Seeding ~ Finished! ~ Filling my Cup

I spent another hour seeding pods.  Don't worry, I won't be posting this daily, ha ha!  It was a long, quiet day, so I seeded some more.  One daughter, that's in high school, stayed after school for her musical practice and was there until 9pm.  The other daughter babysat for my brother, then had a date (I was the last to know).  So, it was me and the dogs for the day.

Rainy Days ~ Popcorn "pop" test #2 ~ Radish Seeds

I'm starting to think I need to get the canoe out to get around outside.  It's raining so often, the puddles are now like pools of water (which are frozen today).  We are going through many towels to wipe dog paws this week.

Popcorn "pop" test #2

It's taking much longer to dry out the popcorn this year.  We haven't used our pellet stove all winter (which heats the other end of the house), on account of it needing parts (and we all know about the medical bills).  In the past, I would put the ears of corn in front of the pellet stove, and it would be ready by December.  Not this time.  

I started tackling the first type of radish seeds.  It will take many more days to complete this chore.  It took almost an hour for that little bowl of seeds, and it doesn't look like much, right?  I'll be asking for some help this next weekend.

The Non-Porch Projects

Wow!  We had a high of 71°F on Tuesday, but rain, rain and more rain.  

Breakfast  ~ Two eggs over easy, over leftover Mexican Quinoa.  A favorite lately.  The hens were oh so happy yesterday with weather change. I hope egg supply increases today.

Afghan Donation ~ Radish Seeds ~ Whipped

I finished the ripple afghan, which will be donated to the family benefit.

Best I figure, it's value is about $100.00.  Maybe $80-100.00, so I hope they fetch a good amount for it a the auction.  

The one surviving bag of germinating radish seeds sprouted.
Looks like I break open pods this week.   I decided, for kicks and giggles, to plant them (inside) too.  I have no inkling as to which pile of pods are cherry belle or french breakfast.  Either way they'll both be kept separate and planted.  I'll see if I can grow some of the surviving indoors to do a double check on which seeds are which ones.

As you guessed, I am whipped.  Woke up with congestion a teensy bit.  Downed my Four Thieves Vinegar, and taking it easy today.  And the rest of the week.

Our last Christmas gathering

Yeah, you read the title right!  My side of the family didn't get together in December like normal people.  Then again, what is normal?

Thursday afternoon, our 18 year-old daughter drove to one of the "Big Cities" and had a 2nd job interview.  She wanted a new phone, so while she was there, she stopped at the area mall and phone store there.  

Big mistake. 

They had a rookie employee, and the boss.  The boss left, after trying to push sales onto her first. 

Next, the guy had no clue what he was doing.  After almost five hours, with us trying to call and text her in panic as to where she was, she came in the house crying like a hot mess.  A serious hot mess.

Frugal Tips for Buying Organic Ingredients

I may be repeating information in this post, but I was reminded how wonderful it's been by adding dehydrated organic mushrooms to soups, pastas and stews this winter.

Of course this is in addition to all the frugal tips I've shared.


Olive Oil

Olive oil is expensive if you are buying it organic and non-gmo.  Olive oil should taste like olives. If it says it comes from more than one source, you are not getting true olive oil.

If organic and non-gmo are important to you and your family, consider buying it by the gallon.  Especially if you thrive to be self-sufficient, and use it for infusing (to make homemade lip balms, lotions, creams, balms, etc.).

"Fire it Up" Herb/Spice Mix (aka Full Throttle Herb/Spice Mix ~ Good/Bad

We woke up to all the white stuff melted.  All of it.  I am so glad to see that.  It was an ice rink walking to the barn, to fetch wood and to get the mail.  It'll be sloshy out there, but I'll take warmer weather and mud over ice and freezing temps at this point.


There are so many nutritional and medicinal benefits of herbs and spices, so I won't go into detail of each one.  However, I mixed the following together for their benefits, and tried it on eggs, on sandwiches, meats etc.

Although I called it "Fire it Up" we like to think of (or call it) "Full Throttle" because it fires up our "engines."

A body boosting, immune boosting, sickness fighter, overall health boosting mix.

First I picked dehydrated garden parsley, and my home ground garlic.