Thursday, August 11, 2022

What's Up?

 Gosh, here we are at Thursday already - the weekend is almost upon us.  Being retired - the days all run together.  Weekends are not all that special anymore!  I do whatever I need to do whenever I feel like it.  That is kind of the nice part of being retired.  I am now my own boss!!!!!

With the garden getting in gear, there is about to be canning, freezing and preserving.  I have been cutting and drying herbs.  The grapes are starting to get a light hue of color - won't be long!!!!!!

I pick okra a few at a time.  It isn't something that you can keep that long before using - so I cut it up, flash freeze and then I bag for future use.
I have sliced and put on a Rubbermaid lid to freeze.  It doesn't take much room in the freezer and it freezes quickly.  I bag, and I can take out what I want without everything sticking together.

Tomatoes are starting to get busy!!!  I picked yesterday, and many had big splits from the weather.  Instead of inviting more fruit flies inside my home - I cleaned them up, blanched and skinned and cut up a few and stuck in a freezer bag until I have enough for salsa.
                                                 Frozen tomatoes for salsa - when enough
I think within the next couple weeks, the canning kitchen will get busy!  That is good.  Free food, organic food, all added to the pantry for yummy eating and gifting.

I have plans to do yard work in the next few days, as the weather is cooling a bit and the humidity is dropping.  Goodness, take advantage while the weather cooperates!!!!!

I think maybe my friend and I will be working on taking down at least part of the ramp out front.
This is quite stressful for me.  It means putting a HUGE chapter of G behind me - that just makes me sad.  The ramp is not needed, and it is starting to have bad wood and not look nice - so it does need to come down.  I will keep some of the better nice boards (as wood is so expensive), share some with a guy across the street (he is always making something crafty), and then maybe burn some.  It will all get a home. (That will become ash for garden).

I need to trim hair - not sure if that will get done or not this week.
I am about to go out and do my morning harvest.  Then who knows what this girl may do!!!!!!  I kind of fly by the seat of my pants.

What are you all up to at the ending of this glorious week?  Bigs plans?  Yard work, gardening, house projects?  I just love hearing what everyone is doing.  I think we help each other stay motivated.
Let us know what is happening at your homestead.
HAPPY THURSDAY!



28 comments:

  1. Happy Thursday as well. Today I found a website on gardening in Phoenix! Have only grown tomatoes in my life (I am 66), but am thinking of starting a small vegetable area. We live on the edge of the desert with lots of flying, crawling and hopping wildlife so I have to construct a sturdy four sided cage to protect things…but it is exciting having a new project. Enjoy your blog! Hilogene in Az.

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    1. How cool. That is neat and just goes to show we can learn things every day!!!! It sounds like a fun and 'fruitful' project. Have fun. Thanks!!!!!

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  2. Yesterday was the last straw with those Wiley squirrels eating our grape tomatoes. We picked every last one and will ripen them inside. It is going to be a cool 83 today with rain later so Hubby is about to go out and start the burn barrel. There is a big stack of limbs to feed to the barrel. It will be good to have that done and then the rain can take care of putting out any sparks, etc which gives Hubby peace of mind.

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    1. Gosh, that is such a shame you have had such problems with squirrels and tomatoes. I wish you were close by I have tons to share!!!
      Sounds like the same weather we are having today.
      Good idea on burning before the rain - smart save.

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    2. I would trade homemade bread for tomatoes! They have taken every large tomato too. They just eat the side off them and leave it lay and go get another.

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  3. Happy Thursday Cheryl. I freeze tomatoes in bags like you, good for pasta sauce in the winter. It's very hot (for the UK) again today but I have just pickled some beetroot and done various jobs.
    Our daughter Angela has this week and next week off work, so she went to visit Yaz and her little dog today, it's pretty quiet without then....but, our youngest son, his wife and our youngest granddaughter who is two are down for a visit tomorrow. Then on Sunday, our other son, wife and three grandchildren 9, 7 and 4 are visiting for five days. We have one grandson staying three nights and both grandsons staying the other two while their little sister stays with Auntie Ang and her second eldest cousin. Neither of us have houses large enough for everyone and coming for a stay is fun (but exhausting :) We will all be meeting up for various activities but the kids will all get some quality time's on their own with Mum and Dad or us.
    Congrats to your family on the birth of baby Miles. Expect you will have a cuddle real soon.
    Hope you get your job done. Hugs.

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    1. Heat sure seems to be everywhere this summer.
      Oh you weekend sounds splendid. Family of all sorts. You will have a blast making memories with all those grands!!!! Have a great time and enjoy every moment!!

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  4. Your "grow"ceries are looking good, Cheryl! Sounds like busy times ahead for you. And I'll be saying a prayer or two as you deal with the ramp, whether part or all of it needs to go. I love that the wood will find a good use.

    Still budgeting to fill the new chest freezer. Yesterday that included family packs of fresh, 80% lean ground beef, plus peaches and strawberries on sale. Monday it was the last (big) package of chicken drumsticks at Walmart, two 3 loop packages of smoked sausage and the last full sized boneless pork loin roast that I'll cut into boneless chops and (from the ends) stew meat. Today is supposed to be rainy. A good day to work in the kitchen getting it all sorted/bagged for freezing. --Elise

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    1. The 'grow'ceries are coming along nicely!
      Thanks - it will be tough, but it needs done. It is just me - getting all sentimental. Things change.
      You go gal!!!! Sounds like you are fiercely working on that stocking. That is wonderful and will sure be a blessing later on. Keep up the good work.

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  5. It's raining and cool here this morning - hurray, no watering required. I've got nothing planned for the day and if I get half of that done I'll be happy. :) Oh I know I'll get some things done around here but there is no rush and I woke with a bit of headache that hasn't quite disappeared yet. I may even take a nap this afternoon.
    Have a great day!

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    1. Raining and cool - sounds like a nap day to me. That is the goal I would for today!!!!! Hope you feel better and just relax and enjoy the day.

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  6. Congrats on baby Miles. I have a grand-nephew named Miles, but he is a big, strapping 18-yo!
    Taking down the ramp, while emotionally difficult, will be a good things. G. wouldn't have wanted somebody to get hurt on the rotten wood. Definitely save any usable wood. You never know when it will come in handy.
    We're to have an absolutely gorgeous weekend with no rain Fri & Sat. and temps in the low to mid-70sF. I went to HD this a.m. and got strike plates and a threshold so I can get started installing the exterior door that I bought last summer at a local garage sale. I'll be flying by the set of my pants (and Youtube videos) on this project for sure. It's going in the mud porch entrance for extra security and more protection from the weather and will be the visible front door.
    Supposed to be 70F and rainy Sunday, so I'm making chicken pot pie for the first time in months.
    Have picked 18 cukes (3 plants) and 11 zukes (2 plants). Cherry tomatoes are ripening and will be frozen for later use. Pulled the green onions this week and need to harvest beets.

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    1. Yes, as expensive as wood is, I will get many nice pieces for whatever projects. It does need to be done, I will feel better once I get it accomplished.
      You go gal on the doing the door work yourself. I love that we can do whatever needs to be done - like you said - it may take a video or two - but by golly we can do it!
      Your plants are doing great. Your Friday and Saturday sound like here - supposed to be beautiful.

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  7. Question-How is that okra when you thaw it and how do you use it? If I were to immediately shake it in cornmeal when taking it from the freezer and fry it would it be like fresh?

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    1. I have done this before. I drop in egg wash - then flour/cornmeal mix and fry. I do that while frozen. OR I just throw in soup. It always tastes like fresh to me! I love fried okra.

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  8. That will be an accomplishment, when the ramp is removed. My hope is that it being gone will bring you good memories of G, before he needed the ramp, and that you can honor those memories every time you use those newly uncovered stairs. We're in the throes of canning season here. This past week and weekend, I completed Kosher, Polish, and Hamburger dills, two batches of spaghetti sauce, and a batch of peach jam, requested by a friend. She wants to pay me for it (or at least for the ingredients), which is fine. But in our conversation, she mentioned that she had a case of jars that's been in her closet for years. I suggested we just trade -- her jars for jam and the jars I used. She kind of thinks it's still not fair to me, but I'll take it! My canning buddy and I searched for quart jars yesterday and wound up with Anchor & Hocking, as there were no Ball jars in the area-- we'd been to 3 different stores. I'm partial to pints for my household; he cooks in large batches and quarts fit his need better. We'll do his tomatoes tomorrow. And, you can have my share of the okra, not a fan, and you won't find it in my freezer. LOL!!!!

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    1. I will be fine once the thing is gone. It is just a decision I have put off for a long while.
      You have surely been busy. WOW. I think jars for goodies is a good trade. There are finally lots of jars around here. I like to use pints as well. BUT I have tons of quart jars I was given. Wish you were close by!!!!!!
      Have fun canning.
      PS - I will gladly eat your share!!! LOL

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  9. I don't think my dehydrator has been off for more than a day. Herbs are coming like crazy. Pretty cool here and looks like it could rain at any time (which is why I haven't watered yet).

    Right now I am cleaning out the last of the fruit picked last year. Today I made raspberry jam, and tomorrow I may make blueberry.

    God bless.

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    1. I just air dry my herbs instead of using the dehydrator.
      We just got a really good rain this afternoon - it was appreciated.
      Smart idea on clearing out the fruit. You have given me a good reminder. Hmmm - maybe next week.
      Have fun!!!!!

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  10. Cheryl,
    I know it is sad to lose any part of G, but now you can picture him going up the front steps and not needing the ramp. I understand how it will be emotional.
    Okra put into the dehydrator makes a nice, crunchy, healthy alternative to popcorn. Tommy loves it, but I don't touch it.

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    1. Thanks - that makes sense too. I need to get past this and I will.
      That is a good idea - I have dried the big tougher okra and then grind for a soup thickener. Hmmm may try some for a snack

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  11. It is good you are sharing the materials from the ramp. Someday we will all walk on our own two feet with no problem!

    I did laundry yesterday and today and hung everything on the line. Tomorrow will be a cleaning day, general pickup day and get ready for the Sabbath. The Urban Farmer's birthday is Sunday so I need to find the cube steak in the freezer since that he what he wants. Easy peasy and everybody likes it. Erin will come over and have lunch with us before she goes to work. The Farmer has been working outside, pulling some spent plants and planting turnips and lettuce.

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    1. You know I do think about that. Glen used to say that someday when he passed he would be able to run and jump again. He liked that idea - healthy legs.
      Great day for anything outside. I spent time out as well. I love cube steak - good choice. You all have a wonderful time celebrating. Happy birthday Urban Farmer!!!!!!

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  12. Okra, just love it fried. I bought some at the farmers market a couple of weeks ago. Just enough for a serving, but my was it good. It is one of the easiest things to grow for me. I did not get any planted this year. I also would cut and freeze like that when I had a lot. Where I live once it gets going, you are flooded with it. Years ago when my Mom had to be in a care center for about a month, the okra came in fast and furious. I could not keep up with it. Had to pick everyday. I would take a large bag to the care center with okra and tomatos. I would give it to the ladies who worked there. My Mom was very well taken care of and I appreciated that.

    In regards to Glenn's ramp, it is hard to remove something that was so much a part of your life and home. I waited about 8 years to have a deck and a sunken hot tub removed. It was well loved and used until my husband got sick. We had it do to his hard work, he bartered for all the materials and and the tub. It was nice to be able to trade his skills to get all of it done by others with their skills and supplies. He passed in December, and we had a very cold winter. I did not do the proper care for the hot tub and the filter/pump froze and cracked. When the deck got to falling apart I had everything removed. I hate going out there and seeing it gone, he worked so hard to give us something nice.

    I have not been feeling well with all this heat. We finally got some rain yesterday after 67 days without a drop. It was so beautiful, I really appreciated the beauty of it and the cooler temps. It is going to heat right back up for a while. I am counting the days until the fall. I hope we have a good cold winter LOL.

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    1. My okra is just starting - but it is beginning to look like it will be quite prolific. Lots of buds! I love it fried too. Everyone thinks about it being nasty and icky, but it sure isn't that way when fried.
      I can understand why that deck would have been hard to get rid of. HUGS! I guess I have that, as Glen didn't build it himself. It is just hard to remember the house without it.

      Praise the Lord for the rain. YAY!!! I hope you get more, soon. Our heat has broken for the moment. Just remember cooler temps will be here soon. I am sorry that it has made you feel bad. Please take care and try to stay in and cool.

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  13. It has been a terrible Summer for fruit flys and gnats. I've noticed Bloggers in different parts of the country mentioning the same thing - maybe they have prolific periods like the Cicadids did last Summer. I'm sure you and your Readers already know this but just in case - You can fill a small cup with vinegar and a drop of dishwashing liquid. Cover with cling wrap and leave an opening or punch a hole in the top. For faster results, place a banana peel near the bowl. Bugs love the smell and promptly drown. For a bad infestation, Amazon sells a small electric zapper for small flying bugs. All part of Summer and fresh produce in the kitchen.

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    1. They have been bad this year. They drive me crazy (not a far trip!). I have the vinegar set up and I also tried a small container with sweet wine (done the same way). I read about that too. It has helped a little - but not much.
      I am getting good at catching them!!! LOL I guess that is part of summer.

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