Sunday Scripture...

Isaiah 40:8

 

Saturday Silliness...

 

Isn't She Lovely?...

I completed this Bridal Brooch, and received an order today for another for a wedding in early October!  My client wants me to make another just like this one, and I'm honored to be able to create one for her.

This one will be lovingly packaged to gift to Jenna on Monday when I have my physical therapy session, and I'll take a short video when I package it to add to my current Etsy listing.

I'll begin work on the second brooch this morning, but I'm going to pamper my knee, too. I'm finally going to work at the station this evening to see how I can tolerate being on my feet for four hours. I know I can do it, because I've been busy canning and baking, but I want to be able to properly function at work, so this will be a good chance to see how I do.

Great Friends & Good Food...

Back Row: Bruce P., Deb B., Julie F., Mary S., Lisa B. and Dan N. Front Row: Donna L., Brad S., and Deb N.

It was so nice to get into my Explorer, drive to town, and spend a few hours with old friends.We caught up on all the news I've been missing, and they all asked about my surgery and how I was doing. We all have our aches and pains to share, so it was almost like going around the table to each person could share their current malady. Thankfully, we all have more fun things to talk about, too, and our conversations quickly turned to more interesting topics. It really was good to see them again after missing two monthly dinners. 

We set the date for our next dinner date, hugged and said our goodbyes, and were on our way home by 5 pm. (I know. That sounds so funny to me, too.) I brought home most of my dinner, and a meal for Handsome, so we sat down together, too after I got back.

I completed my stitching on the brooch early in the afternoon, so I'll do the finishing work on it today. My plan is to present it to Jenna tomorrow. I'll take photos, and a short video to share so you can see it. See you tomorrow!

Twinkle, Twinkle...

I got right to work yesterday morning after my cuppa, and only took breaks to stretch my legs from time to time. I wanted to make sure my knee wouldn't lock up by moving around. This part of my project is about four hours' work, adding silver brilliant check purls after I placed all the blue seed beads.

I love how it's looking, and will have the needlework completed today. I may not do the finishing work until tomorrow, as our classmate luncheon is this afternoon, and I don't want to miss seeing my friends again. 

It feels so good to be out from under the medications I was taking, and even better to be sitting back at my needlework frame. My knee gets tender from the sitting, so those breaks are really necessary. I finished my day with the ice machine and Tylenol, but it was so worth it to be able to stitch for a while.

I'll be back tomorrow with our group photograph from dinner. Nothing like a little "friends therapy" to brighten the day. 

Time To Finish This...

Something Blue Bridal Heart Brooch - WIP

I found out yesterday that I'll only have to do once-a-week physical therapy until I'm finished. I'm scheduled out through mid-October, but I'm going to assume I'll be released before then. With that in mind, I'm going to need to complete this brooch for Jenna. 

She's getting married this time in 2026, but just in case I don't get to see her again (she transfers, or something along that line) before I have my second knee replaced, I want to make sure she has this gift for her special day. 

I won't see her again until next Monday, so I'd like to have it completed by then to be able to gift it to her. So, this is what I'll be working on the rest of this week. Finally!!

Ready For The New Week...

Sunday Canning

Sunday began with a resolve to get a little canning and more laundry done. Handsome helped carry and move things for me which really lightened the load. Last week we bought a bushel of beautiful McIntosh apples from the local orchard for applesauce, pie filling and fresh pies. Neighbors Pete and Dawn also shared a box of tomatoes that needed attention, so Sunday was the day!

Handsome brought in one of our Nesco™ roasters and we cut up the apples together. We loaded the quartered apples into the roaster to cook down for a couple hours. We also cut up Roma tomatoes, added onions, garlic, and avocado oil and popped those into the oven to roast.

I peeled, cored, and chopped a number of apples to make pie filling so I could make some hand pies later today. I planned everything to stagger filling the jars, and I processed the pizza sauce in the stovetop canner while the applesauce went into my Kilner™ pot after milling out all the seeds and skins from the roasted apples. Those filled jars went onto the porch where I had my electric canner set up to process them.

When all was said and done, we had eight half pint jars of roasted tomato pizza sauce, one and a half pints of pie filling, and eight quarts of applesauce. We still have a half bushel of apples left to make more pie filling to can, and fresh pies...and more tomatoes that I may make into tomato basil soup.

Clean Kitchen

Handsome and I both tackled the myriad pots and pans, tools, and canning supplies that needed to be washed. I also reorganized the jars, lids, etc. for the next session this week. By the end of the day, our kitchen was back to normal...

Clean Pantry

and so was the pantry. I still have canning jars in the box on the counter, but I'll be using those soon, so there was no reason to put them away for now. I'd just have to haul them up from the basement again.  

We had a light dinner, and then decided to turn in early (for us). I have a therapy session this morning, and my knee (which I treated well through the weekend) is all ready for it. Afterward, I'm planning to take it easy. No canning today.

Sunday Scripture...

1 Peter 5:8

 

A Day Off...

Old Friends and Dogs

Sorry I didn't tell you ahead of time, but I needed to take a day off. It was a crazy week, and then I had PT first thing yesterday morning. I just needed to catch my breath a bit.

All week, I felt like I'd gone backward with my therapy, so I spent a little time on self-care. I was icing, trying to get back some of the mobility, and feeling like it wasn't working. 

I did a little baking, as I planned to deliver homemade cinnamon rolls to the entire therapy department on Friday. They were all tickled, especially since my morning appointment coincided with breaks and imminent lunch hours. Before I left, even Jenna managed to get a bite of hers before heading to her next patient. I got lots of thumbs-up! It was very gratifying. I also regained some motion during my session, so I left a happy girl.

Our friend - the now-retired dog trainer, Mike - along with his friend, Ed and Handsome all took Bella to a hunt club we used to frequent before moving to Florida. As this cooler weather always lights up the older dogs (who remember autumn days afield) we decided to give Bella a day flushing pheasants. 

She worked just the way she learned as a young dog. She worked back and forth across a field, ranging a nice distance between the gunners. She flushed a rooster pheasant but never got to retrieve it. Let's just say, the first bird flushed frequently gets away. Then the hen that had also been planted must have moved off the field they were working, because if she'd stayed put, Bella certainly would have found her.

I stayed home with Carly (PT appointment, remember?), but that little girl was not happy to have been left behind. She knew what was going on and wanted to go, too. This hunt was just for Bella, though. Handsome and I discussed it when we all got back home, and we'll definitely take both girls out once fall is officially in full swing. Even yesterday, being down at Bella's level in tall grass was a hot endeavor, and she worked until she finally just sat down and said enough. After all these years, we recognize when the dog is tired, hot, or just ready to pack it in. We always honor that because, first and foremost, our days afield center around being able to watch stellar dogs at work. Friday was no exception.

After they got back, Handsome called me. I was already on my way home, but we had a lunch date with Mike, his wife, and Ed. Handsome and I changed clothes and met the rest of the group back at Mike and Joann's condo. We spent a few hours just enjoying a meal together and doing some reminiscing about the old days. It was just what I needed. 

I have a little canning to do this weekend, and I'm planning to do a little more needlework. I have no intention of overdoing it at all. I'm going to take it easy. I'll share photos next week. Have a great Saturday!

9/11 and Charlie Kirk...

 

Trying To Stitch Today...

I woke up to a swollen knee yesterday. I contacted Jenna and the surgeon's office right away. We determined it's probably from increased strength training and not infection or something else nasty. 

Both suggested more ice, elevating and resting it, and just taking things easy. So I did. 

We met up with Florida friends (and Bella, Carly - and Tag's favorite trainer) Mike Sommers and his wife, who have a condo up here. We visited and then went out for dinner, which was the most exertion I did all day. 

Today, I'm going to sit at my frame and stitch for a while. We'll see how it goes. More tomorrow. 

Positive Thoughts...

Monday was a very good day. It began with a physical therapy session. When Jenna asked how I was feeling, I told her I may have overdone it a bit over the weekend. I told her I was on my feet, on and off, for about six hours baking on Sunday and that my knee was a bit "tight". We started on the stationary bike and I was surprised by how much things loosened up so quickly.

As we visited during the hour I was there, I told her that we'd purchased a lovely watermelon from our local farm stand, and once I'd cut it into chunks, Handsome and I walked down the yard to "the habitat" to leave the rinds for the critters. I told her I used a walking staff that we have because the yard is uneven and I wanted to be careful on the walk down and back up the hill to the house. She said, "You were walking on uneven ground? Well, that might cause your knee to be a bit sore today, too."

We were about halfway through the appointment when she asked what I had planned for the rest of the day. I told her that I'd be contacting a service about dealing with the hornets/wasps/yellowjackets (or whatever they are) that are moving into the soffit of our farmhouse. I said I only knew they weren't honey bees, but that I'd dragged out a ten-foot ladder so I could get a better photograph of them to try to get an identity online. I said I'd climbed up to about the second from the last rung, stretched out to take pictures as they flew around me, and then climbed down and put the ladder back in the pole barn before going in the house. She said, "So, you were climbing a ladder, too?!" while giving me a smile and a look. I broke out laughing. I knew what she was getting at, but she said, "You're wondering why your knee is angry with you right now?" Then, she laughed, too, and asked if it was okay for her to tell the other therapists about me over their lunch hour. Of course, I told her it was fine with me.

We agreed before I left that I would stop being quite so bold at this point. I still have healing and rehab to do, and she would appreciate it if I didn't make things more difficult for myself by being so bullheaded. I promised.

A few hours later, I met with the surgeon who was extremely happy with my progress. I told him the story and he laughed, but agreed with Jenna. Try not to overdo at this point and my recuperation will be easier. He was just glad I hadn't been stung and fallen off the ladder. I promised I wouldn't do that again, and he told me to come back in six weeks for another consult.

As I said, yesterday was a very good day. I rested the remainder of the afternoon, and did a little more ice therapy before the day was over. Bonus for me was to read your wonderful comments yesterday. I felt one thousand percent better. You're the best! 

Today I stitch!

Seven Weeks Post-Op...

Honestly, I keep trying to do something creative...anything. I don't know if it's the meds, healing, or just laziness, but I can't seem to focus on needle and thread right now. If you know me, either in person or through my posts, you know this isn't like me at all.

So, I hope you'll indulge me while I attempt to figure this out. I'm able to do needed things like baking bread, or canning fresh local produce while it's available, but I keep trying to get back to what my heart knows I love; my mind knows I love; but my body is just holding me back right now.

Any suggestions would really be appreciated. I've stopped all the painkillers, thinking they might be the culprit, and I'm adding more fresh fruits and vegetables to our menu. I'm open to any and all ideas.

Sunday Scripture...

Matthew 14:22-33

 

Saturday Silliness...

Relish Accomplished...

It was a busy day yesterday. I canned fifteen one-pint jars of Zucchini Pepper Relish. This entails using my food processor to grate the zucchini and onions, and then chop the requisite amount of green peppers for the mixture. From start to finish, I was on my feet for about 6 hours, and by the time I was finished, I was gassed!

***PLEASE NOTE: I updated the recipe I shared yesterday because I realized I'd missed the mustard seed. Sorry.

 

I left these on the counter overnight, so I'll remove rings, clean the outside of the jars and label them today, before adding them to the pantry. 

I have PT this morning, but before we go home, Handsome and I will pick up some local apples so we can make his favorite applesauce. I think we'll also stop for one of the watermelons and a few more tomatoes from our go-to farm stand. I really want to make some tomato basil soup for something fresh and hearty this winter. I'll also be making more bread this weekend, so I'll have my hands full.

 

Updating you on the puffin spoolie you've yet to see. That beak is harder than I thought it would be...even though I knew it wouldn't be a cake walk. I'm still working on that, so when I figure it out, I'll proceed to finish that project. The body is spot on, by the way, so I'm happy about that. I'm sure I'll get this one done, it's just taking a little longer. sigh

Zucchini Pepper Relish Recipe...

I was recently asked to share the recipe I use for the Zucchini Pepper Relish that's such a huge hit around here. This recipe is so good that it has great barter power! We eat it on the usual hamburgers, hot dogs, Italian sausage, brats, etc., but we also love it as a side for cheese, sausage and crackers.

Here's the recipe. If you decide to make it, be sure to let me know what you think!

Zucchini Pepper Relish

Makes 5 (one pint) jars

• 6 cups/890 grams chopped green bell peppers (about 8 whole peppers)
• 8 cups grated zucchini (about 3 pounds zucchini)
• 8 1/2 cups grated onion (about 2 large onions)
• 4 cups/960 ml apple cider vinegar, divided
• 2 cups/400 g granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons sea salt
• 2 tablespoons mustard seed
• 1 teaspoon celery seed
• 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Prepare a boiling water bath and 5 regular mouth (1 pint/500 ml) jars for water bath canning. Place the lids in a small saucepan, cover them with water, and simmer over very low heat.

Combine the chopped bell pepper, zucchini, and onion in a large, nonreactive pot. Stir in 2 cups of the apple cider vinegar and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer until the vegetables have cooked down, about 30 minutes.

Drain the vegetables and return to the pot. Add the remaining apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, mustard seed, celery seed, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.

Ladle the relish into the prepared jars, leaving 1/2 inch/12 mm of headspace. Gently tap the jars on a towel-lined countertop to help loosen any bubbles before using a wooden chopstick to dislodge any remaining bubbles. Wipe the rims, apply the lids and rings, and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.

** I turn off the canner and remove the cover once the time is up, to allow the jars to cool a little while in the canner to avoid the hot contents from siphoning out of the jars. Once the water has cooled a bit, remove the jars from the canner. Wait 24 hours and remove the rings. Make sure the lid has sealed. If not, you can reprocess with new lids within 24 hours, or keep in refrigerator until ready to use. Clean the jars and lids with white vinegar, label and store.

Enjoy!

Playing With Wool...

Handsome thinks I should make another spoolie, so I've pulled out my supplies and will attempt a wee puffin today. I've pulled wool colors and will work on the pattern pieces to see if I can get the shapes right. I saw the cutest image of a puffin standing on one leg, so I'm going to attempt to recreate that. We'll see.

We're running a couple errands first thing this morning, and then I'm going to sit down with my wools to see if I can pull this one off. I hope so. I do love these quirky, little birds.

A Fun Weekend...

The Birthday Girl

I had a great weekend! Did I do any canning? Nope. Did I do any stitching? Again, nope. I did, however, attend a Birthday party for a certain six year old great niece. 

I'm not cleared to drive yet, so Handsome manned the wheel to drop me off at the party. Once there, I met up with my sister, Jan, and we enjoyed our family until it was time to leave. We had made arrangements before I got there that she would drive me back home, in spite of the fact that she lives about a half hour in the opposite direction from the party. We chatted and visited all the way home, and then she turned around and went back north.

I was extremely grateful that she made it possible for me to attend the party, and spend a little time with family.

I hardly saw the kiddos, as their Mom and Dad had installed a bounce house and swimming pool in the back yard. I only saw the Birthday girl when she came in to eat dinner and blow out the candles on her cake. Her sister and brother never did come in while I was there! They were having waaaaay too much fun.

Eldest and Youngest

Yesterday, I heard from my little brother. He was going to be in the area (he lives about an hour and a half away), so he came to spend a little time with his eldest sibling. We don't get to see much of each other, so Handsome and I really enjoyed his visit.

Beyond that, I spent time resting, doing my pt exercises, taking an occasional nap, and spending time with my dear husband. Canning and needlework will be there all week, and I'll certainly get all my work done, but it was a holiday weekend, so I went on break. I'm glad I did, too.

I hope everyone had a restful or equally fun time with family and/or friends. Sometimes we just need to kick out of gear and enjoy our wonderful lives. That's exactly what I did. See you tomorrow.

Oh, and Happy September!

Happy Labor Day...

Rosie The Riveter