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Grandma's House DIY

Welcome to the To Grandma's House We Go link party. This blogger party is all about you sharing your posts about homemade, homemaking, DIY, recycling, upcycling, before and afters (of rooms, furniture, whatever), build projects, vintage, any kind of creative, frugal, time saving, money saving or green advice, canning and old fashioned recipes. This link party is all about going back to simpler times, simpler days where we used all that we had and never bought new until there was absolutely no choice.

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #209)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go Link Party #209. Its that time of the year again and I just HAD to make chili. Fortunately Lodi loved my Minnesota chili 🙂 I call it that because I’ve spent enough time in southern states to know that its basically unrecognizable to their own form of chili! Here’s the recipe: 1lb ground beef, 1 chopped onion, 1 chopped bell pepper, 1 can hot chili beans, 1 can navy beans (rinsed), 1 can tomato sauce and 1 can chopped tomatoes. I always brown and caramelize the first three ingredients first together before adding the tomato sauce and chopped tomatoes. Then I simmer that for a good half hour before adding the beans so they don’t get mushy. Its perfect with grilled cheese and for a cold fall day! I add garlic salt, black pepper, chili powder, paprika, cumin and red pepper to give it more of a kick too! What are your staple fall recipes? Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #208)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go Link Party #208. Well… It happened… Summer went from 90 to 50 like it saw a state trooper lol. So bummed, we got hit by freezing temps two nights in a row. Wow how that happened fast! Of course, this is not the end – projected highs will be returning to normal but wow how NOBODY was happy to have to turn their heat on! My garden is absolutely done and oh how I am going to miss the fresh produce! Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #207)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go Link Party #207. I got my Mom home from Rochester on Monday afternoon, I am so totally beat but we’re all OK. She has a long road of recovery ahead of her but she’s getting a little bit better very day. I’m taking care of her in any way that I can. Lodi held down our fort while I was gone – only five baseball bat sized cucumbers to be fed to the horses from the garden lol Otherwise we got to try our first watermelon! Not very big but wonderfully tasty. Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #206)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #206. Many of you know my Mom has been going through cancer treatments since January. Four months of chemotherapy, five weeks of radiation and now, the last step: surgery. I brought her down to the Mayo clinic in Rochester yesterday morning and tomorrow she will be having surgery. Its just the two of us and its a long procedure and, of course, I’m worried sick. All surgery is a risk though this is, fortunately, not considered a very high risk surgery. If you guys could keep us in your thoughts tomorrow I would so appreciate it! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #205)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #205. Well August is dwindling down – I saw the funniest post on Facebook the other day, “I can’t believe its already August! March feels like only 17 years ago!” What a year 2020 has been, wowser. It also feels like March was yesterday. This is absolutely the longest shortest year I’ve ever lived. Funny fact: I never get carded now that I’m wearing a mask all the time – I guess my eyes look old and tired lol Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #204)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #204. Oh how I love August. I am such a summer person and seeing August is both my fav and the worst all at once. August is really our last dependable month when it comes to summer. In northern MN September is a crap shoot – could be gorgeous summer weather or it might snow! Or, more likely, it may do both off and on lol We’re finally making some real progress on our summer to do list and good thing because we are totally running out of time! Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #203)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #203. I love this moment with the garden (I would totally garden anyway regardless of this moment) but the fact that by August of every year its already paid for itself is pretty darned cool! Just a few cucumbers so far but we’ve had several meals of green beans, peas and beats! Kohlrabi is on the way and so are the melons. The herbs just make me silly happy though and our oregano, basil, thyme and dill just did amazing this year. I love stuffing chicken breasts with Parmesan and that whole combo of herbs – MAJOR YUM. Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #202)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #202. Our garden has begun to produce in earnest and its just so wonderful to have the organic fresh produce. We’ve had several meals of fresh peas, green beans and beats now. Cucumbers are coming soon and the melons and kohlrabi are on their way. Our fresh basil, dill and sage are doing incredible and I’m basically throwing them in every meal I can! Unfortunately, for the second year in a row, peppers just don’t do well in our garden and I can’t figure that out at all. Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #201)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #201. Hey all, well I am officially freaking out because it feels like summer is almost over and I haven’t even put a DENT in our “must get done before winter” to do list! This feels incredibly familiar because, of course, I do this every year. There’s something about hitting July that just makes me panic lol We finally did get some real rain though and the garden is beginning to really produce – love the fresh veggies every day! Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #200)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #200. OMG you guys I’ve been doing this link party for 200 weeks in a row! WOW! Thank all of you for joining us every week, sharing the party and getting on board! Well, Lodi and I put the air conditioner in one of our windows…. with absolutely no hope for rain and after being missed by storm after storm and suffocating trying to sleep in a 90 degree bedroom for WEEKS. I broke. First time in all the years I lived here that my stubborn butt was beat by the heat! Of course this is 2020 after all and not six hours later we finally got hit by a thunderstorm that appeared out of nowhere and broke our drought and heat streak… *facepalm* Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #199)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #199. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend! With all that’s going on in this crazy world anymore we tried hard to have a chill weekend and some serious R&R. Of course I still did some work on the house but that’s nothing new lol. Around here we need rain DESPERATELY and have seen some serious heat. Our whole yard has become crunchy – getting everything watered is starting to feel like a full time job! Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #198)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #198. Wow, as weird as this year has been I didn’t think I’d say this but where did June go? I can’t believe this weekend is the fourth of July already OMG we haven’t got near enough done on the yard lol time to crack the whip on MYSELF. I love this time of the year and I also hate it because we just stored the hay for the horses for this winter and Lodi and I just talked about ordering pellets for the pellet stove also for this winter… Can’t we pretend summer isn’t going to end for even ONE minute!? Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #197)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #197. Wow did we swelter for a couple of days here! Whew! Back to regular temps now after a couple of INSANE thunderstorms. Not sure what I expect… This is 2020 after all and asking for anything normal (even the weather) does seem like asking a lot… Somehow, even with covid, we inadvertently entertained family and friends for the last FIVE weekends in a row. I’ve been counting the days to next weekend that we finally get to ourselves! Even my very-extroverted-people-loving Lodi said last night, “I love them all so much… Let’s never do that again.” Isn’t family great?! Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #196)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #196. Well I don’t know what’s going on with the crazy amount of wind that we have anymore but we have at least been able to enjoy some hot summery weather! I’m very excited that our vegetable garden is filling in great and everything we planted came up and is doing well. I am so ready for some fresh veggies. My Mom only has a week left of radiation – so excited for her to get a break and be home for good! I hope everyone’s spring has been going smoothly so far. Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #195)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #195. MMMMMMMM I really need to not check out this link party when I’m hungry lol I was absolutely starving by the time I finished choosing my features last week! You guys are some amazing chefs! We’ve had some glorious weather lately and its just about killed me to have to go inside every night. My body is like: “But its light out and beautiful outside… it can’t possibly be time for bed!” We really all should be able to put our jobs on hold the first month of summer every year… Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #194)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #194. Lodi and I accomplished quite a bit this last weekend. We got our little bathroom finally painted out and complete. Our garden is sprouting – so exciting! My Grandma’s peonies, tiger lilies and lily of the valley are all up and looking so darned pretty. Isn’t spring wonderful!? We knocked one planting bucket list item off of my list too by planting an asparagus bed as well. I hope you all had a great weekend! Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #193)

Link party #193. To Grandma’s House We Go! Its been an odd, hazy, gloomy, not-sunny-at-all, we-need-rain-so-bad, couple of weeks. Not complaining, its still been over 70 every day, but it is a bit odd. Its starting to feel like I’m just going to have a permanent fire danger warning on my phone forever… Lodi and I are getting a lot done now that spring is here. It feels sensational to be outside again and to enjoy our big deck and to plant something and get dirty! Hope you’ve all had some warm weather to enjoy as well! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #192)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #192. We finally reached the point of no return when it comes to the weather… hopefully lol it is MN after all! We planted flowers this last weekend and yesterday we planted out the garden! I’m kicking myself for not getting the garden planted a week sooner but life is just like that sometimes. We do the best we can! Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #191)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #191. Well, in true Minnesota fashion, it snowed! A week ago I was really thinking we were going to get to plant this last weekend lol not so much. I got all of my peonies and other perennials covered that were popping up so everyone was safe and sound. This looks like its really finally it though and we won’t be seeing freezing again until… *crosses fingers* … maybe this fall!? This next weekend we’ll hopefully get all of our gardens planted – I totally miss the smell of dirt! Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #190)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #190. All of our green houses opened up unseasonably early and everyone was SO excited even though its still not safe to plant quite yet. We’re all still hunkered down in quarantine here in MN so just getting to go look at plants and go somewhere different was a treat! Lodi and I are getting adjusted now that we’ve moved in together here at Grandma’s house. Under such awful circumstances in the world I’m really relieved to have him here with me. Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #189)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #189. Thank goodness for an early spring! Our weather has simply been gorgeous. Considering the current quarantine situation I know everyone is so relieved to be able to get outside to walk, run, bike, or just sit in the sun etc. Lodi and I are planning our gardens and working on our summer to do list. Still haven’t really got my feet back under me motivation-wise with everything that’s going on, but I’m working on it! Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #188)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #188. WOW these are some very weird times we’re living in. Poor Lodi isn’t “essential” so he’s stuck at home losing his mind meanwhile I really think us essential employees should get some time off when all of this over lol. He’s the extrovert, I’m the introvert, so the fact that our places aren’t swapped is both horrifying and hilarious. I’ll be the first to admit though his OCD is giving us the cleanest house EVER and that’s not a terrible thing! Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #187)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #187. I hope you guys had a good weekend! With the quarantine going on the only reason I remembered it was Easter was because I had several family members send out texts to everyone wishing them a Happy Easter lol. Lodi and I spent it on the couch watching Sherlock and eating way too much pizza… What a strange reality/world we’re living in. Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #186)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #186. My poor Lodi I fear is going to go absolutely stir crazy. He and Annie (the doggo) both went from a big city and going out daily to stores, gyms, malls etc. to BOOM: a very small town ten miles away and the four walls of my grandma’s house. Lodi the extrovert, laid off and sheltering in place while meanwhile I’m the introvert that never goes out and would love to be trapped at home for a couple of weeks and I’m the essential one *facepalm* Daily life is so surreal anymore! Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #185)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #185. Wow we sure are living in some strange times these days. Anyone else watch the tiger documentary yet? Apparently it is a must see lol. I’m “essential” and I have never before scrambled so hard and been so stressed beyond recognition at my day job. I saw a Meme on Facebook the other day: “When all of this is over can us essential employees take a month off and you guys run things for awhile?” SO tired and I noticed today that EVERYONE I see working now looks exactly how I feel. We’re all in this together. I hope you are all safe and sound. Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #184)

SORRY GUYS! I accidentally linked to this older party in my April 19th newsletter. Click here to go to the correct link party!
Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #184. Well, one bit of good news is that we seem to be seeing an unprecedented early spring! It’s lovely. Forty degrees and fifties in the forecast is just amazing. This time last year we were getting dumped on – getting over three feet of snow in just a couple of weeks. With what’s going on right now at least being able to get out of the house and take a walk etc. sure helps a little bit! Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #183)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #183. Well as of right now all public schools here in MN have been closed along with just about everything else yesterday by 5pm. How are you guys all doing? As most of you know my Mom is currently going through chemotherapy treatments which puts her in the most vulnerable group. To say I’m a bit concerned for her is a major understatement. She is practicing hard social distancing… which, to be fair, isn’t that different than regular life here in northern MN. For people like my mom though I am doing what I can to follow the CDC guidelines and literally not going anywhere I don’t have to. I hope you all are safe and getting through this ok. Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #182)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #182. Well, its official, we’re seeing a VERY early spring. We hit nearly fifty degrees this weekend, it was crazy and it felt SO GOOD! Suddenly I’m trying to switch gears from my winter to do list to my summer to do list… Which means I need to MAKE my summer to do list lol no complaints though, we certainly deserve a long summer and early spring after the last two years! Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #181)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #181. It seems to be officially spring time basically here in northern MN… pretty much unprecedented! But if there was ever a people that deserved an early spring I think all of us midwesterners can agree that after the last two VERY short summers, we deserve this! Hope you’re all seeing some sunshine and melting like we are! Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #180)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #180. Well, I’m not sure what we did to deserve it but we seem to be seeing an early spring here in Minnesota *crosses fingers* let’s hope I didn’t just jinx the midwest! This last weekend it hit 42 on Saturday! I don’t remember an end of February with weather this nice ever in my life. It feels amazing! Hope your winter/spring is going well. Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #179)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #179. Well we saw some -20s here for a couple of days and some wind chills down into the negative 40s. That was brisk! Everyone weathered it fine though and so far *crosses fingers* it really looks like that is the last of our cold spells and spring is seriously on the way. I don’t think I’ve ever said that in February before! My birthday is on the 24th and I know I have NEVER seen a forecast of 30s for my birthday EVER OMG we’re all so excited! Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #178)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #178. Lodi and I took this last weekend to go on a mini “vacation” for both of our birthday parties. The view was still of the frozen tundra that is Minnesota right now but the hot tub and the wine certainly helped us both feel like it was a vacation! We had a lovely time and both regretted having to leave our little getaway. But the break certainly helped get my own butt back in gear and back to work. Winter still going on by this time of the year can be such a downer! Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #177)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #177. Well it sure feels good to put January behind us finally. I swear every year January stretches out even longer somehow. We had a bit of a heat wave here that felt absolutely amazing and even took out some of the insane amount of snow that we have already this winter. Crossing all of our fingers that maybe, just maybe, the worst of the cold snaps are behind us and spring is on its way! Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #176)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #176. We’ve had ourselves a lovely “heat wave” throughout north country these past few days and into our forecast. 30s feel like HEAVEN this time of the year and it really has been such a relief. Crossing our fingers maybe we’ll see a mild winter from here on out after seeing negatives temps in November! Hope you all are having a great winter! Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #175)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #175. WOW did winter just hammer us! OMG I am SO SO SO ready for spring – Remember to check out our first Sunday of every month DIY blog hop (more info below) Chas and I are really excited about it! For those of you who experienced this last winter horror storm I hope you found a warm spot to be safe and sound until it passed. Next up I’ll be hiring a guy very soon to get all that snow off my roof – current totals here are over 3 feet now. On to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #174)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party #174! CALLING ALL BLOGGERS!! Chas and I are teaming up the first Sunday of every month with a themed project and we would love to have you join us! Each month’s posts is a different theme – currently we are doing it by room to really let us be versatile and creative. We have opened it up to all other bloggers using Inlinkz to make it easy for us to all share together. To get the party codes, the dates and the themes click here! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #173)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go Link Party #173. PHEW! I don’t know about you guys but I am SO ready to see a normal week again lol Can we start a petition that all holidays have to be moved to either Mondays or Fridays or even Thursday?! I have officially spent half of a month with absolutely no idea what day it is, certain that I’m forgetting something and feeling like I’m getting behind somehow. Happy New Year! Cheers to getting back to normal! Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #172)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go Link Party #172. I saw this posted on Facebook over Christmas and wanted to share it with you guys: “I hope you find some time this week to get really, really quiet. To curl up in a big cozy chair and watch a movie you’ve seen a million times before. To hug the people you love. To wrap up in a warm blanket and read a good book. To drink hot cocoa from a Christmas mug. To stand outside in the crisp night air and marvel at the stars. I hope you find time this week to sit silently in front of your life and contemplate how magical it really is, before we turn the page and greet a New Year.” Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #171)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go Link Party #171. Happy almost Xmas everybody! I’m thrilled to be “ready” and also both bummed and excited to be having a very unique actual holiday this year. My mom, aunt and I will all be without our guys for Xmas so it’s just going to be us girls. How it happened is a long story but schedules, lives, responsibilities etc. mean us girls might just have a margarita Xmas complete with girly movies and pajamas! Definitely going to be watching Mama Mia after opening presents lol. Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #170)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go Link Party #170. OMG did we see some cold weather! My phone had a permanent weather warning on it for three days with wind chills of -35! Crossing my fingers this somehow means we’re getting the really bad cold out of the way early this year and get an early spring! Stay warm out there guys, I am thrilled to say I got all my shopping and wrapping done at least. Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #169)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go Link Party #169. Well we are officially wintry now with about a foot of snow on the ground and a high today of -5 ugh. To be fair it is mid December and I do live in northern MN so I guess I can’t really complain about our inevitable winter weather. Lodi has been hinting at taking us somewhere warm in February and that’s sounding better and better by the minute. We put up our first tree together this last weekend and though I am not really a very festive person it was a special moment and who doesn’t love Xmas lights? Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #168)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go link party. I do hope that you all partied and ate far too much and allowed yourself to forget about calorie intake for at least one day. I myself ate WAY too much over two Thanksgivings. Lodi and I were literally wattling home to hit the couch and unbutton our pants and remove our belts. I have been on a “diet” for almost a year now. I have lost nearly 25 pounds. I’m pretty sure I ate as much food on the first Thanksgiving as I would normally eat spread out over several days. I also have VERY delicate stomach issues that I ignored and totally regretted later. Still though… there was pie and it was REALLY good pie. Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #167)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go Link Party #167. I feel like Thanksgiving being so late this year made November come and go in like two or three days lol. I panicked last week when I heard on the radio Xmas was less than 4 weeks from Thanksgiving. OMG I need to get my Xmas shopping done good grief! I usually wait until after Thanksgiving but that feels too close for me even buying everything on Amazon Prime. Obviously deadlines stress me out lol. How about you guys? Anyone started Xmas shopping yet? Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #166)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go Link Party #166. Fortunately for us that awful cold snap left and was followed by some really not bad highs in the 30s and 40s! I’ll take it. It felt great after seeing negatives temps this early in the year. I took the weather as a sign to fill my horses’ stock tank and do a few more chores outside that are particularly more crappy to do in cold weather. Lovely for us most of the forecast looks average in the 20s and 30s, YAY!! Crossing my fingers we won’t be seeing negative temps again for a while! Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »

To Grandma’s House we go! (Wednesday Link Party #165)

Welcome to the To Grandma’s House We Go Link Party #165. OMG I feel so bad for all of us lol this cold front that hit the United States has just been CRAZY! I got up to a temp of -3 Monday morning… Like SERIOUSLY?! Its not even Thanksgiving yet. Fortunately it does look like we’ll be returning to more “normal” temps here pretty soon. We really need to get some snow if we’re gonna see this kind of cold though! Time to go pick myself up some apple cider and settle into some blankets on my couch for sure. Now, on to the Party! Read the rest of the post »