Canning Break Today

The weather here today is hot and humid, good day to take a break from the canning and freezing.  This week I have been canning Dill Pickles, Sweet Dills, Open Jar Sweet Pickles, and freezing sweet corn and zucchini.  

So today I am taking a break and doing some sewing.  I have been needing to get a couple of towels made for a gift that I need for tomorrow.  A couple of months ago I had purchase a fat quarter bundle of  " Oh Clementine"  material that I just love.  So today decided to use a couple of pieces for the kitchen towels that need to get done. I think my new niece to be will like them.

The idea came for the towels came from Cluck, Cluck, Sew this is her material line.

Now just need to get a couple more towels and make some for me!!

We also enjoyed having our grandsons (and a girlfriend) over this week for dinner...menu was chicken and dumplings and chocolate cake.  They seem to think that is the required menu for them :)  That's ok grandma enjoys making it for them!!!

Had to rescue a toad from trying to get in by the chickens.  

Enjoyed these two boys when they were little and am enjoying watching them grow into young men, what a blessing.   

Have a wonderful weekend and stay cool.

~Cheryl~

Boiling Eggs

We get our eggs from a local farmer and they have always been so hard to peel when making hard boiled eggs.  Until I found out that they can be made in the pressure cooker, loving it!

I place the required amount of water for my cooker in the bottom of the pressure cooker and then put  my vegetable steamer into the cooker with the eggs

Follow the directions for your pressure cooker and bring it up to the lowest pressure.  On mine I stay right by it and adjust the flame to keep it at a very gentle rocking motion.  Once it reaches pressure cook for 6 minutes.  When time is up turn off the heat and let sit for 5 minutes.  After the 5 minutes follow directions for the cooker to release the steam and put the eggs into ice water for 30 minutes.

The eggs peel so nicely, no more loosing most of the egg white with the egg shell.  If you have a pressure cooker and haven't tried making hard boiled eggs in it give it a try and see what you think.  

~ Cheryl~

Summer

This summer has been a quiet one, which I am enjoying immensely.  We have been sticking close to home this summer.

My DH hurt his foot at work and has been off work from the beginning of June, the doctor did release him to go back on light duty this week.  It has been wonderful having this unexpected time home together this summer.  Now for the next four weeks I get to drive him back and forth to work, so that will be a little change in the daily routine.  We are praying that at his next appointment in four weeks that it will be healed and won't require any surgery. The boot has been getting a little tiring for him. Thankful that he doesn't have much pain only if he moves it wrong. A few of the summer projects have been put on hold, and that is fine.

It  has made for a very slow paces summer which has been so nice.  The house has seemed a little lonely with DH back to work this week  Have been surprised by the number of ladies that have asked me how are you handling him being home all of the time, because he can't go anywhere without me driving for him,  as they proceed to tell me how they just don't think they could handle their husband being around all the time.  I think how sad, I love having Bob home and spending time together, feel very blessed that we have this kind of a relationship.  I am going to enjoy retirement and having him home all of the time, a few years to go....

The garden has been doing very well, love this time of year when I can go to the garden and pick supper.  This morning I thinned out my carrots some more, until today we have been eating what I have thinned, but today there was enough to do a little canning.

While writing this post I am babysitting my pressure caner, have 7 pints of carrots going.  Next will be 3 pints of green beans.  This year I only planted a short little row of beans for fresh eating, as last year put up a lot of beans.  The row is giving us more than we can eat, yesterday caned 5 pints.  As my mom always said to us "waste not, want not".   I enjoy watching the shelves fill up with canned goods from the summer harvest and knowing we will be prepared for the coming months.

With all of the rains we had this spring the rhubarb did very well this year.  I was able to put up some sauce that we enjoy mixed with strawberries and cooked some down to make into rhubarb punch.  Isn't the color pretty...

My dishes soaking in soap bubbles of flowers waiting to be washed. :o)

Rhubarb Punch

8 c. chopped rhubarb

5 c. water

Cook rhubarb with water until tender ~ let cool ~ line  a strainer with damp cheese cloth

pour cooked rhubarb into strainer and squeeze out all of the juice

For each cup of juice and 1/3 c. of sugar ( I use a scant 1/4 c.) 1/4 c. orange juice and 1 tsp. lemon juice.

You can freeze or can the juice.  If canning process in boiling water bath for 15 minutes. 

To serve as punch add a 12 oz bottle of ginger-ale to 4c. of juice.

 

 

June Garden Update

We have had a lot of rain and cooler nights most of this month.  The garden has been a little slower this year. 

We have been enjoying a lot of salads, the lettuce has loved the rain and cooler nights.  One of our favorite salads has been lettuce with fresh fruit and Poppy Seed dressing.

Poppy Seed Dressing

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/3 cup sugar

2 Tablespoons vinegar

1/4 cup milk

2 Teaspoons poppy seeds 

Whisk all of the ingredients together in a bowl until smooth.

Store in the refrigerator.

~Cheryl~

Backyard Chicks

The day has finally arrived, I picked up my four little chickens from the local coop in town.

I have waited a long time to be able to have chickens again.  Now the long wait for them to grow enough to start laying some eggs.  

Right now they are to little to go out into the little chicken coop we have...so they are spending their time in a tub in the corner of the kitchen.  I am already having so much fun watching them and holding them and also listening to them peep!

The count down has been over for a while now for the last day of school, I am enjoying being a full time homemaker again.  

~Cheryl~

Counting Down

After today I have only six more days of school...exciting!  I am soooooo looking forward to being a full time homemaker again.  Very thankful for the job that the Lord provided when we needed it, it has been a blessing and have made so many dear friends.  I will miss everyone....

I have already been planning some of the sewing that has sat for far to long and I will be a homeschooling grandma.  Will be homeschooling our oldest grandson, this will be his senior year.  This is a special blessing that quitting work has allowed me to do.  Our grandson's parents adopted four children a year ago and now mama is expecting a baby in November...SURPRISE! We are all so excited!!!  

Also counting down the days until this little coop will be in use.

 Will be getting four little chicks June 18th. Our village doesn't allow any more than that.  My hubby is going to make an additional fenced in area on the side and behind the coop to give them more room to roam.  I am excited to have chickens to watch and to get our own eggs again.

Spent most of Saturday outside getting the rest of the garden in and flowers planted.  Sunday and Memorial day we had much needed rain.  Wasn't the nicest weather for the Memorial Day weekend but great for the farmers and gardens.

  I had planted a few red potatoes, onions, lettuce, and peas earlier this spring. Got the rest of the seeds in and transplanted my tomatoes and peppers.

The onions and lettuce will be done before the tomatoes and peppers get to big.

My peas will be done also before the squash takes over this area.  Will see how this works, first time we planted squash in our garden since moving here.  Other years we have bought from a local farmer, but they will not be growing it this year...so we will see if I can keep it under control.

Our garden isn't huge but with careful planning it produces enough food for the summer and winter for the two of us and some to share with our daughter.  By the time it all gets going it can be rather hard to get between the rows.   Love watching the garden grow!

Behind my garden gate you will find...   Tomatoes, peppers,( green, yellow, red) peas, buttercup and spaghetti squash, onion sets, winter onions, yellow summer squash, zucchini, potatoes ( red, russet,  Yukon gold), cucumbers, dill, green and yellow beans, lettuce, beets, carrots, radishes, sage, basil, oregano, asparagus, rhubarb, raspberries, and a few flowers planted here and there.  Now I can sit back and watch my garden grow...at least for a couple of days, sure this rain will also help the weeds to grow!  

~Cheryl~

Enjoying Spring!

I have been enjoying all of the sights, sounds, and smells of spring!  The thunder during a spring rain, the clean smell after a storm, listening to the birds during the early morning hours, and watching the signs of spring! 

Yes, I even enjoy seeing the dandelions! Our kids use to pick handfuls for me...nothing sweeter than a cup of dandelions!

Mama Robin built a nest on the ledge by our bedroom window, she has two babies. This little guy stuck his head up just long enough for me to get a picture. 

The sights of spring are so welcomed after a long cold winter. Each new season is a reminder to me of how God cares for each of us.  His wonders never cease to amaze me!

The flower and smell that I love most about spring is the lilac.

For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;

The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the

singing of birds is come, and the voice of the

turtle is heard in our land:

~Cheryl~