Good Morning Everyone,
Well, not too much going on here, except the bills. D and I have been just working around the house to try to get things done before we get caught with our pants down from surprise blizzards and other weather that may pop up around here. One minute its warm then next minute, you have a raging snow storm. We also discovered a water leak of some sort in the S room, on the carpet, so today we have to do recon to find what and where the water is before it gets cold. I hate leaks, especially in modular homes, so I am going to start working this morning clearing out and while I'm doing this, I will start throwing away stuff that is of no use or a pile for the thrift shop. Then, we have to cut out the carpet in there, and dry things out and then when we get it fixed, I will paint the floor with some floor paint until I can afford to lay vinyl down in the spring.
Today is my birthday. I don't usually do much on birthdays. This one will be spent working on the house, and then maybe if I'm not too tired, I will bake an angel food cake for tonight with dinner. Not sure what's for dinner either.
Last weekend, I bought beef shanks at the grocery. I was quite shocked that they carried shanks in the first place. I bought about 12 of some nice sized shanks with a lot of meat on them, and then Saturday, I popped them in the oven and slowly roasted them for the day. They turned out so nice and so very flavorful. I made homemade beef and noodles on Sunday. Very tasty and filling. I had enough left over of the shank meat to fill two freezer containers for two more meals. I am going this weekend to see if the butcher at the market has more and I am going to purchase more to freeze with my vacuum sealer and have these for the winter. Belle got some large bones to chew on also.
I am also posting a photo of the wild kittens we caught this August with Chester, the ICU cat from last December. He was the one that was caught in the fence and lost a his right leg and part of his tail.. He has fallen in love with these kittens and takes care of them and watches over them like a hawk. A good uncle.
Anyway, this will be a short post. I will post more later this week, but until then, I had better get dressed in my cruddy work clothes and start the the hunt for the water leak.
Have a great week everyone
Hugs
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Welcoming October and snippets of goings-on
Good Afternoon Everyone,
Well, it has been pretty busy here doing things that need to be done before we get cold weather or worse yet, SNOW, like we did a few years ago in October, being hit with three blizzards in the month. D and I cleared out the garden, I still have some hot peppers hanging on, I cover them when it may get cold and unwrap them when the sun warms up. I got my shallots, walking onions and garlic planted in my bucket brigade, been digging up nasty weeds and sand burrs and just general out side house work that needs to get done. Glenda, for your inspiration, the carport painted. We won't get to the porch until next year, as there are some major repairs that need to be done and not enough money, so till then, the cover goes up around the porch and also the carport to keep the snow from blowing around the patio area.
I haven't even started in cleaning the house, or anything. Since I broke my knee, I have been limited as to what I could do, and on top of things, I had a shingles attack in of all places, on my left hand, Oh, it is so very painful, and having your hands in water or cleaning water, is out of the question until it heals up, which will be a few weeks, so I bought a pair of latex gloves and cotton gloves to wear to protect the skin until it heals.
Yesterday, as I was going home from the grocery store, I stopped by our local nursery, and they were having a 50% off trees, shrubs and plants sale. I shouldn't have, but I bought 3 trees! The two on the south side of the house are a Honey Locust, and to the back, a Ornamental Pear. In the front, this tree is a WinterBerry.
We desperately need shade on the south side and front, and I had been looking for trees that would fit. Well, I found them and at a good price. The WinterBerry is a very hardy tree that gets around 15-20 ft tall and about that in width. This will be to cut the horrid summer sun from shining in the front window, which is my bedroom and without the Morning Glories in the front, that room will get around 130-150 degrees in that room, even with the air going. So I am anxious about this WinterBerry growing. The nursery man told me WinterBerry is very hardy in our zone, which is 5, truthfully, we are between zone 4 and 5 so I was glad to find a hardy tree for our zone, which the tree is hardy to -40* below zero. The other south trees are hardy in our zone, and are drought tolerant. So, yesterday, after I got home, D and I fired up the dually and went and picked the trees up and then spent the afternoon, digging holes, which I will tell you, by the time we finished late in the afternoon, we were both pooped totally. I am not young anymore to dig holes, but I am sure proud of the trees. I hope that they will do well.
I had several questions about the pepper spread and what you put it on. My grandmother made it for crackers, as she made her own cracker recipes. This is good on a hardy whole grain cracker or rye cracker. I suppose you could use this on just about anything that all of you would desire. Be a child again, just do it and let me know what you use it on.
Really, other than that, that is about all that is going on. Still quiet here, and I am sure enjoying it too.
Well, I need to run a few errands today, so I will catch everyone later and have a great weekend, all!
Hugs
Well, it has been pretty busy here doing things that need to be done before we get cold weather or worse yet, SNOW, like we did a few years ago in October, being hit with three blizzards in the month. D and I cleared out the garden, I still have some hot peppers hanging on, I cover them when it may get cold and unwrap them when the sun warms up. I got my shallots, walking onions and garlic planted in my bucket brigade, been digging up nasty weeds and sand burrs and just general out side house work that needs to get done. Glenda, for your inspiration, the carport painted. We won't get to the porch until next year, as there are some major repairs that need to be done and not enough money, so till then, the cover goes up around the porch and also the carport to keep the snow from blowing around the patio area.
I haven't even started in cleaning the house, or anything. Since I broke my knee, I have been limited as to what I could do, and on top of things, I had a shingles attack in of all places, on my left hand, Oh, it is so very painful, and having your hands in water or cleaning water, is out of the question until it heals up, which will be a few weeks, so I bought a pair of latex gloves and cotton gloves to wear to protect the skin until it heals.
Yesterday, as I was going home from the grocery store, I stopped by our local nursery, and they were having a 50% off trees, shrubs and plants sale. I shouldn't have, but I bought 3 trees! The two on the south side of the house are a Honey Locust, and to the back, a Ornamental Pear. In the front, this tree is a WinterBerry.
We desperately need shade on the south side and front, and I had been looking for trees that would fit. Well, I found them and at a good price. The WinterBerry is a very hardy tree that gets around 15-20 ft tall and about that in width. This will be to cut the horrid summer sun from shining in the front window, which is my bedroom and without the Morning Glories in the front, that room will get around 130-150 degrees in that room, even with the air going. So I am anxious about this WinterBerry growing. The nursery man told me WinterBerry is very hardy in our zone, which is 5, truthfully, we are between zone 4 and 5 so I was glad to find a hardy tree for our zone, which the tree is hardy to -40* below zero. The other south trees are hardy in our zone, and are drought tolerant. So, yesterday, after I got home, D and I fired up the dually and went and picked the trees up and then spent the afternoon, digging holes, which I will tell you, by the time we finished late in the afternoon, we were both pooped totally. I am not young anymore to dig holes, but I am sure proud of the trees. I hope that they will do well.
I had several questions about the pepper spread and what you put it on. My grandmother made it for crackers, as she made her own cracker recipes. This is good on a hardy whole grain cracker or rye cracker. I suppose you could use this on just about anything that all of you would desire. Be a child again, just do it and let me know what you use it on.
Really, other than that, that is about all that is going on. Still quiet here, and I am sure enjoying it too.
Well, I need to run a few errands today, so I will catch everyone later and have a great weekend, all!
Hugs
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
General Goings-on and This n' That
Good Morning Everyone,
I thought I would post because you'd think that I dropped off the face of the earth or floated into the ozone layer, I am sure some people around here wish I would do so.
We have had a few busy weeks here. My parents furnace quit and D has been trying to find a gas valve for a 26 year old furnace, which we finally did, and sometime this week, he has to put it in. My parents, like everyone else, cannot afford a heat tech's services, around here, it is almost unaffordable, but all that needs to be done is put the valve in, and hook everything up, and no tech. D is pretty handy, but we both have been snarling at each other lately, as he gets in my way in the kitchen and I am territorial in the kitchen, especially when I am canning or cooking, and I know that some of you know what I am talking about. I do not like someone hanging over my shoulder asking what I am doing, and I lose my train of thought or it derails completely and I have a melt down, in which I start snarling and yapping.
We also have been painting the carport. The owner, for some odd reason, wanted the all the carports painted, (hint, maybe he's wanting to sell it!, I have been told this), but he hired a tweeker, (a druggy) and my insurance lady specifically told me not to let this guy paint, as the owner, who does not carry a stitch of insurance on anything, to touch anything. She told me that if he fell on my place, I would be responsible for his work comp and the owner would probably pull a fast one on me and take my home away from me, which should tell all of you how much this man is hated in town.
I bought the paint early this spring when it went on sale, it was oil based barn and fence paint. We were going to paint this spring, but the weather was horrid for anything outside and then it got hot too fast and so we waited to paint til last week, the weather was nice, warm and the only thing I had to do was paint the supports and wasps. I did the lower parts and D did the higher parts of the carport as I am still crippling around with the knee, and it hurt but it had to get done. Now it is done and looks good, and it will last as it is oil based. The owner bought acrylic latex based interior paint and the rest of the carports look like crap, since he hired a tweeker, oh and by the way, this tweeker only got $10 a carport, this is what this guy pays in wages to whoever he hires.
I have been having a lot of pain lately in my spine and now the knee. I think that when I took the tumble off the porch, I threw something out of order. I still have things to do around the house, but not everything gets done. It really PO's me, to tell you the truth. Lately, I wish I could fly away somewhere, to get away from everything, but I can't.
Several people asked about my pepper recipe. I will try to post that this week. All it is it roasted red and orange peppers, I threw in a few green ones, some onion, and garlic, and a little bit of canola oil and roasted it in the oven and then the last half hour, I put them under the broiler. I was going to do them in the big grill I have, but that was when I broke my knee, so I didn't do it. It turned out good, I thought. I haven't tried any of the jars yet. I got 12 8 oz. jars of peppers. You can see from the photo of the peppers in the oven in the roaster. After I roasted them, I pulsed them through the food processor, and then placed them in my large crock pot to heat and not burn, then placed them in jars and processed them for 30 minutes in the pressure canner under 10 # of pressure.
Really other than that, that is about all that is going on here. So far, it has been pleasantly quiet here. The new people who moved in the open rentals are quiet, the ones next to me are great, a little scary to look at with the tattoos and rings, looking like a fishing lure, but they are nice, quiet, and pleasant, which is fine. They are also plant lovers so, everything in the world is ok at this moment.
Well, I will take my leave of you all. I will try to post more. I still have to tackle the garden, and clean up the tomato vines, I still have tomatoes coming in, so these I will freeze and I will process those later in the year. I planted garlic and shallots last week in between the painting, and other stuff going on. I surprised I can still think and function!
Take care all.
Hugs
I thought I would post because you'd think that I dropped off the face of the earth or floated into the ozone layer, I am sure some people around here wish I would do so.
We have had a few busy weeks here. My parents furnace quit and D has been trying to find a gas valve for a 26 year old furnace, which we finally did, and sometime this week, he has to put it in. My parents, like everyone else, cannot afford a heat tech's services, around here, it is almost unaffordable, but all that needs to be done is put the valve in, and hook everything up, and no tech. D is pretty handy, but we both have been snarling at each other lately, as he gets in my way in the kitchen and I am territorial in the kitchen, especially when I am canning or cooking, and I know that some of you know what I am talking about. I do not like someone hanging over my shoulder asking what I am doing, and I lose my train of thought or it derails completely and I have a melt down, in which I start snarling and yapping.
We also have been painting the carport. The owner, for some odd reason, wanted the all the carports painted, (hint, maybe he's wanting to sell it!, I have been told this), but he hired a tweeker, (a druggy) and my insurance lady specifically told me not to let this guy paint, as the owner, who does not carry a stitch of insurance on anything, to touch anything. She told me that if he fell on my place, I would be responsible for his work comp and the owner would probably pull a fast one on me and take my home away from me, which should tell all of you how much this man is hated in town.
I bought the paint early this spring when it went on sale, it was oil based barn and fence paint. We were going to paint this spring, but the weather was horrid for anything outside and then it got hot too fast and so we waited to paint til last week, the weather was nice, warm and the only thing I had to do was paint the supports and wasps. I did the lower parts and D did the higher parts of the carport as I am still crippling around with the knee, and it hurt but it had to get done. Now it is done and looks good, and it will last as it is oil based. The owner bought acrylic latex based interior paint and the rest of the carports look like crap, since he hired a tweeker, oh and by the way, this tweeker only got $10 a carport, this is what this guy pays in wages to whoever he hires.
I have been having a lot of pain lately in my spine and now the knee. I think that when I took the tumble off the porch, I threw something out of order. I still have things to do around the house, but not everything gets done. It really PO's me, to tell you the truth. Lately, I wish I could fly away somewhere, to get away from everything, but I can't.
Several people asked about my pepper recipe. I will try to post that this week. All it is it roasted red and orange peppers, I threw in a few green ones, some onion, and garlic, and a little bit of canola oil and roasted it in the oven and then the last half hour, I put them under the broiler. I was going to do them in the big grill I have, but that was when I broke my knee, so I didn't do it. It turned out good, I thought. I haven't tried any of the jars yet. I got 12 8 oz. jars of peppers. You can see from the photo of the peppers in the oven in the roaster. After I roasted them, I pulsed them through the food processor, and then placed them in my large crock pot to heat and not burn, then placed them in jars and processed them for 30 minutes in the pressure canner under 10 # of pressure.
Really other than that, that is about all that is going on here. So far, it has been pleasantly quiet here. The new people who moved in the open rentals are quiet, the ones next to me are great, a little scary to look at with the tattoos and rings, looking like a fishing lure, but they are nice, quiet, and pleasant, which is fine. They are also plant lovers so, everything in the world is ok at this moment.
Well, I will take my leave of you all. I will try to post more. I still have to tackle the garden, and clean up the tomato vines, I still have tomatoes coming in, so these I will freeze and I will process those later in the year. I planted garlic and shallots last week in between the painting, and other stuff going on. I surprised I can still think and function!
Take care all.
Hugs
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Cool Air Finally!
Good Afternoon everyone!
I am sorry that I haven't posted as quickly as I should, but I had a mishap at home here, and I have been gimping around.
A few weeks ago, we had a nice rain overnight, the next morning, I went out early to get the paper, had my bedroom slippers on and "WEEEEE", down the two steps to the concrete. It happened so fast, the only thing I knew is that I was straddling the step and concrete, I did know that I did NOT want to hit the pavement with my back, which I have done before and I was hurt'in for quite a while. Well, I did catch the stupid guard rail to my right, but I still straddled everything, and even broke a bolt in the rail. I do know that my right knee was at a funny angle and so I sat there for a little bit and got up and at the time, everything seemed ok.
This all happened on a Tue morning, and then Friday night, I let the dog out before we all went to bed, and I stepped down on my right knee and OMG, the pain was horrid, and I could not even get my knee to work, the pain was horrid. So I got the dog in and I immediately got my ice pack on and then took some Advil and then just rested for awhile, the pain was still there and then Saturday morning, I was still in pain, cripped around Farmer's market, a pulled my little french market cart around with me, and then went home, cripped around the kitchen, trying to can things, which was not fun or pleasant, but got it done.
Sunday, I went to the pharmacy and got a knee support and then called the doctor's office Monday morning which I hate to do. Had x-rays and found I cracked the knee bone that is below the knee cap on the left side. No wonder it hurt! Doc told me to baby it and stay off of it so it can have a chance to heal. There is also a small piece of bone floating around, and if that doesn't go away, doc will make me go for surgery to fix it, which I am definitely not for at all. So I am trying to behave myself, I did order Meals on Wheels for a few weeks, so I don't have to cook, which is nice, I hate to say it, I enjoy cooking but not with an intense pain in my knee while I stand cooking.
So, I am just trying to take it easy, it drives me nuts, as there is so much housework to do, laundry, you know, ladies, the stuff that needs to be done. I am just doing what I can, then I take breaks, ice up the knee, and then hit it again/ It helps when I have the brace on, as it supports my weight some, but still, if I turn on my leg, which I do a lot, to do something, oh my, salty sailor words come out of my mouth. My parents are ok, and will get by, until I can get my knee working again. D is laid up like I am, but he has been doing some housework, some stuff, I don't want him to touch, like laundry, but if I don't get to it, it will be there tomorrow. I am not going to worry about it. I do not have anyone to impress in my home.
I posted photos of the canning I did, surprising it came out right with me hurting. I am letting the pepper spread sit for a few weeks to meld the flavors. I will post what I did. Again, I don't have a "recipe" but I will post what I put in it and you can adjust to your taste. It is very easy. Since I hurt my knee, I had to roast the peppers in the oven, I put a little canola oil in and then roasted them for about an hour on 350*. I hope that it did turn out, as the peppers I bought were expensive at a $1.50 a piece, which is better than the $5 a piece they are asking for in the grocery store, which I will not buy at all. My neighbor also has peppers and some of those I will dehydrate and freeze. Also, please do not look too close to the canning photos, as my kitchen looks like a federal disaster area, and I not even going to show you the stove. I am waiting to clean the stove when all of the canning is pretty much done.
It is delightful here today. It rained overnight about a half an inch, and it is only in the 50's as of this afternoon.. I hope that this cool air get to Glenda and Ilene, you need it down there. It is supposed to get down into the 30's tonight, so I sure that some of my garden will get nipped by frost. Oh well, must be a sigh to slow down, yeah, right! What slow down is that!
Well, I had better gimp on into the laundry room to finish laundry or I will have to run around naked and that would be a total disaster, don't want to scare anyone into the ozone.
Everyone, please have a great week, and hopefully rain and cooler air to enjoy. I am afraid Fall is here.
Hugs to Everyone
I am sorry that I haven't posted as quickly as I should, but I had a mishap at home here, and I have been gimping around.
A few weeks ago, we had a nice rain overnight, the next morning, I went out early to get the paper, had my bedroom slippers on and "WEEEEE", down the two steps to the concrete. It happened so fast, the only thing I knew is that I was straddling the step and concrete, I did know that I did NOT want to hit the pavement with my back, which I have done before and I was hurt'in for quite a while. Well, I did catch the stupid guard rail to my right, but I still straddled everything, and even broke a bolt in the rail. I do know that my right knee was at a funny angle and so I sat there for a little bit and got up and at the time, everything seemed ok.
This all happened on a Tue morning, and then Friday night, I let the dog out before we all went to bed, and I stepped down on my right knee and OMG, the pain was horrid, and I could not even get my knee to work, the pain was horrid. So I got the dog in and I immediately got my ice pack on and then took some Advil and then just rested for awhile, the pain was still there and then Saturday morning, I was still in pain, cripped around Farmer's market, a pulled my little french market cart around with me, and then went home, cripped around the kitchen, trying to can things, which was not fun or pleasant, but got it done.
Sunday, I went to the pharmacy and got a knee support and then called the doctor's office Monday morning which I hate to do. Had x-rays and found I cracked the knee bone that is below the knee cap on the left side. No wonder it hurt! Doc told me to baby it and stay off of it so it can have a chance to heal. There is also a small piece of bone floating around, and if that doesn't go away, doc will make me go for surgery to fix it, which I am definitely not for at all. So I am trying to behave myself, I did order Meals on Wheels for a few weeks, so I don't have to cook, which is nice, I hate to say it, I enjoy cooking but not with an intense pain in my knee while I stand cooking.
So, I am just trying to take it easy, it drives me nuts, as there is so much housework to do, laundry, you know, ladies, the stuff that needs to be done. I am just doing what I can, then I take breaks, ice up the knee, and then hit it again/ It helps when I have the brace on, as it supports my weight some, but still, if I turn on my leg, which I do a lot, to do something, oh my, salty sailor words come out of my mouth. My parents are ok, and will get by, until I can get my knee working again. D is laid up like I am, but he has been doing some housework, some stuff, I don't want him to touch, like laundry, but if I don't get to it, it will be there tomorrow. I am not going to worry about it. I do not have anyone to impress in my home.
I posted photos of the canning I did, surprising it came out right with me hurting. I am letting the pepper spread sit for a few weeks to meld the flavors. I will post what I did. Again, I don't have a "recipe" but I will post what I put in it and you can adjust to your taste. It is very easy. Since I hurt my knee, I had to roast the peppers in the oven, I put a little canola oil in and then roasted them for about an hour on 350*. I hope that it did turn out, as the peppers I bought were expensive at a $1.50 a piece, which is better than the $5 a piece they are asking for in the grocery store, which I will not buy at all. My neighbor also has peppers and some of those I will dehydrate and freeze. Also, please do not look too close to the canning photos, as my kitchen looks like a federal disaster area, and I not even going to show you the stove. I am waiting to clean the stove when all of the canning is pretty much done.
It is delightful here today. It rained overnight about a half an inch, and it is only in the 50's as of this afternoon.. I hope that this cool air get to Glenda and Ilene, you need it down there. It is supposed to get down into the 30's tonight, so I sure that some of my garden will get nipped by frost. Oh well, must be a sigh to slow down, yeah, right! What slow down is that!
Well, I had better gimp on into the laundry room to finish laundry or I will have to run around naked and that would be a total disaster, don't want to scare anyone into the ozone.
Everyone, please have a great week, and hopefully rain and cooler air to enjoy. I am afraid Fall is here.
Hugs to Everyone
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Remembering 9-11-2001
Good Evening Everyone,
Today was a somber day for me. I can still see the images from the news about the attacks and remember a conversation that I listened to when my mother and I still had our needlework and quilt shop in town.
At the time, I was involved with designers in NYC, working with them on beading and garment designs for up coming fashion shows. I also designed and beaded state rodeo queen's clothing and was busy with that at the time also.
I had to call a designer that I was working with at the time to make sure we had all of our ducks in a row for her up coming spring collection, and I was making sure that she would be sending me materials and beads for her prototype garment. I was on the phone with her, when her voice cracked, and she stuttered, at first I thought she had gotten sick or something, and I kept asking if she was ok, and her words were, "I just seen an airplane go into the WTT, (World Trade Towers), her office was just down the street from them and she had an open view of the tragic and unbelievable events that were unfolding at the moment. I could here through the phone the impacts, and sirens and chaos that was starting, I was totally in shock at what she told me on the phone, and then we just couldn't talk at the time and that we would talk later. Later, her office was almost destroyed by all of the debris from the impact and collapse.
Needless to say, we did not get to finish her collections. It was another year before I got her prototypes to design and finish for her show. After that, I closed the shop for the day, and went home to see the horror myself.
I do not have words to tell you of the feelings I had that day, like everyone else, we were in total shock of the events. I am not even sure if we are safer today than that day, but I will tell you, our world changed that very day, and not for the better.
I will post sometime this week of what I have been up to, but for today, I leave thoughts of everyone who was touched by the events of 9-11 and prayers for the families, the victims, and the innocent. Also, the first responders, the firemen, police, and EMT's, my prayers and thoughts are with all.
Hugs
Today was a somber day for me. I can still see the images from the news about the attacks and remember a conversation that I listened to when my mother and I still had our needlework and quilt shop in town.
At the time, I was involved with designers in NYC, working with them on beading and garment designs for up coming fashion shows. I also designed and beaded state rodeo queen's clothing and was busy with that at the time also.
I had to call a designer that I was working with at the time to make sure we had all of our ducks in a row for her up coming spring collection, and I was making sure that she would be sending me materials and beads for her prototype garment. I was on the phone with her, when her voice cracked, and she stuttered, at first I thought she had gotten sick or something, and I kept asking if she was ok, and her words were, "I just seen an airplane go into the WTT, (World Trade Towers), her office was just down the street from them and she had an open view of the tragic and unbelievable events that were unfolding at the moment. I could here through the phone the impacts, and sirens and chaos that was starting, I was totally in shock at what she told me on the phone, and then we just couldn't talk at the time and that we would talk later. Later, her office was almost destroyed by all of the debris from the impact and collapse.
Needless to say, we did not get to finish her collections. It was another year before I got her prototypes to design and finish for her show. After that, I closed the shop for the day, and went home to see the horror myself.
I do not have words to tell you of the feelings I had that day, like everyone else, we were in total shock of the events. I am not even sure if we are safer today than that day, but I will tell you, our world changed that very day, and not for the better.
I will post sometime this week of what I have been up to, but for today, I leave thoughts of everyone who was touched by the events of 9-11 and prayers for the families, the victims, and the innocent. Also, the first responders, the firemen, police, and EMT's, my prayers and thoughts are with all.
Hugs
Sunday, September 4, 2011
AHHHHHH COOL AIR, AHHHHHHH
Good Morning Everyone,
Well, the cool air that we were told would come is finally here. Yesterday, (Sat) it was chilly, and the wind was blowing about 25-30 mph and I went to the farmer's market and it was cool.....felt good, but chilly, when a few days ago earlier, it was 100* F. So it was a change. I am not sure what the temp was Sat morning, but this morning, (Sunday), at 7 am, it was 38*F. You could see your breath this morning when I went out to get the paper. My tea tasted very good this morning. and it is so wonderful not to turn the AC on. I want to give that poor AC some time off, it has run since the first week of July and has not been turned off, and I want a break from the damn electric bill too!
I am hoping this cool air gets to my southern readers, and a hope of rain to them also.
I am getting ready to process again today. Since it is cool, I can work a little better. I got beautiful red peppers and some orange sweet peppers from my favorite vendor from the market, and I will do my pepper spread probably on Monday, or Tuesday. I have to roast the peppers so I need to fire up the smoker and do them and let them sweat and develop flavor. Then puree them with onions and garlic in the food processor and then I will place the mixture in my crock pot to heat so it does not burn and then put it in canning jars and can and then I am done for a little while. I also am going to get next week, some small red onions to pickle and can, and then look for something adventurous to try that I have never done before. Not sure what, but I will keep my eyes open.
The vendors at farmer's market have told me that it was a mixed year, some things did very well, other things didn't do good at all. Some, like my pepper lady, had a wonderful pepper season, while others who grow peppers, had a bust season. It is funny how people's gardens and farms, some of the farms are separated by 100+ miles apart, while others where separated merely by blocks, had success or failure. I have my opinions, but I seen a bizarre of strange weather this year all over the country and here as well. We didn't even have a spring so to speak, just winter, then summer, now it is fall-like now. Go figure.
Well, other than that, I don't have much to talk about. I am enjoying the quiet, and solitude.
Well, I had better get off my duff and get to processing all of this produce.
Take care everyone, have a great Labor Day holiday and have a great up coming week.
Hugs to all.
Well, the cool air that we were told would come is finally here. Yesterday, (Sat) it was chilly, and the wind was blowing about 25-30 mph and I went to the farmer's market and it was cool.....felt good, but chilly, when a few days ago earlier, it was 100* F. So it was a change. I am not sure what the temp was Sat morning, but this morning, (Sunday), at 7 am, it was 38*F. You could see your breath this morning when I went out to get the paper. My tea tasted very good this morning. and it is so wonderful not to turn the AC on. I want to give that poor AC some time off, it has run since the first week of July and has not been turned off, and I want a break from the damn electric bill too!
I am hoping this cool air gets to my southern readers, and a hope of rain to them also.
I am getting ready to process again today. Since it is cool, I can work a little better. I got beautiful red peppers and some orange sweet peppers from my favorite vendor from the market, and I will do my pepper spread probably on Monday, or Tuesday. I have to roast the peppers so I need to fire up the smoker and do them and let them sweat and develop flavor. Then puree them with onions and garlic in the food processor and then I will place the mixture in my crock pot to heat so it does not burn and then put it in canning jars and can and then I am done for a little while. I also am going to get next week, some small red onions to pickle and can, and then look for something adventurous to try that I have never done before. Not sure what, but I will keep my eyes open.
The vendors at farmer's market have told me that it was a mixed year, some things did very well, other things didn't do good at all. Some, like my pepper lady, had a wonderful pepper season, while others who grow peppers, had a bust season. It is funny how people's gardens and farms, some of the farms are separated by 100+ miles apart, while others where separated merely by blocks, had success or failure. I have my opinions, but I seen a bizarre of strange weather this year all over the country and here as well. We didn't even have a spring so to speak, just winter, then summer, now it is fall-like now. Go figure.
Well, other than that, I don't have much to talk about. I am enjoying the quiet, and solitude.
Well, I had better get off my duff and get to processing all of this produce.
Take care everyone, have a great Labor Day holiday and have a great up coming week.
Hugs to all.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
canning up a storm
Good Morning Everyone,
I am sorry that I have not been blogging recently, but I have been inundated with produce and fruit and I have had to get most of it process or lose it, which I do not waste anything.
An update of the living situation here: As of now, it is very quiet. There are the three rentals still open, a lot of people have been by to look, and the words from the lookers were not at all nice about the property's that are open. I am sure that my ears will burn as most of the people looking mentioned why is the house next to the rental nice with flowers and a mown lawn and this place is a piece of s***. I am sure that the owners are fuming at that comment. So yesterday, very late in the day, some squirrly looking guy came over and mowed the lawn of the rental next to me, and this morning very early, the so called maintenance man was over, putting in a new interior door from the NFH when the guy was beating the old lady and put her through the door, which you could hear in my house.
Rentals here are over priced, and what is available, I wouldn't let my dog live in which is what these places are. We are getting new people in this community from other states, and I have been told by my neighbor lady across the street, who is also a land lady, that people who are moving here are going to city hall and complaining to the mayor and city officials about the conditions of rentals. I am standing ready as I am sure the owner of my area will surly blame me for this rush of complaints from the city officials, he usually does. I do hope though that his ears get tired of the insults from would-be- tenants about his properties. He deserves every word and insult he gets, and hopefully a fine or conditions that have to be met.
My neighbor lady, the land lady, has given me a huge amount of white flesh peaches from her tree. They are going to be gone after Labor Day, on and off until the 16th, and I have the tree to myself. So I have been picking peaches and canning my brains out, literally. I do not let free fruit or food get away from me. So I have been doing this for a few days. I have to get it done, because some strangers have been stopping by the neighbor lady asking if they can take the peaches, so I have been on to this and trying to get the fruit off of the tree. I am for now, just processing them and freezing them in freezer bags. I treat them with fruit fresh, sugar and lemon juice and take them over to my parent's freezer. Mine freezer is absolutely full, and I am going to take a hint from GLD from her blog to clean out the freezer, yikes!!
So, really other than that, I haven't been doing too much. It has been fairly cool here lately, but yesterday and today it is supposed to be up in the high 90's and then cooler weather is coming our way, which I hope will filter down to some of you south of me. My garden is slowly fading away. I pulled up some cucumbers, and have picked a few melons, which I am surprised about. My tomatoes are still slow, but I am getting some. My neighbor man across the street has been gone also, and I have been making raids on his garden for tomatoes and green peppers. I have been waiting for some the of the peppers to turn red as I want to make a pepper spread for crackers and I need colored peppers. I will make some mild and some a little hot. If you want, I will try to post the recipe, it is my grandmother's so I really don't have a "recipe" so to speak, but I will keep track of amounts and post later, when I get a batch to make some.
Other than that, I have just been busy putting up some food and just staying out of every one's way. I am also starting my fall ritual of buying things on sale to put away. I keep a full stocked pantry for winter, but something i have noticed lately and I am now careful about buying is that the stores are keeping track of what you buy. A few weeks ago, I bought 6 bags of sugar and the checkout lady asked why I was buying so much. I would of just ignored this, but it was her tone of voice that alerted me to her inquiry. I just told her I am making pickles and jellies and jams, (which I am), and she went on about checking me out. But I am reading from other's blogs, that in some area's of the country, people are being questioned about if they are hoarding. Top be honest, around here, it would be that no one questioned what you bought. As we are in ranch and farm country, farmers and ranchers buy a lot especially starting this time of year for the winter, usually to get them through the winter as where these ranches are located, you may be snowed in for a month and a half or more. Also they have ranch hands and have to feed these men and when you are located 150 miles or more from a large town to get supplies, you just can't get in the truck and go to the grocery store every day or week.
So I am now careful when I go and where. If I have to, I split my purchases over several days, when sales are going. And I don't make conversation about what I am buying. I am personally shocked of this behavior now. It is now a sign of the times.
Well, I think that I had better get off my soap box. I need to start on my peaches and later the tomatoes.
I wish everyone a wonderful rest of the week and to my US readers, have a wonderful and safe Holiday Labor Day weekend.
Love and Hugs to all.
Thank you for all of your support and comments
I am sorry that I have not been blogging recently, but I have been inundated with produce and fruit and I have had to get most of it process or lose it, which I do not waste anything.
An update of the living situation here: As of now, it is very quiet. There are the three rentals still open, a lot of people have been by to look, and the words from the lookers were not at all nice about the property's that are open. I am sure that my ears will burn as most of the people looking mentioned why is the house next to the rental nice with flowers and a mown lawn and this place is a piece of s***. I am sure that the owners are fuming at that comment. So yesterday, very late in the day, some squirrly looking guy came over and mowed the lawn of the rental next to me, and this morning very early, the so called maintenance man was over, putting in a new interior door from the NFH when the guy was beating the old lady and put her through the door, which you could hear in my house.
Rentals here are over priced, and what is available, I wouldn't let my dog live in which is what these places are. We are getting new people in this community from other states, and I have been told by my neighbor lady across the street, who is also a land lady, that people who are moving here are going to city hall and complaining to the mayor and city officials about the conditions of rentals. I am standing ready as I am sure the owner of my area will surly blame me for this rush of complaints from the city officials, he usually does. I do hope though that his ears get tired of the insults from would-be- tenants about his properties. He deserves every word and insult he gets, and hopefully a fine or conditions that have to be met.
My neighbor lady, the land lady, has given me a huge amount of white flesh peaches from her tree. They are going to be gone after Labor Day, on and off until the 16th, and I have the tree to myself. So I have been picking peaches and canning my brains out, literally. I do not let free fruit or food get away from me. So I have been doing this for a few days. I have to get it done, because some strangers have been stopping by the neighbor lady asking if they can take the peaches, so I have been on to this and trying to get the fruit off of the tree. I am for now, just processing them and freezing them in freezer bags. I treat them with fruit fresh, sugar and lemon juice and take them over to my parent's freezer. Mine freezer is absolutely full, and I am going to take a hint from GLD from her blog to clean out the freezer, yikes!!
So, really other than that, I haven't been doing too much. It has been fairly cool here lately, but yesterday and today it is supposed to be up in the high 90's and then cooler weather is coming our way, which I hope will filter down to some of you south of me. My garden is slowly fading away. I pulled up some cucumbers, and have picked a few melons, which I am surprised about. My tomatoes are still slow, but I am getting some. My neighbor man across the street has been gone also, and I have been making raids on his garden for tomatoes and green peppers. I have been waiting for some the of the peppers to turn red as I want to make a pepper spread for crackers and I need colored peppers. I will make some mild and some a little hot. If you want, I will try to post the recipe, it is my grandmother's so I really don't have a "recipe" so to speak, but I will keep track of amounts and post later, when I get a batch to make some.
Other than that, I have just been busy putting up some food and just staying out of every one's way. I am also starting my fall ritual of buying things on sale to put away. I keep a full stocked pantry for winter, but something i have noticed lately and I am now careful about buying is that the stores are keeping track of what you buy. A few weeks ago, I bought 6 bags of sugar and the checkout lady asked why I was buying so much. I would of just ignored this, but it was her tone of voice that alerted me to her inquiry. I just told her I am making pickles and jellies and jams, (which I am), and she went on about checking me out. But I am reading from other's blogs, that in some area's of the country, people are being questioned about if they are hoarding. Top be honest, around here, it would be that no one questioned what you bought. As we are in ranch and farm country, farmers and ranchers buy a lot especially starting this time of year for the winter, usually to get them through the winter as where these ranches are located, you may be snowed in for a month and a half or more. Also they have ranch hands and have to feed these men and when you are located 150 miles or more from a large town to get supplies, you just can't get in the truck and go to the grocery store every day or week.
So I am now careful when I go and where. If I have to, I split my purchases over several days, when sales are going. And I don't make conversation about what I am buying. I am personally shocked of this behavior now. It is now a sign of the times.
Well, I think that I had better get off my soap box. I need to start on my peaches and later the tomatoes.
I wish everyone a wonderful rest of the week and to my US readers, have a wonderful and safe Holiday Labor Day weekend.
Love and Hugs to all.
Thank you for all of your support and comments
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