Garden ~ "Local" Adventure Day ~ Storm

I brought in more green and wax beans, but boy are they not as large as they should be.  Watering has been almost daily with this drought and heat index, it's so frustrating.

I put 1 1/2 cups of blackberries in the freezer too.  The green beans need cleaned and put in the freezer today.  Not sure how I'll have time for all my work today.

My 21 year-old knew that I have been having a very difficult time lately, so after diligent watering, and prepping dinner for 2 crock pots, she swooped me off to a day of fun.  However, we found several of the local shops closed on a Monday (and Tues).  That sort of put us in a depressed mood, but we located another town with a general store open and drove there for some local shopping.  Then....

We hit Adli's for some much needed adult beverages and picked up some hard root beers to try as well.

Returning home, I had to batten down the hatches for a storm rolling in.  First they said 75mph wind, then 60.  We took precautions, but all we got was a little bit of wind and a teensy bit of rain.  Urgh.  We need the rain badly here.

I'm totally done with the herb garden.  It's a hot mess of weeds.  Thyme died, parsley died, not sure if there is rosemary or any green onion in there or not....gonna dig the entire thing out and lay cardboard in, fill with dirt and completely start over.  It won't happen right now, but by fall I should have a start on it.

Flower beds are full of weeds (why they grow and nothing else is mind blowing).  Zinnias haven't bloomed but a few, gladys have died, with only one bloomed.  If there was a year I should not have planted flowers it would be this year.

As for my house cleaning.  It turned into a hurricane as fast as I had it cleaned the last time I washed 5 loads of dishes.  Don't even ask me about the dishwasher either. 

I offered a dozen ears of corn to some friends a few days ago.  The corn is still here.   Not sure what I will do with it, but that needs taken care of too.

If there was a day I wish there was 10 of me, it would be today. 

Happy Homemaker Monday

I've got a bit "to-do" list to keep me busy for sure.  First the green beans needed picked, so that's off the list as I post this.
-water everything (again)-write out a menu for a camping trip
-clean up house and kitchen mostly
-laundry
-sweep and mop
-clean out fridge
-clean and freeze green beans
-freeze blackberries
-the list goes on and on....

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


The weather outside is . . .
Hot!  Gonna be up to 91°F and heat index will be hotter.

How I am feeling this morning. . . 
Better than yesterday, but dragging.  I hope my to-do list will help with that. 


On my mind . . . 
Geeze.  A lot.  Youngest daughter, us, her boyfriend's family, her boyfriend's best friend's family....a lot!  Looking forward to a few camping trips too.


On the breakfast plate . . .
Nothing.  It's almost 11am and all I've had is coffee.


On my reading pile . . .
My Bible, devotionals

On my TV . . .
Sons of Anarchy


On the menu . . . .
-Homemade meatballs, homemade hot banana pepper sauce (crock pot), jalapeno creamed corn (crock pot), and home grown green beans, tomato cucumber salad
-have no idea


From the camera . . .

Looking around the house . . .
It's in disarray, but hopefully I can straighten'r up today (a bit).


Chore I am not looking forward to this week . . .
Clean out the fridge.  I swear there are things growing in there and most unidentifiable.  Sigh...


Something I want to share . . .
Nothing online, just some projects on the hooks.  Will share a post later hopefully.


On my prayer list . . .
Youngest, Us, friends of ours, this country, our President, our state (the Governor is out of control!!!!).

Corn ~ Tiger ~ Cake and other ramblings

I have gotten 70 cups of corn in the freezer, and have 10 more to get done today.  After that I pass out the remaining ears of corn to my family and friends.

When I start removing the corn off the cob, Tiger comes a runnin'.  He is so funny.  I gave him an ear to chew on and when he left the kitchen I picked it up.  Later he came back and I ignored him.  He got around my leg and was back kicking me and then bit me.  Ha ha!  I gave him another.  

We have our daughter's boyfriend's family coming for dinner tonight, so I baked another zucchini cake.  I will put a glaze on this one before they arrive.

I finally got in touch with Mom.  She is so funny.  Always out and about.  I wanted to ask what she needs for her birthday, but she refuses to let me gift her anything.  If I get more zucchini, I'll be delivering her cake and something else homemade.  She loves homemade/handmade anything.

Today, we un-bury the tomato patch.  It's full of grass.  No big deal, but with the tomatoes turning red, I need the grass out so I don't get ticks on me.  I wear muck boots, but still.

I got an order for 4 of the jar grippers I make.  I need to make 2 of them to get the colors she needs, but I'm thrilled for the sale.

I'm trying to locate organic / non-gmo corn grits.  They are sold out on the site I order from, and Amazon has prices so high it's ridiculous.  If you know where I can find them, please shoot me a comment.

We are all getting through day by day.  Minute by minute.  When I am busy, I am fine, but when I stop I have anxiety and whatnot.  Daughter is having a rough time yet.  I do thank you all for your kind words, good mojo and prayers.

Green Pepper Pesto ~ Library ~ Tomatoes

I've always associated "pesto" with greens.  I was intrigued when I found a recipe using green peppers as the base.  The recipe is from a library book I borrowed - Preserving the Harvest.

I got two lovely green bell peppers from the garden, and had basil, so I gave the new recipe a whirl.

I decided to make a pasta pesto using this pasta.

End results.  Who knew that green peppers would make a great pesto.  I'll have to make this and freeze some for winter.   I am still hoping I get 16 ripe bell peppers all at once to stuff and freeze as well.

Apparently, the library kept my inter-loan requests, but put them all on hold back in March.  Items starting coming in last week, but they sent them back.  I just had so much going on with the passing of the boys.  Daughter stopped and picked up what they had.  A few crochet books and a movie.  All of the canning and herb books had been sent back.  I have no idea what they were.

Finally seeing these turn red.

Freezing Corn

First, I do not like the new blogger at all.  Oh my golly.  I reverted back to the old, sent my feedback, and hope they get the picture.  

It's that time of year again for freezing corn off the cob.  I'll be back at it today.

We had a few beautiful weather days (days I call great camping weather).  My tomatoes and hot peppers don't like it, but it's been nice to have a break from the heat.

Cowboy Candy and other ramblings

Yesterday, the first thing I needed to do, was to put up the 4.6# of jalapenos I picked.  I needed 3# to make the cowboy candy.

I got that canned, but it takes a lot of time to slice up those babies.  The remaining will be frozen today hopefully.

I have been able to crochet more of the jar grippers.  I will get them up for sale as I get more colors made.  I have already sold the first six I already made (not pictured).  I'm told they work great and better than most that are made (my "gripper" has smaller holes that what my Mom was given and she loves it).  I think people are buying the "gripper" part from the Dollar Tree, and I have seen it and didn't like the look of it.  I purchased a different type (better brand) and am glad I did. I use a smaller hook and a cotton thread.

Apron Time! ~ Sweet Pickle Relish ~ Zucchini All Day!

My husband went back to work yesterday.  It's time to get back to cooking and baking and getting my kitchen in order.

First I had to put away a stack of clean dishes, then it was time to start chopping.

My first batch of sweet pickle relish was canned.  So thankful for the cucumbers and green pepper from the garden.  It was too early to dig up carrots, but they are growing.

Baked a zucchini breakfast casserole with garden zucchini. It was fantastic.  I used one from AllRecipes and used up some zucchini.  So good!

Baked a Chocolate zucchini cake, because we could all use some comfort food right now.  I thought about adding a glaze, but decided against it.  The reviews said it would be a very moist cake, and the glaze would make it softer too.  Boy is it good too.  I swapped out half the oil for home canned applesauce.

Dinner?  Meatballs with home canned hot pepper mustard sauce over quinoa and zucchini/corn off the cob saute.

Brought in 4.6# of jalapenos.  My job this morning - can most of them.  My tomatoes are not even ready yet, so no fresh salsa sadly.

As for the "order" in the kitchen?  I officially dirtied all the dishes in the entire kitchen.  Today is clean up day, because I just plain ran out of time (after I can today).