Happy Homemaker Monday

 

I had a few extra minutes in the kitchen, as my husband was called into work on Sunday, and our outdoor work took a back seat.  I made them in between flash freezing the last of the strawberries.

I made these healthier version of a peanut butter "cup" from a recipe online (no bake peanut butter oat cups by Hungry Happens).  You keep them in the freezer, but they do not freeze solid.  They are good, but I'm not sure I'd make them again.  I used a non-gmo dark chocolate for the top.

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

This will be my last link up/join with this.  The new link asks me to sign into facebook or something to link my own post.  Enjoy it as the last post in this manner.

The weather . . .

Strangely cool, and no sun this morning.  Temperatures range from 67° to 93°F this week.  The low tonight could be as low as 49°F and that is very cold for June (and not good for the garden).

Right now I am . . .

Sipping coffee and writing this blog post.

Thinking and pondering . . . 

I'm thinking, that having a phone book again would be useful.  Our internet has had way too many outages, and one day I could not get a phone number pulled up on my cell phone.  Not even with 5G (cell service outage?).  Way too many outages in our area lately.  We used to get a free phone book delivered, but have not gotten one in years.  We don't have a land line, so that may be the reason.

We are trying to connect with local farmer's market gardener's to see about buying their garlic for this year. I know it won't come in until later, but we are working on it.

I did however, ask one produce stand if they grew their own garlic, as I have purchased it from there years ago (which rotted very quickly).  I never asked, as I assumed (never do that) they grew everything.  They do not.  Always ask at the produce stands.  Many ship items in from other states, and the items are not fresh.

How I am feeling . . .

On days I am working outside for hours on the garden, I have zero energy to do intentional exercise. Does that happen to anyone else?  Or is that just me?  Is it even necessary, after all that labor?

My foot is still healing.  Some days it bothers me and other days it's fine.

On the breakfast plate . . .

Sweet potato/sausage and egg scramble.

On the lunch plate . . .

Chicken salad with boiled egg over swedish bread crisp. Blueberries.

On the dinner plate . . .

Not sure just yet, but it could be Southwest Quesadillas.

On the menu . . .

-sheet pan cod with vegetables

-grilled jalapeno popper smash burgers, grilled brussel sprouts

-leftovers

On the reading pile . . .

I have not had a lot of free time to read lately.  I finally finished book #3 in this series.  I have found that our library interloan system has the remainder of the books to the series, so when I get more books read off my own shelf, I can go back and finish the series via the library.

. . .picked this up for free at the library, so I'm currently reading this book.  I feel like one of my bloggers has met this author. It's not my typical fiction book, but so far, I am enjoying it.

I'm also reading online reviews for food processors and madolins.  I need both replaced soon.  Especially my very old mandolin.

On my TV this week . . .

Whatever looks good on netflix.

Looking around the house . . .

It's a hot mess.  It's garden season, along with strawberries and peaches to put up.  It'll take some work to get things in order for sure.

To-do list . . .

-sweep and mop floors

-dust

-water porch pots and house plants

-go through yarn for a daughter

-get the house back in order

From the camera . . .

I finished this lap afghan.   I'm suprised I did too.  Some days I am so tired after garden work, that I don't want to do anything.

Devotional, Prayers, Bible Verse. . .

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

Strawberry Season ~ Peach Season (Wham-Bam!)

I wish there was 6 of me to get all the "things" done around here right now.   Work has been done based on the weather and needs.  Basically, there are projects/jobs around here not completely finished.  It drives me bonkers, but we work on them daily.  If my husband was retired, it would be much different, but it's not the case.  

On top of losing the tomatoes recently, we have a plethora of rabbits. Apparantly this is a wide case issue in the area this year.  Rabbit stew?  They are a huge problem if they continue to eat my herb garden and get into the vegetable/fruit garden.  It may come to that if grocery prices continue to rise.

Is it me, or are prices soaring again?  I could not believe the cost of blueberries at the grocery store the other day.

I actually considered going back to work vs. doing the garden/homesteading thing this year.  I also contemplated getting a part time job and still maintain a smaller garden.  Everything is so high on cost right now it is sickening.

We were blessed with some cool breeze days after the rain finally quit, and the 90 degree heat left us.  It was nice to open windows and let fresh air in.  The heat is returning, and our AC had yet to turned on.  If it's been tolerable, we just run a fan or open windows, to save on that summer electric bill.

It's strawberry season in our area right now.   June bearing strawberries are just what they are - bearing fruit for a short time in June and that is it, so putting up time is about a week or two.  However, the season is about to end as fast as it started.

Canning reduced sugar jam is done, and freezing what we'd like, is in the process.

South Carolina peaches are starting to appear at our local produce stands as well, and all at the same time this year.  I asked around, and no one is getting Georgia peaches.  They are telling me that they have not gotten them over the last two years (which we know due to weather).  We are trying the South Carolina peaches this year.

We do have one peach tree, but we've only gotten peaches from it once.  It's still alive, but has not done well here.  We may plant more fruit trees next spring.  Our apple trees did well last fall.

I absolutely love Strawberry Margarita Jam (link goes to the online recipe at Better Homes and Garden Canning Recipes), but it is loaded with sugar.  I gifted it one year I believe, and even did a barter one year.  Some year I will can it again. Just not this year.  

Of course, we are enjoying the strawberries fresh as well, as we await for the peaches to become a good ripe stage.  I keep having a talk with them, and that I need them to ripen sloooowwwwllly during this gardening season.  

So much to do.

Strawberry Season ~ Peach Season (Wham-Bam!) © June 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart