Bugs Up My Nose, Dirt Between My Toes ~ Free? Is it always a good thing?

Sunday we were back in the garden - heat, humidity, dirt, and sweat. We picked a load of green and wax beans, broccoli, cauliflower, and squash.  We tied up more tomatoes, weeded more of one strawberry bed, and so forth.  I left a few cabbages to pick later. 

A New U.S. Army National Gaurdsman Soldier ~ Oldest Daughter

Hubby and I drove back to South Carolina, but this time, the drive was about 150 miles less.  We were blessed to see our oldest daughter graduate from the US Army National Guard.  There were three companies graduating that day, and this was her company.

List Writing ~ Journal Writing

Although I cannot share my homemade Christmas to-do list (and secretly it's not really finished yet), I can share some other lists I have started (my family reads my blog, so I don't want to spoil the gift ideas this early).  Here are shortened versions of a few lists.


List for Winter Handiwork/Activities

1. Crochet myself (not sure what color yet) another "Ma Ingall's" shawl.


2. Finish crocheting hot pads and pot holder sets to go in hope chests for the older kids.

Refrigerator Pickles

The cucumbers did not listen to me.  I brought in 6 over-sized-not-good-to-can cucumbers, along with about 16 more good ones.  I ran to the store and got ingredients to make a few quarts of Refrigerator Pickles.....

10 days ~ Hubby's in the Goat Shed!

It's hard to believe 10 days can pass so quickly.  We had good food, good times, and many (many) movie nights.  

Could this be your home?

I had to share this postcard.  It was the only one we bought on our recent road trip.  I took a picture of it in the car, on the road trip.  It made Hubby and I laugh pretty good.  However, in reality, we could live in that house and be perfectly happy.  It really made us sigh, as in a happy sigh.  

Canning Pepper Mustard Sauce ~ Tidbits

I froze more zucchini and squash for winter soups, sauces and casseroles.  Yesterday was a race against the clock.  Trying to put up the garden, and clean house both were a challenge.  

See that straw?  That is my food saver bag method.  It's a bit hillbilly, but it works for now.  I simply seal the bag all the way to one corner, slip the end of the straw in, suck out the air, quickly seal as I pull the straw out.  Boom-ba-da-bing - sealed and most of the air removed.