Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 

Pretty cold this morning with temperatures well under the freezing mark. There was frost for a lengthy amount of time on the various vehicles parked on the road. It has warmed up slightly, but nothing to get excited about. 

This meant I stayed home (yippee) another no spend day and one where I did manage some batch cooking. One batch will be eaten tonight, but the curry and the remaining stew will be frozen and eaten later on. 

I was asked by a few of you what Cabbage Bread is. Well think of pizza pockets but made with bread dough, filled with a mixture of cabbage and ground beef, seasoned with salt and pepper. The bread dough is rolled out into squares, the filling put in and the edges pinched together in a square bun shape. These are baked and when cooked put in a large pot for a bit to soften the crust slightly. I then package them up for the freezer. This is also something my German grandmother made. 

I am actually considering making my own pizza pockets in a similar manner only using a pie crust type of covering. We shall see what I end up doing.

Planning happened today on the oven mitts. I just need to figure out how I can manage to get 2 pairs of double oven mitts out of this fabric, and find my bias binding. Once the planned layout is fixed in my mind I will do the quilting and then cutting and sewing of them. With any luck I may be able to get those done by the end of the month and another project off my list. 

Lately, each time I go into the sewing/craft room I do a little pick up. Gradually things are being put away and plans made for next months projects are taking place as well. I might even have a few planned for December. Slightly smaller ones that do not take up a great deal of room and can be done quickly while getting the last minute Christmas baking completed. 

Bought this little lantern at the beginning of October and have just got it working.

It works like a charm and I am going to purchase another one or two the next time I go shopping along with more small propane cylinders for the camp stove. Probably a few more candles as well. Candles can be used for heat as well as light. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

 

It has been a pretty quiet week here on the old Phillips homestead. Today was slightly busier as I headed out early to get the errands done for the upcoming week. The weather is supposed to be much colder so I braved the cold today and got things completed so as to be able to stay in my nice warm home as much as possible during the cold snap.

This meant that I went to the bank, dropped off the donation bags from last month, got fuel in the vehicle, and did all the shopping. This took about 2 hours this time around, but I was happy that it didn't take me as long to find Canadian goods. I picked up a few items (well actually more than a few) for the pantry as well as some sale meats. I even managed to find brown lentils, something I have been searching for. Those are used in one lentil curry I really enjoy. I think I should have picked up another couple of coconut milk, but I can do so another time. 

Home, I put all away and realized that I need to do a pantry stock once again. I keep forgetting to do that. I also changed a few meals on my monthly meal plan to use a few older items up.

Swept the floors, cleaned out emails, and put away the dishes before I left on the shopping excursion. Texted back and forth with my neighbour as well. I think she wanted me to fix some zippers, but my machines do not handle heavy materials like denim in those cases. I gave her the name of a lady who does that kind of work. 

Phoned my brother and talked for 45 minutes. Our conversations are always the same. It is really hard to talk to someone who is schizophrenic and has the mentality of a 12 year old. 

After that conversation I did some weaving. Not as much as I would have liked but the light was changing. 

Project wise this is where I am right now.

This is the car blanket I made from the leftover fabric for my jacket.

The beginning of the knitted blanket for another of Kurt's friends. These blankets are for those who stuck up and protected him from right wing wackos. So I don't really mind making them and they do use up yarn from my rather extensive yarn stash.

I have started on another of the embroidered squares and am slowly getting it completed. 

And I am almost finished the second placemat. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 

I have spent most of the day waiting for a call from the bank and since we are going to get around 25 cm of snow starting tomorrow I had planned on going shopping. That did not happen, but I think I may head out after supper and hit the closest grocery store, and perhaps tomorrow morning before the main part of the snow hits off to Walmart early. I should be back before the call from the bank if I leave early enough. It is also supposed to get frigid out overnight. Best I get done what I can before things get bad.

With all the snow coming Kris has mentioned that he might not get home until Saturday, which is fine as I don't want him or Kurt out on unsafe roads.

Since I will be out right after supper, I will visit you all tomorrow.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

 

This week has been one of mostly getting those extra cleaning tasks done before I am invaded by the in laws Christmas Day. So not too many finished projects to share with you all.

I did finish my spool knit belt.

Nothing special but will do the trick until I can weave myself something better.

I finished the soup mixes for the baskets.

One red lentil soup mix and one split pea soup mix for each basket.

I also finished the mitts and added those to the baskets as well.

What I am missing a picture of is the recipe cards that contain family recipes. Those were put in the baskets immediately upon finishing so I wouldn't lose them.

I did start the second knitted blanket and have gotten a bit done on it. While it probably will not be done by the time Kurt leaves, it should be close. 

The weather will be changing once again so I went to the furthest place today and picked up what was needed there. I will go to the closer grocery store on Monday, as driving on icy roads a couple of blocks is not quite as daunting to me. 

My life is just so exciting. LOL.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Cooler Mornings

 

I am loving the cooler mornings, hot coffee or tea chases the chill away and gets me moving. 

What also gets me moving is knowing that this above freezing temperatures will not last forever, frost is surely coming. That means getting as much done in the garden as is possible, and getting the house ready for winter's chilly, snowy days. 

I am hoping to get most of the garden in before we leave, and once back I believe Harvey will do a bit of cleaning up of the yard, and winterizing the house. Definitely some new caulking around windows and doors as well as some replacement of door sweeps. 

I am still working on stocking up just in case we have an icy or blizzardy winter. Our street gets drifted in badly when we have a storm so being prepared for that type of weather is a must. 

I also think about making a couple more quilts for us, getting batteries, purchasing more candles, and making sure I have enough fuel for our camp stove. Our power has been known to go off for hours and being able to make a cup of instant coffee, or have a bowl of soup would be wonderful. Heck a person can even do a roast on a camp stove in a dutch oven. This is the time of year that we make sure our phones are fully charged every day, and that our laptops are as well (you can add in the fully charged ereader as well). 

Meals will become much hardier, as the winter weather draws in. I need to stock up on some turnips, kohlrabi, carrots, and cabbage. I am going to add some squash in here as well. Can easily store squash and such in the cold room and the kohlrabi, carrots, can be made freezer ready. 

I am planning on taking some of our extra garden produce up to Kris so that he can try out his pressure canner. Mostly beans and probably a few tomatoes as well. While we are visiting I will check out the cost of a large bag of carrots and perhaps purchase that for him as well. I think I may cut some herbs to take to him as well to dehydrate. 

Kurt on the other hand will need to take ready canned or dehydrated things home at Thanksgiving. I am also worried that a strike will take place in his province. They have never had one before, but have been without a contract for awhile, and Danielle Smith, much like Scott Moe, would prefer people to send their children to a "Christian" school. That does not include Catholic Schools where Kurt teaches. 

I have spent some time trying to get my friend here in the city to prepare for winter. Usually she says she wants to do just that, but her husband butts in and says there is nothing to worry about..... Yes there is. These are the same couple that seem to always be "broke" before the end of the month when all their pensions arrive. I have given up, I am no longer going to even try. 

I was asked by Magpie if I was the person dehydrating tomato skins and yes I am. I use the powder to add flavour to soups and roasts. I would love to have more ideas on how to use the powder if you have them. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.