A Day of Remembrance

This is always a hard day around the old homestead. Thirty-five years ago we lost our daughter while she was riding her bike. Krista was 6, turning 7 in just over a month from today.

We will always miss her, even though we know there will come a time when we will be together once again.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Mid Week

Slowly but surely things are getting done around the garden. This week has all been about dehydrating. Of course this will continue until my herbs are done. 

This is what I have accomplished as far as herbs this week.

The picture isn't that clear. I believe there might be something wrong with my camera (it is 10 years old and perhaps getting a bit worn). Hopefully by the end of the season these bags will be full of homegrown goodness.

We netted the cherry trees this year and managed to actually keep the robins from gorging on the fruit. Still they are only three years old and not very big so the harvest wasn't that huge. 

This is the amount I managed to get off the tree that ripens a bit later.

About a third of the bucket. 

When dried this is what I ended up with.

Half a freezer bag of dried goodness. These will be lovely in baking or my oatmeal this winter.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Thrifty Tuesday

With the increase in temperatures outside, I needed to figure out a way to decrease the use of our air conditioner. We face almost directly south, so the sun beats in our large picture window for much of the day. In winter this is wonderful as the sun keeps the front of our home nice and warm, causing the furnace not to run as much on the coldest of days as long as the sun shines. However this is not the best when temperatures reach close to 40 C. So I have started to draw our drapery (it is specially lined to keep the heat or cold out) from about 10 in the morning until around 5 or 6 in the evening. So far this seems to be helping a great deal. Windows are the opened in the late evening and that keeps the house nice and cool all night.

Our garden is finally starting to produce, just cucumbers and a very few strawberries, but every little bit helps. 

I turned a collar on one of Harvey's shirts today, and gave my sewing machines a cleaning. There is no one here who services these machines any more so I try and keep them in tip top condition by cleaning out the dust whenever I can.

Dehydrating of herbs has started over the last week. I will have enough new herbs from this year to last until next year. I might try to grow chamomile, lemon verbena, and some more chives next year. I tried garlic a few years ago and had no luck, but I think it might be time to try it again.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Menu Monday

My goodness, it is already the last week of this month. The summer is just whizzing right by.

Monday

Stuffed Chicken, asparagus and the leftover garlic bread.

Tuesday

Baked spaghetti, garlic bread and a tossed salad.

Wednesday

Pork hash, using a bag of leftover roast pork from the fridge freezer. Served with the leftover salad.

Thursday

Leftover baked spaghetti, cucumber salad.

Friday

Glace and eggs. Kris will be home and this is easily reheated.

Saturday

Sausages done on the smoker, potato salad, and pickles.

Sunday

Roast chicken, mashed potatoes, salad and corn.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Frugal Friday

Another frugal or mostly frugal week has passed.

1.  Watered my plants using the rain barrel this week. We better get more rain very soon.

2.  Saved $ 12.59 at the grocery store this week and even managed to buy some items for the store cupboard.

3.  Used up two  leftover balls of yarn knitting the mittens.

4.  Paid all bills online.

5.  Used up all leftovers in the fridge.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thursday Tidbits

I was asked if I felt safe when we had our eye appointment earlier this week and so I thought I would take this opportunity to answer.

When we arrived for our appointment we phoned to let them know we were there and when it was safe for us to enter someone came out and waved us in. The receptionist asked us the usual Covid questions, and then went over our file to make sure all was the same. There was a plexiglass barrier between us and she was wearing a mask.

Chairs in the waiting room were set at 6 feet apart, so social distancing was being done.

When I was called into the first examining room the tech was just finishing up the cleaning of the examination materials. She did her series of questions, and tests. The tech was also masked and wearing rubber gloves.

I then was taken to the room where the optometrist would do his tests. The tech cleaned everything right in front of me. There was a plexiglass barrier hanging from the lens machine and the optometrist wore a mask and gloves. 

At no time did I feel unsafe, and at the time there was only Harvey and I as patients in the building.  

Today has been extremely hot and uncomfortable. Our air conditioning has run pretty much steady since around 10 this morning. We reached a real temperature of 33 C, but it felt like 42 C. I didn't dare do anything that would require me to use the oven. Heck the stove added heat to the house. It is supposed to be at least as hot tomorrow.

I did get the errands and bills paid this morning before it became too unbearable out. Watering plants in the late morning was probably a bit too late, but I suffered the walking into a wall of heat and got it done.

I had hoped to get Harvey's birthday cake baked today, but will end up making it early tomorrow morning before it gets too hot. Just like some harvesting will take place very early as well.

When things are this hot, I just want to stay in and keep cool. What did we do before air conditioning?????

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Busy, Busy

I have finally managed to catch up on a few things today. It seems as if the day slips by and everything I want done kind of gets away from me. Today, however, was a bit different.

My plans for the day actually came together. Yesterday was almost a total loss. I did get a bit done in the morning, before Harvey and I went for our yearly eye exam. I am beginning to hate having the eye drops to dilate my eyes. Last year the dilation lasted about half the day, yesterday however, it lasted most of the day. I was so tired from trying to focus and do even a bit of work that I crawled into bed at 8 and that was after falling asleep on the couch at 6 or so. Not a productive day at all. 

Since I missed the Thrifty Tuesday post I will do one now.

I have found some coupons to use when shopping this week online. Always nice when you can manage that.

Elastics from various veggies were washed and stored away. I have started to save bread clips now. I think that they could come in handy to hold cords and other bags closed for the freezer. Saves buying more clips or using up my clothes pins when they could be used elsewhere.

Trying for zero waste. Sometimes this works much better than other times.

Now on to what I accomplished today.

I had picked raspberries on Monday at a friends place and after asking Harvey what he would choose to do with them, I made jam.

Five fairly large jars that went into the pantry, and one smaller part jar that went into the fridge.

The cherries I had picked a few days ago (okay on Sunday) were turned into these.

Cherry muffins! However these taste much more like cupcakes than muffins. They are very tasty and I better get these put away before we eat them all in one go.

I love the fact that I can use things grown in my backyard to make tasty goodies for us.

I have been continuing with my walking every day. Not losing any weight, but I do believe I am losing inches which in my books is almost as good. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Menu Monday

Time for another weekly menu plan.

Monday

Chicken tetrazzini, and a salad.

Tuesday

A cold plate with leftover ham, potato salad, and the remaining asparagus.

Wednesday

Leftover chicken tetrazzini and a salad.

Thursday

Chili, and toast. I plan on making a big batch so that I can freeze some for when I don't feel like cooking.

Friday

Fish fillets, rice, and corn.

Saturday

Spaghetti, garlic bread, and a tossed salad.

Sunday

Roast chicken, roasted potatoes, roasted carrots and the remains of the salad.

Blogger is acting strangely. I had to revert to the old format in order to post, the new format wouldn't let me get beyond the all posts page, just kept going right back to that page when I hit new post on my blog. Hope they get it straightened out soon.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Frugal Friday

Now what 5 frugal things happened this week on the old homestead.

1.  Between the voucher I got from our Co-op and the sale prices (saved me $91.00) my groceries only cost me $76.92.

2.  No leftovers, everything was eaten up either for a meal at dinner or our lunches.

3.  Actually had two meatless meals this week.

4.  There were a couple of very cool days this week so the windows were left open to catch the cool breezes.

5.  Started to dehydrate herbs for winter usage.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

6.  Picked cherries and rhubarb.

Thursday Tidbits

A quick trip around my garden and backyard.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Sharing.....

On Monday I tried a new recipe for leftover chicken that both Harvey and I really enjoyed.

Thought I would share it with all of you. I didn't get a picture of our main course, but I was colourful, and it both smelled and tasted wonderful.

Chicken Pastry Squares

397g package of frozen puff pastry thawed
1/3 cup sour cream
1/4 cup tomato pesto

1 1/2 cups shredded leftover chicken
20 cherry tomatoes halved
2 tbsp shredded fresh basil (or 1 1/2 tsp dried)

1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese (I used a bit more)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese.

Roll out pastry on lightly floured board to 11 x16 inches. Carefully lift pastry and press into bottom and up sides of greased 10 x15 inch pan.

Combine sour cream, and basil in a small bowl and spread in an even layer over pastry.

Layer chicken, tomatoes, and basil in order given over the sour cream/pesto mixture.

Sprinkle with feta cheese and Parmesan. Bake on bottom rack in 450 degree oven for about 25 mins. until crisp and browned. Cuts into 8 pieces.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless. 

Thrifty Tuesday

Actually even though both our sons were home thriftiness abounded on the old homestead.

Leftovers were used for lunches by both our young men (though Kurt would take the young with a grain of salt as he is in his 40's).

I baked a few loaves of bread while they were here which is something that doesn't happen too often.

Decluttering of the yard happened. We had tried to sell Harvey's radial arm saw awhile ago and had no takers. Kurt jumped at the chance to take it home with him. Harvey and he  managed to fit it into the car.

We covered our cherry trees with netting and it actually looks as if we will get cherries this year. The greedy birds don't want to share so they can have the leftovers once I am done.

I got an almost $80 rebate from our co-op and so will use it to stock up on a few more groceries when I shop this week.

Kurt lost a button on a pair of pants so I mended those as well. My button jar sure comes in handy.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

I'm back. The house is quiet and I am once again trying to remember how to cook for two. The house is in order again and much too quiet for my liking. 

Monday

Leftover turkey made into a lovely almost pizza type of meal.

Tuesday

Leftover roast beef from Sunday. I want to try something new, but Harvey wants Hot Beef Sandwiches. We shall see what happens. I need to set out a salad as well.

Wednesday

Clean out the fridge night.

Thursday

Tuna Pasta salad.

Friday

Soup and Sandwiches. I have lots of stock in the freezer and it is time to pull it out and use it up. Sandwich wise, I think egg salad.

Saturday

Pulling the container of frozen stew out to be used up. Probably serve it with crusty buns.

Sunday

Ham, rice and mixed veggies. I shall do up a salad as well.

Off to do some visiting before bed time.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Frugal Friday

This will be a quick post as I have started to make supper and want to visit with Kurt for while again today. Kris will be leaving Regina shortly and will more than likely be home around 7. We will wait supper for him.

Still I will try to catch up with all of you at some point tonight.

1.  Air conditioner did not run a couple of days this week, we opened wide the windows and the cool breeze came through perfectly. We open them all at night and the house stays or rather gets cool very quickly.

2.  Figured out the spending last month and surprisingly we were under the total budget for the month. I was happy to only be slightly over the grocery budget line even with the fairly large stock up at Costco.

3.  Baking bread every third day. Though while both of the sons are home we will be using mostly store bought bread from our Co-op bakery.

4.  Still walking for exercise and most days I manage to get all my steps in. Not yesterday though as that is when Kurt came home.

5.  Got my mini computer and Kris will get it set up this weekend. We plan on moving the android box downstairs for Harvey to use. This just might keep us from wanting to add more packages to the basic package and stop me from ordering Crave and BritBox or Acorn. 

6.  Pinned the denim quilt strips together. Gathered the yarn suitable for mittens that I had stored away and pulled out my mitten pattern. Still have some socks to sew up (two needle, flat and they do need to be sewn up, I have three pairs left to do and hope to get one more pair done tonight).

7.  I am having fun finding new recipes to use up the leftovers. Some are a hit.....Others not so much.

8.  Using water from the rain barrel to water my plants.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.