Updates

My husband surprised me by getting off work early.  We took the hot rod out and visited Mom and took her dinner. My younger brother was there too.  Mom is doing better, and walking more.  It'll be a while before she is completely back to herself.

We visited Patty too.  We went around her house and waved in the window.  I guess we are allowed to go in with a mask, but we did not want to with her having covid.  She was happy to see us, especially her brother.  We didn't stay long.  The excitement of seeing us gave her a coughing fit.  She is doing okay though, so thank you all for your prayers.  I believe my husband said she is 74 years old.

Oh, and Michael?  He is doing very well now.  He had to get those antibody injections, but is recovering very well, so thank you for all of your prayers.  Their baby is doing well too.  Unfortunately, he was not paid while home sick.  So sad to hear this when they are a newly married couple with a baby to care for.

Fall Blooms ~ Sunrise

 

The recent rain has brought us some beautiful fall blooms.

A beautiful sunrise.

I've been washing a lot of dishes.  Our dishwasher is on the fritz.  My husband will look at it when he can.  Not this weekend.  He is working all weekend.

Egg production is low.  They are molting.

I'm still putting hot peppers away.  I have not pulled the plants due to the daily rain we have gotten.

Parsley ~ Kitchen Purge ~ Sad News

 

I finally got parsley put into the dehydrator (sorry for the bad photo).  I love the aroma of freshly cut parsley.  Our weather is changing too quickly.  Rain is still in the forecast, which makes putting the garden to bed difficult.

Even after dehydrating the aroma was still strong and smelled delicious.

We got rain almost all day yesterday, so the refrigerator is completely cleaned and re-organized.

I also spent the day working on boxing up my computer area in the kitchen (aside from the computer itself).  We are prepping to move things to the living room to rip up the kitchen floor later this month.  I didn't realize how much stuff I had that needed thrown out, donated or things I just don't use anymore.  My computer area involves a kitchen counter with 6 desk drawers.  I will tackle the drawers, then start on the cupboards that will be taken out.  What a job!!  And this is just the prep work.

In a way I'm glad it's happening, because when things are in drawers and out of sight, it's not the first thing on my mind to clean/purge.

However, once we are completely ready to do the floor, I will lose use of my stove.  How do you grill breakfast?  I guess I'll be googling it or using a crock pot.  I could use my cast iron pan on the grill too.  Just thought of that.

In bad news.....my husband's sister and our niece both tested positive for covid yesterday.  Every worse....my husband's sister was moved to hospice care by dinner time the same day.  Please pray for Patty.

Fire Powder ~ How I Make It ~ Tidbits

 You can dehydrate the last handful of hot peppers in any form, but I place them in my food processor and grind them up to small bits.

(dehydrated in the photo)

I then spread them out on parchment paper and dehydrate in my dehydrator.  If you have an air fryer, most have a dehydrate option.

When they are all dried, I put them in a coffee bean grinder (used only for grinding dehydrated items), and grind into a powder.  I store in an air tight spice jar.

Add the ground powder to any recipe to add flavor.  I use it a lot in our breakfast casseroles/frittatas and scrambles.

Yes there are Christmas towels in there😂

I fear for our world we now live in.  More and more people we know are sick with covid.  It's spreading like wild fire in our area.  A co-worker of my husband's could use prayers.  He is the same age as me, and was moved to a different hospital with covid.  Both of his lungs collapsed.  His name is Lauren (not sure if I'm spelling it correct).  We last saw him in 2020.  

How to Roast Pie Pumpkins and Make Pumpkin Puree ~ Whiskey Bacon Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Pie pumpkins are also called sugar pumpkins, but the perfect pumpkin for pumpkin puree for baking and cooking.  Simply cut the pie pumpkins in half, and roast in a baking dish/pan at 350°F for 45-50 minutes.   The best tool to clean the pumpkins is my melon baller.

I lay the cut side down, and prick the skins with a fork a few times prior to baking.  Allow them to cool, scoop the pumpkin off and puree in a food processor.  Freeze in air tight containers.

One of our favorite dinners, using pumpkin puree, is pumpkin/sage macaroni.

Our family motto - use it up!  Don't forget to save those seeds. Roast them, and toss the rest of the pumpkin innards to the chickens for a nice fall treat.  Nothing wasted.

Our favorite recipe for roasted pumpkin seeds:  Whiskey Bacon Roasted Pumpkin Seeds (any whiskey will work)

I finally packaged up all of the remaining dried seeds for next year's garden.

I know many of my followers already know how to roast and puree pumpkin, so I'm sorry if it's a repeat for you.  

Fire Powder and Ramblings

My hot pepper plants still give-ith.  If there is such a word.  This mess was ground up and put on parchment paper in the dehydrator.  Once dry, it will be ground into, what I call, Fire Powder.

I haven't had time to pull anything else from the garden.  Now we are dodging rainfall for the entire week.

I attempted to get my to-do list tackled, but it rolled over into today.  I did however, remember to drain a jar of homemade vanilla extract I had sitting on my counter for a few days.

Last weekend I bought the Sunday paper.  I haven't read a local newspaper in a long, long, long time.  The comics were the only good thing in it.  I remember as a kid we'd take silly puddy and press it onto the comics.  Dad would save the comics for wrapping paper.  Oh the good ol' days.

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

I dehydrated more rosemary, froze more mad hatter hot peppers, cleaned up the kitchen, and other housework.  My husband finally mounted the new solar post lights for the driveway (the old ones were broken and knocked off by the snow plow last winter).  The new lights are screwed into the poles, so nothing can be blown off this winter.

Hubby also fixed a toilet that was running.  We have one that has those buttons to flush on the tank.  After helping him, I told him I'd rather replace it with a handle flush, when we need to replace it in the future.  It was not fun to work on.

Daughter E is back to work and feeling much better.  She now, after having us deliver food when she was sick, wants to learn how to cook (ha ha!).  

Several friends and family have either just gotten over covid or have it currently (including a baby that had to be rushed to a hospital for oxygen).

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

I'll link up when she posts.

Breakfast time . . . what is on the plate this morning . . .

Not sure yet.

Looking around the house . . .

My kitchen looks much better this morning.  We have much on our to-do list before winter though.

On today's to-do list . . .

-sweep/mop kitchen

-master bath

-dehydrate hot peppers

-roast a few pie pumpkins

-bake a breakfast

Currently reading . . .

Nothing

On the TV . . .

Tombstone

The weather outside is . . .

70's with the possibility of rain all week long.

On the menu this week . . .

-grilled burgers and roasted asparagus (with rosemary)

-I have no idea for the rest of the week at this moment

If I have a few minutes to myself I will . . .

Most likely crochet.

New recipe I tried or want to try . . .

Nothing right now.

One of my simple pleasures . . .

Watching cooking shows on TV

Something fun to share . . .

I have nothing today.

Favorite photo from the camera . . .

I have nothing today.

Praying for . . .

Mom, baby Easton and his Dad Michael.