Finally Getting Rain

It took a full 2 days to tidy up and deep clean the kitchen, but man it looks fantastic.  Aside from replacing the drawer brackets.  

I even re-potted my indoor thyme plant (by the way, my outdoor thyme in the herb garden died during the heat wave - very sad face here).  I unpacked an order that sat for a week on the kitchen floor too.

I shredded a lot of papers that I left pile up over winter.  Why?  I was just too lazy to go fetch the paper shredder.  When I went to get the shredder, I must have been even lazier.  I found tons of old phone bills inside, but not shredded, ha ha ha!  Oh man.  Not gonna let that pile up again.  However, I now have a lot of it for campfire starting, ha ha!

I can wake up to a clean kitchen now, but to no help from my youngest.  She's off gallivanting with friends often, most likely since school will start this month.

I even got a few recipes written down on real recipe cards, the computer area cleaned up and mail sorted.  I also filed some papers (file cabinet will be deep cleaned over winter - nobody has time for that stuff during summer), but I was quite pleased with myself.

I think I've talked myself into putting the garage as my next "focus."  I sent text messages to two kiddos, since their "stuff" is in the garage.  Either they take it, or I take it to Goodwill.  

The last 3 bags of tomatoes (last year's frozen whole) finally thawed and the sauce maker was back in action.  I made spaghetti, but with ground beef.  We were fresh out of meatballs, and organic pork is no where to be found right now.  Speaking of which, I have a new place to check, but I think they are more beef and chicken products.

We are finally getting rain.  The tomatoes and the little bit of a garden I planted, really needed it.  Not to mention the herb garden and flower beds.

I literally broke down and bawled my eyes out the other night.  Missing Jesse.  What the heck is wrong with me?  I'm a grown ass woman and I cry over a dog?  Well, that's what happens when you have a bond and a close bond together.  Not to mention good care and complete trust of one another.  I so want to text and ask how he is, but I will give that more time for now.  We grilled out one night, and I think that's what did it.  He was the "grill guard" every time we grilled.  He couldn't stand it if he wasn't laying on the porch facing the grill, inhaling the aromas and awaiting his treat.

That's all for now.  I'm up early again. It's very foggy this morning, and the rain has stopped for now.

Tuesday Tidbits

Before the sunrise yesterday.  We are getting some beautiful morning views.  

Our 20 year-old's car has been broken down for a few months, and Hubby finally go to look at it.  The part is out that needs replaced, and we hope to get it up and running.  Finally.  That's his focus.   Next focus is replacing the plastic kitchen drawer brackets with metal.  All the pots and pans are still on my kitchen table for now (I have more drawers than cupboards here).  The people prior to us, put them in that way, and they have broken now (lasted about 10 years).

I had a lot to clean up in the kitchen, including clean the coffee pot.  It hasn't been brewing quick enough lately.  I even had an order that was shipped and not unpacked.  My focus stayed on the kitchen - good advice from Hubby.  

Instead of placing some orders for items we need, I simply wrote out the list and kept my focus on the kitchen.  I went from one counter to the next vs. trying to attack everything at once.

I did not weed a thing either.  I'm waiting on the rain that is to come today and tomorrow.  That'll make weeding go so much faster.

Focusing on the kitchen was a good thing overall.  We've been talking about having Hubby's family over for a cookout (which I prefer over a breakfast gathering).  Hopefully, we can get a date set soon.

Keeping busy is a good thing right now.  I'm really having a hard time with Jesse not here any longer.  I miss him so much it's ridiculous.  I don't have my porch pal, my pal to go to the chickens, my pal period.  Sigh.  Even the little things remind me he's not here.  Like eating a piece of toast, and him sitting by my side waiting to be treated the last bite.

Since we didn't plant much of a garden, there is nothing to harvest right now.  I need to buy some zucchini and yellow squash soon and put that in the freezer.  I just need to locate an organic produce stand or get it at the grocer (they carry it this time of year).   I'll have to buy broccoli and cauliflower this year as well.  Not to mention peas and a whole lot of other produce and fruit.  We got only a handful of our red raspberries this year, and the blackberries are just now turning ripe.  

Happy Homemaker Monday

A recent sunrise at the homestead.
Thank you all for your kind words about Jesse.  It's been rough days here since he's been taken to her apt.  I'm trying to stay busy.

Speaking of busy.  Since we were up early again, and I was rattling off my to-do list, Hubby gave me good advice - just focus on one thing today like the kitchen.  That's my focus this morning.  The kitchen.

It's been like "wild kingdom" out here this year.  We've seen a opossum, had a ground hog that had babies and moved on, had one ground hog come to the door (eating cat food), had lots of deer, have 3 red headed wood peckers, a wren that made a nest at our door in a flower pot, have butterflies, and a bat maternity unit in our barn so far this year.  We also have a hummingbird and my yellow finch is back.

If I was writing a book this summer, it would be titled "Saving the Tomatoes and Potatoes and other "GAH!" Gardening Moments."  I may just start writing it.

I have been weeding out the tomatoes.   I was tired one day, I left the chicken water bucket out in the shade with eggs in it.  They were still there in the morning though.

It's been bone dry.  First row causalities were 4.  They are small, but look good.  Photo is before the tilling was done.  Some tomatoes are turning red already and I have picked a handful of wax beans.

Third row had one casualty with the weed whacker.  It happens.  Got it all done now, so it's off to weed the potatoes next.

There are "good" moments out here too.  Like hearing the hen lay an egg, or one of the roosters trying to crow (ha ha!  Made me laugh it sounded so funny!).

I hope to be making homemade cinnamon rolls soon, so I can also share the recipe.  We had a family get together Saturday, so Romeo got to have a doggie day with his buds Zuri and King  (so he didn't have to stay home in his kennel).  He was so worn out when we picked up back up.  He slept all the way home.  

Sunday, we had planned to visit the county fair, but talked ourselves out of it.  We didn't want to pay $14 to get in, only to eat bad food, so we skipped it this year.  I most likely will enter something next year.  If I remember, ha ha!  I totally forgot about it this year.  Instead, we hooked up with a large group of riders and went for a very fun motorcycle adventure.  I had so many laughs I did not even take my phone out to take one photo.

I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom today. 



On the breakfast plate . . .
Nothing yet.  It's 5am. Possibly eggs or scramble.


The weather outside is . . .
High of 89°F, no chance of rain (again)


Right now I am. . .
Posting this while Hubby and I sip hot coffee


On my bedside table . . .
I have no idea, and too lazy to go look, ha ha@


Reading . . .
Nothing

Movies I watched . . .
Nothing


On the menu . . . 
-Reubens with homemade sauerkraut
-Tacos (still haven't made them)
-Spaghetti (still haven't made this either - tomatoes thawing)
-Pulled Pork Nachos
-Something grilled with Cowboy Beans
-Leftovers

-a round of blueberry pancakes and side of bacon or sausage


On the to-do list . . . 
-clean out the fridge
-laundry
-garden weeding
-floors
-bathroom
-bake cookies (we are over due for some)


What I am creating . . .
Currently working on trying to finish that pair of hot pads. Oh, and one last bracelet order.


Looking forward to . . . 
A super clean kitchen today.


Looking around the house . . .
I still have lots of cardboard boxes to break down and store to use in the garden.  That's another days "focus."


From the camera. . .

A few of our butterflies.

Two stinkers who were trying to pull the corn out of the bags.

Tiger eating dried up corn husks, ha ha!  In the box!

Close up view of the wren's nest in the flower pot next to our front door.  It's like a cave.  There is a top on the nest to protect them.  Very interesting.  Mom and Dad continue to feed them.  That green part in the photo is part of the plant in the way of my camera. 


One of my simple pleasures . . . 
Crocheting or knitting on the porch.


Praying . . .
That daughter will bring Jesse back to the homestead.  If you didn't read about it, just go back a few posts.

He's Gone....

My heart just broke yesterday.  Daughter came and picked him up.  I watched out the window as he went running past her car, and back to the door to the house.  I could see that look on her face, of shock, that her dog didn't want to go with her.  She had to grab him by his collar and put him in her car.  I'm gonna miss this guy, but most of all worry about him.  I sure hope and pray she brings him back.

I'm pretty sure she won't be able to afford his flea/tick/heartworm meds, so that means he could be back soon.  Hoping anyway. 

We noticed her car was not fixed since her accident, so now we know where she got the money to pay a deposit for her apartment - the insurance check (shaking my head).

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).