Where did the day go

This week has been busy, as the first week of school usually is. We have had band practice, bowling, and homecoming dress shopping. Toss in therapy, canning, beer making, vehical repairs and you can see why Sundays are suppose to be lazy, jammy day. So what do we do, you ask? We decide to go on a road trip.

We head out for an hour and a half drive from the highways to back roads to dirt roads. We are the hunt for chestnuts. We get out to the farm and speak to the owner. Unfortunately we are a couple of weeks early. To bad it looks like it would fun to pick chestnuts. So we will be going back out there in a couple of weeks. The monsters were a little dissappointed. The owner of the farm told us an apple orchard just down the road. So we went there and got the monsters some donuts and cider. I got a jar of sorgum. Not sure what it is but I thought I can use it some time. We then went to find a shoe store to find Band monster shoes for homecoming. See she has a size 13 foot. Trying to find her shoes is crazy. We will find something.

As far as canning is going I got 50 pounds of carrots done, peach pie filling and some apple made into apple pie filling. I was also able to get apples dehydrated. The monsters loved them. I think that I will powder them so that I can add it into things. Grim made a scotch ale that will be ready by Christmas. Tomorrow we will be making something that is called Skull Splitter.

Gotta Run,

Yart

Senate Bill 510

It has been brought to my attention by Mrs. Smith of Our Plain and Simple Life that a Senate Bill is up for vote here in the near future. It puts all of us into the line of fire. We will no longer be able to control what we eat. This is one of the most dangerous things I have seen a long time. Because I don't have the words to describe this I have provided a link below to a site that offers up what this bill entails.

The Gormley Files: Senate Bill 510: The $825 Billon Dollar Folly

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

The saga continues

I got all the corn done... 21 quarts only 1 didn't seal and I didn't catch it soon enough so I had to toss it. I got 12 - 4oz & 3 - 8oz jars of vanilla pear butter. Again one didn't seal but I caught that one in time. So yesterday we enjoyed vanilla pear butter on waffles. Yummmmm! Since all the work was done I took a two day break. I enjoyed it greatly! But once again I am back at it. Grim and I went and purchased 2 more bushels of corn yesterday. We got it all shucked and cobbed this mornining. I am typing to you all from the kitchen. I have the laptop set up on a tv tray. LOL! So that I can keep an eye on the pressure gauge. It is just a humorous sight to behold. This should give us enough corn for the year. I'm hoping, keeping fingers crossed. It will be almost one quart a week. So what this means is that I am going to have to can green beans again. The last time I canned them they were mushy, they tasted fine. I will have to find out what to do.

The next big venture is going to be carrots and potatoes. They just don't last in the basement, so they need to be canned. Fun, fun, fun..... I will buy a 50 pound bag of carrots and 100 pounds of potatoes. I guess this is the year that I invest in a couple more really good peelers. I can already hear the crying about not wanting to help...... I know I shouldn't cry in front of the monsters but whats a mom to do.... LOL!

School starts back this coming Tuesday. We tried to get everyone to sleep early but it just didn't happen. I haven't been sleeping well, dreams bad ones & dreams about my dad. But at least I know why I was dreaming like this. I got a facebook message last night that my estranged grandfather had a heart attack last Thursday (when the dreams started) and they just got around to letting me know last night. I'm not sure what I would have done if they would have let me know right away. Just like I'm not sure what I am suppose to do with this information. You know you make decisions and then a life time goes by and someone else wants to come back from the dead (basically) and change everything. Sorry about that. I guess I just needed to see it in black and white for it to start making sense.

And now for something completely different..... I went out to the garden yesterday thinking that the garden was pretty much done and ready to be put to bed for the winter (except for the garlic that will be planted in October). I go over to the beefsteaks and they are just green none have turned for fear of Bunnicula. So I decided that I would pick all the green ones. Then I head over to the roma's. They haven't done sh** so far this season. Well, this cool weather is what they like. They have set flowers and got small greens ones everywhere. So instead of ripping them out I was out there tying them up so the damn rabbit didn't get anymore as they turn. What truely weird weather we are having. I think we did better with the garden last year in the cold and rainy instead of hot and humid of this year.

We are having a ham today for dinner. It is very cool and damp today. So before I get the potatoes and carrots I will be canning ham and bean soup for the first time. It should be good. But anyways, I really need to get the freezers cleaned out. Grim is suppose to go hunting in November. So I have to get off my butt and get it done.....AHHHHHH! LOL! Well, tons to do!

Gotta Run,

Yart

It couldn't last forever

The canning hiatis that is. I had gotten pears to eat myself healthy. But in this heat they started heading south really quick. So something had to be done. I found a great recipe at Diggin' the Dirt for Vanilla Pear Butter. I cooked it down last night and put it in the fridge because I was going to can it today. Well, of course the powers that be had other ideas for me.

A check came in! Yeah!!! Got the bill that had to be paid today paid!!!! Then Grim and I went on the hunt for corn. We have had very bad luck with finding good corn at a decent price. But the Fate's they did a smile on me. I found 4 dozen boxes for $9. I bought 2 as not having done corn before I was unsure of the amount I would get. Is this not the most beautiful corn you have ever seen.... LOL! Grim helped me shucking it. And the littlest monsters took the greens and silk to the compost. Gotta keep them involved.

I had both types of corn cobbers. I tried both of the corn cobbers and in my humble opinion they both sucked. So I did what any woman would do. I pulled out the mandoline, set it to the highest setting and away I went. Normally, I use filleting gloves when I use the mandoline. I couldn't find them so I thought I would just be careful. Everything went well until the last 8 ears. I slipped and sliced into my finger. Sorry no pictures of that. Not so that your not grossed out but so that I'm not. LOL!

That's alot of corn!

I have 7 quarts in the pressure canner, 7 in the prep area and a whole pot in the fridge for tomorrow. Grim and I were already talking about going back and getting 2 more boxes for me for the weekend. Yep, you guess it. We eat a ton of corn! Plus, by waiting till the weekend all this corn and the pear butter will be done.

This was suppose to be a cute post with an update on Fluffy! It has gotten really big. Here it is from the side!

Here is the close up

And even I didn't know we had a magic bunny.... It was trying to make itself dissappear!

LOL!

Gotta Run,

Yart

Where has the time gone

Summer is quickly making its exit, but it isn't going without a fight. It has been in the 90's all week. We went to the Ren fest over the weekend. I was going to dress the part but I had put the costume in one of those space bags and the bodice shrunk.... So while we there I had to purchase a bigger one. Grim got himself a kilt. Now we need to make all of the rest of the outfit. He could have got family colors but went with the Black Watch colors of Ireland! Blues and Blacks. I had pictures... But apparantly I can't be trusted with a camera. I deleted all the picture off the camera....I am a ditz at times.

I have lost 2.6 pounds. I have been trying to cut down on the portion sizes. And today I did 20 sit-ups. And I will be starting Leslie Sansone Walk at Home: 5 Mile Fat Burning Walk, today. Grim also wants to go for a bicycle ride tonight. I need to loose this weight. I hate being fat. I am 5'8" and 207 pounds. I'm not rolly polly. But I do really resemble an apple with stick limbs and a head. I know what a visual... LOL!

I am at a stand still with canning. No corn or peaches. Our pay got all screwed up because the damn doctors office that we pay $10 per form didn't bother to fill out the forms. We need them to get paid. So when Grim gave them grief about it we finally got them. But it was like 2 weeks behind and so the pay is 2 weeks behind. Once this all get squared away then I will get back to canning.

But since I have all this free time. I was finally able to get the living room cleaned up. It took all day and the dusting didn't get done. But all the extra junk that was in the room either has been tossed or relocated. Which was a good thing. Grim had to get up early to take picky monster to orientation. And of course I had a panic attack, so I slept out on the couch as to not keep him up. I'm fine now, but when I have them it feels like I'm having a heart attack. When they first started years ago I thought I was dying. But now when it happens, it annoys me and I get though it. They don't happen as much as they use to. For that I'm very thankful. 

Gotta Walk,

Yart

Taking a Break

Today I slept in..... I could have slept longer but I knew I would never sleep tonight. And I guess I slept to long as it was. I didn't can anything today. I still have half a stockpot with tomatoe puree waiting to be made in to spaghetti sauce. I will get to it tomorrow.

Grim and I went looking to price carpet for the living room. We found a nice eco friendly product from Mohawk. It is called Everstrand. It is made out of plastic water bottles. They are recycling tons of plastic to make this product. And it was cheaper then some of the traditional carpets. So when the time comes we will be heading back to Lowe's to get it.

I even made dinner tonight. I bought cube steaks and fried them with onion and mushrooms. Then I took a can of cream of mushroom soup and a half a can of milk, added it to the pan. Then put everything over pasta! Yummm! Grim and the littlest monters had sloppy joes! Yep, we tend to be very diverse in our eating habits.

Tonight I started on chainmail. I am making it for a friend, it's part of his costume for the upcoming ren fest! He is going to be a Knightly Jestor!?! Grim and the little monster are the only ones not going to be dressed up. I will be wearing my period authentic wenching outfit and the oldest monster will be wearing my Irish serving wench outfit. Picky monster going to be wearing a halloween outfit to make herself look like a fling of sorts. This will be the first time in years that we have been able to go. Usually we just don't have the time. But with Grim still off work. We might as well go and do while we have the opprotunity.

Then I think on Sunday we will take a ride to the country and get corn on the cob and possibly a bushel of peaches..... Did you hear that? It was the house groaning.... LOL! Since this has been the year of new things, why not try canning corn and peach pie filling. I have had the clear jel just been waiting to use it. I might as well get this stuff done as school starts on September 7th. Blech.....I hate, hate, hate school. But it does get them out of the house for a few hours. I just like having my free time with the monsters. Actually, I feel the same way about school now as I did when I was a kid..... LOL! I guess somethings never change.

Plus, bingo starts back up again soon. I know as much as I complain about it. It really does come in handy as what I make goes into her band account to help pay for expenses. I paid for band camp this year by working the bingo. Next week will be my last meeting as President of our Auxiliary for the Legion. Hopefully, we will get enough people to show up to hold an election. If not I will have to turn in our Charter. I hate to have to do it but participation has been nill.

Gotta Run,

Yart