5 Ways I Welcome Fall

It's the most wonderful time of the year. Well, for me at least. I adore Autumn. I love the sun setting earlier, the cool nights, the changing of the leaves, and most of all, as an Okie, I am grateful all the summer bugs die off or disappear. Here in Oklahoma we still have 80+ degree days, but the nights are cooler and temperature swings are common. For example, this upcoming week we are forecast to have a high of 88 degrees and a low of 47 degrees. It as if Mother Nature cannot make up her mind. But I still embrace the idea that soon I will not be hitting the wall of steamy humidity Summer offers up and can go back to wearing sweaters. Here are five ways I welcome fall.

1. I haul all my sweaters and jackets out of storage and get them cleaned. I locate all my gloves, scarfs, hats, earmuffs, etc. Now is the time I make any repairs or replacements. I also get my winter boots out. I put out my boot tray on the porch (if you don't have one of these yet, you gotta get one). I like to think I am sending a message to the universe that I am ready to be done with the heat.

2.  I hit the book store and find a couple of good books. This "me" time is something I always come back to in the Autumn. There is something about being inside a warm and snug home while the cold, and sometimes disagreeable. weather is outside. I pick one or two books for self improvement and one or two just for entertainment. When I read in the fall, I light some scented candles and make myself a nice cup of coffee or cocoa. I really enjoy spending time escaping into a book.

3. I make lists of unfinished projects which can be accomplished indoors when the weather outside turns bitter and cold. Autumn means more rainy days around here as well, so outdoor activities are more limited. Now is the time for me to nest and prepare for the long winter nights. This is the time of year I get painting and decorating jobs finished. It is also the time of year when I deep clean. Since I am going to be spending substantially more time indoors, I try to make the space as comfortable as I can. I consider it a form of nesting.

4. I cook crock pot meals more often. One of my standby recipes is my 3 Packet Roast. I love coming home to the delicious smells of a hot meal I didn't have slave over. I don't know about you, but I don't always enjoy spending time making a meal after a long day at work. An added bonus to utilizing a slow cooker is I always have left overs for the next night or take with me for a hot lunch. Another great (and oh so easy) hot meal if I don't use the slow cooker is whipping up a grilled cheese with tomato soup. Cut the sandwich into four pieces so you can dunk the slices in the soup. Simple, quick, and delicious!

5. I prepare for bad weather. This is a process, but I normally start by making sure I have ice scrapers, ice melt, I locate my snow shovel (by now buried somewhere in the barn), and buy a few bags of cat litter to keep in my vehicle. I also make sure I have a blanket (or two) to keep in the car as well. I buy Hot Hands in bulk keeping some in the house, some in my purse, and some in the car. I keep a change of clothes, two extra pairs of socks, and some basic toiletries in case I cannot get home due to poor weather. I put these items in a storage container to keep them clean and ready to go. To prepare for cold weather at home, I begin buying extra cans of soup and non perishables in case the power goes out at my house during the winter. I buy some Kerosene for my space heaters and make sure the heaters are functioning properly. I try to replace wicks now, instead of when it is really cold and I am without power. You can read more about my winter preparedness on my post from last year here.

In case you haven't figured it out, I adore this time of year and the anticipation it brings. I moved to Oklahoma because I wanted to see weather. This year it is predicted we will have a cold and wet winter. When it is 90 humid degrees outside it is hard to imagine the snow will come, but the cooling of the days and the chilly nights show signs of promise. Bring on Autumn!!!

What is your favorite time of the year? Are you as excited as I am by Autumn?

8 Electric Heater Styles that are Actually Attractive

Finally the weather is beginning to shift here in Oklahoma. Tonight we have our first frost warning. How exciting, right?  Living in a tiny house things need to be practical for sure, but shouldn't everything be attractive as well? That got me poking around investigating electric heaters that will work well in a Tiny House. 

Here are 8 electric heater styles for your Tiny House that are both practical and attractive. They vary in cost from under $50 to around $500.  Each of these is available on Amazon for easy ordering and shipping. Just click on any of the pictures to learn more about it such as cost, measurements, and energy usage. Super easy shopping via Tiny House Homestead. Can't beat that, right?

Here we go...

Putting By in the Freezer

With winter approaching, I am preparing and putting by. Today I took advantage of what is known as the 10 lb meet sale at my local supermarket. The sale works based on quantity. If you buy 10 lb packages of meet, you get a steep discount. This go round I bought ten pound packages of Chuck Steaks, Chuck Roast, and Ground Beef.

When I got home from the market I divided the ground beef into 1lb sections, bagged, and vacuum sealed them. I then cut the roasts into roasts that will fit in my crockpot, bagged, and vacuum sealed them as well. Finally, I put each chuck steak in its own bag and vacuum sealed them as well. Owning a vacuum sealer is very important to preserve the quality of the meat and help prevent freezer burn.  I buy my vacuum sealer bags on Amazon because I can buy them in bulk cheaper.

Cold Weather Beef Stew Homestead Style

All ingredients are in the crock pot.
Now to slow cook all day.

Summer is over. Officially over. Our highs this week hovered around freezing. Thursday the weather reporters put out the word a hard frost was heading our way. That means get the rest of the vegetables out of the garden. My good friend Sharon and her husband brought me a bunch of produce from their garden. I am so grateful that my friends think of me when they have extra bounty. There is nothing quite as good as home-grown fruits and vegetables. Today I am using the rest of the green beans up by adding them to my stew. The great thing about stew is that you can add this and that, customizing your stew each time you make it.


Here is my recipe for a good, hearty winter stew:

1 lb Small Red Potatoes
1 lb Bag of Baby Carrots
1 - 2 Onions, chopped
1.5 lbs Stew Beef
1 10 oz can chopped Tomato (or add fresh if you have them)
6 teaspoons of Beef Bullion
1/2 cup Lima Beans or peas
1 handful of string beans, cut into sections
Herbs of your choice (Rosemary is one of my favorites)
Salt and Pepper to taste

Brown the meat. Add it and all the ingredients to the crock pot and cover with water. Give it a stir with a wooden spoon and let her slow cook all day.  Enjoy the lovely aroma of warm and hearty food cooking.

Just before serving add a thickener if so desired. I add a 1/2 cup of water mixed with corn starch to thicken my stew, but I have also added powdered/freeze dried mash potato flakes (as is my plan tonight). Serve with warm biscuits or fresh, hot bread with butter.

Winter is the perfect time to experiment with hearty and filling foods. It can only get better when you are using fresh veggies from the recent harvest.

Stay warm!!