The Bucket List

 Every year I try to do something I've never done before. I love learning new to me skills, or at least brush up on the old ones. This year, I decided I was going to quilt something. I, at first, subscribed to the Mrs. Quilty boxes, but that didn't last long for me. I found it to be fun, but I found some of the projects and fabrics were not my taste. I did enjoy receiving them though. These were all from the first box. I still have a couple more to things from the box to make.

I had a lot of fun doing these projects and found so many more things to sew. Now to just find the time. Now that the kids are grown, we are in the planning and process of making their rooms into an office and sewing/craft room. My daughter is coming from the west coast to visit next week and after she leaves, the make-overs will begin. 

I'm also downsizing everything and donating and cleaning out stuff. The kids left a ton of stuff and then everything I inherited from family needs gone through and rehomed. Daughter doesn't want any of it, and son is particular with what he wants. I just want to get through everything so there is less for them to deal with when we pass on. It's better that they get what they want now anyhow. 

I'm starting to put meals and mixes up in jars. It's always so nice to go to the panty and pull out something that won't take long to whip up on those days when I don't have the time to make a proper meal. I used up everything I had put up before, so this year, I'm going to expand things. I'm trying to make as much of our groceries as possible. I found by doing this, it not only saves money but things taste so much better than store bought!

Some of the Fall Potatoes Are In

I couldn't believe it when I received a message on Tuesday that our local greenhouse got me some seed potatoes to try and plant for a fall harvest. I honestly thought that I would have to wait until next year. I called the greenhouse right away and they said there was a box of potatoes waiting for me. On Wednesday afternoon, hubby had to go out and get a few things and stopped by the greenhouse to pick them up. He texted me and said the box was $10. I was ecstatic and was expecting a small box to experiment with - maybe 40 or so in the box. That would be a great number to try out and not a huge loss if I didn't have success. 

When he arrived home, I was on the phone with my daughter so never saw the box. When I got off the phone with her, hubby said they were out in the garage. I was planning on planting them in the morning, but had to go out and take a peek at my treasured seeds. The box was by no means small and the amount of seed potatoes stunned me! It was about the size of 2 cases of 15oz size cans of tomatoes! WOW! Now, I know that all will not take - but good golly miss molly, I never expected near the amount I received! 

I went out Thursday morning and got some in - probably close to half, but the air quality (this is before I knew it was a problem) had me back inside before I could get them all in. Then it got so bad (in the 300's) that I haven't been out to plant the rest. I still can't get into the garden today because of all the rain we had yesterday, but at least the air quality is decent and we can now open our windows. Tomorrow is another day.

The basil is looking healthy and should be pushing out the first true leaves soon. Then on to be transplanted. I ended up with more plants than planned - 11 total! I had no idea I had dropped that many seeds in the pot. Oh, the joy of small seeds LOL That's OK though, because my son wants a couple.

Cheaper Cuts of Meat

 Walking through the grocery store gave me sticker shock! The prices have gone up higher and higher for just normal ingredients, let alone prepackaged foods. I still buy milk and the occasional produce/meat but have decided to really make an effort to shop at the farmer's market and butcher shop. The farmer's market will be gone with the change in seasons, but the butcher shop is open year round.

Eye of Round

One of the cuts I got was Eye of Round. It's a tough cut with not much for marbling or fat. In fact, this piece was really quite lean, but at about $6 a pound, I figured I could just cook it low and slow for a more tender piece when finished. I will be putting it on a bed of potatoes, carrots, onions and celery and probably adding some tomato sauce and spices and cook it in the crockpot for 8 or so hours. I would have preferred the oven, but not in this heat. We'll be hitting near 100 today and tomorrow with killer humidity. Yes - another heat warning from the national weather service. Sigh...

There is a bright side for this warm weather. My basil has already sprouted! I planted it on Friday and was seeing green on Sunday evening. I had a hard time with the seeds, as they are about the size of poppy seeds, so I decided just to scatter a few and transplant as soon as they are ready to move. I purchased Lettuce Leaf Basil from Baker Creek Seeds. This is new basil for me. It's supposed to be a bit milder than Genovese and great for making pesto, etc. I'm excited to try this (new to me) variety.

 

Look at all the babies!

Multiple Garden Plantings

How could you not know?

 As far back as I can remember, my parents and grandparents planted in the spring. I don't remember being taught anything else but spring planting and the sayings: "Peas must be on Good Friday" "Corn should be knee high by the 4th of July", "Potatoes should be planted when the dandelions bloom", etc. I never remember consecutive plantings or planting for fall crops. The garden went in and the plants produced until they didn't. Everything had a time frame - we preserved during those frames, and when the plants were spent, they were pulled and composed and the bare area was covered with manure. 

I was so taken by the idea of pulling crops and planting something in their place and I was mesmerized with the idea of fall plantings. I couldn't believe how many plants could be started in summer for a second crop - and that the second harvest (fall harvest) could be even better because of the autumn's cooler weather! Certain plants stop producing and will bolt in the heat, but plant them in the summer, and they do wonderfully until frost (or beyond)!

I just purchased a couple types of summer squash to plant for fall harvest, since I didn't get my spring plants in. There's also enough time for basil, parsley, cilantro, and dill for the herbs that will be welcomed with fall canning. Many times the dill is already spent when pickling time comes around and this second batch is perfect for using fresh dill! 

My gardening is different than it used to be. I can have a smaller garden that produces the same or a lot more than the large one I used to have. I don't need a big garden with the kids gone, but I do love the fresh produce. Now all I need to discover is a tried and true method for getting rid of the groundhogs!

Who said woodchucks don't like cherry tomatoes?

A Little Dehydrating

 Well, we did it. We purchased another dehydrator to add to our arsenal of machines. This one is a stainless steel one with 10 racks. The drying are is larger than my largest Excalibur and a good 20 years newer. Yah - we thought it was time to get a new one. Mind you, there's noting wrong with the Excalibur, it's just we wanted to try this one and the price was unbeatable. I am not exactly loving it - and prefer the old one to this one, but I have to give it a fair chance. One issue I have is that it is digital verses my older dial model. When the power goes out, even for a few seconds, it is off for good. That's a definite drawback when I'm in the middle of drying something and the power goes off in the middle of the night. Setting the time and temperature is another thing I must learn. The unit is extremely quiet, so I have a hard time telling if it is running. Yes, I know it's a learning curve and will take a bit of time. 

So, to test this machine out, I've dehydrated a few things - garlic scapes, frozen green beans, and mint. I ground the scapes into a powder and will be using them for flavoring my soups, stews, eggs, etc. I am conditioning everything now, and then they will be sealed and find a permanent spot on my shelf.

 

I lined the tray with parchment paper.

I got out my old Ronco dehydrator to make some Minute Rice. No reason to use the big ones for just a couple of the trays. The Ronco is nice because I can add and take away trays at will, making it exactly the size I need. Now, back to the rice... My son thinks I can by a box cheaper than making it, but I know exactly what is in it, and when I making up a batch of rice to eat, I just make a bit more to dry. My rice has only 2 ingredients: rice and water (I know where both came from) and I'm sure the cost is cheaper than the store brand even with the electricity used. It doesn't take long at all to dry and I like having some on hand to use in my dry-mix meals. If I want to make some plain minute type rice, I just pour it out and add hot water - one for one. 

.The finished product

The Homestead Has Been Quiet

 

My little laundry helper. 

Life has been going along with no real change. I've been on burnout and have not had a lot of interest in doing or trying much for new things. I've been just tired and everything that I had plans to do over the past 6 months, I really didn't. I didn't get my herbs planted, so no creating a new herb garden and forget about the flower bed! It looks neglected and with no new plantings. On a positive note, the daisies did extremely well and multiplied like crazy!

We didn't plant much of a garden and the things that were planted, went in late. We have been battling a family of groundhogs, and they are winning. We have no beans, cabbage, greens, okra, or pretty much anything that I had really looked forward to harvesting. It's disheartening to say the least. Living in town has its drawbacks, and this is one of them. At this point, I have no idea what we'll be harvesting this year. Sigh

On a brighter note, I have been working more with replacing grocery store items with the homemade version where I can. I am getting more and more disappointed with the way things taste. Things are different and not in a good way. We bought some beef and a turkey from the local farmer and have been pleased with the meat we've gotten. With us both being seniors, we are always looking at stretching our food and income. It's not easy but it is interesting and a challenge - and that challenge is growing more difficult as time goes on.

I hope your growing season is going well. What is your best fruit or vegetable this year?

Snow #3

 

It's snowing and even though we only have a small amount so far, the University and other public places are on delay or cancelled. The weather report says we are to have a plowable amount, but for here, a plowable amount could be a little more than a dusting - especially over the last few years! Yes, it's been that long since we have seen any "real amounts" of snow. We used to live a couple hours north of here and we actually had decent snow storms, but now, well not so much. But I guess that's a good thing with people driving to and from work.

Ten pounds of turkey are happily vacuum-sealed and frozen in the freezer and broth has been put up. And that is after we all had our fill of leftover turkey and sandwiches. Hubby was all about the dinner but I craved those sandwiches! Then there was the snitching every time the fridge was opened. Just grabbing a piece to snack on was heaven. Now I have at least 10 meals to enjoy over the winter. Hubby is not a fan of turkey - but I love it, so I'm trilled to have a leftovers in the freezer!

We are pouring over seed catalogs and planning next year's garden. I want to do more herbs and flowers and hubby is all about the vegetables. The compost pile is not growing as much as previous years, though. He usually gathers leaves, but this year with all the high winds, the leaves got blown away to who knows where. Usually he has a lot to compost, but they were blown straight from the trees and just gone! We had a few that got caught between the house and garage, but not a lot. He usually gets them from the neighbors, too, but no one around us had any real clean-up this year. 

It's been a strange year all around. I'm hoping we have more success with all endeavors next year.