Grim Wytche Farm

I'm a Bear

2012-02-02T19:58:00.000-05:00

What wild animal are you?

The Bear

Your rational thought and practical measures in life allows you to play it safe, and make hard decisions that many cannot make. As a natural warrior with body and mind at peace, people who identify with the bear are trusted and often sought after for advice. The bear can symbolize those who protect and sustain peace in their daily lives. These people are often the best mediators and tend to control situations and find the most realistic solutions.

To see more on Betty White's love for wild animals and places or sign up to help save wilderness, check out The Wilderness Society's web site: http://wilderness.org/mywilderness/betty.

Facebook quizzes, quiz apps & blog quizzes by

St Brighid’s Day

2012-02-02T10:12:00.000-05:00

Today is my day as are many others... LOL! But this one holds a special meaning in my heart. It was a day that was given to me when I was 15. My god given name is unimportant as I go by many. But for the sake of this tale I am Bridgette, from the Irish Gaelic root Bridget... Meaning Resolute Strength.

her laughter is a sweet melody to hear: is a resolute, practical and conservative; is inspiring and caring to her family; home and family are appreciated by this lady; likes to be useful; has a melodious voice and an intriguing smile; her words produce wisdom and foresight; she loves to stay busy.

That was off of one of those name meaning cards.

I am all that and more because when I was 15 my grandma had a brain aneurysm that was misdiagnosed and ruptured. After the surgery, she was no longer the independent woman about town. She had to rely on people to help her to say the simplest of things. She would go through the names of her children (6) trying to get the right name with the right child. Often she failed miserably, calling my mom by one of her brothers names and so on. With me being her first grandchild, she never called my by one of her children's names, she called me Bridgette. She always knew it was me that she was talking about or to when she called me by my new name. So it became the family joke that I was Bridgette.

A few years after my gram died my Aunt got me the name card referenced above. It is a sweet reminder of a wonderful woman. Now that my Uncle has had an aneurysm I joked that if when he was able to talk if he called me Bridgette, I would be legally changing it... LOL!

I hope that you all have a Blessed Imbolc!

Yart

OFFICIAL David Beckham Bodywear for H&M Super Bowl Ad

2012-02-01T08:01:00.000-05:00

Update

2012-01-31T09:57:00.003-05:00

First Thank you for your prayers. My uncle made it through surgery. Everything went well with it. He has started to move the toes on his right foot. I know this doesn't sound like much but since he hadn't moved any part of his right side except for his eyebrow in almost 3 weeks this is fantastic! We think the second aneurysm was causing the paralysis. But only time will tell.

I have been reading everyone's blogs as time allows. I finished one of the legwarmers... well it isn't sewn together yet... still need it for the length. The second one is about 3 inches. Lots more to do on it. Picky monster was in a bowling tournament and they took 3rd! She even got a medal for it. The school called me in regards to Mouthy... They are asking me to take her in for her hearing even though her hearing test at school turned out fine. She said she is having a problem hearing a soft spoken teacher. So now I have to make an appointment for that. It's always something.

Grim and I got great news we have been in our house long enough that we no longer need to pay PMI, principle mortgage insurance. It really wasn't that much but over a year or the 11 years we have been paying it, it really adds up! YEAH!

I have been so tired lately... I wish the weather would make up its mind. We are going to hit 50 today. I think mother nature is going to hit us hard in February. I drove past the farmers market yesterday, of course that got visions of the garden in my head! I am so looking forward to gardening again.

Yart

Prayers needed

2012-01-25T19:38:00.002-05:00

My uncle has just gone into surgery for a second aneurysm on the top of his brain. The doctors are saying that it is a 3-4 hour surgery.

Yart

2012-01-18T21:40:00.000-05:00

The past few days that I have been home have been very hard. I want to be at the hospital but I know I need to be here at home. With every piece of good news there always seems to be something else bad happening to his body. I have cried an ocean of tears over this. I have such a tension headache that the pain has started to travel into my shoulder. I feel like such an ass for even complaining when there is so much going wrong with him.

I try very hard to look on the positive side of things. His temp is slowly coming down. His tummy is starting to work again through medical intervention. He is responsive to verbal commands such as squeeze my hand, hold up two fingers and wiggle toes, on his left side when he is not being sedated.

But as always there is a but....

He still has the breathing tube in. He appears to be paralyzed on his right side. There are a few other things that the doctors are concerned about that I would rather not speak of on here.

Grim and I are suppose to be going away this weekend, but we may end up at the hospital instead. Just have to wait and see what the doctors have to say in the morning. This wait and see thing is not good for someone who has no patience... LOL!

I did start a new project, gave me something to do in the hospital. I got two skeins of Fisherman's Wool from Lion Brand Yarns in Nature's Brown. They will become legwarmers for me. I use to love legwarmers back in the day. I am so happy that they have come back in style. Once these are done I will probably wear them long after they go out of style again. LOL! I've got about 8 inches done on one of them. I can't wait to get one of them done.... Nope no pattern. 48 cast on and then 2k, 2p row one - 2p, 2k row two repeat to desired length. Hopefully, they fit.

Yart

I've been gone

2012-01-16T13:21:00.001-05:00

Just wanted to let you know what is going on here. My Uncle, last Monday had an aneurysm that ruptured and subsequently had a stroke. As some of you know I am half Canadian. So this meant that I have been out of the country for the past week. I am home now. He is in stable condition. It is still very serious and he has a long way to go on his road to recovery.

The monsters and Grim did a great job keeping the home fires burning. I missed them terribly but my place was with my family at my Uncles bedside. This incident has really brought family front and center to my mind. So I will be not only making regular visits to my Uncle but also to the rest of the family.

If you have a sec, and don't mind please say a prayer or light a candle to send healing energy to him. His name is Walter.

Yart

Is winter really here?

2012-01-09T11:10:00.001-05:00

Nope but it has been cold enough to keep me in the house baking. This weekend I made sourdough dinner rolls, sourdough crackers, sourdough bagels and the cake batter pudding cookies. With all this baking my oven was nice and warmed up. But I guess there was a problem. Nothing baked quite right. I lost one whole tray of dinner rolls because I didn’t catch it in time and they just didn’t cook right. The crackers didn’t crisp up…. the bagels I didn’t know didn’t cook right until they were cooled and cut into. The cookies were really soft in the middle (just might have been the recipe though). With everything else I don’t know.

So we decided that it was time to check out the self cleaning button on the oven. It took like 4 hours. All I can say is wow. It did a really good job. Now hopefully it cleaned away whatever the problem was.

Grim and I went to the gym this morning. Our first day back since June of last year. I had to keep telling myself that no one ever regretted going to the gym they only regret not going. I was able to do 45 minutes on the elliptical of that 25 min. was holding on to the moving arm part. I hope to eventually get up to a full hour holding on. My fat was crying today…. I was sweating like crazy!

The monsters all went back to school today. I really hate them going. Even though it gets them gone for a few hours a day. I miss them terrible when their not here. I guess it just gives me more time to work on projects for them… LOL!

Yart

More to share

2012-01-06T23:00:00.001-05:00

If you haven’t noticed I really have nothing else to share right now. So here are some more goodies and craft type things. Enjoy!

Yart

I have an addiction

2012-01-06T21:49:00.001-05:00

I have become addicted to Pinterest. I love, love, love this site. When I have free time I am found pursuing the page after page of ideas. My head swims from all the pictures. So that is why I am sharing with you. Because I need to have company in this addiction… LOL!

Here are todays finds!

Yart

Yummy!

2012-01-05T18:07:00.001-05:00

I found a great site called Chef in Training. I made a version of the Chicken Tortilla Soup that can be found here. I added green peppers, tomatoes that I canned this past summer, used turkey stock, instead of the spices I used fajita seasoning and doubled the recipe. It was very good.

But I also found Peanut Butter Fruit Dip

And I can’t forget to share Cake Batter Pudding Cookies

Then I found Baked Oatmeal at Smile Monsters

Yart

Valentine Goodies and Crafts

2012-01-04T22:55:00.001-05:00

I know, I know, I know…. But I was at Joanne’s today and they were already putting up Valentine’s Day stuff. So that got me thinking that if I am going to make anything I really need to get started…. Or I can just make a couple goodies and be done with it…. LOL! If your interested in anything in the pictures just click on them and they will take you to the site for the recipe or the directions.

Yart

Poor is a state of mind,

2012-01-03T17:11:00.001-05:00

but broke is a temporary situation!

This is something I think we all deal with at some point in time. The bills are paid, there is food in the house, but you don’t have a dime to your name…. Or you are willingly being frugal… Same difference.

At that point do you look around and see all that you have or do you see all that is lacking? Do you feel poor or do you know that your just broke? Do you grab your boot straps or do you whine?

Sometimes I do wish that there was more…. But then I realize that I have enough. I have enough to feed my family in the broke weeks after Christmas. I realize that we have heat because the bill was paid. I have enough yarn that I have already started on gifts for 2012 Christmas. My needs are met…. For that I am deeply thankful! Now if I could just get me wants to shut up, that would grand! LOL!

I’m not sure why I wrote all that but apparently it needed to be said!

Now for something really good. I was browsing Jamie cooks it up! She has an amazing recipe for Ham and Bean soup. Before I go any further here let me say that for years I have saved the ham bone to only later toss it because I thought ham and bean soup was one of those mystery foods that only grandmas and nasa could make. So when I found this recipe I had two ham bone sitting in the freezer just waiting. All I can say is OMG! All the monsters ate it and I have plenty leftover to freeze. Oh so GOOD!

Band monster got a sewing machine for Christmas and a gift card to Joanne’s. With the gift card she was able to take the beginner sewing class. 2 1/2 hours, and she will be putting together a little pouch with a zipper. So excited to have her teach me…. LOL! I know nothing about zippers.

Oh, and I have to share Picky made a cake from scratch. Right out of the Betty Crocker Cookbook! I’ll let you know how it tastes later. She is turning into quite the little baker.

Yart

I’m back

2012-01-01T15:52:00.001-05:00

I told you I would see you next year…. LOL!

I stayed up till about 1 and the only reason was because the prep per in me wanted to know how many of my neighbors had guns and what type… LOL! Lets just say that there was quite a variety and they were all put to use last night. They kept it up for almost an hour. Then I slept in this morning. No point and rushing into today I have a whole year ahead to deal with…. LOL! But once I was up it was time to take down the tree. Grim was already up and he was working on taking down the lights outside.

Oh, I forgot to tell you. Noisy neighbor somehow ended up on my lawn and ripped my inflatable snow globe out of the ground. Snapped one of the guide cables, messed up the motor and the styrofoam snow was all coming out. So Grim, went over and said something. He was told that it must have been the wind. Grim said look at the tire marks on our lawn. Grim, came back in feeling better for at least having said something. A couple hours later Mrs. Noisy Neighbor came over carrying a new snow globe. They said that they felt horrible that we would think that would have done something like that and not said anything. I told her that they didn’t have to do that but she insisted. So we have a new snow globe to put up next year.

Now everything is put away till next Thanksgiving night. It is bittersweet. Grim and I both had the same thought that this might be the last Christmas here. We are very seriously talking about moving. But that all depends on finances. We are hoping that this is a better year for us, money wise. Now this week I need to move all the furniture so that I can clean under it. Well, at least in the Living and Dining rooms. I am going to be hosting a 31 party on the 15th so the house needs to be cleaned for that. Not that the house is dirty just dusty. Still needs to be done though.

It is a dark, dank type of day. It started out no so bad. Now it is raining and the wind is blowing. No snow to be seen. At least I can say that with the weather holding steady my heat bill should stay decent. I miss the snow, though. Grim and I have a trip planned for later this month. We are going north to see a real winter festival. There will be ice carving, hot chocolate stations, ice fishing and outhouse races. Can’t think of anything more winter like or backwoods then an outhouse race, can you? LOL! This trip is for our anniversary. Even though that doesn’t take place till February. We got a really good deal. Two nights and a full breakfast both mornings for $98. And the hotel has a pool and sauna. The room comes with a microwave and coffeepot. So all we need to pay for extra is dinner and I’m sure I can find some buy one get one free coupons. Maybe I can sneak Grim’s thermos, to put hot chocolate in…. LOL! All about the thrifty!

Yart

See ya next year!

2011-12-31T17:32:00.001-05:00

Good Bye 2011. You were a weird year, to say the least! I’m not happy that your done but I don’t feel bad about it either.

This year we learned a lot, for that I am grateful. We were able to care for our family and a few friends. There is enough food to keep us fed and there is enough money to pay for heat and a roof over our heads. Oh, and I can’t forget I got a cow named after me… so kewl!

The monsters have grown in size and in maturity. They are at that age that I know they will be grown and off to their own lives way before I’m ready to let go. But this year I was able to see the type of adults that I have raised. I’m proud of these monsters.

Enough of this year and on to the next! I have so many plans…. we will just have to wait and see if I have what it takes to make them happen.

By the way do you know resolutions are? They are your to do list for the first week of January…. LOL!

We are staying in and eating junk food with the monsters and having a safe new year’s eve. See you all next year!

Yart

Never to Early

2011-12-27T21:15:00.001-05:00

My head cold is getting better as it travels down into my chest. So this is going to be one of those lets lay around and do nothing really. We played with the Wii today. Last night we got started on the Harry Potter Marathon…. one movie each night. Before the week is over we need to go to the zoo. They have the entire zoo strung with Christmas lights. Normally, we try and get done there before the holiday but this year I thought it would be easier to wait.

With New Year’s right around the corner, I thought that I should give some thought to it. I plan on going back to eating better, loosing more weight, finish the school course I signed up for and finally get the store opened.

Since we have the first week of the New Year off, I am hoping that we get some snow so that I can take the monsters sledding. We are really hoping for snow as the the monsters want to make snow zombies this year. I will get pictures cause this is going to be to funny!

Yart

Till we meet again

2011-12-25T23:41:00.001-05:00

Its over! At least until next year!! Thank the Gods for that…. LOL! Everyone had a great time and loved all the gifts! There are a ton of leftovers so no cooking for a couple of days…. except for the stock and the bean soup!

But I have a raging head cold, now. I even took it easy this year and I still got sick. I am just up after a 3 hour nap. Hopefully, I feel better tomorrow….. I DON”T WANT TO BE SICK FOR ALL CHRISTMAS VACATION! Ok, that tantrum is done!

I will have pictures up when I feel better. We didn’t get snow, instead we had 40 degree weather. I loved the sunshine!

Yart

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T10:39:00.001-05:00

I wish you all a Joyous and Happy Holiday Season!

From My House to Yours,

Merry Christmas!

Yart

One Week Countdown

2011-12-19T14:30:00.001-05:00

Right now I have one gift left to make and that is for Mouthy. All gifts have been bought and wrapped. Even the stocking stuffers are ready to go! I still need to make the cookies and candies. But since I cut the types down to three cookies and three candies, it shouldn’t be to bad.

Tonight I will be making toll house and chocolate candy canes & pretzels.

We are making really good progress on the shirt I am making for Grim. It is simplicity pattern # 2895. Just need to finish the collar, add the cuffs and the sleeves and it will be done.

Eventually I will make the vest to go with it. But I do still have material to make a second one in black. So I think that will happen before the vest. At least it will keep me busy all winter… LOL! Plus, I have this really cute gypsy skirt pattern I have been dying to try so I guess there is no time like the present!

Yart

Wednesday Ramblings

2011-12-14T10:38:00.001-05:00

First I wanted to let you all know that the cornbread recipe that I posted the other day was really good. The only thing was that it was a little dry…. But that could be because I didn’t use buttermilk, I used the substitute instead.

I made Banana Snack cake yesterday! Huge success! You can get the recipe here.Valerie over at Prepared LDS Family has a lot of great recipes so check them out while your there!

Here is a recipe that I want to try but haven’t had the time yet to make. Vegetable Pot Pie Pockets…. They look so good! You can find the recipe at Budget Gourmet Mom.

Phelan over at A Homesteading Neophyte shared some love. And I think that this site could use a little more love as I plan on purchasing soap from them in the very near future. The soaps are called Abundant Life Botanicals. They can be found here.

Aren’t they pretty! And only .97 cents and ounce!!!

Domestic Witch is hosting the 3rd annual Christmas Balls Blog Party! If you want to participate or just look for new recipes head on over! I have taken part for the last two years and am looking for a new recipe to share!

Yart

Red & White Yummies!

2011-12-12T19:19:00.001-05:00

Over at Jamie Cooks It Up!, Jamie has these yummy looking White Chocolate Cherry Cookies! You have to head over there and get the recipe. I know I said I was only going to do a couple cookies this year…. But I think I am going to be adding 2 more!

Then I found these! Ashley at The Shine Project has PinWheels! Oh I can’t wait to try both of these out!

Yart

Monday’s Projects

2011-12-12T12:36:00.001-05:00

I am making crockpot chili for dinner as Picky monster and I will be at bowling practice and I don’t want the rest of the family to starve… LOL! But I vowed that once the convenience products ran out that I would be making from scratch. Of course I go to the cupboard and there is no mix for cornbread. Good thing I picked up a bag of cornmeal awhile back. So the picture above was taken from CAN YOU STAY FOR DINNER? Blog…. The recipe is here! And did you know that you can use 1tbsp of vinegar and a cup of milk as a buttermilk substitute? I didn’t but do now. LOL!

I have been working my fingers to the bone since I found this site LOST IN STASH, picture and pattern. I absolutely love these. I have an entire box of them that I will be adding to the store in January! If you want to learn how to make them go here.

I still need to sew up the tablecloths for the living room. Just add it to the list!

Yart

Weekend Adventures

2011-12-11T21:15:00.001-05:00

This weekend wasn’t quite as productive as I would have liked it to be. But my mom is helping me to learn how to read a pattern. I can sew, but I have never really tried to do anything major. Over the summer I bought a ton of patterns from Joanne’s. One of them is a cowboy type shirt and Grim picked out white and black cotton for the shirts. Since it is winter and most of my stash of to be finished project have been finished it was time to sew. I think that we will be working on it for a couple more weeks. It is very slow going.

I cleaned the hallway. Washed the walls, floor and all the doors. Next will be the bathroom. I got 2 loaves of bread made and 2 that I only let rise once and put in the freezer. I really hope they turn out. It will be so nice to be able to just thaw and bake. Oh, and I made more instant oatmeal. The monsters aren’t complaining to much about the lack of cold cereal. I am hoping to have time this week to make more pancakes.

I still need to make cookies. Just add it to the list!

Yart

300 in 3

2011-12-08T20:43:00.001-05:00

After my miserable start in October, I tried harder in November. I got 60.8 miles in. For a two month total of 80.28 miles. I would have done more but my heel having issues. So far this month I have only done uncounted walking. Not enough to even consider. But realistically, I did more in two months then I had done in awhile. So this challenge wasn’t a complete waste.

On to other news….

I went to have my teeth cleaned today. The molar that the crown broke off in the earlier part of the year is now infected. No wonder I have been feeling crappy. I am on amoxil and have an appointment for January to have it yanked out. YEAH!

I was able to get the two main gifts sewn up. I still have one more to try and do. I just don’t know if I am going to get the time to do it. Way, to many people in and out of the house at all hours. Every one is on a different schedule. If there is a will, there might be a way… LOL!

I am going to try and get some baking done this weekend. Hopefully, all of it. This year I am only making toll house, m&m, almond cookies and buckeyes. I might dip pretzels in chocolate, this is debatable though. Not important to me… LOL!

Next week we have practice, 2 competitions, 1 meeting for IEP, dentist for Grim, plus a secret shopper assignment for me, oh and Christmas party at the bowling alley. Then the week before Christmas we have two practices.

I can say that I am not stressed out this year. Loving that!

Yart

Wow, Where did the week go?

2011-12-05T19:18:00.001-05:00

I have been busy running around finishing up the last of the Band Performances since last Wednesday. Then we had 3 bowling practices and league on Saturday. All the while trying to get some things taken care of for Christmas.

I made calzones with the leftover turkey and Stromboli with sandwich pepperoni. I have also been working on a new pattern for dishclothes. I will share later as I didn’t take any pictures yet. But I do have a ton done as I have been sitting and waiting most of last week.

This week is already no better. We had our first competition tonight. I’m not sure if we won or not… Will find out on Thursday at practice. I was able to get some sewing done. Can’t say what cause I have some nosy readers… LOL! I still have at least 2 more projects to get done. Oh, bread bags have been started. Need to do more though. Once I open the store I want to have a big selection of items to sell.

Yart

Winter Edition

2011-11-29T14:07:00.001-05:00

Yart

Victorian Farm Christmas

2011-11-28T22:36:00.000-05:00

I happened to stumble across the Christmas Special. It is very informative with a ton of great ideas.

Yart

So You Want to Live in Montana...

2011-11-28T11:45:00.000-05:00

This was shared by Patrice over at Rural Revolution!

WARNING*** Don't drink anything while watching this video..... You may have an uncontrollable urge to spit out your drink from laughing to hard*** Don't say I didn't warn ya!!

Yart

Chestnuts

2011-11-27T00:30:00.000-05:00

I thought that it would be a great idea to cook up so chestnuts for the meal. So I tossed some into a glass pie plate and into the oven they went. About 45 minutes later I smelled something. It wasn’t a burning but it was off. So I looked into the oven and saw that one of the nuts had exploded. So I figured it was time to pull them out.

Grim and the older two monsters were in the kitchen with me and we were laughing about the one that exploded in the oven when one decided to explode on the stove top. First let me say no one was hurt. But Grim and I were the worst hit. Since I didn’t think to take pictures let me give you a mental image. We were covered in what looked like very fine mashed potatoes. Our hair, our clothes and our kids all had to be cleaned up!

I guess that is why they say to score them before you put them in the oven. Oh well, that’s what I get for try to take an easy route! Better Luck Next Time... LOL!

Yart

Can you help?

2011-11-26T10:46:00.001-05:00

Jenna at Cold Antler Farm is running a contest and I entered. She wanted mason jar covers to help keep her coffee warm. I made felt covers and sewed them with embroidery thread. And of course I couldn’t just do one. I made an entire set.

To have a chance to win, Jenna is going to go off of who likes which one from the response in the comments.

If you want to go over and vote you can do so here

Yart

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T18:33:00.001-05:00

I hope that everyone had a good day! Ours went well. I did make the dressing and the pumpkin pie filling from scratch. I am thankful that no one died from eating either… LOL! The cranberry yuck I made was a hit. Yes, I called it cranberry yuck because it is not what I like. I make for the others! Its more like a compote since I add walnuts to it.

Our menu consisted of:

Turkey

Dressing

Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes (baked)

Acorn Squash

Corn

Veg tray & Dip

Gravy

Deviled eggs

Cranberry Yuck (1bag cranberries, 1cup sugar, 1/2cup orange juice and 2 handfuls of walnuts)

Chestnuts **Story to come about the Damn Chestnuts**

Sourdough Dinner Rolls

Pumpkin Pie (homemade pumpkin puree)

Angel Food cake

Whipped cream (made from heavy cream)

Blackberries

So the only processed food was the pie crust, canned corn, angel food cake, mayo in the eggs and the can of sweetened condensed milk. Not to bad. Next year I hope to make my own of all the above listed ingredients.

Yart

Goodbye / Hello

2011-11-22T09:17:00.001-05:00

Good Bye Stovetop! Hello Homemade! This is the first time I will be making dressing from scratch. There are still a few things I need to learn how to make and this one will be able to come off the list!

Photo: Con Poulos/Woman's Day

Basic Herb Stuffing Recipe – Thanksgiving Recipes at WomansDay.com:

Active Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Serves: 10

Recipe Ingredients

3 Tbsp olive oil, plus more for the pan
1 small loaf country bread (about 1 lb), cut into 1/2-in. pieces (about 10 cups)
2 medium onions, chopped
Kosher salt and pepper
2 large carrots, cut into 1/4-in. pieces
2 stalks celery, cut into 1/4-in. pieces
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
2 large eggs, beaten

Recipe Preparation

Heat oven to 375°F. Oil a 3-qt casserole dish. Place the bread on a rimmed baking sheet and toast until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes; transfer to a large bowl.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until very tender and beginning to turn golden, 6 to 8 minutes.
Add the carrots and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 6 to 7 minutes. Add the broth and bring to a boil. Stir in the parsley and thyme.
Transfer the vegetable mixture to the bowl and toss with the bread. Fold in the beaten eggs. Transfer to the prepared baking dish, cover with foil and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes more.

Yart

Dinners for Occasions

2011-11-21T15:02:00.001-05:00

Last year we were at the Living history museum around Thanksgiving and I was able to pick up a listing of a menu from Dinners for Occasions.

Thanksgiving Dinners

Menu No. I

(New England)

Our rural ancestors, with little blest,

Patient of labor when, the end was rest,

Indulg’d the day that hous’d their annual grain,

With feasts and offerings and a thankful strain.

~Pope.

Oyster Stew,
Celery,
Oyster Crackers,
Roast Stuffed Turkey,
Brown Gravy,
Cranberry Moulds,
Oak Hill Sweet Potatoes,
Turnips and Carrots in White Sauce,
Boiled Onions,
Chicken Pie,
Mince Pie,
Squash Patties,
Fruit Pudding,
Brandy Sauce,
Assorted Nuts,
Raisins,
Café Noir

My Menu will be a tad bit less impressive! LOL!

Yart

Laundry Soap Concentrated

2011-11-15T10:51:00.001-05:00

Now I would love to take credit for this idea but alas, (not smart enough to come up with it on my own)…. LOL!…. The credit for this goes to Dana at The White Silk Purse.

I followed her recipe to the letter. She said that the recipe should net 4 quarts I got almost 5. Not complaining just letting you know so that you don’t wonder why so much or so little. I will only post the ingredients here, but for the full explanation please go over and see Dana for the rest.

2 bars Fels Naptha

2 cups 20 Mule Team Borax

2 cups Arm & Hammer Washing Soda

6 cups of hot water (+ more water as needed)

Soap Grated

Borax and Washing Soda

Water and Melting Soap

Separated Day Old Soap

Cooled Soap Top View

Whipped Soap

Of course I forgot to take a picture of the finished product. I will be making more. Dana says she figures she needs 18 quarts for a year. I’m going to see how long this lasts and then determine our needs.

Yart

Thunder, Really!

2011-11-14T14:12:00.001-05:00

Yep, we are in the middle of a thunder storm. It is November 14th and we have low 60’s and rain. Where is the snow? The squirrels are so fat that they can barely walk. The little black caterpillars are everywhere. So I wonder how long we will go without snow!

As with most things I only got a couple things accomplished that I had planned for this weekend. First I was able to make the laundry soap. I have a website, directions and photos to share tomorrow. And we were able to get the Christmas lights up. The soup bones must have been old, because the broth is milky. So that will go into the trash. The reason I didn’t get everything done was because my mom decided it was time to clean out her freezer. Everything that she wanted to replace came here. Some of it was good, some not so good! But I have 3 pork loins in the fridge thawing so that I can pressure can them up tomorrow. She has a couple more waiting for me to have time to cook them up. There was also a turkey found. So that will be used for Thanksgiving.

She was cleaning out her pantry so I got quite a bit of canned stuff as well. I know your wondering why she is giving me the food. She will only keep food on her shelves till they are close to expiring and then replaces it. Same with what is in the freezer. If it is getting close to the time, I get it because I will use canned goods past the use by date and I will can up any meat that is 6 to 12 months old.

With tonight I have 5 more bingos to work. That is all I am signed up for. I am counting them down. I really can’t stand the bs that goes with the program. What happens is that regular workers like me are bumped up to management and then become power hungry. So it is not the best work environment. But like I said 5 more! Then next year I only have to work 3 and that can be at my leisure. I get paid into my monsters student credit account to work bingo. I have been doing this to pay for band camp. I will have 1/3 of it paid for by the end of this year. I just need to decide if I want to continue to do this next year or just pay cash. I will probably work, it is just one of those rock and a hard place things.

Enough babbling!

Yart

Weekend Adventures

2011-11-11T23:42:00.001-05:00

This weekend will be ever busy…. I will be making soap, laundry soap and beef stock!!! Plus, bowling and putting up the Christmas lights.

I will share pictures as soon as I get them!

Yart

Oh where oh where has the blogger gone!

2011-11-09T10:08:00.001-05:00

We have been so busy since Halloween. Mouthy monster is now 8. Monster High is the thing here now. At least it isn’t that suck up B**** Barbie… LOL! Teenage monster is now done with Band, for the year. They went to states and scored in the top 5! Very Proud of her. Picky monster went and got her physical yesterday as well as two shots. She is all set to go to the tryouts for bowling next week. I think she will make the team. Her running average for the league is 118. If she makes the team she will be getting a varsity jacket for her birthday in July.

I have been baking bread, knitting a scarf and finishing up Pride, Prejudice and Zombies. I would be remiss if I didn’t say that I had been spending a ton of time on Pinterest. I absolutely, love that place. I have so many pins. I just hope I will have time to follow up on most of them.

Here are few things that I wanted to share that I found. They are good for any time but with the holidays right around the corner, they are perfect!

Chocolate-dipped Peppermint Sticks

Give the Gift of a Homemade Spa Day

Free Mandala Printable Sheets

Yart

And so it begins

2011-11-02T10:52:00.002-04:00

Yep, you guessed it…. The silly season is now upon us!

This year is actually going to be very easy for us. The monsters will each be getting one big gift and a few small items and the rest will be homemade.

For family and friends I will be doing homemade. And this year will be made simpler by checking out Pinterest. They have a huge selection of things. If your not aware of what Pinterest is then you need to check them out. Great site, Lots of information. I have found salt scrubs, mint eucalyptus foot scrub, Candy cane sugar scrub, plus food items that make great gifts!

Yart

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T21:23:00.003-04:00

I have to share something that happened tonight…. It is so funny!

Grim and I are passing out candy…. I am sitting near the lit pumpkins, wearing my wool trench coat. All of a sudden I smell toast and comment to it and then ask Grim am I on fire?

To which he replies….

No honey we aren’t burning witches tonight….

LOL!

I laughed about that for awhile. Mainly, because I thought I would smell like toast if I was on fire… Who knew!

Yart

Welcome to my Witches Tea Party (pic heavy)

2011-10-29T21:33:00.003-04:00

Poison Toadstools

Thank you for attending my Tea Party!

I hope you enjoyed yourself!

Yart

300 in 3

2011-10-28T09:04:00.000-04:00

I have a confession to make…. I signed up for a challenge at the beginning of the month. It is to do 300 miles in 3 months. I have failed miserably. I have done 19.48 miles for the month of October. The only excuse I have is that life has gotten once again in the way of me exercising. I’m not going to beat myself up. The 20 pounds I lost at the beginning of the year is still gone. I really did hope to lose another 20 before the end of the year.

There is still hope that I can pull this together. Only 280.52 miles to get done in just over 2 months. I guess I better get on that exercise bike. LOL!

Yart

Falling asleep on my feet

2011-10-26T12:33:00.000-04:00

I wrote this last night!

I need to get this typed up while I am waiting for Band monster to get done with practice. I am so afraid that I am going to fall asleep since this is the first time all day I have sat down.

After I dropped the monsters off at school I came home and emptied and washed the last 30 jars. Then I got started on cutting up the onions to dehydrate. I think that it was about 5 pounds. Altogether I got 7 trays of diced onions. I would have done more but I could no longer breathe or see… LOL!

Then I got started on cutting the cabbage for kraut. Grim was a huge help with this as we did 3 heads that weighed in at 21 pounds. So this took all his strength to muddle the cabbage. Man what a job. But it is done and awaiting its final home in the basement.

I got 2 loaves of French bread made. I also made for the first time Sourdough Dinner Rolls the recipe can be found here…. They came out great. Will be using my starter for this on a regular basis from now on. Since I had so much starter to use up I also made 3 batches of Sourdough buckwheat pancakes…. Minus the buckwheat… the recipe can be found here. I made so many because I am trying to get the monsters off of cereal in the mornings. It isn’t healthy and its expensive.

For dinner I made 2 pounds of pasta, 2 pounds of hamburger and beef gravy…. mixed it altogether baked for 1/2 an hour. Everyone really liked it. I liked it cause it was quick and easy.

And the dishes I have done all day… They just kept multiplying. I hate when they do that…. My shirt has dish pan hands, from where I lean against the sink…. LOL!

Yart

Sweet Paul

2011-10-26T07:17:00.002-04:00

I want to send a big shout out to Liesl & Miles over at the Nest for posting about this wonderful site!

They shared a new to me site…. Sweet Paul Magazine…. It is to die for!

They have the greatest ideas and the recipes are fab!

The Galette, Pretzels and a ton of other great recipes and design ideas!

Yart

I did a very bad thing

2011-10-25T09:08:00.000-04:00

I spent our whole pay check… The bills are paid and there is money set aside for expenses till the next pay. But I spent everything else.

I bought:

Farmers Market 50lbs potatoes 25lbs peanuts 25lbs turnips 1 bushel of apples 6 pumpkins assorted squash lettuce parsnips tomatoes celery peppers 5 cabbage green onions cranberries pomegranates bananas radishes dried figs	Grocery Store toilet paper dish soap shampoo conditioner razors dental floss sandwich bags laundry soap blueing agent vitamins thermos
Specialty Stores cereal safflower oil pizza crust mix halloween candy milk eggs sharp cheddar cheese cottage cheese salami tortilla tortilla chips parmesan cheese	Extra Shops Bag sale at church $2 ~ twin flannel sheet set, 6 paper backs, glass globe, knitting needles, mitten pattern book Micheals 4lbs glycerin, 3pk color, 1 scent, 2 skeins of yarn, 1 bag of melts Ukazoo Book Store Idiots guide to knitting and crochet, interview with a vampire, pride and prejudice and zombies, and sense and sensibility and sea monsters

Now wasn’t that fun…. LOL! Sometimes you just need to see it in writing before it sinks in that you bought a ton of stuff. But this will last at least 2 weeks. Some things will last well into the winter. Next pay I should only need food and baking supplies (butter, baking soda… I guess I should start a list now… LOL!)

And of course I will be heading back to Ukazoo. I told Grim about it and he is looking forward to checking it out. Gotta Love new stores! I will try and get some pic the next time I’m there.

This ended up being much longer then I originally intended.

Yart

Punkin Chunkin Time

2011-10-23T12:58:00.000-04:00

Here are a few recipes that I stumbled across that I thought you might be interested in.

Pumpkin Bacon Pasta

Pumpkin and Pancetta Pasta

Pumpkin Pierogies with Pecan Sage Cream Sauce

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds with Sea Salt

Apple Pumpkin Soup

Pumpkin Chili

Yart

Fanciful Twist Halloween Party

2011-10-20T21:38:00.001-04:00

Oh, Dear! Oh, My!

The rain has come….

The rain has stayed….

All the party goes will pass right by!

No tents of fun….

No treats of sweet….

The rain has soaked everyone’s feet!

The skulls look sad….

The pumpkins look on….

Maybe next year the party will go on!

Yart

Garbage Lids

2011-10-20T09:20:00.000-04:00

Yep, that’s what we call it when we make homemade pizza. Generally, because I toss all kinds of stuff on… LOL!

The one on the right is just pepperoni and cheese. The one on the left has leftover hamburger, onions, tomatoes, butternut squash and cheese. We were out of pizza sauce so we used spaghetti sauce. It was a very nice stand in.

The one that isn’t pictured had pepperoni, onions, green peppers, sweet peppers, pepper seeds and cheese.

Yart

And a Few Nuts More

2011-10-18T11:03:00.000-04:00

Grim took me out yesterday on the bike… We had a nice ride even though it was cold enough for me to have to put my face mask on. He’s a big guy so I didn’t need my chaps yet. Those will be coming out soon.

We stopped at one of our favorite spots. The hopes of finding black walnuts were quickly dashed. The only ones we saw were smushy. So off to find a potty. As I was walking out of the potty I happened to notice acorn tops. Then I notice acorns. Not very big ones but acorns none the less. Grim and I picked up as many as we could fit into our pockets. Then wouldn’t you know it, we found black walnuts but had no place to put them as we were pretty far away from the bike at that time. That’s ok, we ended up with 1lb 6oz of acorns.

Now here is what to do with them. You can grind them into flour! Click Here for all your acorn answers.

**Side note** I know why I was able to get so many acorns… The majority of them were bad. That’s why the squirrels left them. Now I know to get my butt out there earlier and try to get good ones.

Yart

Just a few Nuts

2011-10-15T15:18:00.002-04:00

The table is 3x5 and as you can see it goes from one end to the other and almost to both sides. This is 25 pounds of Chestnuts that we went picking a couple of weeks ago.

The place that we went to had a buy back program. They would buy back any that you didn’t want for .50 cents a pound. We sold back 45 pounds. I would have picked until all of mine were free but the family grew tired and bored.

I already cooked up a pile of them… They are so good! I do still have a ton in the freezer to enjoy all winter long. You can go here to see how to roast them up.

Yart

This Moment

2011-10-14T12:08:00.000-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you want to participate head on over to SouleMama

Yart

Freeze Yer Buns Off

2011-10-13T16:27:00.000-04:00

Yep it’s that time of year again!

So who is in this with me this year!

I am pledging 63/56. How low can you go?

Yart

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-12T10:34:00.000-04:00

All taken at the Living History Museum Garden.

Yart

The End

2011-10-11T09:01:00.000-04:00

I really enjoyed the time I spent working my way through “Surviving the Apocalypse in the Suburbs” by Wendy Brown.

We always assumed that we would move out to the country one day. Well, this book made it clear that we need to make sure that we still make today a safe place to live, even if we do move in the future. Simply because we may not get out fast enough.

The book showed me that I am on a good path, but there is still a lot I could do.

It also made me get off my a$$ and check a few things out. First I contacted the city. There is no ordinance against bees. But I was told that if some one complained then I would be made to get rid of them… So I am going to be getting bees in the spring… Yes! Then I contacted everyone and their brother to see about putting a wood burner in the living room. We can do it…. the but here is that it is going to cost a lot of money and I would loose more space in the living room then I am willing to give up. So right now we will not be getting a wood burner. Maybe down the road if we hit the lottery then I will look into one of the high efficient wood burners… lots more money but I can put it closer to the wall.

I also realize now that I need to make more connections outside of the house. I’m not sure yet how I am going to accomplish this, but the first step is getting to know my neighbors a little bit better. Since I don’t even live near the town center it is hard to make those types of connections. I am on the outside corner of my town and the outside corner of two other towns… both of their town centers are just as far away as my own. But I really don’t think I will have to worry about the stores as they will probably close up shop in the event something like this does happen. So my best bet is still the neighborhood.

My biggest concern still is food and water. So I have continued to can up the bounty. This week I will be pressure canning a few more quarts of water to add to the shelf… ( I started do this because the canner wasn’t full and I was afraid that some of the jars would jump around and break…. so I filled up jars of water and added them in. ) Sterile water…. gotta love it! Just for the cost of a quart jar and lid…. versus $4.50 for 24oz at Emergency Essentials.

We have also been trying to eliminate all waste. I have been cooking and coming up with recipes to use the leftovers in. There is very little that is making its way into the trash. I am in the process of making toilet paper and sanitary napkins. ( I will let you know how that goes... LOL! )

Oh, and one more thing…

The opinions expressed here are my own. I was not compensated in any way for doing this review. It was a book that I purchased and thought would be interesting to follow the 21 days.

Yart

Day 21

2011-10-10T10:04:00.001-04:00

Transportation

First of all, I can still walk…. Thank the Gods for that! But if that didn’t suit my fancy I do have a nice bicycle with metal saddlebag baskets. I also have one of the monster pull along buggy things, for hauling. I am also lucky to have a big ole dog. So he could pull the wagon if needed.

All of the monsters and Grim have good bikes. So if we needed we all could still go somewhere.

Grim’s job is the only thing that we have been talking about. How will he get to work? I still see a few things still working even in the low energy future. Police, Fire, Medical and the Railroad. Grim falls into the railroad profession. Items still need to get across the country and there are only so many that can run those big things. Even in the worst of times in our past the trains ran. So there is no reason to think other wise. So how will he get to work? I guess they will have to pick him up at the tracks and take him to the station. From there he would get on his train and go to work. To get from our house to the tracks he could walk or he could ride his bicycle. It is only about a mile and a half.

Come to think of it he is going to need snowshoes to make that trek in the winter! Gotta love the North!!!

Things to Get or Do

Get snowshoes for each member of the family (been thinking about doing it for a couple of years)
Look into getting a pull harness for the beast
See if I can put chains on the wagon tires… LOL! Just kidding

Yart

Day 20

2011-10-09T10:30:00.000-04:00

Security

Everyone has there own opinion on this matter. It ranges from no weapons to a shit load of weapons. I think I fall in the middle. I have a good hunting knife and a really good compound bow as well as two recurve bows. Grim hunts so you can gather what he might have. Even though that item is not a personal protection item it could be used as such. He also has a really good hunting knife.

We also have a pellet gun. If the time ever comes that we need to hunt in the neighborhood we have that and the bows. Squirrel and rabbit, its what’s for dinner! There are even deer but they are about 3 miles away. But getting to them and getting one home would be difficult as most people don’t have the ability to hunt so they would want the deer.

Wendy Brown says that most people would not end up in the horde of zombies. But I disagree! A few years ago a new cheap grocery store opened up in a nearby town. The lines were horrible. I was there with my youngest who was still on the bottle. While inside the store a fist fight broke out between two women over nothing. Then when we had a blackout people were being run over at the gas stations, fighting over the last bags of ice and tv dinner. I believe that when push comes to shove and it will. People will do what they feel they need to do to survive. Even if it means doing things they never imagined themselves doing.

Things to Get or Do

Practice
Practice
Practice

Yart

Day 19

2011-10-08T10:07:00.000-04:00

Networking

This is an area that we would have problems with. We know quite a few of our neighbors, at least enough to know some names and to say hello when we see them. There are couple of stores that know us and three restaurants. That’s it. The people that Grim works with all live other places. Even the monsters go to a school that is in a different city then we live in. With me being a SAHM, I have devoted my life to my family ( not everyone’s gig, just mine ), so I have no real life friends ( I use to, until they moved on ). So for all my online friend if the grid goes down… make sure I have addresses so that we can still communicate! ( You know who you are… LOL! )

Wendy Brown talks about how some people never even have met the neighbors. I can relate! Most of my interactions are done online. Even with my extended family. They have moved several times and I no longer have addresses. We just talk on Facebook. I know sad. But that just seems to be the way of life any more.

I am an only child, my mom came here to marry my dad. All of her family is in Canada. All of my dad’s family went the way of the dodo when he died.

Ok, who has the pork chop bone to tie to my leg so the dogs will play with me… LOL!

This isn’t suppose to be sad. But I am being honest here. My network is very limited. So I guess I need to get off the computer and open the door and make some friends.

Things to Get or Do

Make some more connections
Make some friends
Talk to the neighbors more

Yart

Day 18

2011-10-07T07:17:00.001-04:00

Schooling

I still have a few schooling needs for the monsters. But I have school books and paper and pencils. We even have a chalk board. I’m sure that if push came to shove and I had to teach the monsters I could do it. At least the basics. ( Which considering that the younger two are both special ed students they could benefit from the basics ) The oldest monster really could be done with school at this point. She is in 11th grade. She can read, ‘rite & do ‘rithmetic. She could even help me with the younger ones.

There aren’t many little ones in the neighborhood. But I’m sure that we could come up with some type of school environment. Or we just deal with our own monsters and go from there.

Things to Get or Do

Pick up a couple more English books
Pick up a couple more math books
Get more chalk
Get a good pencil sharpener

Yart

Day 17

2011-10-06T07:29:00.001-04:00

Entertainment

I have talked in previous days that we have entertainment pretty well figured out. We have board games, cards & outside toys. There are crafts and new skills to learn. Not to mention that the great out of doors has seriously been neglected in this age of computers. The monsters can put on performances and play music on the instruments.

With having everyone at home we will have plenty of hands to pitch in to get all of the chores done in the morning. That will leave the rest of the day for school, play and skill building.

For me I can entertain myself with reading, knitting, sewing or writing. Grim, can entertain himself tinkering around.

Things to Get or Buy

More card games
More craft supplies
More yarn
More fabric

Yart

Day 16

2011-10-05T07:19:00.001-04:00

Building a Library

This one I have so covered. I have old school books to the classics to romances. Plus all the self-sufficient books and hundreds of magazines. Not to mention all of the stuff that I have printed off line that I would finally have time to read and sort out.

We have quite a few kids books. Even though Mouthy is going to be 8 in a couple weeks, she still needs to have the cute stories! The other two are very much like me when it comes to reading. They have a ton of books on all types of vampires and Japanese animation.

Need to Get or Do

Buy more books ( DUH )
Print off more material on line
Get Mouthy a few more age appropriate books

Yart

Day 15

2011-10-04T07:18:00.002-04:00

Tools

There will be a need for tools that don’t require electricity. Luckily, Grim has us covered. We have an axe and wedge. We have hammers, saws, screwdrivers. I even have an antique hand drill. Plus, most of the men in the neighborhood have tools. So if we didn’t have something then I’m sure we would be able to borrow it.

In the kitchen I have been switching over to manual tools versus the electrical ones. I have a hand beater and of course my wisks. I have a toaster that I can use on the cooktop. I have several pieces of cast iron. Most of my cookware is glass. So that may not be a great idea for using on the wood burner… LOL! But I have been weeding out my endless supply of plastic containers. They have been replaced with canning jars.

Things to Do or Get

Dutch Oven cast iron
muffin tins cast iron
Look into a hand crank Mixer "Little Dutch Maid"

Yart

Day 14

2011-10-03T10:32:00.001-04:00

Cleanliness

Since I have very few options available to me. I think that we will stick to washing up with the pitcher and bowl. Then doing the weekly bath. Now this is funny because this is where the saying don’t toss the baby out with the bath water comes from…. Dad, male children, Mom, female children and then the baby would be washed in the same bathwater as everyone else…. ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! Can you imagine only being able to bathe once a week or even less. Man the thought of that really does make my skin crawl. But in hard times things need to be done that you would never think of doing in the civilized world.

Hauling the water, heating it up, hauling the hot water to the bathing area. That is a ton of work.

In the summer I can see us setting up a solar shower in the yard. The water could be caught and reused ( I know gross )… or it could be used to water the garden. We could even get an old metal tub and light a fire under it to heat the water for outside bathing.

Then what about clothing. I know I cover some of this in the laundry section, day 9, but I watch Frontier House for the first time and something struck me odd. Women use to wear aprons everyday, a new one. The reason was to keep the clothes clean, so that they didn’t need to washed but once a week or less. But the aprons were washed everyday because they dried so much faster then the outer clothes would in the weather.

A point that Wendy Brown points out is without power or limited power, How are you going to keep your carpets clean? Yep, that’s right no vacuums. The only rooms I have carpet is the 3 bedrooms. The rest of the house has linoleum or hard wood with through rugs. The rugs can be taken out and beat with a broom to get the dirt out of them. The floors just swept and washed.

Things to Do or Get

Buy another wood handled natural broom
See if they still sell wisk brooms
Look into setting up an outside bathing arrangement
Make more aprons

Yart

Day 13

2011-10-02T10:32:00.000-04:00

Health Care

This is an are that we could have a few issues with. Grim is a heart patient and has apnea. He is on several different medications and he has a CPAP machine ( need more electricity then I first thought ). I need to find herbals that would accommodate him as best as possible. Doctors will be far and few between and medicines will be in short supply. Doctors and the Drug companies need machines to do the job. When we are no longer running on oil as a nation, how are these machines suppose to run?

I can sew enough to do stitches, I think I could set a bone… at least after I passed out a time or two. I know how to dress a wound. And I am taking an herbal class. So I will have the knowledge to deal with most things even if I don’t have the herbals to do it. So maybe I can substitute. Pulling teeth, I think Grim is up for that job. See how I skirted that one.

Need to Do or Get

Finish herbal classes
Look for alternatives for Grim
Look for solar to run his CPAP machine
Plant commonly used medicinal herbs

Yart

Day 12

2011-10-01T07:17:00.000-04:00

Waste Disposal

Come to think of it this is a fairly shitty topic… LOL! Sorry! I couldn’t resist.

When you think of it though what are you going to do with the trash and your waste? Since I won’t be out purchasing stuff, my trash will be none existent. What is left that would have been tossed will just have to be saved to burn or be creative with

Now for the human waste. Wendy Brown talks about having two buckets one for liquid and one for solids. The liquid would need to be diluted with water and then you can water trees and shrubs. The solids she recommends a book about Humanure. I would recommend this as I know I don’t have room for an outhouse, and I can’t access septic system. We are on the city lines. So this seems like it is the best for us. I need to check into it more though.

Need to Do or Get

Look into Humanure
Get a 5 gallon bucket with a toilet seat on it.
Get a metal garbage can ( for controlled burn )
Make sure post hole digger is in good shape ( in case we did have to dig an outhouse )
Look into blocking off drains in basement… backup could be a problem

Yart

Day 11

2011-09-30T07:18:00.000-04:00

Electricity

In this area, I am completely unprepared. If we loose power, I have a generator for short term. Long enough to can up what is in the freezer, I hope. But other then that, we will be out for the count. Even now that it is almost the end of September…almost 6pm… it is getting dark. I do feel like I could go to sleep, but could I sleep till the sun comes back up? Nope! So what to do with no power?

The fridge would become a storage area in the summer. In the winter we might be able to use it like the old ice chests. I do have several clocks that run on batteries, so we would know what time it is for a few months till they died. I have one old mantle clock that needs some work, but will keep time once it is up and running. No television, no washer, no microwave, no computer, no freezer, no fridge, no cell phones, no house phone ( voip ), no radio.

What we do have is a ton of board games, puzzles and cards. We have books and crafts ( sewing, crocheting, knitting, tatting ). Not to mention the work that will need to be done. With no appliances, the work load will have at least doubled. Laundry will take longer, cooking (for those that don’t cook from scratch now) will take longer, finding food will take longer ( no grocery stores ), heating and cooking will take longer ( gathering wood & starting a fire ). Plus, now candles need to made as does soap and other cleaning product. Clothes need to be fixed, altered or made.

For the people that do most of this everyday, I don’t think that it is going to make much difference to them.

The radio is something that I feel will be a real loss to us. Everyone in the family is very into music. So maybe I need to look into some type of small solar unit so that we can still have music.

Need to Do or Get

Get mantle clock fixed
Look into more games
Get a solar panel to electricity for the day time radio use.
Get belt or two for the treadle sewing machine

Yart

Day 10

2011-09-29T07:20:00.003-04:00

Lights

This is another area where we are good. I could not make it indefinitely, but I could make it a year, hopefully. I have a lot of tapers, jars and 11 oil lamps. Not to mention all the votive and tea lights. I have the supplies to make a few more candles but nothing of any significance. I also have a couple gallons of lamp oil and a couple gallons of olive oil ( more for cooking, but I still have it. ) Wendy Brown talks about making and using tallow candles. These are candles that are made with animal fat. At our living history museum, they have a tin smith. He makes candle boxes for tallow candles. The box has a lid and a latch. Now your thinking why do I have to lock the box….? Well, he explained that it is because critters will want to eat your animal fat candles. So if your going to make them keep them in a safe place. The reason I went with tallow before bees wax is because tallow should be easier to find unless you have bees already.

If you have bees or can get wax, ie; neighbor, friend, family, then you can make candles with the wax.

But whatever way you make them you will still need to have wicks. These are cheap and won’t take up much space in your box of supplies. You can dip or pour.

Need to Do or Get

Get more wicks
See about purchasing wax in bulk. 5 or 10 pounds
See about getting bees

Yart

Day 9

2011-09-28T07:11:00.000-04:00

Laundry

This I can say that I am pretty good on. I have a line outside and lines strung up in the basement. I haven’t had a dryer since we moved in here, that was almost 11 years ago. ( I have an electric dryer and a gas line. Never got around to either getting a gas dryer or putting in an electric line. ) I have a wash board and I have a mop bucket to wring the clothes out. Now I haven’t had to use either of these items as I still have use of my washer. I have them none the less if the need arises.

As for laundry soap, I have what I use normally about a 2 month supply. Then I have the washing soda, borax and fels naphta. That should last me another year. ( I have made before, so am use to using it. ) Then I also know the how to’s of making lye and using animal fat to make real lye soap. This I have never done but I do understand the principles behind it. So hoping that I should be fine for washing clothes!

Need to Do or Get

Learn to make lye
Learn to make soap with said lye

Yart

Day 8

2011-09-27T10:02:00.000-04:00

Livestock

Well, Lets see I can’t have chickens or goats. What I am allowed to have is bunnies. We only have 1 buck right now. We are still working up the gumption to raise them. The raising part doesn’t bother me but the harvesting does. I know I need to get over it. It is a meat source that my family would be grateful for when the stores are closed. Alas, I am squeamish. Yep, big baby here. My biggest fear is that I couldn’t do it quickly and the animal would suffer…. and haunt me forever. I need to find someone that would let me watch them do it. Reading in a book or even watching it on you tube, just doesn’t seem to do it for me. To be able to ask questions and see the answers would suit me fine. I think that once it is dead I could process with no problems. So at least with that part I’m ok. Plus, the skins could be tanned and used in a great many applications.

I don’t see our city changing the ordinances any time soon considering that we now have a rodent problem in my area. But I may see if they will let me have bees. I’m not sure why they won’t but I’m sure I will find out soon enough.

Need to Do or Get

Look into getting 2 does
Find plans to build a hutch
Get all the supplies for the does
Just do it
Go to the city and see if I can get bees.

Yart

Day 7

2011-09-26T06:00:00.000-04:00

Growing Food

I know some of you out there are saying I have a black thumb. Or my association won’t let me have a garden. Well, did you know that there are several varieties of plants that you can grow in pots or even hide in among you perennials. Now is the time to see what you are able to do. I consider myself to be the half-a$$ed gardener. So I am not the best one for advice. But there are a ton of books on the subject and you could always contact your local extension office.

I have had a garden for the last 3 years. We will be revamping it this coming year. (If only I had more land). The area that I use to garden is on the south side of the house. It is in full sun all day and had no air circulation. With that being said I still get a great many things out of the garden. One of them being experience. The first year I did as the book said and had 16 tomato plants in each of the boxes. Then went down to 12. This year I did 9 per box and they were doing so good. ( See experience) I think I would have gotten at least 2 bushels. ( Had some problems with critters this year ). I have a dwarf 5 in 1 apple tree in the ground and a dwarf 4 in 1 pear in a pot. I now have 5 blueberry bushes growing in tires and two grape vines. Plus I have a bunch of mints, chives and sage all in pots. I also have Echinacea and lavender in the ground. I had raspberry’s but I dug them all up and put them at my mom’s house. I am also looking into hazelnuts or a walnut tree.

My best piece of advice here is to try, try and try again. Just because it doesn’t work this year doesn’t mean it won’t work the next. See what grows well in your neck of the woods and give it a try!

Need to Do or Get

Get more Heirloom seeds
Look into a nut tree / shrub
Get lumber to re-do garden
Try and find a 4 in 1 cherry tree
Look into window farming for winter greens

Yart

Day 6

2011-09-25T06:00:00.000-04:00

Food – Long term storage

Metal cans only have a shelf life of about 2 years. Home canned goods could be good for up to 4 years ( with a decrease in nutrients ). But when your hungry, you will eat whatever is available. Doesn’t that just sound yummy! So what are you going to do so that you can eat something edible.

First your going to see what you have available locally and learn how to preserve it.

Can It

Dry It

Freeze It

Ferment It

Pickle It

Sprout It

Store It

Jerk It

Salt It

Smoke It

Grind It

I’m not going to go into a ton of detail on these things. I have been learning over the last few years how to do many of the above. Sometimes I have success other times not so much. I have the luxury of failing right now. My life and the lives of my family don’t rely on me getting it right all the time. But if the time comes when we have no other choice then I am confident in my ability to keep them feed for the long term.

Need to Do or Get

Get more canning jars… Can one ever have enough
Buy Tattler Lids ( lots of them )
Buy more disposable lids
Learn how to make pectin
Get more salt
Get more seeds for sprouting
Buy a bolt of muslin ( for making bags to hang meat ).
Get several more crocks

Yart

Practical Magic

2011-09-24T00:01:00.000-04:00

Welcome Movie goers… I hope that you have enjoyed all that you have seen so far!

At this stop along the film I would like to share with you just one of my favorite scenes of the movie… Trust me it was very difficult to choose just one but here it is!

Favorite scene

Now that you have watched the scene… Here is a little recipe for you to take on your way to the next stop in the film!

In Blender With Ice add

1 oz Tequila Premium

1/2 oz Hiram Walker Blue Curacao

1 1/2 oz Sweet/Sour Mix

Blend and Strain

Garnish: Lime Slice

But if traditional is more your speed then try this recipe….

1 1/2 oz tequila

1/2 oz premium triple sec (preferably Cointreau)

1 oz lime juice

Rum the rim of a cocktail glass with lime juice, and dip in salt. Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into the glass, and serve.

Remember don’t drink and fly…. and please make sure you have your umbrella in case you decide to jump!

Yart

Day 5

2011-09-23T06:00:00.000-04:00

Food Stocking Up

This is something that I completely agree with. You should have food in your homes. FEMA says that you should have at least 3 days. But when you look at all of the disasters it should be closer to 1 week. I prefer a much longer time frame. If food supplies were to be disrupted, even like they were in Louisiana, then you might just starve if all you can do is heat up a can of something. I remember a few years ago, middle of summer, we had a huge power outage. It lasted for almost a week. Grim and I were curious, as how the other half lived. We headed out to one of the grocery stores that was still running on generators. Honestly, it was the saddest thing I had ever seen. People were walking around with microwavable dinners and dried beans, as there was nothing left. No power to turn on the microwave and no idea of what to do with the beans.

I didn’t cover this in the cooking section but I will mention it here. Please if your going to store something, make sure you know how to cook it and if your family will eat it. Can you imagine being in a crisis (though enough), but to make matters worse you can’t figure out how to cook the bean and then no one will eat. Or they do eat it and end up with tummy troubles. So if your family won’t eat tuna now what makes you think that they will eat the 300 cans you got on sale when there is an emergency?

Another point Wendy Brown makes is that if your family is only use to eating highly processed foods, what are they going to eat when that runs out? Your going to have to think local, local…. LOCAL! Go to the famers markets and see what they have….. Fruits, Vegetables, Honey, Herbs, Spices, Fermented items, possibly dairy and eggs. If your really lucky they will also have meat and fish. These lines of commerce should continue. So if your unfamiliar with how to store and eat something now is the time to find out. And now is the time to introduce it to your family.

Simply put, if the trucks stop running, your going to eat things you never thought you would eat. Better to be prepared now.

Need to Do or Get

Need more 5 gallon buckets
Need more glass jars
Need to get more local honey
Need to find a better supply of eggs

Yart

Day 4

2011-09-22T06:00:00.000-04:00

Cooking

I have a gas grill, a smoker, a propane stove and the fire pit. I have several cast iron frying pans. I know that eventually if this don’t return to normal then I would run out of fuel. So solar cooking just might be the way to go for me. That is if we don’t get the wood burner. I will still need to find a way to bake. I think I can make bread in a Dutch oven.

Need to Do or Get

Make a solar oven to try out. Click Here
If homemade solar oven works then price real solar oven. Click Here
Pick up a Dutch oven that is cast iron

Yart

Day 3

2011-09-21T08:00:00.000-04:00

Fire

If your like me then you have a furnace that has an electric ignition, that won’t work if there is no power. So how do you stay warm? Like I said before I live in the North and we get cold, not as cold as some but cold none the less. Wendy Brown offers the suggestion of heating rocks to help stay warm. I love this idea. We have a fire pit that could be used for this purpose and some bricks. I also like the idea of solar passive heat. Here is one place that you can find out a bit more information. You can also heat water with solar, click here to find out more.

We have a gas grill, a smoker, a propane stove and a fire pit. I realize that eventually if things didn’t go back to normal I will run out of fuel. But I still will have the fire pit. That is an asset. I can use it to cook on as well as to help with staying warm. There are trees in the neighborhood and we have an ax. Now I need to get a wood rack and get back to getting our wood pile built back up.

We are also looking at getting a wood burner for the living room. We have an open type concept, so the living room, dining room and the kitchen will receive the heat. It could even make the entire main floor decent. Not sure since I don’t have it yet. But that would be great if it made it so we could sleep in our beds and not freeze to death… I guess that would be an added bonus…. LOL!

Something else that Wendy Brown talks about in the book is, Ok, you need fire but where is it going to come from. I have a nice stock of matches and we have a flint fire starter. I also learned a neat trick. You take steel wool and a 9 volt battery. It will start a fire very quickly. I saw that on one of the discovery channel survival shows.

Need to Do or Get

Get a wood rack
Get the wood burner
Buy more propane
More matches
Learn how to use a bow fire starter
Find more down trees, chop, split and dry
Try to find hot water bottles (Do they even still make these?)
Make heavier blankets
Have heavier clothing (ski-doo jumpers, snow pants, good boots)

Yart

Day 2

2011-09-19T14:46:00.000-04:00

Water

I think that we tend to take water for granted. We go to the faucet and water pours out. Or we go to the potty and the flush takes the waste away. But what if that ability was gone? FEMA recommends that you have 1 gallon of water per person per day. Now lets think if the water was out for a month. I have a family of 5, that would be 150 gallons. That is a lot of water.

I have 2 – 55 gallon drums for water and lots of vinegar jugs that have been repurposed for water storage. I also have 1 rain barrel, for cleaning water. There is a creek about 1/4 mile down the road. I have a radio flyer wagon that I could use in the warm weather to haul water. We are also just over a mile from one of the Great Lakes. The thought of hauling water from that distance tires me out, let alone actually have to do it. We do live in the North so winter is a problem for us when it comes to water. Luckily, we will get snow that can be melted down to use. But the water in the rain barrels would be frozen.

**Side note** Don’t use plastic milk jugs for water storage. They will eventually leak. I know this because I was using them and they all leaked after awhile. That is why I use vinegar and soda bottles.

Need to Do or Get

Water purification system (Berkey or homemade)
Water purification tablets
2 more 55 gallon drums (for drinking water)
4 more rain barrels (for garden and cleaning)
Figure out some type of gray water catchment system. (To water the garden in hot weather

Yart

Surviving the Apocalypse in the Suburbs

2011-09-19T13:11:00.002-04:00

I picked up this book by Wendy Brown yesterday. The premise of the book is that you have 21 days to prepare for the end of the world as we know it. The author has broken the down the tasks for each day. You can check out Wendy’s blog here.

I think that this is a great idea considering that I do live in a Suburban neighborhood.

So I will be for the next 21 days blogging about what I find that needs to be done to make it so that we could survive the apocalypse until either things go back to normal or a new way of life is established.

Day 1

Shelter

Luckily, we have a 3 bedroom house with a full basement and detached 2 car garage. We also have the advantage of living on a corner. The roof was replaced just a few years ago, but the windows are old and horrible. But I know how to plastic them up with duct tape and I also have window quilts to use. We have no way to heat the house for the long term if there was no electricity.

Need to Get or Do

Get wood burner (already spoke with Grim and we know where we are going to put it.) Nextag has a lot of different listings. Good place to start looking. If your interested click here. I think I am going to look at the local hardware and see what they have.
Start replacing windows one at a time. (We will replace the two in the living room first as this is where the wood stove will go. Keep that room nice and toasty warm.)
Fix the basement walls. (At some point the basement was shored up with pylons. I don’t think the wall will cave in but the cinder block has been shifting for the last two years. Damn clay back fill.)
Weather strip around all the doors. (This should be done by everyone even if they don’t expect a disruption in life. I did this a couple years ago but it needs to be done again)
Fix screens in windows that don’t get replaced. (Several of the screens have holes and duct tape fixing them. Yep, my neck is a little pink… LOL! Make do or Do without.)
Fix or replace gutters (for future catchment system)
We may look into a solar heat & solar hot water systems. (I would rather wait till we one day move to get these items but we may not ever move so that is something to think about.)

Yart

42 Degrees

2011-09-15T18:33:00.002-04:00

That is how cool it was this morning. It doesn’t look like it is going to get much warmer at night any time in the near future. Autumn is making a grand show of itself this year. Grim needed to know when we turned the furnace on last year. Good thing I blog about most everything. We didn’t turn it on until November. The only reason I turned it on was because it was 28 that morning… LOL! I told him had we had a little wood burner I would have waited. But it was just to cold in the morning for showers without some type of heat. I need to go and see if there is going to be another freeze your buns off challenge again this year!

I didn’t get to the pear until today. I juiced them in the steam juicer and strained out the pulp. I had 3 cups of pulp that I turned into Almond Pear Sauce (3~12oz jars). Plus, the 11 cups of juice that I will be making syrup out of later tonight (9 pints). So now it is officially done. At least the Pears. I still have the two bushels of apples. I should be able to get 1/2 to 1 full bushel done tomorrow! It will all be made into sauce and maybe some butter. But here are the recipes I used today.

Almond Pear Sauce

3 cups of pear pulp

1/2 cup pear juice

3/4 cup of sugar

1 tsp of Almond extract

Heat, jar and water bath for 20 minutes per pint 25 minutes for quart

Pear Syrup

11 cups of pear juice

11 cups of sugar

Bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes.

Jar and water bath for 10 minutes

Remember to always check with the National Center for Home Food Preservation first before you try any recipe to see if it is safe. The rules change all the time. So it is better to be safe then sorry.

Yart

Processing

2011-09-13T16:28:00.001-04:00

I was able to get all the raspberries processed. 7 ~ 12oz jars and 5 pint sized jars! With all the jellies and the other jams. I think we will be all set for the upcoming winter. I see a ton of jelly rolls and waffles in our future… LOL!

After I take Teenage monster to practice I will be come home and get the rest of the pears juiced / cooked down. A few more jars of pear butter won’t hurt to have in the pantry. I think I am going to make pear syrup with the juice this time.

Thursday I will get the apples started. I was going to do it tomorrow but Grim will be home, doctors appointment. Nothing serious, just a check of his shoulder. And if it doesn’t rain I will be out cutting the grass. Hopefully, that will be the last time this season. With all this hokey weather it stayed green and growing all summer.

Next payday I will be going and getting a 50 pound bag of potatoes to can up. I still have enough carrots from the last two years that I don’t need to do them. I think I would like to do more tomatoes. I don’t feel like I did enough this year. You never know maybe one more bushel.

I will also have to check the one farmers stand that I go to should have peppers for like 12 @ $1, at this time. I also need to get some squash to put in the cellar. I will wait till closer to Thanksgiving to get the yams, for storage. I think I might even try to can some of those up this winter also.

I’m still trying to clean out the freezers. What a chore. Good thing I only have one big and one little. It is going to take me a couple months to get it finished. As long as it is done by the time Grim brings home a deer or two, we will be fine. Not complaining, just stating the facts… LOL! I have 3 giant turkeys that need to be cooked up. Can’t wait for turkey broth. I love the stuff! I cooked a ham on Labor day. Grim and the monsters love that!

Yart

Lots to Talk about

2011-09-12T19:56:00.001-04:00

With the way things went this summer Grim and I have decided to get the basement walls fixed up. Then we will fix all possible entry ways into the yard to keep out the damn r*ts. That way I will rebuild the garden to something that works better for us. When we built the garden 3 years ago, I went off of what I thought would work. And it did work, but it didn’t really suit our needs. I had the 12 4x4 raised beds. This time we are going to build 1 24x6 raised bed in. I will also be able to add the the drip irrigation. Cutting the grass will be so much easier…. or I might just build a walk way all the way around and not have to worry about it at all.

All of the herbs died, as did all the blueberry bushes. My mint and chives have held their own. The lavender should be ready to start harvesting next year. The grapes grew this year but not one grape did we get to eat. They never turned to purple. And yes, I did buy purple grapes, Grim asked the same question. Maybe it is still to early. I will be looking for borage to plant for next year…. so if anyone has any seeds that they would like to part with please let me know.

I am working with a lion brand yarn right now to make Teenage monster a scarf to match her varsity jacket. Once I am done making it I am going to get more of this wool and make hot pads. It is the thickest, softest yarn ever. The color is Claret, it is a deep wine color and her jacket is a burgundy. They seem to go good together. I may never have to make more hot pads once these are finished. LOL! I also need to get my butt in gear. I bought yarn last year to make a crocheted blanket and haven’t done it yet. Good thing fall is on its way.

Well, since it seems Picky monster has hidden my sugar I have to wait till they get home from school to make the raspberry jam. I need to get that done tonight so that the berries don’t go bad on me. This is the first time in years I have picked fall raspberries. I think I like them better then summer ones. But then again next year I could have a change of heart… LOL! Yep, you guessed it I’m fickle! I also need to get the rest of the pears cooked down and started on the apples. I think that pears and apples will be waiting until tomorrow though.

Today ended up being a run around type of day. Took the monsters to school, then had to pick my mom up at the shop and take her home. Then had to take Grim’s car into the shop…. brand new and one of the pieces of trim fell off. I also had to go to the post office because my mailman was late getting here Friday and then when I went Saturday they were already closed. But I have my package and I have already started on my “Introduction to Natural Wellness” course. I think I will be done sometime in November. I have read the first unit, but I need to go back and take notes and flash cards. The test for unit one seems very straight forward.

Yart

Remembrance

2011-09-11T20:56:00.000-04:00

I got 2 bushels of Mac’s and 4 quarts of red raspberries. The family all went out and picked! What a great way to spend a crappy day. We were all together 10 years ago, as we were today. Even though my oldest was just in 1st grade she remembers the turmoil that followed the attack. I remember the panic, the shock and the horror of watching it all unfold on the television. I know I gathered my family close to me and we prayed like we had never prayed before, for the fallen, for the hero's and for living.

I remember and will never forget!

Yart

Just stuff

2011-09-09T14:38:00.000-04:00

I have been cleaning house all day. Of course I have had some computer time. In that time I have found a few things that might be of interest to you.

10 Creative Kid Projects (great Christmas ideas)

Homemade Blueberry Liqueur

Boiled Cider

Ginger Ale by Alton Brown

Free Printable Cash Budgeting Envelopes

And since school is back in session I thought I would revisit a classic.

Homemade Poptarts

Yart

At Home

2011-09-08T13:47:00.000-04:00

I am at home. Yesterday I didn’t get here until after 3:30 and then didn’t get home again until after 9. It was just one of those days that didn’t seem to want to end or want me to be home. Still I got 8 jars of Vanilla Pear Butter made. The recipe is below. I have a couple of other links to share. For today I am cleaning out Mouthy’s room today. That child creates more messes. The other two will have until Sunday night to get their room cleaned. If they don’t I will be doing that on Monday morning. These rooms are so small that a couple days of not putting stuff away looks like a tornado went through. They did a really good job cleaning this summer. But they have let it lapse. Plus the rabbit is back in there since the a/c is out of the window. So he needs to be comfortable.

I got some interesting news last night. I don’t want to jinx it so I won’t say to much. But it is one of those things that it could be the best thing ever or the worst. I am putting my faith in the powers that be to lead me in the right direction. Enough of that. I have a pot of chili on the stove, might even make corn bread. It has been raining here for two days straight. I have the inside windows all closed. But not the storms. I think it is suppose to heat back up this weekend. But if it doesn’t and this trend continues then I am going to start closing up the storms. It isn’t that it is cold so much as it is so damp. Grim laughs at me cause I am always cold unless it is 80+ out there. So I have my sweat jacket on working around the house.

Carrot cake whoopie pies

Chicken Vegetable Alfredo Soup

Vanilla Pear Butter

Yart

Blogging Bee

2011-09-06T16:12:00.001-04:00

I posted a link to my grinding wheat post and this week I was featured. This is kewl so I thought I would share!

Yart

First day of School

2011-09-06T10:05:00.000-04:00

Well, the monsters have all been dropped off at the proper location. I was suppose to go to the gym today, but I just don’t feel it. As much as I love the thought of getting my days back, I hate school. I miss my monsters terribly. Grim is on a permanent job for the next 3 weeks, which means he has a set schedule. It makes going back to school easier when everyone is on a schedule. Today is a half day. After I pick them up I need to take Teenage monster looking for a Home coming dress. I really hope we can find one quick. Neither one of us enjoys shopping. So as soon as she finds the dress there will be no having to keep looking just in case. Yeah!

Now all the tomatoes are done. It is time to move on to other foods. I have a large stock pot full of pears that I really need to put into the juicer. But I think that is going to have to wait until the monsters are in school all day tomorrow. Just so I have time to get it all done. After I juice them I will run the mess through the pureer. With what is left I will make pear butter. Oh, I can’t wait. I only got a few pears last year, but I decided that pear butter was nectar from the gods… LOL! So I really need to make more of it this year. I still might make it out to get raspberries. I don’t know… the weather has turned cold. I know it would be the perfect time to pick. Just being lazy, I probably will get down there tomorrow. I think a magic fairy is going to bring me a bushel or two of apples. I have to pay for them but I don’t have to go and get them. LOL! Plus, they are cheaper then the ones around here. If that is the case then I will be making apple sauce later in the week. The monsters just love it. So why not have it on hand.

I have a couple of tomatoes that I was able to salvage from the garden. Mr. stripy, purple Cherokee, and a couple of the Italian paste. Now that they are ripe, I need to gut them and get the seeds ready to save. So then next year I will have my own seeds and hopefully, won’t have to buy any starts.

Oh, I almost for got I have some links to share.

How to make Yo-Yo napkin rings

Homemade corn syrup

Homemade girl scout cookies

Pastitsio

Free E-course for Cooking Traditional Foods

I signed up for this, this morning. I looks like it will be full of great information. And as I learn new things I will pass on some of the knowledge. Or at least the links…

I am still waiting on some things to get here in the mail. The first is the vintage remedies beginners kit. I got that one first to see if doing herbal things suits me. I would like to think that it would fit very well into the sustainable lifestyle. But I don’t know if I have what it takes. The next package is my wool csa. I am so looking forward to finishing the project that I started with the first skein. I’m not sure if it is a scarf or a runner. I guess once I get more wool, plus this is my first pattern. I came up with it all on my own….

Yart

A Family Affair

2011-09-01T15:37:00.000-04:00

We got the bushel and a half peeled and cut up. The first 6 quarts are cooling… yep one decided to break as soon as it hit the water. Seven more are in the canner and I still have 10 more waiting for their turn in the pool… LOL!

The monsters did the peeling and Grim did the cutting. I am so blessed to have a family that will pitch in when I am swamped!

Oh, she found a date…. so now I need to find her the dress!

Yart

More done

2011-08-31T21:46:00.002-04:00

I got 5 & 1/2 quarts of tomato sauce done today. Tomorrow I will be working on diced tomatoes to jar up. Plus, I have some white runner beans I need to deal with as well.

Orientation went well. Band monster has decided that she wants to go to Homecoming. So now all we need is a date and a dress. She is working on the date and I am working on the dress. LOL!

Pink eye is almost gone… YEAH!

Yart

Practical Magic Blog Party 2011: It's party time again ladies......

2011-08-31T16:55:00.001-04:00

Practical Magic Blog Party 2011: It's party time again ladies......:

'via Blog this'

Back to the Start

2011-08-31T15:43:00.000-04:00

Recipe Share

2011-08-31T10:07:00.000-04:00

Here are some recipes that I want to share that I have found around the net.

Maple Brown Sugar Blueberry Cheesecake

Gluten Free Thanksgiving dinner

Lacto-Fermented Applesauce

Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies

Soft Sourdough Cookies

Cheese Crackers

Sourdough Pumpkin Bread

Coconut Oil Mayonnaise

Chocolat Peanut Butter Cups

Refrigerator Bran Muffins

Yart

Accomplishments

2011-08-30T22:21:00.000-04:00

First let say that I tried the Chia tea. Man o Man is it good. I’m sure I will be making more before the week is out.

Today has gone by in a blur. I got started on the tomatoes. They were cut up and tossed in the oven. Both of my big roasters were groaning under the weight.. LOL! As they were cooking down, I cut some corn off the ear so that I could have some in the freezer. Then I cleaned, cut up and froze, peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots. These will make great additions to winter time smoothies. I also cleaned and cut up Hungarian Hot peppers for the freezer. This time I wore gloves to protect myself. Once all the tomatoes were cooked and cooled a bit… They went into the pulverizor. Now the sauce is in the crook pots for the night. I will can up the condensed sauce in the morning. Along with that I have two loaves of sourdough rising in the oven, also to be made in the morning. To see it on paper makes it look like I really didn’t do much, but trust me when I say that I have been busy all day.

I think when I get a chance I am going to look for another background. I really like this one, but I don’t like how the pictures are transparent and you can see the background through them.

Tomorrow is orientation for my two high-schoolers!

Busy busy busy!

Yart

Much Better

2011-08-29T17:08:00.000-04:00

Grim and I went out on the bike yesterday for the first time in about a month that I have been back there. We did over 200 miles. It felt to good to be there and have nothing to do but think. I watched the world go by. We are both sunburnt but it was such a beautiful day.

Autumn is in the air. I thought I felt a shift a few days ago. But I was so wrapped up in bs, I didn’t take the time to make sure. Today, it hit me full force. The seasons have changed once again. Apples and pumpkins will abound in the next month. So will chestnuts and acorns. I so can’t wait. We have quite a few places we can get apples from. I need to make up sauce and butter, this year! The nuts the monsters love to go and get. Who doesn’t like hitting spiky balls of death out of a tree with a hockey stick! Yep, that’s how its done. The acorns are just across the street at the neighbors house. I need to get the pantry ready for the potatoes, squashes and apples. I want to get another 25 pounds of carrots but I will can those. I might even can up the potatoes instead of storing. You never know.

Tonight when we got home I made up a chia tea syrup. Oh, my did it smell up the house. Even the Picky monster was curious as to what I was making. Since I don’t go to the local coffee shops, I’m not really sure how much money this will save. But it will give me something else to drink other then plain iced tea. I plan on trying it with the kefir to see if this is a good use for it. You can get the recipe here at The Elliots Homestead.

Today I will be finally getting to empting the jars from 08’ and the corn from last year that didn’t quite turn out. Plus, Grims truck died so we are in the process of getting him a new vehicle.

Yart

What now!

2011-08-27T19:01:00.000-04:00

I guess that is where I am at. I have been cleaning like a fiend this past week. Not only to clean up after our nightly visitor… but to make sure that they didn’t nest in my house. Which I can say that they did not. YEAH!!! I still have to get out to where the garden use to be and dismantle the raised beds. The dirt will be used to re-grade that side of the house. I’m not sure what I am going to do with the tires just yet. There a few other things out side that need attention. That will happen next week. Still working on the house. Have I ever told you guys just how much I hate cleaning. I can clean, I know how. I just hate it. I believe that once I bust my butt to clean it…. it ought to stay that way for awhile. Well, as you all know with a hubby, 3 kids, 2 cats, a dog and a rabbit…. nothing stays that way for long. One of the things that I have been doing this week is getting rid of stuff. The salvation army is very happy, the garbage men won’t be… LOL! I have gotten hate mail from them before. It is a new company though…. I wonder!

I have been working on the kefir. It is a little bit to sour. Not sure what I am doing wrong. It is still edible just a bit to sour for me. So tonight I took a can of peaches and some frozen strawberries and blended them. Now all I have to do is mix some of the fruit and kefir in the mornings. This way I can still drink it but I don’t have to use the blender and wake the whole house. Hopefully, it will taste similar to the flavored kefir in the stores. I got some cucumbers and peppers dehydrated this week. With getting our produce box today I have a ton more stuff to do put up.

Oh, I can’t believe I forgot to share this. I made the lacto-fermented salsa. I didn’t have any gloves to I seeded the jalapenos bare handed. On my right hand the thumb and index finger and the left thumb burned till the next day. I used milk, yogurt, scrubbed with a toothbrush and soap, soaked my hands in ice water and shoved burn cream under my nails. Nothing helped. Please use me as an example wear gloves when cleaning hot peppers.

My eyes are feeling better today. Still itchy though. The last time I had pink eye I was like 14. Funny thing is the kids haven’t even started school yet… and no I haven’t been playing with cows even though it would be cool to do that. No cow so the goat will have to substitute LOL!!! Should be back to my old self in a couple days. Looking forward to that… I know it was a groaner…

Keeping everyone on the Eastern Seaboard in my prayers! Post when you can to let us know your alright!

Yart

Seriously

2011-08-26T20:48:00.000-04:00

I have pink eye... well, now it is really pink eyes. This sucks!

Yart

Dreams Put on Hold

2011-08-22T19:54:00.000-04:00

We found out what our nightly intruder was. I’m not going to say what it was. But I will say that the wood pile has been given away. The compost bin has been emptied and cleaned out. The garden is gone. I can’t allow any hiding places or a free buffet. The city apparently knew that the area was having critter problems, because upon a through investigation of our yard we found an industrial trap set up at our fence line in the alley. Thanks for telling us. But now we have doubled our determination to get out of this area. I want to cry and hold my breath and say that it just isn’t fair. The truth of the matter is that we know that Grim is capable of splitting wood and I grow a mean garden. This has been a learning experience for us. We value that, we truly do.

The time has come for this family of 5 to get out act together and come up with a down payment for a new place and try to sell ours in the process. The powers that be have been pushing us in this direction for a couple of years but we didn’t want to listen. We were comfortable here. This was the last straw in my books. I grew up in the ghetto and never had this problem. I’ll be damned living in a nice quite neighborhood if I am going to deal with it.

Country here we come sometime in the near future!

With being said, I am still doing what I can here to feed us. The second batch of fermented pickles froze in the stupid fridge so I don’t know if they turned out or not. We will be trying the cortido in the next day or two. I will be working on fermented salsa tonight. I processed 3 cantaloupe and 1 watermelon. Oh, I stopped and picked a almost 2 pounds of purple hull peas. Half are fresh and the other half were already dry. How cool is that. They are shelled, with the help of the monsters. I will be freezing the fresh and the dry will go into fall and winter soups. I’m hoping to get back to the farm and get more peas and get a couple bushels of tomatoes. Oh, and I have pictures of the tomatoes that I already got done! I almost forgot I have kefir going right now! My first batch that I could use was ready today. But I didn’t have time to get to it, so into the fridge it went. I will be making smoothies for the monsters tomorrow, so having a little bit more will be a good thing.

Around the house ordinary news. Grim and I got the old side by side fixed up. The one side needed a new bottom… done and one of the drawers needed to be glued back together… done! The monsters popped a breaker and now I have no power to several plugs and two of the bedroom lights don’t work… Need to wait for Grim to get home from work to pop it back into place. Yes, I can do it…. I just need to get a ladder and it is in the wall and ….. well, I’m not doing it. We had some problems with a couple of window screens so those got fixed today… gotta love duct tape!

Yart

Question

2011-08-19T15:04:00.000-04:00

What do you do when you think there is a mouse in the house? You release the cats, buy traps or call an exterminator! I did the first two…. Let me give you a little back ground. We were gone for a week. We come home, two days later we take Teenage monster to band camp. On the way home I feel the need to get tomatoes. So we stop and buy a bushel in two containers. Once home one has to sit on the couch and the other goes into the dining room… ( open concept). Then Monday I get up to find the tomatoes on the couch half eaten. I think mice from the garden. Then the next day Grim finds a loaf of bread that is up on the buffet half eaten. Now how did the mice climb up there? Hmmm! Of course I don’t see any poo. Plus, trying to get the repair guys out here to fix the damn fridge… If you can avoid the brand LG do so… At least with the larger models. Poorly made. Anyways, the rabbit is out in the living room…. another long story. But it has taken to spraying the last couple of days also. Can you see where I’m going with this yet? Bet you can’t.

I sit on the floor next to the rabbit yesterday to talk to him… He isn’t food so I can do this. I find a piece of poo…. much larger then the rabbit poo. Behind his cage is a cabinet and under is a bit of large poo. Now I am freaking out cause the bottom of the cabinet has a hole that I knew was there when I bought the thing. Oh, god please don’t be in there! So I call Grim home… 3rd time in 10 years…. usually take care of stuff myself. He comes home we find that there are two holes in the screen behind where the fan is in the window. Then Grim bangs on the cabinet and we proceed to clean it out. No sign of it. Then we start looking for other possible hiding spots… We find ramen and wrappers scattered under the furniture.

So we went out and got one of the live animal traps in case it is still in the house. The window has been closed and the walkway it used to come into the house has been removed. Grim thinks that this was just a nightly visitor. God I hope so! It was either a squirrel or a raccoon. We cleaned out the rabbits cage and he is no longer spraying. So I am going to take that as a good sign!

Good thing I don’t have cut rate insurance… LOL!

Yart

Just an update

2011-08-17T11:40:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I took the entire fridge apart and cleaned it. Boy oh boy does it sparkle now. I do that at least once a year. I do spot cleaning as needed but the deep down cleaning, yep that’s a once a year job. I should have taken pictures but didn’t think about it until right now. As for right now, I am waiting for the repairman to come. It is the 12-5 waiting game. Grim, even though he is at work is anxiously waiting to go grocery shopping tonight. We don’t need much, milk, eggs, lunchmeat, I might even pick up some of the Hebrew national hotdogs. Teenage monster has never been a fan of hotdogs but those she likes. I like the fact that they have nothing in them. We need to move ever thing out of the mini-fridge to the big one once it is fixed.

I have been cleaning all day. I thought I did enough of that before we left to go camping. But alas it is a never ending job. I have a ton of produce to put up once my kitchen is put back together. I completely missed out on black and blue berries & raspberries. I need to get all the tomatoes, corn, peppers, potatoes, squash, pumpkin and apples. That way the pantry will be rounded out nicely. So far I have gotten, strawberries, peaches, nectarines, cherries, apricots put up into jams and jellies. I blanched & froze the sugar peas. I dehydrated zucchini, summer squash, eggplant, cucumbers and celery.

Even though fall is still like a month away as far as the calendar goes, I’m thinking mother nature has different plans.

Yart

Great Time Camping

2011-08-15T11:12:00.000-04:00

We had a great time camping again. We brought up both of the tents. But the site was to rocky to get the second tent up. So the monsters were stuck with us. Good thing the new tent was big enough. We did a ton of site seeing. There was a haunted lighthouse and a haunted bar. No ghosts made themselves known to us. But the bar had great food, it wasn’t a total loss.

This is over lake Huron. The weather was hit and miss the first day.

Here is the haunted lighthouse. I only made it to the first landing. To much for me to walk. LOL!

This little guy is at a bear sanctuary. They are rescued from the wild. They have huge roaming areas and they come out to visit only if they want to. That part I think is awesome.

This is the bell from the Edmunds Fitzgerald

Gotta Love waterfalls…. Good thing I was very far away… Yep, water and heights scare the crap out of me.

Told ya the weather wasn’t all bad.

This is the mast from the coast guard cutter that patrolled the great lakes for over 50 years.

Yart

Back from Vacation

2011-08-13T22:38:00.000-04:00

We got home late yesterday and had to spend all day getting ready to take band monster to camp tomorrow. I will be back to regular posting on Monday!

The water our last night there!

Yart