Success this past week. I installed shelf liners on 3 shelves in one of the bathroom cabinets. I also completely cleaned out two large corner kitchen cupboards, purged any expired seasonings, vinegars, oils etc. Cleaned them, washed every lazy susan/turntable, lined the shelves, and re-organized.
I made a trip to town to buy liner to finish the remaining shelves. I also invested in two more turntables to make life more organized.
However, between putting the roll of shelf liner on the check out, and then paying for it, apparently it never made it home. The drive back is not short. The remaining shelves will be waiting until we retrieve the roll. We are stumped at how we never got that long roll back into the cart.
Anyway, I have also done inventory to see what I need for this year's canning season. I, apparently, have enough celery seed to can items for the next two years (ha ha! Whoops!). The kids moved in and out, but left behind their huge supply of spices and seasonings (which of most were the ones expired).
We also replaced our paper shredder, so thanks for all your suggestions.
A question for anyone who pickles eggs - do you have a fantastic recipe, or do you just re-use juice from your canned beets? Which vinegar is better if you make your own pickling liquid? I have only pickled eggs with one recipe, using a jalapeno, and other spices.
Today I will be joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.
I will link up when she posts. Today's post is a doozy of a long one. Sorry for that.
The weather in our neck of the woods . . .
We are finally warming up, and we may even reach 50°F! It's going to melt all of this snow and ice, so it will also be a muddy mess, but a happy temperature.
As I look outside my window . . .
It's still dark out, but last night during dinner we watched two woodpeckers enjoying our bird feeder on a tree.
Right now I am . . .
Making our daily snack plans. Sipping hot coffee.
Something fun to share (blog, video or tip). . .
Tip: Use a mandolin to shred cabbage on the thinnest setting vs. using a food processor for either slaw or other meals. It creates a much thinner cabbage, which makes a better slaw or cook faster for a meal.
Thinking and pondering . . .
Possibilities I'm considering for this next garden season -
1. Dehydrating dandelion greens
2. Planting a new squash
3. Putting my shell pea/snow pea fence back up
4. Planting more fruit options
5. Looking for a new resource to buy tomato plants
6. I can't locate Jerusalem artichokes to try this year. Anyone have suggestions? I would like to see if they will grow here well. I tried Baker Creek and I think I looked at High Mowing, but can't remember ha ha! Not Amazon or Etsy please. I saw on Territorial they want $24.95 for one plant. Are they that expensive for organic/heirloom?
We have lacked in the way of sowing seeds in the house this past year, and I am way behind this year. I may go ahead and start beets, but it's pretty late for the rest I typically start early. We do not have a green house, and we lack space in the sunlight, so I have to use grow lights when we do start seeds inside. The lights have timers, but it does increase our very expensive electric bill.
On my bedside table . . .
-a few crochet hooks, notepad and pen
Listening to . . .
Nothing now, but maybe the radio during the day. The type depends on what I wish to listen to at the moment. Music anyway.
On the menu . . .
Focusing on the freezer and garden stash/pantry ingredients.
-pork chops with home canned BBQ sauce, quinoa and roasted beets
-cabbage wraps with Italian sausage (my own recipe, but uses meat from the freezer)
-stuffed bell peppers (made last summer with garden bell peppers), will side these with other smaller meals too
-summer vegetable spaghetti (uses frozen diced zucchini, yellow squash, and green beans from the garden, and a jar of home canned tomato sauce), with frozen homemade meatballs (made with oats and no bread crumbs)
-chickpea crust pizzas using home canned pizza sauce, and frozen bell peppers from the garden
Book I am reading. . .
A much different book, but reading no less.
On my TV . . .
Nurse Jackie Series 3, 4 and 5, DVD's borrowed from the library. However, if it doesn't get much better, we are abandoning the series and finding something new to watch.
On my to-do list . . .
-make a breakfast frittata, and turkey breakfast "sausages"
-make a jar of pickled red onions
-start more sprouts for the chickens
-dishes, empty dishwasher
-laundry
-sweep and mop downstairs room
(my "possibility list" in other words)
Happening this week . . .
Ha! It all depends on the weather. I am hoping to get into town to retrieve the roll of shelf liner we paid for and somehow didn't get.
What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating . . .
Another granny finished book means another finished granny square for my "book" blanket. I am not stressing about if the colors match "exactly" but close enough is enough for me. The new project is to use up scrap balls of yarn, and crochet a beautiful blanket for us. More granny squares to make.
Post about my "book" blanket - HERE
My simple pleasure . . .
Reading.
Lessons learned the past week . . .
1. buy honey in glass jars, not plastic
2. keep tinctures in canning jars and not bottle droppers (two of my bottle droppers broke from the residue or whatever)
From the camera . . .
Prayers, Bible Verse, Devotional . . .
No current prayer requests.
