This and That

 I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July.  We had zero plans.  The humidity was so bad, it could choke a person, and then it rained.  However, by dinner time the rain had cooled down the heat and thinned the air, so we grilled out with a few kids and played cards.

Today the air quality is said to be bad.  More rain is on the way.

Whats been happening?  Well, it's been hot.  Very hot.  

Delivery days happened.  There were personal deliveries to those who had "stuff" in our garage, a trip to the thrift store for donations I purged, and more.  We have more planned deliveries for other items.

I'm now contemplating a book purge on another bookshelf.  The photo only shows a portion of one shelf on the bookshelf (gulp).

On the repair front, weather stripping needs replaced in a few doors.  The weed whacker needed a new part (now fixed), and a few windows needed new locks installed.

On the garden front, we have harvested a few more bits.

Three garden salsa hot peppers, and one zucchini.  I made fresh salsa with the hot peppers, and boy are they hot!  They are a much more potent heat than jalapenos.  It will clear your sinuses.

A few days ago, I started saving our coffee grounds.  I am sprinkling them along the green/wax bean rows in my last ditch effort to save them.  One, they add nitrogen to the soil, and two, it deters some rodents and pests.  I'm hoping it works.  I guess we'll find out soon enough.

We have purchased some inexpensive plastic garden fencing on a roll to install around the green beans this weekend.  We joked that our green beans cost us $$$ this year to grow.  It will work for the season, until we recover our previous fence expensive, and buy more fencing for the entire other garden.

We are really hoping for more rain today, because I need to thin out the radishes (soil has been pretty dry due to the heat), and we have 3 trees growing in beds of various locations that need dug out (birds and squirrels are the worst planters).  One tree is a walnut tree, and their roots are like cement.

Speaking of rodents, I finally got my husband to get all the supplies we need to build two tree baffles.  If they do as they should, we'll make one more for the peach tree.  Yes, they will be green, because we could not find white buckets, other than Menards (and they were twice the price).  At least it's better than hot orange, ha ha!  Pictures to come later hopefully.  The supplies were much less expensive to do it this way, vs. sheet metal or baffles.

On the kitchen front, I tried a new recipe.  Only because it sounded delicous.  You mix greek yogurt with peanut butter and place scoops on waxed paper.  You freeze it, then coat it with melted dark chocolate.  I don't have a photo to share, but it was very good, however, the yogurt/peanut butter mixture did not freeze in the 20 minutes the recipe said it would.  I waited an hour, and still not frozen.  It took a very long time, so I have plans to do it differently, and in mini-muffin pan liners next time.  It's a sweet, high protein, cold snack for a hot day.

The kids didn't need eggs, so I once again boiled some, and made egg salad. It's great for a quick meal on a hot day, and you can top it with home grown microgreens.

As for the zucchini, I may use it to make a zucchini-jalapeno frittata.  Possibly with some Canadian bacon on the side, bacon or other breakfast meat.

This and That  © July 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Garden Begginings of July

 July 1st was fantastic weather here.  I was literally in the garden the entire day.

I came in about dinner time, to start making breakfast for the next day.  I was at my limit of energy, so it was a big batch of scrambled eggs, with some Canadian bacon and blueberry sausages.  There may be pancakes later this week.  There may be radish hashbrowns depending on if they are ready soon (planted late this year).

Kitchen time is so much better, now that I have a new kitchen faucet. It's had problems with water pressure, and getting hot water (build up most likely) for awhile now, and the hose recently broke.  

We are heating up this week now.  We are to be back to the 90's today.

Our peach tree.  Despite it looking half dead (as it has the last few years), it's still hanging on.  The apple trees are full of apples again.  Tree baffles are on the to-do list.  We plan on making our own, but every year we forget due to other projects.  I'm hoping we can get supplies this week.

Potatoes were hilled.

Canteloupe blossoms are on.

Harvested:

Jalapenos are on, and the Garden Salsa hot peppers are about ready, but the tomatoes are far behind (and a lot less than last year).

Boiled eggs from the chickens, and made egg salad with a bunching onion from the herb garden.

By the way, if you are out of mayo, or do not have eggs to make homemade mayo, Greek plain yogurt works for egg salad.  It's not my favorite, but it works, and adds more protein.

Planted:

I planted (late) 9 "fooled you" hot peppers, and have more to plant.  Since the rabbits got all but one of the tomatoes in the other garden, we have room to add them.  I am planting them, because my husband bought them by mistake, thinking he was buying another hot pepper.  I planted them next to our hottest peppers, so we'll see if they will fool us or not.  They are a mild pepper.

I also planted a lot of marigold seeds just before the last rainfall.  We'll see if they come up. 

The mystery berry is indeed wineberry.  They are tiny.  

Sort of hard to see in that photo, but what the rabbits left of the green beans.  We are working on rigging some sort of "fence" to keep them out, but I am weeding like crazy first.  It's a hot mess after all that rain, but everything else is looking good.

Gophers are a struggle around here.  They were the ones eating down the hot peppers early in the season.  They are much different than rabbits in behavior.  If one is outside, they take off running, as soon as they hear the slightest sound.  Rabbits on the other hand, will just sit there and keep eating, as if I'm no threat at all.  As if they are saying, "hey lady, thanks for the delicious food."   Life in the country.  City folks are having gardening issues with them too.

A fence is the only answer, and I think we were "lucky" all these past years.  However, the rabbits ate some of my flowers this year too.  First time for that in all the years living here.

The squash bugs are here much earlier this year, so I have taken care of that, as I saw eggs on the pie pumpkin leaves the other day, and a few actual bugs under one zucchini plant.

The lack of rain has brought in ants. We live in an old farm house.   Again, I have soaked cotton balls in a 50/50 mix of borax and sugar (made into a paste with water.  I place the soaked cotton balls onto a small piece of waxed paper to keep it from sticking to the counter top.  The next day, there are no ants.

Solution for flies getting inside the house.  I was told that a mix of peppermint essential oil and clove on a cotton ball/round, and swipping the areas of the window will keep them out.  So far, it's worked like a charm for us.

Garden Begginings of July  © July 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Last Day of June (Already?)

 Despite our efforts with solar alarms and solar rodent alarms, the rabbits got the green beans (again).  I know we have to fence the other area, but it's just not in the $$ pocket book right now.  I should have planted a squash plant at the end of every row.  I guess we were really lucky all the years we've lived here and not fenced it.

The birds got all our blueberries.  I just didn't make it to town for netting yet.  It's been on my list, but I have to figure a way to cover the bushes without it touching the plants, and easy to remove.

I need to replace my mandolin this year.  If you have one that you really like, let me know in the comments.  The one I have is 15 years old, and has limited thickness for slicing.  It's not sharp anymore, and the case broke years ago.  It's just time to upgrade.

June went by way too fast.  It really depresses me to see the summer go by so fast, as we have not gone camping one single time yet.  It seems that we have such busy weekends most times, with battling the weather this year, I feel like we haven't lived life to the fullest this month.  Of course there was my fractured foot that set me behind on all things too.

At least I can say I didn't let the month go out without some fun.  We did take a weekend to the island and we recently visited a car and truck museum (which was worth the admission to see).

Are you doing anything fun for the last day of June?

Plans for July?  Maybe.  It's the hot time of the year, so camping can be a bit uncomfortable.  I should write out a few options to motivate me.  

As for home repairs and checking off the honey-do list, my husband knocked 6 off his list of 11 yesterday.   He actually installed the mole chasing windmill, that we purchased over a year ago.  He also replaced 3 more electrical outlets, and put a new bottom seal on one of our doors.  The hallway is not complete yet.  It's also on his list.  We just need to finish one step and install floor trim on half the hall.

There are two very large items in our garage, so I do have plans to have a delivery day and return them to their owners.  Not sure why we still have them (or even why) but I do have plans to get them out of our garage (space wasters, and not ours).

Last Day of June (Already?)   © June 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

More Rain ~ The Craft Purge ~ New Recipe Tried

 The rain is flowing again here.  The weeds are getting taller, ha ha!  Some garden seasons can be a real struggle.

Today is probably the most boring post of all times.  It's the time after planting, and the wait in between the rain storms time of year.

I spent more time purging craft supplies.  I had everything you wouldn't even think of, and some in mass amounts thinking I would make and sell some new items I was making.  I literally had a bag full of medicine cups for crafting, and have had them since before 2011! 

In 2011 I made Christmas ornaments with them, using belt buckle pieces for top and bottom, added the tiny bird, and used embroidery floss for the hanger and added a scrap bead that was part of a set of beads I was given.  Oh, and a circle of red felt.  Very creative, ha ha!  I wish kids were creative more than on their electronics these days.  

Anyway, I emptied several more containers of crafting stuff.  Much is in boxes to go to recovery home for those with addictions (some have their kids with them).  They are getting most of my supplies.  Anything else will go to the donation station (local thrift store, that is not a chain).

There are a few more expensive craft supplies I may attempt to sell, but when I was on the sale online sites, there is another person "going out of business" with her craft sale supplies and finished crafts.  So....it's not just me.

In the process of my (sigh of relief) craft purge, my husband fell into the process and put some jeans in the boxes to donate.  No more space wasters, as I told him.  Let someone else use it, wear it, etc.

Blueberry Lemon Power Bites (Clean Food Crush online).  I tried a new recipe.  I mean what else can I entertain my blog readers with, besides cleaning and organizing right now? 

These start with raw cashews, pitted dates and dried blueberries.  All done in the food processor and then chilled in the fridge.  Oh, the real lemon juice and lemon zest is a bonus.

They are delicous!  I still like the peanut butter energy bites I make, but this gives us another option, and boy are they good.  Just be sure to read your dried blueberry package.  Some of the packages include sugar and bad oils.  Others contain apple juice.  I may be dehydrating some blueberries this year, but that is my least favorite way to stock up on them. Anyway, they are very good!

On a side note:  I roasted my raw cashews.  If you have ever tasted a "raw" cashew, they taste terrible.  I let them cool before making these.  I also used organic/non-gmo ingredients.  Recipe on requires 2 Tbsp. of honey, as the pitted dates give a natural sweetness.

Something I learned:  you can add chia seeds to your scrambled eggs, for more protein, overall health, and it will help you feel full longer.  

As for closings, Walgreens are closing more doors now.

More Rain ~ The Craft Purge ~ New Recipe Tried © June 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Rainy Day

 

Photo is June of 2023.  The zucchini plants grew to almost 6 feet tall last year, thanks to our compost pile.  I have yet to check on the garden after a torrential downpour.

We had flood warnings, flooded areas, and it was worse north of us. 

Strange weather this year, and mostly frustrating for gardeners.

Another strange event. . .

I walked out the door a few days ago, and right in the driveway, not very far from me stood a baby deer.  No Mom around.  Of course I think I scared it, because it ran off, but a very rare sight around here.  At least that close to the house anyway.

Rainy days can be productive here.

I took advantage of the rainy day and purged/organized "stuff."

I emptied 4 plastic storage drawers of craft supplies, of much will be donated.  A few items went to other people (or will go soon).  A few items went to the garage, like my eye screws I used for crafting.

I also emptied two entire totes from the garage.  I had a tote of tablecloths I no longer use.  I also had a entire tote of saved baby blankets from when I raised the kids.  The blankets are all going to be donated, aside from any the kids want. I also eliminated one large tote of yarn.

I also found a bag of scrap balls of cotton yarn, leftover from knitting dishcloths to sell last year.  The yarn is all twisted up and a hot mess.  I have yet to decide on that mess.  It's either toss it all, or try to rescue it on another rainy day, and then donate it all.  I have no plans to crochet anything with it.  

I may get that rainy day to do more purging too.  Rain is in the forecast for the weekend. 

I would not be purging my craft supplies, had we sold more last year, but sadly no one in the area supports handmade right now.  So basically, I closed my doors on the craft shows for good.  Too much work for no income.  Does it sadden me a bit?  Yes, but now I can crochet/knit on my own time, and not feel the pressure of having it all made by a certain time.  I had a TON of inventory for this last show, and it's now down to a few items thanks to one of my kids (she took it all and sold "mystery" bags).

Speaking of closing doors, another business in my home town (other than Rite Aid stores) is closing it's doors.  Another business in another town nearby is also closing it's doors.  It just seems as if more and more are closing.  

Rainy Day  © June 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

There are never too many eggs part 2

 

Too many eggs?  Never!  You can not only boil them, but pickle the boiled eggs.  I forgot all about this, until I found us with more eggs on hand (again).

You can get the recipe for our Hot Pickled Boiled Eggs:  HERE

Part 1, was my blog post about baking an Angel food cake:  HERE (sorry, the link for the original recipe online no longer works).

 There are never too many eggs part 2 © June 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Identified! It's Wineberry ~ Garden Tidbits

 

I posted this photo a few days ago, and asked if anyone knew what it was.  Well, with the help of my sister-in-law, and an app on her cell phone, it's been identified as Wineberry.

In the early spring, I thought it was my red raspberry bush spreading into my asparagus patch.  I never got the chance to dig the sprouts out due to fracturing my foot.

I did some research on this plant, and of course the birds planted it (they seem to be good at this).  However, it's an invasive plant, because it grows quickly and can over take the area.  Lovely.  It's actually illegal in some states to sell etc.

I'm not sure I'll be able to dig them out until spring, as my asparagus has gone to seed and is very tall.  I'm going to do my best to remove it this year though.

Apparantly, those spiky looking pods open up, and produce an edible raspberry.  Other than that pod, the plant itself, literally appears the same as our red raspberry plants. Oh, and the stems are more of a brighter red too.  Unless I am in correct, but it looks exactly like wineberry.

The first zucchini is on, but I'm not sure it will form correctly.  I have not seen that many bees yet.

Another delicous way to use your garden green beans and sweet potatoes.  I baked this all as a sheet pan dinner, using store bought sweet pototoes, but used frozen garden green beans.  I forgot to add red onion, but the seasoning is paprika, cumin, herb garden oregano, homemade garlic powder, and salt/pepper.  I used olive oil and added chicken sausages.

It was the first time to put the green beans on the pan frozen, and it did take longer to cook than I thought. Next time, I will pre-cook the green beans, before adding them to the sheet pan dinner.  It was very good!

Identified! It's Wineberry ~ Garden Tidbits  © June 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart