Produce Waits For No Man (or Woman)...

Needle dancing had to be put on hold this weekend. Tomatoes I purchased from a local grower needed to be canned. Pears all came in, too. So...

I'd purchased 40# of tomatoes that I picked up on Thursday last. I canned the first 20# box on Saturday, and finished the second 20# box yesterday. The result of the second box is in this photograph. There were four jars of stewed tomatoes and three jars of tomato sauce. I pressure canned all of this, which only took 20 minutes, compared to a 45 minute water bath. What a time saver!

This is the left side of our pantry cupboard where I store my canning. Top Shelf - Applesauce, salsa, and ketchup. Middle Shelf - Zucchini Pepper Relish (legal tender around these parts!) and Bruschetta topping. Bottom Shelf - Preserved Chicken, Space for Preserved Beef and/or Turkey, and Hickory Syrup.

The top shelf is now full. I added the results of Monday's efforts to the tomatoes already shown in the photo. Second Shelf - pears from Andy and Shelly's tree. Andy eats pears. Shelly doesn't. They were generous enough to let me harvest this year's crop. I'll be sharing the canned jars with them. (There are a lot more to pick yet, too!). Next to the pears are my jelly and preserves: black raspberry jam in the little jars, strawberry jam, lavender jelly and lemon balm jelly. I also have smoky tomato jam there, which I use as a barbeque sauce. Bottom Shelf - canned sweet corn, and pickled beets, and I still have room for canned potatoes and squash.

Can you tell I'm loving my pressure canner? I'm getting more and more confident with it. I'll be doing broths this fall, too. I'm trying to return to the pioneer way of stocking shelves...No grocery stores full of over-processed foods back then. This way, I know exactly what's in our food. Seeing our shelves stocked is the most satisfying feeling. This winter, I'll have lots to choose from without leaving home. Now, if I could just figure out how to grow toilet paper! (Not really!) lol

I have a commission to create today, so that's what I'll be working on. The cardinals will have to wait at least another day. 

Thanks to everyone who was concerned for us after Tag's post yesterday. Handsome is fine. He landed in soft grass, even though he scraped his elbow. My shoulder and upper arm are still sore today, but Tylenol is my best friend right now. I'll be better tomorrow. Thanks again.

Happy Hump Day, everyone!

Tuesdays With Tag - It Wasn't Funny...

 Hi, Everybody!

I hope your week is off to a better start than ours!

Mom was takin' a rest after cannin' twenty pounds of tomatoes yesterday when Dad said, "What say we take the dogs out for a little sunshine?" Mom said, "Sure", and we all headed outside. It started out fun enough.

I was walkin' with Mom on my leash (oh, yay), while Boo and The Kid trotted around the yard. Then, as always Carly decided it was time to run. Now, when she runs, we laugh and call her the Meth Lab. She's all flyin' ears and legs as she kicks into high gear and runs around all the buildings, jumps through the grass like a kangaroo, and then does a lap around a huge pine tree that stands sentry in our upper yard.

Dad was standin' in the tall grass with Bella (and his back to Mom). Mom and I were standin' a leash-length apart in the short grass behind Dad. Mom had my leash looped around her wrist in case I tried to make a break for it (but she didn't know I wasn't in the mood). The Kid was on her second or third lap through the tall grass, but we were lookin' back toward the house, so we didn't see her comin'.

As she came out of the grass at full tilt, she caught my extended leash across her chest, but she never broke stride. Instead, the effect of her force on the leash caught Mom and nearly yanked her arm out of the socket. Mom went down like a rock and held her arm while she writhed in pain. Dad turned around so fast to see what happened, and he fell down in the tall grass. Carly came back to see what was goin' on, while Bella and I stood there dumbfounded. Mom started to cry and then we saw that Dad's arm was bleedin' from his fall. Thankfully, it wasn't serious, and a clean bandage took care of that. He was lucky to fall in the tall grass, 'cuz it made for a soft landin'.

He took the girls back to the house, while I sat and looked around wonderin' what the heck just happened. Mom stayed sittin' on the ground holdin' her arm. Of course, she took a picture of me with her head shadowed on my back as we waited for Dad to come back (a die-hard blogger to the end).

Once he came back up the yard, he took my leash (and stood on it to keep me close), and then helped her get up. She was pretty rattled and sore, but they determined there was no damage. I think she now has one arm longer than the other, but what do I know? She took two headache pills and decided to sit and feel sorry for herself for a while.

So, I'm sure if anyone saw this whole thing goin' down, it would have looked like some kind of cartoon. Unless Miss Shelly was watchin', I think my description is the only evidence. If it's not one thing around here, it's another.

We had another cat show up over the weekend, and the girls aren't happy at all. It's been back three nights in a row, meowin' and lookin' for food while the girls fluff up and growl at it. Just what we need...not! We'll just have to see how long that lasts. In the meantime, I'm gonna stick close to Mom and make sure she's okay. I mean, Dad feeds me, but Mom's my emotional support companion. I guess I might have to return the favor for a while.

I'll see you again in seven. 'til then... 

"Been There, Chewed That!"

Busy Weekend...

 

It was a busy weekend. I did the gown alterations, canned six pints of pears (more will be ready following yesterday's rain storms), and went to my great-great niece's third birthday party.

I ran up the west side of the lake to my great nephew's home where a gaggle of children, friends and family gathered to celebrate this sweet child. She's very shy, so I'm fortunate to have captured a single photo of her looking at me. There were smiles, but never in range of the camera lens, and only fleeting. There was no such thing as a pose. 

Even so, she did have a nice celebration. Two baby shark-shaped cakes, and one baby shark ice cream cake capped off the party, and once all the adults and kids were sufficiently sugared, everyone left for home. I spent a little more time with my sister, Di, who'd driven down from Minnesota for the party, and then I, too, turned for home.

Another Birthday today. Our elder daughter-in-law is celebrating, too. She'll be at work, so we'll celebrate with her next time we're together.

I'll be stitching again today. I'm going to change to single thread embroidery for the cardinals. I know the definition will be better if I do. Yes. I'll be taking out the stitching I've already done to be more precise with the piece. I'll share comparison photos on Wednesday, so I'll see what I'm talking about. 

Tag will visit with you tomorrow, so I'll see you again after that. Hope you're week is off to a splendid start!

Sunday Scripture…

 

• Matthew 9:38

We Interrupt My Needle Dancing...

Anyone who knows me knows that I don't do alterations. I'd rather make something start to finish than "fix" someone else's creation, or change the dimensions to fit. It's the kind of work that I truly despise. If anyone asks me if I'll alter something for them the answer is always an emphatic "no!".

My dear nephew, Dan (who I've introduced before) is getting married in September. We all love his future wife. They've been together for years, have twin daughters, plus she's "Mom" to his first two boys (who live with them full-time). In addition to being a great couple - they are perfect for each other - they're great parents to their children.

Dan comes at the drop of a hat when I need help, and he's always been my champion (next to Handsome), so when I got a text from his betrothed, I made a side trip to Fond du Lac today to do what I never do.

She was in a panic because she hasn't been getting return calls from where she purchased her gown to arrange to have it fitted. "Aunt Donna, will you please help?" I made no promises, but said I'd look at the gown, size up the issue, and then decide. She sighed an audible sigh of relief.

When I got to their home, she slipped into her gorgeous gown and we assessed what needed to be done. Tighten up the bust area (she'd lost weight since buying the dress), clean up the hemline, and add what would be needed to be able to bustle the back for the reception.

I know. I'm a soft touch. I love these two kids, and I can do what she needs done so her gown will be perfect for her most memorable day in her life (next to giving birth to their girls). So, the needlework project is on hold. I'll be in the studio helping my future niece step into a perfectly fitted gown on her wedding day. 

By the way, you understand why I'm only sharing glances of the gown. In the event that family or friends read this post, I wouldn't ever ruin the surprise of the groom's and attendees' first look. You'll have to wait until we go to the wedding to see pictures of her in her stunning (perfect-fitting) gown.

But in case anyone is still wondering...I DON'T DO ALTERATIONS. EVER. Nope. Not me. I just won't touch them at all. 

I love you, Alexandria and Dan. 

Needle and Thread...

I won't share progress photos today. I'm going to wait a while to show you my cardinal again. I'm going back to stitching with one thread to get better details. 

What I will show you are all the colors that will be going into the two birds and the branch on which they're both perched. These are all Anchor threads (floss/stranded cotton). I'll keep working on this over the weekend, and perhaps I'll share more on Monday.

Can you believe it's the weekend again...already!? Where is the time going? It's nearly September, and in Wisconsin, we look at Labor Day as the beginning of the short slide to winter. I'm going to try to savor every single autumn day I can. I hope you will, too. 

A New Beginning...

Finally! I set up the center of my next project. These will be the cardinals that will highlight my Winter Song piece when completed. I'm using the same musical ground fabric as I did for Song of Spring.

I began by stitching felt to the areas I'll be building up with my needlework as I work on my first bird. I'm embroidering the male first.

I'm using two threads of stranded cotton because I can use a thread each of two different colors to get the shading I'd like to see. I couldn't resist doing the crest right away.

Handsome's last concert in Fond du Lac for the summer season was last night. Of course, I was there. We had a band celebration to attend when it was over, so that was nice, too.

I'll get back to my needle dancing again today, so I'll be sharing updates as I get more done. I'd love to hear your feedback as I show you how it's going.

Look What I Found!...

I recently found these squirrel and acorn zipper pulls, and bought a bunch! (These are only a sampling.) I have something special in mind for them, and will be using them soon. Once I've produced a few for my online shop, I'll share photos. Hint: It will involve acorn print and cork fabrics.

I'm going to begin work on Winter Song today, so I'll have photos to share with you tomorrow. This piece has a deadline, so I won't be putting it off any longer.

Tuesdays With Tag - (This) Dog Was Her Co-Pilot...

Hi, Everybody!

I know. Don't remind me. Two weeks in a row with a picture of this spoiled feline. There's a reason for it, though. This is how Claudette spends most of her days at the farmhouse. Just lazin' around and enjoyin' the fine weather we've had lately. You can see Crystal lyin' in front of the pillar on the other side of the barrier Mom puts up to keep us from eatin' cat food. heehee

Last week, I got to spend an entire day with Mom as she drove around the state. It was awesome! Of course, she forgot to take pictures of me, but I don't mind. We had a blast! (That's why I'm usin' this picture of the stoopid cats.)

First we drove to her brother's house. He lives up near Primitive Gatherin's, so we were about and hour and a half from home. We hung out there for a little bit, and then she stopped at the Fleet Farm close to his house. At first she left me in the car. I watched as she walked to the store, and then she stopped, turned around and came back. She asked me if I wanted to go in with her. Well, heck yeah!

She snapped the lead onto my Freddie Mercury harness (not really, but that's what Dad calls it), and I trotted - proud as you please - into the store. When we got to the automatic doors, I saw a sign that said "Dogs Welcome". Isn't that cool? Mom lifted me up into a cart and away we went. Everybody thought I was "so cute", and a young boy even came over and asked if he could pet me. Of course he could! I even stood up on the edge of the cart to make it easier for him (and his mom) to say "hi" to me. It was worth the trip in just to see their smilin' faces.

After we left there, we headed back toward home. Mom took a short detour so we could stop at the quilt store to pick up backin' fabric for that quilt she's been workin' on. She wasn't long, and before I could even catch a couple winks, we were movin' south again.

When we got back to Fond du Lac, Mom grabbed a little fast food for us. She ate her part, and then shared a few schnibbles with me. I mean, could an outin' be any more fun than that? I don't think so! 

Last stop was at this really cool garden plot that this lady owns. She sells all kinds of veggies, and Mom bought a box of tomatoes from her. The car smelled like 'em the whole way home. It was awesome, and I don't even like tomatoes!

I wish I had lots of pictures to share with you, but really, just take my word for it that we had a great time, and I can't wait to do it again. I'm pretty sure it won't be long before I can sit in the navigator's seat next to my favorite pilot. No cats allowed!

I'll see you again in seven. 'til then... 

"Been There, Chewed That!"

Last Batch of Relish For 2022...

I canned the last batch of Zucchini Pepper Relish for this season. There are thirty three pint jars in the pantry cupboard now. I know that seems like a LOT of relish, but around here, this is comparable to legal tender. Friends and family love it! 

I still have four zucchini that will be used for meals. I'll either stuff them or slice and deep fry what's left. Either way, they'll be enjoyed and appreciated, too.

This week, I'll start work on my cardinal wall hanging, Winter Song. I'll be sharing my setup, and then show you my progress along the way. It's going to be a busy week, with Handsome's music season here in Wisconsin wrapping up on Wednesday night. Carly has vet appointments to get her eye certification (other tests soon), so that she can be bred; and baking bread is also on the agenda, but I'm going to be working on this embroidery for the next good while.

So, I guess this morning, it's off to the races. Coffee and breakfast, and then I'm going to get busy! Tag will be here tomorrow, and I'll share what I accomplished when I'm back on Wednesday. See you then!

Sunday Scripture...

1 John 2:17

 

Rest Well, Bob. You'll be missed.

By Jove, I Think I've Got It!...

I really accomplished a lot yesterday. I spent the entire day in the kitchen, and it was heaven for this happy homemaker. 

I tackled the twenty plus pounds of tomatoes first. I blanched the first batch to remove the skins, cored them, and then crushed them to raw pack in jars. Seven quarts of beautiful, red goodness in no time.

I decided to make stewed tomatoes with the rest. I got two full quarts with tomato, green peppers, celery, and onion. The other two quarts were more juice, but there is pulp in them, too. I'll use those for chili, and they'll be delicious.

I didn't want the day to end without processing chicken breasts. I had ten pounds of breasts, which I cut into 2" cubes, per the recipe. I raw packed the meat into hot pint jars, and they took and hour and fifteen minutes to process at 11 pounds of pressure. They finished processing just as Handsome came in the back door with takeout Friday fish dinners for us. The canner depressurized while we ate, and then I could remove the jars to photograph them for you. 

I'm so tickled to be able to say I'm a pressure canner now. There are so many foods I'll be able to process now that I couldn't with the water bath. I actually used my electric water bath canner today to keep my jars warm. I'll continue to use it for many things, but this pressure canner is going to get a real workout! Hear me roar! lol (Well, maybe just meow.)

Not Bad At All...

I did it! I jumped right in yesterday, and put up twenty two ears of sweet corn. As I was shucking the corn in the morning, I tasted some of the corn that I was breaking off. It was so sweet, I served two ears with our lunch. The rest were processed for the pressure canner.

I read and reread the instructions, and then read them once more. I set everything up exactly as advised, and then read what I would need to do when the fifty five minute processing time was up. 

There were no incidents whatsoever! No damaged ceilings. No blown lids. No minor (or major) explosions. It was actually the easiest thing ever.  

I waited for the canner to vent all the pressure on its own. I certainly didn't want to try to rush the process and ruin my hard work. I watched television with a cup of tea, actually. When I went back to check an hour later, the gauge was back to "zero", and the little pressure popup "thingy" was back down. I slowly turned the lid to unlock it, and there were my nine beautiful jars of shelf-stable, canned corn waiting for me.

I am so glad I faced my fears, challenged myself to push forward, and having so much deliciousness to show for it. I'm quite chuffed, actually. Today, I'm going to do tomatoes. No luck needed. I think I've got this.

I've Been Everywhere, Man...

Can you believe I have not one single photograph of any part of my day yesterday? I spent most of my day behind the wheel of my Explorer, running errands hither and yon. Tag was my wingman. 

Together we traveled from home an hour and a half northwest to my brother's home to pick up tomatoes he'd grown; stopped at a farm local to him to purchase sweet corn (only $5/dozen!); went to the Fleet Farm store; stopped at Primitive Gatherings to pick up backing for my Everlasting quilt; made a fuel stop closer to home; and picked up more tomatoes just up the road from our farmhouse. whew!

By the time I got back home, I had an hour and a half to rest a bit, change clothes, and drive back to town to chair a meeting of our 50th (high school) Class Reunion planning committee. I ordered dinner from the restaurant where we were meeting and took it home afterward. I decided that cooking dinner was definitely not on my agenda.

I went to Primitive Gatherings to choose backing fabric for my quilt to match the outer border (darkest fabric above) of the Everlasting quilt. I'll use the same flannel fabric for the binding when it's all finished and returned to me.

When I stopped at my brother's, he pulled out a pressure canner he hadn't been using and gifted it to me. It needed the pressure weight (jiggler), so I went to Fleet Farm to see if they had a replacement. They didn't, but they did have the exact same pressure canner I had on order from Amazon for $30 less! So, yes I bought the one at Fleet Farm, and as soon as I got back in the Explorer, I cancelled the online order. I'll order the replacement piece online.

Tag rode in the cart at Fleet Farm, and got all kinds of attention. He took it all in stride, and was grateful for the extra pets and giggles. ("Look! It's a Corgi!") I have to smile just thinking about it.

I was pretty well gassed by the end of the evening, went to bed early, and slept like a log. Today, I'll be putting up tomatoes. I'll let you know tomorrow whether I used the water bath canner, or if I decided to dive in and use the pressure canner. I'm going to mull it over a cup of coffee and breakfast. 

That Was Quick!...

My pressure canning cookbook arrived in the mail yesterday. I've already started reading it, and can say that Diane Devereaux offers a wealth of information between the covers. 

She begins with the history of canning, explains the difference (not only in the obvious, but also in processing times, ingredients, and safety features) between water bath canning and pressure canning. There are two recipes she suggests novices try to get "fluent" in the use of the pressure canner, and then many more involved recipes for later.

The two practice recipes are for green beans, and for chicken breasts. Once pressure canned the chicken breasts are ready to add to any recipe, and she offers more than a few ideas for that, too. As I really want to be able to can meats so they're shelf stable, I'll be purchasing chicken in bulk as soon as the pressure canner arrives. (Amazon hasn't shipped it yet, but says it will be here on or before September 12th. I have plenty to do in the meantime.

I'm driving to my brother's today to pick up some of the tomatoes he's grown. I'm also going to augment them with another twenty pounds I located on FB Marketplace, so I can do a large batch. When I go back to pick up the rest of his, I'll take jars of stewed tomatoes to him as we agreed to split the harvest. 

He and I both love beets. Handsome isn't a big fan, so I'll share a few jars with my brother. I'm also going to surprise him with zucchini relish, which I'm sure he's going to love. (Actually, I haven't met anyone yet who doesn't!)

So, I'm off to eat breakfast and have some coffee before I get in the car and drive to my brother's. It's going to be a busy day! Oh, and in case you're interested in the cookbook, I bought mine in hardcover from Amazon. I paid just over $13 for it. They also have a spiral bound version for around $17. 

Adding my disclaimer: I have been in no way compensated (unfortunately) for sharing this cookbook with you. I've paid for it just as you would. My reviews are strictly my own.

See you tomorrow!

Tuesdays With Tag - Sittin' On Top Of The World...

 

Hi, Everybody!

I want you to see somethin'. She looks like she hasn't got a care in the world. Well, truth be told, she really hasn't. I mean, Mom makes sure she and her daughter have all the creature comforts. 

They sleep on two wicker chairs on the front porch. Mom even foofed the chairs up with blankets! Then, there are the twice-a-day feedin's, and fresh water every day. No wonder they hang around.

But when the sun moves across the sky, headin' toward a western sunset, the light is perfect for a good, ol' catnap on the pillar. She just hangs her paws over the edge and snoozes away. (Can you see her cute, little black jelly bean paw pads? awwwww)

She'll stay there no matter who comes out onto the porch. Dogs or people don't disturb her one bit. It's kinda cute, actually. She always gets a head rub and a smooch from Mom. sigh Don't worry. I'm not jealous. Mom does that to me, too. ick!

Weather has cooled off here, and I'm pretty sure I smell a change in the air. The geese are startin' to gather, and even the sandhill cranes that occupy nearby fields are startin' to get scarce. I don't even want to think about what's nearly around the corner. We have lots to do to prepare before then. 

We'll be makin' sure there are nice, warm accommodations for the girls before the weather gets cold again. Mom will cleanin' the pottin' shed and movin' winter beds in there so we'll be ready when they're needed.

For now, we're all gonna enjoy every bit of warm sunshine we can get. Claudette is a great example of how we should take time to stop and relax a bit. I think I might be gettin' sleepy now. I'll ask Mom to let me hang out on the porch. I could get used to sunshine snoozin', too!

I'll see you again in seven. 'til then... 

"Been There, Chewed That!"

Are You Ready For Another Story?...

If you've been around here for a while, you may remember the story I told about my Committee. If you're newer than 2017 to my blog, or if you've forgotten, HERE is the link to my first story on the subject.

Before I begin my new story, I want to tell you that I reread that original post, and all the comments that followed. At the time, I didn't know how to set up my posts to be able to reply. As I can now do that, I may take some time to go back and thank everyone who responded to it. I seemed to have touched a common theme with my friends back then, and I'd like to honor their messages to me. So, if you commented on that post, don't be surprised to finally receive a response to it.

So, back to the Committee. My mum had a pressure cooker when I was a child. Apparently, she wasn't as knowledgable as she needed to be, or perhaps she just made a mistake, but one day when she was using it, she blew the top off that cooker. From then on, I never heard anything except how dangerous they were. 

As a result, even though I've owned two used pressure cookers, I never used them, and I've either sold or given them away out of fear. My Committee kept reminding me that a cooker would blow up and they were too dangerous to use.

But, here's the thing. When you have something you want to accomplish really badly, you can overcome a fear. You can overcome the Committee and those (sometimes unfounded) voices in your head. I'm afraid of heights. I don't know how that came about, but I know it to be true. When we first moved to the farmhouse, I purchased a beautiful, big metal compass. I really wanted to put the compass in the peak of the (now) Compass Barn. So, I asked Shelly to hold the ladder, and I climbed. I beat my acrophobia and hung my compass. I came down the ladder with shakey knees, but I'd done it. Why couldn't I do the same with a pressure cooker?

Actually, I want a pressure canner. I want to be able to preserve foods without having to sweeten or pickle them. I want to safely and stably preserve meats and things like squash or potatoes. If the freezer goes out again, or we lose power, we'll still have food that won't have to be refrigerated to be safe to eat.

I had a talk with Handsome, and I metaphorically climbed another ladder. I figured if I buy a brand new pressure canner, all the parts will be new, ready to use, and safe. What did he think? (Remember, he's watched me buy and sell two before.) He responded that if I were committed to following through this time, I should go ahead and purchase one.

I searched for the best price on a nice-sized pressure canner, and ordered it over the weekend. In addition, I also purchased this guide to pressure canning so I'll have good information and more than a few recipes to safely use my new purchase. The book will be here this week, and the canner will be here soon after.

I'll also be watching a few YouTube videos, and check to see if Presto has a site with more information and tutorials. I have to say I'm really excited about this. I'm going to turn my fear into butterflies, and really, who doesn't love butterflies? I can do this. Right? I'm sure going to find out - and I promise to let you know how it goes.

Sunday Scripture...

Psalm 5:11 via Heartlight.com

 

Let There Be Light...

It may seem like a small thing, but when we're working at these counters at night, the main kitchen light is above and behind us. It casts a shadow onto the counters. So, I originally placed a table lamp on the counter which worked for a while. I decided the lamp took up valuable counter real estate, so I went online to find an alternative.

I didn't want to have to call an electrician (yet), so I looked for a wall mounted lamp with a switch. This is what I found and I put it up yesterday. The cow head has been there for years now, so I didn't want to move it, but once it got dark, Handsome thought the lamp did a great job of lighting up that ceramic head, and he isn't sure he's a fan of that.

The good news is that the lamp shade is nearly 11" in diameter, so it casts wonderful light past the cow head and onto the counters. I personally like the location of the cow, so I'm lobbying for it to stay there.

I will remove one screw on the cow head so I can move the lamp cord behind it. You had to know that the off-center placement was going to bother me. lol  I still have to put a back on the cabinet on the right, and paint it, too, but I've been busy with other things so far this summer. Perhaps in the fall I'll tackle that project. Of course, there's always winter, right? For now I'm going to enjoy the extra lighting (and counter space) and my DIY skills. I'll think about painting another day.

I'm Still At It...

This is something I need to remind myself. I've been pulling, purging and packing. I'm not there yet, but I'm working on it. There will be a lot leaving by the end of this month. How are you doing?

Winter Song Fabrics...

I've selected the fabrics I'll use for my cardinal piece. I've already chosen the name for it..."Winter Song".  Next, I'll choose the threads I'll be using, and begin setting up the fabric I'll be using for the embroidered block. This is going to be so much fun!