Tomatos and More Tomatoes

Yesterday's to-list was all completed.  Every day now is different.  Warning:  this is a get-your-cup-of-coffee (or tea) and sit a while post.  It may be my longest yet.  I brought more tomatoes in yesterday too.

Waking up before the sunrise, the barn cat's food and water is checked on my to the kitchen, and then the house cats.  If I don't they will be under my feet when I try to make my morning coffee.  I let a few dogs to let out too.

Coffee made.  A must for my early rise......

I'm up before the sunrise, to chop 24 pounds of tomatoes for sauce making again.  I make sure everyone has what they need for school.  Oldest still at home, is taking a college class two days a week during her senior year in high school.

Then it's breakfast for myself, and devotions on the porch.  I'll be honest and say I can't remember what breakfast was yesterday.  Sad, but true.  I think exhaustion does that.

While this cooked down to soften I got other work done.  Boring stuff, but sharing. . . .

I put laundry out on the line to dry early.

  I vacuumed the hallway (and other rooms), then shampooed a spot where the cat did his business (bad kitty).  Some day  our nasty carpet will be ripped out.

I often do my chores with bare feet.  Wearing shoes is not helpful when you have allergies.  My 15 year-old painted my toes, ha ha!  

I ran out of homemade vanilla extract, and opened another pint jar I had in my closet.  I am low on it, so I do need to order more vanilla beans soon.  Although I could make it in time for Christmas (again), I really want more than 4 months to let it sit.  Got any ideas for homemade Christmas gifts (from the kitchen)? 

I went out to water all the flower pots outside, then all my plants inside (with my rain water I collect).  It's been a bit dry outside.

After I put my tomatoes through my sauce maker, I placed it back on the stove to reduce.   I washed the dishes, put the sauce maker back on the counter (more canning this week), and ate lunch.

While the sauce reduced I walked one dog.

I came back in and stirred the pot, and walked another dog.

I came back in and stirred the pot, and walked the last dog.  I used to walk all three together, but I have to use a leash now, and Alias is very strong for his age.  Sadie too.

I came back in and stir the pot, and walked out to let the chickens out. I treated them to a cooling pan of ice chips and sliced cucumbers.

I came back in and stirred the pot (gotta do this often to keep it from sticking), and fill water buckets to water the goats and chickens.

I made a batch of homemade teriyaki sauce.  Mmmm. While making it, Daughter texted for GA.  She's hurtin' for some company and has 4 days off this coming weekend.  Unfortunately we cannot go.  So bummed about that.

I made a few calls to Son's Marine recruiter about his MOS designator.  He's due to graduate Marine Combat training next Tuesday.  I did get a letter from him yesterday.  He sounds exhausted, but in good spirits.  Having been down there, I know what the heat and humidity is like.

I then walked 2 miles.  Don't throw tomatoes at me, but I finished reading a book.  You know those things with words in them?   Anyone forget what they look like this summer? I had been reading one on the treadmill (okay, so I was walking slow, you got me), and finally finished it. 

I boil sealed my jars of sauce, and started dinner.  I dug up a few carrots for chicken teriyaki over non-gmo/organic brown rice.  Hubby helped me when he arrived home from work.

Put the chickens back in their coop for the night, and did a walk-by at the garden.  By the way, Mama Pea, if you have made it through to the end of this post, could you do a tutorial on growing, harvesting and preserving shell peas?  I want to grow them next year.  I assume they need a fence?

After dinner I got everything off the clothesline, picked anything from the garden, walked all the dogs again, and came inside.  

I did get some more crochet time in, but will share later.  I can barely keep my eyes open this morning.  Looks like it's a two-coffee pot day.