Happy Homemaker Monday

 

The garden is getting a good soaking this morning.  It's hot and humid. Hubby is off work today, but not much will be done outside with the heat today.

I took my wedding ring in to have the prongs checked.  I cannot find my paperwork, so they are working on that.   I mean it's tough trying to find us in their system when it's been 22 1/2 years.  I just hope they can re-print our paperwork.  They said my ring looked as if it was brand new and complimented me on it.  One more thing off the to-do list.

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

Weather . . .

93°F/73°F

How I am feeling this morning . . .

On the breakfast plate . . .

Homemade french toast, sausage, scrambled eggs and coffee

Looking around the house . . .

Ugh.  I can't believe I'm gonna say this, but I will be glad when the kids move out and my house stays "guest" friendly.

On my reading pile . . .

Pioneer Grit

On my TV . . .

Heartland

On the menu this week . . .

-grilling something tonight
-ham, homemade baked beans

-BBQ meatballs, quinoa, and a veggie

-bake a breakfast casserole

From the camera . . .

My organic heirloom thyme I planted indoors! Check out those leaves!

I am thankful for . . .

To have a Monday off for once.  Glad to have my husband home today.

I am hoping to . . .

...go camping soon, but this weather is an issue.  Storms are moving in again.

Prayer list . . .

Daughter E

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July!  We had a busy day yesterday, so today it's all about getting outside stuff done early and relaxing indoors with the AC.  It'll be a dozie of a hot one today.

We took a nice weather motorcycle ride with friends, ate somewhere new (new town), and ended the evening at another graduation party that was also his send off (military) party.  Another family member is going in the marines.

There were no fireworks to see off the front porch last night, but we may see some tonight.  It's always nice to watch them from our own comfortable home.

Have a wonderful Sunday today!  I  know we won't be doing too  much with the heat returning.  I am going to plant my cherry bomb plants today.  I'm sure they'll love the heat too.

Apple Trees ~ Handiwork ~ Radishes!

 

Our apple trees have apples this year.  However, we need to get the tree baffles made very soon or the raccoons will strip the trees.

We are having some fantastic weather lately.  I got more weeding done and more crafting time carved into my days.

I have been working on crocheted water balloons.  I have located these colors so far.  They are eco-friendly and re-useable and washable.  No mess to pick up on a hot outdoor fun day.

 

Finally!  We haven't had these bad boys since 2019.  2020 was a wash out due to a very dry season.  Of course these are up much later than usual, but we are getting them.  

Restoring Cast Iron

 

I have one large cast iron pot with a lid.  I noticed this after getting it out of storage (yeah, I haven't used it for several years for some reason).  Anyway, I looked up instructions from the Lodge cast iron company.

First, remove any signs of rust with steel wool or a rust remover you can purchase from the Lodge store.

They say to wash good with soap, and not to worry because it's getting re-seasoned next.

To re-season, spray a light coat with cooking spray and bake in the oven at 450°F for one hour (place foil on bottom rack to catch any oil).

They said it could take 2 times of doing this to correct the pot.

Extreme Heat ~ Rain ~ Rhubarb Vodka

Whoops!  Yesterday morning I overslept.  First time in years.  Not sure if it was the extreme heat we had or what, but I felt terrible that I did.  I am always up making coffee, feeding the cats, packing my husband's breakfast and lunch.  There has been a lot on our minds though. 

The ladies cooled off the best they could with chipped ice.  I left the coop open when we finally got a down pour, so they could get wet and cool their hot feathery bodies off.

Although I will now be behind in weeding, I am so happy for the rain.  The funny thing is, is that we both said if it's a rotten year we'd not plant a garden next year.  In fear of a rotten year (3 years in a row), we really cut back on what we planted too.  Now I regret not planting my popcorn, peas, spaghetti squash etc.  Well, I'll be over those regrets, as soon as I visit Farmer's markets and re-stock.  

I finally got rhubarb vodka in the making.  We like this better than strawberry, but both are good.

I finally found organic broccoli and asparagus!  I blanched both and got them in the freezer.

More photos of my snapdragons.  My lens kept steaming up, it was that humid.

Garlic and other gardening

 

Two varieties and they are all pulled from the grow bags.  Some roots where 6-7 inches long.  Just need to top off the grow bags with more soil and put new cardboard under the bags.  

I tied up almost all of the tomato plants, and some already re-tied do to good growth.  Some tomatoes are already on the plants.

It was too hot and humid to stay out in the garden, even though there is one more flower bed to weed.  I managed to plant two parsley plants and one more rosemary.  One rosemary died for some reason, and it's getting watered.

I was walking on a small sidewalk we made between two flower beds, and I almost stepped on a slithering snake.  In my flip flops.  I am sure anyone driving by, got a kick out of my dance in the yard trying to avoid it.

Another Re-Stock ~ Chicken Freezer Treats ~ New Recipe Tried and other random tidbits

 

Although on the "rainy day" list, I got a batch of meatballs restocked and in the freezer.  I like to do this early in the year, before the freezer is too full to put trays of them in there to freeze.

To help cool off the ladies, I filled a muffin pan with veggies and water and froze them for some delicious freezer treats.

Our internet has been working, but it's slower now.  I hope they get all the bugs out soon.  Several people are having issues.

More stores and restaurants have been closing numerous day.  They cannot hire enough employees, as no one wants to work.

We tried another new recipe - Slow Cooker Jalapeno Dip.  I used frozen jalapenos from the garden (vs. canned as the recipe called for).  

How did it taste?  Very good!  You can control the amount of heat by the amount of jalapenos too.  When I freeze my jalapenos, I leave the seeds in.  We topped this dip with freshly diced green onions.