Pulling what is left of the Garden and other chit chat

I should have pulled the last of the garden weeks ago, but you know how life goes.  I at least got the tomato plants and stakes pulled.  It's a start.  I'm still getting some hot peppers and picked one green bell pepper.

It's finally good weather to open the windows and left some fresh air inside.  The cool nights are so welcoming.

Daughter E is doing everything we have suggest to her to get better.  Our friend is home again, but on oxygen.

I baked us a strawberry crisp.  

Dehydrating ~ and other tidbits

 I dehydrated more sage and rosemary, and started a sage tincture.

Daughter K did a door dash for her sister.  We sent a lawn chair (fresh air and sunshine), a box of tissues, immune boost vitamins, and a bottle of tea tree oil.  She still has a bad cough and congestion. 

She did a steam inhalation with eucalyptus oil the other day.

I did a check-in with Mom.  I took her a piece of breakfast frittata, some bandages and wound tape.  Her legs are so swollen from water retention (they even upped her meds) that her legs are leaking.  I'm very concerned about it, and may see if her insurance will cover an aide (to put her compression stockings on) and/or for her wound supplies. 

Tuesday Tidbits

Monday was a busy day for sure.  I called Daughter E to ask if the homemade ginger-ale I delivered was helping with her nausea.  She has lost her smell, but not her taste.  She is moving around to keep her from getting worse, and getting sun and fresh air.  She's basically bored stuck there all by herself.  She has dug out her craft box and made some friendship bracelets.

I called Mom to check in and see if her 14 free meals arrived.  Unfortunately, she is not seeing any improvements and said she'll call her doctor. Oh, and no meals.  

Breakfast - sweet potato, onion, sausage, mad hatter and jalapeno peppers, collards and kale, and eggs.

Dandelion greens were blanched and frozen.  I dug into the jungle of our potato patch.  Zero.  Well, not really zero, but a teensy one on each plant.  Lack for and too many super hot days was the problem this year.

I submitted a vendor request form to a business that is similar to one in the "Big City" but haven't heard back yet.  The one in the "Big City" was too expensive to rent and offered one table space to sell my handiwork.  

However, some great news!  I may be selling some things at a store on the island next summer season.  So excited.  I'll be working on those items this winter.  I've also spoken to the owner of the General Store in another town.  I've emailed them a photo of my jar grippers to sell there.  I pray it all works out. 

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

We had a beautiful sunrise Sunday morning.  After shopping for Mom and Daughter E (and door dashing), we retired at the house with playing cards on the porch.  We have been exhausted, so I'm hoping we both revived after last night's good sleep.  

I should have taken a photo of the cat food at Meijer yesterday.  Both Kroger and our Meijer in the "Big City" are bare.  There wasn't much to choose from, to buy for Mom's cats.

We stopped at 3 stores yesterday, and the shelves at Dollar Tree were bare as well.  We were able to buy Mom 5 boxes of tissues though.

The big "Bash" held in the "Big City" had 30 vendors not show up.  I haven't participated in the event in the last two years, but may next year if covid is not spreading as bad as it is this year.

Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. I will link up when she posts.  As you can see below, I have a lot on my to-do list.

On the breakfast plate . . . 

I'm thinking I'll bake a frittata of some sort.

Looking around the house . . .

There is a lot to do, since we were busy all weekend and took Sunday afternoon off to get some relaxation.

On today's to-do list . . .

-check potatoes in the garden

-tidy the kitchen

-unload the dishwasher

-bake a breakfast of some sort

-bake a crisp requested by my husband

-yank tomato plants

-replant indoor cilantro and parsley

-blanch and freeze greens

-slice up bell peppers for hubby's lunches

-start another jar of 4 thieves vinegar

-start sage and mullein tinctures

-start cleaning up computer area to prep and remove counters and whatnot to plan our weekend to rip up the kitchen floor

-make onion powder

-make calls to check in on Mom and Daughter E

-roast, puree and freeze pumpkins

-dehydrate basil, parsley and rosemary

(in no particular order, and for the week)

Currently reading . . . 

On the TV . . .

Army of One

The weather outside is . . .

A bit windy, low 80's, sunny

On the menu . . .

-Tacos

-Sweet Potato Chili

-breakfast for dinner

-leftovers

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

Most likely crochet and watch cooking shows if they are on.

New recipe I tried or one I want to try this week . . .

I still want to try the Kentucky pie, but my husband wants a crisp baked, so we shall see.

One of my simple pleasures . . .

Writing my blog.

Something fun to share . . .

I have nothing to share.

Favorite photo from the camera . . .

Praying for . . .

-Mom (health issues due to heart failure), Daughter E (has covid), our friend Hope (hospitalized due to covid) and her husband Steve (also has covid but at home), our friends L and M (recovering from covid)

Cleaning ~ Weddings and Door Dashing

 

I spent Friday cleaning, washing laundry, tidying up, and sanitizing.

It was a great day to dry laundry outside on the line.  Pretty windy too.

I also spent my day making calls to check in on Mom and Daughter E.  Daughter E sounds like she is doing okay, and well supplied with anything to help her heal faster.  

Saturday we had two weddings.  One was outside, and we took camping chairs and sat way away from everyone.  The other one was way under way by the time we arrived, and hardly anyone there.  We literally spent 15 minutes are less there and went home.  We were exhausted, because we did a door dash for Daughter E, and did a check in on Mom.

We plan to do two door dashes today and then we plan on being back home to have a day of relaxation.  

Other than checking in on Mom and Daughter E, we plan on staying in our hidey hole from now on and working on things at the house.  No kids birthday parties, gatherings etc.  Our one friend with covid is now in the hospital with low oxygen.  Stay safe my friends.

Chilly Weather and random chit-chat

I think we are moving out of the temperature drop, and back into the 70's.  

Daughter E is sick.  We tried to buy her some zinc, but it was sold out.  We found her some vitamin D and C, and delivered her some 4 Thieves.  It was a door drop just to be safe, and thank goodness we did.  She went to the doctor and tested positive for covid.  Please pray for her and anyone she was in contact with.  

I sent Daughter K with another door drop for her with other medicinal items that could help her.  She lives alone with her cat, so I reminded my husband we need to door drop some cat food soon.  I pray she recovers quickly.  So many more at my husband's work are getting sick too.

I am dropping out of the craft show for all these reasons.  My Mom needs our help with food, cat food, household chores, getting the mail, putting trash out and many other things.  I can't put her at risk.  She literally cannot walk well, and needs someone to check on her physically vs. just a phone call. Stay safe my friends.

Rain and Wind ~ Dutch Oven Chili Adjusted ~

We are getting hit with a ton of rain and wind.  Flooding is happening in some areas.  The temperature has really dipped too.  We woke up to 48 degrees this morning.

I went scrambling for my chili recipe and could not find it.  I think I have too many tab options in my recipe box ha ha!

I found it in the "camping" recipes, but I adjust it to make on the stove and in the crock pot.

I basically cook the bacon and ground beef first on the stove top (or oven). Then put all remaining ingredients in the crock pot.  I add jalapeno for some heat too.

I'm putting the recipe here, but if you want to make it over a campfire, you'll need a dutch oven and hot coals.

Dutch Oven Chili

2 lbs. ground beef, organic
1/2 lb. bacon, organic

2 5.5 oz. cans tomato paste, organic

2 large yellow onions, diced

2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 Tbsp. chopped celery (optional)

2 tsp. cumin

2 - 28 oz cans of whole tomatoes (I use frozen garden tomatoes when I have them)

3 -  16 oz. cans red kidney beans, organic, drained

I also cook the ground beef with the onions and add garlic last.  I then just add everything to the crock pot, and heat it on low all day long, but it has better flavor the next day too.  I have never added the celery, but that is optional.