My (Our) Girl(s)...

Handsome took the ladies out for their morning run on Sunday, and after they were sufficiently exercised, he came in to get me.

He said that with our yard full of Queen Anne's lace and clover, I should get a few pictures of the girls posing amid the flowers.

As his mom (my dear mother-in-law) called these tongues hanging out, that's a lot of "boiled ham". Frankly, I don't blame them. It was dang hot on Sunday.

I think I got a pretty good shot of them - Bella on the left, and Carly on the right.

Yesterday started out pretty muggy, but we were expecting rain and cooler weather. What we didn't expect were severe weather warnings, torrential rains and high winds. We came through it with only one big branch out of the huge, old maple in our front yard. 

After the storm passed, the temperature had dropped 10-15°, the sun came out, and we had a beautiful breeze to cool everything down. We turned off our floor a/c unit and opened all the windows.

Further north wasn't so fortunate. Menasha, Wisconsin suffered the worst of it. There a citywide proclamation to stay off the streets (and more) from 10 pm - 5 am, except for emergency crews. The city has been devastated, with complete neighborhoods wiped out by what the weather service thinks was an F2 tornado (winds up to 135 mph). The videos and images I've seen are alarming and heartbreaking.

Folks caught on the highway during the storm had losses, too. Semis were pushed across lanes, causing awful accidents, and sections of highway have been closed down. 

My sister, Jan and niece, Stephanie live in towns on either side of Menasha and my nephew, Ethan and his family are a bit further south. I got in touch the both ladies, and E's mom (Stephanie) updated me on him and his family, too. Other than mild tree damage, they're all okay.

Please pray for the people who have suffered losses great and small. It's going to take Menasha and the surrounding areas more than a minute to recover. 

Like A Disney Movie...

The "wildest" things happen if you pay attention. Around 8:30 last night, I was walking through the dining room to the kitchen when some movement outside caught my eye. There was a doe eating windfall apples under our old tree!

I took about a half dozen photos of her, but in this one, she had noticed something, too. 

Ambling across the driveway was a raccoon! It was heading right toward the apple tree.

Lucky me. I watched and waited long enough to get one image of both of them before they parted ways. Both moved into the tall grass as it started to get dark. I swear the first thing I thought of was that this looked like something out of a Disney movie! What do you think?

Baking On A Rainy Day...

As I write this, there's a gentle rain falling on the fields surrounding Hickory Hill. The birds are singing, and the crops are lapping up every bit of it. The forecast predicts this will continue all day.

This photo is from a previous baking marathon day, but I'll be making more warm cinnamon rolls just like these.

This afternoon is our monthly classmate dinner, and it was requested that I bring more frosted goodness to sell. So, I'm already in the kitchen with a fresh cup of coffee and cinnamon on my mind.

I wish you a day filled with wonderful things. I'll be back tomorrow with photos from my day today. 

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!

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!

 

More Progress Has Been Made...

First Upper Monarch Wing Completed

I managed quite a bit of needle dancing over the holiday weekend. We had one rainy day that was made for stitching, and I finished this wing part that day. I'm so pleased to see it done and now waiting for the other parts to come alive.

Beginning Work On First Lower Wing

In fact, I even got a healthy start on the first lower wing! This all happened before Monday when I spend all day in the kitchen. (I baked four loaves of bread, and a half dozen hamburger buns.)

I also mixed, froze, and vacuum-sealed thirty four fresh rhubarb scones for sharing and later consumption. Lastly, I made rhubarb custard pie in a long baking dish which finished baking at midnight! I went to bed shortly after that, but not before Handsome tried it and gave it his seal of approval. (He did stay up later than I did.)

I worked my shift yesterday, and I'm sure it comes as no surprise that I changed clothes when I got home, and took a two hour nap. 

Today is going to be a "take it easy" day. I'm going to play it by ear. See you tomorrow!

 

Shopping Our Pantry...

 

After a (for me) long day of work, all I really want to do is make a cup of tea and put my feet up, but (thankfully), I don't live alone. 

I always make that cup of tea (right after I change clothes into something comfortable), but I know that making (or helping make) dinner is also on the agenda. So, if I don't bring dinner home with me, the next best thing is to shop my pantry. It's for times like these that my/our canning efforts seem so worthwhile.

Last night, all I had to do was thaw out a few frozen shrimp, boil fettuccini noodles, and heat a jar of the Alfredo sauce I canned last winter. Add a few heat n' serve rolls, and in less than a half hour, dinner was served.

It was delicious, too, thanks to the great recipes I've gleaned from the channels I follow on Facebook or Instagram. I'm so grateful for the women who unselfishly share their knowledge and recipes. That's why I'm always happy to share what I find.

Handsome did cleanup last night, so I thanked him and went to bed early. My plan today is to work more on my monarch. I'm looking forward to making some progress on the first wing. Plus, the restful act of putting needle and thread to fabric is just what I need. I'll share an update tomorrow  

Almost...

I had a physical therapy appointment late morning, and Handsome took me out for lunch afterward. When we got home, I went into the studio with the best intentions, but I guess my appointment was more helpful than I thought. I lay down for just a bit, and woke up a couple hours later.

I did manage to prepare the components for my artist trading cards, but still need to assemble them. I don't have to be anywhere until late afternoon to work, so I'm going to finish them today. They'll definitely mail out tomorrow.

 

Canned Beef...

Six pounds of local ground beef became seven pints of shelf-stable canned beef. No need to take up freezer space or wait for thawing. It's ready and waiting for future barbecues, tacos, or whatever else I'd like to do with it. Believe me when I say it's always worth the effort  

I didn't get to stitch today, but I did set up a new project. I'll share photos tomorrow  

Today's Forecast...

 What's left to say? I'll be doing a bit of canning, perhaps some snow removal with Handsome, putting out more birdseed, and a lot of "staying inside!

My Happiest Place...

No more work until Friday. If you're looking for me, I'll be right here. 

Working For The Weekend...

 

Foggy View From The Farmhouse

I was busy working on the sale all day. I woke up to a wet yard, as it had rained, but as the day progressed it got foggier and foggier outside. By evening, I could no longer see the street lights on the overpass, and only two lights at the end of the road (likely because the fog lifted near the corner).

I'll continue working on my listings today, and I'm planning to launch the sale on Saturday morning. I'm thinking the sale will go live then, and I'll continue to add new things throughout the month - all on sale. Should be fun!

Resting...

 

I worked Tuesday and because I still have a cold, I pretty much sacked out when we got back home. Sorry I missed a post for yesterday. 

I spent part of the day at the computer, but my head really wasn't in it. I did prep a package to mail out one of the brooches that was purchased, but I mostly rested. 

Andy brought more hickory nutshells down from the fall harvest, so hickory syrup will definitely be in my future. That's for another day though.

While im sitting here conserving energy, all the birds that flew south for the winter are making their way back north. I want to be ready for them, so im planning to scrub all the feeders this week. The temps will reach into the sixties, so it's the perfect time to get ready for their return. 

Im also going to buy a couple new birdhouses for the bluebirds, and one or two wren houses. I think the Compass Barn could use one or two on the east wall. I want to have a nice welcome buffet for them when they arrive.

I'll be back at the computer today, too. I want to activate my sale by the weekend. Coffee and computer. See you later!

        

Farmhouse Pantry...

Top to Bottom: 1) stewed tomatoes and pickles; 2) pears, pineapple, alfredo sauce, turkey meat; 3)potatoes, carrots, creamed corn, sweet corn and tallow; 4) rutabaga, sweet potato, green tomatoes, chili beans

Apologies for the lateness of today's post. I was called in to work early this morning (boss is on vacation), so I'm just getting around to it now. Because it's already after lunchtime, I'm going to leave this post up for tomorrow, too. There will be a new post after this one on Wednesday. Last weekend was Craft Day, so I'll be sharing what our latest project entailed.

1) zucchini relish, corn/black bean relish, bbq sauce, salsa, homemade rotel; 2) venison, taco meat, chicken breast, mexican seasoned chicken thigh, beef stew 3) canned butter, strawberry jam, jalapeño jam, cheesecake, black rasp. jam, grape jam, lilac jam

Now, for today's post. I promised photos of my home preserved pantry shelves, so here goes. While I admit there are some store-bought items in our pantry, most of what we eat these days is local, non-GMO prepackaged, or home canned/frozen. I'll try to give you a good idea of what's on each shelf in the photo captions.

1) dehydrated milk and cream, purchased chai tea (hidden) dried beans to can later, pizza sauce 2) Freeze dried pineapple, cowboy candy, pinto beans 3) various dried rice and grits 4) dehydrated ingredients for soups and stews, pasta and celery

1) Handsome's jam (in use) and Jif peanut butter (non-GMO and no Xylitol, which means safe for dogs), applesauce 2) baked beans, condensed mushroom and tomato soup mixes, turkey vegetable soup base, premixed seasoned rice 3) non-GMO purchased cereals 4) various pastas (Some day I'll make my own, but we buy them for now.)

I'm writing the copy on my computer, but adding the photographs through my cell phone, so I'll try to keep things straight. (Yes. My computer is still acting up.) sigh

1) hickory nut pie filling, apple pie filling 2) homemade muffin, brownie, sugar cookie and corn bread mixes 3) homemade vanilla (in process), Ghirardheli choco chips, hickory nuts and pecans

So, there you have it. I have more things on my To Do list, but this is where I do most of my "shopping" when it's dinner time. We do have meats in the freezer, but it's much easier to grab something off these shelves. (No thawing required.) 

I'm working all day tomorrow, but I'll be back Wednesday with the Craft Day post. See you then!

Ugh!...

I've been attempting to write a blog post for today on my desktop since yesterday, and it's continuing to give me grief. I fear I'm going to have to bite down and transfer everything to Handsome's unused (newer) machine in the near future. (This post has been published through my iPhone.) 

And, here I had pantry photos edited and ready to share today.  So, please forgive me. I'll try again later to put up that post for tomorrow. Instead, I'm going to bake bread...or take a walk. I'll be back tomorrow - one way or another. Happy Friday!

Canned Butter...

Canned Butter

On Monday night, when Handsome was at band rehearsal, I did a thing. After a lot of research, I've learned that this process (while unapproved by FDA) is completely safe and has been safely done by the Amish and farm families for generations.

The butter is melted in a big pot while jars and lids are being heated. The melted butter is then ladled into the jars, rims cleaned (not with vinegar, which could cause the butter to curdle), rings tightly attached, and then back into the oven for another 20 minutes or so. Place the jars on the counter to cool. Once the lids have pinged, intermittently shake the jars to make sure the butter solids don't separate while they cool. Once cooled, label and store. The butter is perfectly shelf stable for at least two years.

When I purchase butter, I wait until it's on sale for less than $3/pound, and then I buy a case of it. I've always kept the extra in the freezer until I learned about this method. Now, I won't be taking up freezer space, and the butter is ready to use whenever I need it.

I used wide mouth jars, and filled them to leave 1" of headspace. Five pounds of butter yielded six pints, canned. It doesn't take that long to do either. I'd say it was a good use of an hour of the time Handsome was away, making great music.

Plenty of Snow...

West View From The Farmhouse

Once the snow started to fall on Saturday, it continued into the next day. We don't know for sure, but we're guessing we got eight to nine inches when all was said and done. Thankfully, it was the dry, flaky kind that's easy to move and shovel, until it starts to melt.

We went downstairs Sunday morning to Andy plowing the drive, so Handsome went out and did a little shoveling around the edges. I went out later and did the front walkway and staircase. That was plenty for me!

South View From The Farmhouse

Even though it stayed cloudy most of the day, when the sun peeked out, the effect was pretty wonderful. The birds were grateful for the seed I'd put out for them, and I went to the apple tree right away yesterday to clear the snow off the feeders for them. I also tossed seed on top of the snow so the mourning doves and other ground dwellers could get at it. 

I spent time in the studio, but I'm not quite ready for the big reveal. I'll share it very soon, though. Things didn't go exactly as planned, so I'm still working on it. I'll be back upstairs today, so we'll see how far I get.

This week is my Birthday week, so you know the drill. I may work; I may play; I may just party like a teenager! As always, I'll draw it out for just as long as I'm able! 

Happy December!

More Mixes...

Homemade Gravy Mixes

Apparently, I was on a roll the past few days. We weren't doing a turkey for Thanksgiving, as I'd found a perfect lovely pork rib roast and was gifted home grown acorn squash from my co-worker, Theresa. That left me with a lot more time to play with jars and mixes. 

First, I made homemade gravy mixes, and when I was finished, I had quart jars with mixes for multiple batches of chicken gravy, beef gravy, and mushroom gravy. No running out to the store for those anymore.

I looked but couldn't find any recipes for turkey or pork gravy mixes, so I'll still get those, making sure they're non-GMO or non-bioengineered. Those are the ones I will make and serve here.

Homemade Rice Mixes

While I was doing the gravy mixes, my order was delivered with the bulk packages of Zataran's long grain rice, as well as more of the organic tomato powder, and I was stocked to make my seasoned rice mixes.

The two I immediately put into jars were the Herb Butter Rice Mix (like Uncle Ben's Original Seasoned Rice Mix), and the other was a Spanish Rice Mix. 

I started by putting the seasonings in the bottom, and then rice on top. Although the recipe didn't call for it, I used white and brown rice in the herb butter variety. The seasonings went into the jar first so that when I vacuum-sealed the jars, it didn't suck the powders out the top. After the jars were sealed, I shook them up to mix them, and then put labels on the lids.

In case you'd like recipes for these, They're from a YouTube channel called "Plow and Pantry". HERE is the link. In addition to these two, she also makes chicken, curry, beef, and onion rice mixes. I saved those recipes, but only made these two for now. I'll make the others later.

I pulled the gravy mixes off the Internet and don't have the links with me right now, but I'll share them later if anyone is interested.

I hope you all had a lovely and enjoyable Thanksgiving. We're expecting a doozy of a storm that should begin overnight tonight. We're not sure how much is going to fall around here, but in the Midwest, you just never know.

Handsome and I have hair appointments on Saturday morning, and once the snow starts, we'll know whether we have to reschedule or not. Honestly, when the weather gets crazy, we just prefer to stay home. Oh, and I'm breaking a hard and fast rule today. I'm out of birdseed, and didn't find it out until I went to fill the feeders yesterday afternoon. As all the stores were closed for Thanksgiving, I want to run out and get what I need before this storm hits so the birds will have food. Believe me. Absolutely nothing else would get me out of the house today! Well, except work. I work my three hour shift starting at 4, and if we're slow, I'll be coming home early.

Another weekend has rolled around, so put your feet up, eat your leftovers, and have a great weekend, my friends. I'll be back tomorrow with another Steve the Otter meme (or two).

Canned Soup Mix Recipes...

Yesterday I was asked about the recipes for my canned soup mixes, so I decided to share them with you from the source where I found them. The YouTube channel is called "Wicked Prepared", and the hostess is from the northeast part of the United States. She's got some other great videos, and although she refers to herself as a prepper, I'm there for the recipes that help me create the best food for our family.

You can watch the video and then find links to all her recipes under the caption for the video. Just clink on her video description to locate them. If you have trouble linking to the recipes, let me know, and I'll try to help. (HERE'S a direct link to the video, too)

There are three recipes (remember these are for the condensed soup versions). These are shelf-stable dry mixes for Cream of Mushroom Soup, Cream of Chicken Soup, and Tomato Soup. She shows you how to make them, and then has sources for some of the ingredients. I just made sure I purchased non-GMO, organic alternatives for the healthiest options (in my humble opinion).

I'm mixing up some dry, seasoned rice mixes today. I purchased half gallon jars yesterday, too, so I have plenty now for my other mixes. It's always nice to see everything lined up in the pantry, and believe me, I've got enough things prepared now so that we'd be well-fed should we get a storm that snowed us in for a week this winter. I even have dried whole milk and cream so we'd be able to make Handsome's favorite morning cereal or our coffee. 

I hope you enjoy watching the video, and be sure to let me know if you try them. I'd love to know what you think. If you're traveling tomorrow, please be safe. The farmers that came into the station yesterday all told me to hunker down for the storm they say is going to hit us over the next few days. I'm going to take them at their word. The rain started last night, and the wind is up. I'm hoping if it turns to snow, we're just not blasted all at once. Nothing like a Thanksgiving storm to wake us up, right?

KP Duty...

That's how it felt for a while yesterday. I took twenty pounds of potatoes out of the fifty pound bag to process. Peeling, rinsing, cutting up, rinsing, soaking, rinsing...Potatoes were the center of my universe for much of the day. 

Once I'd rinsed away the starch that would cloud the jars, I was ready to start filling them with all those beautiful spuds. In the end, twenty pounds of potatoes were canned into twenty four wide mouth pint jars. Three didn't seal, but I had a plan for that eventuality, too.

I made potato soup with ham. Handsome thought it was delicious, and I wasn't going to try to convince him otherwise. It was just the comfort food we needed after both of our busy days. The best part was that there was exactly one full quart of leftover soup, so we can have that for lunch in the next day or so.

I work tonight, so I'm planning to rest and stitch feathers today. I think I've accomplished enough for one week, so I'll take it easy today. I hope you have a great weekend, dear friends.