Another 2 years have come and gone since we last spoke! The world as you know has been tossed, turned upside down. Some things have gotten back to normal but others have not. Now we are facing food shortages, rationing and hyperinflation. Sounds like fun, huh?

I have been keeping busy. Canning, dehydrating and learning... It is time consuming and tiring! We got rabbits this year. 3 of them, a buck and 2 does. With the crazy heat that we had this summer I wasn't able to breed them... I'm hoping once the temps stay at a lower degree for a time, I can get good fall offs.

It's crazy I wanted to come on here to be able to write and keep track of life... But now that I'm here the words really don't want to flow.

I am still plugging along with the candle business. Getting better results every year! BONUS!! I can see why most businesses fail within the first 2 years though. It can be tough.

I haven't crocheted as much as I would have liked this year... Hopefully, as we start to cool down the urge will hit. Even if it doesn't I need to make Christmas presents. So there's that!

So there you have it really 2 years and not much to say.... sad really.... this use to be my outlet.... now not so much!

I may be back, I may not

Hugs and remember to Smile Loudly

Yart

Gearing up for the Ber Months

The seasons are fast changing. The weather has been really weird this year here as it has been in many parts of the country. We have had 90+ down to the 50's it has been ridiculous. With that my garden also did very weird things. I couldn't grow a potato this year to save my soul. But I got cucumbers a plenty. Not one squash but the tomatoes and peppers are doing really well still. Then there was the eggplant and strawberries, they did just alright. All my herbs got powdery mildew. YUCK! My sunflowers never came up and I planted 9 varieties.

I did manage to get strawberries from a you pick. I think it was close to 22 pounds.Those are in the freezer until I have time to process them. When blueberries came into season it was at the 90+. So one of the stores had local berries for the same price as the you pick. So I got 20 pounds. I made blueberry pie filling, blueberry syrup and blueberries in a simple syrup. I had some meat in freezer that I pulled out and pressure canned. I can say that even though I paid a good price for it but once it was jarred and canned, it showed that it wasn't a good quality. Shame really. I'll save it for an emergency or as dog food.

I made beef burritos and breakfast burritos for the freezer. So easy and fast. The beef burritos have ground beef, re-fried beans, cheese and onion. The breakfast burritos have egg, sausage, green pepper, onion, potato and cheese. I also pulled chicken out of the freezer, added dehydrated carrots, peppers, fresh onion and celery, plus spices and made soup for the pressure canner. I am so happy with everything I have been able to get done.

Next month I will be going to the farmers market to get tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, onions, peppers, peaches and apples. My dehydrator and canner will be going non stop for the month of September. Then I can rest.... LOL.... Who am I kidding. There isn't any rest.

I finished the hugs and kisses crocheted blanket I was working on.

It's the perfect size for a twin bed or just to wrap up in!

I've been making candles getting ready for fall also. With all the craziness going on in the world I am taking the business online full time. I'm hoping to be up and running fully for the holiday season.

Smile Loudly

&

Live Blessed

Yart

Hobbling Along

Welp.....

When I set up all those posts to post in May, little did I know that life was going to throw a line drive right at my head.... LITERALLY!

On May 6th I had to be taken into the hospital er. I thought I was having a stroke or an aneurysm (they run in the family). So they did every test imaginable and said no to both of those... it could have been a TI. Then I speak to my doctor who went over all the results and said no to the TI. Healthy as a horse except for a thyroid condition that seems to have worsened.

With that scare I decided that enough time has pasted us by over the years and it was time to do something about it. So once I was back up and on my feet the first thing that needed to be done was stop wasting money. I canceled our family YMCA membership as they are closed for the foreseeable future. I also canceled our weekly vegetable box from imperfect foods. I know that the food is suppose to be small and imperfect.... but I felt for my family it was a waste of money. The next thing was to finally and once and for all empty the storage unit. I have been paying on it for far to long, just to store stuff that could have / should have gone up to the property long ago.

So with some help I was able to get the majority of the unit emptied and in the process, hurt my leg. I was able to walk it off... sort of. Then it came time to haul said items to the property. Unfortunately, help was not forthcoming. So I ended up having to move 90% of the trailer-ed items by myself. Remember that injured leg.... Well, I really did a number on it. So I have had to spend the last month or so recuperating. The last of the items from the storage unit are being moved soon, they will be out of Grim's garage. And I will have the help of two of my monsters with this move.

Grim and I have come to a compromise. The monsters and I will build a house on the property. He originally wanted to hire a contractor but that isn't in the cards right now. So to be able to use the property we need a solid, secure place to live while we are there. You never know.... I might end up being a carpenter in my old age! I can't wait I have so many ideas in my head I want to do them all!

Smile Loudly 

& 

Live Blessed

Yart

What have these You Tubers gotten me into!?!

Let me let you in on a secret...

These You Tubers are such a bad influence on me. Watching them is like watching late nigh television. You know with all the ads for things you need to make your life so much easier, better, more for-filled... You get the picture!

Let me start with Roots and Refuge Farm. Jess, I love you girl.... But stop influencing me!! 😜

See she talked about her Berkey. I have wanted one for forever! Well, once the stimulus money came in I had to order it. I mean if it's good enough for Jess, Miah and the kids.... Then by golly, it's good enough for me and mine! 

We can't forget the potatoes! Jess got them started and I said that I need to make sure we have some food security. I'm waiting on 72 to be shipped from Burgess Seed and Plant Company. They include Yukon, Kennebec, Red Pontiac and of course I can't forget Centennial Sweet Potatoes. Plus a few extra things that jumped into my cart while shopping.

Ope, and Hudson Valley Seed Company. Jess was talking about them and I was interested in the sunflowers she was talking about. Once I was there I found out that they had the HONEYNUT SQUASH seeds.... Sorry to yell but they are the absolutely best squash I have ever eaten and I only got 2 last year. I expected to be able to back and get more before the season was over. So I didn't save the seeds from the yet unknown to me love of my life!!!! 😁

As you can see the packaging is so beautiful. I just had to have them. Don't mind the mess we were in the middle of multiple projects at once.

Now let me tell you about the next Bad Influence on my list.

It's Off Grid with Doug and Stacy. I love watching both of you and going down the rabbit hole to the next video!

You all know I have dabbled with fermentation on and off for years. With the last couple years not so much. Well, in that time I have developed a thyroid condition. So I have kicked around the idea of getting back into it. Well, along comes Doug and Stacy. Making it all seem so easy and delicious looking.

So since I can't find my pickle pipes that I bought years ago and never used. I went with Stacy's recommendation to check out Masontops. I did and bought the Complete fermentation kit and of course 4 pickle pipes just wasn't going to be enough. I had to order 8 more. Then I want to make sauerkraut again after watching Stacy. I didn't have any gallon jars so I had to order them. Luckily when Stacy recommended a book, I was smart enough to check the bookshelf... Whew.... I didn't have to spend any more money cause it was already on the shelf!

Please don't mind the white leg.... I haven't gotten any good sun to tan up yet!

Next up is Living Traditions Homestead. Kevin and Sarah, you both are fabulous to watch!

Let's just say I have 2 books on bunnies and the parts to fix my pressure canner on they way. These items are still on the way so no pictures of them!

And as soon as we relocate out of the city. I want Idaho Pasture Pigs. Watching your girls and piglets has been a joy. Charlie, definitely is a big boy but he doesn't appear to be mean at all. We will also be building chicken and rabbit tractors following your designs. 

All I can truly say is I hope they continue being a bad influence on me. They have helped to get me motivated once again to getting my life back in order. I'm sad it has taken me this long to get my butt back in gear. Now that it is though, there is no stopping me!

Smile Loudly

&

Live Blessed

Yart

Post Apocalyptic Life Skills

A couple months ago my oldest monster and I took a soap making class. Up till that point I had only ever done the melt and pour. This was the big league. It involved lye.

To say I was a bit apprehensive was an understatement. It kind of scared me. But we were to be led by a professional soap maker. It made it much easier to handle.

We purchase kits and were able to make enough soap for 10 bars each. We both really like the natural oils and ingredients. The soap is wonderful, it has a silky feel on the skin and the feeling last for quite a long time.

My daughter choose to go with blue and I choose green. 

Since the class I have purchased 3 more kits to make at home. But the weather hasn't been good enough on the days that my daughter has been off work to make outside. Lye still scares me. I am looking forward to making them. It will be enough for 30 more bars of soap and with all the hand washing that is taking place right now, it's a bonus to have on hand. Another great part is that some of the scents I use in the candles can also be used in soap making!!!

Plus, if we like making it ourselves then we might have to expand My Penny Jar LLC, candle business to carry a few apothecary items! 

Smile Loudly

&

Live Blessed

Yart

Happy Mother's Day

With having more time on my hand due to the Covid-19. When I say more time on my hands what that really means is I don't have to get up in the mornings to take the youngest monster to school or pick her up in the afternoon. She is really disappointed because she was suppose to start drivers training on March 30th. Now I can stay up and watch youtube! I have been watching youtube on and off for years. But in the last 2 months I have been watching it quite a bit more. 

I have found some NEW favorites.

Roots and Refuge Farm

Off Grid with Doug and Stacy

Fit Farmer

Justin Rhodes

Living Traditions Homestead

The Hollar Homestead

Whippoorwill Holler

One of my all time favorites and one that I've been following for years is

Baker's Green Acres

Now there are a few more that I've started following but I'm not sure if they are favorites yet. So I will amend the list as time goes by.

Smile Loudly

&

Live Blessed

Yart

5-9-2020

In my last post I talked about not having anything to say. Well, thank you Covid-19, because of you I have a voice again! I know that sounds so stupid doesn't it. Because of a virus I have gotten off my butt and gotten back to doing what I should have been doing all along. I have been dehydrating all types of food. Well, hang on... I know I tend to get ahead of myself. Let me explain.

When the shelter in place orders were looming, I went out and got my normal shopping done and picked up a few extra things. Nope, before you ask.... I was not one of the people who purchased huge amounts of toilet paper or any other items. But I will say I got a big box of those little shelf stable creamers. You know, coffee without cream is like a life not worth living! 😁

I already had potatoes and onions in the basement from the fall. That was what prompted me to pull out the dehydrator out. I was concerned that I would allow this food to go to waste and not have the ability to go out and get more. So what's a poor city girl to do you ask? Well, I'll tell you. I cleaned and cut up all the onions and got them in the freezer. I couldn't dry them as the last time I dried onions the family almost ran me out of town. So into the freezer they went. Then came time to deal with the potatoes. I haven't used my pressure canner in a couple years. So I don't even know if the seal or gauge is still good and I wasn't able to go our and get them checked. So this is where the dehydrator comes into play. I par boiled the potatoes, cooled them and then peeled. I used my hand grater because my grater attachment for the kitchen aid was buried in the closet. It didn't take to long to get that done. Then on to the trays. I honestly don't remember what temp and for how long. I can say it was at a lower temp and for a lot longer then I would have normally done it. Once they were dried and let to cool. I put them into my coffee grinder and ground them up. They are now in the cupboard as dehydrated mashed potatoes!

Since then I've done limes, oranges, pears, kiwi, cinnamon sugar apples. I found a bag of mixed veggies in the freezer and those went into the dehydrator as well. 

Now I have a confession to make. I'm not usually a fad follower, but since the pandemic and so much time on my hands.... I found that people have been buying up every bag of marshmallows that they can find. Almost a shortage situation. I know crazy right? The reason for all this is because they are dehydrating them. Well, let me tell you. I had a bag on the shelf. You know the mini type. Well, I put them in and they are going to be a mainstay in this household from now on. They are so good on there own. But to add to cereal or hot chocolate, they should be considered a food group all on their own!!!

I've got a grocery pickup tomorrow. I have like 8 bags of marshmallows in the order. Not all the same flavor. But 1 of each of 8 types. I can't wait. Especially since it is to cold for me to be messing around in the garden.

Smile Loudly

&

Live Blessed

Yart

5-7-2020

I know who knew I was capable of it. 2 posts in the same week. LOL!

See the thing is that once Grim and I came to a complete standstill because of the injury, I didn't feel I had anything useful to say or write about. So with that being the case I just stopped. I didn't want to see just how much of our lives we were missing out on. The past several years have been very tough on our family. We have been forced to give up things, simply because we physically couldn't do them any longer. Dreams we had weren't just put on hold... They were put in a box and tucked up on a shelf in the back of the closet. Don't get me wrong. Life went on. We had a college graduation, we will have another one in the next year. We have our last monster heading into her Senior year of High School. We have hit the big 50 milestone, as well as the Silver Anniversary milestone. 

I know a lot of you have faced job loss, illness, death and made it through the other side. I'm not complaining. It has helped build a resilience in me and my girls. It just sucks, its not fair & I want to hold my breath and cry sometimes.

One of those times was when I went to get my middle monster from university! I stopped at the property as its on the way. 

It is all so overgrown! There are so many trees down. All the work we put into the place to get it ready just seems like a waste of time. Can you see the Pity Party happening? Yep, I had one. But luckily I have a great Brother. We got to talking and we are going to combine our efforts with the property. We are going to set it up for both of our families to use. Now that means his sons will be able to come and help with the heavy lifting and he will be there to help me get things up and running.

Never fear Grim, will be part of all of it. He just won't be able to do any of the heavy lifting. He will be our General Foreman... You know, telling us all what to do! 💙🙅💜

Smile Loudly

&

Live Blessed

Yart

May 5th 2020

The weather here has been crazy. We have been up to 80 then back down to 30. It makes working in the yard quite the task. We have been doing what we can when we can. Since we lost our faithful companion in the fall, I decided to turn the area nearest the back door into a cottage type garden. We weren't able to use that space before because he ran the fence line and would destroy anything planted there. I moved all the perennial flowers out from behind the garage. They are now in the cottage garden. I still need to amend the soil behind the garage. That is where I will be planting the 3 sisters. I have gem corn, runner beans and honeynut squash, I am so hoping they grow well. I have always wanted to do the 3 sisters. Now is my chance. We moved an old bed. The wood is from my original raised beds from like 10 years ago. This is the 3rd and final incarnation. I will be planting tomatoes, marigolds and chives in that bed. Since I wasn't able to get out and get wood during the height of the pandemic, I reused and made due. As you can see from the photo, there are a ton of projects in various stages of completion.

I planted peas, radishes, green onions, salad mix, arugula, spinach, and swiss chard direct sow. They are all coming up beautifully. Now if I can keep them alive during the freeze coming at the end of this week. We will see. Yesterday, I direct sowed red russian kale, rainbow mix carrots, honeynut squash, lil pumpkins, zucchini, acorn squash. All 3 squash have nasturtium planted with. These are all in pots. My soil isn't the best and I really don't have room at this time to plant in the ground. So pots it is.

I bought some starts, lemon verbena, 2 types of mint (pepper & spear), garden sage,  2 types of thyme (common & lemon), lemon grass and lemon balm. I got a doggie swimming pool and a ton of everbearing strawberry starts. I wasn't going to buy starts as my daughter got bare root berries and we planted them only to have the squirrel rip the poor little pot apart. The picture is fuzzy because I took it through the screen. He had already destroyed it so I just let him finish while I took pictures..... That's the way of the world I guess.

I was even able to get some crocheting done in the down time.

This is the mystic lanterns that I started over a year ago. All the pieces are done. And now all the strips are put together. Now, if I can find more time all the strips need to be sewn up and I will have yet another completed blanket.

Smile Loudly 

&

Live Blessed

Yart

April 2020

Let me start by wishing my other half a joyous 50th Birthday!!! It was yesterday and the weather was absolutely gorgeous! We were able to be outside in the yard. I got a few things setup for the warmer weather. The deck is cleaned off and all the warm weather furniture is out now. I planted cool weather plants. Radishes, green onions, peas, salad mix, spinach, arugula, & swiss chard. Then of course it rained, hailed and even snowed a bit last night! The joys of Spring!

We like most of you are in a state of quarantine. We are limiting our outings and if it is necessary I am the only one going into the store. We are getting out in the neighborhood and walking as much as his body will let us. I have been trying to keep busy with crocheting, starting seeds inside, cooking (400 times in the last 30 days), working in the yard.

I'm sorry I am jumping around in this post. It's just the way my brain is working today. Like I need to get it all down on paper before I forget.

I ordered seed potatoes, onions, 2 different honey berry bushes for the yard, also have 5 pepper plants coming as well.. I have a dwarf banana, orange, lemon, and lime coming for the house. We are super excited about these. I have roma's and black sea tomatoes started, Then I have red and Hungarian sweet started, corn, beans, peas, squash, pumpkins and lots more. The only reason I ordered the pepper plants was because the seed peppers still hadn't started to germinate in the house so I thought I was out of luck. So I ordered. Then a few days later I started to see sprouts. It's fine any extra I have I will share with family and friends.

I have also been trying to keep busy with my candle company.  It gives me the freedom to be available to my other half as he needs me. With the social distancing that is in place right now, sales have slowed. But I am not counting out coming back stronger when this is all over. If you interested in checking it out you can by going to My Penny Jar, I have over 40 scents of candles and melts!

Smile Loudly,

Yart

Over 2 years

Not sure where the time has gone!

I hopped on here the other day to read a few of the blogs that I use to read religiously,

Some are still here, while others like mine seem to have fallen into the land of obscurity!

My life, my world has been turned, twisted and basically fallen apart over the last 4 years.

Things are finally starting to sort themselves out!

My dearest Husband is now officially retired! That happened this past March. There has been a real learning curve to all this.

I started a soy wax candle company! I've been doing well with it. Selling at Farmer's Markets and Vintage Events. I'm in the process of getting a website / store up and running to do online sales. It has been fun learning how to do this and actually do it for myself. As some of you might remember I was part of the direct sales world for a few years. I much prefer the candles to that. If you want to see what I've been doing you can find me on facebook.com/mypennyjar

We were recently informed that our youngest won't be attending university once she graduates high school. She has decided to go into trade school. It's still a 5 year program. She will learn her trade but also get a business education as well. We are thrilled for her to make this jump as both of her sisters went to university and she is the one to break the mold!

I know there is so much more to say but for now, Smile Loudly!

Hugs!

Yart

We made it to December

Well, actually to December 6th!!! This is the longest we have ever been able to hold out on turning the furnace on.... We can afford heat. This is a challenge that I took part in years and years ago. And even though the original coordinator no longer does the challenge, we still do it. We have had some cold spells, the weather always warmed back up. This time, Winter is making a dramatic showing by the end of the week. At least that's what the weatherman says. Even if there is nothing new to see (snow) the temps have finally taken the plunge! Last night was down to 28 and tonight is suppose to be even lower. The daytime temps aren't going to come up enough during the day to warm the house so the heat goes on.

I will say this much, its set at 60 daytime temp. Its hot to us. We have been conditioned to live in a bit cooler temps and I'm roasting.... LOL! It won't last long till we acclimate. I have to go and get new batteries for the programmable thermostat. Then I can readjust what the temps should be.

Last year, when we shut it off we had it on 60. So that's how we will start this year off!

Here's to a short Winter and an early Spring!

Smile Loudly,

Yart

The Gales of November

This month is really just a continuation of last month. I know that makes very little sense. LOL! So here's the back story.....

My loved one has been able to return to a job at the same company. Not his job and certainly not for the same rate of pay! Not even what the job is suppose to pay but 10% less for the whole first year after he is done training.... so if he is in training for 6 months then it will be 10% less for a year and a half! Damnation!!!!! Bills still need to be paid and food still needs to be purchased!

But on a brighter note... I have been contacted to do a qualification test to do at home work. If I pass, then I can work from home at my own schedule!!! (*Edited* I got the job!!! Woohoo!) Oldest is now full time at her job. Which means benefits and a pay increase! Middle, has an interview at her job for a supervisors position. (*Edited* She got the promotion) And the youngest broke her roller skates! 

I was able to get a really good deal on chicken from Zaycon Fresh. Its antibiotic free and the best tasting chicken I have ever had. They are so big that 3 chicken breasts will feed 6 people 1 meal. If your interested in checking them out you can do so by going here: Zaycon Fresh

I have been getting at the sales. This week our main grocery store Kroger is having a buy 10 and get $5 off. Lots of really good deals. Pasta and Sauce are on the stock up list! I didn't put up any tomatoes or veg this year. I felt the last couple years I did that it didn't get used the way it should have so. I opted to not. I did do strawberries, blueberries, peaches, bananas, and pineapple.

I have been crocheting up a storm. Grim and I are hoping to go to a Viking Festival the end of February. So I've been making things to sell. Fingers crossed that they will. Its all yarn that I had and now its getting used up. That has an added bonus as its cleaning out where all this yarn has just been sitting taking up space.

And of course I was able to fit in a new shawl for myself. It was made with 2 Canon Cakes. The pattern is Lost in Time. I was lucky enough to have the yarn in my stash so it was a win win. No money out of our current pocket and I got a very nice and warm new shawl!

Since we have been spending so much time at home. One of the things we have been doing is binge watching Netflix. We have watched Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Dare Devil, Iron Fist & The Defenders. These are all Marvel Universe shows. We also watched Wynonna Earp. OMG.... This show is amazing. If you liked/loved Buffy give it a chance and watch... it is amazing!!! My opinion, not paid for by syfy or netflix (unless someone wants to send me a check for it! *Smiles* ) Mindhunter was also a very good series. It shows how the FBI started with the profiling system. I can't wait until they come out with the next season. We are now onto Stranger Things.... It is strange. Only have 2 more episodes to watch until the first season is over.

Smile Loudly,

Yart

Spending Time Else Where

I have to admit... I have been spending much of my time elsewhere. I post almost daily to instagram. I love to blog and write out my thoughts in great detail. But I also like that if I only have a moment or two, I can just post a photo and move on. 

With that being said.... Here are some of the photos from the past year.

Mind you this is only to the end of August!

Life looks so Lovely through the lens of a camera!

Until Next Time,

Smile Loudly!

Yart