"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~

Pioneer Woman at Heart

One Flourishing, Frugal and Fun Family!

One family learning to live off the land, cut back on expenses, and to live a simpler and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Thursday, August 7, 2025

Embracing the Late Harvest ~ First Canning of the Season ~ Crocheted Cord Keepers

 


(picked one for canning)

All in one day's picking.  The bell peppers are on, but not all  ready yet (very late harvest year).  Those pickling cucumbers can hide so easily, even after making a thorough attempt to check for any.  The chickens were happy with their treat, and the kitchen was busy again.


Both went into meals.  The kale went into a breakfast, and the beans went into a dinner.



The English type (will have to look up the actual name) cucumbers we planted are about between 11 and 12 inches long.




Two large cucumbers went into making a cold salad with some cherry tomatoes from the garden, along with some fresh parsley, dill and peppermint.

We have been pretty creative in consuming the cucumbers.  Needless to say, I am finding some nice salad recipes that we are really enjoying.  




Canning season officially started this late month of August - sweet pickle relish.  We did not get enough of our cucumbers last year to can this, but we did have enough already canned to last 2 years.  We were down to the last 3 jars, so this is a blessing.  We use it to, no only as a condiment, but to make chicken salad, tuna salad, homemade tartar sauce, and more.


                             

 A bit of our lemon balm was dehydrated for tea making.  I'm in the process of starting more plants (for our soon to be designated garden area for perennial weeds/herbs). 

I also ground some dehydrated lemon balm for a lemon balm powder. A "first" time for us to make the powder.  I'll use it for baking, smoothies, and possibly other uses.  Possible uses:  salad dressings, pesto (fresh is best I think though), desserts, infused honey, infused sugar (just a thought), iced tea, and more.




I used some garlic scapes to make compound butter for cooking and grilling.  It is a "first" for us to make and try.

I followed the instructions and blanched the scapes first, and rolled it all into waxed paper to freeze first, then later slice and store for easy access.

Everything else garden related seems to be coming at us all at once.  I'm just taking a deep long breath and taking it one day at a time.  Every day there is garden goodies that need tending to - hot banana peppers, sweet corn, green beans, cucumbers.....you get the idea.  It is a blessing.

Although, the heat is returning for a bit, we have really enjoyed the much cooler weather.  It has been a delight to work outdoors, go for walks, read on the porch, grill outside dinner, and so forth.  Early morning sunrises are the best, and enjoyed, as you cannot get that moment back.

Unfortunately, we are going on a 10-day plus stretch with no rain.  The garden is suffering, so days are spent watering, which takes day off canning, freezing or other needed work done.



(this one was for our travel/camping tea-pot)

A larger amount of do-dads today require so many charging cords (trying to eliminate those with solar charge when we can), and one morning I decided we needed some "cord keepers" to keep things organized.  I crocheted us two to try out, and see who well these snaps will last.  I used no-sew snaps for the first time.  I had cotton yarn in my stash, so that is what I used.  I need about three more, but I am hoping the snaps hold out.  If not, I will be switching to the sew-on snaps.

Book reading has really slowed down, so no new granny squares for our book blanket.  I have added a few titles to my reading list, and (gulp) purchased two more books.

On the news front, a local food pantry distribution closed it's doors earlier this week, do to lack of food to provide those in need.   I offered our extra produce one year, many years ago, and they refused it.

It's been one hum-dinger of an August already, and no camping trips planned to offer some R & R yet.  A busy garden season is a grand happening, but it does tend to rob me of my self-care time.  I'll be working on that this month.






8 comments:

🌻 Debby 🌻 said...

All your garden gifts look delicious. What a good idea with the cord keepers. Gosh I’m so embarrassed to admit it but I’ve cut empty toilet paper rolls and used that. lol. Or I’ll use contact paper, without removing the sticky part, cut it and roll it and now it’s a decorative cord keepers. 🙃

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Debby @ My Shasta Home, thanks. The garden is flowing in all at once ha ha! Those are some great ideas for cord keepers. I've used toilet paper rolls in the past and forgot all about that idea.

Betsy said...

The produce looks so good and those cord holders are a brilliant idea! We finally have internet at our camping spot today so I'm trying to say hi to all of my friends online while I have the chance. Tomorrow we hit the road again. I tried to write a post five times this morning and each time it was "redacted" whatever that means. I finally deleted the app and reinstalled it and it still won't work. So frustrating.
Take care and stay cool.
Blessings and hugs,
Betsy

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Betsy, thanks! My husband thought the cord keepers were a brilliant idea to use some smaller bits of cotton yarn too. I have no idea what redacted means either (without looking it up, ha ha!). I hope you get it figured out soon. Glad to hear you are still out adventuring. Blessings and hugs to you too.

Leigh said...

Love the cord holder. Very clever!

Your garden harvest looks fantastic. So many lovely things to make goodies from.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Leigh, thanks. I hope the no-sew buttons hold up to use, but if not, I will buy the sew on snaps. Otherwise we love them and I will be making more of them. The garden is flowing in all at once, but we are also enjoying the fresh food for salads too.

Far Side of Fifty said...

Good idea on the cord keepers!

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Far Side of Fifty, thank you.