Breakfast ~ New Flowers

 

Breakfast that I baked yesterday - onions, sweet potato, green bell pepper (forgot to add some hot peppers), sausage, garlic, eggs and chives.

I planted the flowers I bought over the weekend.  I love the new red ones.  The pictures were downloaded from my phone, so they are not great, but the dragon's breath is a bright and beautiful color.

The "Big City" held a large outdoor art event recently, and more and more people have gotten sick.  I may be making a decision on the October craft show.  I really, really want to do it, but I also have to think about Mom and being around her.

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

We are still getting some hot peppers.  Rain is in the forecast for the next 4 days.  I'm okay with that.  

We spent a lot of our weekend in the "Big city" running errands, visiting with Mom and taking her food.  Her 6th shipment of her 14 free meals never arrived.

Speaking of the "Big City" more and more businesses have reduced their hours due to lack of staffing.  Many are closing a few days a week, and many have hardly nothing on their shelves.

We went to Home Depot and picked up more organic gardening soil for the grow bags, and they are all set for the garlic.  I also picked up 4 more flowers to plant.

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

I will link up when she posts.  I am heading out to plant my garlic before the rain arrives.

On the breakfast plate . . .

Not sure yet.  I do know it will involve one green bell pepper I picked, one sweet potato and sausage.

Looking around the house . . .

There is much to tidy up and move to prep for ripping up the kitchen floor.  We don't have a day set, but it has to be done before winter.

On today's to-do list . . .

-fall plant garlic

-freeze all those peppers I picked

-make a breakfast casserole

-dump dead flower pots and deadhead flowers

-print a copy of a recipe for Mom

-pack and label some seeds I dried

-place a few orders

-master bath

-vacuum

-laundry

-clean up my computer/office area

-call senior center (to see if we can get Mom rides to her doctors when we are all unavailable)

Currently reading . . .

Mom gave me three books to read.  I decided on this one first.

On the TV this week . . .

Just finished Out Lander

The weather outside is . . 

Hot, rain for a few days, then a cool down midweek. 

On the menu this week . . .

-cheese sandwiches, home canned tomato soup

-

If I have a few minutes to myself I will . . .

Crochet.  Currently on the hook?

Scrubbies.

New recipe I tried or want to try . . .

I would like to try Kentucky Chocolate Chip Bourbon Pie.  It's not on the urgent list right now.

One of my simple pleasures . . .

Porch time, sipping hot coffee and reading letters that were written by or to my Dad that I really need to finish and pass on to the next person.

Favorite photo from the camera . . .

This morning's sunrise.

Praying for . . .

Mom's health, Daughter E, a few friends that are sick right now, the world

Ground Cayenne

(dehydrate for 6-10 hours at 125°F, then grind into powder using a coffee grinder)

I finally got the dehydrated cayenne peppers ground into powder.  I believe I used my last spice jar, but I'm already set with homemade "fire powder"  (random mix of dehydrated hot peppers and ground into powder).  Look at that beautiful bold color next to the expensive organic store bought color.  

There have been 4-5 shipments of Mom's free 14 meals (via Fed Exp).  Non of which actually made it to her house.  There is another shipment that is due to arrive today.  

I have felt my uppity self lately.  Not sure if it's what's going on with our world, or the added stress and overwhelming race to get so many things done before winter. I'm just not feeling my motivated, good mood self.

America's Test Kitchen ~ Pamper Me Day

I love watching America's Test Kitchen and Cooks Country, however, it may get me into trouble with new items in the kitchen (ha ha!)

I have used homemade foaming hand soap in kitchen and bathrooms for years.  However, after watching America's test kitchen and reviews on a touch less sensor hand soap dispenser, my kitchen now has one.  Cooking and washing hands will be so much easier.  I have no idea how I have lived without this.  It does require batteries, but I'm always asking someone to squirt soap in my hands and turn on the water.  I love our new soap dispenser!  I may get ones for the bathrooms, but they are exactly cheap either.  I will see how well it holds up before making that decision.

The sensor responds immediately and you can control the amount of soap it dispenses.  There is a light that comes on when your batteries are low too.  Easy to fill, and has a clear tank to see how much soap you have in it. 

The weather looks like it will heat back up, so the hot peppers will remain in the garden.

I found a new camper lock  (with two keys) for our camper, and it was only $40.00 and it's a perfect fit.  Our nephew (previous owner) lost the keys and the lock didn't work.  Camper World had quoted us $180.00.

I finally got our pre-buy purchase done with our propane.  However, the price for pre-pay went up from $1.44/gallon to $1.78/gallon.   I can't imagine what it will be without the pre-buy rate.

I'm super excited!  I have booked a craft event for October.  It's outside so I am praying for good fall weather.  It looks like there will be many food options that day and lots of fun vendors. 

I drove to the "Big City" with another attempt to be beautified.  Daughter E got trained on highlights.  I also got a fresh do with a cut.  Now she can offer more services and make more money.

I guess Federal Express is having a terrible time getting drivers.  I have an account to check on my orders, but it's mainly one company that I do regular orders, and it has not arrived.  However, amazon orders seem to arrived timely.  They are using amazon vans to help with deliveries.

Mom is finally out of the hospital and back home.

Dehydrating ~ Tomato Season Ends ~ Seed Saving

 The storms are over, so the dehydrator was back at it.

Rosemary made it's way into it first.  Once that was ready to come out, trays were cooled and washed.

Cayenne peppers made there way in next.  

Tomato season is officially over.  I am freezing what I have left.  Sort of a sad tomato year, but thankful for what we did get.

My layers are slowing down in egg production, which has me thinking of water-glassing them again for long storage.

Seed saving continues, and I feel it is very important to do, especially this year with how things are going with our food system.

The insurance company has attempted to deliver my Mom's 14 free meals 4-5 times now.  So far, nothing has arrived (other than the first shipment with warm rotten food).

Woke up to 55°F this morning.  I'm pretty sure the hot pepper season may be coming to an end.  I guess we'll see.  We better start stocking up on firewood.

How I killed some seed starts ~ How I ended up with so many serrano peppers and other bits

I started some cilantro and parsley seeds indoors, and they were doing great.  However, I had two spray bottles in the kitchen, and one is not labeled.  I have a 50/50 of vinegar and water in one (not labeled), and one with water.  

I was spraying the plants with water and they were doing great.  They other day I noticed them all dying.  Guess who used the wrong spray bottle?  Yep, ha ha!  Labeling the bottle and replanting.

Back when I was at the greenhouse picking out some plants for the garden that I didn't start from seed, I asked for "serrano" when I meant to ask for San Marzano (tomatoes).  That's how I ended up with 6 serrano pepper plants, ha ha!  I never figured it out until I went to plant, and that's how I ended up with so many.

I picked more hot peppers, and gave some away.  I am finally getting some cherry bomb peppers. Due to high price of disposable gloves I am rinsing off my gloves after slicing then, and reusing to remove them from the pan after flash freezing.

I did some deadheading while I was outside, because they needed it and rain was on the way.  

Daughter K got called in to work on her only day off (happens way too often).  While she was at work, King (on of her dogs) had a seizure.  It's very painful to watch, but I gave him as much comfort as I could.  Poor dog.

Mom is still in the hospital and getting more testing done.  She's not happy that she isn't home yet, and of course she isn't seeing us enough, so we are calling as much as we can.

Tuesday Tidbits

Monday's, after a vacation/getaway, are always discombobulated.  I never have a quick breakfast on had or a lunch to pack for my husband.  The plan this week, is to look up meals to freeze prior to a trip (or even before a weekend), that way we are prepped for Monday.

Mom was admitted into the hospital again.  They changed the rules again.  Now whoever takes her in, is the Emergency contact, and one person per day, with screening done upon entering the hospital.  It was much different the most recent time she was in the hospital.  Oh, no kids under 16 can visit either.

I spent my gas and time to head to the "Big City" to get my hair done (this was before I was notified of Mom's situation).  Daughter E made the appt. for me with her.  She was a no-show.  I was so upset I left and returned home.  I'll just call my old salon and get it done there.   I had planned to visit Mom after my hair appt. but with her admitted and one person per day rule, I could not (as my younger brother took her).

I had camper dishes to wash (we still haven't figured out the hot water heater issue in the camper).  I had other dishes needed put away, dishwasher to empty, laundry to do.  I went thru my email etc.  I made a breakfast frittata for the next few days, and made a chicken marinade for tonight's dinner. 

 

Terrible photo, but I used my cell phone and it's not the latest version and the greatest (not upgrading until it's on it's last legs).  A humming bird came to visit me while I was enjoying a well deserved adult drink on the porch.

My husband had forced overtime last night, and Daughter K worked until late.  I literally put things away early and went to bed early.  My husband was home very late and had a hard time getting up this morning.  At least this time I had a go-to packed breakfast that was healthy.  I just didn't have a lunch.  I offered to make a PB & J, but he was so tired he said he'll buy from the cafeteria at work.

I need to head out, to what's left in the garden, and bring in anything today.  Rain arrives and we really need it.  Our grass is all brown and the remaining garden is thirsty.

I have a craft show opportunity coming up in October, but it's literally for a 1 1/2 hour outside event.  I have a lot to take, so I'm debating if it's worth the haul and set up/tear down.

Thank you for you prayers and good thoughts for my Mom and Daughter K.  Daughter K is feeling a bit better, but we still need answers on Mom's situation.