Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 Another hot day so I was out early working in the garden. Scared the little bunny out of the Columbines once again. This time when I said something it actually stopped and looked at me. Then rapidly hopped down the side of the house.

Most of the weeding is completed, I hope to get a bit more done after the dentist tomorrow morning, and then Hubby has cleaned out the herbal planter and the other two small planters I use for herbs. I hope to get those planted tomorrow as well. The rhubarb needs picking and processing as well. 

The deck pots will be done on Thursday as I still need to find some small trellis like inserts for the Moonflowers. As I will be spending money at the dentist, I will stop on the way home at Dollar Tree to see if they have anything. There will also be a pickup of Harvey's one prescription, and the bank for our allowances. No spending after that for a few days I hope (wish it was until the end of the month, but there is the church envelope).

After the planting I came in and got the bedding changed over, the fridge tidied, the living room totally dusted, and next months menu plan worked on.

The afternoon was spent trying to get the second corner of the embroidered quilt block completed. I am almost there. Not too sure if I can get a start on the third corner though (would be awesome).

I have been asked about how one can make grilled cheese sandwiches other than on the stove in a fry pan. Years ago my mother would use a cookie sheet and get enough sandwiches made at once to feed us hungry children. She would put the bread slices on the cookie sheet (buttered). Top with a slice of cheese, then place another buttered bread slice on top and stick them in the oven. I did the same when Kurt and Kris were younger and eating us out of house and home. 

I hope to have a Saturday post this week with pictures of the projects and gardening done over the past month. Been pretty darn good at remembering to take photos.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Midweek Ramblings

 I should also be saying stay calm it's almost the end of the month and I have many more projects to try and at least start, not perhaps finish. As usual this month like most, I have listed more projects than I can actually get done. Why won't I ever learn.

The storm came through last night and into mid afternoon today. Once the snow stopped and the sun came out, Harvey got the snowblower and set to work. Now we just need the city to do a better job of cleaning the street.

I don't like driving on these messy, icy roads (it did rain before the snow came) and so Harvey has said he will take me shopping on Friday and take me to pay any bills that need to be paid in person. There are just two and one is right near Walmart, the other is on the way either to or from that area of the city.

Slowly getting some meals in the large chest freezer. Yesterday it was Cream of Mushroom Soup, today it will be at least one meal of Red Lentil Curry. I may make some Lentil Taco filling first thing tomorrow morning, and then later Hamburger Soup and I think some either BBQ meatballs or Sweet and Sour meatballs. I want to be prepared for spring and yard work, or even a day I just do not feel like cooking. It saves us ordering in or going out.

It is Ash Wednesday today and since the roads are all but impassible, this will be the first year we have not gone to the church. I do believe we will be forgiven though, as we age things are becoming a bit more difficult. Our driveway, which really isn't long or convoluted, used to take perhaps 20 minutes or less to clear. Now Harvey gets about halfway and needs to rest before finishing it off. Today the driveway took him about 1 1/2 hours to clear, and getting the truck into the driveway over the 2 1/2 foot drifts was a job in and of itself. 

The beginning of Lent already and I am unsure what I will do for the season this year. Leaning towards getting some donations each day for the Food Bank. I have heard they are running low once again.

I was asked what Saskatoons are. Hmmm, they are the cousins of blueberries. Not quite as good in my opinion, but Harvey and other southern Canadian prairie people love them. They grow wild or can be planted. Those that are planted are a bit larger and a bit juicier. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

 

Mass was a touch longer than usual, but considering it was Divine Mercy Sunday, and we had special prayers for Pope Francis it could have ended up being so much longer. 

Father talked about mercy and how we can share mercy among each other. He said Pope Francis was big on sharing mercy to others. I can see that as so many dignitaries from other faiths came to show their respect for him. Many people are saying that we need to continue with his social justice as the cardinals elect a new pope. He also stated many times that the power of the Catholic church does not reside in the Vatican, rather it resides in the laity of the church. He did stop at allowing females to become priest, but he did give us more power in the universal church.

I was asked how I store and look after my tinkle cloths. I have the nicely folded and clean ones sitting beside the toilet. When I use one I will put it in what could be considered a diaper pail that has water and some bleach in it. Then when it comes time to wash them, I drain most of the water into the toilet, take my container downstairs and put them in the washer with detergent. Since I have edge stitched the sides, putting them in the dryer is not a big problem. 

I started this jacket sewing project thinking it would be very simple and have learned it really isn't simple at all. I am only up to step 14 of 33 steps (need to check that out as it could be more steps) and most of the remaining steps are very complicated. I may work on getting the nightgown sewn and then get back to this. The nightgown will only take a day or so to put together now that it is cut out and ready to be sewn. That would at least put me a bit closer to getting all the projects finished for this month. In no way will I be able to finish the jacket, so that will be a carry over. 

I have found that if I make a mistake and get that mistake corrected while sewing, I need to take a complete break and do something else. I get so frustrated that all I do is make more mistakes, and considering how complicated this simple no collar pattern has become I am pretty sure I will need to take more breaks. 

Everyone have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

Before I start on my menu plans for this week, I want to say thank you to all those members of the forum I moderated for their lovely comments. So sweet of all of you.

So what is on the menu for this week? Once again I will be trying to use things up from the fridge and fridge freezer before we go away. Yesterday I went through the freezer drawers and found lots of items to be used up. I will of course have to bring up some main dish meats just to shake things up a bit, but man once again I have let things stack up.

Monday

Leftover ribs, served with green beans, cherry tomatoes, leftover coleslaw, and of course sliced cucumbers.

Tuesday

There are two small steaks in the freezer so I am going to slice them thinly and make a stir fry. This will be served over rice. I will also make the stuffed jalapeno's tonight (though I would do them Monday, but missing the cream cheese). 

Wednesday

Lazy perogies, though I am tempted to spend the hours necessary to make perogies once again and have a few bags in the freezer for meals later....

Thursday

Leftovers from Tuesday. 

Friday

Tuna casserole will be served, along with sliced cucumbers and sliced tomatoes.

Saturday

Pulling out a package of the leftover ham and making a casserole. If I can get into the garden (we actually got rain today, and quite a bit more could come tomorrow) green beans and cherry tomatoes.

Sunday

Porkchops, mashed potatoes, carrots and coleslaw.

I have been asked what I stuff my jalapeno's with and so I will tell you all.

I soften cream cheese and mix it with some garlic powder, some of the insides of the jalapeno's for a bit of heat, and regular grated cheddar. Then the halves are wrapped with some bacon and cooked in the oven until the bacon is cooked.

Kris taught me this as it is how he did the ones we had earlier this summer. Harvey has decided he just loves them this way. 

Yes, Maebeme this is really early for the garden this year. I just can't believe how much is ready to be picked....

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

 

It has been a pretty quiet week as for the last three days we have been getting rain. It seems to have let up right now, and is supposed to get quite chilly so the plants (at least mine) will be coming into the house overnight. Hopefully all the plants that Harvey put in his veggie garden will be okay. Just too muddy to even try to cover them. 

The Oriole feeder is one that Harvey made, and I hope to convince him to make another to use next spring. I really am amazed that we actually managed to attract them this year. Perhaps there are more around than I ever imagined. 

Now what have I been up to this week. I have been knitting a blanket (which I now realize probably will not be finished this month), sewing and baking. 

Today I will share my baking with you. Sewing is being saved for another post once all is properly washed and ironed.

First off I made my version of a cherry turnover type thing.

I used up a container of cherry pie filling from the chest freezer and the remains of the phyllo pastry in the fridge freezer.

Next came pumpkin muffins to use up two one cup bags of pumpkin puree from the chest freezer.

Then came a rhubarb sponge pie to use up two bags of frozen rhubarb, and a frozen pie crust. 

Lastly I made some more muffins.

Zucchini muffins to once again use up a bag or two of frozen grated zucchini.

The muffins will make a lovely change from cereal, yogurt or toast for breakfasts. 

A loaf of bread was also made in my bread machine.

If this rain keeps up much longer I can see me doing a bit more baking as well as getting more sewing projects done. This time around I will be sewing some sleeveless tops. I believe there are 5 I need to get done before I start Harvey's spring/summer robe. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.