It's Already Friday???

 My husband and I were comiserating about the heat, and he could not believe I did garden work (the weeds are out of control). 

He said something about Friday, and I said, "huh?"

I could not believe Friday as snuck up on me this quick this week.  It cracks me up, when there are folks who assume, since I do not work a regular "job" that I have all the free time in the world.  Ha!  

Yesterday I froze water in tins, so the chickens could walk in them and cool off.  They loved it!  The heat and humidity has been grueling for all.

Regardless, laundry went out on my solar powered dryer (clothesline).  

It's too hot to cook, and too hot to do dishes - chicken salad on cucumber slices.  I used blended cottage cheese in place of the mayo this time, as I had heard it was just as good, less fat, and more protein.  I have to say, it's pretty good.  We can't tell a difference.  So, when organic/non-gmo mayo gets too expensive, and you can make homemade cottage cheese (or buy it on sale), it does work in this recipe.  

We simply add home canned sweet pickle relish/hot pickle relish.  I mean, each are made with vegetables, and it's delicous.  Once we get garden produce, we can use fresh too.

The heat and humidity continue, and it won't end next week for us.  The fog is due to more thunderstorms and rain, but we got more thunder than rain.  It barely got the ground wet, but caused so much more humidity.  Every little bit of rain helps the garden.  By the way, when I took this photo, there was no wind, and all the flowers we planted made the air smell like perfume.  

I got some garden work done, but the cultivotor needs gas (tiller needs a new belt), so I hand hoed some areas for now.  The heat and humidity suck the energy out of you by the end of the day, so errands are not happening.  I did manage to tie up more tomatoes.  

On a rodent note, we know a family that stocks their freezer with wild hunted rabbits for food.  They have volunteered to come help reduce our plethora amount of them.  However, I have not seen one of them the last two days. 

Each year we make more progress, but fencing the other garden will cost us more than we can spend this summer, so any rodent help is help, and if it puts food on someone's table, then it's a double win. So many people are struggling right now.

Speaking of struggling, more stores are closing, more people are baking at home and trying to sell stuff like that, just to make ends meet.  All Rite-Aids are closing here.  

I do plan to watch the prices on fencing, for what we want.  We are hoping they will put them on sale in the fall.

On a good note, my microgreens I planted are already sprouting.  The lettuce has not yet.

It's Already Friday???© June 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Another Re-Stock ~ Chicken Freezer Treats ~ New Recipe Tried and other random tidbits

 

Although on the "rainy day" list, I got a batch of meatballs restocked and in the freezer.  I like to do this early in the year, before the freezer is too full to put trays of them in there to freeze.

To help cool off the ladies, I filled a muffin pan with veggies and water and froze them for some delicious freezer treats.

Our internet has been working, but it's slower now.  I hope they get all the bugs out soon.  Several people are having issues.

More stores and restaurants have been closing numerous day.  They cannot hire enough employees, as no one wants to work.

We tried another new recipe - Slow Cooker Jalapeno Dip.  I used frozen jalapenos from the garden (vs. canned as the recipe called for).  

How did it taste?  Very good!  You can control the amount of heat by the amount of jalapenos too.  When I freeze my jalapenos, I leave the seeds in.  We topped this dip with freshly diced green onions.

Shell peas ~ Icing the Chickens

Our shell peas are done for the season.  Sadly, we did not get what we should have due to lack of rain.  

Speaking of lack of rain...everyone is on edge here at the homestead.  Not sure if it's just the heat and drought, or what's going on in the world.  Lots of agitation, anxiety, depression, mood swings, and lack of patience.  I know I am tired of all of it.

I've been icing the chickens.  They are so hot they are panting in this heat.

Heat Index Returns ~ Keeping Chickens Cool

Friday the heat index was predicted to be up to 100°.  It reached 98°F in our area. Weeding is still at a halt for me.  Just not worth the risk to be out there.  The humidity is sooo thick and my camera lens steamed up.

Chickens were iced again.  Did you know that although they eat the ice to cool off, they also pick some up and put it under their feathers?  Mine do anyway.  Just an FYI for those undergoing the same heat as we are, and raise chickens.  When we had goats, we froze water in small bottles and added them to their water buckets.

Nothing really "homesteady" to share today.  Youngest Daughter ditched me for another sister and is spending a few nights with her, so I'm unsupervised for a few days.

Bought myself this. . .

I sure hope I take the time to read it now, lol!

I have yet to deliver roosters to those taking them, but they are crowing now.

Thanks to being stuck inside with the AC this week, I have new projects on the handiwork to-do list.  They will be fun too.  I'll update as I finish them.

Dinner was once again salad and fresh cold fruit.  Too hot to cook a darn thing, and with the heat this bad, we all have non-zippity do-dah appetities.