Getting Some Canning Accomplished

We couldn’t resist.  Found Zucker here -completely out of it – as we headed to bed last night.  He was even snoring!  Give him pillows all around the house.  Why bother?!

After my appointment with the doctor last Tuesday – I’ve been trying to drudge my way forward – and carefully.  Daily exercises with my left foot.  I have no choice but to do stretches if I want to get out of bed.  Otherwise – it feels as if I’ve had an ice pick stuck up my shin through the heel of my foot.

I’ve been getting some canning out of the way – in between heading out to try cleaning up and reviving my veggie garden.  Got the first case of green beans set up with the pressure canner – all by myself!  Hubs has helped with the white grape jelly.  We have 4 cases, so far.  I’ve got another 2 cases to get finished today.  Had to run for more pectin yesterday, while getting some grocery shopping done.

The reason for my jelly being so dark – 1 tablespoon of Balsamic Vinegar added to each batch.

Sent Jen home with a couple jars last night.  I woke up with a text from her – informing me that her roommate tasted it.  “Mmmm….. You hungry?”  She got busy making biscuits.  Jen said it was 10:50pm when they sat down to pig out.  LOL

I went ahead and stopped by the new produce place by the park on Grove Street in Loudon yesterday.  I didn’t get to plant any squash.  And our corn is becoming an issue.  Just not sure if it will make as well as I’d hoped.  It was more than my foot that was hurt at the wrong time of year - for sure.  But I am so happy the place has opened!

I picked up a dozen ears of Peaches and Cream corn, along with some squash and some Grainger County Tomatoes.  We’ll be having our Grilled Tequila Lime Chicken Skewers during this run of days off.  The yellow and Zucchini squash goes great in the mix, along with mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and Cilantro.

We’re selling the boat.  We haven’t been able to take time to go out fishing for the past 2 years.  It’s been dead money – sitting in the garage all this time.  So – we decided to make better use of the space and money.  Plans for another boat are on the list for down the road – after we move from here and find our new home with more land – if we need one at all.  Hopefully – we’ll find a place with a couple ponds that we can stock with fish.  If not – a place near Savannah, Georgia – where we can enjoy seafood again – safely.  Both of us are squeamish about eating seafood from the Gulf of Mexico anymore.

Well – I don’t recall ever teaching April how to tell time.  But she seems to have learned – somehow.  And there are times when I wish they made muzzles for cows.  She has the most obnoxious scream.  Worse than a donkey.

Time to head out for this morning’s feeding!

One Foot in Front of The Other

Well… the drains are out. ( This is one of the not-so-gross wounds. )  All the stitches can’t be removed until next Saturday.  But Zucker is beginning to get around a little better!

Can’t say much for my ( now  ‘decorative ‘ ) Sage plant - which he has chosen as the easiest target for pissing.  But ( English version ) - ‘ Good Sugar ‘ ( not ) is feeling much better!


As for me - I couldn’t even tell you the date or what day of the week it is right now.


I just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

I did manage to get 10 pints of homemade chicken soup canned for Hubs to take to in his lunch for work.

I’ve been baking pies like crazy.  I am loving the deep-dish pie plates.  However - I learned with the first cherry pie.  One must double up on the filling for these plates.


But you’re guaranteed to win hearts - and start lots of fights!


I’ve spent very little time sitting over the past week.  My feet and calves can testify.

Been just a little bit busy!


Added a few goodies to our Christmas get-up this year!


Enhanced a few others.

The ornament here, is one that Grandma Bea - my birth father's mother - gave to me - Christmas 1992.  She made it with a loose tea strainer - sequins and beads.  I love it!  I've always been picky about it!  I think of her every time I even glance at it.


We decided not to decorate outside the house.  The behavior of utility companies across this entire country is pure nonsense - totally uncalled for.

Why become one more sucker?

Instead - we did choose to bring a few decorations inside the house.  And we turn them on for a while - during evenings - before going to bed.

By the time I got the garland settled over the kitchen cabinets - it was impossible to see anything else sitting up there.

I love this very old metal picnic box that I found at one of my favorite treasure shops.  Chose to have a little fun with it!

And the tiny lights I found at Loudon Mercantile are so adorable here!  Perfect for this spot!


My list keeps growing.  And it’s now time to go set up everything for baking a couple loaves of bread.


For now - Here’s the greatest thought for today!

Skink - Skank - Skunk.... - No.... Skink!

It’s like…. Once you’ve had it… you can never go back.

I’m just not able to prod myself into buying one more tin can filled with tomatoes - much less - tomato sauce or paste.

I can taste the metal from the tin can.

My efforts are spoiled to only my pure - homemade - Tomato Sauce.  With my sauce - there is no need for paste.

I managed to get a total 9 half-pints of sauce made this go-round.

This batch was concocted  by a mixture of sources - 5 lbs. of beautiful " Roma " Tomatoes purchased from Horn of Plenty in Maryville - about 1 lb. of " Amish Paste " Tomatoes from out in the yard - and 9 pints of canned Tomatoes from 2009.

Our efforts with growing tomatoes this year - FAIL.  They were put out there in that fenced nightmare that was intended to be our garden.

I refuse to step another foot inside those boundaries.  Unless I have to go in and chase one of  The Girls.

Our garden has now become “ Heaven “ for The Girls.

Nooooo.  We haven’t cut their heads off and buried them out there.  But they think we have.  We turn them loose out there during Dwayne’s days off - after everybody has dropped their eggs.

They aren’t the only ones losing their minds around here, either.

It’s been hot weather - which means - Skink Season.

 

( If you click on the pictures - you can see larger ones.  Wowwww!  How cool is that!! )

No typo - Skink.

Zucker flat-dab loses it.  Loses his mind.  Loses his hearing.  Just - loses it.

And he’s teaching Carlie bad habits.  Take a look.

You can see a brown patch beside the brick and hose.  By the time I began shooting this - Carlie had already flipped the brick over - with her nose.

“ Sexy Feet - Cow With No Legs - Spicy Bitch “ has the strength of a cow.

And yes - she’s managed to steal a few Jalapeno Peppers out of my bucket this year, as well.

Dog is just - weird.

Enjoy!