A Day with the Amish

We had a great time yesterday. I was able to get the 18 half-gallon jars that I wanted and the cabbage crusher thingy... LOL! I wasn't able to get the sweet mustard but thanks to Skippymom I have several recipes to try! We did get to the bulk store. If the monsters would have sat in the car I would have bought more. But they were tired by that point. I did get a ton of stuff though. Here is the list:

bollion cubes chicken, beef & vegetable
orange lentils
soft white wheat berries
black beans
chicken corn noodle soup
wheat germ
ready potatoe slices
split yellow peas
vegetable flakes
graham cracker crumbs
hard red winter wheat berries
mustard seeds
garlic powder
onion powder
clear jel
corn starch
blueberry muffin mix
whole egg solids
50 lbs of unbleached & unbromated flour
&
Silver Jimmies

Grim had a blast running the vac and seal to seal all the jars last night. Now they are air tight.  I love when the family gets involved with the prep work. It makes it so much easier. While Grim was doing the vac and seal, we got talking to the monsters about putting marshmellows into the jars. So we dug out 2 differnt bags and vacusealed them in the jars. Had to do it a couple times since they want to try one after it did its thing. They said they tasted very fresh after the vacuseal.

As I type I have the pressure canner going. Yep, I got on that turkey. 3 quart jars are full of meat and a little broth and 1 quart has a little meat and a lot of broth. I'm processing at 10lbs for 90 minutes. I took the broth and defatted it. Then I put the turkey jello in a pot and slowlyyyyyyyy heated it up. I cut up and pulled apart the meat. It was added to the now liquid broth. Once that was brought to a boil I added to the jars, then into the pressure canner. I know your wondering why I just wrote the directions. I just thought you all might like to know. But remember don't take my word for it. Always check your canning guides for the recommended way to do things. (disclaimer).

I have pictures but I didn't up load them yet.

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

How one thing leads to another

I started looking for how to build a rabbit hutch on you tube last night. I found some really great information. Then I found how to breed and set up for birthing of the kits. Of course then how to dispatch and butcher said rabbit. After that I looked at food storage and water storage.  There is a ton of great information on you tube. I was even reminded about http://www.ready.gov/ It has a great basic plan that you can follow. There is even a printout that you can give to family and friends that think you might be a bit kooky for the things you do. And it's from the government ( our taxes paid for it so you might as well use it)..... so its good for the sleepers ( the ones who think nothing will ever happen to them)!

Here is a site that you can use for a food storage calculator http://www.providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,7498-1-4070-1,00.html
Here is the Home Storage Center Order Form
http://www.providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,7977-1-4352-1,00.html

Deals to Meals Is another great site on food storage
Prepared LDS Family Has a ton of information

See this post was just suppose to be about you tube and I ended up spending two hours looking at new site and blogs... LOL! Good thing I had the time to do it. Thats what happened last night and I didn't even get to see Joel. Even though I'm not a Christian, I still think what he talks about applies to each and everyone of us.

Gotta Run,
Yart

Randomness

 Here are a few pictures of randomness.

This is the barn the monsters made!

Candle light

What the presents looked like under the tree!

Plus, I am tring out a new font.... I think this one looks so much better. Hopefully, I can get this to take. To much coding right now.

Gotta Run,

Yart

Its over

Yeah! LOL! The gifts have all been opened and the trash all tossed out. The leftovers are in the fridge and most of us have belly aches from eating so much. Santa was very good to the monsters. He didn't disappoint me either. I got a counter top composter, all the attachments for my kitchen aid mixer... (no more hand pureeing for me), I also got a steam juicer....(now I need to find out how to use it). Grim also got me a new wedding ring.... my old one was to small and was causing me alot of pain. He took it upon himself to order it for me.... I am so happy with it. It doesn't have a stone but it does have the eternity symbol on the top of it... I will get pictures.... I've just been busy cleaning and cooking.

Today and tomorrow are lazy days. Leftovers and jammies! And of course gun fire..... LOL! The monsters got nerf suction cup guns.... so they are shooting everything and everyone. The only one that is safe is me. I didn't get one so they know I'm not part of the game. Its a good thing to, cause two got shot in the face yesterday. Now they all have safety glasses. Those have been the hit of the season.... The Wii games have only been just opened. I love when a plan comes together.

It has been decided that we will be staying home for new year's eve this year. Everyone has been invited to come here. It will be more of a relaxed time. We are going to move the tv out of my room into the dining room and hook the Wii to it. So we will be playing Wii and having a great time. I'm going to make meatballs and mash taters, veggie tray and dip, cheese ball and crackers. I'm asking everyone to bring something. Usually, I don't ask anyone to bring things. So this is a switch. But this is also the first time I've hosted a New year's eve party. I think we will have fun. The monsters will be at my mom's house and she will be here. LOL!

We have friends coming in from out of state to visit on Tuesday. I'm not sure what I'm going to serve them. I might just go out and get broasted chicken from the local butcher. That actually doesn't sound to bad. I'm going to have 10 people here. But it will be nice to see them.... The one is my oldest monsters godmother. And the other is my mother in laws goddaughter.... LOL! I know, I know.....

Well, those leftovers are calling to me.....

Gotta Run,

Yart

Merry Christmas

Sending wishes of Peace and Love to you and yours this Christmas day!!!

Happy Solstice!!!

Did you see the moon last night.... I did and it was beautiful!!! So now winter is officially here, what to do.... LOL! Most of the holiday chores are done for me, yeah!!! Now we will be getting into the what needs to be done before spring thing.... LOL!

Grim and I took my car in to get the front brakes done. Then we had to walk home. It was only about a mile and about 31' out. But I got light headed near the end. After we got home I had a panic attack. God, I hate those things. They scare the bajesus out of me. Plus, I didn't eat breakfast before we went to therapy this morning and I took all my vitamins on an empty stomach.... I know, stupid!!! I'm feeling better now.

I forgot to tell you all I got the hamburger and all the chicken canned up. Very happy with the results. I got 11 pints of burger and 10 pints of chicken. My pantry is becoming more well rounded. I still have not gotten into the freezers to can up what's there. But I fear I had better soon. The light on the big freezer is blinking. So what I'm hoping is that I can get in there and clean it out, defrost it and it will be good as new. Well, I can hope. Either way it will be cleaned out and ready for fresh food!

We bought the paint for Mouthy monsters room. I was in there last week and I cleaned it all out. Toys, clothes and garbage went. Now she has room for whatever Santa brings. Of course while I was in there cleaning, I noticed that the paint is showing it's age. So another room to get done before the end of the year. I was suppose to paint the hallway over the summer, never got around to it. Maybe I will knock it off also, next week.

I'm almost feeling like I miss Christmas and it isn't even here yet.... Sounds odd I know. But being done with all the major stuff and not having to stress is going to some getting use to.... LOL! This kicking back and relaxing during the holidays is a wild concept. Who knew, the holidays could be like this.

I think I'm going to sew up some of the aprons I cut out a couple weeks ago. With them done maybe I can get a few more cut out..... This free time thing is kewl..... Oh, yeah, I'm going to make play dough with the little ones today. Here is the recipe that I will be using... and probably put together the gingerbread barn..... Yep, gingerbread barn! I got that at Tractor Supply..... I love that store.

Gotta Run,

Yart