Random Tidbits

Thanks to the only rain we have gotten, I have more new blooms at the homestead.  I am picking green beans almost every other day now. 

Well, the mask mandate is causing so much chaos in our county.  I simply shop in another county.  So sick of this stuff.  What will they come up with during the next 5 months to keep everyone fighting and dividing?  Who knows.  I'm glad I have my garden to keep me busy.  Our state is being watched by counties now, and have a level grid.  Our county was put in a level to put a mask mandate in place.  They only change status by the week as well.

Cases are escalating in our county daily.  I'm starting to wonder if it's not a virus and rather a bacteria now.  It won't be long before they close everyone again.

We have no plans to return to the island.  Three businesses have not closed to quarantine.  If campgrounds do not close this fall, we do have plans to go camping.

People are buying up all the ball canning lids.  Regular lids are so hard to find.  I'm having family check their Meijer stores for me, as other stores are out or highly inflated pricing.

Happy gardening to you all.  I'm about to go work in mine.  We have a cool morning, so I'm taking advantage of it.

I have to repair a hole in my chicken coop (again).  After one day of repair I set a live trap.  I caught a pretty old opossum who was the suspect.  He however, ripped another hole in the coop.  Building a new wireless coop has now been moved up on the to-do list.  We are just tired of the trouble with the wire, and I've spotted a raccoon last night too.

I found 3 boxes of lids with rims at our grocery store, but that's it so far. 

Slim Pickin's

I had access to a car for a quick blink of the eye.  I ran into Wal-mart to get some items, and this is the area where crochet hooks and needles are sold.  The yarn is so slim.  See that shelf at the bottom of the photo?  Hardly any #10 cotton thread.  Literally nothing but one "I" hook left.  I needed an H and some needles for a gift for a family member.

I am putting together an Emergency Crochet kit for her.  I found tape measures, but not the retractable ones (that section was slim as well.  I found pencils, notebook and scissors.  Good gravy on the shopping trip.  I am told I have to drive further out to find a fully stocked store.  Geeze o' pete.  I'm told that Wal-Mart stopped stocking anything that wasn't "essential" and to me crochet while stuck home is mentally essential.  Crazy times for sure.

I came home and spent a while scrubbing my outdoor cushions with upholstery cleaner.  At least I was productive in that way.

Exhausted!

The radishes are starting to develop.  Super excited to harvest even a little bit yesterday.  My first day back to reality was exhausting (with a capital "E").  Oh my.  I am weeding the beets and it's not fun.  I really hope we can build a few raised beds for parsnips and beets (and maybe carrots) next year.  It's such a pain in the butt to maintain.

Sitting on the porch early evening, I watched a man walk from one end of the crop field across the road, to the other.  Not sure what he was doing, but when he reached the other side, he bent over to do something in one area.  He then walked all the way back.  Looking for arrow heads, planting marijuana seeds or picking something.  It was strange for sure.

I brought in 10 eggs yesterday morning.  So excited to see that too.  Don't mind my Christmas towel.  I'm still waiting on the washing machine part.  Hopefully the part comes in today and Hubby won't be too tired to install it tonight.

My goal today is to get my spearmint planted, and possible summer savory.  I have yet to do that, as I spent the greater part of the day out in the garden.

Our fair is a go this year, but with many things closed, no rides, no milkshake stand, no homemade foods at all....basically 4-H animals.  Same price to enter, but I'm sure most people won't bother to go.  We won't be.   Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is a go this Sept.  We won't have time to go due to vacation days, but if Ohio Bike week happens in Sept, we do plan to go.

The "Big City" is making changes.  Meijer removed the X's on the floors and Wal-mart removed some barriers.

The "Big City" is planning a "bash" again this coming Sept.  It will be set up in a mall parking lot, so people can do drive thru if they prefer.  Not sure if they will allow homemade foods, but I'm considering doing it for some handiwork sales.  September will be busy, so I'm just not committed yet, but it's free to vendors.  

I'm getting frustrated with the car situation.  I can't get a vehicle to go buy stamps (only open 2 hours of the day) and can't get one to get groceries, pick up strawberries, visit Mom....I'm pushing Hubby to help one daughter get a car first, then mine replaced.  His hours are later this week again and it really messes up our free time to get stuff done.

Well, I better get this posted and get out to the garden.  I have a ton of things that need done inside too.  

Fair Food Craze ~ Homemade Sopaipillas

Apparently, in this pandemic time, people are going crazy over "fair food."  One restaurant started it.  They dedicated one night for serving a drive thru with just fair food.  I didn't go, but the entire town (Big City) went.  I heard there was a 3-4 hour wait in line.  

The next day, the town announced that fair food vendors will be set up this weekend at the fair grounds for selling food.  I am sure that will end up a crowd too.

I decided to do a fair food night at home.  I made homemade corn dogs with real beef dogs and homemade batter.

We also made hand cut fries to go with them, but that's not all.  I started us out with a batch of homemade sopaipillas, an old, old high school recipe from Spanish class.  We used to make them and sell them at lunch at school to raise money for our Spanish class.  They are like mini elephant ears you'd get at the fair.  Just for the update, all the fairs have canceled their fair this year.

Sopaipillas

2 cups all purpose flour

1 Tbsp Baking powder

¼ tsp salt

1 Tbsp. shortening

2/3 cup lukewarm water

Fat for frying

Cinnamon and sugar to coat

Stir together, flour baking powder and salt.  Cut in the shortening until mixture resembles corn meal.  Gradually add the water stirring with a fork (dough will be crumbly).

Turn onto floured surface, knead into small ball.  Divide dough in half and let stand 10 minutes.  Roll each dough into a 12 ½ inch by 10 inch rectangle.  Cut into 2 ½ inch squares (do not re-roll the dough).  Fry a few at a time at 400°F in hot oil.  Drain on paper towel.  Roll in cinnamon and sugar.  Makes 40

New Hummus Recipe ~ Sun Dried Tomato Hummus ~ This and That

I tried a new recipe that was given to us by our well being (insurance) point program.  I adjusted it to organic and homegrown ingredients.

Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus

(adapted with organic/homegrown ingredients)

2 cans (15 oz.) chickpeas, rinsed and drained (organic)
⅓ cup fat-free yogurt (I used full fat homemade using my dehydrator to make it)
¼ cup tahini (or homemade with sesame seeds)
3 garlic cloves(organic home grown)
½ cup chopped sun-dried tomato (dehydrated home grown grape tomatoes)
1 tsp. dried oregano leaves (organic from the garden)
2 tsp. lemon juice (organic)

Directions

Process chickpeas, yogurt, tahini, and garlic in a food processor until smooth. Stir in sun-dried tomato bits and oregano; season to taste with lemon juice. Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.


Of course this is a "healthier" version of hummus, as it uses less tahini and no olive oil.    Don't have the yogurt?  Just use my traditional recipe and add the tomatoes and oregano. 

Note:  I rehdydrated my dried grape tomatoes before adding to the recipe.

I'm watching the weather.  I have only one rain barrel up, but if we are possibly getting down to 32°F with snow, I will have to drain it and flip it over until the cold wave passes.

Onion powder is now restocked.  I literally used all 7 lbs. of dehydrated onion to fill the jar. I will need more to dehydrate for diced.  I thought I had enough, but nope.

Mom had zero meat, so we surprised her with a delivery.  We took her a dozen pink carnations, flowers for her flower garden, groceries and cat food.  I told her "Happy Mother's Day" and she cried.  She was so thankful to have chicken and mashed potatoes for lunch instead of a hotdog.  I'm so glad we can help her out right now. 

In the evening we took a motorcycle ride with another couple and had a very nice time.   Today, it's back to cold again.  Our May weather is too cold for May weather. Brr. 

Oh, and by the way, this virus is real.  Remember the older parents of a friend who recently passed away?  Well, that friend (their daughter) is sick and tested positive, but she was sick a while back and never tested.  It apparently lasts up to a month in your body when you do get sick. So if you do get sick and not tested, stay away from people for a month.  This colder weather in our parts isn't helping kill off this virus either (or what I can the Chinese Flu).

Homesteading Chit-Chat ~This and That

I deleted one item from our wish list - buy a pressure canner.  I tried to order it directly from All-American, but it was "out of stock."  It didn't surprise me.  I found the same one on Amazon and put in my order.  

Hubby wants to build my "garden shed" now with old barn wood.  Not sure if it will happen, but it would allow me to have all the tools right by the garden.  Crossing my fingers on this one.

Peas have been planted.  Sugar snap and shell peas.  I am now looking for empty pie tins to hang on my fencing to keep the birds away.  I need to dig through old clothes and try and fix up my scare crow now.  We are however anticipating a cold week May 4-10th with possible lows in the 30's.  This is not normal May weather.

I've been keeping my eye on the nettles.  The recent rain should be helping them out, so hopefully soon I'll be harvesting more.  

I started a thyme tincture.  First time doing this, but having any preventative medicinals on hand is better than not.

Our daughter who is a senior in High School, is depressed.  One briefing the Governor said graduations can be done, but with safety measures, and the next day he says they cannot.  We decided to take her on a field trip.  We went and got take out in a small town, and then let her shop inside a small candy store (that also sells food items), and I'll admit it was nice getting out of the house.

Our landfill is opening soon, so now we can resume the garage cleaning and get rid of stuff.  

There is news going around that our Governor, while we slept, extended our stay at home order for another month (although I heard him let it out of the bag in another briefing), so I don't know what to believe until he speaks today at 2pm.

Almost all High schools have finalized graduation plans.  No word from our daughter's school yet.

I noticed a few gardens with tomatoes planted, while on our drive yesterday.  Big mistake with the cold weather coming again.  

I hope you are all staying healthy.  

Well, that changes things....

As much as I'd like to keep the pandemic issues off my blog and keep them upbeat homesteading posts, yesterday's briefing was a debbie downer.

We remain under shut-in order, and no groups of 10 or more until June 1st.  They did no lift the shut in order. Daughter's grad party was for late June.  Now I have to wait and see what he says June 1st.  Those who liked him in the beginning do not like him now.

There has been no talk at all about campgrounds opening and a lot more. Camping is social distancing.  The list of what remains closed is very long.

I feel like we are the prisoners and at war with the government.

Meanwhile GA opened hair salons, bowling alleys, tattoo parlors and more.  Too early for them?  I guess we'll all find out.

Our 18 year old had to apply for pandemic relief pay of some kind - for unemployed that cannot work due to the orders set.  She applied for another assistance as well.  I think my husband and other daughter should be paid even more for having to work (essential).

One of my brother's work for the police.   There are now some who will lose their jobs very soon.  The city he works for cannot pay them due to the city not making money - hotels not open, etc.   Even the BMV remains closed.  

By the way, I've spent some time on YouTube.  There are some very interesting (eye-opening) videos with doctors, regarding this entire thing we are going through.  After watching them, I am convinced of my own opinion (which I'll keep to myself on here).  All I can say, is that I am so tired of our rights being taken from us.  Yeah, the virus is deadly to those with high risk, but they have lied to us in more ways than one.

I'm just going to have to keep myself busy in the garden again.  It rained again, so it all depends on how wet it is today.

Happy Homemaker Monday

Yesterday involved 3 of us baking and cooking.  I baked a broccoli and cheese (with cottage cheese) casserole for breakfast, a batch of almond butter cookies (flourless), taught Youngest how to make Hot Cranberry Punch, infused a quart of nettle tea, and made old fashioned Goulash for dinner.  Shoot, now that I think about it, I could have added greens to the breakfast bake.  Oh well.

Dinner was old fashioned goulash with corn we froze last summer.  Instead of adding green pepper, I added finely diced jalapenos I froze from the garden last summer.  It was fantastic.  Although too many carbs, it was a nice change to visit the comfort zone in the way of food.

Youngest's boyfriend was sick with a fever, sore throat and headache for a few days.  I've been in touch with his Mom, and his fever broke yesterday.  

Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

I'll link up when she posts.  I need to start laundry before three of us fight over the washing machine.

Update:  Linked up now, and dealing with an outlet behind my washer that isn't working now (double urgh).


The weather. . . 

Foggy.  High of 62° and 10% chance of rain in the evening.


How I'm feeling this morning . . .
The same.  So many circles of confusion on the news, so I'm staying busy in the garden, prepping it for a good tilling all around, doing laundry, dishes and cleaning.

On my mind . . .
The garden and getting it ready, chores that need done on a good weather day like clean the coop (and that job will not be fun), the unknown about daughter's grad party and even her graduation (and prom), hoping my husband doesn't use all good weather days to take motorcycle rides on his 2 weeks off (one guy is already asking him and I need him for the garden work, although I do like to ride, it needs to come first), and wondering what businesses will open May 1st when our shut-in order is lifted.  I can't see how a restaurant can open when the order for no more than 10 in a group order is still set in place here.  Wondering where to buy a gallon of organic olive oil (I got no suggestions so far).  I use it to infuse herbs, make homemade medicinals, and it takes 2 cups to make homemade "neosporin."

Also on my mind?  My crafting sales.  I'm getting zero, and I count on that for extras and retreat vacations (which I'm not sure that's happening any time soon), but I'm sure there will be zero craft shows this year and that saddens me.


On the breakfast plate . . .
The egg/cheese casserole I shared first on this post.  New recipe.


On my reading pile . . .
Nothing.  I haven't had time to read, or I've just not been in the mood to read.


On the TV . . . 
We watched a movie on Amazon Prime called "On the Menu" and loved it.


On the menu this week . . .
In no particular order, here is what I've come up with
-crock pot beef stroganoff
-sheet pan meal with meat and two veggies
-macaroni and cheese, beets
-crock pot chicken and rice with greens


From the camera . . . 

I've been doing a lot of prepping and re-stocking lately.


Looking around the house . . . 
My living room is a mess again.  Our daughter who moved in is re-organizing her room, and what she doesn't want is downstairs.  It's going to the road with a free sign today.  All thrift stores remain closed.


Chore I am not looking forward to doing this week . . .
Cleaning one toilet.


To relax this week I will . . .
I'm considering getting out my tatting, and my flower press today.  If Hubby didn't mow down all my wild violets I will pick and press some today for future crafting.


On my prayer list . . . The same - The President, our Governor, the world, the sick, for this virus to end, for our rights to be restored....for us to have a bountiful garden this year.

Routine ~ Ups and Downs ~ Healthy Snacks

There was no problem staying busy with my routine back to just me, other than the girls are home.  I had a lot on my to-do list, and 3 of us were fighting over the washing machine.

There is much stress here.  The car was worked on last night, but continues to not start.  On top of that my husband has to work with someone exposed to a person who tested positive (it's been 2 weeks, but this is more stress to worry about).  Hubby said his boss looks like he aged 20 years since he saw him last.  Also, our daughter who works had a co-worker show up for work who claimed she was tested due to being around a positive case (she was sent home).  So much to worry about, and there is too many false negative and false positive testing right now.  What can we believe to be true?  You are lucky if you have no one working in your house.  

On top of that, the girls are fighting but it's mostly because of one of them, and I'm about to lose my mind.  Being stuck in and the worry and fear this government has put on us is bad for everyone.  For the first time in a long, long time, I am worried about my husband.

I'm done with watching our Governor's briefings.  They say they have drive thru testing, but only if you have 3 symptoms, yet on the briefing they are saying they are testing people with no symptoms and testing positive, yet saying we lack test kits.  Who is to believe?  I can't watch it anymore, as I feel they are misleading us with many lies and confusion.  Also, if we all have it, how did we get it?  Did they put it in our food?  Our water?  One big headache.  Again, be glad if you have no one working right now. 

I made sure I sent at least a text to my younger brother who is homeschooling two young kids, and now has to do it then rest of the year.  He is so good about being positive in a rough time.  I hope I made him laugh.  We need more of that.  So yeah, our schools here are not going back, and continuing the end of the year online.  

I made coconut fruit and nut bars and a batch of hummus.  Yummy healthy snacks for us.  The nut bar recipe is online from King Arthur Flour recipes (uses coconut flour).  I use whatever nuts and fruit I have and this time used hemp seeds since I didn't have whole flax seeds.  Don't have almond butter?  Peanut butter works great.

I hope you are all doing well.

Happy Homemaker Monday

Sunday was a more productive day.  I made more homemade "lysol" wipes, cleaned sinks, did some laundry, cleaned up the kitchen, and kept the wood stove stoked.  We were to get up to 60°F, but the house still had a chill inside.

We got my car out of quarantine (via trailer) and have a friend working on it.  I picked up limbs, branches (some 20-some feet long), twigs and sticks, while Hubby finished up the mowing.

I am thankful for the folks donating masks to first responders and the like vs. those making them just for income.  I found a gal who is making one for my one brother for free.  Our state is requiring that we wear one in stores etc. and may be wearing them for more than a year.  I'll be spending more time at home, and spending way less money on take out for sure.  I mean, how in the world can restaurants afford to operate with 10 customers and how in the world can we go in wearing a mask and eat a meal at the same time?

The clerks and restaurant employees wearing gloves is a joke too.  Unless they are changing them between every customer, wearing gloves is not protecting the buyer one bit.

Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

The weather outside is . . . 
High of 60° and sunny.  I still have the wood stove going.


How I'm feeling this morning . . .
I bit depressed, as Hubby went back to work today.  Not sure if they will continue the 2 weeks off/on now that out state is lifting the shut-in order May 1st.


On my mind . . .
Well, what isn't on my mind?  Seriously, at a time like this.  Will I ever get to hug my Mom or Dad, sit around a table at a family gathering?  Hold my grand kids?  Dance at a bar?  Participate in a bike week in our state?  Get a trip to the island, cabin in the hills or cabin in TN this year?  Sell at a craft show?  



On the breakfast plate. . .

Coconut flour pancakes and sausage because my waffle maker no worky.  They taste the same, but don't have the height.


On my reading pile . . .

On the TV . . .
Whatever we find interesting on netflix (if we can get it to work, since the internet is off and on lately).


On the menu . . .
-soup beans, fried cabbage
-walleye/perch and homemade fries
-bruschetta chicken, salt and vinegar potatoes, beets
-not sure on the rest yet


From the camera . . .

Hard to believe this was a few days ago.  No snow now.

These are up for sale on my "farm" blog, but I'm sure no one has money to spend right now.


Looking around the house . . .
It's looking a less bit cramped.  Our daughter who moved back in is slowly getting her belongings upstairs.


Chore I am not looking forward to this week . . .
To be honest I'm looking forward to any chore right now.  It keeps me moving and keeps myself in a routine.


To relax I will . . .
Porch time, crochet, or knit.  Bake.  It makes me happy.

Yesterday I baked some banana bread with walnuts and mini-chocolate chips.  It smelled fantastic, as I have not been doing this sort of baking (conserving the flour and the fact we are shut in and could put on some extra pounds).  In fact, we left to go on a motorcycle ride, and when we got home, my working daughter said she could smell it right away and went searching for it, ha ha!

Prayers. . . 
Mom, Dad (elderly shut in), one brother (first responder), the president, the world, us, a new baby born into our family and no one can see him yet.

Snow ~ Score!

The weather will be much better today.  Yesterday it snowed.  And snowed.  And snowed.  

Woke up to find this at the computer.  Our daughter scored us a can of Lysol.  Love the mug she gifted me too.  So happy to see this.

This morning I realized there is no such thing as simply getting up and making a cup of coffee.  First, the chicks needed fed and watered, the mouthy and loud Tiger wanted fed, the barn cat was pawing at the door to be fed....then there is Romeo....sigh...I got my cup of coffee finally.

My husband and I went to the "Big City" and did a supply run for us and for her.  We picked up her favorite wine too.  The greenhouse did not have sweet potato slips in yet, so that was one stop we didn't need to do.  Mom was smiling this delivery, so she is doing better now.


Other news:
Our statewide shut-in order will lift after May 1st.  They are setting us free.  Sort of.  There will be three phases of opening places.  Each "phase" is minimum 14 days, and if all goes well, school open back up in phase 2 (so that passes their prom date).  The Ohio Bike Week was postponed.  

Quarantine Day 32

Quarantine day 32

Nothing like waking up at 3:30am, and finding the internet not working and trying to figure it out for an hour. Now it's running slower than molasses.

Things I noticed while out getting supplies - Kroger pharmacy took down all readers.  You cannot buy them.  One Kroger has a limit of 410 people.   Ace hardware is not shipping any UPS items.  No Lysol spray in any stores.

Daughter (20 year-old) said that they only get a small amount of Lysol and they are forced to keep it and use on the store.  I'm guessing most shipments are like this.

She also told us they make care packages for the truck drivers that deliver - Lysol, sanitizer, snacks etc.

Calling my Mom to get her grocery list for a supply run feels like a scene from The Walking Dead.

On a good note, my lettuce is sprouting!  We also cut wood, but only enough for a few days.  It was cold, so we will resume soon.

Harvesting Stinging Nettle ~ Garage Clean Up

The snow was arriving around noon yesterday, so I went ahead and harvested some stinging nettle.  It filled my smaller dehydrator.  Happy for that. If you haven't done this before, be sure to have thick gloves on.  The "sting" does not leave the plant until you either cook it or dehydrate it.

Hubby and I spent 3 hours in the garage.  Found so much we can give away - roller blades, knee pads, wrist guards, all sorts of balls and bats, kids tent....lots to throw out too.  Now the trash is full, so it waits again for another day.  Happy for that too.

Luckily, I harvest a small bit of feverfew.  I make tea for our youngest daughter's headaches.  

The sunrise this morning.  I actually slept until just before it came up.  Beautiful, and praying for the best for world, especially our Governor.  I just hope they don't hold us captive much longer, and that they do not enforce wearing a mask all year.  I do understand the purpose, but you can't gain immunity by covering our faces an entire year, possibly 18 months.  There is hope for things to open back up.  In our state if you are tested and are positive they are giving your personal information to the local EMS/Police authorities - so much for HIPPA and our privacy.  Might as well stamp a number on us.   Sorry for the "Debbie Downer" but it really has me thinking/wondering.  Keep praying.

Biscuits ~ Sewing ~ Planting

I was slow to get started yesterday morning, but so happy I could actually sleep in. 

I started the day with some hand sewing - fixed a pair of jogger pants.  Finally planted my heirloom organic lettuce seeds, and baked some biscuits for dinner.  These kids will never want to move out with all this home cooking (the older one who moved back in truly misses the healthy meals.  Especially breakfast, as it's never out of a box (or very rare).

Youngest learned how to make sausage gravy and was so proud of herself.  She now wants to learn how to make the biscuits.  I sure hope she really does.

I did my daily call to Mom.  She was feeling better than the day prior.  With our future so uncertain, I must call her daily for support.  I need the one on one time as well.

It's a chilly 29°F here this morning.  Huge change from our 60-70 degree days lately.  Not sure of what's on the list for today yet.

I'm pretty sure there will be zero craft shows this year, so I plan on putting items up for sale via the mail.  Packages can be sprayed or left 72 hours before opening.  I'll admit, my motivation for crochet and knit work is at an all time low though.  I have not started to knit the socks yet, as we've been working on jobs that haven't been done for years (which is a good thing).  

Unfortunately, one bakery (local in the Big City) is closing it's doors and it may be for good.  So sad to see local businesses go through this.  

I may need to try some new recipes to keep myself upbeat during this shut-in order.  Just depends on what the grocery store has right now.