Boys 'n Toys -
Had to run up north a ways to pick up a new enclosed trailer; Hubby says it's in case the boys get interested in motocross (he raced for years). I told him to hide it behind the shed so daughter doesn't know we have it, or her friends will be borrowing it all the time. I guess it will be handy to have if we have to bug out and it's possible to do so by vehicle (she says, trying to justify the purchase...) I hit the Amish store on the way home and picked up enough red-hot candies to make a few dozen pints of the bright red cinnamon applesauce older grandson likes, so we are set for that.
I have to work tonight and tomorrow night; then it's off to the pool Friday morning, followed by fish at the VFW - there is something to be said for a boring and predictable life, and I plan to enjoy every minute of it!! The neighbor lady is going to ride up to the pool with her Mama so she can drive me home because they figure I won't be safe to drive after pool and lunch - I'm so blessed to have good friends who worry about me
We will have the grandsons this weekend; Hubby works Saturday and has a shoot on Sunday if it doesn't rain, so that will preclude me getting much of anything done other than a bit of outside work. I need to get up to the orchard to get a bushel of apples to can in to applesauce and quarters, but am trying to stretch it out as long as I can as we have been swarmed by those annoying large gnats - the culprit for bringing them in appears to be a bag of potatoes. Keeping all the drains closed and hanging up those sticky fly strips has knocked the swarm down to where they are almost gone, but I'd rather wait a week and be sure before I start peeling mass quantities of apples.
I want to get out the dehydrator while I'm making applesauce and see if my boys enjoy the dried applesauce 'fruit roll ups' as much as they did when they were smaller. I just dump the applesauce on the solid sheets and smooth it out, then pop them in the dehydrator. You can add Jello or Kool-Aid powder to the applesauce before putting it on the sheets to change up the flavor a bit - I kinda like the black cherry and strawberry flavors. The Jello does make them a bit stickier though, and the Kool-Aid makes them sour - just a little something different to have on hand. I'm going to try something I read in one of Kathy's stories (Starting Over, and Over; I think) and dry some to the point of cracking it into chips to add to muffins.
Had the carpenter out to look over some jobs we want done - I had home canned chicken still out on the counter and now he wants me to teach him how to can meat - I mentioned pressure canners and he asked if he had to use one; guess I'd better start looking around at the thrift stores for a used one to pass on to him. Jars are insanely priced at them, so it may not be an option. If I do find him one, it'll likely need a new sealing ring; if so, I'll order another set of spares for my canners that use them as well.
Lids are pretty much impossible to find in this area - and if you do see them, the prices are insane. I've got a decent stock pile but plan to watch for them to start reappearing and will try to double my stock if they do. The nearby Amish store had two boxes of Ball brand half gallon jars (6 per box), and the same of quart jars (dozen), and most of a pallet of no-name pint jars, plus 10 boxes of gallon jars (4/box). I have seen a case or two of Ball jars at the two Wal-Marts I go to but have plenty so left them for others. I give most of the non branded jars that cross my path to the beekeeper who has hives on our ground, but I have pressure canned in non branded jars in the past and had no problems - but I make sure to only can cheap stuff in them just in case
Well dang - guess it's about time to start getting ready for work; I have to leave early because co-worker Buddy just called to tell me that he grabbed supper for me when he went to get something for himself, so I need to allow a little extra time to pick it up. Cheesecake is involved, so I'm pretty sure it's worth the effort
You folks all stay safe out there!