Crazy Days

Didn't go to the gym today, as Mondays are my late day. All the kids start later on Mondays... It is suppose to be better for the teachers... I think that they should get out early on Friday... But that's my opinion!

Grim is on his first day back to work... Thank the Gods!!! Now our life will get moving again. This holding pattern we have been on this past year has been fine, but it got old pretty quick. He will be getting his new Harley next month. The Credit Union said the loan is his.... They just need a paystub. Not a problem.... So he is very happy!

Since I signed the 4 of us up to do the 5k before he was back to work, I don't know if he will be there or not. So I got my mom to fill in... Then if he is home I will just pay for here to go also. It will be fun as this will be her first 5k... The monsters are already planning on running most of it. I will just walk really fast... LOL!

Picky monsters team did a roll off and lost. But I told her that they made it to that point and they should be very proud of themselves. Of course being 13, she took it to heart. When asked if she wanted to do summer bowling she said yes, that she needs to get better. So at least there's that.

The monsters and I got out in the yard yesterday and started cleaning it up. Today, I moved all the jars of dehydrated and jars of beans and the like on to the new shelves. I am sorely lacking in the organization department in the pantry. That is why it was essential to move this stuff. The pantry will still hold the home canned food. What a job... LOL! I need to empty out jars... Every year I go through and toss out any thing that has hit the 2 year mark. Can't wait for pigs... then I would just slop it out to them.

Speaking of pigs... I am still reading Farm City by Novella Carpenter. This book is for anyone with a slighty off view. I mean really she kept 2 duran pigs in her back yard. If there isn't something just a little odd about that in todays times I don't know what is. Now it all works out for the best. But she lets the reader know that this was not at all easy and shouldn't be for the faint of heart. One thing that I was very ignorant of was that most major cities at one time not only allowed pigs but had great interest in them. There were clubs all about pigs.... Who knew. See people kept pigs to clean up the garbage, since they are omnivores they eat pretty much anything. We no longer have city pigs because we have trash collection!

I wonder if the economy keeps going on the downward, will cities let us have pigs and chickens and ??? oh my! Will the government not only push us to have victory gardens but help us along the path... Hmmmmm! Will we once again be allowed to feed ourselves or are we going to be forced to eat garbage.... Hey, I guess there still are city pigs... Yep, I went there!

Gotta Run,
Yart

Another busy day

Friends and family have come and gone today.... We had a great visit, even if it were to short for the littest ones. They got along fabulously and both cried when they had to part.... awww! It will be some time before we are able to see them again. They live in Vegas. But Grim and I are going to try and get out there at least once this coming year. It will be an experience. We have never been.

Tomorrow we head for Amish country.... I can't wait! The main reason for the trip is to stock up on dry goods. They sell bags in 50lb size. Not sure how much I'm coming home with but I know my car will be loaded for bear.... LOL! I need to replenish my spices, flours, sugar, oats, puddings and whatever else catches my fancy. I love love love this store. Since we're there we will go to the big Amish run restaurant for lunch/dinner. I also need to stop in at the Amish run hardware and see if they have the sauerkraut plunger in stock?!? and then to the English run hardware for gallon ball jars. I think I need at least 3 cases. Its only 18 jars. We will go to the bakery and see if there is anything we can't live without. Oh, almost forgot, there is a consession that sells sweet mustard. This time 4 jars will be bought. Everyone loves the stuff. I wish I had the recipe for it.

As you can tell I'm very excited to go. We go down 3-4 times a year. It takes about three and a half hours to get there. The weather is suppose to be ok going and no snow predicted for coming home. When we went down after last Christmas, we got caught in a blizzard. It took forever and a day to get home. When that stuff happens I wonder why I quit smoking.....

Ahhhhhhhhhh, to have a smoke, again! I know, I know..... the price in money and to my health. I smoked becuase I enjoyed it and quit because I had to. If they were the same price as then, and I wouldn't have to go through withdrawls again. I digress, since it ain't never gonna happen. Ahhhhhhh, the good old days!

I think Thursday after Grim and Band monster get home from yet another dentist appointment. The decorations inside are going to come down. I really didn't feel it this year. Maybe it was because we wern't running around like crazy and it was very relaxed. This year something felt like it was missing. I don't have a clue what it was that caused this feeling. It's time to move on to the new year. Thursday the turkey will get canned up. I would hate to loose all that meat and broth. The sweet potatoes will be frozen in individual size bags. That way I can have them for several more meals.

The house is still clean. So that is one thing I won't have to do before the new year. My room got cleaned yesterday. The rest of the house got cleaned this morning, for company. I'm rambling again... Need to go to bed!

Gotta Run,
Yart

I survived

(image from photobucket)

All of the corn is done for this year. I got a total of 41 quarts done. I know I said that the next big venture would be the carrots and potatoes, maybe beans. But I lied! There I said it I lied. More people should be honest like me... LOL! Instead of these staples that really are needed I went and got 2, let me say that again two bushels of McIntosh apples. They were only $15.50 for seconds per bushel. See why I couldn't pass them by. Oh, the wonderful goodies that I will make with these slightly imperfect gems! Ah, almost sets my heart to swoon! While I was at the orchard I also picked up a bottle of homemade Blackberry Vinegar. It sure sounds yummy, I just don't know what to do with it.

I will be going later this week to get the above mentioned items. That way maybe I can be done canning produce before the end of September. I really need to do that, as I still have to clean out the freezers. I went to start to do that today. But like the best laid plans, something else came up. We as a family cleaned out and up the entire basement. It only took a couple hours but really needed to be done before winter sets in for the long haul. See I have terrible allergies with dust and mold. Both of which are very present in the basement. I even had a mini asthma attack. It took awhile for the coughing and wheezing to stop. All better now and I can breath in the basement now... Yeah!

We took the monsters to the zoo on Sunday. We got a membership a couple of months ago but this is the first time this year we have had a chance to take the girls. They had a ton of fun. There is a whole new kids exibit that they get to do hands on things and a huge play area. Plus, the zoo is also implementing a lot of eco-inovations. The 2 press flush, the air driers in the bathrooms, LED lighting, solar and wind power. It was fasinating for the kids to see these things first hand. And of course there were several baby animals that they abosolutely loved. I had a great time in the garden section seeing how they had planted and what was growing. Of course I forgot my camera. Isn't it always the way, though.

The monsters are all having night before school starts jitters. The older two are both going to new schools and the little one doesn't want to leave me. I guess she just had to much fun at home with me this summer. All the clothes are laid out and showers were taken. Bangs were cut and backpacks packed. New school year here they come for better or worse only 9 months / 40 weeks, the countdown begins! And after the littlest one is safe and sound in class I will cry all the way home. I hate school!

Band monster hits me up today with I really want to go to homecoming. So she is going to ask her best guy friend if he wants to go with her as a friend. I think he will say yes. That means that we need to get our butts moving and get out and get her a dress and shoes. There are several places around here to look, hopefully, we can find something. My sewing skills are not that good and she is almost 6 foot tall so I can't just go to the thrift store to find the dress. That's ok, she is my baby and we will do what we have to.

Here I go again just rattleing about everything and nothing.

Gotta Run,

Yart

It's almost a new week!?!

How is that possible? Where did this week go! I demand to know... LOL! We managed to get through the first week of pre-camp. She has 3 days of pre-camp this coming week and then off to band camp the following week. The the week after she comes home, the band will be preforming at on of the major state universities first football game. Band monsters' band was chosen to attend this event. Very kewl! Like I have said before from the begining of August to November we have no life other then band. It is very time consuming.

Grim has 6 more weeks off work, per the doctor. But he will be starting PT on Tuesday. This is a great thing, it means that he is getting better and one day may go back to work. For those of you who may not know Grim was involved in a motorcycle accident on March 31 of this year. Luckily, he was not seriously damaged. The accident has held him out of work because of his shoulder though. So we are going on 5 months of him being home. I am just thankful that he is alive. Because there was a huge possiblity that he could have been killed.

I was able to get the strawberries made into ?. It didn't jell right. Everytime I try to make strawberry jelly it doesn't jell. So we have another syrup. 10 half pints to be exact. It will be good on toast anyways. LOL! I also made up bbq sauce. To me it seemed like a lot of work for so little to show for it. I worked on it for almost 5 hours and only got 3 pints. But it tasted and smelled great, so I will be making it again. My tomatoes are coming in slow but sure. I don't think that I will get enough out of the garden to make everything that I want to make. There is a U-Pick farm that I can go and tomatoes at. Plus it is great fun to get the monsters out there to show them what it is like to be on a real farm doing real work. Next week I should be up to my shoulders in tomato. I love canning.

My house still needs to be cleaned. I have been working on it little by little but there seems to be more important things to do. Went and hung out the other night with friends at our local hang out. Took the kids to bowl.... It was cosmic bowling....Fun was had by all. Plus, it was only $1 per game per person. Cheap fun, does it get any better. Exercise, fun and real potties! (As any mom of kids that are involved in anything, you can relate to why I seem fixated on real potties *big smile*!) Yeah, bowling!!! Back to the cleaning... I feel that if the living room is trashed then my life is chaotic and I don't like that. And guess what room is trashed?!? Any guesses...LOL!

So today if the world doesn't stop rotating then I will be cleaning the living room and making watermelon jelly. But then again I feel the gravitational pull changing, so you never know!

Gotta Run,

Yart

Monday Rambling's

I am still here.... But I am still off my feet. I went for the MRI last Wednesday. I won't know the results until next Monday. I also went and had a physical therapy session. They didn't understand how to bill my insurance so I wouldn't have a $20 co-pay so that is the end of them. If I had paid them the co-pay I would be out a butt load of money. We are talking like $3-4 hundred dollars, and I don't have that type of money laying around. Especially since we don't know what is wrong with my ankle yet. It still is no better actually I think it might be worse. This is why I usually suffer in silence.

Anyways, even though I am off my feet I have been busy. I have been working on my MaryJane Farm's Merit badges. I still have to take pictures but I did manage to make my first apron.... well, not my first one..... My first time making one but it is actually for Grim. That makes sense I think... LOL! Years ago I bought material to make Grim a pair of casual pants, which I never got around to making. With all that material laying around I thought that I would put it to good use. So 1 apron down, and I also finished up that beginner level bag. It taught me a ton about doing what you know is right instead of following the pattern. I know just enough to be dangerous. And that is usually my downfall. But it is done now!!!! I also made the little sewing kit. I think it turned out really cute.

I got a dresser from my mom this weekend. It got put into my room as the old one I had, had to go (today is garbage day). It is smaller then the one I got rid of so I had to go through my clothes. Two garbage bags to donate and I know I will find more as I go through them again. It feels so liberating to get rid of stuff. Now all I need is Spring to show up so we can paint the bedroom and rearrange and it will be good for another couple of years!

Since I haven't been exercising, I have been trying to eat better. I have made sure that I am eating a salad with dinner and eating either broccoli or brussel sprouts. I have cut down on my pasta and bread consumption. I did slip up and have an ice cream sundae. But that's life, right?

They are calling for 4 inches of snow tonight. I am kind of hoping for more. We really haven't had much snow this winter. But then on the other hand I really want the warmer weather to hurry up and get here.... I know I'm fickle... LOL!

Gotta Run,
Yart

Snow

We finally have snow! It has been coming down since around 11am with no signs of stopping. We have gotten maybe 4 inches. But that makes me so happy. I love the sparkly, clean, bright white snow. Everything looks wonderful. Now I know for those that have to drive in it, I feel bad. But the monsters are hoping for a snow day tomorrow. And if it happens I won't have to leave to go anywhere until 5pm. Then the plows and the salt trucks should have done a great job clearing the roads.

Thank you all for the well wishes for my littlest monster. Her nose has already started to heal. Grim changed the bandage today and said it looked a lot better. I can only change bandages if no one else is around. I get so sick to my stomach. And it's not just a family thing, anyone's boo boo's make me sick. I know you all wanted to know that nasty tidbit about me.

I need to really get cracking on this basement. I have some really high hopes for it. But can't do anything until I get off my arse and get rid of stuff. Cleaning is the easy part. Going through stuff to see if I absolutely still might possibly one day down the road need it. LOL! I went through the house a couple of years ago and tossed out and gave away so much stuff the garbage men were leaving me hate notes and friends stopped answering their phones when I called. I was a pack rat, on the verge of being a hoarder. Due to some personal problems, I had the opprotunity to take a good hard look at my life and see where some desperate changes needed to be made. And I made a ton of them. As with anything the clutter creeps back into our lives when we're not looking. So game plan and lists here I come.

Gotta go and hang that last load of laundry for tonight. And maybe empty out a box or two.

Gotta Run,
Yart

Monday Chores

That seemed to be all I got done today. I love feeling better. But I hate looking around at all that has been neglected. Got a ton of laundry done, dishes and washed down the bathroom (still needs more work), garbage ready to go out. Tomorrow I need to make more bread, shred the cabbage for sauerkraut & finish up the applesauce.

I took the easy way out tonight, I made hamburger helper for dinner. It was fast and filling. I cheated like that because I had to work bingo tonight also. I figured I would sell the tickets like I usually do. Nope they had me sell one of the specials and then I had to call it. I have a phobia about people, (now Grim would say that is bull - He would say I just don't like them enough). I don't like being the center of attention at all. I am fine to stand in the background. Everyone said I did good. I just looked at the numbers and didn't look at the crowd. It worked, good thing to since they want me to do this more. They eventually want me to be a regular caller. That is because I have a freshman and I will be stuck doing this for the next 3 1/2 years.

I have been diligently working on my slipper. I had it done once and had to rip out all the stitches because the pattern was for pixies. And I don't have pixie feet. But I think I am about 3 inches from being done with the first one. I can't wait to have a pair done. I even already bought the yarn to make Grim a pair. Oh, when I was at the yarn store the other day I got the pretties variegated purple and orange skein & a solid orange skein. I don't know what I am going to make yet but they sure are pretty.

I got the other day at the farmers market a cinnamon broom. It is in a bag, on the bag it says not to hang on painted surfaces. So now I have a dilemma as to whether or not to hang it up in the bag. Or do I just prop it up near on of the registers to send the scent through out the house.

Lazy, Crazy, Rainy Day

Teenage monster is home after being gone for the past week to band camp. Not only are we happy that she is home. She was very home sick. This was her first time being away from us without any other family around. So with her home I had a ton of laundry to do. LOL! I guess I this is what happens when they go away to college.

We pulled all of the onions out of the garden this week. Ended up with 4 pint bags full in the freezer. This was a smaller harvest then we had hoped for. But we got onions so no complaints. Brought in a ton more tomatoes. Cooked some down the other day for juice and I have a pot on the stove as I type doing the same. Having tomato juice on the shelf is one of my little indulgences.

Of course I am still harvesting eggplant with the weather being cool and wet the plants have set more flowers. So soon I will be giving away eggplant. I almost have more then we can use now. There is almost enough cayenne peppers to make a 3rd rista. If they keep producing then I will be giving rista's away for Christmas. Every day we add a couple more jalapeno's and yellow sweets to the freezer bags.

All of the potatoes were canned up and/or frozen. Next year hopefully, the blight won't affect them. But I will also be using several different varieties. Same with the onions. Several types should help if there is a problem. But isn't that the best fun with gardening.... Knowing that next year will be different. New plants, new problems and a whole new crop to preserve and eat fresh! Ahhhhhh! Next Year!

DH and I came to a decision. We are going to stay in town and try and purchase property out. That way we will have time to set the land up. Without having to survive off the land when we aren't ready. I got a catalog with trees in it. So we know that we want to get English Walnut trees, at least 4. Some for us and then some to sell. I know, fingers crossed! Then we want an orchard of dwarf trees. Apple, peach, pear and mulberry. Oh my!

So once we get the finances in order we will be able to get some of these dreams going. I know we are like a ton of people out there. Lots of dreams and no money to pay for them. One day! Sorry melancholy hit for a sec there.

I spent the last week doing the before school cleaning. Not done yet but now I feel the fall in the air. And I don't think that its imagined. The weather has been cool and rainy. The trees seem to be ready for the change. The squirrels' tails are starting to bush up. I think that we are going to have a winter for the record books this year. I hope that I'm wrong but I don't think so. Just helps me to rationalize all the hard work that I put into preserving the harvest.

Apples won't be ready for another month or so. But I have my clear jel and just waiting patiently. This year apple pie filling will be on my shelves. I might even break down and make some peach pie filling. You never know. If I get a good price on some peaches.

Still a couple more weeks for the sauerkraut. It is fermenting very well. I think I will end up with about 7 quart jars. That will last me the whole year. As I still have a couple jars from last year. Yummmmm!

See what happens when I don't post for awhile... LOL!

Gotta Run,
Yart

Not Much Today

With the rain we had yesterday it was too wet to really do much outside. I did get a few of the weeds pulled. Some laundry hung. But I feel as though I did more yesterday. I was able to get all of my winter clothes finally put away. My summer stuff is now out. I still have laundry to fold and put away. I did get rid of a garbage bag full of clothes that no longer fit. I have to be more careful where I put my stuff as is must have gotten really hot. All the stuff I got rid of shrunk..... :D

Teenage Monster has a year end party tonight at school. The whole family is invited. I am bringing mostacholli for the potluck. They are suppose to show a video of the kids from the year. Its only an hour long so it won't be too bad. Speaking of the monsters they only have 3 - 1/2 days left. I can't wait. I already have a plan of what needs to get done around here.

The first thing that is going to happen is the bedrooms are going to get cleaned. Then everything will come out of the rooms so that I can wash walls and clean the carpets. We might even paint. Then some of the stuff will go back and the rest will find new homes somewhere else. A little organization will go a long way. And since we are outside so much in the summer once it is cleaned it will stay that way with minimal up keep.

Did you know that pineapple doesn't come from Hawaii anymore? It comes from Indonesia and the Philippines. Dole and Del Monte don't have Hawaii pineapples anymore. So now that is another citrus that we won't be eating. We also no longer eat Mandarin Oranges because the come from China. I am hopeful that I will find a Hawaiian company that will ship to the mainland for us to buy. Keeping fingers crossed for that.

I went into the expensive yarn store in town last night. It was just my second time in there. My first visit wasn't nice. So the store has been open for like a year now. I decided that it was time to see if things had changed and boy o boy have they. I am so happy I went in. They are much nicer now and they even offer classes. So I will be taking the beginner class July 12, 19, 26. It is a 3 part class. She said that we will learn how to make a scarf but each section of the scarf will be a different stitch. Knit & purl, weave, wrap around and a couple other I don't remember. I am so excited to learn how to finally learn what to do properly.

Gotta Run,
Yart

Monday Rambling's

It's monday night and I am just beat. I know I talk all the time about being tired. But I seem to do way more then I type about. Worked the fish fry on friday night. We didn't do to many dinners. I wasn't able to help out all that much. I have problems with my wrists and with all the work I have been doing around the house I strained the left one. So here I am taking orders and being able to do much else. But I was there so that is all that matters. We went out after up to the local bar. Stayed there for awhile. I got to be lazy all day Saturday as my Valentines Day gift.... LOL! But it was wonderful. We even got Chinese food for dinner. Then Sunday, I was back to work. I finally cleaned out the closet of holding. It took all day. I still have some things to tweak. Plus since most of the stuff had to go into the bathroom that got reorganized also. Today, I finished my bedroom. I just had to move one small unit to vaccuum behind and wash back there. So that room is done till fall. Also helped the monsters with that room.... Yuck! I hate helping the monsters their room is always such a pig sty. Sorry Pigs for offending you! LOL!
Sunday we ate leftover Chinese food and tonight we had pizza. Tomorrow night I will try and make calzones as the monsters will be gone all day. Yeah! I have been keeping up on the laundry. And I have even got more of the afghan done. Once I start on the solid color I will get a picture of it.
If your wondering why it is a light week so far. Well, I am taking it slow as I know once I get the canner tested I will be a canning fool. I can't wait. Oh, I almost forgot. I was shopping the other day. I found 2 pounds of strawberries for less then a $1. They were on the bottom rack in the back of the discount rack.... I think someone was hiding them. But I found them. Once I got them home I cleaned them and tossed them to the dehydrator. Now I have a whole jar of strawberries for cereal or oatmeal or a batter of some kind. I also tossed 2 sliced apples in to see if we liked them. Not bad but next time I will add some cinnamon or sugar or both. They are kind of flavorless, but maybe they will taste better once they are rehydrated.
I think one day next week I will have to make more laundry soap. Now that I know how much to use this batch should last me a lot longer. I made the last batch the end of November and it will be almost the end of February. Four months and next one should last at least 6 months maybe longer. Considering that it costs just pennies to make. Now I'm not a mathamatician. But I know buy the detergent was way more expensive. Plus, I use vinegar as the fabric softener and they seem just as soft as with the commercial brand.
I have been going like crazy on the treadmill. At least 1 mile everyday. I still haven't lost any substainsial weight I have lost inches. So at least I know that something is happening. Slow and steady!
Tomorrow will be more work around here. Maybe calzone's for dinner. Just have to wait and see.
Yart