Pioneer Woman at Heart

  In May of 2024, I ordered a brand new, USA made stainless steel tomato strainer.  In the fall of 2024, I called to check on the order, because it did not arrive in 6 months as I was told. I was then told, the new sauce maker would arrive in May of 2025.  Keep in mind, you have to remember this over all this time too.  Well, May of 2025 has passed.  It's now June and I called again.  I'm told (and before she even asks for my order number) the production won't produce any until "May of 2026" (seriously).  I asked for a refund.  I'll let you know what happens, as I do expect that refund one way or another.  Once that is back in my bank account, I need to find a better source for a stainless steel tomato strainer.  I thought I would share, if case anyone has thought about ordering from them.  I'm not "bad" mouthing the company.  I'm just sharing my experience in attempting to order a tomato strainer. Who knows what I'll be doing ...

  We both did a lot of hurkle-durkling in the morning.  Mainly due to heat, but the weed whacking was done. By 1pm, we were playing cards and grilling out. Basically, t he only thing I made, also due to the hot day.  Garlic scape and radish dip . The tomatoes coming on, and one cayenne pepper plant already has peppers.  I picked a couple of cherry tomatoes too.

Finally!  I made this delicious Garlic Scape-Radish Spread .  We love this, along with radish hashbrowns.  I really should plant 3 rows vs. 2.  Yummo. We are struggling with lack of rain again.  Weeding daily. Good news is coming (I hope) about a car for daughter, and a treadmill for me.  Hubby already installed the new washing machine part - laundry will be going strong today.  Woohoo to that! Oh, and that stray with kittens?  We now visibly see 3 kittens.  She had them under the house (oye) and now they are all out in the old barn rubble.  Hubby said he saw them playing in a tree.  Time will tell if there are more and when it's okay to trap them and find them all a new home.

Wednesday Hubby and I got the air conditioner in downstairs, so the electric bill will start soaring, but we'll be comfortable indoors - humidity will hit us like a ton of bricks early next week. As for the long work hours, it's felt like eternity.  There is no talk as to when it will end and Hubby is completely worn out.  We are just exhausted from it - lack of work done here, so much to do that can't be done, him being exhausted beyond belief, me trying to do late dinners so we can all eat together, and so much more.  Keeping up with the weeds has been so stressful on me, as I'm doing it myself, and there has been no tilling done either.   Good news:  Mower guy showed up about 10am Bad news:  Hubby messaged me - they are now forced to work 12 hour days, 7 days a week. Just not what we needed. Oh, farmers are out in the fields now.  Thankful to see that, as the deer are increasing in numbers, and they are looking for food (it'll help keep...

It's been hot here. Yesterday we reached 95°F again, with a whopping high of 107°F heat index. Nothing could be done outside, but I sure had a long list for inside too.  We don't have the large air conditioner put in downstairs, so it's been somewhat uncomfortable working indoors too.  I managed to pick some radishes and garlic scapes though.

I've had a few morning visitors lately.  We've been watching them every morning and evening.  Almost every other day we see a group of them on the move, looking for food and water. Morning visitors another day.  There was about a dozen of them, just hanging out at one of the barns.

The rain finally gave us a break and a chance for my "Till Man" to till.  I got more planting done too.  The earliest seeds we planted in May are already producing.  My hot banana pepper plants have pretty good size peppers on them now. Check it out!  We finally have apples on one of our apple trees.  Our cherry tree died last winter, so I'll replant one next spring.  The plum looks terrible, so I'll whip up some neem spray and give that a try.  It still has fungus.  No peaches this year.  I'll have to be prudent with pruning this fall.