Plantain Dehydrated and other randomness

It's been on the cold side here.  We will be a high of 69°F today.

Due to some last minute business I had to do in the afternoon yesterday, I could not can with tomatoes as planned.  I instead took a slower day and tackled other jobs.  I folded neglected towels, washed bedding, made homemade laundry detergent, refilled our homemade foaming hand soap and other stuff.

I went out and picked some plantain and dried it in the dehydrator.  It wasn't as much as I wanted, but it's been slim pickings with the drought.  The recent rain brought some up, and I wanted it done before the mowing resumed and colder weather gets here.  I will be infusing a plantain oil, which I will use later this winter to make a salve.

I got all those bell peppers put up.  I'll be picking a few more to try a new recipe I found.  Hopefully, I will have time one of these days to do it.

I haven't had time (or the space, with all the tomatoes in the kitchen) to make a good breakfast.  I am only getting small eggs, so I just tossed some veggies, herbs, etc. into a small baking pan.



How is everyone doing?  Well I hope.  The Governor is now doing covid testing on sewage in nearby towns and cities.  He also signed an order for setting up Fema camps (that part is true, as I read it).  There is talk that they are pushing kids to take extra supplies (emergency) to school, so if they get sick they can ship the kids off to these camps and take them away from the parents.  Not sure if that is true or not.  The college students are back.  Cases are rising with off campus students.  They are talking about another outbreak.  Now they are randomly testing students, so the testing just keeps going and going.  Also, if you have a procedure at the hospital, they test you before that as well.  Again, more testing.  Just a very scary world right now.

I have been talking to my husband about selling the house and moving.  We decided it was not a good idea right now.  Houses are selling like hot cakes right now in our area, however the buyers are paying higher than asking price to get a house.  There is a housing shortage, and even if we found one, we'd be paying a premium for it.  We also talked about the fact we have a septic and well, and with the way things are going, it'd be safer where we are.  Not sure what project we'll start first, but I have 3 on the "first list."  

Meanwhile, we are busy with the garden, and then there is wood to cut.  Mostly trying to stay home, but I do want to go camping before the season ends.

Lemony Tomato-Basil Soup

My sauce maker is in full swing right now.  I restocked our tomato soup.  It's so good too.  The photo makes the jars look weird, but it's just that I took the photo when it was dark out.  The recipe is in the Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publications - Canning, Preserving+Freezing and drying issue.

Garden Goodness

Eggs are rolling in good.  Fixing the sides of the coop so I don't have to crawl in there is on top of the list.

Ka-Bam!  41# of paste tomatoes, brought in a few big boy type, cherry tomatoes, some zucchini, 1# hot banana peppers, #3 of jalapenos, and 24 bell peppers.   The jalapenos were canned yesterday, but today I tackle some of the tomatoes.  

I was lacking time for laundry, but managed to get a pork loin (not my favorite, need to re-stock roasts) in the crock pot.

I sliced the zucchini and baked them with herbs and parm cheese.  I totally forgot to take a photo.  I was just plum tired. 

Weekend Getaway

While I should have been canning, my husband and I took off for a getaway, and took a boat tour.  Well worth it.  

I am up early to wash dishes that were left on last Friday, and the one daughter who was home and on vacation, left more.  Everything I need to can was still dirty.  My mental health vacation needs another one.  All I can say at this point, is that I am pretty sure my husband is on board with the lack of help and respect around here.  He finally sees what I have been dealing with.

It's been a long day already. Yesterday was the one year mark we lost our 4 month old grandson, so we made a quick trip over to see them before retiring for the night last night.

Oh, while out on our getaway, I scored canning jars.  There were no lids to be had, but I got myself jars with lids (which I needed, as I am down to my last 9 jars or so of half-pints).  I also finished a crochet project during our drive.  I hope to have a handiwork update soon.

Bell Peppers ~ BBQ Sauce ~ Sunrise

The bell peppers are one thing that is doing well in the garden as well as the tomatoes.  I was able to do a half batch of stuffed peppers and got them in the freezer.  

A few were used to can BBQ sauce yesterday.

I caught a few beautiful photos just before the sun came up the other day.

The dogs were barking about 3pm while I was reducing the BBQ sauce.  Guess what?  Another raccoon.  I got the ladies in safe, but lost sight of the dang raccoon.  Sigh.  It's definitely been a rough year.

Mental Health Day

Yesterday I took a much needed mental health day.  My 21 year old and I went on an adventure visiting two towns and local shopping.  I did some antique shopping too.

We went to Wal-mart so she could pick out yarn for a Christmas present she asked me to make.  I went to the canning section just to see (but knew well it's be empty).

This smells amazing!

Although I didn't find may towels, I found a few tablecloths to use and even a Christmas one.

Today I have another date with tomatoes, which I am happy about.  The cucumber plants and squash plants are starting to die off and the yellow squash either didn't produce or gave us only a few sadly.

Rain ~ Tomato Sauce

It thankfully rained for a bit the other day.  So happy to see that.

I canned tomato sauce.  Beautiful 6 1/2 pints, but realized I dag'gon forgot the lemon juice.  I wasted 7 hard to find lids, opened the jars and froze it in freezer bags.  Sigh....at least I got the tomato sauce made this year.  Woohoo to that.