1/12th done with 2011

Ryan and I just said today that we can't believe January is over.

I've been working on Food Storage - and per this super awesome

food storage calculator to find out that so far, we've got about 58 days worth of food storage until our shelves are bare. It's a far cry from 1 year of food storage, but it's a good start. Couponing has helped alot, but I haven't done that in a while either. Shame!!

Last night I bought Freeze Dried Blueberries (food storage help and something we'd eat and use NOW) and decided to make some blueberry muffins since Ryan has been eating store bought blueberry bagels like a madman. Ryan, Ady and I all ate up the muffins today, but Chloe wanted "Honey Toast."

Oh, and I bought a breadmaker from CraigsList. It was a great deal, the previous owner only used it twice so it was in pristine condition. I've had it for 2 weeks and we've made a loaf of bread at least 6 times a week. I've been using wheat flour that Ryan ground by hand (using a hand wheat mill). I've tried lots of recipes, but so far,

Ryan likes "Portuguese Sweet Bread" but I like "Light Oat Bread" and the girls really don't care as long as there's honey on it.

I've also gotten a little crafty - Dad had given me woodworking tools over the years but I haven't had time to do anything about it. He gave me 2 scroll saws, a 1inch belt sander, a router with table, and tons of hand tools. I've wanted to make wooden holiday decorations for a while, but cutting them out, sanding, painting - it just takes so much time. So, a friend at work said her husband was looking into doing some woodworking as a hobby and wanted to buy some tools. I told her that I'd let her borrow the tools if he'd be my personal craft guy. So, I've gotten a few projects done already because of him, and I've started several others in the works. (Thanks, Ed!) Our house is decorated with Valentine stuff now and I'm plotting St Patrick's and Easter as you read this. I have even set up a little craft area in the garage since we've got plenty of space.

I also *finally* cleaned up the rose bushes in the front yard. What a mess they were. It was battle!! Thanks to Ryan for helping. And thanks to the shy little neighbor girl for playing with the girls while we worked.

So, that's what we've been up to.