Dehydrated Chives ~ Scrap Lapghan ~ Going Paperless with Coffee Brewing

 

I did something different this year.  I dehydrated my chives vs. freeze them.  I had a bit of trouble though.  I thought  dicing them up first would help dehydrate faster.  My dehydrator fan sort of blew them forward, but they did dry.

I dug out this unfinished lapghan.  I took a completed one over to Mom's house.  It will keep her legs warm in her transport chair, however she loves it so much she wants another one for the house while she rests in her recliner.  I'll be working on this at the craft show.

Why I have not thought of doing this, is beyond my mind.  I noticed that the paper filters at the store were pretty low, and I checked Amazon for a reusable one.  I bought one that said it would fit my coffee maker.

We finally cut the last of a tree down and starting cutting it to move to the splitter.  It's finally time to fire up that wood stove soon.

Grounded ~ Barn Cat ~ Craft Show Prep and more

I 've been grounded.  Our November adventure has been postponed until next year.  We simply have too much to get done, and my husband hasn't had a day off in literally weeks.  He's exhausted, and more exhausted knowing what we need to get done.  I'll just have something to look forward to next year.

Sadly, we have not seen our barn cat Aurora in 4 days now.  I'll do another attempt to call for her, and look around, but there is not a day she does not come to the door to eat.  I know she is old, but she still had spunk.  We are all worried.

I dug out all my handiwork, and am making sure items are packaged and priced.  My bedroom looks like a hurricane went through it, ha ha!  I told my husband, it'll all disappear soon, and hopefully in the way of a lot of sales.

Made another apple crisp.  My daughter ate the last of the last one for breakfast, and I heard about it for days from my husband.  He's happy.

Getting Caught Up. . . .

 I got a small amount of garden swiss chard blanched and froze.

Blanched 2 heads of cauliflower and froze them.

Blanched 2# of carrots and froze those too.

Tried to catch up with laundry and washed kitchen towels.

Did final touches on the ornaments, earrings and one necklace.

Trying to keep up . . .

It's been sort of an overwhelming schedule.  I thought Mom having a visiting nurse would take the edge off us taking her to appointments, but that's not the case.  She still has appointments 2-3 times a week that require transport service, and she refuses to use the free transport service for seniors that is in her town.

Yesterday I tag teamed with Daughter K.  Took Mom to the wound clinic and then took her shopping.  She refuses to use the electric carts (she's very stubborn), so it takes two of us to take her shopping.  One pushes her in a transport chair and one pushes the shopping cart.  Then we take her home and unload her purchases and put them away.  It was an hour and a half at the wound clinic, and I kid you not, 1 1/2 hours walking around Meijer.  I could tell she was thrilled to get out to shop, but we were exhausted.  I think we rounded the entire store three times, ha ha!

Before that we have other stops she wants to do, and then it's pitch dark out when we return home.

Thankfully, Mom is signed back up with meals on wheels. The weather is changing.  It will become very difficult to deliver meals when I live a 50 minute round trip from her home.  The meals are also prepared for her health requirements.

These days require crock pot meals (all-in-one), and I'm trying to do my best taking care of things at home.  My husband hasn't had a day off in long time, and I also bake his breakfast and pack his daily food for work.

Also, my chickens are lucky to get 1-2 hours of daylight.  I don't have anyone to put them in before it gets dark out.  We have day light savings time, and it's dark very early anymore.

Meanwhile I left freshly picked swiss chard in the refrigerator, so I'm praying it is still good to blanch and freeze today.  

Oh, update on my Mom.  It is confirmed that her one leg has sickle cell skin cancer and it must be removed quickly.  This type of cancer spreads quickly.  Thank you for your prayers, good thoughts and good mojo.

Beautiful Sunrise and other ramblings

Beautiful sunrise and a morning visitor.

We decided to put the trail camera out to know get proof of exactly what was tearing up the yard.  Mainly, to put my thoughts to rest on entering the barn (ha ha ha!), and not find any surprises (although we have a solar barn light that deters visitors at night).  Absolutely no activity.  I think they or he/she moved on.  I'll set the camera one more night and double check.

I finally got my new fitbit watch to sync with my insurance program.  It was not a fun job.  Now I know why my Mom doesn't like technology and changes.  The watch they sent me could only be set up via a mobile device.  Sigh.  I could not sync it to my computer until I downloaded the fitbit app to my phone, signed in, and set up the device.

My husband helped me do that, and yes, it will still track steps if it's in my pocket.  I am not wearing that thing on my wrist so they can monitor my heart and sleep and whatnot.  They get steps and that's it.  I'll remove the wrist band and just stick it in my pocket or sock.  The things we are required to do just to keep our insurance at the price it is, is ridiculous.

Daughter K helped me muck the coop and we rigged a piece of twine and hook to hold the water unit up off the blocks they were on.  Oh I do not like the coop we have, but am thankful for a safe place for them.  My husband works too much to get a new one built.  Sigh.

We woke up to a very foggy morning.

Tuesday Tidbits

Breakfast for the next few days - crock pot steel cut oats with apples, raisins, walnuts, and cinnamon. I cut the recipe in half.  I'm sort of getting used to cooking for 3 people now.

I took advantage of the beautiful weather, so I headed out to muck the coop.  Didn't happen.  This chicken herself, saw that the skunks did a lot of yard damage near the barn I get my straw from.  I was too chicken to go in the barn.  I messaged my husband (who got a chuckle out of this), and asked if he'd check out the barn tonight after work.  I know skunks generally sleep in dens during the day, but I saw one out during the day last week (up the road).  I didn't want any surprises in the barn.  Sigh.

Update on a crock pot meal I recently made.  Didn't really follow a recipe, but tried cooking bone-in chicken thighs a different way.

I sliced up some red skin potatoes and tossed them with 2 Tbsp. olive oil and 2 Tbsp. melted butter,5 cloves of minced garlic, parsley and thyme.  I put that in the bottom of the crock pot, pan seared the chicken for about 3 minutes each side and put the thighs on top of the potatoes.  I cooked it for 10 hours on low, and the chicken literally fell off the bone it was so tender.  I grated parmesan cheese and added that to the potatoes.

I, even though I told myself not to, printed off a salad recipe to try.  If I get to the store and get it made, and share if it's worthy.  It looked good anyway.

If you didn't read my post yesterday, I added photos of some ornaments and earrings I was working on for the upcoming craft show.  Meanwhile I continue to crochet dish scrubbies.  I finished a set of boot cuffs yesterday too.

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

I cut the entire 10 yards of green netting I bought, but now have a blister on my thumb from cutting so much netting.  I will need to raise my prices next year on handmade items.  My supplies have all gone up in price.

My husband was not able to leave work early yesterday, so I have much to do today on my own.  It's going to be much nicer out today, so that will help.

I worked a bit more on my Christmas ornaments.  I'll take them to the craft show this weekend.  I would love to keep one for our tree, but we'll see.  I will be sure to post a photo when they are all done.

Bottle Cap Earrings I made.

I'm making more for the craft show, but I still need to balance outside work with inside work.  Instructions on the ornaments can be found on my S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot.

I went out to find something dug up the yard looking for grubs I assume.  I'm thinking either skunk or raccoon.  I guess we don't have to worry about army worms, but the rodents left the grass a total mess.  In all the 13 years living here, this is the first time to see this.

I have been putting my homemade comfrey salve on a bruise, and it's been working great!  I'm so glad I made it this year.  Do you make a comfrey salve?

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

I'll link up when she posts.  I need to get the outdoor stuff done before I can start playing with handiwork.

The weather . . . 

68°F/ 43°F

How I am feeling this morning . . .

Ready to tackle the days work.

On my mind . . .

Homemade Christmas presents. I have a few to gift, and a few ideas.  I would like to make some things to surprise gift my Aunt M.  

On the breakfast plate . . .

I'm leaning towards a crock pot steel cut oats recipe with apples and raisins.

Right now I am . . .

Getting ready to post this, and get this day going.

What I am wearing today. . .

Outdoor work clothes, muck boots, then changing clothes.

On my reading pile . . .

Letters written to my Dad, so I can start passing them onto the next sibling.

On today's to-do list . . .

-put dishes away

-bake a breakfast casserole, maybe steel cut oats breakfast

-muck the chicken coop

-put tomato stakes back in storage

-dump flower pots

-pull glady bulbs

-check greens in the garden

-work on crocheting more dish scrubbies, finish a set of boot cuffs, and work on the ornaments and earrings

On the TV . . .

Comanche Moon, Lonesome Dove, Return to Lonesome Dove

On the menu this week . . .

-chicken chili

-turkey, steamed broccoli

-roast, potatoes, carrots and onions

-leftovers

From the camera . . .

Old photo of when we had the last goats (he was a wether).  He was always finding a way to jump out of his stall or over the fence.  

Looking around the house . . .

I have the larger kitchen table cleaned off to cut one more color of netting. 

Something fun to share . . .

Recipes to try.  The brazil nut one has me intrigued.

To relax this week I will . . .

Read letters and crochet, call Mom.

On the prayer list . . .

Mom.  Her memory is getting worse.  She also canceled her meals on wheels and now relies on friends and family.  Winter is coming and I think she'll need to get those meals delivered again.  I get snowed in, and most everyone works.