My Views Yesterday...

I was making great progress, as I sat in my favorite stitching spot. This wing part will be completed soon.

I take frequent "stretch" breaks for the benefit of my legs, back, and hands. Sometimes I get up and make a cuppa tea (or grab a snack), and other times, I stretch in place and check to see what's going on outside our dining room windows.

Yesterday, I was looking out the window more frequently because we had storms rolling through and it got really windy and rainy. I noticed movement in one of the dark tracks you can see in the field. At first I thought I was seeing deer because of white tail flashes. I was wrong.

Handsome grabbed our binoculars and we realized I'd been watching two foxes playing with each other. Even as it started to rain, they continued running up and down the right side, chasing each other. It was adorable! 

Coincidentally, I'd also seen gophers running around in our yard, and had really just been wishing we had foxes.

I hope they're denning nearby, because those gophers are digging holes in our yard. You can just imagine how that could harm Bella or Carly if they stepped in a hole while running around. They could do catastrophic damage to a leg or foot.

I think these critters might be the perfect meals for the foxes, and a much better alternative to us trying to get rid of them (the gophers, not the foxes). I think we need to put up a sign saying, "Foxes Welcome". In the meantime, I hope they'll continue to hang out nearby!

Good and Plenty...

 

It was a very productive day yesterday! I canned Breakfast in a Jar (BIAJ), as well as ingredients to make a favorite sandwich (Emeril's Kicked Up Stuffed Garlic Bread), the venison that started all this, and finally, onions, and small jars of onion/green/red peppers for future use.

I'm disappointed that my quart jars of raw peppers, onions, and Italian sausage reduced to only half-full after they were processed. They were crammed full beforehand. They've all sealed, so I know they're safe, but I'll need to do something different next time. 

All in all, there are 3 quarts of Emeril's Garlic Bread Filling, 4 quarts plus 2 pints of BIAJ, 3 pints of sliced onions, and five small jars of onion/pepper mix. Everything sealed already, so I'll remove the rings, wash my jars, and place them on the pantry shelves. 

Today will definitely be a stitching day. I need a rest.

Breakfast In A Jar...

These are most of the ingredients for my current canning project. I also have bulk Italian sausage that will be browned and added to each jar. I'm making quarts of Breakfast in a Jar from My Basic Homestead on Instagram. I've been following her for a while and really like her recipes.

This is the recipe I'm using (in case you'd like to try it yourself), but I'm omitting the eggs. I'd rather add fresh eggs later when I prepare the jar contents for a meal.

I know that it doesn't take long to make this meal any day of the week, but I don't always have all the ingredients on hand. This way I can be assured of a tasty breakfast or brunch anytime, just by pulling a jar off the shelf.

I'll process these jars  along with the venison pints I prepared on Monday. They'll time out the same in the canner.

It got into the 80s yesterday, so I didn't want to heat up our non-air conditioned farmhouse. I'll do this early today before the temperature rises today, and will have them out of the canner by mid-morning. First my morning cuppa, and then I'll tie on my apron and get busy. See you tomorrow!

 

Enjoying Life...

 

I'd love to think this could be me, but who am I kidding? In case you're curious, yesterday morning began with me in the kitchen making two dozen homemade stuffed oreos to take to the physical therapy staff. (They were a huge hit, too!)

When I opened the little fridge to put the dough in to chill for an hour, I saw the venison loin I put in there to thaw on Saturday...and completely forgot. Soooo, once the dough was in the fridge, I had at least an hour to deal with the venison.

I sliced it into medallions and then browned it with onions and placed them in jars. I didn't have time to run the canner before PT, but I wouldn't have lit up the canner for three pints. I put the lids and rings on them and put them in the fridge until I can properly can them after work today.

After PT, I ran to the grocery store. I needed a few things for something else I'm going to can so the pressure canner gets filled. I'll tell you about it tomorrow. 

Instead, I made a batch of cinnamon rolls last night. Two 2-packs are going to my coworkers, another 2-pack to Andy and Shelly, and a 2-pack for Handsome and me. It was a good day (and night).

I work until 4:30 today, and then I'm going to do my batch of canning. I can't wait to tell you what I'm making to fill up my pressure canner! See you tomorrow.

Oh, and maybe this image will be my life next year. For now, busy suits me just fine. 

Working On Wing Part Three...

Even though my orange silk thread arrived, I need to work my way up to those areas first. I made great progress when I worked on my third wing part over the weekend, and am expecting to complete it soon.

I have PT mid-afternoon today, so I'm baking cinnamon rolls to take with me for the therapy department personnel. I'm hoping to do more needle dancing when I get back home.

I also work tomorrow, and I'll be doing more canning in a few days, so I'm looking forward to a fun-filled, productive week. Come along, and I'll happily share it all with you!

Sunday Scripture...

Matthew 6:26

Yes, You!...

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I'm Back In Business...

My order arrived right on time, so I'll be able to continue work on my Monarch butterfly.

The best part is that there was no discernible difference in color. Great news considering I purchased my threads in 2019!

I've been taking it easy the past couple days because my shoulder and arm have been giving me grief. That's why I've been going to physical therapy. We've determined nothing is torn - and thankfully, my shoulder joint looks great in the xrays - but some days it still hurts like the dickens, and no medicines help. So, on those days, I rest. 

The strangest thing is that it never hurt the days I was busy canning, or the day after, so the amount of activity isn't necessarily the culprit. Yesterday was a good day again, so needle dancing won't be an issue, and neither will work for a few hours tonight.

No time to feel sorry for myself. Now that my thread arrived, it's time to get busy again! Happy Weekend!

 

Fall In Love With Your Life...

For me it's time with Handsome, family and friends, our pets, needlework, sewing, and preparing the goodness that comes out of our farmhouse kitchen. Plus, a hot cup of tea. Yes, definitely a hot cup of tea.

Elisabetta's New Book...

I recently found out that Elisabetta Sforga has a new book, "Bouquet Letters". I have her two earlier books, and this one looks to be equally inspiring.  I may need to add it to my needlework library.

I learned about it from Mary Corbet's weekly newsletter. It will be available on her website (HERE) as soon as her order clears customs. I'll be watching for it!  

 

A Great Day To Can...

Chicken Stew

I managed to get quite a bit done yesterday! First up was a batch of chicken stew. 

In the past, a quart jar always had leftovers, so when I found pint and a half jars from Azure Standard, I had to get some. These are the perfect size for hearty meals for two. I'll definitely use them again. Also, I started the day with nine pounds of chicken breasts to fill all these jars.

My chicken stew includes cut up chicken breast meat, Yukon gold potatoes, frozen mixed vegetables (carrots, corn, green beans, and peas), and onions. 

Now there are six jars of stewed goodness on the shelf. All I need to do is add baked French rolls or buttermilk biscuits for a quick, easy, and healthy meal.

Cubed Chicken and Chicken Fajita 

Next was to cut up the rest of the chicken we bought for two pints of cubed chicken, and six pints of chicken fajita meat.  

I started by putting the taco seasoning in the bottom of each jar, followed by chopped green chilies, cut up chicken, and topped with roasted red peppers. 

Canned Yellow Onions

Last on my list was to chop up four beautiful, huge yellow onions I bought on my last trip to the grocery store.

For these, I used eight ounce jars, which are just right for opening and adding to any meal prep. They're almost like caramelized onions. 

It's my first time canning them, and I can't wait to try them soon. I went to bed "happy tired" having created all this goodness for the pantry. I have more to can later this week. More about that later, though, as I'm out the door to work today.

I'll Be Canning Today...

 

Good news is that I've completed half my butterfly wing parts. Bad news is that the two orange threads on the card are all I have left until my reorder arrives.

I could certainly begin stitching the next to wing parts with the other colors I'm using, but I'm going to do some canning today instead.

I'm going to pressure can chicken vegetable soup, chicken fajita meat, plain chicken, and canned onions. I can accomplish all that sooner than stitching, for sure. I'll show you tomorrow.

Happy June, Everyone!