Thunderstorms, Wind up to 75mph, Hail.....

 Although I pushed all of our front porch furniture up to the house, I found it all in a pile this morning.  Thankfully, it  is all there and in good shape, but wet.

We lost power, but woke up to power thankfully.  Many are still without power.

We lost a few trees, and I will be checking the barns later after the rain quits (yes, more rain this morning after a night of storms).

I slept thru my husband's alarms on his phone, and with the power out, I'm not sure he got his coffee this morning.  I see he also left his wallet behind.  I am praying he has enough gas to get home, or someone will let him borrow cash to fill up to get home.  

Our backyard is full of branches and tree limbs, and tomato stakes are still standing, but will have to be re-pounded.  

I will need to re-set the clocks on everything that lost power, especially the coffee pot.  My husband lives on that pre-set timer at 4:30am.

Yesterday I could not find pickling lime anywhere in the local stores (in one direction anyway).  I ended up ordering it online.  The way things are going, I am going to try and can extra for the kids.  I have a feeling things are going to get worse.

Happy Homemaker Monday

My husband finally had Sunday off, but we pretty much spent it running around for errands, and for about the 3rd time (even though it was on the list) forgot the new tire for the wheelbarrow.  Sigh.  

We successfully planted my flowers I bought 2 weeks ago, and weeded the lower front flower bed.  We also put a tarp down to extend one area of the flower bed, to make mowing much easier.  We will not plant there for 1-2 years, to make sure we kill off the grass.

We tag-teamed and tilled the gardens, but the belt broke on the larger tiller.  We totally forgot to buy one when we were in town.  We did remember to buy a new filter for it though.  Oddly, it was still very wet out there, so I have not had to water anything but the grow bags and flowers.  The herb garden has the least amount of weeds right now.

We finally both got haircuts, but I was so ready to cut my bangs myself.  Luckily, our daughter was working and had a time slot for both of us.

We stopped at several stores and brought home 2 azaleas for one area around the house.  I had him make a stop at the Dollar Tree so I could run in for 2 things, one being bungee cords.  I got in line and boy was it a long line.  There was a woman in the other check out with a cart filled to the brim and over flowing.  Preparing for another Armageddon?

On a good note, our electric bill went from in the $200's to down to $94.00.  Amazing how low it can go with all the kids move out.

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

The weather . . . 

If we are lucky, we are to get rain late tonight.  Actually storms, so I hope the tomatoes are strong enough to withstand any wind.

As I look outside my window . . .

I have a pile of cement blocks I need to remove from the yard, but that is last on the list, otherwise thankful we got the flower bed area covered with a tarp for a future expansion (possibly more herbs).

Right now I am  . . .

Sipping coffee, trying to wake up and figure out on a breakfast for my husband tomorrow.

Thinking and pondering . . .

I really need to get flowers to the cemeteries.  I just don't want to go by myself, but I really want to get them there.  We have not been able to sell our hutch, so we have contacted Habitat for Humanity to see if we can donate it to a new home they are building nearby.

How I am feeling . . . 

Somewhat rested, but not looking forward to another long week of these work hours.  I guess I'm going to have to take the tire off the wheelbarrow and take it somewhere to make sure I get the right one.

On the breakfast plate . . .

Have no idea yet.  Today it may be leftover french toast, scrambled eggs and blueberry sausage (unless I save it for my husband for tomorrow and make something for myself today).

On the reading pile . . .

Haven't had time to read lately.

On my TV . . .

The Patriot, Netflix

On the menu . . .

-Apple/pecan chicken salad (a refreshing dinner on a hot day)

-grilled burgers with tomato and our garden lettuce

-I want to get some iced tea made with home grown spearmint (my favorite)

Looking around the house . . .

The floor trim was never put in on Sunday.  Time got away, and it was just not done.  I do have to get a corner piece painted, but we may end up replacing it.  The people we hired to paint, removed it and put it back up, but destroyed it with staples.  A piece of floor trim will also need replaced.  They broke it in half removing it (sigh).

The to-do list . . .

-water grow bags and flowers

-move one hosta

-paint

-a small bit of laundry

-carpets

-work upstairs

-put up more strawberries

-tidy up kitchen

-make a breakfast

-check all lists I have going...sigh...

From the camera . . .

 I saw about a dozen finches yesterday.  They love this thistle.  They would visit me in the flower beds until I yanked my 5 foot weeds, but they sure do love them, and I am seeing so many this year.

Prayers . . .

Us.  We are just so spent lately, and it's even difficult to enjoy my husband's day off anymore (packed with to-do's on the honey-do list).  He is on edge most days when he gets home.

Day off but not by choice

 

I've been running myself hard ever since my husband's crazy long hours/days started.  I should have known, that if I didn't be more careful, I would get sick.  I did.  I woke up sick today, hence the late post. 

Thankfully, rain is on the way, but tilling will not be done today.

When I went to the porch to get some fresh air, I found my husband had all of this delivered!  The best husband, and the best timing ever!

Make sure to take care of yourself!

Handheld Vacuum Sealer Updates

 

I purchased this handheld vacuum sealer, due to the one recommended not being manufactured right now.  America's Test Kitchen recommended a different one, but after doing my research, found out it may not be made again. 

The only issue I have is that the battery cover pops off easily.  I just put some duct tape over it.  

The bags are more difficult to seal than a regular ziploc bag, but once sealed they work great.

Update on these after almost a year of using them:  Now that it's just us too, I plan to put all what I freeze in one larger bag, and just take out what we need.  Other than corn, I think it will work great for us, and us on buying ziploc bags this year.  

Preserving Eggs ~ Ramblings

 Let's talk about preserving eggs.  I know how to do water-glassing, but have never dehydrated.  I found a great article online by Backwoods Home Magazine.  What is your preference for preserving eggs?

Suggestions on using dehydrated eggs?  I'm plan to look thru my books to see what I have on this, but asking here too.

A few more dollar tree finds from earlier this week - dressing to-go bottles, and a vegetable scrubber for the camper.

The dressing bottles will be great for my husband's work lunch, but I bought two of them for picnic packing too.  It doesn't look like we'll likely take any long vacations this year due to gas prices, and prices of everything else.

I have 1 more quart to freeze, but I got the strawberries taken care of.  Jam is done as well, so I don't have to use freezer space and do it in winter.

I made us some homemade teriyaki sauce for chicken teriyaki.  It will last a few days (the dinner), so I won't have to cook thankfully.

My husband and I talked last night about raising a pig and cows.  Goats are not in the picture yet, but I am prepared (since we raised dairy goats before).  

Strawberry season is here!

 

Strawberry season snuck up on me.  Canning season officially started yesterday.  I'll be even busier the next few days.  I was so no ready for this either.  I used my jam maker yesterday and got a small batch of reduced sugar jam made.

I had a horrible time finding the pectin I use for the jam maker.  I also had to go to 3 stores to locate liquid pectin.  Last year we couldn't find jars, or lids, and this year it's other supplies.

My new item for the island store.  I'm working on the packaging.  I'm thinking about getting some white sand from the Dollar Tree and glue a bit in the bottom corner with a tiny seashell.  What are your thoughts?  Leave it as is, or add the sand and seashell?  It will go into a plastic bag with our farm store label on the backside.

This and That

 I spent the better part of the day in the vegetable garden.  I'm am very tired, sore and feel sort of beat up.  Laundry was done, a breakfast scramble baked, brought 3 bags of trash down from the upstairs, planted 2 trees (the birds gifted us in the flower bed) before the rain arrived, and did not get any painting done.  A true, full blown Monday for me.

I forgot to take photos, but after I tied up the tomato plants, I noticed two banana peppers are already on, and the cherry tomatoes are on.

I've never, ever gone into June with flower beds in such disarray.  The rain is continuing, so there is no chance of that today.  Unless it stops early, and then I can weed from the edges, but I'm pretty sure it will be soaking wet in those beds.

The price of gas here has soared above $5/gallon, so the list making continues.  I've been trying to make all my stops in one day, to avoid trips into the "big city" and so forth.  I do have to make a trip soon though.

I ordered shelf brackets for my living room, and the company sent the wrong ones.  Even though there is the description and a picture of my order on the receipt, they sent something totally different.  It, of all things, has to be dropped at a Federal Express office.  Why do things have to be so difficult when it is not from Amazon?  Urgh.

Did I mention my jar openers will not be sold at the general store as planned?  They are not taking any more outside sales. 

A friend told me that she went out to eat, and the place looked empty, same with with another town (also a local restaurant).  People can't afford to eat out at the high prices, nor spend the high priced gas to get there.  Anyone else a bit concerned on how this world is going to function for us?

Meanwhile, I plan to carve out a few minutes of the week to work on another possible order for the same island store.