Saturday Roundup

 

I spent quite a bit of the first of the week wondering if we would actually get on our trip especially after the letter we got from Air Canada. I now know that this letter was sent to everyone and I should just ignore it as it was just meant for those who had already been cancelled and made to take a different and later flight. 

So I know we will reach our destination and am not to worried if the attendants vote not to accept the new contract as we are coming back from our trip with a flight that is not included in that union. 

So what have I been up to this week. I have been trying to get things under control in the garden and in the house. Tring to clear out the fridge of items that can be made into something else and store in the freezer, or use up little bits so I don't have to worry about them spoiling while we are gone. 

Finished the mittens and put them in the bag for Kurt to take back and started the next size. Planning another 10 of the size 8's. 

Trimmed the fringe on Kris's rug, cut apart and hemmed the tea towels (they need a bit of a press now). Moved on to making something different with the leftover apples from the neighbour's tree.

First time ever making apple chutney. 

I have gotten one quilt almost bound and will work on the second one tomorrow.

Making various items to use up bits and bobs from the fridge. I will show pictures of that later this week. Making soups, flat breads, and casseroles to use up whatever I can. I do want a very empty fridge when we leave. Nothing should be available to spoil. I think there will be lots of soups made and stored in the freezer for use later. 

Made perogies, and the leftover filling was put into two Lazy Perogy Casseroles. Recipe to follow tomorrow as I was asked for it. 

I have a feeling that the menu for next week will be changing dramatically as there are many bits and bobs that need to be cleared out, and lots of items need to be cleared out of the fridge. 

Wish me luck on getting everything done, as not only fridge clearing is necessary but gardening and processing will continue.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Catch Up Friday

 It has been rather cool and cloudy today which made working in the kitchen over a hot stove rather nice. Even nicer the air conditioner isn't working overtime. The next few days are supposed to be cooler so I should be able to get all the processing or baking done in relative comfort. 

I have spent most of today working on the finishing touches for many projects and processing garden produce that was brought in the last couple of days. Heck, I finally got the Apple Chutney made and those apples have been lying around for a length of time. 

Project wise I cut apart the tea towels and hemmed them. Moved on to trimming the fringe on the rug I made. Then I pulled down the 2 1/2 strips and I hope at some point tomorrow to get the bindings on both firepit quilts started. I also finished off the first pair of size 8 mittens and cast on the start of the second pair. Slowly but surely getting those projects for this month completed. Won't get the embroidery done, but I will work on that along with other unfinished projects

Did a bit more dehydrating today as well. I may yet have time to go in and do some more tidying of the sewing/craft room, but that is doubtful. I need to move some of the items from the fridge freezer to the freezers downstairs and dice or slice 6 green peppers for the freezer as well.

I will not be making yogurt this week as I won't have time to finish it before we leave, so I will make some flat breads and put them in the freezer.

I decided not to make Eggplant Parma, instead I will make scrambled eggs (using up some onion, and a red pepper that is on its last legs) served on toast. The eggplant will be grilled tomorrow along with the hot dogs and I will make some stuffed jalapeno peppers wrapped in bacon as well. Clearing out the fridge is the main goal the next bit of time before we leave. 

It looks like we might be able to pick some beans by the beginning of next week and get those processed for the freezer. 

Little things being done which will add up to getting lots completed before the winter. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tidbits And Stuff

 

It has been a treat to have Kurt home so soon after his last visit. He has helped in the yard (and will do some more today), enjoyed talking with us, helped Harvey bottle the beer, and even washed dishes by hand. He leaves at some point tomorrow and we probably won't see him again until Thanksgiving.

I did not get all my projects and goals finished in June. I have carried over the weaving, and embroidery. I also did not get the fries ready for the freezer either. Still I did manage to cut the pieces of chunky/bulky yarn to be used in a future project, declutter, work on clearing out and organizing the sewing/craft room, knit 10 pairs of mittens, get some infused oils started, and a couple of small projects that I added on done as well. 

July will hopefully see me finish the weaving, finish the one block and start another, sandwich the 4 quilt tops, copy out another 20 or so recipes, get some patterns organized and in a binder, dehydrate more herbs, knit some more mittens in the next size, and start Kris's woven rug. Looks like another very busy month. I should be able to make some of the herbal salves as well. 

I did up the budget today for the month of June and surprisingly we were under budget once again. I had hoped that I would do better with the grocery line, considering we had company twice that month being about $250 under budget was quite good. The savings on the grocery budget for the last few months have paid back what we spent on the new dining room chairs, and has actually given me $50 towards the cost of the new range. I should have the range paid off in about 4 or 5 months. What we save on other budget lines is helping pay off Harvey's two partial plates. 

After a big loss on our investments in the first quarter, things are starting to rebound this quarter. We have almost made the losses back, just a bit more to go. I am keeping my fingers crossed on that front, with various tariffs it is hard to know what will happen. 

Using up lots of bits and bobs from the fridge, freezers, and pantry. This saves on the grocery budget a great deal. Perhaps not as much as I would like, but enough to make a difference, even if just a slight one. 

Foraging will be taking place over the next while. My BIL says I can come out any time and pick chokecherries from their bushes. Probably will be doing so in the next few weeks. I see jelly and syrup in the future stocked in the pantry. In a week or two I will also be picking mint to make mint jelly. I will dry some for tea after the jelly making. 

Weeding and watering will also be taking place much more frequently as it is warming up so much. Also because of the warm up the mosquitos are out and biting early in the mornings or if I am in the shade. 

Life is about to get much more complicated especially as I want to get as much done as humanly possible before the end of the year. Add in Christmas gift making, harvesting/processing and I am going to be a very busy person the next while.

Next week I get a phone appointment with my doctor and the Echocardiogram at the end of the week. Of course, there will be another phone appointment with the doctor after that. My dental appointment for a cleaning has been moved until August. That is probably a good thing in my mind. Too many appointments drive me crazy. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Mid-Week, Finally Sunshine

 

Finally after 4 days of cloud we are having sunshine. Big wind, but at least the sunshine got me doing some embroidery. Finished one section and almost finished another.

I even got all the Christmas cards done. I am definitely on a roll this month. 

My yarn shipment is on its way, and I should get it on the 14th or a day or two later. So this means working and getting most of the other items on my projects/goals list done. I will finish the embroidery tomorrow and move on to sewing the next day. 

Harvey has offered to help with the pumpkin processing so I will do that this weekend. Must bring up the pumpkin from last year so it is all used up. Perhaps some pumpkin soup.....as well as baked goods.

Tried a Chicken Noodle Casserole yesterday for supper and it was a hit. That recipe will be saved. Bad news though.... I found another folder containing recipes. More to try out and more to copy out onto index cards. 

Tonight we are having Eggplant Chickpea Stew along with some freshly made flat breads. Really trying to cut down on red meat. The mouth is feeling so much better and I am hopeful that once I need to go in again everything will be well healed and the other side can pain me for a bit. 

My last health task will be taken care of in January. I will go in and get the lenses replaced in my glasses. Should be good other than the regular dental cleanings.

I have pulled up the big girl pants and am letting the family treatment go. I will just make sure not to be overly friendly at the reunion. I am a force unto myself.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.