Pantry Space ~ Laboring on Labor Day

This is a cabinet that my husband built me several years ago.  I used it for books, but have removed them to store my canned goods.  We lack kitchen storage space, so my storage is now in my living room (no kidding).

I even have more stored in a cupboard in another room.  I love this cabinet, so I may be building more of these for next season.

I put more smaller jars in this one, after I took the photo, so it's pretty full this year.  







Labor Day Updates:

Hubby and I spent Labor Day working in the garden.  It was hot, humid, and uncomfortable.  Shortly after I dug up more potatoes, and he spread out manure, we had a short down pour.  After that, we had intermittent showers all afternoon and evening.  

Hubby even helped me make a batch of seasoned tomato sauce, and wants to do it again.  I am forever thankful for his help. 

I spent the evening hours crocheting winter scarves and writing a list for fall cleaning and winter preparations.

Salsa Party ~It's Fiesta Time ~ Preserving Continues

We had a Salsa Party, to taste all four of the salsa recipes I canned this year.  The Peach Salsa recipe used a small amount of honey. 

Everything in Abundance ~ Canned Banana Peppers

(canned 8-26-2011, last jar used 9/1/2012)

We haven't been able to get a break this past week.  It seems that the Lord is blessing us in abundance, and all at the same time - eggs, tomatoes, peppers, pears, etc.

Pureed Cucumber ~ Chicken Wraps with Cucumber Suace, Salsa, and Honey

We discovered that pureed cucumber can be frozen and used for facial masks, for soap making, and for winter soups.

For our facial mix, we peel and puree 1/2 cucumber, and add 1 Tbsp. of  plain yogurt.  These facials are wonderful, and once it's on our face, it's so refreshing.

We haven't made soap with it yet.  However, now that I know I can freeze it for that purpose, I am stocking up on it. 

We continue to stock up - every day.  It rained last night a bit and I am still getting more tomatoes. I've been so busy canning and freezing and dehydrating, that I forgot to call and get an appointment for the chimney to be swept.  I better do that next week.

Hubby has a sore tooth, so I called and made him a dentist appointment. We have a bad habit of always putting the kids before us.  I hope it's not too late to save his tooth.

My son dropped out of college for his own reasons.  He's a mature adult and was paying for it himself, and it was his decision to make.  He's researching ways to sell his artwork, such as designs for t-shirts and such.  He's working on a large drawing this week.  

Hubby helped my son fix his car last night.  Thankfully, it was a quick fix and inexpensive.  My son needed to drive to work at 4am.  He's not happy with his job, but I commend him for not quitting until he finds another one.  Jobs are very difficult to find here.  He's going to need a better car soon too.


For dinner last night we used up more cucumber and salsa to make Simple Sweet and Spicy Chicken Wraps.  These were a hit, and utilize cucumbers, organic chicken, and raw honey.

My teenager that is in the 8th grade, was stressing over her class trip (that is next spring).  She told me that students are not allowed to wear capri pants or skinny jeans on the trip.  I had to remind her it will be cold out and that skinny jeans are inappropriate when they are representing their school.

I over slept, so I better get busy.   I have some jelly, jam and possibly tomatoes to deal with today.  

Pears won't last so I may even make a Crackly Pear Cake too.  It's a good thing I blog, so I can go back and see what I can make each year.  I often forget.  I can go down memory road too, reading that post (click on the cake to read it), because I was going to college to get my degree in journalism.  I dropped out when my kids were in their car accident, and Mom was in the hospital for heart surgery.  There was just too much going on to be able to concentrate on my work.  Maybe I'll go back some day, but not now.  Then again, writer's don't need a college degree to write.  Maybe if I wanted to work for a newspaper.  Photo-Journalism sounds interesting too.

There I go again.....rambling.  I guess today is a ramble kind of day. Sigh....

More Repairs ~ Public School

Remember my van?  It's been in parking mode since last February, getting many repairs including new head gaskets (second time).  Well, it's still sitting in the driveway.  It needs a computer now.

Hubby says it needs this other part before I can drive it.

Today, my son's car needs the repair job.  Thankfully, he can drive the ol' farm truck to work.  Part of the hardware that holds up the gas tank basically disintegrated on his car.  Yikes!  

The trouble with self repairs, is finding the time to get the job done.  However, I'd rather buy a part (and wait patiently) than spend $800.00 of my husband's (and mine) hard earned income to pay for repairs.  I'd rather take another getaway instead.  Sounds selfish, but really it's not selfish.  We both deserve it.

Frustration with Public School

For the second year in a row, the 8th grade class is sending kids off on a Washington, D.C. trip.  The cost?  $600.00 per kid.  However, the cost doesn't stop there.  This year they are required to have a special dress outfit, with dress shoes that can be walked a lot in - more costs. They state all meals are included, but I am sure there will be more hidden costs they will drop on us later.  

Then there is the payment system for this trip. You can pay on-line with the school, but the school charges you for every transaction you make.  We already pay enough taxes for our school's so why should I give them anymore.   Public school is not free anymore.  It's down right unaffordable.  

We already just paid $225.00 in school fees, and even more than that on school clothes and shoes.  Not to mention the cost of required school supplies also. We skipped out on school photos, since they did them the day prior to school starting, and right after fees were paid.  If they had photos taken, that would be another $90.00 to hand over.  This year?  I'm taking their photos myself, and I won't have extras laying around in a box.

My daughter said to me that the teacher told her she could hand him the $200.00 cash and he'd take care of the payment.  Send cash with your kid?  He must not have teenagers.

Last year, I could pay the tour company directly, free of transaction charges.  This year?  We are not allowed.  We must pay the school directly.  They really know how to make things difficult don't they.  

Don't get me wrong.  I do think the kids will find the trip educational and fun, but is it necessary for schools to take these trips with the economy in a rut?  It just doesn't seem prudent to me.

And it doesn't stop there.  The teachers are encouraging students to take "electronics" with them on the school trip.  What happened to good ol' fashioned deck of playing cards?  Or a book?  As a parent who strives to keep her kids from getting sucked into time wasting electronics, this is very frustrating.  My daughter should know better than to ask me to go out and buy her a $60.00 electronic, just so she can take it on this school trip.

Public school also raises my medical costs.  It wasn't long before one of my kids are already sick.  School just started, and she coughing, blowing her nose, and has a sore throat.  Thankfully, I have the knowledge of natural remedies.  However, with the continuous amount of daily germs she is around, it becomes more difficult to treat.  She lacks rest from her daily schedule also.

Then there is the amount of homework I see my high schooler doing - 2-4 hours a night.  Ridiculous.  Ugh.

I think I may have just talked myself into homeschooling again....

Interesting Books

It's a Long Road to a Tomato, by Keith Stewart

This book is full of essays, about a man who quit his job to become a farmer.  Very interesting to read.  He even kept track of the types of birds he found on his farm (and listed them in this book).

Tomatoland by Barry Estabrook

According to author Barry Estrabrook, many of our out-of- season tomatoes come from Florida.  I found this book extremely interesting.  The author points out that tomatoes are "picked green" and "artificially gassed with ethylene in warehouses until they acquire the rosy-red skin tones of a ripe tomato."  

This author writes a very important book regarding how are foods are not the same as they were back in the 1960's.  For example, he states that our commercial, store purchased tomatoes contain "fourteen times as much sodium" today as they did back in the 60's.  

If you are getting tired of those tomatoes in your garden, be sure to read this book.  You won't complain about growing them, nor stocking up on them anymore.  If you are not growing your own organic tomatoes (or any other food/meat), you will want to, after reading this book.


Here's another fun one I found at the library - 

Cooking Up a Storm,

Edited by Ken and Janice Tate

This book even has a section for Biblical baking recipes.  If you are looking for old-time recipes and fun reading, you'll really enjoy this book.

And one more to share:

I have found that Mary T. Bell's books are great for recipes and information on using my dehydrator.  This book even has pet treat recipes.  Pet treats, if you buy natural ones, are very expensive.  Guess what I'll be making soon?  Yep.  Why not, it's on the journey to self-sufficiency. 

P.S. If you are wondering when I found time to read, I read in between water bathing jars.  Tomato sauce takes 40 minutes to boil seal.  I have to steal free time where I can these days.

Letters from. . .

In the process of slowly cleaning clutter, in between gardening and stocking up, I created a way to preserve the letters my 10 year-old daughter writes to me. 

Over the years, she has written me many letters.  I tend to put a note in the kid's lunches when I can, and add a small piece of candy.  In the process of that, she started to write me letters and put them all over the house. 

In the past she'd pop popcorn, and put a "treat" down inside the bowl.  We'd enjoy the popcorn, and she would pretend to be surprised when we got to the "treat" at the bottom.

Each of my kids have a unique personality, and I just could not throw these notes away.

I purchased an inexpensive photo album with the pages that peel back.  I inserted the letters so I can re-read them like a book.

For the cover, I mixed 50/50 of white glue and decoupage, and covered the front with a piece of scrapbooking paper.  I don't scrap book very much, but do journaling and create fun journals.   

Here, I will write "Letters from ...." and will add pocket pages on the inside.  Those pockets will hold the very long letters she has written me, and pictures she has drawn me.