The simple things are most precious

:: I got to order my "homesteading related" books

WOO HOO.  I finally was able to find some of the coveted books that I've been searching for but could not find.  So I ordered them, yesterday and they should be here a week or so.  I can not wait.  I have such a weakness for books.  Love them.  Here's the list of what I ordered.  Any comments, reviews, recommendations are welcome.

Growing Herbs for Cold and Flu

Building and Using Cold Frames

Building Bat Houses

Creating Your Own Water Garden

Building Stone Walls

Stenciling

Attracting Birds

Making Country Curtains

Braiding Rugs

Knitting-problem solver

Quilting Basics

Woodlot Management

Simple Home Repairs

Buying an Old House

The Best Fences

Rapid Washer - Not a book but a utensil

The Old Herb Doctor

Amish Folk Remedies

Amish Folk Medicine

The Encyclopedia of Country Living

I'm hoping to learn much, and to spend the remainder of winter gleaning what I can before spring is upon us.  I had to scale down my list considerably as I had the book order up to over $200 and that was without shipping charges.  Fortunately there were a number of the books I did order which were on sale for $2.50 each, which I love.  Those are more booklets than a large book.  The most expensive one was the Encyclopedia of Country Living but I really really need that one.  It takes the place of at least 15 books.  The Rapid Washer was for hand washing items.  And I have a clothesline here that I can't wait to use.  Nothing smells so good as sheets dried on the line. 

Anyway, I am so anxious to get these books that I can hardly stand it.  Merry Belated Christmas to me or Happy Early Birthday, either way it's thrilling.

It is a very blustery day out today.  Sun is shining, temps around 50 but the wind could just about pick one up and carry one away.  Poor Hunter (our silky terrier) hates to even go out to potty as the wind blows him so hard.  He's so spoiled. *wink*

If you were here with me today you would see a small, very small dent made in the mass of moving boxes.  And, some organization happening with my linens.  Finally I will have them all in one place rather than stuffed inside three different closets.  In our last home we did not have a linen closet.  Can you imagine, a house with no linen closet.  Who does that?  So I improvised and used empty shelves in the bedroom closets which worked ok but not great.  Here, we have little if no closet space but I do have an antique dresser which I've refinshed and am now using as my linen breakfront.  It works really well.  And I can finally justify dragging this thing around from home to home, state to state on our last 4 moves.  In fact, there are a few things that are finally going to be used here that have been dragged around for the last 11 years.  I can't pass up a good deal or resource when I see one and even though most of my "family" has done nothing but laugh at me for being a packrat, I now do not have to go out and spend money we don't have to provide storage and shelf space.  

This weekend is fix the brakes on the cars weekend.  Thank you God for good friends.  One of which is going to fix them for us and teach Mike how to do so while we're at it.  His wife is going to teach me how to prepare authentic mexican food for dinner.  I can't wait.  I don't want to eat mexican for a daily thing but when I want it, nothing else will satisfy.  And now I will get my car back, finally.  I never realized how much I depend on having it.  I'm used to doing our grocery shopping during the day while family is in school and work.  Now we've either had to go, all together, or I've shopped at the country market near here.  We live in a small village without a grocery store, drug store, really nothing except for a farm supply, hardware store, small country market and butcher shop, convenience stores (2) and a variety store.  Other than that we have to drive 15 miles or so.  When we all go grocery shopping, invariably we go off the budget.  So I do prefer to go alone.

It's about time for me to hit some more boxes.  It's quite gratifying to see them disappear with the contents either put away in "their" place or thrown away.

Off until later my friends.  I do want to say one thing before I go.  You all have been such an inspiration to me.  I had such a poor attitude about domestic duties before.  And now....WOW.  I actually am looking forward to them, enjoying them while I'm working, taking pride in my work, and experiencing such a warm fuzzy feeling knowing that I'm doing good things for my family, and unto my Lord.  So thank you everyone, and most especially to Carla and Peggy for the vision and passion to undertake this venture.  Both the Women of Simplicity and the Homestead Blogger.  I must say that finding my way here was God-ordained. 

Living simply and for Him,

Sherri