Seed Catalogs

Have you started to get your catalogs in the mail?

I have and I don't know what to do!!  There are so many lovely things to grow that I want almost everything.

How do you make up your mind what you will plant?

I know they say in the beginning of your garden journey you should plant what you love to eat.  I can agree with that, and it's what I did this year, 2013.

Next year, I have made some sketches, ( if you could call my chicken scratch sketches) of the additions I am making to the yard for new spots to grow things.  I will be able to get quite a few more things in with the trough Dear Darling made for me, and the gutter garden, and the hugel bed.  Plus I have amended two of the planters in the back where I have iris and columbine planted so that I can add more things in with them come the spring.

I am definitely doing Kale, as it did well for me this year.  Plus cherry tomatoes.  I am planning o have Dill and chives, oh and sunflowers.  Blueberries, strawberries, green beans, yellow beans, peas, about 6 different kinds of lettuce.

See where I'm going?

Then add in to that mix, all these catalogs....... sigh.....

My wool blanket

 

This is our new to us, wool blanket.

 

 

 

I saw this post over at  Nutmeg and Linen and just loved the idea of putting a crochet edge on a blanket.  So, I was on a mission! 

 

 

 

After searching a few days on eBay, I came across this blanket that I felt would work perfectly in our bedroom.  The color looked nice, the size was good, it is a vintage, American made wool blanket, made by Fabrio mills in Minnesota.  The seller had good reviews, seemed honest, so I took to watching and then bidding.  I figured that if I got it and didn't like it, I could always cover and "guilt" it and no one would see an ugly, wool blanket, but a pretty first try at making a spread for the bed.

 

 

And, I won!

 

When the blanket finally arrived, I was so thrilled with it, I couldn't have been happier, the color was right, the description of it was right.  I was/am a happy camper.





The blanket arrived clean, but I threw it into the dryer for a few minutes and then threw it out on the line to make sure it was fresh.

I have since taken the satin edging off and have begun the task of blanket stitch and crochet shells for the edge.

I have to say, for a vintage blanket, it looks brand new, and it is SOFT.  Even Dear Darling commented on how soft the blanket was, while suggesting that we use it as a living room blanket instead of putting it on the bed!

Pictures to follow once I've finished.

Thanksgiving, the forgotten holiday

Isn't it a shame?  Thanksgiving has become the forgotten holiday.

With the economy being what it is, slow, bad, depressing, whichever word you feel fits, the businesses are pushing the Christmas season WAY, WAY too early this year.

Since our family is fragmented by jobs and distance, we don't celebrate Thanksgiving, or any holiday really, in the traditional manner, but we try.  Try being the word.

This year, Dear Boy will be working and cooking a turkey at work for he and his coworkers to enjoy together, not with their families.  I told him I would get his turkey for him.  I asked if there was anything else I could make for their meal, but haven't gotten a "text" back yet.  I have some banana's in the freezer, perhaps a nice banana cake with homemade icing will work.

Dear Boy is a paramedic.  He LOVES his job and I give him a lot of credit to do such work.  We really can't talk much about it, he and I, because he likes to share the details, which for me is TOO MUCH INFORMATION.

This year, when you sit down to your table to give thanks for your many blessings in your life and that of your family, take a moment to think of those who are working that day to help to keep you safe.  The paramedics, the EMT's, the firefighters, the doctors, the nurses, the veterinarians, the ambulance drivers, the police officers, all persons in the military.  I know there are plenty of others that I perhaps have not mentioned.  But think of them and be thankful.  Thankful that they are there.  Thankful that they have the training and that they continue training.  Thankful that they give up their holiday with families to be there when they are needed.

Be thankful this thanksgiving and perhaps, stay out of the stores to send the message that people shouldn't be working on a family holiday just to make someone else money.

BUTTER

 

I made my own butter!

 

 

 These two photos show all that you need.  I used my Kitchenaid mixer, the wire whisk attachment,  a quart of Heavy cream purchased from our local dairy, a measuring cup and ice water.

 

 

I also saw this on the website below.  The blue strainer is the strainer that I use to drain my tuna.  I found it a few years ago in the grocery store and I never would have thought to use it in this way.  You need ICE cold water to wash your butter with and this allows you to have it ready to use without fiddling with a strainer or worrying about fishing out ice cubes before proceeding with the washing.

 



 

 

Taking pictures while the mixer is running isn't easy, but I tried.  First your heavy cream will turn into whipping cream.

Then, you will need either a splatter shield, which I didn't have, or a towel.  When it begins to break down and the buttermilk begins to form it will begin to splatter.  Be careful where you put your hands and fingers.

 

 

Here you can see, it actually did do what they said!  It was like magic when it happened.  This is after about 5 minutes of mixing at the number 10 speed.  Because it was the first time I made butter, I had to keep stopping it to "check" it.  And to take pictures to share.

 



 

 

I'm sorry, I forgot to take pictures of the rinsing.  Once you feel you have all the buttermilk out, you drain that and save it.  Then you begin the washing with the ice cold water.  This could take 3 to 5 times where you change the water.  You want to get the water as clear looking as you feel you can.

Now for me, this was the most difficult part, getting out all the water.  You need to be sure to get out all the water you just washed with because it will make your butter spoil more quickly.  You don't want that.

 

 

And here you see my first batch of butter!  Isn't it lovely?

 



 

The picture below shows you the second batch of butter, so I got two containers of that size and the pint jar of buttermilk from the quart of heavy cream.

 



 

 

I am so thrilled that I was able to make the butter.  The second batch didn't take as long as the first.  The first batch was about an hour, the second one was about 45 minutes.  Keep in mind, there is always a learning curve when doing something for the first time.  I am sure in the future I will be able to get prep and clean up down to 30 minutes.  Plus, I won't need to keep stopping to take pictures and looking to see if it is working or not.

 

This is the link I used to help me make my first batch of butter.  It was perfect. Has a video and written directions.  You have to love the internet!~

 



How to make butter in your kitchenaid mixer

Thank you for visiting and I hope you will give making your own butter a try if you haven't already.

Lunch with my mother

 

After my mother passed away, dad and I went through all the things in the kitchen and the attic that needed to be sorted through.  Some items I had never seen before, and he said he hadn't either.  Memories were now lost, forever.

 

 

This is one of the plates that I took.  My father said that these were some of the first plates they used when they got married.  He couldn't remember why or when they had stopped using them, and didn't even remember my mother saving them.

 

You can see that I chose the one with the chip in it.  Life isn't perfect.

Everyday, almost, when I have breakfast or lunch, I take my plate out of the cabinet and say hello to my mother and we have a meal together.

I wish she had shared more about herself with me when we were together.

Take the time today to share with your children or grandchildren something about yourself that you've never shared before.  Give them a memory to have.

Thrift Shopping

I don't like to shop.  And when I do, I usually go where I know, get what I need and go home.  I have never been a browser, though at home on the Internet is another story.

Anyway, I have borrowed a friends sewing machine and have been trying my hand at some basic sewing.

I found some diaper fabric made in America for $6.99 a yard at our local Joann's, which to me, doesn't seem like a bad price.  It's the same kind of material that the napkins I bought off of etsy are made of, only I don't have a serger.  So I have been practicing using the different stitches on the machine and also making hems to see which I like better.  I am considering making the napkins to give as gifts for future gift giving.

I'd also like to spruce up my own dining room, but don't really have the extra money to go out and buy all new things.

So, I was at the Salvation Army store and I was looking for a flat sheet to try to make an apron out of.  I figure a sheet is a lot of fabric and much cheaper than buying it on sale and often times flat sheets don't wear out, while fitted ones do.

Anyway, while looking for a flat sheet to make the apron, I found what I thought was a window curtain, but is really a shower curtain, and a flat sheet that almost match in color.  I am thinking about using the shower curtain, which is mostly cotton to make napkins and then use the sheet to either make a table runner for the table and the sideboard and perhaps even valances for the window.  Quite an undertaking for me.  Those two items cost me roughly $7.00.  I will have TONS of napkins.

 

 

These are the sheet and curtain I hope to do the napkins, table runners and valances out of.

 

I also found a vintage fitted sheet that looks like it was never used.  It has a nice small floral print that I will try to make the apron from.  This cost 1.99

This is the small floral print I will try to make the apron out of.

Then I went to a local antique shop because one of the stands has all kinds of old sewing stuff in it.  I got the edging and sewing thread for about $5.00.

Then I found two flannel receiving blankets for .99 cents for the two of them, and they looked brand new.  I bought them too and I am not sure what I am going to do yet, but I am sure they will turn into something handy.

 

Wish me luck with my sewing adventures.  I am sure you will see the outcome soon.

Sundays are my busiest days

I truly think that Sunday is the busiest day of the week for me.

If I haven't been able to shop for the following week, it's off to the store to do lunch shopping.  I make a weeks worth of lunches for Dear Darling on Sunday.

For the summer, he didn't want bread with his meal each day, so I only had to bake a loaf on Friday and that would see us through the weekend and maybe a spare slice or two for during the week.

Winter (fall) is another story.  I make bread on Friday and then again on Sunday.

At the market, I picked up fresh fruit.  I like for him to have at least two different fresh fruits a day.  I also make a "magic bullet" drink for him, that has lettuce, grapes and pineapple (this week).  He likes them better with blueberries, but they are SO FAR out of the budget right now.  Next year I am going to keep an eye on the price and BUY lots to freeze.  Plus two servings of vegetables as well.

I also like to make something for a home made snack.  This week is just brownies.  Yes, it's a box mix, I have some in the pantry and need to use them.  Then I will figure out how to make my own.

For lunch he will have beef and noodles, which the beef is leftover spaghetti meat sauce from dinner last night with some of my canned, diced tomatoes and I added macaroni noodles and a slice of muenster cheese on the top.  I will also give him two slices of bread for each day as well, with butter.

Lunches this week will be

A sliced orange
A sliced cucumber
Beef and noodles, plus bread and butter
Cheese and crackers
A banana
Homemade yogurt
Made at home brownies
Magic bullet drink

Oh, plus, as a surprise, I put three Hersey's kisses into each Cheese and crackers container.

It may seem like a lot of food, but he will eat some of it at morning break time.  Since he is away from home, it is so easy to grab something quick off the "lunch truck" and by providing a variety of good food and homemade snacks, the lunch truck doesn't see our dollars.

What or how do you handle lunches in your home for those who work out or go to school?

Sour Dough





Yogurt Sour Dough Starter

 I've begun a journey.  That may take a while.  Both Dear Darling and I are bread lovers.  We would eat it everyday at every meal if we could, but for us, it is not healthy, so we only try to eat it on the weekends.

Both of us like sour dough bread, so I thought I would try to make some.  How hard could it be?

Starter bubbling away

 Having never made it before I began my journey.



Sponge

It's not quite as simple as making a loaf of bread in the bread machine.  PLUS it helps if you read the directions of the recipe from start to finish.  There is a lot of waiting with making sour dough bread.  Not only do you make the starter that you feed for 3 to 5 days, but then you make a sponge which takes over night.

Salt and Baking Soda

After I had stirred down the sponge, I added the salt and baking soda.  You can see the two separate clumps in the photo above.  I learned this trick from my mother, this way, should I get distracted while making something, you could look in the bowl and see what you had already added preventing any additional amounts of ingredients. 

 

The recipe said to cut the dough in half and then half again.

Then to place two of the halves into the bread pan and let rise again, for about three hours.

 

As you can see, they are cute, little loaves.  They didn't rise very much.  They were more dense than we would have liked them to be, but for a first try, they came out okay.  I guess it's one of those things I will be trying to perfect with trials and time.

 

Grocery bill

We have always tried to have a stocked pantry.  In case of emergency.  And to help take advantage of when things are on sale or at a discounted price.

Now that it is just Dear Darling and I, our pantry is not nearly as big as when our Darling Boy was here with us, but I still try to keep about three months worth of staples in the pantry.

I went grocery shopping this week at our local store.  We have two in our town, which I use most often, then there are two others that are about 7 miles away that I keep an eye on their sales and we also have a SAMS club and Aldi's in that town as well.  I try to plan my trip based on what that weeks needs are.  That helps me not only save money, but time and gas as well.

Anyway, I went to the grocery store without a list.  I try not to do that, as it can make you spend a bit more, but sometimes I do like to wonder around the store to see what they got that is new and if there are any deals.  If I go with a list, I tend to just shop the list and at times, I miss the good deals.

I bought 27 items this week for a total of $60.62.  Which really is not bad, it includes no cleansers or paper products.  It also does not include milk or meat.

The two items that were treats were the ice cream I purchased that was on sale for $1.60 off per container.  They aren't half gallon anymore, like everything else, they've reduced the size.

Coffee was on sale, also not a pound can anymore, but I always purchase the one with the most ounces in it, which I believe is 11 oz to try to get the most off for the money.  I do the same thing when I do happen to buy cereal.  It must be on sale and I buy the best size box for the money.  Coffee was $1.00 off per can, $2.99.  The best price for the past few months.

I can only east Low Sodium Tuna, which doesn't go on sale often.  I have quite a few on the shelf, so I only added two can's this week at $2.00 a can.  This is an item that can vary greatly in price, so I always buy some when it goes to $2.00.

One item, I did not buy, was canned Red Salmon.  Dear Darling likes that, but it can be VERY pricey.  Right now it is $9.99 a can.  It is Wild Caught Alaskan Red Salmon.  I always try to keep an eye on the price of that.

I did pick up a few packages of frozen vegetables that were on sale, also some fresh potatoes and carrots that were on sale, some canned beans and some cheese.

When it comes to grocery shopping it's important to know your prices.  If you have never kept a price book of your own, I suggest that.  It truly does help to know when to buy something you use.  It also helps you learn what stores will do the price loss leaders to get you into their store.

For example, in January, Price Chopper ran Purex Liquid Landry detergent for $1.99 a 33 load container.  I bought two and got a rain check for 4 more. (Which I went back for the following week.)  Because we have a front load washing machine, I use less detergent. I still have 3 of those bottles left in my pantry closet.  It was a good deal.  I do have the ingredients to make my own, but I haven't done so yet.

Also, keep an eye on the stores sales, coupons and any specials that may be happening, such as double coupons.  Everyone shops based according to their needs.  These are just some ideas of how to save money and where.

I saved $14.15 on my order by purchasing things on sale, plus since I spent over $50.00 I got .10 in gas points.

Would love to hear any other tricks for shopping that you might have.

Applesauce in the Crock Pot

 

Yes, I make my applesauce in my crock pot.  These apples were purchased at one of our local apple farms.

 

Both Dear Darling and I love to have homemade applesauce.  SO much better than what you buy in the store and made in the crock pot it is SO easy.

 

 

 

 

I like to mix up the kinds of apples that I use in my apple sauce.  Here there are Gala, Macoun, and Ginger Snap (I believe).  I was only able to fit five apples into the crock this time.

 

 

 

Here are the wonderful peeling that will go into my worm farm and onto my compost bed.  Nothing is wasted, which is nice.

 



 

 

I sliced all of the apples right into the crock pot and then added 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of white sugar.  You could add less sugar, or no sugar and then taste it as you go.

 

This will cook on high for a while, then I mash it down with a potato masher, or you could use a fork and break up the pieces.  It's nice making your own, as if you like chunky applesauce, you can do that.  If you like pureed, you can do that.  If you want cinnamon, you can add that.  I had a friend who would add "red hot" candies into hers to give it a red color.  (Don't know for sure if she still does that though.)  You can add other fruit into the mix as well.

When all is said and done, you have wonderful, local, homemade applesauce to serve fresh, hot or put into containers to put in the refrigerator or to freeze.

How simple is that?

We burn wood

Where we live, it is common for most homes to heat with coal or electricity or oil.

Our home was built in the 70"s during the oil crisis and it has electric heat because at the time it was the cheapest way to heat a home.

Neither Dear Darling or I had electric heat growing up, but we knew that now electric heat is expensive.



 

 

Our home had a chimney but no heat source connected to it, so we bought a wood burning stove that sits in our family room and began our adventure with wood heat.

 

 



 

 

 

 

As I think I mentioned before, we get our wood in a barter arrangement.  Plus, the wood we get is from downed trees, meaning they were cut after nature had decided to fell them or they were in danger of falling and causing damage to a home.

 

I can feel good about that because otherwise this wood could have been just piled somewhere to rot or have been chipped up and used for mulch or land fill.

 

It is a lot of work, for Dear Darling and myself.  We are lucky the wood is already split when we get it, but we must load, unload and stack it once we get it home.  They say wood heats you twice, well I think it's more like three times for us!

 

So, our savings is quite large.  We have no added electric use in the winter and from what I understand, most people with a home our size are carrying a winter electric bill of $300 to $500 dollars a month.  I don't know how they do it, but I know that we sure couldn't.

 

I will say one nice thing about electric heat though, when you use it, you are heating only the room you are in.  BUT, you have to remember to turn it off when you leave the room.

My New Coat

I wanted to tell you about my new coat.

 

I am not one to have lots of clothes.  I don't like to shop for them.  I'm short and petite.  Buying clothes means trying on TONS of things that don't fit right because I have short arms and short legs and I get frustrated and usually leave with nothing!

 

The other thing I try to look for when I do shop, are clothes Made in the USA.  ALMOST impossible!

 

Here is my new coat.



 

 

Sorry the pictures aren't that great, it's not quite that bright, more of a burgundy color. The collar is brown corduroy and the lining is red, brown and green wool.  It is removable and it is MADE IN THE USA.  It is also a vintage LL Bean barn coat that I got off of eBay.  Plus, it's a Petite.



 

 

 

 

This coat was meant to be mine.  It fit all the criteria that I was looking for.  It has very little, if any wear, and the only thing "wrong" with it is on the pocket are two spots of paint, which I figured the original owner used to distinguish their coat from someone else's. It did take some searching.

 

When I found it on eBay it was a "Best Offer" deal.  I had never done that before, but the coat was listed at $79.00 and I knew that was already a decent price, but I didn't have that in my budget.  I wanted to pay less than $50.00, I could.  I also found, while looking at the ad, this seller had had this coat on their list since October of last year, so I was hoping that they would want to get rid of it.

I offered $30.00, which I felt was fair.  Under half price, but with shipping, it would bring it below $50.00.  All they could do was say no, and make a counter offer and hopefully then I could buy it.

I was totally surprised when they accepted my offer and so happy to have gotten the coat.

But, you always have that fear when buying something sight unseen that there will be something wrong with it.

There wasn't.  It was EXACTLY as described.

When I got it, I tried it on, fit like a glove!  Took the liner out, threw that into the dryer with some laundry sheet pieces.  Put the coat into the washer and then dried it for 10 minutes in the dryer and put on the drying rack by the fire to dry the rest of the way. 

(The coat looked clean and had no smell to it, but I just felt better doing it myself.)

Since I don't buy a coat, winter or otherwise, every year, I am sure this coat is going to be with me for many years to come.  I'm very happy.

Next time you need something, try to find it in a thrift store or on eBay.  Your choices become world wide then, and you can hopefully find EXACTLY what you were looking for.  And be as happy as I am with your purchase.

Chicken soup

We all start our cooking journey somewhere, right?

 

Here is the short story of my first chicken soup.

 

Almost 30 years ago when we got married, I did not know how to cook.  If it didn't come out of a can, or it wasn't cereal, I didn't know how to make it.  With the exception of stuffed cabbage.

 

Anyway, being the new wife I wanted to impress my husband and make chicken soup.  So I called my father and asked him how to make it.

 

 

 

 

 

He told me to buy a chicken or chicken parts, put that into a deep pot with carrots, celery, onions and to cover it with water, cook it all day and then strain out the chicken and the vegetables.  Then, cut up the chicken, new vegetables, heat it up and it was good to go.

 

 

 

 SO, I went to the store and bought some chicken and followed his instructions.  Cooked it all day on the stove and when I went to taste it, it tasted like hot water with chicken and vegetables.

 

I called dad up and told him that my chicken soup tasted like hot water with chicken and vegetables.

 

He asked what I did and I told him almost exactly what he told me.  He asked if I included any spices and I told him that while he didn't tell me to, I did add some salt and pepper but that was it.

 

As we talked he asked me what KIND of chicken I used.



 

Broth is in the yellow bowl and plastic square, throw away meat is in the pie pan and meat for the soup is in the smaller plastic square.

 

I told him, "The kind I always use.  Boneless, skinless breast."

 

BOY, did he laugh.

 

That was when I was first married.  I didn't touch chicken for NOTHING!  Let alone with skin on it, and bones!  YUCK!!!

 

Now, as you can see from the pictures, I make chicken soup a bit better than I used to.  But even that took some practice.

 

I use my crock pot now. 

 

On a night when we've had roast chicken, I will take off any of the meat that I can for sandwiches for the week, then I will put the carcass into the crock pot with water to cover.  Spices were already put on the chicken for roasting in the oven, so I don't add anymore at this time.

 

It cooks overnight on low, then in the morning I turn it off and let it cool a bit, then I begin "picking".

 

You need to be careful when you pick the meat from the bone and skin, it's a messy job and there are tiny bones.  You have to feel the meat as you pick it as the crock pot does a wonderful job of making the meat fall off the bone.

 

After the picking, I put the meat for the soup into a container for the freezer, then I put the broth back into the crock pot, this time with some carrots, onion and celery and let that cook for a few hours.

 

I will strain out the vegetables and put them into the compost and then put the broth into containers for the freezer.

 

When I go to make the soup, I will put the broth, some of the meat, carrots, onions, celery and chopped cabbage, plus some fresh parsley into the crock pot to heat through and cook a bit.  Sometimes we have egg noodles or a small pasta or rice will be added to the bowl before serving the soup.

 

If you have never had chicken soup with cabbage, I suggest that you try it.  A very dear friend taught me this trick.  She said, "Cut it up smaller so that your family won't know what it is.  They'll love it."  and they did.  She's gone now, yet every time I make chicken soup, I always think of her.

 

What story do you have about your first chicken soup?

Let's talk COMPOST

 

Welcome to my compost bin.

 

 

It's not very pretty, but it's functional.  I have to say, we didn't have this small, square chicken wire, we had to buy it.  I think the two rolls cost $32.00.  Why two rolls?  Why a cage around a cage?

Well, you've seen our four legged, he's curious.  And he loves to eat cabbage, tomatoes, brussel sprouts....  Need I say more?

So I had to figure out a way and a place to put our compost bin where I wouldn't have to worry about him having a snack while I wasn't looking!

This spot is in our side yard and gets a fair amount of morning sun, is not near any neighbors, or windows of our home, plus it is pretty much out of sight from the street.

Our yard has "dirt".  I wouldn't really call it soil, because it was so sadly neglected before we got here, and two people can only do so much at a time.

So this year, we are starting our first compost pile which will be an on going adventure.

It's fall right now, and you can see from the picture above that we have raked up some leaves and Dear Darling went over them with the mulcher lawn mower.  It is incredible how small a huge pile of leave really becomes when you mulch it.

In our compost bin so far, I first put a layer of straw down and then some smaller twigs that I picked up in the yard.  I figured both would help to keep everything off of the ground for a while and let air through.  Plus, the pile is just under the evergreen trees, so I cut some of those branches off and put them in there also.

Next, I took some of the chopped up leaves, put them on top and then watered.

Twice a week, I take out food scraps from the kitchen and put those one top, then a layer of chopped leaves and water a bit.  Sometimes I will even take a small hoe/rack that I have and mix it up a bit to be sure air is getting in there.

When I make a trip to the composting site for aged compost for the yard, I will also add a 5 gallon bucket of aged compost to the pile.

I hope by spring this compost pile will have cooked enough to begin a garden bed right where the pile is.  Then the wire cages will be moved over a bit and the compost pile will begin again.

Even though the aged compost we get is free, we don't know what all the "ingredients" are and where they came from.  Having our own compost pile allows us to know what it is in and to truly grow our garden organic.

Would love to hear about your compost pile.