2020 Reading Challenge and other tidbits

 

My book arrived.  I just hope it isn't one I already read from the library over the years ha ha!  I hope to get some reading done ASAP.  I need a mental break from life overall.

We are getting some very nice weather this weekend.  Possible high 70's degrees on Sunday.  Crazy!

We are still seeing beautiful colors around the homestead.

When something goes out of the freezer, something goes back in.  Keeping things stocked, with a world of uncertainty.

A head of organic cauliflower and a few yellow squash (organic) were blanched.

Called my Mom.  Didn't talk long, as she was babysitting.  Got caught up with dishes, folded laundry, took scraps out to the chickens, and other mundane tasks.

I put together my barter, now I need a date and time to get it to her.  I hope she likes everything.  She is the family member who had 4 boxes of canning lids shipped to me.  I decided to include a set of homemade cards and a jar opener.

I ordered (and surprisingly received already) a manual coffee grinder.  I realized that we buy organic whole bean (have a cold press), and no way to grind them if the power went out.

I printed a few crochet patterns for winter projects.  I still have some printed recipes floating around the kitchen that I want to try.  If they float around long enough, they may get recycled.  I think I save too many recipes, ha ha!

I'm getting crochet time in most days, just before dinner and sometimes after dinner.

Someone told me that canning supplies will not be made until next March, but I have already seen jars with lids in stores.  I hope lids appear before another shutdown or whatever happens.

I hope everyone is staying calm as they can be, and healthy right now.  We are doing well, although considering I just poured homemade Kahlua in my coffee, I can't really say we are all "calm" here ha ha!

March Reading Challenge ~ Fog ~ New Recipe!

I picked a new author to read for March (although I started it last month).  She has a series of books, so I started with her first one.  I borrowed this from the library, but ended up ordering a copy of it.

Mum's the Word, by Kate Collins (Flower Shop Series)

Speaking of books.  TLC book tour emailed me wanting me to read a book, and post a review on my blog.  The book looks interesting, but seriously, my time in March is limited this year.  Has anyone else gotten these emails?  

Nothing much going on considering it's winter and I'm stuck home.  I did manage to make a bucket of homemade laundry detergent amongst regular chores.

We have major fog this morning, but the weather is a bit warmer.  School has a 2 hour delay, and there is hardly any traffic on the country highway of ours.  It's nice to have a quiet morning.  The other night a plane went over us at 3am and woke us up (flying that low).

I almost forgot to take a photo!  It was so good - Sweet Potato and Black bean enchiladas.  I forgot to make the crema sauce for the topping, but oh my gosh, so good.  We'll make these again, and make the topping minus the avocado.  I used a store bought non-gmo/low carb tortilla for these too.  The sweet potatoes have to be pre-cooked for this recipe, but worth it.  I used a recipe online from Ambitious Kitchen (I'm finding some goodies on that site) - Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas with Avocado Lime Crema.  

The sauce can be made with home canned tomato sauce and home canned tomato paste, with spices.  Oh my, I cannot wait to plant sweet potatoes, possibly black beans this year too.

February Reading Challenge Book Pick ~James Patterson ~ Homemade Meatballs ~ Garlic ?

It continued.

Blog post in January with the most views - This and That ~ Finishes

Kiss the Girls, by James Patterson.  The book is off my own bookshelf (discarded library book, and not in that great of shape), and when it's done, will be passed on to another person.  Most likely my daughter first.  Or recycled if it falls apart while reading it, ha ha!

Considering the weekend, with a possible chance to cut wood, I took Friday off.  Sort of.  They are predicting a "lot" of sunshine on Sunday, but Hubby has to work.

I did the dishes, and made a batch of meatballs (made with ground organic oats vs. bread crumbs).   Three trays went into the freezer. 

Recently, I was able to buy an organic spaghetti squash and made "spaghetti" and meatballs, with home canned tomato sauce for dinner.  Although our daughter wanted pasta, I still used the squash this time around.

I also finished my January book, on January 31st, for the reading challenge.  There are so many good recipes in this book too (I wish I could find more of her books at the library books sales).  Too many that have sweets, but I may save a few of the recipes to try this summer - Blackberry cookies or Blackberry pie perhaps.  By the way, this was the first book I have completely finished since 2017.  Yikes!

I have zero homegrown garlic to plant this spring.  I have searched the internet and have only found one resource that will ship for spring planting, and it's by one bulb per order.  Does anyone know of any online resource (or catalog resource) for spring garlic bulbs?  Organic of course.  Thanks in advance.  All other sources I use ship in October and that is too late to plant for fall anyway for us.  

Pumpkin Puree Recipes ~ January Reading Challenge ~ A Finish

Friday I started my morning by paying bills, doing laundry and posting items up for sale on my Rooster's Crow Farm (handiwork) blog.

Our weekend weather was not just wacky, it was insane.  We had 60 degree weather Saturday with pouring down rain, and thunderstorms, and today we woke up to "feels like 23°F" and snowing.

I used some frozen garden pumpkin puree to make dog treats for Romeo.  I'll use more for pumpkin soup, pumpkin hummus, pumpkin pancakes or waffles, pumpkin BBQ sauce and pumpkin/sage macaroni (using Jovial Einkorn noodles).  What else do you use your pumpkin puree for?  Besides pumpkin bread or a dessert?

Homemade bruschetta, using the leftover mix from the chicken dinner.  By the way, I bought a new basil plant now, so we will have plenty next time I need fresh basil.  Yum!

My new kitchen shelving arrived.  I am replacing a wooden stand with metal and on wheels.  I can easily move it to sweep and mop under it now, and have extra space for baking dishes I use, but not daily. So happy to be organized again.  I "shopped" from home, and used a valance that came with my new curtains a year ago, and used metal clips to attach it around the top shelf of the unit.  I love it!

We have an old farm house, with very few cupboards.  The person who put in used cupboards prior to us, put in mostly drawers.  I hate them, but until we can afford a total kitchen renovation, this works.  

New shower curtain!  I love it!  My older "frilly" farmhouse style one got splattered with blue hair dye (thanks to our daughter).  I have instructed her to remove this one, and put up the old one when dying her hair (rolling my eyes).

I had started this book a while ago, and am picking it for Jan. reading challenge. 

Blackberry counts for a color, right?  Not sure what I'll read in Feb. if I can keep up with this challenge.  I'll admit, I'm inspired to shop the thrift store for books now.  However, when one is added, one must go too. "Fantasy" is not my thing either, so I'll read a non-fiction book for August.

Finished this XL hot pad.  I had requests for them.  They fit 9 x 13 pans perfectly.  Works great for baking sheets too.  I guess you can count this as a completed UFO.  I started it during the craft show in December and forgot about it until I was asked if I had any made.