it very muddy outside and the dogs bring a lot of mud inside on their feet and we bring a lot of it in on our shoes as well. 
I am creating... I made a Fleece scarf the other day for my older Grand daughter and I have one ready to do for her brother, that I will work on soon. I have everything needed for one for me that I need to work on this week, as well.  I have a few half done Christmas ornaments done and there are some I really need to get made this week to give to a friend we have made here. It's for where we eat at each week on Thursdays and Sundays.
I have put a few Christmas ornaments up around the edge of the front room. I still have a long ways to go to make it look like Christmas in here and Christms is next week.
One of my favorite things... Taking care of Jerry and making sure he is happy.
A few plans for today... Besides making dinner, I need to straighten up the kitchen and put away a few things and hope to clean up in the living room again.

 

A few plans for the rest of the week... Straightening up the living room and over my bed to make room for some of the stuff in here.
Work on Menu planning for the beginig of the New Year and take better care of us.
Waiting for a few things to come in the mail over the next few days.

 

Billie C.

For Today ... Dec 10, 2014

For Today ... Dec 10, 2014

 

Howdy.... And Good Afternoon. 
I got most of the house chores done. Just a few things still left on my to do list, and those are mostly oprional.
It's cool outside but not the Cold of just a couple of weeks ago. Here in a few minutes, I need to take the dogs out, but there isn't any hurry just yet.  The dogs will be able to enjoy some outside time although it's cloudy there isn't any rain or snow falling.
I just caught one of the cats sleeping in a box.
Last night, the dogs all had to sleep in kennels. They are going to sleep in them again tonight and this will continue until they let us sleep through the night and then a few more days beyond that as well. I know I had at least one cat almost all night long, sleeping at my feet. Jerry had one with him and I think the third just could not make up her mind if she wanted to sleep with Jerry or with Me.  I woke up just before the alarm went off, and when I came back out of the bathroom all three were on my bed, stealing my warm spot. When I got back, they all jumped over onto Jerry's bed and started loving on him, trying to wake him up. Strips (Motorboat) was so sure we just wanted to pet him that he would push the other cats ot of his way so he could get to our hands. They, of course, pushed back.
I can sure tell that the days are much shorter right now and can't wait for them to start getting longer again.  I know the weather has warmed up and we have been enjoying some very nice days. And we are not having to run our water over night as much.
Breakfast was Oatmeal and coffee this morning. I like to use juice to make my oatmeal. I add some raisins and frozen fruit to a cup of juice I have heating on the stove, then add in some cinnamon and either clove or cardamon. I miight add some brown sugar if I think about it, usually I forgot that though.
Dinner is going to be Salad, Pinto beans with diced up Ham, and maybe some cornbread.  Tomorrow we will eat out at Nilands again. I want to make them some ornaments to go on their tree, but I need them to look 1950ish. I found several pictures of the place on the internet and I will either slip them into clear glass bulbs or use the plastic cups and do them up more like snow globes but right now, I'm still leaning toward the glass bulbs with some red ribbon around the tops.
I am hearing... The TV. The fan from the heater just went off and from time to time, I can hear a car out on the road out front of the camper.

 

I am wearing... a dark T-shirt with a horse on it and brown sweat pants. yesterday I wore a blue sweat shirt but it's warmer in here today. No wind outside helps to keep it warm in here. It's not sucking out the warm air.
I am reading... Ezra in the bible. A Kids crafts book, And Dragon's Time by Anne and Todd McCaffery
I am thinking... I really need to get up from this chair and take my cards to the mail box and get them sent out. I know the mail has run today so I have until tomorrow morning to deal with it. I also need to find my birthday cards and find a couple to send to Jerry's twin sister.
I am thankful for... Living out in the country. it's so nice and quiet here and yet, neighbors are so close if I need help I can get one to help me.
I am hoping... that the weather stays nice for a few days.  It does look like it is going to be nice through the weekend and even after that isn't not going to get brutally cold, just more Normal for this area of highs in the mid to low 30's.
I am creating... I need a scarf to cover my face with when it gets cold again. I found some fleece in the discount bin and picked up three different pieces of it. I'll make me a scarf and then two more to use as gifts.
One of my favorite things... is playing Christmas music in the afternoons, while working on a craft or two.
A few plans for today... make cornbread for dinner. make a scarf (or two) take care of the pets
A few plans for the rest of the week...  Eating out a couple of days, and if I can, order a new Cricut Expressions 2 over the phone and hope it gets here. The Christmas rush isn't going to help that out much.

 

Billie C.