Storing Ginger Root ~ Loony Lane ~ Peaches

 I have stored ginger root in my freezer for years.  I simply wash and dry it on a vegetable drying mat.

I wrap each piece in plastic wrap, and tuck into a freezer bag.  I simply take it out when I need it, and re-wrap it and put it back in the freezer.

Recently, I have learned of a second way to store it.  Thanks to the cooking channel and learning new tips and tricks in the kitchen.

Cut and peel the ginger root.  Place in an air tight glass jar with sherry or brandy, and place in your refrigerator.  Hm.  It will be nice to have it already peeled.

I've dubbed my home "loony lane" for this month.  My husband is putting down the hammer, added with a time limit, to get the bedroom packed up and off the carpet.  The problem is, he doesn't understand I can't do it all by myself with that amount of time.

I swear, he is going to make me lose my mind.  I had to drag him into the walk-in closet and explain that everything on two shelving units has to be packed up and those shelves, that sit on the carpet have to move too.  This next renovation is gonna get the best of me.

Despite trying to get him to do anything before he goes to work, I am trying to get stuff done.  He felt guilty the other day and got off the sofa and installed two electrical boxes.  His wacky schedule causes him to want to sit around and do nothing before work.

I had almost forgot, that I thawed peaches from the freezer, but thankfully got the peach crumble baked.  You can see someone couldn't help himself before it cooled enough.

Oh, and every day I spray the pet pee areas on the upstairs wood floor, let it sit, then wipe it.  I will have to do a few more applications, and then I think we'll be ready to put the gym foam flooring down.  So far, it's working on removing the odor from the flooring.  I have the spare bedroom to do yet though.

It's a wee bit cold here but all the hens are laying daily thankfully.  The weather forecast is for snow tomorrow.  Snow.  yes I said snow.  Looking outside the window, you would never now.

Leggy Beet Seedlings

I started a tray of beets indoors this year for the first time ever.

After they sprouted they started to get leggy.  I wasn't sure if they were under watered or over watered or what. 

I did what most people do.  I asked Google.  It said to put more light on them.  I did that, and nothing changed.

...they look like this.  Too much water or not enough?  Not enough light?  I've tried it all, but that tray doesn't hold much soil either.  

Transition Days ~ Chickens ~ Seedlings

 The first few days of start up hours, for my husband's work can be crazy.  It's a time of feeling whack-a-doodle, as far as routine goes.  He's either working 2nd or 3rd or who knows what shift, and it throws me off completely.

It takes us a good few days to try and get flow to our daily routine, mornings, evenings, all of it.  I took the day off from purging and organizing and moving stuff, but it has been overwhelming for me.  I love to create crafty items, but it's sort of at the point, where I don't need to create so many items anymore.  I have to come to a point of deciding what to get rid of what to keep, in that area.

I used to make homemade gifts, that required bottles, or jars or whatnot.  Not anymore.  The kids are all grown, and do not put up Christmas trees, so I'm not making ornaments like I used to.  By the way, the "starbucks" ornaments in the making, made their way to the trash. I took off what could be useable, and tossed the rest.  The kids did not want one for their homes/apt.

I used an old bookshelf to store craft items in my closet, so that is the focus, but now I'm trying to decide if I want to paint the bookshelf and put it in the upstairs bedroom.  It is a solid wood bookshelf, so I will think a bit longer on that decision.

His schedule also throws off my meal plans.  I managed to clean a large amount of fresh spinach, blanch and freeze it.  I may be using some to make a breakfast frittata.  I do sort the spinach, because the last few times, I have found weeds, and sometimes grass it in.  I also lift it out of the soak water, and rinse again, before blanching it.

Our weather was a bit warmer yesterday, but we are still drying out from the recent downpour of rain.  We are back to cooler weather again.  

The chickens are back to regular egg laying, but their coop door is falling apart.  We'll need to start thinking about the new coop now.  For now, we will have to rig it, so the door shuts properly.

My saved hot banana pepper seeds have not sprouted as of today.  I saved them from pepper plants we purchased, and planted, so I'm not sure what's going on .  I may need to purchase Hungarian wax pepper plants and try saving those seeds this year (or buy seeds from my regular sources).  Also, the Cherry Bomb pepper seeds I purchased from someone on Etsy (I should learn my lesson after twice), did not sprout.  Only one did.  I can live without the cherry bomb, but I do use quite a bit of the hot banana peppers for a few canning recipes.

Speaking of canning.  I can confess, the first year I started growing a garden, I went nut-so with canning.  Boy, can you dive right into all those interesting recipes and end up with way too many condiments the first few years.  I have been very careful now, on only canning some "interesting" and delicious condiments for gift giving.  I decided not to can corn relish the last few years, after realizing we did not use it as much as we thought we would.

I have been discussing canning and the garden with my husband lately, and I may can some jalapenos to compare with freezing this year.  I'm not talking more cowboy candy, but just canning them.

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

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

I will link up when she posts.

The weather . . .

Today high is 54 degrees, but all week we'll mostly be in the 40's and more rain possibly today.

As I look outside my window . . .

Somewhat cloudy.

Right now I am. . .

Making coffee.

Thinking and pondering . . .

Trying to make plans on when and what we need from the hardware store - flooring, trim, supplies for the chicken coop, hallway flooring etc.

On my TV today . . .

Nothing.

Listening to . . .

Possibly country later today.

On my lunch plate . . .

Have no idea yet.

On my dinner plate . . .

Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Home canned tomato basil soup.

On the menu . . .

I will be working on this early today.  The only down fall on going away for the weekend, but I did wash the bedding and had the bed made before we left, so that is off the to-do list this week.

What I have so far:

Breakfast:  Fritatta, Sweet potato egg cups

Dinners:

-crock pot pork chops, oven roasted veggies
-Enchilada soup
-leftovers

On my reading pile . . .

Honestly, nothing this week.

On the to-do list . . .

-dust
-laundry
-bake a breakfast

-purge bedroom/bedroom walk-in closet

-unload dishwasher

-take trash out to the road

-spray flooring upstairs

-meal plan for the week

Plans for this week . . .

Purge walk-in closet/master bedroom and move items off the carpet.

What I am creating . . .

Still crocheting our blanket, and worked on a set of unfinished pot holders over the weekend.

My simple pleasure . . .

Taking a spontaneous road trip, which we did.

Looking around the house . . .

The living room is filling up with more yarn I need to store upstairs.

From the camera . . .

Pig butter dish at one antique store, that my husband insisted we get (ha ha!).

A few more mini hen and nest dishes.

My husband picked this out (oil lamp) at an antique store.

New trivet for one oil lamp, but I think I will get another one on our next road trip.  We came home pretty relaxed, and glad we spontaneously took off for the weekend.  It was opening day for the Amish flea market, and I wanted more cup coasters for the living room (forgot to show photos of that).

Bible Verse, Devotional . . .

Land of the Unfinished and other closet finds....

 I do not have a craft room in my house.  A few years ago, I started to move totes of yarn upstairs, on shelves on one wall of the "gym" room.  I have always used our walk-in closet for such items, along with shelves in my utility room.

I have started the process of cleaning it all out of the closet, and oh my word, did things get buried in there.  I have used a  bookshelf full of crafting items.  I am attempting to empty it, come up with an organized storage upstairs, and move the bookshelf to the "guest" bedroom or spare room.

Unfinished Christmas ornaments in a kitchen soup bowl.  Gulp!  I started these in 2017!!!!  That was six years ago.  I was making them for the kids for Christmas, and even wrote a blog post for making them on my other blog:  HERE

Under those above ornaments a pair of unfinished candy corn earrings.  Have no idea why that tiny spool was in there.

Unfinished granny square scarf, and one water balloon.

Unfinished set of pot holders, because I could not get yarn that matched to make the second one.

Unfinished cover top for one of the girls.

Unfinished camper Christmas ornaments.

Unfinished flip flop key chain.

Unfinished thin dishcloth.

Unfinished Christmas ornament project.

Unfinished set of pot holders.

Unfinished knitted dishcloth.

These are the current "finds" in the closet

My first, ever pair of crocheted baby booties.  They ended up too big.

A pair of thick socks we bought for one of the kids for Christmas last year.

More lip balm and salve containers I didn't know I had.

Six hand sewn apron bottle drink covers with straw slot on the front.  I put a pencil in the top one to show you.  I bought these so, so, so many years ago from a friend.  I have a women's group at that time, and I wanted to gift them.  I guess that never got done, ha ha! 

I found a dime while cleaning.  Smiling here.

Oh, we have only just begun.  However, I have finished painting one entire doorway trim in the hallway.

Beautiful Day ~ Painting Resumes ~ Balancing Act

 

While the washer was doing it's thing, I cleaned my clothesline.  Boy it was dirty.

We had a beautiful  60 degree day, so I took advantage of it.  It won't be so nice the rest of the week.  See that lonely sock?  Daughter E did her laundry here a few days ago, and it must have fallen into my dirty towels ha ha

The entrance way to the kitchen from the hallway, is arched.  That is the color of wood before I started painting it. It truly made the rooms look so much brighter, and we love it.  However, I have 4 more doorways, and two windows to paint.  It's a get-er' done over the next few weeks.

The only thing motivating me, is the fact our garden is flooded, so I can't do anything out there until it dries up.  We are supposed to get snow/rain this Friday anyway.  

Since I took those photos, I now have the side door trim primed and will paint it today.  It's a process, and I will be so happy when we are done, but when exactly is "done" around here ha ha!

First, I had to clean all that trim around the side door with vinegar water and a rag.  While that dried, I took down the only curtain in that area, and washed it.

It needed a washing anyway, so that spring clean job is done.

Then where ever I cannot use my handy tool around the edge of the trim, I put up paint tape.

Followed by a coat of primer, then I wash out my brush and wash the tool, move ladders, remove paint tape, put lid on can and do it all over again the next day.  Not my favorite thing to do.  Painting that is, but so much cheaper than buying all new trim for the entire house.

Oh, and the interruptions during the painting process result in a loud heavy sigh, a few expletives, and eye rolling.  Not fun when you are down on the floor, and the phone rings in the other room.

It's been a balancing act between painting the hallway trim, and cleaning up the bedroom walk-in closet.  I'm working on purging, re-organizing and getting anything off the floor to prepare for carpet removal, but I have a lot of work to do.  I could not believe how much yarn I still have in my closet, unfinished Christmas ornaments, unfinished Christmas gifts, and a whole lot of crafting supplies.  Everybody may end up with something crocheted next Christmas ha ha ha!  I guess it depends on how busy our garden year is, and what still needs done inside the house (which is a lot yet).

I filled a garbage bag with yarn to take upstairs, but that is not even close to what's still to be collected and moved up in storage.  Oh boy.  I do have my computer area organized with a notebook for what to make with what, so I'm staying on task and using up what I have.

Sheet Pan Scrambled Eggs ~ Freezer Re-Stock

I have baked eggs in the oven on a sheet pan previously, but I wanted to make scrambled eggs for easier breakfast sandwiches.  I also wanted them in the freezer for a quick breakfast, or if we had company (aka kids).

I did some research on time, temperature, size of pan, etc.

I decided to go with 18 eggs, a 12 x 17 inch sheet pan (jelly roll pan), and parchment paper.

Tip: Spray oil onto the pan, line with parchment paper, and spray again.  You will want 15 inch wide parchment paper, or your eggs may go under the parchment in the sides or corners.  I used my 12 inch paper and it went under one corner just a bit.

Preheat Oven to 350°F, bake 15-17 minutes or until eggs are no longer jiggly in the center.  It does take a much steady hand to put this in the oven without spilling it.  I may use a smaller pan and 12 eggs next time.  

I can cut 12 servings this way and freeze them for future sandwiches, or make the entire sandwich, wrap in plastic wrap, then foil, and then into a freezer bag (or airtight container).  I have not tried this yet with freezer paper, but if you do, let me know if that works as well.  It will last up to 3 months in the freezer, according to my research.

It was an all morning breakfast freezer re-stock, but half was for this week and half went into the freezer, minus the bacon.  I made 2 lbs. of homemade sage (using dehydrated sage from the herb garden) turkey sausage patties and 1/2 lb. of bacon.

2 lbs. of turkey sausage sounds like a lot, but one serving is about 4 oz. or 1/2 cup before cooking.