Tuesday Tidbits

Before more morning fog rolled in Tuesday morning.  Pretty too.

I'm using a new method of natural remedy for my bite.  Still not sure what it was or where it happened, but the new method is working good.  I'll post what I did if it heals as fast as I as told.

I armed Hubby with wasp spray last night, and made sure doors were open so he could run in if he had too (last time he ran in a wasp followed him in).  We are hoping this kills them all off and we can start working on the old truck.

It's been difficult to locate hot banana peppers.  Even at local produce stands.   They are never sold in the stores either Tomatoes are slime pickin's too.  It's just limited almost everywhere due to the weather here.

I didn't get my homemade laundry detergent made yesterday, so it's first on today's list.

Happy Homemaker Monday

We were so thankful to see the rain arrive.  The garden and flower beds were so dry, not to mention the herb garden (I now call the "weed" garden).  The beets and carrots are very small right now.  I hope we have a good fall season to fatten them up.

We had a family breakfast Sunday morning. On our way there we had a major storm, taking out our power for 3 hours.  It was 86°F but a heat index of 97.  

We came home and Hubby worked on one daughter's car (in the heat no less.  I was watching out the window and saw him running.  Wasps had made a nest in her side mirror and one stung him.  Funny thing is, is that I had just picked plantain, and had fresh to grind up and put a poultice on his bite.  Anyway, car is finally fixed and delivered.  One more "to-do" checked off the list.

Hubby has been pretty good on his to-do list lately.  He even installed a new dead bolt on one door, and has more to go.  His priority now is fixing the old truck.  He plans to pick up a new drawer bracket for me today too.  Another job hopefully checked off this week.

Somehow, over our recent camping trip (best I figure because I woke up Sunday with a red spot on my ankle that was sort of feeling like a burn).  Not sure what it was but most likely in the spider family.  Plantain poultice to the rescue (and homemade neosporin).  Guess I'm going to start wearing tall socks under my jeans next camping trip.  I had shoes on with short socks.  Lesson learned.  We will also check under the camper mattresses each time we pop up the camper.

I finally ordered my instant read thermometer.  It's been a long time waiting on doing this.  I have one, but it's not an instant read.  I was watching America's test kitchen and they recommended it.  Once it arrives I'll share a picture of it.

Today I'm joining Sandra at Dairy of a Stay at Home Mom.  I already have a lot crossed off my to-do list.  I'm up early every day.



On the breakfast plate . . .
Breakfast burrito with scramble made with dandelion greens, and a homemade cinnamon roll.  Cup of organic coffee.


The weather outside is . . .
High of 86°F, Sunny with a chance of thunderstorms again tonight. Possible rain again today too.


Right now I am . . .
Trying to get my daughter to get out of bed.  It's almost 11am.


On my reading pile . . . 
Sorting mail and filing recipes if that counts for reading, ha ha!


On my TV this week . . .
Eat My Dust  and Urban Cowboy- movies on Amazon

On the menu . . .
Cabbage/potatoes and sausage
Tacos
Cheesy pasta broccoli bake
Blueberry pancakes and sausage

Leftovers


On the to do list . . .
Master bath
Laundry
Fold towels in laundry basket
Dishes/kitchen clean up
Run dishwasher
Floors
Water porch pots
Take clothes off drying racks and put them away
Make a bucket of homemade laundry detergent
Pay school fee 
Make a trip to the store for wasp spray
Place order for drawer brackets
Place order window switch for one daughter's car
Order a new spray nozzle for homemade bug spray
Take recycling
Call for Septic (might actually and finally get done)
A few things need canned this week
Clean up computer area


What I am creating . . .

Finished these two sets of pot holders and started another one.  I hope to have time to start another bracelet - got two more orders.


Looking forward to . . .
Our next motorcycle ride, camping trip - just anything relaxing.


Looking around the house . . .
I'm getting some ideas for different storage items in the kitchen.  Already ordered some containers for my canning rims


From the camera . . .

A picture that daughter took when Romeo had a sleepover weekend with the kids at their apt.  Zuri is warming up to him.  What a happy sight for sure.  King is too, Romeo just curled up with Zuri.


Thinking about . . .
Building a bat house.  We really need to get the bats out of the barn.


Prayers . . .
The world in general, private requests, super quick healing of my darn spider bite.

Weekend Work ~ What's Growing and What's Not

Sunrise from a few days ago.  We are finally getting rain this morning.  Even thunderstorms.

Now that we have car shopping off the list, we can get back to other jobs this weekend.  Youngest daughter now has her own car and can drive to school.  No more long bus rides and she's very very happy.

What was on the weekend work list?  Well, cutting more trees.  That's done.  We had to put a new part in our other daughter's car and pray it's the fix for it.

I had to make homemade cinnamon rolls too, for a breakfast with the family.  Why I volunteered rolls is beyond me.  Sigh.  I know they'll appreciate them, but I'm cutting them all in half so I (he he) don't have to make two pans for the entire clan.  I also had to make 2 pans of over night baked french toast.  

Schools are starting, so it's already an onslaught of fundraisers for youngin's in our family.  I'm only going to do a few this year.  They are getting too expensive.

Among the weeds, my gladys are starting to bloom.  I'm getting a few pink and white right now.

Second picking of beans.  Pretty pathetic.  Just a rotten year.  Probably our worst ever.  I'm about ready to pull tomato stakes too.  I am pretty sure, unless we have a warm fall (and a wet one), we'll get nothing from the 50-some plants and it just makes me sick.  We didn't get more than a few red raspberries this year, and now the blackberries are dying off before even ripening.  

Has anyone ever put scrambled eggs in a crock pot for a group breakfast or brunch?  Just wondering if they dry out or if it can be done successfully?  

This and That

We are gearing up for another heat wave.  It'll be in the high 90's early next week.  No rain here.

Another coyote.  This morning.  It crossed the road and over the country highway.  Urgh.

As for moving, it all depends on location, new job and of course daughter's schooling.  Her school means the world to her and to us too.  Speaking of her, her internship is over with now.  She'll get a few weeks with her pup before school starts.

I did a meet and greet at a rescue with the pup.  The dog was about 1 year old and it was not a good match.  There will be others.  

Stocking Up ~ Possibilities

Located some organic pork, so a batch of meatballs went into the freezer, and provided dinner recently. Gotta do this before the freezer fills up. 

Picked up 10# of blueberries, but almost didn't get them.  I lost track of the season.  Oops.

Got a bit of yellow squash in the freezer (again, not from my garden)

Got a bit of green beans in the freezer (again, not from my garden this year).

Scored a free book from the post office.  It's a small post office, and only open 2 hours a day.   They now have free books inside if you are lucky to get there during their hours.


We are talking about moving now.  Maybe within the next year or two.   We've been talking about it for a few days now.   We are sick of the weather issues here.   We are serious about it too.  We are also talking about some winter adventures to get out of the house this year, but if it's as bad as last winter, we'll be stuck here.  I guess we'll see.  

There is also the possibility of pulling the tomato stakes and mowing the darn thing down.  Seriously.  I picked tomatoes and all were rotten but one and there were only about 5 to pick.  

Our 20 year-old daughter came over to watch a movie with her younger sister.  Of course to play with the puppy too.  I had to laugh as I heard her moaning over her dinner.  I know she doesn't cook much and eats poorly, so I'm glad she comes over for dinner too.

....from the handiwork journal

It's a long shot, but if any of my crocheting followers have this yarn, and want to get rid of it (could barter too), I am looking for more of it.

It has been discontinued.  Pisgah yarn and dye, #198 Black Cherry (cotton, a variation of pinks, gray, black and white).  I've had a request for a set of hot pads, but I don't have enough of it to make another set.

....working on this beaded crocheted bracelet now.

. . . finished these two orders and got them shipped.

. . . and this bracelet.  I'm working on bracelets to stock up for the fall holiday craft show.  One person had to back out of her order (left her husband and doesn't have the money), and the other hasn't responded).

....spray painting more clipboards.  If you are making these, now is a good time to buy the pens for them.  They are on sale for $1.00 with school starting.  They need a few more coats of paint, and then I start painting a few more.

....still working on a set of hot pads.  Last piece to finish before I crochet them together.

....starting to make us some new washcloths, but with a new pattern.  The pattern is free online - Moss Stitch Washcloth (The Stitchin Mommy). I'm going to make more this winter for the camper too.

(old photo, but you get the idea)

....cutting up more egg cartons for campfire fire starters.

Tuesday Tidbits

Not from our garden, but organic.  I got 4 pint bags in the freezer so far.  Organic is pretty difficult to locate, so when I see it right now, I'm buyin' it.

Our first picking.  It's a meal, but nothing yet to freeze. Poo!  You can tell how horrible of a year it's been for us. 

It's still raining.  Yay!  The garden will love it.