Happy Homemaker Monday

We just had a cooler weekend, which isn't all that great for most of the garden.  Our temperature Sunday morning was a col 47°F.  We had another cool night last night too.  

Sunday our youngest and last child graduated.   She also has an interview with the salon she was to interview back in March.  It's a "zoom" interview today.   By the way, everyone was taking their masks off after about 5 minutes.  Standing for 1 1/2 hours in line was too hot to wear them.

Business is picking up slowly for me.  I sold a "sunflower" crochet kitchen set, and a scrubbie.  It's been all by word of mouth as I get stuff restocked.  

I tried to hold an online Tupperware party for a lady I promised a party with.  She sadly told me she was forced to quit due to the virus and all it's economic destruction.  She also said she sold off most of her supply, but had some remaining.  She invited me to come and look it over, but never contacted me with a date and time.  I guess she forgot.

Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

The weather . . . 
Woke up to 46°F and according to the weather we'll warm up to about 73°F.


How I am feeling this morning . . . 
Tired.  Standing in line for graduation was tough on my back.


On my mind . . .
The garden.  The cooler weather has me only concerned about the green beans.  Time will tell if I have to replant or not.  New rule for our state - plant after May 31st vs. after Mother's Day (always the rule).  


On the breakfast plate . . .
I'll be back to show you.



On my reading pile . . . 

Yet to be determined.  I forgot it's the first of the month.  I'll try and figure this out later today and post another day.


On my TV . . .
Re-watching The Ranch


On the menu . . .
-Chicken Enchiladas, corn
-Have no idea, had a busy weekend and haven't even thought about it.


From the camera . . .

A glimpse at what it was like to stand all through a school, standing in spot for #60 out of 85 students, waiting to go into the gym to watch your kid get her diploma.  By the way, we could not hear anything, as they didn't even speak loud enough, so I feel this was a cheap shot at a graduation for her (this was when we only moved 2 spots, and then everyone starting taking off their masks...we were all 10 feet apart anyway, hence no reason for the masks in the first place).

Looking around the house . . .
Well, we were gone most of the day, so there are dirty dishes that need washed, but we will do a complete clean up on the next rainy day - garden comes first right now.


To relax I will . . .
Crochet.


On my prayer list . . .
This country.

Lemon Balm Popsicles ~ Rain

I made some lemon balm popsicles for when I get out of the garden all hot and sweaty.  They are so refreshing after becoming exhausted in the heat.  Recipe is online from Edible Wild Food.

Friday we had rain, and it was told it would be heavy at times.   It was not.  We got rain, but not really enough. It was nice to have a change in my routine and get some indoor stuff done.  Not to mention free time to play with the yarn.

It's perfect camping weather here this weekend.  To bad we can't go camping.  It's beautiful, but too cold at night for tomatoes and other plants.  The peas will love it.  Thankfully, I do not have my other plants in the ground yet.  We are to have cooler nights over the next 3 nights (40's, and it can stunt their growth).

Yesterday morning I watched 2 coyotes in the wood across from our place, and this morning we watched deer crossing the road in two places.  

Chicken on the Loose ~ No Thyme or Spearmint ~ Home Baking ~ Romeo

While out doing garden work, a hen got out of the run and was following me around.  I found it so funny.  I got her back in, as she would tear up my garden. 

I planted more flowers.  I finally filled the driveway pots with flowers and beautified a bit more.  I found non-gmo catnip seeds but not spearmint.  I guess I'll break down and buy them on Etsy.  I could not find one thyme plant either.  They had way less to pick from than any year I've ever seen.  The ones I put in the ground didn't make it through the onslaught of rain we had a week or so ago.

Hubby has been begging for apple crisp.  He got it.

I baked a new breakfast casserole.  Sort of made it up.  I cooked onions and organic red potatoes, then added bell peppers and garlic.  I poured it into a baking pan, layered in some cheese, cooked bacon and eggs/milk.  I topped it with home grown green onions.  It turned out delicious.  Sorry for the bad photo.  I was in a hurry to try it, ha ha!

Romeo is finally "cone" free.  We had to put a cone on him to keep him from licking himself.  He is so happy and relaxed now, but this was the most dramatic neutering I've seen. 

New Book ~ Garden Update

Our library is only open for appointments, and they are not interloaning anything.   It's a small library.  I finally broke down and purchased a few books.  I added this needle tatting book to my bookshelf.  

The tiller is finally fixed.  It needed a new belt, which lasted 12 years.  However, while putting it back together, Hubby had a spring he didn't know what to do with.  After dumping out our container of manuals (that's another purge job), we found a free manual online.  Boom! Tiller fixed.

We are a bit behind in tilling, so I haven't planted more yet, and it may rain this morning.  Time will tell what gets done, but we are more ahead this year than last year.

This and That and a baby duck

I hope you all had a nice Memorial Day weekend.  We spent most of it in the garden and on the Harley.  We now have to do a repair on the tiller and the mower to resume work sadly.  

We have decided we will do our motorcycle rides before or after our meals at home.   No more eating out unless we can order ahead of time.  It is taking us 2-3 hours to get food inside restaurants and then good luck getting them to give you your bill timely.  It's not worth it to help a business, unless like I said, we can order ahead.  The wait time is awful.  One day we put over 300 miles on the bike.  I am now sun burned, but will be outside again today.

The plants are hardened and ready to plant though.  I just need my awesome husband to repair the tiller and get more tilled.

We are getting more asparagus from the garden. Yum.

The green beans, carrots and beets are coming up now.

Our daughter who works, was outside on her break and somehow a baby duck showed up.  It had no family anywhere, so she caught it, boxed it up and brought it home.  Thankfully, the animal sanctuary took the duck. 

Weed Growth ~ Pot planted vs. Ground Growing ~ Mullein and Burdock

Mullein planted in a pot last year and survived winter, but it's small.

Mullein that popped up in a bed close to the house, along with burdock.  Big difference in size.  I think this bed will be my weed bed now, aside from the mints.  I need a bed in the ground somewhere for those.

Burdock.  I never planted this in a pot, as it grows wild all over the place.

Spicy Apple Crunch Cake

Yesterday I shared a blast from the past recipe, from my Spanish class (High School Days).  Today, I am sharing another blast from the past recipe.  It's funny and somewhat frightening that I saved these recipes.  When I was hunting for the sopaipilla recipe, I ran across a binder full of recipes from my Home Ec. class in Junior High School.  It uses applesauce vs. apples.  It was a very moist coffee cake, and apparently the family loved it, as it went very fast after I baked it.

Spicy Apple Crunch Cake (adapted with organic ingredients)

2 Cups All purpose flour
1 tsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 cup canola oil
2 eggs, farm fresh
1 cup home canned applesauce
1/4 cup milk
1 cup walnuts, chopped

Topping:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1/4 cup flour, all purpose
3 Tbsp. butter, melted
1 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350°F and grease only the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking pan.  

In large bowl mix all ingredients except the walnuts and  topping ingredients.  Blend on a low speed until ingredients are moistened.  Beat 3 minutes at medium speed.  Stir in walnuts.  Pour batter in prepared baking pan.

Mix all topping ingredients and sprinkle evenly on top.  Bake for 35-40 minutes.

Note:  For muffins, bake for 20-30 minutes (24 muffins)