choices

I absolutely love the sounds of a productive and busy home. I simply wasn't tired last night.  I struggled to fall asleep and woke up at 3:30 am.  I tried laying around in bed, but my brain was arguing that it was definitely not a productive use of my time. I simply wasn't tired.   It's rare that I wake before Hubs, so the fact that I did and had an incredible amount of energy was a combination of disappointment (I am usually the one that stays up to give Beau his meds) and exhilaration. 

I gave up by 4:00.  No point in lying there wide awake.  I had soaked some beans yesterday and wanted to get them canned today.  I am serious when I say I am sick of chemicals in my food.  I'll buy organic beans, I'll process them, I'll store them on my shelves.  I will feel better about what I am feeding my family and friends.  Easy peasy.  Right now there are two canners steaming and coming to pressure.  In the next two hours I will have plenty of kidney and red beans for many pots of chili and soups.  I hauled the great northern beans down to the cantry yesterday.  It feels good. It feels like I am doing what I am supposed to do. 

So muted this morning, 
you can almost see the chill in the air

This morning as I was looking at a few sites I follow there was an intense discussion about ferments, something I have been longing to seriously dip my toes into.  I know they are amazing for you.  Natural probiotics far outweigh the functional nutritional value of capsules.  Not to mention the cost difference.  She was talking about the fermented apples that she had made.  It got me to thinking I still have some apples downstairs, if I haven't waited too long.  It wasn't originally on the schedule for today, but I think it might move there.  Or maybe tomorrow at the latest.  Ferments are so good for you, we just moved away from them as a standard method of preserving and storing food.  Might be time to move back in, I know it will be an adjustment to the taste-buds, but honestly, I am a huge fan of things that are tart.  

Yesterday was fire and brimstone time....

In addition to the slight rattle of the canner coming to pressure the wash is almost finished.  Far too cold outside to hang anything to air dry, but by the time this snow storm moves in, if it does.  My plan is to have a perfectly clear schedule to relax and enjoy.  Do some sewing and watch some movies or tv with the Hubs.  Or even better waste the day away playing cards.  

What do you mean no walks?

Sadly the pups won't be getting a walk for a few days.  I draw the line at zero or lower wind chills.  My Belle doesn't have a thick coat like her brother and even a sweater won't protect her long enough for a walk.  She's more of a southern type pup, he is part husky (I'm sure of it!) hard to believe they are actually litter mates.  He has that nice thick double coat.  Sadly, she doesn't.  It's all good they have a fenced yard for the burst of snow fever they will both get, if it falls. 

Beau was letting Dad know he could
fish come springtime... he loves fish

I was wasting a few moments while my canner was coming to pressure the other day, and doing a bit of doom scrolling.  I have my own thoughts about the enzymes they use to make cheeses, and it was a hot topic, I was reading in awe the feelings people were sharing.  I'm a very firm believer that life is about choices.  And we all have to navigate where we are, how we feel about things and what we will do with the information shared with us. 

I am a very traditional homemaker.  By choice.  It soothes and centers me.  This morning as I was wiping up the counter and starting the canners, my sweet Hubs came up behind me to tell me he was heading up to shower.  A soft kiss, him calling me his little homemaker and he was off.  I was in heaven.  Being acknowledged and appreciated for my choices felt amazing. 

Great Northern beans, ready for storage

Making cottage cheese - still not perfect...
but coming along

As I read those comments, I felt sadness and some shame as a woman.  Shame that other women would attack someone for trying to teach people to make a simple cheese. A way to help you if you chose to go that route.  Some of those females were downright nasty.  Saying their time was too valuable to waste on such stupid stuff, especially when you could simply buy it at the store. 

Here is how I see it.  If you want a high powered career, more power to you.  If you despise homemaking, okay, I get it.  If basic cooking, causes you immense stress of angst, okay.  I appreciate those choices. But if someone wants to be a traditional homemaker, if that is their "career" choice, why do you have to be so stinking ugly? 

I personally feel it is all about choice.  For me, I love being responsible for all things home.  I mean I'm not a huge fan of dishes, dusting and poo patrol.  No lie there.  But the rest of it fill my spirit to over flowing.  Some seasons are crazy, there are moments that feel like I will never catch up and sleep becomes a dream that isn't going to come to fruition.  Other times are calm, full of peace, plenty of time for just being.  

For me it is about control.  Yup, I definitely can go to the grocery store.  I can buy products off the shelves.  I can hope that the chemicals and high processing won't impact us too greatly.  I mean we are at the tail end of our lives, it might not be so bad... right? And honestly, it will definitely cost less for some of the items. But... and it's a huge but... what is the trade off?  A bit more time to doom scroll, in exchange for poor health?  Not driving to the next town to pick up my raw milk, cream and butter... what is the cost associated with that 45 minutes of my life?  When I weigh that out.  I'm good with it. 

Hubs had a meeting with his whole health doctor this week.  They did his whole body scan.  Not only has he lost a good amount of weight, he's also gained healthy muscle, lost dangerous fats and inflammation that weren't something you see with the naked eye.  He's in incredible shape, probably better than men half his age. He'll be 74 in a few months and other than that pesky back issue (jumping out of planes in service of his country definitely played into that issue) he is super healthy. 

I'm not going to say you are less of a human if you are shopping at the grocery, if your priorities don't lean towards buying raw milk and meats fresh from the farm, those are your choices.  I don't believe that makes anyone less than or more than.  I just believe that we have different priorities, different beliefs.  It's all good. 

I'm thankful for my choices.  Hubs is always saying he still works when he is scheduling appointments or things like that.  I laugh in my head a bit, because yes technically, I am "retired", but only from the corporate rat race.  I work harder than I have ever worked in my life.  I spend countless hours doing activities that I know will require a mineral bath and some healing lotions to calm my poor body afterwards.  I also know that my choices will never have an "end" date.  A time where I pull up the welcome mat and just stop.  Well, at least not when I will still be here on this plane.  I will still be working, because that is what we are here to do.  And I will be happy doing it.  Even on those days where the muscles ache, there isn't an ounce of energy left and I long for my bed or a hot bath.  And I am so thankful for that!

Hubs is fond of quoting "do something you love and you will never work a day in your life" or something like that - I'm more of a paraphrase kind of woman.  He's right.  

Well, my choices are calling.  The laundry needs folded and switched over and I need to call Beau in from his morning romp. 

If you are in the path of the extreme cold and possible snow, please be smart.  Please stay warm and definitely don't go traipsing around if you don't need to.  There is very little we actually need, we're just programmed to be out and about. 

take care & much love, 

b

the moment...

Today crept in soft and muted.  None of the vibrant colors that started this week. No bright pinks, yellows or reds.  The oranges were more of a peach, the colors soft and serene.  All I could think was here we go, the storms that have been whispered about were definitely going to sneak in. The full hour between meds had me looking cautiously at the forecasts, wondering if we could get a long walk in.  

Then just as quietly as it seemed to creep across the sky this morning the sun made a grand appearance.  Blindingly bright, bringing the promised warmth with it. So much so that the Pups were bouncing and happy as we walked a full 2 mile walk today.  No longing looks to turn around.  Just two little butts swaying in perfect unison, the same way they have since they first come here 4 years ago. Belle would occasionally bounce forward more, as soon as a scent or sound caught her attention, only to quickly return to that rhythmic walking they do. 

The whispers of bad weather are getting a bit stronger, they are talking about snow in our neck of the woods.  The bigger concern for us is our family down in Arkansas and Alabama.  Both states are directly in the path of the worst part of this storm if it comes to fruition.  It worries me.  Up here we have snow plows, although they haven't been great about using them the past few storms - at least we have them. Down there... an inch could shut down the whole state. 

We'll just have to wait and see what the weekend brings in. I'm not going to worry about it and we don't really do the whole french toast thing.  Although ironically I am picking up our milk and cream order on Thursday night.  And I did increase it to 3 half gallons.  Not so much for drinking as for making cheeses. Guess we'll be prepared for whatever comes our way. 

I've already made my plan to go to the quilt shop on Saturday.  I mean it is national support your local quilt shop day.  How could I not go?  So I will definitely have enough to stay busy for a solid year or so if the storm should come. 

My sweet pups are outside soaking up their yearly dose of Vitamin D all in one afternoon, as the sky is clear and the sun is warm.  I've been equally as busy inside today.  The canner is making it's normal rattling as the batch of great northern beans finishes processing.  And I am debating on a few other "cooking" type projects that I want to get done.  

Since I've been at it for a few hours now, I am fairly sure that is going to be the end of it for the moment.  I don't know why I find myself obsessed with getting so much done in a day, why is that necessary?  I'm trying to do better this year.  I'm trying to learn pacing.  Some days I succeed, others I fail miserably as I end the day sore and exhausted and questioning my own mental state. 

Today, I might just need to take another stroll in the sunshine with my two willing walking partners.  Or sit with my feet up and a cup of tea reading a real book.  Ya know, the kind with pages and hard covers. And if I drift off to a nap, would that be so bad?

I hope that you are finding peace this day.  I hope that rest comes before the possible storms this weekend. And most importantly if you are in the path of this weekend... I pray you are safe and prepared for anything. 

much love, 

b 

Wondering why...

I can't believe how fast time seems to be flying by.  We are already moving into the middle of July and yet it seems like I just wrote yesterday. I have been an active traditional homemaker now for over 3 years, again... how? Where is time flying off too?

Yesterday I was busy putting up the last of the 72 dozen ears of corn that Hubs loves so much.  As I stood at the sink scrubbing the silks from each ear, I found myself thinking, nothing new there.  I was questioning why I do some of the things that I do each day.  When I could easily go to the store and sit in my car and wait for someone to bring out my order and load my trunk.  Why would I spend hours shucking, cleaning, scraping and canning corn? 

Why would I do half of it?  Why wouldn't I take the easier route?  Why not just go back to work at a job where I will be taxed to bits only to be taxed on everything I purchase and then taxed again at the end of the year when all government agencies decide they haven't gotten enough of my hard earned dollars?

Why would I spend hours a day taking care of my family?  Wasn't it somewhere in the 50's or 60's that they started the marketing campaign about better living through chemicals?  Wasn't that supposed to make lives easier?  At least that is what the marketing campaign said.

Years ago I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, shortly after a tick decided I tasted good and shared Lyme disease with me.  I remember the anxiety I felt when we went to pick up our medical records a short while later, because we were moving back to Germany and being told they were being stored in the environment hazard area.  My mind was completely blown away.  I was stunned beyond thought and reason.  I was too sick at the time to deeply question it all as I went to a different part of the hospital to gather my records, separate from my families. 

For literally years I struggled with life.  I lived in pain, my mind was often foggy and my memory was shot.  I have so much regret surrounding those times.  I can't unwind the clock, I can't go backwards in time, but I can go forward. And in moving forward for the most part I have been healed, oh it's still technically there, but I no longer suffer from it. 

Somewhere over the past two decades things started to come together.  I learned, I studied, I started to understand a lot of things that I hadn't realized.  

Slowly we've removed many extra chemicals from our lives.  When you start to read, you start to learn.  

Our skin is our largest organ, it absorbs everything we put on it. It took time, I had to learn how to make soap, I'm still working on shampoo (that stuff can give you a headache) but for now I have sourced some that is chemical free.  We use very little, if any, commercial topical creams, lotions or medications.  It's amazing when you start looking into herbs, natural oils and tinctures the benefits to your entire body.  If you haven't looked into castor oil or frankincense for your external needs I strongly suggest those two as an incredible starting point. 

When you look at the things you consume you might become a bit more anxious and unsettled. How many people really read the ingredient lists when they are gathering their groceries and snacks?

After learning about the external influences, I might have become hooked on taking a deeper dive into herbal remedies, ya know... the old ways.  The things we don't learn in school are far greater than the things we do learn.  I can 100% assure you I have never in my adult life ever used algebraic formulas, yet everyday I cook meals for my family, use basic math as I work out our budget, I work in my garden, I sew, I make clothing and household items.  

As I am staring down the final year of my 50's, I realize I use very little of what I learned in school.  It carries very little value in the real world.  Most of it amply prepared me to be a drone in the tax generating wheel, very little of it prepared me for life. Sadly it is worse now.  Kids are graduating high school completely unprepared to go out into the world, to have meaningful lives, to be able to explore, dream, develop businesses and think.  They are woefully unprepared. 

I think back on school, home economics in particular.  And I realize that I learned very little of the skill sets I use today in those classes.  In the cooking sections I learned how to place an order for the ingredients I would need, I learned how to assemble those ingredients into a meal and the absolute importance of making sure there wasn't a crumb left on the floor after class (my instructor would lose her mind if things weren't meticulous for the next student). Oddly, it never taught me to buy groceries in the real world, to stretch a budget to cover whatever might happen, to put up food so I wasn't reliant on the grocery store. I learned to make noodles from scratch in one class, but never how to dry them for storage.  I was never taught to plant a seed to enable me to grow my own food.  In fact besides cleaning the floor properly, insuring that I pleased the fussy teacher to get a good grade, using a rolling pin to roll out noodles (and promptly rubbing all the skin off the side of my thumb - super painful FYI), and the incredible field trips in my international cooking class, I remember very little useful information from those classes.  

one of the recent quilts... I've improved

my newest treasure a 1953 301A - as soon as I tune
it up... I will be making a quilt!

If we bounce into the sewing part of those classes... well I do remember how to lay out a pattern and even follow a pattern.  I also learned (on my own) that it's important to look twice at the way it will end up once assembled.  That poor stuffed turtle lived forever with his head on upside down.  The teacher never even caught it while checking my work.  Oh well. 

for a friends baby...

For my great nephew

Beau approves... a customers quilt

I also took wood shop as a teen, I still have the shadow box I built it is a cherished possession, that I will probably never part with.  Hubs still has the napkin holder he made years earlier.  Looking at his vs mine, that decade or so of instruction time difference really shows.  His is creatively cut out with wood burned features.  Mine was simple, the construction was very basic and lacked the processes that would have made it sturdy and stable for all these decades.  I have spent much time over the years putting it back together so that it would last. 

Why do I do the things that fill my days?  Is it because I am some crazy prepper, no.  Although I could see where folks would assume that.  Is it because of fear?  Maybe to a degree, but not in the way one would assume.  I'm not afraid of the future, God has that, I am afraid of the skills being forever lost.  

Mostly, it's because I don't believe the world we live in today is sustainable.  Not in a sense of we will run out of this or that, not really.  Not that I don't believe there will be shortages, I 100% believe there will be.  I believe that food, fuels, medications, etc will be in short supply.  Because we have been programmed to believe that we need all of the things that we can buy (and be taxed on) as the only way we can survive in this world. Everything must be something someone can make a profit off of, look around, pay attention.

I almost cried this morning, drinking my cup of coffee and scrolling through social media.  I came upon one of my canning and sustainability groups, the woman was sharing a video she made that morning. It showed miles of cars waiting to buy food at a fast food restaurant in Houston.  Much of the city is still without power after Beryl came through. Miles of cars idling in line waiting for a burger and fries.  Her point was that it has been two days and folks are waiting in line for junk food.  Her question was far more basic, didn't they have food at home in their fridge or freezer waiting to be cooked and/or consumed?  Wasn't it at risk of going bad? 

Why?  This is one of my major reasons why.  I don't want to be in the group that is lost when the things we've been conditioned to accept for our basic needs is no longer able to provide them.  I don't want to be the one that cannot provide for my family and loved ones. The one that has no idea how to cook something because all the recipes were online and we've lost power or internet and I'm lost. Or because I don't know how to cook in anyway except with my electric stove (mine isn't electric for the record). 

I don't want to be a slave to a broken and failing system.  I don't want to be the person begging the government to help me survive, in case you haven't noticed it truly is a form of slavery, and one that has been used forever.  Slavery doesn't have to involve physical chains and shackles, mental ones are far stronger and leave less physical proof. 

a full 20 hours after the storm

the next day...

At the end of May we were hit with a terrible hail storm.  The damage is incredible, and most everyone in our mile or so wide stretch of the storms path are still dealing with the aftermath.  Homes are damaged, windows were shattered, cars were beat up (many to the point of being totaled - our daughter had two of theirs totaled), garden's and landscaping destroyed.  I will admit that losing most of my garden and landscaping crushed my heart.  The rest can be repaired, but to lose those... I was so heartbroken. 

It's just over a month later, the physical stuff is slowly being repaired.  My garden looks very different than I planned it.  This year, I am letting some things go to seed for future gardens, as most of the damaged plants continued to put out seeds and I am delighting in that process.  Of the 5 tomato plants 2 survived, barely, and are covered in tiny tomatoes.  Thankfully I was behind in planting because of cicadagedon.

Even the flowers were damaged, but are struggling back to life. 

The tiny okra, bush cucumber, zucchini, sweet potatoes and acorn squash are thriving despite the damage they decided they were strong enough to weather that storm.  So many other plants were destroyed, there are no peas this year and the beautiful lettuce was turned to mush.  The Swiss chard had a few tiny bits still living so I left them be, they rewarded me with the best growth ever.  The rest of the boxes are now planted with assorted beans to dry and more okra.  Every year I say I wish I had been able to plant more of those, yet never do.  

When mother nature hands you lemons, you can chose to cry or make lemonade. 

I don't want to be one of those that can't think outside the box.  This year I have started foraging mullein, I have been using dandelion and I know where to forage massive amounts of elderberry this summer.  I have learned so much that was never programmed into us in school.  Learning that the things we were programmed to believe were useless weeds and needed to be eradicated aren't useless or weeds at all. 

I pray that because I refuse to forget the old ways that I will never been one of those sitting in a car waiting for something to be given to me.  I am sharing those skills with my grands, I will share my knowledge and skills with anyone that wants to learn.  I want to be friends with people that can teach me new old skills. I want to be a part of that community.  I want to spend my days, hours and skills helping those around me that want to help themselves.  That want to be a strong enough person to face the storm and come out in one piece.  Maybe a bit tired and worn, but strong and self-sufficient. 

You knew the pups would show up...

It's time to head to the sewing room.  It's been a busy couple of weeks and I am running a bit behind.  

Many prayers and much love!  And cheers to the keepers of the old ways... you are my tribe!

against the odds...

Sunshine, hot cup of coffee and a busy morning.  Yep, life is GOOD!  It's only 8 am, the sun has been up for a bit, although it is just starting to be visible above the treeline. I hit the ground running again, trying to break that habit I had found myself drifting into. It feels good to start the day off strong.  I feel productive and vital.  

While watering my spring garden this morning I happened to spy a lilac on my little bush.  It's had such a hard life.  It's not planted in a good spot to begin with, I didn't plant the sweet thing, but its clinging to life on a rather steep and rocky hillside.  Last year we had the fence installed and I was definitely not sure it would survive, they dug a post hole right near it's roots. Yet there it was blooming for all the world to see.  It only has a single flower, just enough to say "don't give up on me".  As if I would.  

I can definitely empathize with my sweet little lilac bush.  I have had some challenges in my life, haven't we all.  I fully expect to be able to nurse it to full health one of the springs.  Just the fact that it bloomed a perfect bloom definitely proves it is a fighter. 

I was running through my to do list in my mind this morning while cutting Hub's hair.  He hasn't let anyone but me cut his hair for over 20 years now, I'd like to think it's because I do an amazing job.  Realistically, it probably has more to do with the fact that he can get it cut at 6 am in his jammies, while drinking his coffee.  But I digress.  That to do list is definitely hopping.  It seems everything I have on it is taking at least three times longer than I "proposed" that it would. 

Why did Mom have to get up early???

For example, yesterday I decided to take advantage of the early morning coolness to weed the front flower beds and plant the bulbs that I decided I needed (note to self... you need absolutely zero more bulbs).  I was sure I would have them long done before the warmth of the day hit.  I was loving those 50° temperatures and could have spent the entire day working out there if it had stayed that way.  

before

after...

By the time I had moved on to painting the front door frame and door, it was already pushing 80° and I was so very thankful for the strong breeze that was moving through the house. I'd painted our door navy blue over eight years ago when we moved in.  I did not like the muted blue that it was, it was dull and uninviting.  After all that time, I was weary of blue, I wanted a welcoming color. It is now a beautiful red (ironically the name of the color is "forbidden red"), and it looks so beautiful.  Now I need to order new bunting for the rails, the weather finally beat up the ones I had, and get some nice flowers for the planters that sit out front.  

I often forget that I had my knee replaced.  I've adapted to moving a bit differently, instead of simply dropping down to my knees to do a task.  I've learned to stand up from the ground, although it is awkward and I am sure I resemble some type of farm animal mimicking a human.  What I haven't learned to remember is that my leg still gets weary easily.  And some of the spots I managed to get myself into required a lot of thought to get myself out of. By mid-afternoon when I was finished with those few tasks, I was worn to the bone.  My legs were sore from the strange twists and turns that I now do to complete a task that previously I would have simply dropped to the ground to complete. Sometimes I simply forget. 

Yesterday, while taking a break a friend sent me a link.  As I read the words the person shared, I felt like I was reading the words of a kindred spirit.  He'd written his thoughts on what God is asking of us.  Yes, he asks for prayer and faithfulness.  But I have always felt that God wants us to be active, engaged participants in our lives.  Not the kind of folks that throw our hands in the air and mutter... well I prayed about it, my part is done. 

I mean he pointed out, quite honestly, that Noah had to build an ark, Abraham was asked to sacrifice his only son, David had to gather stones, the Israelite's had to walk around the walls of Jericho for seven days and then blow their shofars. These are just a few examples of what was asked.  

I truly feel that we are called to actively participate. As I read the article I felt renewed in my convictions.  I have much to do.  It is what my chosen lifestyle calls for.  Could I simply purchase things?  Of course, would it have the value that it does to me? Nope. 

I have chosen to be a homemaker.  In the purest sense of the word.  I take care of our homestead, do I wish it was a hobby farm out in the country, of course.  Will I utilize what I have here in the city?  Absolutely!

So this morning is filled with making red bud jelly, there is a large pot of chicken bone broth simmering on the stove, I will start another one after I process all of the jellies.  I will inventory the freezers, see what needs to be used or what is waiting to be canned and get busy with that.  It's the very start of canning season here.  

I will soon gather asparagus (we have eaten or shared all of the pickled asparagus we had).  The dandelions are in bloom and will need gathered for jellies and maybe even a dandelion wine this year (if I can find some nice fields to gather from).  

Tomorrow is our first trip of the season to the Amish market, God willing as their sign says. And I am excited to possibly get some young starter plants for my garden.  I was able to keep the green Amish pepper plant alive over the winter and as a result hope to get another one to add to the collection. 

Who knows.  So much that I want to do.  So much that I love to do.   God has blessed me with a wonderful life and opportunity, I am not about to squander that blessing by wasting the time and talents he's provided. I cannot ask for the gift of abundance and not be willing to work hard to receive it. 

This weekend we will visit the market, work on creating some flower beds, do a bit of planting, do some canning, help Hubs work on my quilt, do some sewing, visit with family, spend quality time with our new church and thanking God for the blessings that surround us.  

I love our life. I am thankful for all of the opportunities and the joy I find in it.  

Well, it's time to get back to work.  The jellies are waiting and I just remembered I need to fill the hummingbird feeders.  I think I saw an early arrival the other night. 

love and prayers...

time well spent...

Deep dark rain clouds came rolling in, it seemed like the perfect way to wrap up an incredibly busy weekend.  The thunder was loud and constant, the drops were the big steady kind that the earth loves.  I didn't know it was coming, I wouldn't have watered in the morning. But, after a long semi-dry summer, I guess a little extra won't hurt at all. 

Hubs and I worked in the garden a lot over the course of the weekend.  Saturday morning by 8 am, he decided that we should trim up the trees that were causing us challenges.  The one branch had grown so much it was blocking the steps down.  The other provided way to much access to the garden for our little squirrel friends and was growing into the entire side of the garden.  It needed done, although I was willing to wait until fall after the harvest.  

I was afraid of damaging the garden, over all it didn't.  We lost one branch of a bush bean that was finally deciding to produce.  I didn't see it or I would have harvested the little beans, hopefully the critters will find it where I tossed it down the hill.  Still not bad for all of the overgrowth the garden was dealing with.  It puts a bit more sun on the deck, but it also keeps the branches for ending up hanging super low when the rain is steadily falling. 

After puttering around, harvesting and pruning plants and trees we decided to run our errands.  I simply think I will be avoiding shopping at all on Saturdays, I become so anxious surrounded by so many people.  I almost felt like I was going to have a full blown anxiety attack by the time we headed home.  People are changing so much that it was completely unpleasant. 

I felt  like I expended every bit of energy I possessed trying to navigate being out in public. I simply don't have any desire to be part of the world lately.  I enjoy being home in my little bubble. 

Yes that is wine... I earned it!

Yesterday was filled with canning, Hubs found a great deal on Roma tomatoes and I had 50 pounds to can up.  I canned so many diced tomatoes and made so much tomato sauce.  I'm kind of tired of cutting tomatoes right now, but I am crazy thankful for the sheer number of pints of each that I have.  I'm also drying out skins to grind up into powder and will use the cores in my broths.  Pretty darn good investment for only $30 plus tax. I had started at 7 am and as the clock let me know it was almost 7pm the final canner was depressurizing. I was almost done canning for the day.  I will admit, I was tired of cooking at that point.  

I was ready for a glass of wine and a rest.  This storm was making me feel mellow and calm.  If we had been finished with the canning already, we would have gone and joined our friends for an early dinner. Instead Hubs grilled us up some burgers and we worked on organizing the cantry.

definitely not the final layout,
but not bad at all...

I started to finally work on our "family" quilt, my sister in law, her daughter, Hubs and I are all working on the same pattern.  They both have theirs almost finished, Hubs and I hadn't started.  I couldn't decide on the fabric for mine, I think I ordered three or four layer cakes.  I finally decided that I was going to use the camper designs and make mine for the camper.  I am about half way through with piecing the blocks and started laying it out on my design wall yesterday.  I will definitely need to add a few pops of color into the boarders.  So far I am fairly happy with it, so far, I can't wait to see what it looks like when all of the different fabrics are represented. Hubs hasn't started his, but is starting to talk about it. 

I also started loading another one of the antique quilts I rescued.  I had to laugh while ironing the top to load it.  Boy oh boy is it going to be a challenge.  Very little of it is even remotely square or even.  But the beautiful feed sack materials and the fact that it was hand-pieced really called to me when I rescued it.  I want to finish it for the original quilter.  I managed to match (at least semi-closely) the muslin from the front for the backing, so that will make a huge difference in how it lays.  I finally feel the need to quilt again, maybe it's the changing seasons.  Who knows. 

Belle brought him a toy while he napped,
she wanted to play...

This morning will be interesting.  My sweet boy has a vet appointment, and I am only taking him with me.  This will be close to the first time in their lives they have been separated for more than a quick walk down the road or them choosing to be in different parts of the house alone.  I am physically taking one of them somewhere without the other.  I am hoping it goes smoother on both fronts than I expect.  I would take Belle with us, but she is far too protective of her brother.

I'm in that awkward time of the day.  My appointment is in two hours, so not enough time to really start my projects and too much time to feel comfortable with the wait.  Ugghhh... not leaving the house much does create some interesting feelings when I have to.  

I guess I will go make a few smoothies for breakfast and maybe start another load of laundry, I'm sure I have enough little projects to keep me busy for another hour and a half... 

love and peace....

ahhhh... summer....

Started this beautiful morning out in the garden, the heat will be moving in so decided to take advantage of the coolness of the morning.  Thankfully each day is moving this annoying cold into the past and each day I have more energy to live my life. 

I was busy pruning up the storm damaged leaves and tidying up the dying branches and thinking.  I do that way too much I guess.  I work hard to keep my plants pruned up, I love the fact that by doing that I can extend my growing season.  I always start to get a bit sad this time of the year, watching the transition from a lush and vibrant mini-jungle to the yellowing leaves as it starts to fade away.  I know that I will still be harvesting for at least another month, but I know the end of this growing season is looming near.  

In another few weeks I will start planting my fall seeds, I spent time yesterday looking into a fall garden here in the mid-west.  I've never gotten around to planting one in the past, first I worked too much and then I had my knee surgery, so this is the first year that I will have a fighting chance at having one.  I'm sort of excited at the thought of trying my hand at some of these new to me harvests. I've never grown beets or turnips before and I am going to try growing garlic. 

As I was working on my canning yesterday and Hubs was doing his honey do's I was thinking about how in the heat of summer we naturally move to being inside, no different than in the deep of winter we move inside for warmth.  Is it any wonder that spring and fall tend to be many people's favorite seasons?  Very few folks seem to thrive in the extreme heat or bitter cold, most of us tend to gravitate to the mild temperatures surrounding those extremes. 

Yes the sunshine was beautiful, looking out the window tugged hard on my need to be outside, the heat definitely cured that.  I don't like humidity.  I enjoyed the sunshine from inside, where I was cool and comfortable. Just like during the winter I stay inside toasty and warm.  Same feelings, different times of the year. 

As the August heat is forcing me to choose to be inside, I am working on getting varying projects done.  Yesterday I canned an entire box of potatoes. I made even more jars of jalapeno's as I do not want to waste even the smallest jalapeno in my garden.  I harvested fresh basil to make pesto for dinner and harvested more tomatoes.  

In a few moments I am going to take all of my tomatoes and a few peppers, onions and some garlic and cook them down into a rich tomato sauce.  In the cold of winter it will remind us of the bounty we have been blessed with. 

Hubs is on vacation this week and we are spending it resting and puttering.  I love these kind of days.  When there is no rush, time is fluid and you can simply do what you feel called to do.  Hubs just headed up to nap, the pups were not willing to allow him to do so in the living room, each moment that he drifted off they pounced to encourage him to play. 

In a short while I am going to finish my blackberry jelly, I cooked the berries this morning and they are currently dripping.  I will also make a loaf of bread (I love that I have found a recipe that reminds me so much of my favorite German farmers bread with the added benefit of no grains).  I don't think much else will happen today.  

I might finish loading the quilt I started to load yesterday, depends on how much time I have. I will also finally weave in the ends of my new dishcloths and put them in the drawer to use. It's time to stop working on "fillers" and start on the sweaters that I want to be able to wear come winter.  I am quite happy with this ebb and flow kind of life I now am blessed to live. 

I still need to wrap my grand daughters gifts before her sweet 16 party tonight. Mostly, I think I will enjoy the lazy, hazy days of summer. 

love and peace...

where does it stop?

I have a very needy puppy in my lap, so this might take awhile. I'm not thinking he wants me to write at all, as he climbed up here and considered chewing on my screen.  There truly isn't anything quite like puppy love.  Belle was in my lap earlier and just snuggled up and cuddled.  For her that is unusual, she struggles to stay that still.  But she is the puppy that stays up at night until mom comes to bed, Beau goes to bed the minute he is tired. They are such a blessing. 

I managed to get all the curtains up to darken the east side of the house yesterday.  The only room that doesn't have darkening curtains is the laundry room and I am considering putting them in that one too. I was able to raise the air conditioner temp and still keep the house comfortable. I got curtains for the west facing windows that I will put up today. 

I got up early and got all of the outside work completed, at least for now.  After a bit I will go out and water the garden again, the heat is horrible and the garden boxes don't hold a lot of moisture, they are too shallow. I harvested what is probably the last of the peas, this heat is finally taking them out, maybe a day or two more at most.  The sprinkler is still running out front, as I forgot to water yesterday and my ferns were looking rough this morning. I might need to gather some of the grass clippings for mulch when Hubs mows again, especially if this is going to go on much longer. 

very few left... I'll plant more in the fall

pickle #2

Looks like summer is going to be a scorcher this year.  Figures.  Nothing seems to be easy right now.  And I do mean nothing. It is feeling like any and everything that will make life a better, is going to require some serious effort on our part. 

Hubs was feeling a touch under the weather yesterday so I went and did the errands.  The rising cost of everything definitely is encouraging me to spend time on my own inflation busting, i.e. canning up meals and produce while the prices are semi-reasonable. 

I will admit that I rarely go to Costco during the week, I am not a huge fan of going places period and I am usually very busy during the day. But with gas shooting up forty cents over the weekend, I knew I would be wise to fill up my gas tank before it went any higher.  It felt almost dirty to be excited over the $4.64 a gallon that I was able to get at Costco.  Regardless, it was over $36 to fill my half empty tank.  Talk about a state of shock.  The long lines in the brutal heat made me envision the pictures from the 70's.  A super sweet older lady pulled up next to me and asked where she could see the price, I told her I'd just looked on the app and it was $4.64 as opposed to the $4.89 everywhere else.  She was visibly shaken. Even though she smiled at me and thanked me, it looked like even that was simply too much as she drove away. 

Going into the store was even more of an eye opener.  One reason I don't go there often is that I do not do well with crowds and crowded spaces.  Absorbing the energy of so many people is harsh and makes me feel fussy and unbalanced.  Yesterday, that was not a problem.  I was able to easily get a spot near the front of the store, no need for parking at the back of the lot because that is all that is available.  The store was light on customers and even lighter on inventory.  I was shocked.  I've never seen it that empty.  I was remembering how the stores were back in March of 2020, when things were first starting to wobble into insanity. 

I didn't need much, which was good, because there wasn't much.  It was sort of frightening.  I've pretty much stopped going to the store closer to my house, too many times they are out of pretty much everything on my list.  Anyone else wondering how much worse it is going to get?  

I was watching a video while making applesauce yesterday and they were talking about the search for feminine hygiene products.  All I could think was well, maybe it is only in that area.  By the end of the day, I'd seen at least 6 other sources with many comments and concerns that feel far too reminiscent of the baby formula debacle.  So I guess this is the next thing folks won't be able to get. 

I'm starting to wonder if folks will finally wake up and start questioning the bull crap when they have beer shortages?  I simply don't know how far this mess has to continue before we all start picking up our proverbial pitch forks and fighting back.  We've allowed our businesses to be regulated, mandated, taxed etc to the point that it is easier to give it up and walk away.  

We've allowed our government and the lobbyist to push us all into a corner.  The reason for the feminine hygiene shortage?  A cotton shortage.  I mean come on, we have or at least had some of the richest cotton farms in the world.  Have we plowed it all under and created condo's on the land?

I didn't get all of my errands run yesterday, I was far too hot and had chores to finish at home.  I need to go out and pick up a few bags of peat moss and such for my last raised bed.  I'm dreading it.  The bags of dirt and such for a garden have tripled in cost this year.  The same bag I paid $7 for last year, was over $25 this year at the same store.  I am getting ready to start my compost pile, I'm tired of paying a stupid amount of money for subpar fill dirt, when what I need is rich soil. 

I simply do not understand all of this.  I'm tired of reading of all these various food processing plants being burned to the ground.  Ironically, too many of the fires are starting on the roofs.  Really?  Why?  How?  Why isn't the media reporting on this strange phenomenon? 

Oh yeah... that's right.  The media isn't there to report on the truth, it doesn't care about reality, it isn't paid to do that.  George Carlin tried to warn us about that, quite some time ago. 

Today will be another busy one.  After I get the new curtains installed, I have a long list of things that are going in my canners.  I also want to start processing some of the things in my freezers, sadly I have zero faith that the power is not going to go out and/or be spotty.  They have already warned us it is coming, I figure they are simply waiting for everyone to be hot and miserable first. 

I've seen some crazy stuff in my life, but the past couple of years takes the cake.  The number of fearful people unwilling to look around and see what is happening is absolutely unnerving.... 

By the way... look who was back this
morning... yikes! I scared it while
cleaning up puppy poo... seems he lives
in the wood stack outside the back door. 

Well, it's time to go and move the sprinkler and then get busy. Please take care of yourselves and pay attention.  

love and peace...

learning and exploring...

How is it only 5 am?  I feel like it should be at least 9 or 10.  I have been hustling since I got up.  Woke up to a puppy surprise, there are definitely things that puppies shouldn't eat, even when they are the size of a full grown dog. Ask me how I know... There were actually several surprises, but they are cleaned up now.  Came downstairs to find the second one, must have happened right before we went to bed.  I will be cleaning carpets again this morning.  

And since I was already busy, I decided to start laundry and wash up all the jars I canned yesterday that were ready.  I still have 8 that I can't wash for a couple of hours.  I only got up at 4:15, had planned to go back to sleep, but... 

As I was washing the jars filled with yummy meals for us to simply heat and enjoy I was thinking about the things you can learn when you have time to experiment and research other's successes and failures. Historically, I canned jellies.  As someone that doesn't eat much jelly that was kind of a waste of time and they didn't get used up, so I simply quit when time became far too precious to waste. 

Now that I have time, I am experimenting.  Small batches of course, because no one wants 8 jars of failure.  I absolutely love jalapeno jelly, the spicy and sweet together are heavenly.  The problem, I don't eat sugar any longer, this creates a challenge, especially since the recipe needs a LOT of sugar.  So I gave it a go with one of the sugar substitutes, suffice it to say, not the right substitute.  It is more like a sweet jalapeno crystallized jelly, is the only way I can think to describe it. It's delicious, but I am not really sure how I will make it work.  I assure you I will find a way, but it definitely isn't jelly. Good thing I made a couple for my kiddo with regular sugar, she would not be impressed with that mess. 

The thing is, I have the time to try and fail.  I will use a different sweetener next time, maybe stevia (although it is not my favorite by a long shot), but I have read of people having success with it. 

Another thing I am learning is that there was so much wasted.  I started saving my scraps from my veggies, there are tubs in the freezer, when they are full, I use them to make broths. Right now my kitchen smells heavenly, I have two large crock-pots simmering, full of the carcasses of the chickens I bought after I put all of the meat into jars and canned them. Basically, when they are done I will probably end up with about 5 to 7 quarts of delicious chicken broth that was made entirely of items that I would have thrown away in the past.   I usually pay at least $4 a carton for broth.  Not a bad return on the investment of a little time. 

I grew up being told that all of the nutrients were in the peels, yet like most folks I peeled my carrots, cucumbers, potatoes, etc and tossed those in the trash bin.  I wasn't even smart enough to keep a compost bin going so that I had rich soil for my gardens.  I will admit that I have not been doing things very smart or efficient. 

I also started a new jar of vanilla extract.  I've been making my own for a few years now.  When the prices started getting crazy high.  That seems to be my motivation to learn most things.  Have they gotten too expensive (or at least too expensive for my cheap self).  In the past Hubs has bought me beautiful grade A beans to make my vanilla extract from.  They ultimately turned that golden brown color, but took what seemed like years (okay, it was years), before I started my current batch I did a lot of research, those darn beans aren't inexpensive and I'd been hearing I needed even more in a jar.  Ends up I did, but what I really needed were the grade B beans.  The grade A are more for fancy cooking and such.  The grade B are ugly, they are softer and full of the seeds that create that rich, deep brown extract.  Just like with many other things, you aren't looking for beauty if you want richness. 

The batch that is sitting on the counter is less than 18 hours old, it's already a deep, dark brown and smells like pure vanilla heaven.  I didn't even use a high quality vodka, just good old Trader Joe's. I followed a recipe that came with the beans, I figures what did I have to lose.  Besides the beans I purchased are specifically to make extracts, they should know right?

Each time I make something I am always thinking what else can I use this for, before I toss it out is there anything else that can be made?  I chopped up a beautiful watermelon the other day for dessert when we had company, as I was chopping I kept looking at the rind, ya know the light green part?  My parents always warned us to never eat that part, it wasn't good for you, it would give you an upset tummy, etc. So I'd never really given it much consideration.  I remembered that I'd seen several recipes using it in the older canning books I have so decided why not.  I mean I was only going to throw it away anyhow. 

Yeah, that will never happen again.  Just like with the peels of other fruits and veggies, it ends up that the amount of vitamins and minerals in those little pale green bits is incredible. Not to mention it is very tasty.  At least as a preserve.  I can't wait to use the next batch of rind in something else.  Mom and Dad weren't quite right on that one, but the odds are they were taught it by their parents. 

I also started my first batch of sauerkraut.  It is by far one of my favorite foods. So I am fairly excited to see how it turns out.  I will admit that my hands and arms are a wee bit sore today from the first steps of that.  I can see why they sometimes use a wooden mallet to pound it, as opposed to using your hands. It's got to be checked daily, as that is a new addition to my daily routine I definitely had to add it to the calendar. It will be a greater concern when I move it to the basement next week.  Remembering to go down and check it will take a bit of doing. Luckily the vanilla needs to be shaken each day also, so the two of them need to stay close together so I don't forget. 

I am having so much fun exploring my newest hobby. I'm still very mournful that I hadn't been raised doing this, mainly because if I had been doing this all along for meal prepping instead of all the other crazy ways I tried, life would have actually been a lot easier when I worked full time.  We would have been able to have a healthy home cooked meal every night, and the amount of money we would have saved.  I can't make myself think about it, because I will probably get angry and a bit sick to my stomach. 

Yeah, it takes a bit of planning and thought.  But the reality is that if it was a normal way of life for me since childhood, it wouldn't have taken much more time than all the wasted hours going out to dinner. 

Why do we not teach our children these lessons? I have forgotten most of the useless drivel crammed into my brain in school.  The classes whose lessons I have carried with me and used throughout the years were the very ones that most schools no longer offer.  Home Ec, shop, woodworking and art classes.  I'm not referring to the basics - reading, writing and arithmetic those are foundational.  No I'm talking about things that were actually able to be used for something other than getting obscure answers right at Trivia Night. 

I also remember planting beans in grade school. I still have every recipe I made in high school although I long since stopped pulling them out when I cook.  I learned basic budgeting for a home in home ec, I learned to use my mind and my hands in the other classes.  Those are the classes I treasure.  The rest of them... I can honestly say, I never used again. I doubt I am in the minority on that one. 

Oh, no... felt myself getting off on a tangent.  Felt myself getting ready to go down a path I don't have time for.  Yesterday an article popped up in my Facebook feed, it was about how the housewives in the 40's made their dollars stretch and took care of their families.  Why?  What is the book trying to foreshadow now?  It seems whenever things pop up like that there is often something coming. Who knows. Luckily, I utilize those skills on the regular, so... no worries on my part. 

Well, speaking of skills... time to get busy.  I have a BUNCH of jalapeno's that must be harvested and used up today.  I'm thinking Cowboy Candy to share with friends. Darn sugar. I'm also going to simply pickle up a few batches also... but for now the puppies are waiting impatiently for a walk. Despite having a fenced in yard to romp in they still love to stretch their legs and take in all the sniffs. 

love and peace...

p.s. sorry for the lack of pictures... if you could see my messes you would completely understand! And that little glass... bore the fruits of my first official barter Cherry Pie Moonshine anyone?