This and That

 I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July.  We had zero plans.  The humidity was so bad, it could choke a person, and then it rained.  However, by dinner time the rain had cooled down the heat and thinned the air, so we grilled out with a few kids and played cards.

Today the air quality is said to be bad.  More rain is on the way.

Whats been happening?  Well, it's been hot.  Very hot.  

Delivery days happened.  There were personal deliveries to those who had "stuff" in our garage, a trip to the thrift store for donations I purged, and more.  We have more planned deliveries for other items.

I'm now contemplating a book purge on another bookshelf.  The photo only shows a portion of one shelf on the bookshelf (gulp).

On the repair front, weather stripping needs replaced in a few doors.  The weed whacker needed a new part (now fixed), and a few windows needed new locks installed.

On the garden front, we have harvested a few more bits.

Three garden salsa hot peppers, and one zucchini.  I made fresh salsa with the hot peppers, and boy are they hot!  They are a much more potent heat than jalapenos.  It will clear your sinuses.

A few days ago, I started saving our coffee grounds.  I am sprinkling them along the green/wax bean rows in my last ditch effort to save them.  One, they add nitrogen to the soil, and two, it deters some rodents and pests.  I'm hoping it works.  I guess we'll find out soon enough.

We have purchased some inexpensive plastic garden fencing on a roll to install around the green beans this weekend.  We joked that our green beans cost us $$$ this year to grow.  It will work for the season, until we recover our previous fence expensive, and buy more fencing for the entire other garden.

We are really hoping for more rain today, because I need to thin out the radishes (soil has been pretty dry due to the heat), and we have 3 trees growing in beds of various locations that need dug out (birds and squirrels are the worst planters).  One tree is a walnut tree, and their roots are like cement.

Speaking of rodents, I finally got my husband to get all the supplies we need to build two tree baffles.  If they do as they should, we'll make one more for the peach tree.  Yes, they will be green, because we could not find white buckets, other than Menards (and they were twice the price).  At least it's better than hot orange, ha ha!  Pictures to come later hopefully.  The supplies were much less expensive to do it this way, vs. sheet metal or baffles.

On the kitchen front, I tried a new recipe.  Only because it sounded delicous.  You mix greek yogurt with peanut butter and place scoops on waxed paper.  You freeze it, then coat it with melted dark chocolate.  I don't have a photo to share, but it was very good, however, the yogurt/peanut butter mixture did not freeze in the 20 minutes the recipe said it would.  I waited an hour, and still not frozen.  It took a very long time, so I have plans to do it differently, and in mini-muffin pan liners next time.  It's a sweet, high protein, cold snack for a hot day.

The kids didn't need eggs, so I once again boiled some, and made egg salad. It's great for a quick meal on a hot day, and you can top it with home grown microgreens.

As for the zucchini, I may use it to make a zucchini-jalapeno frittata.  Possibly with some Canadian bacon on the side, bacon or other breakfast meat.

This and That  © July 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Last Day of June (Already?)

 Despite our efforts with solar alarms and solar rodent alarms, the rabbits got the green beans (again).  I know we have to fence the other area, but it's just not in the $$ pocket book right now.  I should have planted a squash plant at the end of every row.  I guess we were really lucky all the years we've lived here and not fenced it.

The birds got all our blueberries.  I just didn't make it to town for netting yet.  It's been on my list, but I have to figure a way to cover the bushes without it touching the plants, and easy to remove.

I need to replace my mandolin this year.  If you have one that you really like, let me know in the comments.  The one I have is 15 years old, and has limited thickness for slicing.  It's not sharp anymore, and the case broke years ago.  It's just time to upgrade.

June went by way too fast.  It really depresses me to see the summer go by so fast, as we have not gone camping one single time yet.  It seems that we have such busy weekends most times, with battling the weather this year, I feel like we haven't lived life to the fullest this month.  Of course there was my fractured foot that set me behind on all things too.

At least I can say I didn't let the month go out without some fun.  We did take a weekend to the island and we recently visited a car and truck museum (which was worth the admission to see).

Are you doing anything fun for the last day of June?

Plans for July?  Maybe.  It's the hot time of the year, so camping can be a bit uncomfortable.  I should write out a few options to motivate me.  

As for home repairs and checking off the honey-do list, my husband knocked 6 off his list of 11 yesterday.   He actually installed the mole chasing windmill, that we purchased over a year ago.  He also replaced 3 more electrical outlets, and put a new bottom seal on one of our doors.  The hallway is not complete yet.  It's also on his list.  We just need to finish one step and install floor trim on half the hall.

There are two very large items in our garage, so I do have plans to have a delivery day and return them to their owners.  Not sure why we still have them (or even why) but I do have plans to get them out of our garage (space wasters, and not ours).

Last Day of June (Already?)   © June 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Rainy Day

 

Photo is June of 2023.  The zucchini plants grew to almost 6 feet tall last year, thanks to our compost pile.  I have yet to check on the garden after a torrential downpour.

We had flood warnings, flooded areas, and it was worse north of us. 

Strange weather this year, and mostly frustrating for gardeners.

Another strange event. . .

I walked out the door a few days ago, and right in the driveway, not very far from me stood a baby deer.  No Mom around.  Of course I think I scared it, because it ran off, but a very rare sight around here.  At least that close to the house anyway.

Rainy days can be productive here.

I took advantage of the rainy day and purged/organized "stuff."

I emptied 4 plastic storage drawers of craft supplies, of much will be donated.  A few items went to other people (or will go soon).  A few items went to the garage, like my eye screws I used for crafting.

I also emptied two entire totes from the garage.  I had a tote of tablecloths I no longer use.  I also had a entire tote of saved baby blankets from when I raised the kids.  The blankets are all going to be donated, aside from any the kids want. I also eliminated one large tote of yarn.

I also found a bag of scrap balls of cotton yarn, leftover from knitting dishcloths to sell last year.  The yarn is all twisted up and a hot mess.  I have yet to decide on that mess.  It's either toss it all, or try to rescue it on another rainy day, and then donate it all.  I have no plans to crochet anything with it.  

I may get that rainy day to do more purging too.  Rain is in the forecast for the weekend. 

I would not be purging my craft supplies, had we sold more last year, but sadly no one in the area supports handmade right now.  So basically, I closed my doors on the craft shows for good.  Too much work for no income.  Does it sadden me a bit?  Yes, but now I can crochet/knit on my own time, and not feel the pressure of having it all made by a certain time.  I had a TON of inventory for this last show, and it's now down to a few items thanks to one of my kids (she took it all and sold "mystery" bags).

Speaking of closing doors, another business in my home town (other than Rite Aid stores) is closing it's doors.  Another business in another town nearby is also closing it's doors.  It just seems as if more and more are closing.  

Rainy Day  © June 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Happy Homemaker Monday

The weekend went too fast, but we had a fantastic time with family.  I took an orzo pasta salad, and a cold mostly sugar free carmel apple dessert.  It was very nice to visit with everyone, and with help we figured out what the strange plant is growing in my asparagus patch (more on that later).

Two lap afghans were delivered to my husband's cousin and her husband, who live in an assisted living home.  

I have been successful at purging books I have read. Over the last two weekends I placed books, reader glasses I can't use, and two sets of nautical crocheted cup coaster sets in a little library on the island we visit.  A bag of books went home with my sister.  I also found homes for three more sets of crochet cup coasters leftover from craft shows.

Trust me, I have more craft supplies to purge, but I am very behind on reading books.  If I am not using something, or haven't used it in years, it is making it's way to another home.

We had to cancel our plans to go to a festival over the weekend, because it rained.  We are thankful for the rain, as the gardens needed it.

Today I am joining once again with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.  The link up is back, so it's easy for me to link up today.

Update:  I could not link up.  Again.  Sorry folks.

The weather . . .

86°F/67°F today.  We are finally getting a break in weather, but that could change. 

Right now I am . . .

Writing out my to-do's for the day, and waking up with coffee.

Thinking and pondering . . .

To purge all of my writing books or not.  I used to freelance write when the kids were younger, and all lived at home, but I have not had the time, nor the desire lately.  Getting the house in order (trust me the fractured foot set me back 2 months) has been on top of the list.

It's been on my brain, but I'm considering putting and end to this blog.  Various reasons.

How I am feeling . . .

Depends on the weather, ha ha!  If it's hot out, and I've been working out there, I'm too tired to do much when I come back inside.

I am however, back to a pretty good exercise plan, other than the treadmil.  I'm still waiting on the final x-ray of my foot.

On the breakfast plate . . .

Have no idea yet.

On the lunch plate . . .

Chicken salad on cucumber slices, leftover orzo salad.

On the dinner plate . . .

If my husband doesn't call or text with a change in my plan, it's a sheet pan chicken sausage/sweet potato and green been dinner.

On the menu . . .

Anyone else have a husband that has a knack for meddling in the menu plan for the week?  I'll have it all planned out, and he'll come home with burgers to grill or some other option.  

I'm going to try my best to use up some food this week, that was intended for another day, including the green beans in our freezer from last year's garden.

On my reading pile . . .

Still reading this.  I haven't had the energy or time to read over the last month.  I really need to read at least a few pages a day.

A quick once a day read, and sometimes very appropriate for the day's work/events.

Dug out a box of letters to get finished reading. I need to pass this on to another family member (part of my purge).  I've had it since my Dad passed away.

On my TV this week . . .

Fried Green Tomatoes

Looking around the house . . .

I have a habit of starting the to-do list for the next day, and not finishing the current day list.  In the end, I am still looking at piles of yarn, and other things like tablecloths I no longer use, that need to either be put in storage or passed on.  I use them for tables when we have people over, so I may be saving them.  Anyway, I am working on more areas of the house, so come fall, we can get back to bigger indoor repairs/painting, and what not.

To-do list . . .

(for the next two weeks, and in no particular order)

-harvest yarrow
-harvest thyme
-dust
-wash master bath rugs, sweep and mop

-make homemade insect repellant

-work on all the craft supplies I wish to purge

-work on list for getting the house back in order

-water pots and greens

-work on sorting yarn, and re-organizing them to reduce storage totes

-weed flower beds

-continue cleaning porch

-get back to working on master bath, removing items we no longer use and remove everything from the walls to start washing down walls.

From the camera . . .

I have nothing today.  I had a pretty busy weekend, and the same last weekend, filled in with other projects and work around here.

Devotional, prayers, Bible Verses . . .

No current prayer requests.

Happy Homemaker Monday © June 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart