Random Tidbits

Thanks to the only rain we have gotten, I have more new blooms at the homestead.  I am picking green beans almost every other day now. 

Well, the mask mandate is causing so much chaos in our county.  I simply shop in another county.  So sick of this stuff.  What will they come up with during the next 5 months to keep everyone fighting and dividing?  Who knows.  I'm glad I have my garden to keep me busy.  Our state is being watched by counties now, and have a level grid.  Our county was put in a level to put a mask mandate in place.  They only change status by the week as well.

Cases are escalating in our county daily.  I'm starting to wonder if it's not a virus and rather a bacteria now.  It won't be long before they close everyone again.

We have no plans to return to the island.  Three businesses have not closed to quarantine.  If campgrounds do not close this fall, we do have plans to go camping.

People are buying up all the ball canning lids.  Regular lids are so hard to find.  I'm having family check their Meijer stores for me, as other stores are out or highly inflated pricing.

Happy gardening to you all.  I'm about to go work in mine.  We have a cool morning, so I'm taking advantage of it.

I have to repair a hole in my chicken coop (again).  After one day of repair I set a live trap.  I caught a pretty old opossum who was the suspect.  He however, ripped another hole in the coop.  Building a new wireless coop has now been moved up on the to-do list.  We are just tired of the trouble with the wire, and I've spotted a raccoon last night too.

I found 3 boxes of lids with rims at our grocery store, but that's it so far. 

Rain

Guess what?  We got rain.  Finally.  It brought a slight cool down, but the heat returns next week.  So every thankful for the rain.

Short post today.  

On another good note, thanks to my Mom, I have a new project to work on soon.  Once my supplies arrive, I will have show you.  

Beans ~ Queen Anne's Lace ~ Cool Down Treat for the Chickens

Green beans and wax beans are starting to come on.

Although we have a ton of Queen Anne's Lace, I won't be making jelly this.  Maybe.

Thanks to the tip from Goatldi yesterday, I froze corn for the chickens cool down treat.  They loved it!

I spent all yesterday morning watering everything.  We had a heat advisory.

Today rain is in the forecast.  I'm taking a chance and not watering, so pray it does.  We are being warned of a second heat wave after the rain.  Sigh...

The heat is just sucking the positive mojo and energy right out of me.  One daughter is depressed (the salon called yesterday and told her they can't afford to keep her on staff).  Hubby is agitated when he gets home.  Who wouldn't be?  He works in this heat and next to 600°F equipment off and on.  Yesterday he had to work where it was 120°F.

I need a motorcycle ride or camping trip.  Both will not happen in this heat either.  I need a sanity saver and am stuck inside, but at least we have air conditioning.

I finished the patriotic dishcloth.  Not big news there, but it's off the project list now.  

Shell peas ~ Icing the Chickens

Our shell peas are done for the season.  Sadly, we did not get what we should have due to lack of rain.  

Speaking of lack of rain...everyone is on edge here at the homestead.  Not sure if it's just the heat and drought, or what's going on in the world.  Lots of agitation, anxiety, depression, mood swings, and lack of patience.  I know I am tired of all of it.

I've been icing the chickens.  They are so hot they are panting in this heat.

Drought Conditions ~ Tomatoes ~ Peach Pie ~ Conserving Electricity

We are suffering drought conditions.  No rain, and I'm watering daily to keep the garden from burning up.  Green beans are on, so I must be keeping up with it pretty good.  I have to start really early so the plants can soak it up before the sun burns it dry.  I am concerned about the height of my tomato plants and the growth of our root vegetables.

Tomatoes are starting to come on, but again, plants are short.

I am emptying the dehumidifier 2 times a day, the humidity is that bad as well.

I had peaches that were getting soft, so I whipped up a peach pie before it got too hot.  People are asked to conserve electricity from 2-6pm this week.

Look who stopped long enough for a few very quick photos?  They are not in focus, but I was quick to snap a few while the sprinkler watered the garden(s).


I'm re-doing the menu.  We had taco salad last night.  Too hot to cook.  Egg salad sandwiches sound good too.  What's your go-to meal on a very hot day?

...from the handiwork journal

The garden has taken most of my time out of my day, so very little handiwork is getting done.  I still have some items on hooks, that I had on them months ago.

. . . patriotic dishcloth still on the knitting needles

. . .finished this crocheted dishcloth

. . . started another thin dishcloth in bright coral and white (my to-go project)

. . .another dishcloth/washcloth on the crochet hook


I have a lot more in project bags etc.  I am just concentrating on these first.

Happy Homemaker Monday

I still haven't been able to get a photo of the wrens.  They are small and quick.  I didn't see many out at all this morning.  I think they know it will be hot and getting hotter as we go into the week.  

We spent all of Saturday on the Harley, and I never got sun burn oddly.  Had a fantastic weekend, with another ride yesterday.    Although we went to one of our favorite restaurants and won't be back.  They changed their menu completely, and nothing looked good.  They took away the perch, and many more items including my favorite Philly.  

One burger was served cold, with toppings that were asked to be left off.  It was raw, and when they brought toppings, the BBQ sauce was as thin as water.  The service was horrible, messed up one drink.  They switched perch out for cod and over priced it.  It was horrible too.  

I'm sure they changed it due to this pandemic, lack of employees returning, and possibly food resources available.  I feel bad for them, but I can't support a place that serves awful food either.   Or awful service. No one wants to sit and wait an hour just for a drink, then wait another half hour for appetizer and another half hour for the meal.

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





The weather . . .
High of 96°F, but the heat index will rise into the hundreds as we go through the week.  No sign of rain until possibly Friday.  We can only pray for it.  We need it so badly.


How I am feeling this morning . . .
Tired.  Exhausted from the mask mandates going in place in areas around us.  Just sick of it.   They are saying that if Trump wins in November the virus will last until 2025, but if Biden wins, the virus will disappear in November.  


On my mind . . .
Well, I have lost many friends during this virus.  Not from the virus, but because of the divide it has put between people over personal opinions.  I am thankful for the friends that have stayed friends regardless of opinion.


On the breakfast plate . . .
Have no idea.


On  my reading pile . . .

On my TV . . .
Not much.


On the menu this week . . .
-Leftovers tonight
-meatloaf, mashed tades and corn (didn't get this made yet)
-breakfast: Biscuits/sausage gravy, potatoes, eggs
-strawberry pie
......have no idea because it will be so hot here and I hate to heat up my kitchen every day.



From the Camera . . .

Porch view.

Looking around the house . . .
I pulled my garlic, but it's sitting on the table waiting to be tied and hung up.  It did pretty good, but only one bulb was pretty large.  I'm happy with the results, and will probably plant in grow pots again.  The house needs cleaned, but that's normal.  It will get done since we can't be outside for long the rest of the week.


Chore I am not looking forward to this week . . .
Mucking the chicken coop, but that's not happening until we get a rain and cool down.


To relax I will . . .
Watch cooking shows while I crochet.


On my prayer list . . .
Our country.  It seems that so many Americans have lost their pride and willingness to fight for their civil rights.  All the fighting and judgment and finger pointing has caused a divide, and I'm sure it all has to do with November's voting. The mask mandates are a huge fight between most in our area.  Half wants it and the other half thinks it is dumb.  Please no negative comments.  It's so out of control.

I will say this.  When you went to the doctor, they had a box of masks.  It said if you are sick and with a cough, to please wear one.  The sick.  Not the healthy.  The sick.  Just do you research on this.  There are many articles and Youtube videos that make you wonder what's really going on.

I'm so disappointed in Americans and the behavior and the violence etc that is going on right now.  All for a vote or no vote?  There is so much more behind all this virus than we will ever know.  Keep praying!


Praying for rain for us.  My root vegetables are suffering horribly and I really don't want to hear my husband say we are not planting a thing next year.  We have suffered a struggle to garden for the last 3 years and I don't want to deal with it another year here.

Praying for the law enforcement.  It is truly a crazy, scary, and frustrating year.