Handheld Vacuum Sealer Updates

 

I purchased this handheld vacuum sealer, due to the one recommended not being manufactured right now.  America's Test Kitchen recommended a different one, but after doing my research, found out it may not be made again. 

The only issue I have is that the battery cover pops off easily.  I just put some duct tape over it.  

The bags are more difficult to seal than a regular ziploc bag, but once sealed they work great.

Update on these after almost a year of using them:  Now that it's just us too, I plan to put all what I freeze in one larger bag, and just take out what we need.  Other than corn, I think it will work great for us, and us on buying ziploc bags this year.  

Preserving Eggs ~ Ramblings

 Let's talk about preserving eggs.  I know how to do water-glassing, but have never dehydrated.  I found a great article online by Backwoods Home Magazine.  What is your preference for preserving eggs?

Suggestions on using dehydrated eggs?  I'm plan to look thru my books to see what I have on this, but asking here too.

A few more dollar tree finds from earlier this week - dressing to-go bottles, and a vegetable scrubber for the camper.

The dressing bottles will be great for my husband's work lunch, but I bought two of them for picnic packing too.  It doesn't look like we'll likely take any long vacations this year due to gas prices, and prices of everything else.

I have 1 more quart to freeze, but I got the strawberries taken care of.  Jam is done as well, so I don't have to use freezer space and do it in winter.

I made us some homemade teriyaki sauce for chicken teriyaki.  It will last a few days (the dinner), so I won't have to cook thankfully.

My husband and I talked last night about raising a pig and cows.  Goats are not in the picture yet, but I am prepared (since we raised dairy goats before).  

Strawberry season is here!

 

Strawberry season snuck up on me.  Canning season officially started yesterday.  I'll be even busier the next few days.  I was so no ready for this either.  I used my jam maker yesterday and got a small batch of reduced sugar jam made.

I had a horrible time finding the pectin I use for the jam maker.  I also had to go to 3 stores to locate liquid pectin.  Last year we couldn't find jars, or lids, and this year it's other supplies.

My new item for the island store.  I'm working on the packaging.  I'm thinking about getting some white sand from the Dollar Tree and glue a bit in the bottom corner with a tiny seashell.  What are your thoughts?  Leave it as is, or add the sand and seashell?  It will go into a plastic bag with our farm store label on the backside.

This and That

 I spent the better part of the day in the vegetable garden.  I'm am very tired, sore and feel sort of beat up.  Laundry was done, a breakfast scramble baked, brought 3 bags of trash down from the upstairs, planted 2 trees (the birds gifted us in the flower bed) before the rain arrived, and did not get any painting done.  A true, full blown Monday for me.

I forgot to take photos, but after I tied up the tomato plants, I noticed two banana peppers are already on, and the cherry tomatoes are on.

I've never, ever gone into June with flower beds in such disarray.  The rain is continuing, so there is no chance of that today.  Unless it stops early, and then I can weed from the edges, but I'm pretty sure it will be soaking wet in those beds.

The price of gas here has soared above $5/gallon, so the list making continues.  I've been trying to make all my stops in one day, to avoid trips into the "big city" and so forth.  I do have to make a trip soon though.

I ordered shelf brackets for my living room, and the company sent the wrong ones.  Even though there is the description and a picture of my order on the receipt, they sent something totally different.  It, of all things, has to be dropped at a Federal Express office.  Why do things have to be so difficult when it is not from Amazon?  Urgh.

Did I mention my jar openers will not be sold at the general store as planned?  They are not taking any more outside sales. 

A friend told me that she went out to eat, and the place looked empty, same with with another town (also a local restaurant).  People can't afford to eat out at the high prices, nor spend the high priced gas to get there.  Anyone else a bit concerned on how this world is going to function for us?

Meanwhile, I plan to carve out a few minutes of the week to work on another possible order for the same island store.  

Happy Homemaker Monday

It was about time we were blessed with an entire weekend rest, relax, and rejuvenate. 

My camper ornaments have been delivered and are for sale in a store on our favorite island.  I'm creating another new items she is interested in.  I'm praying I have time to work on them, and get the painting done, garden kept up, and so forth.

We are not the only ones dealing with a busy schedule.  Our friends on the island could not meet up with us due to a very busy work schedule.  We did stop and visit with another friend we have other there though.

My new smaller tiller finally arrived so garden work, while my husband is back to long hours, is much easier on me.

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

The weather . . .

85°F/66°F, scattered thunderstorms, windy

As I look outside my window . . . 

It's still dark out.

Right now I am . . .

Sipping coffee, trying to wake up.

Thinking and pondering . . .

Too early for that, ha ha!

How I am feeling . . .

Sad.  Sad we have to be back on the mainland with my husband back to long days, but I do have a lot to keep me busy, and the younger two girls come and go with visits.

On the breakfast plate . . .

Egg/sausage/cheese muffin, organic coffee

On my reading pile . . .

Picked up a new book.  I am pretty sure it will be a fast read, so I'm putting this first before I finish my current book.

On my TV this week . . .

Whatever looks good.

On the menu . . .

-chicken teriyaki, homemade teriyaki sauce

-Rueben's, but most likely will be next week

-grilled brats, side veggie

Looking around the house . . .

I have to make a trip upstairs and try and juggle working up there as well.  I need to (still have not) make room for the treadmill.  Next flooring project is the living room/kitchen bathroom.

On the to-do list . . .

-water and till in garden

-paint another drawer

-tidy up kitchen where I can

-water flower pots

-laundry

-vacuum

-dust

-water house plants

-check emails (getting so bad at this)

-start working on the back patio

From the camera . . .

Devotional/Prayers . . .

No special requests right now.

Storms and other ramblings

We had thunderstorms and some areas had damage from them.  I'm about to head out and check on the garden.  It'll be too wet to work in, but need to do a look-see anyway.

Limited to what I had on hand, I dug out some crochet thread and worked on something one of the kids suggested I make.

The strawberry turned out a perfect size, but will change the keychain part to something different.  The watermelon turned out a bit too big, so I'll make it smaller next chance I have.

I am finding out how many muscles I have while painting.  I was down on the floor on my stomach painting under cabinets.  I had to laugh when I told my husband this, and his response was, "I can take the trim off or you."  He's been saying that since the beginning of May (he has no time to do anything but rest when he gets home).   Most smaller trim was already off and is all painted,  One more coat and floor trim is done.

I am not running out of things to do, that is for sure.  As soon as the flower beds dry enough I will be weeding those, along with the herb garden.  I yanked a honeysuckle from the flower bed yesterday before the rain, and replanted it on the property line for a wind block.  I figure the birds gave it to us, why not utilize it elsewhere.

My lemon balm, and oregano are fully really to harvest.  The green onion and bunching onions are doing great thanks to the rain.

I tossed down more swiss chard seeds, and took a look at the kale.  It's doing pretty good, but not ready to harvest.

I did a quick check on infused oils, and need a few made this year.  I use them to make my homemade lotion, chapstick etc.  Speaking of list making the other day, I am about to start another one - restock items that need made that go in the freezer.  I must stay on top of what needs stocked up.  The way the gas prices are going, it's become worrisome.

Newest Crochet Project - Mini Camper Keychains and other Tidbits

I made this for Daughter K's birthday.  I'm not sure I'll get the other project done in time.  I'm heading out to the garden this morning early.  Anyway, it turned out super cute.  She is into a black and white theme in her apartment this year.

I got two more made in other colors, but it takes quite a bit of time to make these mini campers.

I got a strawberry crunch cake made yesterday evening.  I'm trying really hard to rotate out of the freezer, so I don't waste anything in there.  I forgot to take a photo, but my husband was pretty happy to come home to it.

Found out my husband's boss is out sick with covid right now.

All of the loose floor trim is painted but one piece.  The flooring guys broke one piece in half, and I didn't find out until the other day.  Frustrating for sure.

I'm off the hook with making breakfast for my husband's crew.  However, he needs scrambled eggs now for the weekend burritos.

I'm the queen of list making right now.  There is a list for the day, a continued list for the grocery store, a list of things that need re-stocked that require another list to pre-start those, like infusing oils.  I'm doing my best at this, but evenings are the hardest I think.