New Day - the Change is Yours

 Happy midweek to all!  Today is just a little reminder (again I know) that we are OK!!!!  Life is an uphill battle and many are getting tired.  It happens to each of us at some point in time.  Today is a little reminder, that you got this!  Whatever you are facing, you can get through it.

Start new today, if you screwed up yesterday, try to correct it.    Accept help and kindness - that is not a weakness.  Be kind to others.  Stand up for what is right - don't just cower in the background.  Talk to someone at the store, or on the sidewalk, or next door - it may be the boost they need today.  If you need help - it truly is OK to ask.  Share the positive with someone.  Be the kind of person who truly listens to another - and offer a shoulder.  Do good things.  Love with all you have to offer.  Do something positive in this big old word. 

You may not change the world today - but you may change someone's day AND your own!!!!!!

(click on pic to enlarge for easy reading)

I spent some time yesterday going back and reading some things I posted quite a while ago.  I was in a very different place at this point in time.  I still have those crappy moments - but things are improving in my attitude each day. 

 I copied this from a post I did almost exactly 4 years ago.  That was not a good summer or year for me - but I was trying to work through things, as I know my hubby would have expected.

Since this point in time, many of you have gone through so much.  Maybe, just maybe, these words can help you get through some big thing in life or help you understand someone else.

Life takes a lot of turns and we all go down a lot of roads and paths on this journey of life.  There is good and there is bad.  YET, here we are!

Just letting you know that you are not alone.  If you need a kind word or a virtual hug - yep, we are here.  One step at a time is all we can expect from ourselves or anyone else.  This old world throws some crazy stuff at us - every day.  Get up, wash your face, put on your big girl panties and start fresh and new today!  We get another chance my friends!!!!!!!!

I wish you all peace and a blissful day.

SMILE

The Ramblings of my Mind!

 Oh my gosh - my brain can sure wonder.  I have many things popping in and out this morning!!!

It feels pretty darn nice out this morning - considering.  It is already in the mid 70's early, but the humidity has dropped ever so slightly from yesterday and there is a breeze - and it is good!

We will be over 90+ for the next few days and may set some records.  But you know what?  This isn't our hottest summer for here.  Last year at this time we had over 20 - 90+ days - this year only 10 so far.  So yep, it has been hotter here.

This makes me laugh.  Gosh, if it were that easy!!  I always seem to forget year to year - how tiring canning can be.  It is satisfying but tiring.  It really gets to my back with all the standing and lifting.  But yes, it is worth it!

Sunday, I ran up the street to the post office to mail all the monthly stuff.  There is a newish Dollar Tree across the street from it.  I have only been in it a couple times, and thought why not?  Looky what I got.  I got a cute kitty calendar for the wall for 2024!  $1.25.  They had such pretty ones - kitties, doggies, landscapes, flowers etc.  I don't seem to get free ones anymore, so this is perfect.  I just happen to see them - so there was plenty to choose from.  Now is the time to get them before they get gone!

I also got a couple more pair of 'readers' to have around the house.  You just can't beat the price.  

It sometimes pays to just take a moment and go someplace you haven't been in a while and look around.

Here is some of what I was working with yesterday.  I didn't put much of a dent in them - much more to do.  I have been blessed with lovely tomatoes this year.  Honestly, not a blemish or a crack in even one!  They have been perfect.  The ripening has really slowed to a trickle - but there are so many green ones out there.  They are small at the moment - but I will most definitely get another great round from them.

Anyone have one of these?  No, it isn't just a spoon - it is a grapefruit spoon.  This one is old.  I found it many years ago (with another) at a yard sale for like .25 each.  It works perfectly for getting those sections of grapefruit loose.  I have found other uses for it as well.

It works great on Kiwi too.  I have also used to deseed tomatoes and to remove the center heart of a tomato for stuffing.  I am sure there are other uses too.  Have you ever used one and what ideas do you have?

The birdies and squirrels have been loving the birdbath the past few days.  Drinking and staying hydrated.  The birds are a hoot (no pun) to watch.  They drink and drink - then walk right in an splash around - getting cool and preening.  It is such fun to watch them.  I know they appreciate the water.

Well, I am off to tend to garden duties before the heat of the day hits.  Probably not a lot to pick - but it all counts!  Then maybe canning or resting or cleaning or who knows today!!!!!

You all take care and stay cool and safe.  Hoping you are all in safe zones!

Have a great Tuesday - and I will chat at you later!!!

Weekly Wrap Up 8/20

 Good morning to one and all.  Hope you are well and safe of this Sunday!

It is a lovely morning here, but the heat moves back in starting later today.  By the end of the week we are supposed to be close to 100 - and dry.  High humidity too.  Well, YUCK!  We deal with what we are thrown.  It will last the week and then getting a bit cooler again.  Summer isn't over until it decides to be over!!!!!

The cicadas are almost deafening some evenings.  Boy those little buggers make some noise.  Once they hush, the crickets start and they are lovely to listen too.

We had rain several times this past week and lovely temperatures for most of the week.  It does tend to spoil one!!!!!

My week:

• Last Sunday morning I went to breakfast with one of my bestest high school friends.  We had a leisurely 3 1/2 hour breakfast!!!! (Yes, we left our waitress a good tip)
• HARVEST - a couple cukes, more zucchini, peppers and tomatoes
• Got all my stuff out and ready to start my canning sessions!
• Washed all the throw rugs in the house
• Deep cleaned the floors and the area rugs and the carpet (bdrm.) with the old and powerful Rainbow vacuum cleaner (water filtration).  I don't use it often, but boy does it work.  No matter how clean you think your floors are - it will PROVE you wrong!!!!!!!  LOL
• Spot cleaned the bedroom carpet - it looks nice
• Washed many windows inside and a few outside
• Doing a lot of cleaning - starting some of the fall stuff
• Made a gallon if tea
• Piddled outside some when I could - pulling and trimming
• Mowed the entire yard and trimmed
• Had a neighbor call to see if I had zucchini she could have.  She needed to make something for a funeral.  Had plenty - love that she feels comfortable enough to call!
• Made another double batch of nectar for the hummies.  Those babies are sure drinking.  I so enjoy watching them
• I did make a run to the store - finally!  Needed milk, bread and stock up on cat food.  I also got eggs super cheap, fresh fruit - bananas, grapefruit (2/.99), grapes and mandarins and furnace filters for the rest of year/winter
• Fried a big bunch of chicken from freezer.  Most was frozen for a quick meal later on

Meals this past week:

Breakfast out - then ate a sandwich later in the day

Mac n cheese, sauteed zucchini and sliced tomato

Leftover mac, fried breaded pork chop, tomato

Egg salad sandwich, tomato/cuke/radish salad

Fried chicken and salad

BLT !!!!!!! - Mmmmmmmm

Cheesy baked potato and sauteed zucchini in salsa

Snacking on cherry tomatoes and fruit

I have plans to do a lot of canning this week.  It will be hot outside - so I need to keep busy in the house.

How was your week?  Deals?  Gardens and harvests?  Canning, freezing, dehydrating?

Love hearing from each of you.

I pray you are all well, safe and healthy this week.  I hope your families are well also.  Stay safe wherever you are - there is so much 'bad' weather happening.  Fires, hurricane, tornadoes, heat, excessive rain, etc.  BE SAFE!

Blessings to you and yours from my humble little home.

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Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love of the brethren, a tender heart and a humble mind. Do not return evil for evil or reviling for reviling; but on the contrary bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing.

1 Peter 3:8-9

Help us Lord, to forgive our offenders, one by one, name by name and offense by offense.  Help us to free our hearts, so that we may flourish and live our best lives.  We pray for those who are so angry and hard and bitter in this world, that they cannot see.  May we have peace amongst ourselves, and amongst countries and nations.  Amen

Good Days are out There - Grab them when you can

Good day to all.  Here we are again, ready to close another week.  It is just flying by.  Snow will be flying before we know it (ick), and we will be longing for these summer days.

As of late, I have noticed so many have been having some hard days and some hard decisions in life to make.  It seems there is a lot of angst in this world.

When you get a moment to ENJOY - please DO IT!!!!  Reach out and grab that joy and appreciate every little moment.

I have noticed many of you have been going through a lot lately.

*New jobs or expanded duties of the job

*Illness or surgeries

*Life changing events - and yes, your life will change - a NEW normal will be at hand

*Selling, moving, buying

*Planning for vacations 'of a life time'

*Harvesting and preserving

*Loss of incomes

*Dealing with parents in a reverse role of care giver - it is bewildering I know

*Stocking and preparing for 'whatever' may be in the future

*Retirement

*Worry of extended family matters

*Struggling in this crazy world and just trying to cope

The list goes on and on.

Yep - we all have so many things that keep our minds cluttered and worried.  And no matter how we fret - things will be what they will be.  Physically, we can maybe make changes to our world.  Mentally we can prepare ourselves for things.  But all that worry and fret - does nothing.

Spiritually - you need to do what helps you.

I love this - it is so true.  We keep our minds so cluttered with garbage that will not matter next week or next month.  We worry about silly things.  We listen to and watch garbage - when we need to be more present.  

So as this weekend comes around - take a little time to enjoy what life offers.  Be more MINDFUL instead of mind full.

When getting stressed and worried:

Go look at a sunrise or sunset

Listen to the rain

Feel a gentle breeze

Watch and listen to nature

Snuggle with a pet or take a nap

Eat something fresh and wonderful and really TASTE it!

Fix a meal that is for a special occasion - today is special - you woke up and are here

Listen to some older and beloved music - whatever type you like

Dance - seriously!!!!!  Just dance and be a little crazy

Try to "just listen" to an older person and not judge.  You know they are probably scared too!!!!!

Love those little ones and enjoy the smiles and hugs and laughs

Be joyful you have ENOUGH

Just take time to be in the moment!!!!!!!!  That is so important.  Life is full of changes - good and bad - and our lives change every day.  Each day we must make a new normal - as the old 'normal' is just that.

We don't have to like it - but we need to accept that things change and move forward.

So please take some time for yourself and enjoy life.  LIVE - you have no idea about the future - so make today a great one.  Experience things with your family and loved ones.

SMILE, and be ever so MINDFUL (not mind full)!

Many blessings to each of you!

Harvests - Figuring What You Need

Good morning and midweek to all.  It is a very cool and refreshing morning in my neighborhood.  Coolest morning in a couple months.  Enjoying it for a couple days - then it gets back to hot, hot, hot!!!  They say some of the hottest of the year to come!

Let's talk a bit about harvests.  We all need to put goods back while we can.  Some grow their gardens and others buy from farmers direct, or get things from CSA's or farm markets.  Conversion is often hard to figure out.  So today I am showing a few charts that may help.

AS ALWAYS if you can't easily read them - please click on each picture to enlarge.  I copy them and it always looks bigger & clearer when I copy, than when I publish!!!!

FOR CANNING OR FREEZING - Preparing for fall/winter

Here are some charts to aid you in the kitchen:

These last 3 were photo'd from the back of one of my favorite cookbooks.  Great charts and handy to have the info on hand.

Again, sorry they aren't clearer just looking at the screen.  They do brighten and clear when looking at each one separately.

I always like knowing how much what I have harvested will get me.  Whether canning, freezing, or just cooking.

I hope these help someone to know what to buy or what their harvest will supply.

Tis the season for harvesting all the fresh goodness you can!!!!!!!  Winter will soon be upon us!

Have a wonderful day!

'Tips'ter Tuesday

 Haven't done a tips or hints post in a while.  You probably all know or do these things - but sometimes we all need a little reminder.  So many ways to change things up or re-use what we have.  It all counts, tastes good, and maybe saves a little along the way.

Just an idea or three!

Use your bell peppers as serving dishes for salads.  Can be any type of salad - tuna, chicken, ham, or pasta or quinoa - whatever you like.  You can eat the serving dish as well!!!!!!  Makes for a great lunch or a side for dinner.

ALSO - you can fill bell peppers with leftover spaghetti and sauce, top with a little cheese and bake until cheese is golden and pepper done. (I often steam the peppers a little before filling).  This uses up leftovers and also give a new dish - stuffed peppers!!!!!!

Peppers also make a cute presentation on the table for serving various types of fresh dips!!!!!

Have leftover mashed potatoes?  We all know about potato cakes - here is a little different way to serve.  Add some minced onion and cheese - throw into a buttered 8" round pan and bake until the top is golden.  Tastes like a twice baked potato.  

Don't forget with all the fresh veggies that are plentiful now - make kabobs and grill!!!  Veggies kabobs are so good.  Rub with a little oil and season and boom you have a great side.  You could also broil if you wanted to.

My favorite salad of all time during the summer.  You can use Italian dressing or mix oil & vinegar with seasonings, or vinegar & sugar - use whatever dressing you love.  This is so refreshing and delightful.  Sometimes I have just cukes and onions together.  It's ALL GOOD!!!!!!

When you make soup - save some of the broth.  Freeze it in ice cube trays.  This enables you to throw a cube into rice or veggies later on adding a lot more flavor!!!!

Beans add flavor to hearty dishes.  Mash up some kidney, black, cannelloni or whatever you have and use in place of or with ground beef.

Don't forget that there are pasta options for those who cannot have wheat.  Look around at your favorite stores for different options and flavors.  I love spinach or tomato pasta a lot.

Tip to remember for after the holidays!  You can buy those bags of herbal flavored bread cubes for dressing making.  I have seen them marked down to .50 or so per bag.  Get a few and grind them in your food processor and make seasoned breadcrumbs.  Super easy and you don't have to dry the bread yourself!

BASIL SALAD DRESSING

1/3 C red wine vinegar

2 Tbsp. olive oil

3 Tbsp. fresh basil - chopped

2 cloves of garlic - minced

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

Whisk together and serve over your favorite salad.

* Truthfully, I would think you could make any flavor you want - depending on what fresh herbs you have available.

There you have todays tips and hints!  LOL!!

Food is so much fun - as there are no hard and steadfast rules that need to be followed.  I love playing with my food and trying new things.  Give some of these a try.

Got any fun tips to share?  We'd love to hear them.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!!!!!

Weekly Wrap - Up 8/13

 Happy Sunday to all - a new week in the making!  Hope this finds everyone well and safe.

It has been warm the past few days.   We have had some rain just about every day, except maybe Friday.

The hummingbirds are eating so much.  It is hard to keep the feeders filled for them.  I keep watching them at the phlox, the butterfly bush and the surprise lilies too.  I know I have 2 and the sure do chase each other and fly around a lot.  It is just so neat to see.

This week there have been hawks around a lot.  Grrrr.  I know they are part of nature, but I wish they would go elsewhere.  There were 3 down the alley way earlier this week.  The birds and the squirrels don't come to feed when they are in the area.  Smart babies!

This week:

• Went to a 1st birthday party at my nieces on Sunday.  Nice visit with family
• Harvesting - LOTS!  So many tomatoes, still getting squash, peppers and cukes
• Cut basil to dry
• Saw the first signs of squash bugs this year - using soapy water and DE and it seems to be helping A LOT!
• Letting in fresh air when possible
• Made a batch of cukes & onions in leftover brine from last week.
• Rain barrels are both full again
• Mowed front to back - and trimmed on Friday
• Had 2 more big limbs blown down from the tree this week.  They were broken and up in the tree from that big storm a month or so ago.  Glad they are now down - a couple more to go.
• Made hard boiled eggs for snacks.
• Neighbor brought me brownies made with zucchini I gave her!  YUM
• NO grocery store - stayed home all week (except party)
• Pulling weeds and stuff as often as possible - so much
• Doing all the regulars - cleaning, laundry, cooking, using what I have

Meals this past week.

Pizza at nieces

Beef burger, corn on cob, tomatoes

Veggie frittata (of sorts)

Unstuffed pepper skillet

Leftover pepper skillet, fried zucchini, tomatoes

Homemade Rice a Roni type rice, fried green tomato

Taco salad

Kind of quiet here.  Not a lot going on - just working yard and garden when possible.

How has your week been?  What is going on with your gardens?  Are you preserving anything yet?

Give us a shout out.  Love hearing what everyone is up too.  It is a busy time of the year!

I wish you all a great week ahead.  May you all stay safe and healthy and have lots of good things happen.

Blessings from my humble little home to you and yours.

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A son who gathers in summer is prudent, but a son who sleeps in harvest brings shame.

Proverbs 10:5

Lord, I pray for all the farmers and the home gardeners.  May the harvests be good, so all can nourish their bodies and feed their families.  Food and water are necessary for life, and we pray that all people around the world have both.  Please be with us all.  Amen

Holding all being affected by fires in prayer.