Tuesday Tidbits

Breakfast for the next few days - crock pot steel cut oats with apples, raisins, walnuts, and cinnamon. I cut the recipe in half.  I'm sort of getting used to cooking for 3 people now.

I took advantage of the beautiful weather, so I headed out to muck the coop.  Didn't happen.  This chicken herself, saw that the skunks did a lot of yard damage near the barn I get my straw from.  I was too chicken to go in the barn.  I messaged my husband (who got a chuckle out of this), and asked if he'd check out the barn tonight after work.  I know skunks generally sleep in dens during the day, but I saw one out during the day last week (up the road).  I didn't want any surprises in the barn.  Sigh.

Update on a crock pot meal I recently made.  Didn't really follow a recipe, but tried cooking bone-in chicken thighs a different way.

I sliced up some red skin potatoes and tossed them with 2 Tbsp. olive oil and 2 Tbsp. melted butter,5 cloves of minced garlic, parsley and thyme.  I put that in the bottom of the crock pot, pan seared the chicken for about 3 minutes each side and put the thighs on top of the potatoes.  I cooked it for 10 hours on low, and the chicken literally fell off the bone it was so tender.  I grated parmesan cheese and added that to the potatoes.

I, even though I told myself not to, printed off a salad recipe to try.  If I get to the store and get it made, and share if it's worthy.  It looked good anyway.

If you didn't read my post yesterday, I added photos of some ornaments and earrings I was working on for the upcoming craft show.  Meanwhile I continue to crochet dish scrubbies.  I finished a set of boot cuffs yesterday too.

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

I cut the entire 10 yards of green netting I bought, but now have a blister on my thumb from cutting so much netting.  I will need to raise my prices next year on handmade items.  My supplies have all gone up in price.

My husband was not able to leave work early yesterday, so I have much to do today on my own.  It's going to be much nicer out today, so that will help.

I worked a bit more on my Christmas ornaments.  I'll take them to the craft show this weekend.  I would love to keep one for our tree, but we'll see.  I will be sure to post a photo when they are all done.

Bottle Cap Earrings I made.

I'm making more for the craft show, but I still need to balance outside work with inside work.  Instructions on the ornaments can be found on my S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot.

I went out to find something dug up the yard looking for grubs I assume.  I'm thinking either skunk or raccoon.  I guess we don't have to worry about army worms, but the rodents left the grass a total mess.  In all the 13 years living here, this is the first time to see this.

I have been putting my homemade comfrey salve on a bruise, and it's been working great!  I'm so glad I made it this year.  Do you make a comfrey salve?

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

I'll link up when she posts.  I need to get the outdoor stuff done before I can start playing with handiwork.

The weather . . . 

68°F/ 43°F

How I am feeling this morning . . .

Ready to tackle the days work.

On my mind . . .

Homemade Christmas presents. I have a few to gift, and a few ideas.  I would like to make some things to surprise gift my Aunt M.  

On the breakfast plate . . .

I'm leaning towards a crock pot steel cut oats recipe with apples and raisins.

Right now I am . . .

Getting ready to post this, and get this day going.

What I am wearing today. . .

Outdoor work clothes, muck boots, then changing clothes.

On my reading pile . . .

Letters written to my Dad, so I can start passing them onto the next sibling.

On today's to-do list . . .

-put dishes away

-bake a breakfast casserole, maybe steel cut oats breakfast

-muck the chicken coop

-put tomato stakes back in storage

-dump flower pots

-pull glady bulbs

-check greens in the garden

-work on crocheting more dish scrubbies, finish a set of boot cuffs, and work on the ornaments and earrings

On the TV . . .

Comanche Moon, Lonesome Dove, Return to Lonesome Dove

On the menu this week . . .

-chicken chili

-turkey, steamed broccoli

-roast, potatoes, carrots and onions

-leftovers

From the camera . . .

Old photo of when we had the last goats (he was a wether).  He was always finding a way to jump out of his stall or over the fence.  

Looking around the house . . .

I have the larger kitchen table cleaned off to cut one more color of netting. 

Something fun to share . . .

Recipes to try.  The brazil nut one has me intrigued.

To relax this week I will . . .

Read letters and crochet, call Mom.

On the prayer list . . .

Mom.  Her memory is getting worse.  She also canceled her meals on wheels and now relies on friends and family.  Winter is coming and I think she'll need to get those meals delivered again.  I get snowed in, and most everyone works.

Sunday Ramblings

 

A friend shared this photo of our Meijer store the other day.  It is just like 2020 now.  Not sure if people are hoarding or if supplies are slow coming in.

Photo from another friend (Meijer also, but another state)

We woke up refreshed with the time change giving us an extra hour of sleep.  I however, hope the state stops doing this.  It's frustrating with the quicker darker evenings, and less work time.

I went to Aldi's to stock up on quinoa.  It used to be $1.95 and it's now $2.75 (still cheaper than at the other stores). 

I was shocked at the new organic items they are carrying.  I haven't been there in a while.

A niece and her best friend are opening their own business - bakery/cafe.  I wish them well.  It's a tough time to be opening a business, with supplies high in price and the supply chains slow right now.

Well, my husband had to work today (again).  We were both up early, so I could pack his breakfast, coffee etc.  Today may be our last good weather day.  

Despite trying, we are forced to push our kitchen floor repair to Spring time.  I am sad about this, but maybe supplies will be a bit lower then.  I surely hope they are not higher.

My Thoughts Ran Wild! ~ Chit-Chat

I was running around gathering laundry, picked up some socks off the floor (sigh), and there sat a bag of used canning lids.  I grabbed them too.  That's when things when wild.

I loaded the washer, but only to find a lonely sock laying in the hallway.  Sheesh.

Okay, about the wild mind of mind....

I was literally going insane, digging through what craft supplies I did not purge, thinking "there has to be way to create an ornament out of these lids."  

I had to find all my supplies, but then kept telling myself, not until I get the apple crisp baked, the onions out of the dehydrator, laundry done and whatnot.  I kept telling myself, as excited as I was (and I haven't been this excited to do a Christmas ornament in a long, long time), "focus woman, focus!" Ha ha!

Oh, funny thing.  Daughter K took Mom to a doctor appt and texted me that Mom said she smelled like onions (ha ha ha!).

Mom has at least two doctor appts. next week, so we will all be busy with that.

As for the ornament, I'll have an update when they are complete.  I'm putting instructions on my other blog (S.C.R.A.P) because I haven't posted on that one in like forever.

Puttin' Up

 

I sliced up 6# of apples and cooked them down, while I multitasked....

...and sliced and diced 6# of onions and filled my large dehydrator. Part of them will be ground into onion powder and part will be saved as they are.

I'll probably make applesauce again.  I didn't write down any notes on my recipe (basically instructions with number of pounds), and may have doubled it last time. 

Thankfully I thought ahead for the busy day.  I put an all-in-one dinner in the crock pot.  Four beans and sausage, with home grown green bell pepper and home canned ketchup.

I cut up yellow netting, and it took almost 3 hours to cut enough strips for 11 scrubbies.  It's sort of back breaking work, as it is a lot of netting and I cannot just simply fold it over several times (10 yards) and cut it quickly.  I'm not sure how many more years I'll be selling them.

By the way, two tips with homemade scrubbies.  I've had someone buy them for her husband and said he uses them to get the bugs off his windshield.  My brother uses one to scrub his potatoes.

Today marks day 5 that our mower guy didn't show up.  We had a biker friend over last night and asked if he would mow for a fee.  My husband works all weekend, and I do not know how to use the mower (it's a larger golf course style mower).  I have asked him to teach me, but he refuses.  I think he realizes though I am putting something up every day, and home cooked meals take time (which he appreciates). 

Hubby had his check up at the doctor.  He not only lowered his sugar number, but also lost more weight.  We are both thankful for this, and I'll continue to concentrate on meals to help with his health.

We woke up to a brisk 27°F.  The weather will be a bit warmer this weekend.

Random Tidbits

I went to our closest grocery store yesterday, but was disappointed with the organic vegetable section.   Sigh.  I will need to make the longer drive in the opposite direction from now on.  

I've been cutting netting the last few days to make dish scrubbies for the upcoming craft show.  The are a big seller at the shows.  I added another new color - orange.

I'm focusing on buying USA made, and just ordered a board game for my niece and nephew for Christmas.  I don't think I'll be making homemade gifts this year, as with Mom's health and the way the world is, we most likely won't get together (sadly).  I could be wrong.  It is fun coming up with new gift ideas though.  I already have one idea just in case.

Speaking of Mom, she had another fall last night.  Her legs are being treated by a wound clinic now thankfully.  One leg was infected and the other has a growth, that they took a biopsy from. She also had blood come from her ear, in which I told her to immediately call her doctor about.  The visiting nurse didn't seem to think it was anything (but this is not normal).  The issues are communication right now.

I think yesterday was the first day in a long time to not stock up on something.  I'm back at it today though.  No pictures today for some odd reason.

Canning Beets

Yesterday my kitchen had the wonderful aroma of beets boiling.  

My wonderful husband brought home some organic beets so I canned them.  Mmmm!  I'm so blessed to add more to the pantry this winter.  Considering how the world is going, it's nice to have more preparations for our meals.

Yesterday morning the dogs started barking at a particular door in the house.  We all assumed it was raccoons eating the cat food.  Not so.

It was around 5am.  Daughter K beat me to the door and took her dogs out.  Had I been more awake, I would have gotten my husband up.  Daughter K said she could hear something out near the woods but could not figure out what it was.

Later when daylight arrived, and after canning beets, I went out to the camper (which sits under a pole light all night) to get the last of the items to winterize it.

I found the door wide open and lock still in lock position.  Someone (or more than one) broke into our camper, but the dogs barking ran them off.  Nothing was taken.  I alerted my husband considering where we live and anyone would be seen from the road.  These people had to have come out from the woods (parking down the road or up the road).

I guess it's time to take precautions anymore.  I am also highly considering to get ourselves a dog when Daughter K moves out.  Those dogs sure let me know when someone or something is outside.