Harvest Time!

This is is starting to be a daily haul.  Tomato’s are so loaded the plants are starting to stress.  I’m pulling them when they are mid orange and ripening on the tables to help the plants.  We have pots of sauce going about every other day.

I think we have about 50 quarts of sauce put up so far & more to come. I wish I had kept track of the pounds as we have harvested.  This is my first year with the Roma’s and it sure wont be the last! Those things are producers! 

We’ve a pretty good system this past week.  I’d have the sauce ready and after supper Larry would lid jars as I filled them and he’d  load/unload the canner.  It’s funny the simple things you find you can’t do but, I’m very blessed to have a husband that doesn’t hesitate to jump in without asking.  I had intended on freezing the sauce until I could lift and twist. ( Canners, you know what I mean!)  But, he said well, I can do that! 

We had our first jar break ever in the canner.  He was lifting the jars out and said “well, we have a floater” 

OK, as a Mom a  “floater” in the bath popped in my head and well…it went down hill from there!

The melons are going like gang busters.  I think we have 6-8 off the vine so far.  Saving seeds from this batch for sure as they have been great producers.

These are heritage seeds I received from Kat.  I have plenty set aside and am willing to share…just shoot me a email! Same with the zuccs.

I was really disappointed in the onion harvest.  These were all little fingerings basically the same size but look at the difference in growth! Sweet, yellow and red..the largest was palm sized.  I just don’t know what I did wrong.

Wrong or not they are now dehydrated and in a pint jar waiting to be used!  I’ll have to check the farmers market for more to dehydrate while they are fresh.

  Zucchini’s are shredded and in the freezer and dehydrated…along with peppers.  That dehydrator is working like a charm and is proving to be everything the reviews and recommendations have touted!

These were all last weeks photos, the tomato’s have continued but I’ve been banned from the garden until today.  The day after surgery I felt soooo good…better than I had in weeks!

I “just wanted to check out the garden” and found I could pull weeds and it didn’t even hurt.  Well that must have been the meds talking as I paid for it 3 times over and I’m just now back to normal.  “OK, define “normal”!    

It’s been so crazy hot!!!!  Yesterday I picked tomato’s and my feet were wet from dew in the shade…..and it was 2 pm and 93 degrees!  That’s crazy humidity!  So, I haven’t really minded being stuck at a slower pace.

Technorati Tags: Gardening,canning,recovery

 

Isaiah says He’s blogging today

This is my sister, she is the best sister i have.

I have no brother only one sister. We will keep her

I love my gloves and my sister

My Grandma made my gloves, my Mama made  my sister.

These are the vegetables my mama brought in from the garden for grandma

Grandpa is putting in the new window in the new bathroom that we are putting in my grandmas sewing & knitting studio.

The end.

Technorati Tags: isaiah,kids,gardening family

Blood Pressure Check!

Our oldest daughter Danielle and bonus daughter Katie took off to St Louis last Friday for a extended girls weekend .  They both needed a break and this was a perfect time.  The goal was a spending free weekend other than hotel room and food. They had a blast! 

They ran out of time and have a huge list of things to do next time but this is a short message & photo I received

“"I was in the drivers seat of that bus!!!! Almost ralphed and my knees were knocking!”

Now, to get the full effect of my blood pressure check…click on the photo to enlarge it……

As it turns out the zoo was offering free admission & this is a well known (by others) interactive display.

 

Technorati Tags: family,humor,random

I’m Just a little behind

After battling and try to ignore a week long stomach pain I caved & drove to the emergency room Thursday ….which resulted in the removal of my Gall bladder (it even sounds nasty).  How ever, as much as I hate taking medications I have come to realize staidol & dalaudid (and now percocet) are my friends. 

Good friends that get you thru the rough time.  I know I probably miss-spelled them but you know…. I don’t think i really care.  Of course that could be the percocet  talkin. 

So for the next few days, customs are on hold…unless you don’t mind the chance of a leg hole in the back or a short row on a sleeve….possibly a combo of both!

I just need one more day & then I’ll be back

Technorati Tags: emergency surgery,medications,customs

Recently Overheard in a conversation

A Man referring to his wife’s inner strength made the comment

“I’m so proud of her, she’s stronger than a woodpeckers lips” 

Now that, in a twisted way is high praise!

Technorati Tags: humor,randomness

Sweltering Heat

What a weekend!  It’s been so hot!  Mr Fix-It was out first thing in the morning working on the addition.  He was able to place 2 headers  and had to stop.  We’ve not made a lot of progress on the addition as we’ve had various commitments and the heat it just to much to work in.  The space is totally in-closed but not to the point we can move the outer door.  So, the heat and humidity just hangs in there & fans don’t provide much/enough relief.  After about an hour your so hot you can’t think straight.  By noon it was over 90 and we still had dew on the grass…. in the sun..That’s a lot of humidity!

The tomato’ plants have been really producing & I’ve been canning sauce just about every-other day.  The heat storms that have been blasting through knocked the tomato plants down again & I had a lot of tomato’s knocked off plants.  We were able to get the plant’s back up using strips of t-shirt to help support the weight.  The cotton cording was also cutting into the stems.  I think next year we’ll need to come up with a different support system as stakes and cages are just not strong enough.

Sun set after the last storm

And guess what came Saturday morning!  Tracking showed Friday deliver & I hung out all day waiting….Saturday I was cooking sauce and never even heard the delivery truck

I found it when I was heading out to the garden to weed.  So far I’m lovin it!  5lbs of zucchini dehydrated fits in a quart jar with room to spare. I have to say I’m impressed with it so far.  It’s quiet & has so much room.  I think were going to pull some tenderloin out of the freezer for some venison jerky this week.  Yum! Can’t wait.

Sunday we needed a sweet snack so I used a few overripe banana’s to make banana bread.  Not wanting to have the oven heat I used the bread maker & a “new to me” recipe.

Instead of a heavy cake like loaf we’re used to, this loaf was light and airy more akin to sandwich bread.  Judging by the remnants I think it was a hit and will go on the “make it again” list!

Technorati Tags: excalibur,gardening,baking,heat storms

 

'Middle Wife'

My Best friend from high school Patti just sent this to me.

I thought it to cute not to pass on.

'Middle Wife' by an Anonymous 2nd grade teacher
 
I've been teaching now for about fifteen
Years. I have two kids myself, but the best birth
Story I know is the one I saw in my own second
Grade classroom a few years back.
 
When I Was a kid, I loved show-and-tell. So I always
have A few sessions with my students. It helps them get
Over shyness and usually, show-and-tell is pretty
Tame. Kids bring in pet turtles, model airplanes,
Pictures of fish they catch, stuff like that. And
I never, ever place any boundaries or limitations
On them. If they want to lug it into school and
Talk about it, they're welcome.
 
Well, one Day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very
Outgoing kid, takes her turn and waddles up to the
Front of the class with a pillow stuffed under her Sweater.
 
She holds up a snapshot of an Infant.
'This is Luke, my baby brother, and I'm
Going to tell you about his birthday.'
 
'First, Mom and Dad made Him as a symbol of their love,
and then Dad put a Seed in my Mom's stomach, and
Luke grew in there.
He ate for nine months through an umbrella cord.'
 
She's standing there with her hands on the
Pillow, and I'm trying not to laugh and wishing I
Had my camcorder with me. The kids are watching
Her in amazement.
 
'Then, about two Saturdays ago, my Mom starts saying and going,
'Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh!' Erica puts a hand behind her
Back and groans. 'She walked around the house for,
Like an hour, 'Oh, oh, oh!' (Now this kid is doing
A hysterical duck walk and groaning.)
 
'My Dad called the middle wife. She delivers babies,
But she doesn't have a sign on the car like the
Domino's man. They got my Mom to lie down in bed
Like this.' (Then Erica lies down with her back
Against the wall.)
 
'And then, pop! My Mom
Had this bag of water she kept in there in case
He got thirsty, and it just blew up and spilled
All over the bed, like psshhheew!' (This kid has
Her legs spread with her little
Hands miming water flowing away. It
Was too much!)
 
'Then the middle wife starts
Saying 'push, push,' and 'breathe, breathe. They
Started counting, but never even got past ten.
Then, all of a sudden, out comes my brother. He
Was covered in yucky stuff that they all said it
Was from Mom's play-center, (placenta) so there
Must be a lot of toys inside there. When he got
Out, the middle wife spanked him for crawling up
In there.'
 
Then Erica stood up, took a big
Theatrical bow and returned to her seat. I'm sure
I applauded the loudest. Ever since then, when
it's show-and-tell day, I bring my camcorder, just
In case another 'Middle Wife' comes along.
 

Technorati Tags: random humor

If I were a Giant

 

I’d worry about stubbing my toe!

(Yes that is Buddy, he’s just had a summer buzz cut) A fellow business owner who knew we were looking for large stones to use as steps (because he sells them and we’ve been there numerous times looking and planning) called and said he was clearing out the large slabs…. we could have them…Free!

He even loaded them on the trailer  for us & another pallet in the back of Mr. Fix-It’s truckOnce  home, getting them unloaded called for a bit of creativity.  The forklift was brought to the house and the 1-2 ton pallets were unloaded in a matter of minutes

 

For the next few months they will be “Yard Art”  and play ground for the littles, until cooler weather..and the addition is completed

.

Some of the slabs are over 4 ft across and could be broken for 2 steps

When we move them to the back to place as steps up to the patio.

(and won’t that be a fun job!)

Other than about $10.00 in fuel we saved about $1,000.-1,500. in rock.  Which in my book is pretty darn good frugal deal!

Technorati Tags: Frugal deals,yard art,free stuff

 

Oh NO!!

The weeds are breeding right in front of me!

Those suckers have no shame!

This morning I pulled 10 and 20 more popped up, got those 20 and oh my goodness…

there was a party going on in the green beans! 

Hello, who’s the chaperone here?

Oops, that’s me!

Where’s my ruler!

Technorati Tags: gardening

 

Did I tell you it was my Birthday?

On the 8th!  Celebrated with the best hubby in the world and children that are local.  Wonderful phone calls from those that live out of town and other family.  Boy was I spoiled I received some very thoughtful & useful/appreciated gifts.  A pitch-in supper followed by homemade  apple spice cake YUM! 

There are  no calories on your birthday!

Mr. Fix-It out did himself,  He conspired with our LYS owner, Ann of Grinny Possum Fiber Arts and came up with the perfect gift.They have already been put to good use.

Hmm, I wonder if I could make a tool belt of my own for these!

Technorati Tags: celebrations,family,gifts

If I don’t see another Plum until next year

It’s fine with me!  A friend invited us to come pick plums off his tree as they don’t use them….imagine that!

Free fruit?  Call me a fruit fly!

We went last night and took care of his “plum problem”  Erika, Isaiah & I made quick work of it.  The storms the night before had knocked them all down.  So it was quick and easy …we just needed to clean the squished rotten plums off the bottom of our sandals after words. 

This is the last of the harvest, a bit more than 5 gallons.

The sad part is only one other couple picks them.  This is about 1/100th of what was spoiled on the ground.So this afternoon I stayed inside and started squishing plums …….about the size of my thumb.

 

and canning jam.

Yes that is the zucc’s still dehydrating in the background..and a stray dryer ball. computer, shopping bag, knitting needles,  extra lids….I need to clean the table off.

Free fruit = 43 pints of Plum Jam.

Guess what will become Christmas Gifts….

for those who returned last years jars!

Technorati Tags: canning,free fruit,plums,frugal finds

You Say tomato….

I say monster plants!  This rough looking plant is in a  cage and has 2 stakes…each over a foot in the ground.  It’s been tied up in 4-5 places and still is falling over.  These were taken Monday and with our heavy rains last night has gone down again.  I think its staying there this time.  

The Roma’s are starting to turn. Tonight I picked a full basket.  Not enough to make it worth firing up the canner so they’re going in the freezer till I have enough for a few loads to do at once.

  The grass and newspaper mulch has been a back  life saver.  There have been a few stray weeds popping through but not many at all. 

This bit is what I found laying on the ground after the storm.

They can sun and finish ripening while the chair cushions & towels I forgot to bring in dry = D

Technorati Tags: Gardening

The Electric Meter is Spinning!

OK, that’s It,   Time for a cup of coffee!

The zucchini plants that were only blooming took off like crazy.  I’d checked the plants on  Thursday and this is what we (Larry) found on Monday

That’s a 4 person table they’re on..Those suckers took off! A bit to big so I’m dehydrating them….or trying to.

Speaking of dehydrating, I learned a few things this past week……

I had a good score of fresh celery and dehydrated a few bunches.  Checking it after an hour or so I was totally grossed out.  Celery partially dehydrated looks like big fat juicy tomato worms!  I was gagging.  A few I can handle but 4 trays YUCK!  They were even a bit squishy….ANYWAY!

Zucchini is pretty good dehydrated.  What I’ve done is plain & I’m going to try more seasoned.

I have a crappy dehydrator, $10.00 at a yard-sale along with a table and chairs I guess I can’t complain (but, I can whine )Right?  It took 2.5 days to dehydrate 1 zucchini & 4 hours for 2 sprigs of basil, potato’s 2  days. At this rate it will be Christmas before I get to the last zucchini  & I swear I could hear the electric meter spinning!

So, yesterday I ordered a Excalibur 3900.  I’m so excited!  I purchased it through the manufacturer with free shipping.  I received the Fed Ex shipping notice this afternoon!!!!!

Any tips or advice will be greatly appreciated!

Technorati Tags: Gardening,Dehydrating,Excalibur

 

Heat Wave!

Whew!   Has it been HOT!!

2 weeks, no rain and steady 90+ temps.  I’m beginning to feel like  I’m living in the garden with  a hose.

To make things even more interesting  our A/C went out Thursday night.  I was up late knitting and heard the AC kick on for a second or 2 then shut off.

I thought well, maybe I’m having a “power surge” and it is cool enough.  The next morning I’d forgotten and spent most of the day out side.  I had a great system, I’d weed for a bit & hop in the pool, weed for a bit and hop back in.  I never noticed the house wasn’t cooling.  Friday night it was so stick hot (85% humidity) I assumed that was the problem…until we realized the AC wasn’t staying on.  After a few hours of work Mr. Fix it deemed a part was needed…and we’d have to wait till the holiday weekend was over.  I’d open the house up to capture the cool morning air and then close it up, pull the curtains, close closet doors& rooms not in use and turn on every fan we had.

We lived in bathing suits and in the pool every hour or so! The A/C guy came last night and we’re good to go!  We were his last stop of the day & that was at 7 pm.  His first call was at 7 am!

I could have kissed the man! 

It really wasn’t that bad (until the AC was back on) as I could always hop in the pool.

One good thing, the heat & sunshine is great for the tomato’s, by the end of the week I should have a bunch ready to put up. 

Technorati Tags: heat wave,weather,gardening

Who Says Girls Can’t wear Blue?

Just listed to the Etsy Shop 

Small Sky Blue Shorties.  You know that nice clear blue that you can wear with anything.  It even matches the Sumerset Tunic top!

Notice there’s not a draw string?  Well, The buyer gets to select the color.  White, Navy, Green …Pick a color from the rainbow and its yours or, you could just use the same blue!

Also listed today is a pair of medium shorties.  These have a large hip so there is Plenty of room for pre-folds or super fluffy diapers.

These were knit with super soft Araucania Nature Wool in earthy shades of taupe, chocolate yellows and oranges

 

There are more Large Shorties & Sleep Sacks in the works but, I’ll also be starting Tunics & Longies for fall and winter.  I just received a shipment from Wildflower Whimsy (formerly Zen) that I’m ready to dive into! 

Technorati Tags: Katidids,Etsy,shorties,sleep sacks,Yarn Araucania Nature Wool,Wildflower Whimsey