Sadly . . .

It's a sad week for us here.  It's just heartbreaking.  His "Mom" is coming to get him after he's been with us for 10 months now.   He's leaving us today.  Back in October she was kicked out of the apt. she was living in with two of the other kids (and her boyfriend).  At that time she texted me that if I didn't take him, she was taking him the "pound."  Of course I took him.  I'm the one who insisted we adopt him as a puppy.  First reason she should not get him back.  Second, he's been with us and us only for 10 months. 

After a plea to allow him to live out his life with us here on the homestead (he's 12 years old now), where he can have 24/7 care, she declined us, and not in a friendly way.

He's getting lots of treats this week, and lots of love from us.  She's coming to move out her belongings and moving her dog with her.  He will have to climb apt. stairs (which he cannot) and will be left alone for hours and hours while she goes to work.  It's just sad.  He won't get good exercise, and the attention he'll need.  His back legs shake now when he's out to do his business, which goes to show, he can't handle stairs.

He can't stand being left inside while I'm in the garden and will bark to be out with me.  Hubby is his best friend too. When Hubby gets home from work, he goes directly to him and wants to get love from him the entire night. 

We can't do a thing about it.  Well, we could hide him and call Judge Judy, but that's not happening.  Hubby has a feeling that after a short time, she'll get tired of caring for him, or want to be out partying and get tired of him.  We can only hope he'll be returned.  I have more kids rooting in our favor too.

The Tomatoes are Free and Other Ramblings

Here's a quick look at the new washcloths . . .

After showering and cleaning up after a long day in the garden, I got a few minutes of crochet time on the porch.  This pattern is different from the one I have, and makes a larger washcloth.  Updates later.  I think I got 15 minutes alone out there before heading to the kitchen.

Updates later on the garden progress.  I've been out there non-stop, in between putting up corn.  Plants are small, even green beans.  Even the green beans themselves are half the length.  We need rain.  Lots of it right now. The squash plants that survived are half the size they should be as well.

Mom and Dad both are bringing food for the babies.  We can't see them, but we hear them when they are fed.  Otherwise they are very quiet babies.

I had a very very busy day in the kitchen yesterday.   Of course this was all after a few hours freeing the tomato plants from their weed bondage.  They are free at last.

First I had to do a mountain of dishes.

Second, had dandelions to blanch and freeze.

Third, had to make a bacon/potato/onion/jalapeno/dandelion green and egg scramble.  Minus the bits of bacon that went in my mouth.  I couldn't resist.  I had not had lunch, so breakfast was my lunch.  Hubby is a hard working man, so it's important to me that he gets something healthy and hearty.

Fourth, had rotten bananas so I baked chocolate bourbon spiked banana bread.  Without the drizzle on it.

Fifth, I had to wash all the dirty dishes. Again.  Good thing we had leftovers.

Last night we chased chickens.  The new hens learned how to get out into the run, but are too dumb to know how to get back in.  

We literally went out twice to get catch them and get them inside.  Daughter said, "How are we gonna get them?  It's like Jurassic Park out here?" Ha ha ha ha!  The weeds are taller than me, and that's tall.  We got them in though.

Another Day of Corn ~ Random Tidbits ~ Update on the Strawberry Vodka

(last batch cooling before freezing)

I had just slightly less than a bushel to shuck.  Thankfully, youngest was home, so I had help.  Sure makes it go faster, so I can get other jobs done too.  The chickens just love the leftovers (cobs).  The corn was good by the way, just not over the top better than anything, but good.

I was disappointed at the fact about every other cob had worms spots on them.  

I never had this with our last source, but it does go to show you it's homegrown I guess.  Our popcorn was eaten by moles and a wild turkey a few years ago.  Un-sprayed I might add.

Tiger never fails to crack me up.  He was right in that bag of corn chewing on the husks.  What's with cats and corn husks? 

When I first strained this strawberry vodka, I wasn't impressed at the time. The smell was fantastic but not the taste.  Since then we've let it sit, and tasted it again.  Wow!  It was soooo good.  Yes, we'll make it again, but it's a summer thing.  I would only make this with fresh hand

Tried another new recipe - melting potatoes, baked in the oven in my cast iron pan.  

Recipe is online (potatoes are by Katie Lee, baked french toast is from allrecipes).  They were fantastic.  Warning though....recipe requires a lot of butter.  I won't make these that often, but oh so good!

Baked french toast was a huge hit and didn't last long here.  I wish I could find organic pork to make homemade sausage to go with it next time.  Hmpf.  I will take two pans to the next breakfast though.  It was delicious.

My butterfly water dish has to be filled often.  I caught Rorie drinking from it, ha ha! (barn cat).

From Pile to File Recipes ~ Other Random Bits

The baked french toast was a hit.  The idea was to find a recipe for "picky" eaters, to take to the next breakfast.  Hubby's family has many "picky" eaters.  It'll go on the "potluck" take it list now. Sorry for the dark photo, but it was pretty early in the morning when I took it.

Speaking of garden work, Hubby told me I could have the day off and to "do nothing."  Hm.  I told him the tomatoes still needed a bit of weeding, but I'd try to stay indoors if I could.  It was a hot day out while freeing up the green peppers and jalapeno plants.

I did get 40 cups of sweet corn put in the freezer.  I have more to do today.

Husband:  "What are you making?"
Me:  "Washcloths for us."
Husband (all excited and smiling) "Wow, you are really gonna make something for us?" 

Ha ha!  I really do create and sell more than for us, when I should keep up with us too.  We need them anyway.  Like I said, I hope to have a handiwork post soon.

Tuesday Tidbits ~ How to Freeze Sweet Corn off the Cob

Yesterday's sunrise before I got started on the garden work.

Rain was due at 4pm.  Time was cut short outside.  It was also already 83°F by 9:30am, but I went back out after another load of laundry and un-buried the green pepper plants. All but one.  A swarm of wasps continued to gather water and mud to make a nest somewhere, and they were around the very last plant I needed to weed.  I'll get it done this morning.

Tried a new recipe for overnight breakfast - baked french toast.  I have made it before, but with cream cheese and blueberries.  I just wanted cinnamon/brown sugar ones this time.  We'll all do a taste test this morning.

I have been asked about how we freeze our corn.  Here is the link to my post with the recipe for freezing it off the cob:  Puttin' Up Sweet Corn.  It is very good, and when I thaw it to cook, I do not add water. Just the salt (you can also add salt before freezing).  As the corn cooks, it will produce it's own water.

Happy Homemaker Monday

Baby red-headed woodpecker.  We are thinking of leaving this dead tree for the birds.  The woodpeckers love it.  We have seen 3 of them now.  

Saturday we hit the garden early.  However, after a lot of curse words from Hubby's mouth (I warned him), we pooped out early as well. 

We showered, sipped down more coffee, and went on a long motorcycle ride.  Boy it felt great.

Sunday we hit the garden early again.  Tomatoes are dug out, and some of the potatoes.  Green beans were tilled and a lot of weed whacking accomplished.  All pepper plants look good, and we have blossoms on the squash (crossing our fingers).  

Potatoes.  Nope.  Not doin' it!  Hubby weed whacked the tops, I'll water and see if I can find the plants.  If not, we are mowing it down.  

We won't be planting a garden next year at all.  Not until we can hire someone to mow the pasture or purchase a tractor and bush hog ourselves.  It's just dumb and so much work, especially when we have the heavy spring rain followed by a heat wave.  It's ridiculous.  I'll really miss my home grown food, but I do agree.  No garden until the pasture can be controlled.  Hubby has agreed that we may just only plant in grow pots if we plant anything next year.

We picked up corn finally.  There are no deals this year as of yet.  I don't blame them with the season we've had.  We are down to our last 6 bags of corn in the freezer.  We bought from a new source, and will boil a few cobs to taste test.  Corn was not so tasty from anywhere last year.  We picked up 2 bushels.

We had another get together for a niece's birthday party.  The party was mid afternoon thankfully.

I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom today.  I'm up early.  Working in the garden again this morning, so I can get back in early.  It's gonna be a humid day.

On the breakfast plate . . .
Have no idea, it's 5am right now as I'm posting.  I have to get out to the garden early.  Don't worry I'll eat something.


The weather outside is . . .
High of 89°F, 40% chance of rain tonight and tomorrow morning.

On my beside table . . .
Readers, notebook, pen, water glass

On my reading pile . . .
Nothing

Movies I watched . . .
Not much, heading to the library for movies this week.


On the menu . . .
-Spaghetti with homemade sauce using the last 3 bags of homegrown tomatoes from the garden
-Tacos - didn't make this last week
-Sloppy Charlies and Melting Potatoes (new potato recipe), corn on the cob
-Baked French Toast and sausage for a few breakfasts
-Leftovers  ( all in no particular order  )


On the to-do list . . .
Bake bread
Work in the gardens - it's a daily thing
Bathroom
Clean fridge out
Sweep off porch
Laundry
Clean up kitchen
Shuck and freeze corn
Make some campfire fire starters
Write up a camping menu - hoping to have fresh homegrown green beans by the time we go (foil packet dinner)




What I am creating . . .
Washcloths for us.  Pattern is free online.  These are larger than the ones I sell and a different pattern.  I think I will make a few and try them out first.   Then it's back to bracelets if the people decide on colors for the remaining orders.  Check back soon for another handiwork update.


Looking forward to  . . . 
Right now, I literally am looking forward to having the entire veggie garden weeded and tilled.


Looking around the house . . . 
It needs cleaned up, but on dry days, the garden wins.  It's just how it is.


From the camera . . .

Not the greatest pictures, but we have lots of deer this year.


One of my simple pleasures . . .
Slipping into PJ's by 4pm, and eating dinner in bed watching a movie.  Usually this happens if it's been a crock pot dinner day and I've been outside working in the garden, and come in hot, sweaty tired and needing another shower.


Praying . . .
No particular friend requests, us, the kids

This and That

The babies are hatched now, and being fed constantly.  I'm sure they'll be flying out soon.  Doesn't take them long.  Hopefully before my plant dies.

Our neighbors, about 3-4 fields away got solar panels installed.

My zinnias are finally blooming, and they are feeding our hummingbird and the butterflies.

Our dinner one night - crock pot beef stroganoff.  I didn't have homemade noodles, so those were Amish made.  I just haven't had time to restock noodles but dinner was fabulous.

TIP:  To make the beef very tender I learned this from a cooking show.  Although in the show they used soy sauce for their particular sauce recipe, here's what I did - add a bit of baking powder and corn starch and a bit of liquid to meat and let sit 20 minutes.  I used Worcestershire sauce and the beef literally fell apart.

Another night's dinner, but I was not feeling the whole heat up the house at 450°F thing.   Biscuits and sausage gravy, fried organic potatoes, scrambled eggs, and baked apples.  I did it somewhat early.  Once again, daughter used the puppy as an excuse not to learn how to bake them.  Sigh.  I don't think I get any of my kids to learn anything about baking from scratch. 

I am always asked, "how do you get the layers in those?"  I use only organic ingredients, and add the milk last, cold from the fridge (whole, organic).  I also slice the butter in half, flip it once, cut in half again (long way), and then make slices.  I drop the dots of butter, and hand cut them into the dry ingredients.  I also roll the dough the least amount I have to.  The last biscuit is typically the one that doesn't have the layers.

Baked the apples in my crock pot this time, and it was delicious.  I'll have to remember this for a breakfast with the family.

My butterflies now have a water source.  I picked the "chip and dip" dish up at the grocery store, 70% off.  Works perfect.