Lemony Tomato-Basil Soup

My sauce maker is in full swing right now.  I restocked our tomato soup.  It's so good too.  The photo makes the jars look weird, but it's just that I took the photo when it was dark out.  The recipe is in the Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publications - Canning, Preserving+Freezing and drying issue.

Garden Goodness

Eggs are rolling in good.  Fixing the sides of the coop so I don't have to crawl in there is on top of the list.

Ka-Bam!  41# of paste tomatoes, brought in a few big boy type, cherry tomatoes, some zucchini, 1# hot banana peppers, #3 of jalapenos, and 24 bell peppers.   The jalapenos were canned yesterday, but today I tackle some of the tomatoes.  

I was lacking time for laundry, but managed to get a pork loin (not my favorite, need to re-stock roasts) in the crock pot.

I sliced the zucchini and baked them with herbs and parm cheese.  I totally forgot to take a photo.  I was just plum tired. 

Weekend Getaway

While I should have been canning, my husband and I took off for a getaway, and took a boat tour.  Well worth it.  

I am up early to wash dishes that were left on last Friday, and the one daughter who was home and on vacation, left more.  Everything I need to can was still dirty.  My mental health vacation needs another one.  All I can say at this point, is that I am pretty sure my husband is on board with the lack of help and respect around here.  He finally sees what I have been dealing with.

It's been a long day already. Yesterday was the one year mark we lost our 4 month old grandson, so we made a quick trip over to see them before retiring for the night last night.

Oh, while out on our getaway, I scored canning jars.  There were no lids to be had, but I got myself jars with lids (which I needed, as I am down to my last 9 jars or so of half-pints).  I also finished a crochet project during our drive.  I hope to have a handiwork update soon.

Bell Peppers ~ BBQ Sauce ~ Sunrise

The bell peppers are one thing that is doing well in the garden as well as the tomatoes.  I was able to do a half batch of stuffed peppers and got them in the freezer.  

A few were used to can BBQ sauce yesterday.

I caught a few beautiful photos just before the sun came up the other day.

The dogs were barking about 3pm while I was reducing the BBQ sauce.  Guess what?  Another raccoon.  I got the ladies in safe, but lost sight of the dang raccoon.  Sigh.  It's definitely been a rough year.

Mental Health Day

Yesterday I took a much needed mental health day.  My 21 year old and I went on an adventure visiting two towns and local shopping.  I did some antique shopping too.

We went to Wal-mart so she could pick out yarn for a Christmas present she asked me to make.  I went to the canning section just to see (but knew well it's be empty).

This smells amazing!

Although I didn't find may towels, I found a few tablecloths to use and even a Christmas one.

Today I have another date with tomatoes, which I am happy about.  The cucumber plants and squash plants are starting to die off and the yellow squash either didn't produce or gave us only a few sadly.

Rain ~ Tomato Sauce

It thankfully rained for a bit the other day.  So happy to see that.

I canned tomato sauce.  Beautiful 6 1/2 pints, but realized I dag'gon forgot the lemon juice.  I wasted 7 hard to find lids, opened the jars and froze it in freezer bags.  Sigh....at least I got the tomato sauce made this year.  Woohoo to that.

Extreme Clean ~ Garden Goodness

What got cleaned?
-living room carpet, cobwebs knocked down, dusted
-kitchen cobwebs knocked down, cupboards all wiped down, coffee pot washed, canister lids washed, sink scrubbed, counters sanitized, floor swept and mopped.
-utility room: all cupboards wiped down, washer and dryer finally wiped down
-hallway carpet cleaned, cobwebs knocked down
-wiped down a fridge and freezer
-glass doors cleaned
-porch swept off
-wiped down 3 wood doors

When I went to clean the glass doors, this visitor arrived and didn't want to leave.  

Brought in another 3# of jalapenos.  We have now harvested a little over 12# of them.

Brought in 8oz. of hot banana peppers.  Not enough for mustard sauce. I guess I  will wait a day and see if I'll get more.

More of the ladies are laying.  They love the new coop.  We will soon start clearing the cement slab hopefully move them before winter.