Asparagus/sausage breakfast bake ~ Wild Violet Jelly

 

Wednesday's sunrise started out pretty nice, although they said clouds would move in.  I was slow to start the day, but put on some dance music and got to work.

Breakfast ended up a sage sausage/asparagus bake with some home grown basil, garlic, and kale.  I added a bit of freshly grated parmesan cheese too.

I canned  jars of wild violet jelly.  I am so glad I picked the violets when I did.  Snow showers are expected today.  Wild violets are medicinal as well as making a delicious jelly.  I have a yard full of the white/purple ones too, but haven't picked any.

Wild violet jelly is a very fun process.

Violets are picked and steeped.  The color turns to a beautiful blue color.  Once the liquid is strained, and lemon juice added, it turns into a beautiful pink.  It smells wonderful and tastes even better.  A once a year jelly.

Spontaneous as it gets!

Just to warn you, there are a lot of pictures in this post.  I guess I'm making up for lack of posts, but we had a very fun, amazing, spontaneous three state, 3 night vacation.  It was perfect and took our minds off anything we didn't need to be thinking about.  

However, everywhere we went, they either lacked employees, were closed on Monday due to lack of help, or the employees were telling us that they can't get anyone to work due to the status of unemployment in these states.  Anyway, we still found things to do and see.

First, we rented a lake house for a few nights with a hot tub.

Driving around trying to figure out what to do on day two, my husband found an adventure park.  We rented this and our guide was in his in front of us.  We had walkie-talkies to talk back and forth on.  My husband has driving experience with these, and it was an hour and a half of full blown fun.  We left covered in mud, but it was so worth it.

After that we drove to another lake lodge where the food was said to be very good.  The windy roads were so beautifully dotted with redbud trees.  

The view over the mountain where the restaurant was, had an amazing view.

Out of the blue, we decided to drive to West Virginia and try the well known Hillbilly Hotdogs.  Did you know Guy  was here and did a review?  His picture is inside.  The seating area inside was closed, but when it's open it is all inside old buses.

They are known for their deep fried hot dogs and one that they serve with slaw on top.

Our spontaneous route to Portsmouth, Ohio took us through Kentucky.  In Portsmouth, you can view a flood wall mural that is very stunning.  These are not all the murals, but you can see the art work is amazing.

Back home, my husband wanted to mow before taking off on a bike ride in the evening, so I quickly went out to one area of the property.

I picked wild violets.  Although our vacation was coming to an end last night, it felt great to be back too.

We'll be eating some home grown asparagus soon too.  Tip:  I pick it and put the stems in a jar of water in the fridge until I have enough for a meal.  It will stay crisp that way.

Our weather was perfect for our getaway, but we are back to the 50's and the news this morning (via radio) said watch for a mix of snow.  I'll be watching that evening low, in case I need to cover the asparagus.

Today, I have lots of cleaning to do, and laundry.  I need to check the pantry and freezer to bake us a healthy breakfast and write a dinner menu plan.  After eating out most days, I need to get back to some healthy food.

Random Tidbits

A bit worried about the early asparagus, lilacs and violets, I re-checked the weather.  We'll dip in the upper 30's, but thankfully not low enough for a frost or freeze.

The warmer April weather has also brought our ornamental apple trees into bloom.  

My green onions are doing great but some nettle is crowding it out.   It's the worst this year.  I pulled some chickweed too, but left some for a fresh salad next week.  I want to dig the entire herb garden out and re-do it, but I'll painstakingly wait another year.

The purple dead nettle can be used like my stinging nettle in teas, but this year I learned you can also use it in a poultice like plantain.  I also found a new recipe I may try (uses purple dead nettle).

I started out with a much less work day.  The dishes were done, laundry done, breakfast and dinner all taken care of....porch time came first due to rain moving in later in the afternoon with thunderstorms.

I have a new recipe to try soon.  I have some organic angel hair pasta that I need to use soon, so hopefully I will have a recipe to share.  I hope to find my organic chicken sausage to make it.  The last few trips to the grocery store were not successful.

I'm not sure we'll get raised beds re-built this year.  Lumber has tripled in price (or higher).  

On a sad and scary note, there has been a recall in Canada for the blue/grey medical masks being issued in their schools.  Unfortunately, they look exactly like the kind distributed at my husband's work - toxic.  Made in China.  It's the only kind I can wear without feeling like I'm suffocating, so there goes my outings.  If you google medical mask recall, you'll see several recent recall articles about it.

Blooms ~ Wild Violets and Lilac ~ Asparagus ~ Woodpecker

 

More pretty blooms are coming up.

We are getting lilacs this year (unless the upcoming freeze kills it again like last year).

Wild violets are coming up early this year.

Asparagus is coming up early this year too, so I hopped out to my beautiful garden and weeded it.  I can see what needs covered if covering is needed.  So excited to be in the garden for once.

A woodpecker built a home in the tree that my clothesline is attached to.  It comes out and gives me heck when I use the line now.

I finished the order for 2 scrubbies using the scrubby yarn from Red Heart.

Where I spent most of my day.  So far no rain either.  The wind has picked up this morning, but no rain yet.

Nothing much....

 

There is literally nothing much going on this week.  I spent most of yesterday outside.  The weather got up to the 80's!  Woohoo to that.  While I took time to crochet on the porch, this beautiful bird came for a visit.  When it flies, the blue wings are so beautiful!  I did some research, and I think it may be a bluebird.  Does anyone know? Just curious.

We are still enjoying leftovers for dinner.  Today will finish the all up though (Daughter K is taking them to work for her dinner).  I made a breakfast casserole yesterday, but have no idea what to do for dinner.  Maybe grill out since the weather is nice again, with rain moving in later this evening.

Although it's tempting to start weeding flower beds and such, I do think it's a bit early yet.  If the temps drop, the leaves give my herb garden protection.  My green onions are looking pretty good right now.

I received on order for two dish scrubbers.  I haven't used the pattern (different one) in so long, so that's on the to-do list today. Hopefully I can find the pattern.  I have already found the yarn used for this scrubber.

I'll admit, I've been lazy this week, but the list writing needs done.  I should be getting up to town and getting paint to paint the hallway doors in this wonderful weather.

Daughter K said she went to take the dogs out and turned the light on.  There was a huge raccoon enjoying himself to the cat food.  She said, "Mom I named him Harold."  I responded, "Um, out here we don't name them."  Oh, the laughs we had.

Well, I hope your week has been good.  I haven't seen too many blogposts to read, nor haven't had that many visitors this year.  I hope you are enjoying my blog, although today's seems drawn out and nothing exciting.  Gawd it's been a rough year already, and for some reason we are all feeling more depressed than ever.  Not sure, other than the way our state is being run and feeling "enough is enough" and so forth.

I'm glad I have the crochet order, or I'd be a wallowing mess wandering around the house today.  I need to find my positive inner peace again.  

Beautiful Sunrises and Tidbits

 

Two different sunrises from last week.

Our tiny town library is having a book sale.  Wow, they have a lot for sale this time.  However, after my big purge, I will not be going.  I love book sales too.  They are something fun to do for a day.  Nope.  Not this gal.  Maybe if there was a specific book I was looking for, but for now will stay away, ha ha!

I spent the day cleaning and forgot that I needed a breakfast baked.  We don't lack leftovers for dinner, but we have nothing for breakfast per say.  I have eggs, but will see about whipping something up today.

We are to get up to close to 80°F today.  Can you believe that?  No, I am not cleaning flower beds or the garden just yet, but hope to enjoy some porch time today.

Happy Homemaker Monday

Saturday I got these two made and really spent the day on the porch after that.  It was somewhat nice out, sun was shining, and my husband and I played cards on the porch.  First day off work in 2 weeks.

Easter Sunday we finished up the rest of the feast, played more cards, and took off on the Harley and delivered my Mom an Easter meal.  My husband helped cook on Sunday. It was absolutely perfect riding weather.  Just what the both of us needed.

Instead of the usual green bean casserole, I made BBQ green beans, using home grown green beans and home canned ketchup.  So good!

Work called my husband Easter Sunday.  He, thankfully, did not answer the call.

                                                    

Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.  I will link up when she posts.  I have tons of dishes to wash, laundry to start, etc etc.

The weather outside is . . .

69°F/54°F, rain rolls in today.

How I am feeling this morning . . .

Is it possible to feel rested and exhausted at the same time?  That's me today.  Rested that I got time with my husband and had a great weekend, but exhausted from washing dishes. 

On the breakfast plate . . .

Leftover breakfast.

On my reading pile . . .

Nothing right now.

On my TV . . .

Nothing in particular.

On the menu this week . . .

-leftovers

-leftovers (maybe)

-possibly a new recipe to try 

Looking around the house . . .

I brought in more daffodils on this gloomy day.  It's definitely looking like rain today.

Well, I think it's time to make a trip to Goodwill this week.  Tired of walking around the boxes.

To relax this week I will . . .

Alone time on the porch.  Maybe crochet.  Maybe even do some journaling.

Something I want to share . . .

Oddly, nothing today.  It's been a busy week.

Prayers . . .

For House Bill 202 in Ohio to pass and quickly pass (lifts mask mandate and prevents the Gov. from mandating it ever again). Our country.