Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: July 18 ~ 24, 2021
- Thread starter ReneeT
- Start date
Okay - hope the third time is a charm; I've managed to delete what I've written a couple of times already.... maybe I need to finish this cup of coffee 
It's a lovely morning so far - there is a light mist over the fields, no sun shining through it as yet. The hummingbird feeders have all been refilled and the hummingbirds are zipping back an forth between the feeders and the poke that I let grow up in the flower bed - I've cut off most of the seed heads and am watching the ones that are left for ripening. Poke is a pain to cook, and dangerous to those who don't know how to cook it, but I wanted to collect some seed for it to have in case.
The grandsons are all still asleep; amazingly enough! I shut all electronics down at 9pm last night; the boys grumbled a bit but went right to sleep and will hopefully remain so for a bit. The kittens are out playing on the porch - poor things didn't get to stay outside long yesterday as I heard eagles screaming so grabbed them up and brought them back inside - the boys went to down to play with them in the utility room instead. The grand-dog is collapsed under my bar-stool - he keeps poking my leg with his nose when I stop petting him with my foot. I can hear Hubby moving around upstairs; he was thinking of going to the motocross track to ride for a bit, but it's likely to be pretty muddy after the rain.
Prepping is going to take a left turn this week - the school supply lists are out I'll be taking the boys to the Evil Empire Monday morning before I drop them off with the other grandmother to get that shopping out of the way before stocks get low, but first I'll need to go through the supplies that I bought for pennies on the dollar from the clearance aisles... trying to remember if those totes went upstairs or down... Our school board is wonderful - they sent out a survey to parents asking for their opinions about masking; I got one since I'm on the boys' paperwork as the boys' other parent I guess the response was overwhelming - masks are now optional at school.
I work Mon/Tue/Fri this week; after that I am on vacation for a couple of weeks. I'm planning to clean out the shed freezer to make room for sweet corn that will be coming in next week - that will mean canning up whatever is in the way; I know there are several corned beef briskets in there that I bought for 99 cents/lb after St. Paddy's Day, so they will be first to go in to jars.
Well, the thundering herd is awake and starving, so I guess I'd better get the French Toast cooking
Take care all; have a wonderful week!
It's a lovely morning so far - there is a light mist over the fields, no sun shining through it as yet. The hummingbird feeders have all been refilled and the hummingbirds are zipping back an forth between the feeders and the poke that I let grow up in the flower bed - I've cut off most of the seed heads and am watching the ones that are left for ripening. Poke is a pain to cook, and dangerous to those who don't know how to cook it, but I wanted to collect some seed for it to have in case.
The grandsons are all still asleep; amazingly enough! I shut all electronics down at 9pm last night; the boys grumbled a bit but went right to sleep and will hopefully remain so for a bit. The kittens are out playing on the porch - poor things didn't get to stay outside long yesterday as I heard eagles screaming so grabbed them up and brought them back inside - the boys went to down to play with them in the utility room instead. The grand-dog is collapsed under my bar-stool - he keeps poking my leg with his nose when I stop petting him with my foot. I can hear Hubby moving around upstairs; he was thinking of going to the motocross track to ride for a bit, but it's likely to be pretty muddy after the rain.
Prepping is going to take a left turn this week - the school supply lists are out
I'll be taking the boys to the Evil Empire Monday morning before I drop them off with the other grandmother to get that shopping out of the way before stocks get low, but first I'll need to go through the supplies that I bought for pennies on the dollar from the clearance aisles... trying to remember if those totes went upstairs or down... Our school board is wonderful - they sent out a survey to parents asking for their opinions about masking; I got one since I'm on the boys' paperwork as the boys' other parent I guess the response was overwhelming - masks are now optional at school. I work Mon/Tue/Fri this week; after that I am on vacation for a couple of weeks. I'm planning to clean out the shed freezer to make room for sweet corn that will be coming in next week - that will mean canning up whatever is in the way; I know there are several corned beef briskets in there that I bought for 99 cents/lb after St. Paddy's Day, so they will be first to go in to jars.
Well, the thundering herd is awake and starving, so I guess I'd better get the French Toast cooking
Take care all; have a wonderful week!
coloradohermit
Veteran Member
I'm in the process this morning of pressure canning a batch of pinto beans and ham. This week I need to finish weed wacking the grass before it's taller than I am.
ETA. Wednesday I have to go down to the city for a follow up ultrasound of the aneurism repair I had 2 years ago. I hate going to the city, but it is thankfully being done at their most convenient location.
ETA. Wednesday I have to go down to the city for a follow up ultrasound of the aneurism repair I had 2 years ago. I hate going to the city, but it is thankfully being done at their most convenient location.
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SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
I received partial orders from Sam's and Walmart, yesterday. I checked this morning, and the rest of those orders should arrive today. FedEx delivers here on Sundays. My Chewy order may come, today, also. I'm loving more and more the ease of shopping online. If we didn't live so far back in the country, I'd have all my groceries delivered to my door, too. We live too far out for that option. I'll have to go to the grocery store one day this week. Don't know what day, yet.
Thunderstorms are still in our forecast, today. It hasn't started, yet, but from the looks of the sky, it won't be long. Some storms could be severe. Will probably be losing my internet off and on from rain fade.
I'm doing some last minute tidying up, before the Bible study bunch gets here this morning. It's always a good day when they come.
Cary got part of the trailer load of firewood split and stacked, yesterday. Don't know what day he'll be able to mow. Rain is in our forecast thru Wednesday. Sigh.
Thunderstorms are still in our forecast, today. It hasn't started, yet, but from the looks of the sky, it won't be long. Some storms could be severe. Will probably be losing my internet off and on from rain fade.
I'm doing some last minute tidying up, before the Bible study bunch gets here this morning. It's always a good day when they come.
Cary got part of the trailer load of firewood split and stacked, yesterday. Don't know what day he'll be able to mow. Rain is in our forecast thru Wednesday. Sigh.
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
Fedx delivered the mac n cheese I ordered yesterday. The individual boxes were just thrown in a big box with little packaging. One box opened and spilled all over the big box, instead of scooping it up I think I just salvage the cheese packet, I have tons of pasta.
I ordered extra cocoa powder, its for my chocolate fix. I have a mud cake in a cup recipe from Trim Healthy Mama that is just about to die for.
We also have a 7.o cu ft freezer coming on Tuesday via Fedx. I hope they don't just dump it on the ground, its supposed to rain Tuesday, although the Fedx drivers are lazy and don't do much delivering in the rain. We are trying to figure out where to put this freezer. These smaller freezers aren't "way" heavy when they are empty, its just DH and I to man handle heavy stuff. We'll use the tractor scoop to get it to the front door, and then scoot it into the house.
Dh tripped and lost his balance yesterday and fell on a log he had just put on his saw mill. He has a painful area with a lump on his chest under his breast area. If the pain doesn't let up in a couple of days we'll be off to the VA ER.
I also ordered another case of 12.5 oz chicken, 12 cans in a case and another case of the 5.0 oz canned ham.
It seems like one day walmart will not deliver certain items and then the next day the will. I ordered a 50# bag of dog food and its supposed to be delivered tomorrow. Although its rarely delivered when they first say it will.
God is good all the time
Judy
I ordered extra cocoa powder, its for my chocolate fix. I have a mud cake in a cup recipe from Trim Healthy Mama that is just about to die for.
We also have a 7.o cu ft freezer coming on Tuesday via Fedx. I hope they don't just dump it on the ground, its supposed to rain Tuesday, although the Fedx drivers are lazy and don't do much delivering in the rain. We are trying to figure out where to put this freezer. These smaller freezers aren't "way" heavy when they are empty, its just DH and I to man handle heavy stuff. We'll use the tractor scoop to get it to the front door, and then scoot it into the house.
Dh tripped and lost his balance yesterday and fell on a log he had just put on his saw mill. He has a painful area with a lump on his chest under his breast area. If the pain doesn't let up in a couple of days we'll be off to the VA ER.
I also ordered another case of 12.5 oz chicken, 12 cans in a case and another case of the 5.0 oz canned ham.
It seems like one day walmart will not deliver certain items and then the next day the will. I ordered a 50# bag of dog food and its supposed to be delivered tomorrow. Although its rarely delivered when they first say it will.
God is good all the time
Judy
Illini Warrior
Illini Warrior
oh help! tomato worms! never had them before, what do i do? >>> carry over from last week
oldworldgardenfarms.com
How To Stop Tomato Hornworms - Keeping Your Tomato Crop Safe!
How To Stop Tomato Hornworms - When it comes to destructive summer garden pests, tobacco and tomato hornworms might just top the list!
oldworldgardenfarms.com
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
FedEx brought my second shipment from Sam's, yesterday afternoon. More cases of Kraft Delux Mac & Cheese, another big jug of Folger's coffee, another box of Swiffer duster cloths, and more Chinet paper dinner plates. I'm still waiting on the second shipment from Walmart. Cary ordered more "warning" type signs to post along our fence line and gate. They haven't come, yet. Chewy still hasn't delivered. Hopefully everything will come, today.
More rain, today. Tomatoes are loving it. They are beginning to ripen. We're getting ready for our first BLT's! They're just not the same with store bought tomatoes.
Doing laundry. Will be hanging them inside to dry.
Since it's raining and storming, today, grilling is out. So, I put the pork chops in the crockpot with sliced onions and BBQ sauce. Slow cook all day, and will make potato salad and baked beans to go with those for our supper. Sara Lee dinner rolls, too. Too humid to make the dinner rolls myself. I keep some frozen ones in the freezer for days like today.
I plan to go grocery shopping, Wednesday, if nothing comes up.
More rain, today. Tomatoes are loving it. They are beginning to ripen. We're getting ready for our first BLT's! They're just not the same with store bought tomatoes.
Doing laundry. Will be hanging them inside to dry.
Since it's raining and storming, today, grilling is out. So, I put the pork chops in the crockpot with sliced onions and BBQ sauce. Slow cook all day, and will make potato salad and baked beans to go with those for our supper. Sara Lee dinner rolls, too. Too humid to make the dinner rolls myself. I keep some frozen ones in the freezer for days like today.
I plan to go grocery shopping, Wednesday, if nothing comes up.
prudentwatcher
Veteran Member
I have five jars of ground chuck in the canner cooling down. Got the meat at Aldis, along with some paper plates, some canned fruit, some lemon pound cake mixes and a few odds and ends. I wanted to hit Sams on Friday, but my left foot has been acting up with plantar fascitis and I can't walk that much right now. Hoping now to hit it on Wednesday. Mainly looking for OTC stuff and to fill in a few minor holes.
Oh, and we just ordered 3 months worth of canned cat food and bought about that much in dry at Petsmart. Puts us back at over 5 months, which is about as far ahead as we ever seem to get.
Oh, and we just ordered 3 months worth of canned cat food and bought about that much in dry at Petsmart. Puts us back at over 5 months, which is about as far ahead as we ever seem to get.
Barry Natchitoches
Has No Life - Lives on TB
I am a Tennessee Master Gardener and my specialty is organic vegetable gardening.oh help! tomato worms! never had them before, what do i do? >>> carry over from last week
How To Stop Tomato Hornworms - Keeping Your Tomato Crop Safe!
How To Stop Tomato Hornworms - When it comes to destructive summer garden pests, tobacco and tomato hornworms might just top the list!
There are no really good organic answers to the tomato hornworm problem in the short run - as the link suggested - other than picking off the worms and dropping their bodies in a can of beer or picking them by hand and giving them to your chickens.
But would you like to know how to PREVENT the problem next year?
Do two things:
1, Pull your infested plants at the earliest possible moment (say right after the last of the.main harvest has been picked), and completely dispose of the infested debris cleanly by bagging it and sending it to the county dump or burning it well away from your garden, and,
2, Next year, plant BASIL plants all around in your garden at planting time, close enough to your tomato plant that the basil plant shares some of the same root space as the tomato plant.
You see, as it turns out, tomato plants have a symbotic relationship with basil plants. Basil roots emit a hormone into the ground that helps the tomato plants grow stronger, healthier and faster.
Meantime, tomato roots emit a hormone into the ground that helps the basil plant grow stronger, healthier and faster.
So you want to plant basil plants close enough to tomato plants that they will share some root space when the plants are mature.
As an added bonus, it turns out that the tomato hornworm HATES the smell of basil!
Since the hornworm locates and then moves onto the tomato plant after the plant is established, if you have a lot of basil growing in your tomato patch, the hornworm will decide to move on, sparing your tomato plants.
I never have hornworm problems, and I grow tomato plants that are eight feet tall (as I grow my tomatoes inside homemade cages made out of concrete reinforcement wire, my plants grow vertically, rather than snaking along the ground).
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WanderLore
Veteran Member
I was reading that Barry, and also to move planting areas around more. She just put basil in, might not have enough time to do a lot of good.
She, DD, has the pressure canner going! Green beans, peppers so far. They look lovely
She, DD, has the pressure canner going! Green beans, peppers so far. They look lovely
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
My Chewy order finally came this morning, but still no Walmart shipment. Wonder what's taking so long? I've never ever waited this long before. Usually I get it within a week of ordering.
Cary got the yard mowed in between rain showers, today. He just finished. I almost picked my first 2 tomatoes, today, but decided to give them another day or two to fully vine ripen. I usually pick them, before they get really ripe, and let them finish up on the back deck picnic table. We're getting too much rain, and have too many curious kittens to do that now.
Cary got the yard mowed in between rain showers, today. He just finished. I almost picked my first 2 tomatoes, today, but decided to give them another day or two to fully vine ripen. I usually pick them, before they get really ripe, and let them finish up on the back deck picnic table. We're getting too much rain, and have too many curious kittens to do that now.
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
As I said in another thread, we picked up commodities and went to walmart.
The commodities were kind of strange. It may have been because I picked up on the second day. We got 12 packages of beef hot dogs and two packages of chicken. I almost never buy chicken because we usually get it in commodities, Dh never likes the way I cook chicken. Also included are two 10 pound bags of potatoes, there were three cans of food, two tomatoes and one can of chili, its the brand that Dh likes, so that is good. Two bottles of liquid laundry detergent. Vegetable oil, I'm saving that for oil lamps, I would never cook with it, although never is a long time, a couple of soft cans of beef stew (yuck) but Dh likes it. And a couple of jars of vegan sandwich spread. What ever we get I'm greatful for it.
God is good all the time
Judy
The commodities were kind of strange. It may have been because I picked up on the second day. We got 12 packages of beef hot dogs and two packages of chicken. I almost never buy chicken because we usually get it in commodities, Dh never likes the way I cook chicken. Also included are two 10 pound bags of potatoes, there were three cans of food, two tomatoes and one can of chili, its the brand that Dh likes, so that is good. Two bottles of liquid laundry detergent. Vegetable oil, I'm saving that for oil lamps, I would never cook with it, although never is a long time, a couple of soft cans of beef stew (yuck) but Dh likes it. And a couple of jars of vegan sandwich spread. What ever we get I'm greatful for it.
God is good all the time
Judy
prudentwatcher
Veteran Member
Finally got to Sams. Got a big pack of AA batteries, some generic Aleve, some generic Ibuprofin, some vitamins, some granola, and 5 lbs of honey which I will transfer to glass jars. They didn't have any butane on hand this time and didn't have any of the 7 oz canned cokes that I like. Still was over $100. I was mainly interested in the OTC meds and feel much better that I have them stocked up now.
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
Me too, I feel better when I've made sure I have a supply of what I need.
God is good all the time
Judy
We all think alike! We restocked on batteries and OTC meds also. In fact I am placing one more order to ADP hoping that It will be filled. Decided to up my antibiotic stash. Every morning I get up thankful that we still have power and then I go down my list determining which thing would be harder to do without the grid! I make sure that all big items are washed and then I get all that canning and dehydrating done. Our tomatoes have produced lots of tomatoes and I think tomatoes are my least favorite thing to preserve. I have loaded the dehydrator twice and have canned countless jars of sauce and juice. In case I don't have the opportunity to say it... Thanks to all of you for being such great friends!
aviax2
Veteran Member
Everyone sounds busy.
Barry- Great info, thank you.
DH went to his uncles yesterday and picked some green beans since they have put up what they want and ours are late this year. DH didn’t plant any last year because we still had several on the shelf and wasn’t planning on it this year either, but after he checked what we had he decided to go ahead and planted 2 rows of pole beans. I got the beans snapped right after he got home with them, washed and put in the fridge until this morning. I managed to get jars washed up and everything I’d need for canning pulled together to make things easier for me today. I had 7 quarts and 6 pints, should have been 7 but one of my pint jars broke as I was filling. We’re enjoying having blueberries again this year, a hard freeze got them last year. We’ve put a couple of gallons in 1 and 2 cup portions in the freezer so far and he picked another gallon today. Our daughters are supposed to come and pick berries this week.
I thought my heart was going to stop yesterday when DH told me that we only had 2 boxes of regular lids left in the canning kitchen. I knew we didn’t have a lot but I didn’t realize since I don’t go down there much that we were that low. I knew we had plenty of wide mouth because I looked in the drawer not that long ago but for some reason didn’t even notice the regular lids. Last year when I first started hearing about shortages I told him to start picking up a few boxes whenever he shopped to make sure I didn’t get too low and I ended up with 12 boxes that I tucked away in the laundry room (thank heavens) so I knew I had some but I was so sure I had more but I didn’t. I also knew I had some wide mouth lids that I had bought years ago called Gardener’s Kitchen (some of you may remember them from way back) because I always used more regular mouth, I still had almost a full case. Well apparently when we moved house 11 years ago DH put some things away in the basement and I looked everywhere except the the right place. I called him to come help and we not only found those wide mouth but we also found many boxes of regular mouth GK lids that I thought I had used up. I know they are old but they’ve been at a pretty consistent temp all these years and I trust them probably more than the newer lids. The compound still seems just fine. I used some in canning beans today along with some older Ball lids that I found with the others and everything except one ball lid has sealed! Do you think I’m crazy for trusting them? I’m not too sure how trusting he is, he left before I got up this morning and had no luck finding lids at a couple of different Walmart’s then he drove to the closest Rural King (75 minutes away) but was able to get 12 boxes of regular lids. By the way the Rural King is in Martin TN if anyone is needing some. Yesterday they showed they only had wide mouth and no regular, today they showed just the opposite so I would check before going. Anyway, I’m feeling a tad better about this canning season than I was yesterday.
I want to get a shopping trip planned soon but I despise being out in the heat.
Barry- Great info, thank you.
DH went to his uncles yesterday and picked some green beans since they have put up what they want and ours are late this year. DH didn’t plant any last year because we still had several on the shelf and wasn’t planning on it this year either, but after he checked what we had he decided to go ahead and planted 2 rows of pole beans. I got the beans snapped right after he got home with them, washed and put in the fridge until this morning. I managed to get jars washed up and everything I’d need for canning pulled together to make things easier for me today. I had 7 quarts and 6 pints, should have been 7 but one of my pint jars broke as I was filling. We’re enjoying having blueberries again this year, a hard freeze got them last year. We’ve put a couple of gallons in 1 and 2 cup portions in the freezer so far and he picked another gallon today. Our daughters are supposed to come and pick berries this week.
I thought my heart was going to stop yesterday when DH told me that we only had 2 boxes of regular lids left in the canning kitchen. I knew we didn’t have a lot but I didn’t realize since I don’t go down there much that we were that low. I knew we had plenty of wide mouth because I looked in the drawer not that long ago but for some reason didn’t even notice the regular lids. Last year when I first started hearing about shortages I told him to start picking up a few boxes whenever he shopped to make sure I didn’t get too low and I ended up with 12 boxes that I tucked away in the laundry room (thank heavens) so I knew I had some but I was so sure I had more but I didn’t. I also knew I had some wide mouth lids that I had bought years ago called Gardener’s Kitchen (some of you may remember them from way back) because I always used more regular mouth, I still had almost a full case. Well apparently when we moved house 11 years ago DH put some things away in the basement and I looked everywhere except the the right place. I called him to come help and we not only found those wide mouth but we also found many boxes of regular mouth GK lids that I thought I had used up. I know they are old but they’ve been at a pretty consistent temp all these years and I trust them probably more than the newer lids. The compound still seems just fine. I used some in canning beans today along with some older Ball lids that I found with the others and everything except one ball lid has sealed! Do you think I’m crazy for trusting them? I’m not too sure how trusting he is, he left before I got up this morning and had no luck finding lids at a couple of different Walmart’s then he drove to the closest Rural King (75 minutes away) but was able to get 12 boxes of regular lids. By the way the Rural King is in Martin TN if anyone is needing some. Yesterday they showed they only had wide mouth and no regular, today they showed just the opposite so I would check before going. Anyway, I’m feeling a tad better about this canning season than I was yesterday.
I want to get a shopping trip planned soon but I despise being out in the heat.
Don't sweat the double post. The software glitches once in awhile.
As far as trusting the lids... well, don't, at least completely. If you have any chance to find new ones, grab them (I think Packy said Berlin packaging is shipojng?). Use the older ones as sparingly as possible (and I understand if that means you are going to can everything with them!)
The only reason I'm hesitant is I had a batch of Ball brand lids in 2014 which suffered from early separation of the sealant from the lid itself. They sealed fine at first, but started failing 6 months out. All we could do was use up the jars as fast as possible, and check each lid before using.
Summerthyme
John Deere Girl
Veteran Member
I hope you don't mind me asking this, but how do you grow your cabbage? I use oregano and dill for companion planting, but this year it hasn't helped much.
aviax2
Veteran Member
Yes, I’m not 100 percent sure of them and that’s why I chose to use them today on green beans to see how they do instead of waiting to use them when I can meat or something else I’ve put more effort and expense into. If what I canned today doesn’t work out, then I’ll know.
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
I'm ordering a 12 can case of B&M Brown bread and a case of Keystone pork 28oz cans this morning. I wanted the Keystone ground beef, but it's too expensive in my area. We're also going grocery shopping, today, just to the grocery store in small town for our 2 week supply.
I picked our first 4 tomatoes this morning! Vines are heavily loaded, and looks to be a great harvest beginning to come in. It's been a couple of years, since I've canned tomatoes. This year may see a huge canning process going on. I'm still waiting to see if oldest DS can get bushels of purple hull peas at the farmer's market he goes to over in another county. If so, he always buys enough for him and us. Will also can those. I canned 4 bushels one year( 2 yrs. ago). I still have some of them setting on a shelf in my pantry room. I buy canned purple hull peas at the grocery store, too, just to help out my stock.
I picked our first 4 tomatoes this morning! Vines are heavily loaded, and looks to be a great harvest beginning to come in. It's been a couple of years, since I've canned tomatoes. This year may see a huge canning process going on. I'm still waiting to see if oldest DS can get bushels of purple hull peas at the farmer's market he goes to over in another county. If so, he always buys enough for him and us. Will also can those. I canned 4 bushels one year( 2 yrs. ago). I still have some of them setting on a shelf in my pantry room. I buy canned purple hull peas at the grocery store, too, just to help out my stock.
20Gauge
TB Fanatic
The wife just texted me and Lowes got two pallets of canning jars today. So she is buying a bunch.
The latest canning attempt went well. It apparently helps that I actually closed the jars.
Attached is a picture of my coop that is almost done. I still have to do the run. I also started a thread if you want more pictures.
The latest canning attempt went well. It apparently helps that I actually closed the jars.
Attached is a picture of my coop that is almost done. I still have to do the run. I also started a thread if you want more pictures.
Attachments
20Gauge
TB Fanatic
Wife and I did a little shopping yesterday. Since I like roast beef sandwiches, and she is buying it sliced. I pointed out she could save a bunch if she got a slicer. After a bit of research, she agreed. So I have a new thing to get her. A meat / cheese slicer.
It does save quite a bit. I am estimating about $5.50 per pound for the good stuff. I could pay for the slicer in no time.
It does save quite a bit. I am estimating about $5.50 per pound for the good stuff. I could pay for the slicer in no time.
Marseydoats
Veteran Member
I'm still in clean up mode. Seems like every time I turn around I find more paperwork from work. 
I donated half a dozen pairs of old glasses to the Vision Center this morning, 2 of them I don't even remember wearing. Who knows how long they've been here. Got part of the truck loaded for a big dump run in the morning, the cat litter and shop trash. I can't put the house garbage in until right before I leave or the raccoons will have it strewn all over the yard.
I'm afraid if we go into lock down again, that I won't be able to get to the dump, and we don't have trash pick up.
I donated half a dozen pairs of old glasses to the Vision Center this morning, 2 of them I don't even remember wearing. Who knows how long they've been here. Got part of the truck loaded for a big dump run in the morning, the cat litter and shop trash. I can't put the house garbage in until right before I leave or the raccoons will have it strewn all over the yard.
I'm afraid if we go into lock down again, that I won't be able to get to the dump, and we don't have trash pick up.
We got some more of the fire wood split and stacked in the carport. It is one of those coast to coast carports soit is not attached to the house. We have about 3 years worth of wood stored now. But we still have some to work up. We will get it done. It just takes us longer than it used too. That is one reason we like to stay a couple years ahead at least.
My elderberry harvest looked good when they were in flower. But some of the clusters did not produce berries or only very few on the cluster. Not sure what happened. I will make whatever elderberry syrup I can, even if it is just a pint.
We got our injectable ivemectin from our usual feed store. Our friend that works there said he was selling a lot of the horse wormer paste for covid. I told him we wanted the injectable. We should be able to take care of the whole family with what we bought.
I went in my favorite sheltered workshop thrift store. I found a few good toys for the grand boys. While I was there, I saw a friend in there with no mask and I know she has been only out of her sick bed a couple of days. She had covid. I think she would still be under quarantine. But no wonder Arkansas is having a third wave.
I went for my eye check up. There has been no change since last appointment 2 years ago. I did order another pair of glasses. My current ones have some scratches. I will wear the old ones when I mow and stuff like that.
We have added some to the pantry. It is to the point it is getting on my nerves, but I am not comfortable letting things run at a lower level.
My elderberry harvest looked good when they were in flower. But some of the clusters did not produce berries or only very few on the cluster. Not sure what happened. I will make whatever elderberry syrup I can, even if it is just a pint.
We got our injectable ivemectin from our usual feed store. Our friend that works there said he was selling a lot of the horse wormer paste for covid. I told him we wanted the injectable. We should be able to take care of the whole family with what we bought.
I went in my favorite sheltered workshop thrift store. I found a few good toys for the grand boys. While I was there, I saw a friend in there with no mask and I know she has been only out of her sick bed a couple of days. She had covid. I think she would still be under quarantine. But no wonder Arkansas is having a third wave.
I went for my eye check up. There has been no change since last appointment 2 years ago. I did order another pair of glasses. My current ones have some scratches. I will wear the old ones when I mow and stuff like that.
We have added some to the pantry. It is to the point it is getting on my nerves, but I am not comfortable letting things run at a lower level.
Old Gray Mare
TB Fanatic
Costco Chicken observation.
Our Costco still sells the $5 rotisserie chicken, which I'm truly thankful for. I just canned up two of them and noticed something different. Usually the meat from two Costco chickens will fill four quart canning jars. This time? Well they almost filled the jars but the jars were nowhere near as tightly packed with meat as usual.
Our Costco still sells the $5 rotisserie chicken, which I'm truly thankful for. I just canned up two of them and noticed something different. Usually the meat from two Costco chickens will fill four quart canning jars. This time? Well they almost filled the jars but the jars were nowhere near as tightly packed with meat as usual.
Thought I would pop in before the canning begins on day 5. Probably 3 more canner loads and 1 dehydrator load of tomatoes and I will be done with Tomatoes! Whoop Whoop!! Purple hulls behind me. Zipper peas yet ahead and beans are just starting. But none of that is as hard as tomatoes...to me of course!! Hope everyone has a wonderful productive day. Remember productive can mean just finding your center and enjoying the peace of the moment. And for beauty today I will smile and hum every time I look out the window and see the Stargazer lilies which usually bloom in March. God must have known about all the hard work I would have to do in July and delayed those lilies just for me!
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
I got some sad news last night. My last remaining aunt on Dad's side passed away. Her funeral service will be on Saturday. I have one great aunt on Dad's side left, and that's it, other than many, many cousins, 1st, second, and third. She was well loved by everyone, and only lived about 3 miles from me. She was 86 yrs. old.
Mom isn't doing well, either. She has a doctor's apt. on Monday. I'm really concerned about her. Ever since she got the C vaccines, she hasn't done well, on top of my sister passing. She's 81 yrs. old, and has health problems.
No rain, today! Yay! Washing a load of laundry to hang outside. Cary will be working more on the load of firewood. I have a few things to do in my flowers, also. Some shrubs need trimming, and some old dead flowers need cutting back. I got 3 more tomatoes this morning, too.
I've got everything dated, rotated, and put away from my shoppong run. There were no shortages that I saw. I managed to find several things on sale, so I stocked up on those items even though they weren't on my shopping list. Cary's favorite jelly is apple. Our apple tree didn't produce this year, so no homemade is going to happen this year. Apple jelly was one item on sale. I bought a couple of jars. Also, canned veggies were all on sale. I bought 10 cans of those in different varieties...green beans, purple hull peas, and limas. Egg noodles were also on sale. I bought 4 large bags of those to be emptied into plastic jugs. It was a good run. The total of my grocery bill was a bit over $200. That's for 2 weeks worth, so I'm not complaining.
Mom isn't doing well, either. She has a doctor's apt. on Monday. I'm really concerned about her. Ever since she got the C vaccines, she hasn't done well, on top of my sister passing. She's 81 yrs. old, and has health problems.
No rain, today! Yay! Washing a load of laundry to hang outside. Cary will be working more on the load of firewood. I have a few things to do in my flowers, also. Some shrubs need trimming, and some old dead flowers need cutting back. I got 3 more tomatoes this morning, too.
I've got everything dated, rotated, and put away from my shoppong run. There were no shortages that I saw. I managed to find several things on sale, so I stocked up on those items even though they weren't on my shopping list. Cary's favorite jelly is apple. Our apple tree didn't produce this year, so no homemade is going to happen this year. Apple jelly was one item on sale. I bought a couple of jars. Also, canned veggies were all on sale. I bought 10 cans of those in different varieties...green beans, purple hull peas, and limas. Egg noodles were also on sale. I bought 4 large bags of those to be emptied into plastic jugs. It was a good run. The total of my grocery bill was a bit over $200. That's for 2 weeks worth, so I'm not complaining.
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
I've been buying Emerald 100 calorie walnuts, almonds and dried cherries. They are 4.74 for a box of 10, so that's .47 a day. Since I think this is a healthy snack, but I don't want it cost me .47 a day. I bought dried cherries (no sugar added) and I already have walnuts and almonds. I'm going to make my own packages. I'll put my snack in a snack size baggie.
Since I've started to eat these little packages I've discovered that I don't need a handful of nuts, just a small amount is satisfying. I also like cashews and I eat 4 a day. since I'm having teeth issues I can't just gobble them down and it takes me awhile to eat those 4 and I'm learning to appreciate the small taste.
My grandmother always told me to take care of my teeth, she didn't and had only a few in her older years. I've still got all of mine, but they have become sensitive.
God is good all the time
Judy
Since I've started to eat these little packages I've discovered that I don't need a handful of nuts, just a small amount is satisfying. I also like cashews and I eat 4 a day. since I'm having teeth issues I can't just gobble them down and it takes me awhile to eat those 4 and I'm learning to appreciate the small taste.
My grandmother always told me to take care of my teeth, she didn't and had only a few in her older years. I've still got all of mine, but they have become sensitive.
God is good all the time
Judy
aviax2
Veteran Member
DH picked a gallon of blueberries to take to our DD that’s busy nursing sick children this week, along with some squash, tomatoes, etc. He picked another gallon that I got ready for the freezer this afternoon. I got 7 quarts of ground beef canned (I used new lids, not the old ones) today. I was planning/hoping to get more meats canned before the garden stuff started coming in but you do what you can, when you can.
aviax2
Veteran Member
I think it might be helpful for you to talk to my husband. I’ve been trying to have him see the need for years! Not long ago he says “I might just look at some on Cabella’s” and that’s the last I’ve heard of it *sigh*.
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Cary finally got his Walmart order, yesterday afternoon. He'll be hanging warning signs all along our fence and gate, today. The signs read, " NOTICE.... WARNING...NO Tresspassing...Warning....Keep off fence....Private Property". He may order more, later. People should get the message. If not, we have Castle laws and Stand Your Ground laws here. We already have "Beware of Dog" signs up, too.
I'm hopeful that my Brown Bread comes, today. We're anxious to try it, since we've never had any. If we like it, I'll order more. Am watching for Keystone pork, today, too.
Darn coons raided our peach tree last night. Cary went out this morning to gather the rest of them, and NOTHING! They stripped it bare. My Fig tree is loaded, and I'm going to hang something on it to keep the coons and birds out of it. Hope it works. We love our figs.
I'm hopeful that my Brown Bread comes, today. We're anxious to try it, since we've never had any. If we like it, I'll order more. Am watching for Keystone pork, today, too.
Darn coons raided our peach tree last night. Cary went out this morning to gather the rest of them, and NOTHING! They stripped it bare. My Fig tree is loaded, and I'm going to hang something on it to keep the coons and birds out of it. Hope it works. We love our figs.
WanderLore
Veteran Member
Good morning everyone!
Stuck in cabin so far, storms. Yesterday took my grandsons to help me work in food pantry. They really enjoyed and worked good. They were hustling.
There was a great deal of grapes left so we brought 3 bags home. The red ones. Daughter made 10 jars of jelly with them! She also bought a dehydrator. She is canning something almost every day.
That's interest based learning. I've turned the garden over to her and she and the boys are out there every day.
Took boys to library for animal show, much fun.
I got a new phone. Straight talk. $59 for phone and $35 a month. I am so happy with it. I have a good strong signal everywhere and plenty of data. Very happy with it!
That's it for now till I can get out of cabin
Stuck in cabin so far, storms. Yesterday took my grandsons to help me work in food pantry. They really enjoyed and worked good. They were hustling.
There was a great deal of grapes left so we brought 3 bags home. The red ones. Daughter made 10 jars of jelly with them! She also bought a dehydrator. She is canning something almost every day.
That's interest based learning. I've turned the garden over to her and she and the boys are out there every day.
Took boys to library for animal show, much fun.
I got a new phone. Straight talk. $59 for phone and $35 a month. I am so happy with it. I have a good strong signal everywhere and plenty of data. Very happy with it!
That's it for now till I can get out of cabin
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
Last night a UPS truck broke down at our house. DH sprayed something on something and it started but sounded horrible and then died. After about an hour another driver came and got the stranded driver. This morning the truck was gone. We have a winding driveway back in the woods but it should not have been too difficult to get the dead truck out. The UPS drivers have maps on their handheld of where the houses are and where to turn off the road. Fedx drivers do not.
We stayed out and chatted with the driver, DH gave him eggs and ground pork. Nice fellow, not the usual one that comes here but we have seen him several times before. The drivers are always nice, and LOL they should be because the make $40 an hour. Its a hard job with long hours and they deserve a good pay.
I came in because the bugs were biting me, but DH kept him company until he got picked up. I've been cleaning out some of the freezers, we really need to know what we have. I'm putting all of the frozen vegetables in one freezer and I have a lot more than I thought. Another thing I found that I have a lot of are tater tots and 5 or 6 packages of bacon ends and pieces. I would pick up a bag of each of those from time to time, not really knowing how much I actually have.
We have a lot of ground venison that some is up to 4 years old. I'm going to start dehydrating the older stuff. We just can't seem to eat through things fast enough. Because of things on the horizon I'm hesitant to give things away. I did try to give away some chicken leg quarters and two people did not want them. They don't cook that kind of chicken. Its not that I don't its just that Dh simply does not like the way I cook chicken. I fed a different husband and two growing sons on my cooking and they never complained and the boys thrived. Oh well, what ever, the dog and I enjoy my cooking.
I'm looking at red ripe tomatoes out my office window, nice thing to look at. DH likes his tomato sandwiches and I like to add chopped up tomatoes to many things that I cook for myself. I really like them in scrambled eggs.
God is good all the time
Judy
We stayed out and chatted with the driver, DH gave him eggs and ground pork. Nice fellow, not the usual one that comes here but we have seen him several times before. The drivers are always nice, and LOL they should be because the make $40 an hour. Its a hard job with long hours and they deserve a good pay.
I came in because the bugs were biting me, but DH kept him company until he got picked up. I've been cleaning out some of the freezers, we really need to know what we have. I'm putting all of the frozen vegetables in one freezer and I have a lot more than I thought. Another thing I found that I have a lot of are tater tots and 5 or 6 packages of bacon ends and pieces. I would pick up a bag of each of those from time to time, not really knowing how much I actually have.
We have a lot of ground venison that some is up to 4 years old. I'm going to start dehydrating the older stuff. We just can't seem to eat through things fast enough. Because of things on the horizon I'm hesitant to give things away. I did try to give away some chicken leg quarters and two people did not want them. They don't cook that kind of chicken. Its not that I don't its just that Dh simply does not like the way I cook chicken. I fed a different husband and two growing sons on my cooking and they never complained and the boys thrived. Oh well, what ever, the dog and I enjoy my cooking.
I'm looking at red ripe tomatoes out my office window, nice thing to look at. DH likes his tomato sandwiches and I like to add chopped up tomatoes to many things that I cook for myself. I really like them in scrambled eggs.
God is good all the time
Judy
Marseydoats
Veteran Member
Judy, you can cook some of the old venison for the chickens. Mine love any kind of meat.
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
When I find meat in my freezers that are too old, I cook it for dog food. 4 year old meat is more than likely freezer burned, and won't taste good at all. My dog would love it, though.