Midweek Thoughts And Plans

 The last Wednesday of the month, and I am really trying to stay calm. It is getting very close to Christmas and I am not at all ready. 

Today has been rather tough. I did not sleep well last night, and that was probably due to the doctor phoning me today with the results of my Echocardiogram. 

I finally got the call at around 3:30 pm. All is fine. In fact Dr. Norma used the word "perfect" a number of times. So that is one health concern out of the way. I do have another CT scan in December to check and see if the nodule in my lungs has grown at all. If it has I am pretty sure she will be sending me to a specialist as soon as is possible.

Harvesting has been continuing here on the old homestead, and my neighbour said I could go and pick crab apples. Which I did at around 7 this morning. 

Baked bread, started dehydrating the cherries (which will probably continue overnight), deadheaded some of the flowers, finished off what I could on the tea towels, finished the second pair of smaller sized mitts, started the third pair of smaller mitts, brough out yarn for mitten knitting and watered the plants that were protected by the eaves during the rains we have had. 

I have not finished my list of tasks for today, but with the garden being pretty wet still from rain the picking of the garden can wait until tomorrow.

My shrimp pasta salad did not look very nice, so I pulled out some lentil soup that we were going to eat a few weeks ago and will make some grilled cheese/ham sandwiches to go with.

I was asked how I make my herbal salves and they are very simple. Usually I use a dried herb, crushed and have poured a carrier oil over to cover. The carrier oil can be olive oil, grapeseed oil, or any cold pressed oil. I usually let that sit in my front window in the sun for at least three weeks, shaking daily or every second day. I then pour the oil through a fine sieve to remove the herb, and place the resultant oil in a double boiler. To that oil I add commercial grade wax pellets (the amount depends on how much oil is in the double boiler) and sometimes some shea butter or vitamin E cream. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

 

It has been a busy week here on the old homestead, as we have the house to ourselves for a bit and we are not planning on going anywhere for a bit. Our next away time isn't until September when we go to Cypress Hills Provincial Park and perhaps visit our two sons as well.

I have been dehydrating herbs almost every day. I say almost as I took a break from that today, but will be back at it tomorrow. 

Also each day seems me out picking at least a little bit from the garden. Things are not growing as well as usual, so it is moving ahead slowly, but surely. 

Lots done in the house though. I have cleared a space in my sewing/craft room for the loom stand, still need to do a bit of vacuuming though and perhaps a troll through the bottom of the closet as well.

Salves are being made. This week I managed to get two done and then in two weeks I get to make two more. Hoping to dry enough mint to make at least one more.

First I made the lemon balm salve and then moved on. Then the plantain salve was made. I only three containers, just to see how they work.

I plan on adding salves to Kurt and Kris's Christmas baskets this year.

I also finished the second scarf using the exact same colours of yarn as the first. Both of these will go in those baskets as well.

I finished had quilting the outside quilt by using a simple X in the center of each block, and the binding just needs hand sewing on. That will happen tomorrow.

Of course I have been working on those mittens for Kurt's school as well. Seems to be a never ending project. But I am almost finished the first size.

Fifteen pairs waiting to be sewn up, and 

Number 16, which should be finished tonight. I plan on getting them sewn up over the next few days (along with hand sewing the binding). Should be starting the smallest size mitts very soon. 

I also did a bit of garden processing as well.

Pickles in a Bucket are made and in the fridge.

All in all a pretty good work for a week. Mind you the mittens have taken a bit longer then the week.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.