Maple tree forecast

 I have noticed the last few years that the east maple tree starts turning about 4 to 6 wks. before the 1st snow. It started turning 2 weeks ago.

She's watching to see if I come up through E's pasture. 

This year it's turning faster than last year. 

I need to get the stove cleaned and ready and the front porch set up for wood. Hubby is allowed to move wood (with breaks) starting next week. Since it's load the tractor bucket and move it we should be able to handle it with breaks. 

Tomatoes need picked LOL. I did get 14 quarts of pears canned, am making pear sauce of what is left.

This week... back to ER

Thursday:

We ate the last of the leftovers except biscuits

I got green beans done. 

I planted 6 varieties of garlic so that took 6 garden beds out from spring planting.

We bought a very old apple press. Hubby is bored. Right now we have E's kids pick the apples, E takes them to the cider press guy and we pay to have apple cider. E paid for the cider this year so we only got 1 gallon. His oldest boy went with Hubby to get the press (he made sure Hubby wasn't lifting). Hubby showed him where the Scioto river starts as it's runs past his grandpa and uncle's home. We will have to learn how to use this press. It takes about 40 apples to make a gallon of cider.

Friday:

Appts are time suckers. 

Worse when you already don't feel well and your great PA( I've watched him take on his own boss to back me) decides to become a wall and not listen. He thinks I should suck it up and get rid of what ever to pay for biologics when I am on Medicare. I finally told him I would when he paid my mortgage for the farm, the taxes and the insurance. He frowned at me over that. Doesn't want me to go back on the OTC meds I was on that worked before the company was sold and the idiots that bought it changed the formula to be worthless. Wanted me to have blood work done to find out if my biologic is not working (really? Like having break throughs every other time doesn't tell you that? and Not having that done either because I am not paying $250 for it) and was not happy when I said I would ONLY if I didn't have to pay out of pocket. One of the nurses told the doctor he is under and HE called me. He told me to pay the mortgage, do what ever holistic I needed to do and take the old formula (his wife takes it also). He grew up poor, he understands, knows he grandparents had to go without meds due to costs, has watched his parents at times do the same and even though he is a doctor, he is not a rich one and knows at some time he will make the same choices. What he does see is the ones that never had to make that sacrifice, or their parents hide that from them.... are clueless and are really going to struggle when they get older.

We stopped on way home at Hurley's Farm. We know they sell a variety  of winter squash. They even had the baby butternut so Hubby got 3 of them, we picked up 2 more Acorn squash (A's wife B  had a couple) I picked up 1 spaghetti squash. It's a so and so on our like list but it's another veggie on the table. We also got carrot cake, pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting and fry pies, pumpkin, blackberry and buckeye (we have no freaking clue but hope for peanut butter and chocolate)

We went and got my meds the PA insisted I have even though the ER put me on antibiotics.  Doc told me to NOT take that strength To take half (pharmacy back that as Doc called them to fix that order) and I can't take it while on antibiotics. 

We had sausage gravy over the leftover biscuits. Both of us is calling it an early night.

Saturday, Hubby was doing odd jobs in the yard and E come ask me if Hubby was allowed to do that before he stopped him. GOOD NEIGHBOR. Yes he is allowed. As of Saturday the 5 lb. weight limit was lifted though I noticed he still put the brace on the wrist that they used to enter his artery. He did some small odd jobs that has been on the list forever. Got the info to fix the solar pump then had to find old computer as the new one doesn't do ethernet cable and you have to have that to program it. He is going to let the company know they need to update how to program it. 

THEN  we were back to ER... this time not for us but Son 2 who is single was in ER. HE was vomiting, shaking, and BP was high. They thought heart attack. ER called and told me as he couldn't hold phone due to shaking. I told them his BP runs high, his old doctor refused to put him on meds because he was active duty and he is retired. ASK HIM when he last drank water instead of pop.... he couldn't remember... yeah. He was dehydrated. His VA doc and civilian doc now know he has a problem. His follow ups are this week. He also knows to lay off drinking pop when he is working a family day at the VFW or at least drink water every other time as they have bottle water. 

Not only that STUPID drove himself instead of calling the squad AND went to an ER that isn't connected to a hospital so would have had to transfer him to the hospital that was actually closer to him that the squad would have taken him to. HE got that lecture from the ER doctor and then another about having his parents who both had been in the ER in the past week drive 2 hrs. to come get his car and drive him home. 

Wait until Daughter 2 gets ahold of him as she is only 15 minutes from him and could have took him to the ER (attached to hospital) if he was that freaking concerned about squad bill. We thought he had called her and she wasn't able to go get his car and him... 

OF COURSE, that retriggered my Crohn's and Hubby's BP was up so we sat around on Sunday enjoying the decent weather. Hubby brought up how stupid it was for Son2 to drive himself to the ER with a possible heart attack. I said he is his father's son since he just was going to drive himself to Urgent care and WAS having a heart attack. 

I do have to order mesh bags for the apple press. Hubby wanted a ladder to use to get things out of his tool box on the back of the truck. I told him to use the freaking steps built in the end of the truck. He was not happy with me but I made it clear he was just being lazy and if getting into the bed of his truck using those steps was too much he needed to sell that big truck and get something smaller he could manage. 

Then he said something about buying another vehicle... NOT now, we have hospital bills to pay off and the next vehicle we buy I am picking out as it will be the one I drive the most. I am not just going after something that isn't a good fit and definitely not when I know there are bills in the thousands to be paid off. He got nasty mouthed (which is not his norm, well wasn't his norm until the dementia started that they know think was caused by his heart issues). I can handle nasty mean mouth. Mother was the champ in that contest. He came back two hours later and said he was sorry and figured he made the Crohn's worse... I asked for his BP... it was up also. HE sighed. Made note on his phone of talking over with his Cardiologist about his blow ups as he put it. I told him he was a grenade not a bomb if that would help. Got a laugh out of him but he was quiet the rest of the night which was peaceful. 

I know we don't NEED another car at this point. He is not working so we can balance doctor appts BUT I also know the work truck costs more to run as it's diesel.

He is struggling with what is a want vs a need. 

He can start on the wood shed this coming week. 

I have to laugh.

 Hubby just got up to go to potty... I was thinking he was up so I went to go lay down... before I get back to the bedroom I hear him tell Charlotte to go lay down he was going back to sleep... AND HE IS already back to sleep. He has NEVER been able to go right back to sleep.

 I got her to curl up on the couch across from his chair he is sleeping in, Tucked her in since she has her nose up her butt means she is cold. I noticed Hubby has an extra blanket so I turned the furnace up 2 degrees... the front room will be 70. 

I can see the widow on the other side of E is up and outside with her dog in the dark as she has a flashlight and is following the dog with it. It's a little dog that had been her late mom's and then her late husband. 

The widow on our other side is out on her deck... H's dog is over there and she is shooing it home. He is the Amish that property comes up to the side of ours. Even though his lane is on the other road it's nothing for his kids or dogs to "visit" coming around the other pond at the other's neighbors.  

E and the kids are out doing chores, flash light all over the place. Kerosene light in the barn so the girls are milking in the back stall.  

I think about if I had lost him.  Our wills etc. need update. That phone call is for Monday as that lawyer is on vacation. Our old will would stand but still we need to update as Ohio changed the inheritance rules.   

He made a comment about I needed help to do a couple things, E pointed out in front of me that if I can't do it NOW while he is alive, means I need to change it as he wouldn't be here if he was dead. I was glad he said it before I did. 

BUT it is a fact. 

I need to be able to back the 350 (aka work truck) and back it with our small trailer and the wood wagon. 

 I need to know who to call for maintenance for that tractor. I know who does the 350, the Silverado and the zero turn lawnmower. I can call the widow to our south to find out who works on her mower for our other mower we used for spraying the lane. I would need name of good tow truck if the truck went down. 

I need to be comfortable with tractor and changing equipment Daughter 2 told me to youtube it. Daughter 4 backed that, seems both do it for household repairs even though they both rent. I can do household repairs but I don't do anything connected to propane. I have the number of appliance repair guy, son of an old classmate. 

I wouldn't need to cut my own wood as I could get scrap wood from sawmills (we have 4-6) that sell that. I would need a truck or suv to pull that wagon. If I got to car I would need to have someone deliver it to me. Might not save enough doing that. 

I need to be comfortable with running the chainsaw and wood splitter.

I would need to remove all the phone numbers off his phone and put on mine as he makes the calls to the repairs guys. 

BUT could I do the work here?  

Yes, I wouldn't raise as much garden unless I was selling it at auction (possible thought as income would drop by 25 %)That would also be a way to stay connected to community and have purpose to get out of house. Maybe grow plants for just one person and sell little sets of different plants "1 or 2 person" as I definitely didn't need 4 to 6 of each variety I got. 

But all the rest. Yes I can do it, I can age in place. He just has to quit hogging the tractor etc. LOL  

SO far behind. ... LANA I have question

Lana, what was the holistic site you suggested?.... my GI  and a couple friends (one has RA and can't afford her 3 biologics) would like to look at it. 

I did get the tomatoes that was picked canned as pasta sauce. But I haven't been to the gardens.

The garlic is in to plant for next year's garlic. That will be today. 

 I got one more round of zucchini to go in dehydrators. Still have a few for a fresh dish. 

I still need to wash potatoes and put them in storage. 

I need to deal with watermelon. I need to reorganize the frigs as there is a lot of fresh produce that needs ate NOW.

I told Hubby we are having pork, sweet potato, brussels sprouts and carrot cake Saturday... he looked at me and then laughed. First day of Autumn . 

I still need to do the fall cleaning including the wood stove and winter curtains as it sounds to be a doozy coming at us and maybe earlier than late Nov. which is usual for us.

Primary Doc is a friend, he told Hubby, he can cut wood with chain saw but not lift wood to buzz saw. He is to have the Amish neighbor kids pick the wood up and stack it or I can. He can use the gas motor splitter but not by hand. As his doctor he can advise, as his friend of decades he can put his foot up his butt. Since even his friend from where he worked as been on him, the friend that Hubby saved his life doing chest compressions when he dropped from heart attack at work... he is listening. HE had a doctor appt yesterday.. just a lot of paperwork but it was an 2 hr. drive to it. He told the nurse he was going to set his phone alarm for 30 mins. and take a nap in the corner of their waiting room before he drove him. They took him back to their break room so he could lay down on the couch. She called to let me know he was taking a nap before heading home and their head nurse was going to listen to his heart before he would leave to make sure nothing was going on. They are medical for his brain. Definitely a good office to care beyond their specialty. 

I need to look for part D for myself. LOL I know I am doing straight Medicare (already talked to all my doctors) and I will get Medigap from AARP (been member for 10 yrs) so Part D is the last part. I've looked a bit but need to finalize that so on Oct 1st I can just slap that on and have it set for Jan 1st (I turn 65 in Jan) 

Hubby has had the doctors he is seeing now to take both his medical cards so it's 1 time of doing paperwork. He just has to remind them to remove the other insurance next month. The one was so excited as it removes the preapproval crap (their word to Hubby). 

Hubby's new Cardo doctor that works here in town besides over to the hospital one town over. Made a point of going past our house. Took one look at the gardens in front of the house. She asked if we grew dried beans. Not this year as we have 150 lbs.  of them in storage. Said put them in the rotation of eating 3 to 4 times a week. Hubby shook his head, nope wife has Crohns. So she said once a week for me and four for him. Then he told her I canned part of them so we could have a quick meal. No sense buying canned refried beans when I can open a jar I canned for the same thing. I can eat a little of beans at a time, but not back to back days. Refried doesn't bother me at all... or hasn't yet.

 Since Hubby has been in hospital , Charlotte has been waking me up at 2 and as long as I am here in dining room until Hubby wakes up she will leave him alone and she sleeps. I think she is "nurse on duty" until 2 and I get the next shift. I am okay with it. I can go back to sleep.

SIGH... at ER

 

Dropped off bow that E dry shot (yes he know better but he did it anyways so now he has ours so he can hunt) to be fixed. Says right on his box that he stores it in to NOT dry shoot it.

Dropped of E's bank deposit

Had Hubby's follow up appt with primary doctor. He cleared him to remove bandage and lift more than 5 lbs. Talked about changing a prescription.

Walked into the parking lot and I said, we are going to UVMC, I've had enough of this Crohn's

WELL... either the Crohn's started the raging UTI that I had NO symptoms of or it triggered the Crohn's... I guess 6 one half dozen another. ALSO my potassium was low but now I understand why I kept feeling we were missing something with me not feeling well.

SO now on meds to "clear up" UTI which will make the Crohn's worse before it starts clearing up

On the good side... this will wipe out what is left of MY out of pocket for the year.  I just need to come up with the cash SIGH.

Hubby sent me this

 They now have phone charging on the hospital bed railing... GEEZE.

He was stressing about the bills coming in. I called the insurance company and she gave me a ball park figure of $2500. Normally they don't pay for the ambulance but since the doctor ordered it and it was for transport to a hospital to do surgery... if they don't pay it to appeal it to be paid. We have a good part of that in the money market and since the bills will take 2 months to get to us after insurance etc. I have plenty of time to save up the rest. I'll probably just pull it from savings so he can see that money is there and stop that stressing.

He will stress about the wood shed, the solar pump, the fire wood, taking the gardens down... I know my Hubby.

Daughter 4 was upset that we didn't get enough notice to be there for surgery. I texted her he was going to surgery before I even could leave and get there let alone her 1 1/2 hrs. away.  So she made up for it by texting me off and on all day. She had to attend a funeral of a close friend that is our age, he died from widow maker heart attack. I had to charge my phone twice due to phone calls and texts.

She asked if we had enough groceries and then cracked up laughing until she cried... I thought it was as funny as all get out. I told her no, but if she came up and picked it and canned it I would... that made her laugh harder as she is totally clueless about canning. Growing it, harvesting it... no problem. She said the wife of the friend that died was not sure if she would have enough money to pay the bills and buy groceries. So Daughter 4 got a group of them together to go buy a month's worth of groceries with the granddaughter's help of what to buy including toilet paper, cleaning stuff etc. The granddaughter is going to stay with her as they already made the choice to sell the house and move her closer to the granddaughter. They were going to do that before he died so she's trying to do what they had planned. 

E stopped last night to get update. He said on Monday Hubby is to come over and they would talk about when E could help get the wood shed done. He is working on building the wash room for M. The boys can stack wood anytime we need it, I didn't need to be doing that (he knows I have a bad back), the girls can help in the gardens.... we don't want Lonnie as he takes bites out of the tomatoes and then puts them in the baskets.  M said if I wanted she would just do my canning for me if I need to do other things. I told him I was down to making pasta sauce so should be able to get it done. So she sent over eggs as she know I give Charlotte an egg daily for her skin issues.

Hubby is allowed to mow... trimmer not so much for a couple weeks but self propelled mower and riding is okay. Front loader is okay as long as he is not tugging on anything. Hubby asked as he doing that for an Amish sawmill.

We have to tweak the diet a bit... more is Hubby has to STOP snacking after supper and right before bed. He showed the doctor what he weighed at the beginning of the year and how he was losing. Doctor told him that was good but would like to see it be a bit more even each week instead of 4 lbs. one week and 1 lb. the next. Doctor gave him an option of Cardo therapy, it's an option because he is physically active. Did say would like to see him walking more. I told him he could walk out to the pine trees and pick up pine cones for the stove four times a day... that's a mile LOL. 

He told the doctor we have produce on the table daily. I laughed and added because I am out of counter space and baskets to sit on the floor. Glad Charlotte is not interested in veggies that aren't cooked. Tashy and Cookie loved raw veggies and would harvest their meals HA HA. Miss Kira would munch through cherry tomatoes if Hubby tossed them to her, if I touched them she wouldn't eat them LOL. Wilbur would mow the garden down as he loved it all. Rascal he only liked green beans and carrots raw.

Prayers for peace

Be safe

Blessed Be

Update widow maker lost

 

He had a deformity in his heart.... and that is the ONLY reason the widow maker didn't kill him. That is actually how the cardiologist put it. I already buried a husband due to the widow maker. I know how easy it is to miss the signs of the main artery of the heart being blocked. 

Hubby was trimming the back fence line, felt cold, couldn't get warm. It's 75 and sunny... came in and I took his temp thinking he's caught the bug going around and his temp was 95... that's a BIG WARNING sign. 

He watched them do the procedure, as it was on an screen that he could see. Surgery was to take an hour. It took 2 as the surgeon decided since he was in there to check a few more things that could "pop" up. Follow up in 2 wks. He comes home tomorrow. I'll take him to see his Dad on our way home. 

He can't drive for a week, can only lift 5 lbs. When he starts moving around etc, if he can't talk steady while working, it's too much. Surgeon thinks when he is recovered he will actually be able to do more than he was.

Hubby cracked the joke he should have waited until the 1st when Medicare and Medigap would have paid all the bills. I told him to not worry about that right now, it will take 2 months for all the bills to run through before we get the amount we owe. I will be putting money back monthly to cover it. We do have some in a money market but it's not going to be enough. 

Meantime I am trying to calm his parents and siblings, my brother, all 6 kids to just stop, he's okay, he is coming home. But we all admit it's triggered the PTSD of when my late husband died, Daughter 4 was 3 and kept asking where Daddy was. 

Daughter 2 called me tonight, told me to update FB (several friends, classmates and family that aren't local) and my blog and then go to bed. 

Prayers for peace

Stay safe

Blessed Be 

Hubby has had a heart attack.

 He was edging the back field where the roses are. Came in and said he was cold. He was working in the sun, he should have been on the warm side. I took his temp... it was 95. He went to the potty and came out and told me he was going to drive himself to urgent care. 

First clue was the low temp the second clue he wasn't thinking straight was he was going to drive himself. I got him in around 2 pm. They did the blood test that shows if you are having a heart attack. YEP. Then they got a ER doctor raising cane because the cardo that is at another hospital wasn't sending ambulance to get him and their ambulance wasn't equipped.

Cardo doctor is coming in this morning. I am going to go take a nap because he's been calling me every 2 hours after they sent me home.

Prayers please

Push to get ready for winter.

When you are in the boonies LOL you look at food and meds, power, heat and water. 

We have food and most meds. Local CVS will deliver. We have probably too much of some things (zucchini and corn). I am getting pears and apples this week. Will pick up garlic (B is selling extra) , sweet potatoes, butternut, acorn and orange pumpkin... yes I have to specify as a lot of Amish in this area grow tan pumpkins. Hubby grew some in the compost pile AGAIN.

Finish processing gardens. I only planted radishes as M is running us over with other veggies. She had her oldest son haul a wagon load over to E's dad to take to auction. He works the auction twice a week.

 There are some condiments I use that we are really low on. I ordered them from Amazon as no one around here stocks them. Post office rejected box as it was damaged and leaking. Our mail carrier said you could hear the glass, and could tell it wasn't wrapped with bubble wrap correctly if at all. Two days later FED X rejected a box from Amazon as it was leaking (not the same stuff) SIGH. At least I didn't have to deal with it since they rejected it. Amazon refunded the money of course. We will be down in Dayton in two weeks for my dermo appt. I'll check the store around the corner from there.

HEAT... I already paid for the propane for the winter.  We have 4 cords of wood in barn (need 18 cords)

Hubby brought this home from 309 sawmill

it's almost 3 ft across. Hubby said about 1 week of wood. He went back to get more this morning and to move some things around for the Amish owner. 

Then he brought this home. The guy actually stopped his sawmill to cut these in sections that Hubby could handle on his own with a chain saw. Also told Hubby he had some other he needed cleared out and showed him so Hubby could come up and do it without him there. Between the two loads there is about 5 cords. That makes half of what we need. He brings wood on our property, spends a day cutting it down to fit on buzz saw, then another day cutting it to size for stove and then a day to stack it. Takes him about a week to get it done.

He had E's dad H whom came over to use the phone in the barn (and then had to go back home to get the phone number that was in his coat he took off before heading over so spent a good hour on the road) check out the wood shed and advise him if there was anything else to do as we bought new siding and roofing. H said a window to let light in on the back side and to not put a ceiling back in it as it would let there be airflow due to roof being vented where it joined the sides of shed.SO Hubby went a got 2 clear plastic (not plexiglass but what they use on barns with animals). Decided since he was doing that to get the second on and replace the window on the barn at the hay- mow. 

THEN H  told the story over that shed. It's studier but the sides are loose, window and door was missing. N (H's younger son) used it for a wood shed the 18 months he lived here. It was here when he bought the property from AB who is M's older brother's( Which is E* N's older brother's wife) AB wanted $10,000 for the shed on top of the $$$ that N bought the property for. Then dropped it to $5000. N talked it over with H his dad. H said when you buy a property all the buildings are included. Tell him he can take the building with him. AB left without the building. IN fact has refused to stay at his sister's right next door because of it. His parents told him the same as H, when you buy a property all the buildings are included unless specified before the sale. SO he's still ticked at his parents 8 yrs later. They just shake their heads and keep dealing with him. 

I've started slowly changing out warm weather bedding, curtains, and clothing for cold weather. Hubby's clothing is done. I am to sweaters.... I don't need them at home if the wood stove is on, half the time I am in a tank top, I wear a cardigan if it isn't.  I've lost enough weight (not on purpose thanks to Crohn's off and on for 2 months) that even my tops are too big. I don't want to get rid of them in case I gain weight.  I am sorting in the barn rather than bringing it all in and then sorting it. WHILE sorting it, some is going into the donation boxes. Daughter 2 got tank tops as she wears the same size as me. Daughter 4 will get some old tee shirts that she can wear under uniform to save her own good shirts. 

Hubby checked the generator. Need to restock gas for it. We need fresh mineral spirits for the oil lamps. 

Simple pump won't pump water to pressure tank. Company is in Nevada. Asked him to film it while running... then it was OOPPS, they forgot to send the directions to recode it to connect to pressure tank so gave that to him over phone. The customer service there told him to call them before he starts to redo that part so they can be on line with him in case he needs more help. If he thinks I won't slap a garden hose on the end of the hand pump to pump water to house, he best go over and look at how M does water to her wash house as the water pump is in the BARN.

Prayers for peace

Stay safe

Blessed be

what we are dealing with.

 Hubby's Dad had a cancerous tumor in his colon. It was grade 1 (lowest amt. ) no cancer anywhere else. He is recovering at home, doing decent. Started in to pneumonia due to not being able to breath deep because of wrap  around midsection that had been cut open plus a UTI probably because he still has a catheter. He is on meds for that. Staples taken out and has butterfly Band-Aid so pneumonia should clear up. Doc to remove catheter had emergency surgery. Surgeon that took tumor is trying to get him in to another urologist to get the catheter removed as he has to be sedated to have that done. 

Great grandbaby is still in NICU, BUT doing a lot better. She is up to 5 lbs. is now breast feeding along with bottle. They put a VAD in until she is old enough to get a shunt put in due to fluid on the brain. MRI for that was yesterday, we are waiting for results. There was some talk of her going home in October and that the home would have to be clean and kept clean , kitties can't be in her bed or where she is at due to tracking litter.  She will be allowed to pet them.   They do not have to remove the kitties from the home.

Hubby is bouncing through appts. for his brain issues as he has taking to call it instead of dementia... I can go with that as they have found it started due to his loss of hearing (now has hearing aids) and the ends of the brain dying (if you don't use it you will lose it) He has one for ENT as the neurologist said he sleep apnea, I was like he no longer snores since he had throat and nose surgery 10 yrs ago. So when I told primary  that along with Hubby loses his voice almost daily in the late afternoon/ early evening  decided to send him to new ENT. That is  next month. Next week it is the Dementia doctor to decide which dementia he has and that treatment. Nov is back to the neurologist to get nerves tested in his feet and then to get a treatment plan also. 

Meantime his part D that starts on the 1st is great this year and really bad next year. He is calling them to see if he needs a different plan for then as our doctor does not do electronic prescriptions,  or fax or call in meds at all. He feels that is against HIPPA. AND we don't use Caremark. Been there and done that and never got meds before running out or was told we got them when we didn't due to issues at post office having stealing going on.  

Meantime I need to save for replacement of Silverado. SIGH. 

OLD age is NOT for the meek and mild

 

Picture day

 I keep the chair covered because she likes to dig at it. She took the boxes out of it also. Probably still smells like Daddy as it was from his home. He had bought it for me as I couldn't put my feet on the floor with any of his other furniture.

Well, she moved the pillow first , then stuck her butt up my armpit

Glad her tail always is in down position. 

This is the maple sapling Hubby dug up 6 years ago out of driveway of the farm house we were renting

I'll probably will have to cut those 2 tall branches off next fall. I am 5 ft 2 inches. 

These two maple saplings we bought this year. They were at my shoulders when we bought them.

The tallest is on the east side. Both get the same amount of sunlight.

The heart garden has some flowers reblooming

You can barely see the yellow specks of where the flower buds are

I have 8 roses and over 30 blooms between the 10 rose bushes on the back fence line

There have been 4-5 forecasts for this coming winter... NOAA  is the only one forecasting dry and warmer than normal all the rest look along the lines of this one

We are in the Artic blast zone of Ohio. Hubby decided everything else we were doing was at a stop as he is way behind on cutting wood. I actually turned the furnace on last night at it dropped to mid 40s during the night with a cold rain today. He's at the sawmill today getting free wood in exchange for running their front loader for them. E said they (his entire family) are behind on getting wood also since the crops came in more than normal. He still has field corn to deal with in the fields behind us, about 50 acres worth. They harvest the corn by HAND. It's not ready for harvest right now. 

 

Worn out but...

 Last of potatoes are harvested, last of zucchini and green beans and cantaloupe is harvested. 

Still have kale, onions, eggplant, tomatoes and watermelon... radishes in planters on deck are just starting to come up. Hubby wanted to do some extra work in the gardens so I didn't plant any more fall crops.

Now to process it.

Have a good one

Stay safe 

Prayers for peace

Blessed Be

1908

 was when Living on a Little was originally published. 

Great granddaughter is still in children's hospital. She had a VAD implanted as she's too young for shunt. She has to be 36 wks. and she's only 33. She's doing better for what she is going through. The brain bleed stopped, they will be checking again this week to make sure she hasn't started that back up. 

FIL is home from surgery. Still has catheter. Well be having home care to see what needs to be changed in the house for them to remain safely in the home and PT at home for now. Hubby took him home with MIL using their car. Notice FIL felt a little wobbly walking on the front room carpet so Hubby got him MIL extra walker. 

FIL told Hubby they don't have enough money for even one of them to go in the nursing home. The home they bought is not built for even a walker to go through the bedroom doors or bathroom door. Hubby offered years ago to widen the doors, grandson is electrician to move light switches. They said no. They didn't even want to put in a wheelchair shower. MIL has mild polio but was" I want to soak in the tub" mode... now she barely can get in and out of the tub to shower. Hubby came home last night and said he was thankful we made sure we could stay here and not go to nursing home due to the house. Daddy only had to move because the bathroom was not built for handicap and it would cost as much as his house was worth to change it. He lived in a poverty area in one of the best houses. Wasn't that way when he bought it 50 yrs ago.

The Roma beans have bloomed again so won't pull those.

Zucchini vine is half dead so Hubby said he would pull it. 

The cantaloupe exploded in the last down pour of 3 inches. PLUS I have new ones starting on the vines. Hubby is deciding it he want to put the exploded cantaloupe in the compost pile so they will grow there next year or the following like the freaking tan pumpkins do that we haven't planted in 2 years.

The watermelon vines are starting to die.

The goat's bag and ox heart tomatoes are turning red !!!! probably about 2-3 wks. and they will be done. UNLESS they bloom again LOL.

The red cherry tomatoes and golden cherry tomatoes are ready for picking again.

Let's see what is left in the garden....

All 10 boxes of potatoes are ready to dig. Eggplant and some kale. Might be mini bell peppers hiding under the one tomato plant.

We decided to plant fall garden... Hubby said he would rig a row cover over the trellis so it could go into Nov/ early Dec. He wants lettuce, radishes, carrots, and turnips. I am adding kale, mini bok choy, tatsoi mustard, Swiss chard, collards (daughter 3 requested), Chinese cabbage (Amish gave me seeds as they grow this as a fall plant),  and spinach, I am quite sure I can walk across the pasture and hand M an extra fresh veggies from the garden this fall as her gardens are wrapping up. Her tomatoes are about 2 wks. in front of mine.  I already have fall onions in.

Garlic bulbs to plant this fall start coming in Sept 19th. 

I will probably buy some sugar pumpkins, butternut, acorn squash and apples (for applesauce and fresh eating. Honeycrisp and Crispin have held for 6 months in the frig for me.

Best get at it. 

Prayers for peace

Blessed Be

We had a hawk

 

I caught him just starting to fly off with what ever he caught. 

We saw an Eagle sharing a meal with the buzzards. 

Both of us are tired of eating zucchini, cucumbers, roma green beans, cantaloupe and watermelon. ( M said her family doesn't want anything that is coming out of the gardens right now either as she sent over corn)Thankful that I have enough of the green beans I can pull the plants. SO guess what is in the frig.... zucchini, cucumbers, roma green beans, cantaloupe, and now M's corn.

The red and golden cherry tomatoes have calmed down a bit. The "big" ones I use for canning is still mostly green but we have some medium size that just turning so I can  go pick them this weekend we can have them on sandwiches or as a side with cucumbers and onions.

LOL... 

First

 Charlotte waiting with her Daddy at Vet's

Charlotte wanting attention

The heart flower garden has filled in 

I run the dishwasher usually once a day. This is 5 gallons professional for 10 gallon water dishwasher. My dishwasher is 5 gallons so I will use half of what they say to use which is 1 ounce which is 2 tablespoons. I will use 1/2 ounce which is 1 tablespoon. SO I  have soap for 1280 loads. That's 3.5 years for us. 

Hubby asked for a colored tablespoon so he would know it goes to the dishwasher soap. I told him it didn't matter what color the tablespoon was as it needed to go in the dishwasher after he put the soap in... I'll be putting the soap in as he acted confused. 

Daughter 4 came up to clean the garden shed, she started in the 1st bay of the barn when she realized I still had not got through the last boxes of Daddy's stuff. Then she sorted the garden stuff that was in the 1st bay. While she was lecturing (admitting she struggles with letting things go), all of a sudden she stops and asks why I am having trouble getting up and down. Hubby answered, because we are old.  HUM. She offered to come up once a month if we can give her gas money and she can borrow her older son's car as he has the only car in the family that is safe to drive long distance. She has NO car as she blew her engine. That is the 3rd kid to do that. What part of check your oil and get your oil changed do they not understand SIGH. She told her dad that the idiot light didn't come on. 

I cleared the garden shed while she helped her Dad load the truck to take stuff to Goodwill. There is a truck load of garden pots to go to B or the other greenhouse. We have a couple tools we no longer use that I think M would take, a child's snow shovel for sure. The "trash" bags that need to go to trash is on the barn porch. ALL of them are bubble wrap or foam that no one around here accepts. Daughter 4 made sure I would finish the 1st bay as she put everything in front of the metal cabinets that has the toilet paper in LOL.

Ten bucks with the new job she won't be able to come up at all. BUT It's a good start and I now know not to give Hubby boxes for burning as he doesn't burn them.  I told him to take the large boxes over to M that we set aside. She uses them to cover the floor when they butcher. He said he will do that later this week, if not done by Friday I will do it .

He spent last night at the hospital with his Dad who had a tumor in his colon removed. They took 12 inches of the colon also. He has refused chemo. Seeing what it did to Mother at age 80, can't say I wouldn't do the same. Hubby is swinging by to see his mom and check to see if the grass needs mowed. His Dad can't do ANYTHING for another 7 weeks. No driving, no mowing, no house keeping as he runs the vacuum cleaner. NOTHING. MIL is going to be driven nuts.

Great grandbaby had VAD surgery as she's 33 weeks and they have to be 36 to have a shunt put in. She is doing better as the brain bleed has clotted.  She is sucking on a pacifier so they are looking at taking the feeding tube out this coming week if she sucks longer on the pacifier.  They have a bedside camera on her so her older sister (and her parents ) can look on the phone app and see how she is doing. Older sister says baby has a boo boo and tells her good morning and good night and she loves her. 

Hubby has been referred to ENT due to losing his voice in late afternoon/ evening. He called our primary as he had not heard anything for two weeks. They called the ENT, they are on vacation, so he wouldn't hear anything until probably the first week of Sept unless the partner comes in and starts earlier. Our primary doctor said it's taking longer and longer to get people into specialist. A lot of them are now checking with insurance to see if they can get paid. Once we go on Medicare, it shouldn't be as hard or long.

His appt with the neurologist is Nov 1st for testing for feeling in his legs and plan for his dementia. 

He did get a laugh , I was checking the calendar, checking my to do list and he asked what I was doing. I answered I thought I was forgetting something and was checking to see what it was.... he thought that was funny that I thought I forgot something. I did forget something, that was to finish fall cleaning the pump house. It's done now.

I am wore out already and it's only Monday.

Prayers for peace

Blessed Be

Living on a Little by Caroline French Benton.

 I am not sure which blogger mentioned reading this but it sounded interesting so I got it on my kindle... then ordered the paperback. I took it in the car while we were running errands and going to visit his parents. Good conversation for us. I usually use my leftovers for lunch the next day, she remade her leftovers for another supper and used what bits were in the frig for her lunches. Even though she only spent $1 a day TOTAL for their food (her, hubby and maid or in this case her maid was her sister)... the line of planning is even correct for this day and age.  

The other day we went to check on Hubby's parents. His mom who has mild polio insisted we come for lunch. His Dad went in to surgery today to remove cancerous tumor in colon. He did fine. We usually go to take them out or visit at non eating times.

His mom had bought three times the amount of groceries as she doesn't drive much and wanted to just tell one of the family she just needed eggs and milk, maybe bread while FIL recovered.  The costs worried her as they haven't really stocked anything even during the pandemic as the store is around the corner maybe a half mile away. She is going to stock up some more because she doesn't think he is going to want to go out if it's really bad outside this winter. Stocking up she got away from while working in town. Just stop at the store on the way home. 

 She got a boneless whole ham that was on sale. She cut it into half slices so they could either eat it as a sandwich or as the main meal. Bagged most of it for freezer. Said it came out at $1 for meat at one meal.

 She took the slices that she kind of messed up (her words)while slicing it with an electric knife and used the best ones for our meal. She took the end pieces, diced them in her small food processor. She pan fried the ham with a little oil (yes she knows it's cooked but FIL wants it fried) and put it in the microwave on  6 minutes on level 1 to keep warm while she finished the meal ...

Now I am thinking it's going to take more than 6 minutes to get this meal together. 

She put the frozen veggies with a good splash of water in the pan and turned it on high. Turned the water for the instant mashed potatoes on high also. 

She put the diced ham in the skillet she fried the other ham in, tossed it around a bit then mixed up flour and a bit of water to make a paste and put it in, lowered that heat on that pan while waiting until the veggies were boiling. Turned the potato water down to simmer. Turned veggies off, drained the water into the pan with the ham bits and rue to make gravy, stirred it, decided she wanted it thicker, added more rue paste and then a splash of milk, a healthy pinch of ground black pepper and had me stirring it while she finished the potatoes. Turned off the microwave that had a 30 seconds left. Put everything in serving dishes and sat down to lunch. 

This 87 year old woman that could only make hamburger gravy and mashed potatoes at the age of 21 when she got married, now kicks butt in the kitchen. I made sure she knew it also and told FIL she was great in the kitchen.

Lesson, She didn't buy anything special for our meal, she used "scraps" to make the main dish, used veggie water (never have I thought to use that) for the gravy. She added cottage cheese and grape jam and a jar of pickles along with bread and butter to the table.  Something I grew up with (well not cottage cheese or jam) but don't do myself. I always had bread and butter on the table when the kids were growing up but neither Hubby or I are much of bread eaters even though our doctor just told us to increase our grains (he knows I bake or we get our bread from the Amish)

She texted me the next day and told me they had ham sandwiches with apple slices and baby carrots for supper and she diced what was left of ham, added it to the bit of diced ham she didn't put in gravy, chopped up the leftover veggies  and tossed it in water and when it got warm enough, she added the leftover mashed potatoes and leftover gravy and a splash of milk to make a cream soup to go with their  grilled cheese sandwiches for their lunch the next day and sent the leftover soup home with her one grandson that is single.  She told me she still struggles to not cook too much and toss it away as they don't have a compost pile like she did out on the farm. 

I looked at Hubby and told him what she did. He said he noticed she used smaller pans for the 4 of us that we do for the 2 of us. I texted her to find out what size pans she used.  I use 10 to 12 inch fry pans and 2-3 quart sauce pans. She uses 8 to 10 inch fry pans and 1 qtr. to 1 1/2 qrts  sauce pans. UNLESS she is making spaghetti, then she uses the 3 qrts. sauce pan.

I call my 8 inch fry pan the egg skillet as that's the only I use it for. Going to be changing that.

Have a good week, stay safe

Prayers for peace

Blessed Be 

Butt dragging.

 window casement windows protected

Still allows air so no mold when I open those windows to air out the basement.

A friend gave me her curtains as she bought new. I will be putting them up after I get done with the fall cleaning. I am thinking front room.

Hubby paid off the work truck (now called 350) and cancelled his DOT numbers. When they terminated he cancelled the business insurance. He has a refund coming and when it comes in , he can close the business checking acct. Taking longer to close it down than it did to get it up and running. 

Hubby bartered wood at Sawmill, their Englisher that runs the loader got his hours changed at work so he can't move wood during the day. He okayed Hubby running his loader especially since the sawmill pays all costs and maintenance of  it. It's not very often but every stick of wood for winter helps. We need 12 more cords of wood. E said there is about 1 back in the woods he needs Hubby to bring out and can have.

Daughter 4 is coming up to help clean out the garden shed. Hubby is going to fix the floor and then use it for a wood shed as N and E said if we fill it, we would have enough for the winter as it's what they used it for. She might get sucked into cleaning the front bay of the barn also since she just changed jobs(got laid off as they can't get supplies in) and is short on pay. BUT she already has another job that starts Monday.

We harvested all kinds of tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, zucchini, Roma green beans, mini bell peppers, kale, thyme, basil, oregano, cabbages, cantaloupe, watermelon, tan pumpkins and golden raspberries.  Hubby asked me to not plant anything except the garlic next month. He's tired of eating "garden" as he put it. NOW if I plant something that will grow into late fall... that's okay. 

I spent $49 at grocery store, saved 47 %. I got very small (think they were cut from a small tenderloin) porkchops marked down to $3.98. I used them that night and the next day for lunch.  We will only need milk the later part of the month.

Hubby built braces for the two rose trellises at the deck for the climbing roses from scrap wood in the barn.

Since I had to clean up the mess in the basement, I got rid of 4 large boxes of stuff that we donated, had some things to go to recycling tomorrow and quite a few boxes that Hubby is drying out to burn later. 

Charlotte's allergies kicked up and she was bloody raw from itching. We got her into the vet for her shot. Twenty four hours later she is a lot better. I had ran out of eggs so she wasn't getting her daily egg... that won't happen again because within a few days her allergies went nuts. Hasn't had that problem all summer since I put her on egg daily. Vet doesn't understand what ever is in the eggs that stops her allergies but is glad we found out it did as the shots are $150 on top of office call.

Daughter's 4 daughter had her baby at 29 weeks at 3lbs. 15 1/2 inches . She had to have shunt surgery yesterday due to brain bleeds. Doing okay

Hubby's dad  is having surgery today to remove cancerous tumor plus 12 inches of his colon. 

Our primary doctor has referred Hubby to ENT (regretfully it's a 1 1/2 hrs. from us for this specialist as our regular ENT won't touch it) to find out why he keeps losing his voice mid afternoon to evening. Doesn't matter if he doesn't talk much or what ever. He had throat surgery in 2006/2007 due to polyps. Since he chewed tobacco, cancer could happen. Daddy lost his voice due to smoking even though he had quit years before he got the cancer. He feels like all he does is go from one doctor and test to the next... both his parents said YEP old age does that as both his brothers and sister already are doing the same. 

Prayers for peace

Blessed be

I am thankful for the rain

BUT Hubby spend 2 days caulking and flex sealing the casement windows.

We aren't the only ones trying to keep our head above water. Poor toad. 

It's been forever

 since I've be on. 

First

this happened... I thought Sh.., which one of the refrigerators or freezers took a crap and what was I going to be trying to can or pass to kids (it's okay with 6 kids and 10 adult grandkids). 

Nope it was the casement window Hubby forgot to finish caulking and flex sealing. I forgot I have to now check to make sure he completes jobs with his dementia, more like dealing with a teenager with ADHD been there more than once. And as big as the mess looks, the pile was my canning supplies. Tatter lids took the hit, which is nice as I can sanitize them and only lost 1 box of wide mouth metal canning lids. I lost all the empty card board boxes my  jars go in when they are empty. I am not putting anything back there until he can caulk and flex seal that window. I guess the 1.75 inches of rain we got was too much at one time.  Even with all that rain, it came down in a way the ground sucked it up.

Then I dealt with this 

 There is 6 cucumbers under the zucchini. I got 2 quarts of green beans, 9 quarts of tomato sauce, dehydrated the golden cherry tomatoes (red cherry tomatoes got toss in with other tomatoes) . I ate the broccoli, froze the grapes in the kitchen refrigerator. I shoved the zucchini and cucumbers in the frig. Onions are curing in the barn

THEN E sent the boys over with a wheelbarrow full of corn

SIGH. No room for a turkey now as the corn has taken it's spot. I got 53 meals out of this corn so we have a total of 79 meals corn. I also made corn cob stock and canned it , 18 pints for corn chowder, polenta, and mush, maybe the autumn stew from Home chef that Son 2 was doing would be good for it also. 

 (https://www.tastingtable.com/873145/the-absolute-best-way-to-use-leftover-corn-cobs/#:~:text=Perfect%20in%20sauces%2C%20stews%2C%20risottos,or%20vegan%20(via%20PBS). 

I then put the cobs on the metal table out by the barn to dry so we can use them for kindling. The sparrows have been picking at them.

THEN we had a tornado go through. It hit in town. E had a little wind damage to his one barn where the door blew off, said it must not have been shut all the way as the latch was still on the barn. We get one tornado warn a year... not something that happens much.

Then I did the finances and pointed out we are over budget. I also pointed out WHERE we are over budget. I got him to leave the credit card at home and we are working at him only buying what is on his list.  He did an escort for a wide load the other day, that hauler asked if he wanted a job as rear escort. He turned it down. He knows he would be gone ALL day and anywhere from 4 to 6 days a week. He would get NOTHING done here.  This week he is scheduled to go clean up the sawmill. He got the wood wagon fixed and was going to go until I told him how the weather was going to be. He didn't want to be driving a tractor without a cab hauling a metal wood wagon in a storm. 

Then I went down with a Crohn's attack. I probably should have went to the hospital sigh... if I had been throwing up along with sitting on the toilet for 2 days I would have. I didn't do that until day 4. FYI that's usually the day I come home from the hospital. Other than wishing morphine was in this house WE handled it. Hubby fixed me dry toast immediately and started shoving fluids. He jokes I married him because he was an EMT (retired 7 yrs ago). I got a brat patty for a meal because we don't have any dinner sausage patties, For what ever reason I can hold that stuff down.  He thinks stress triggered it... didn't help that I was using core muscles to lift a 50 lb. canner that he usually puts on the stove for me. My GI strongly suggested planks and push ups. NO sit ups as my back would have a fit over that. LOL.

So we spent a lot of time of watching the hummingbirds at the feeders and dive bombing each other

It's to rain today so he probably won't be going to the sawmill. He asked what had to be done this week... two doctor appts. and pulling zucchini and cucumber plants in the garden (I am not pulling anything) I want to do some planting for fall. I need to cut tops off onions that are cured and put them in hose  (panty hose) to hang in basement or barn until it gets too cold. Clean the front bay of the barn as I want to move the canning stuff there. No worries of water damage there. 

He looked at me and said , two doctor appts that's it. I laughed. I could do that onions I pointed out... nope I would side track and start doing something I really shouldn't... probably. Even when I spend the time in the hospital I struggle to not do anything (because I would do too much and retrigger an attack) the first week home. 

Be safe,

Prayers for peace

Blessed Be

AS OF LAST NIGHT!!!!!!

 There is no room in the 3 refrigerator freezers.

There is no room in the 3-22 cubic chest deep freezers.

There is MAYBE room for a 15 lb. turkey in the 7 cubic chest deep freezer in the barn IF I removed the ice cream maker bowl. 

At Kroger's I got on sale 2 racks of ribs and a 4 lb. box of crab legs for half price. I got yellow and orange bell peppers for 88 cents (you can barely find them around here) I picked up enough to dehydrate them also, I got red bell peppers to "fire roast" on the grill then I will freeze them for red pepper soup (barn freezer I already put their container in to save that room) I got celery for fresh and to dehydrate. I picked up some lettuce as there is none left in the garden and I haven't replanted it yet. I had a coupon for it. I got coke a cola on sale, Kroger chips, Frito scoops and bananas.

I picked up a cantaloupe and 4 fresh peaches from an Amish stand

I picked up my 27 lbs. of cherries for pie filling at Country Variety  Store and Hubby picked up 14 hand pies to freeze and some whoopie cookies. I am not crazy about that type of cookie. He got 6 that was snickerdoodle and 6 of the oatmeal.

At the Mennonite discount store ....

I found frozen brussels sprouts. I got enough for us to have for a year since no one grows them around here. I will be planting them myself next year.

I found a box of strip steaks (think New York Strip steak). For $4.10/ lb. (about half price) I got 14 steaks and they are already vacuumed bag with1 steak per bag... saved my bags. I got 2 bags of thin chicken breast and 1 bag of chicken wings, 6 packages breakfast sausage links already frozen.

I also got:  12 whole cranberry sauce, 8 canned pears, 12 mixed berries jam, 4 boxes of Stove Top turkey stuffing and 4lbs of Velveeta cheese (regular price $27 I got it for $18) and a loaf of homemade bread.  

In the gardens I know I have tomatoes, zucchini, maybe a broccoli, hopefully another round of Roma beans and maybe some potatoes to harvest. 

I need to call to see what Honeycrisp or Crispin apples start coming in. Our apples didn't do well, they are really small. 

To Answer Hilogene In AZ question of who we feed

 I usually do 1 yr of food, OTC meds, first aid and cleaning products. After having 6 of the kids and grandkids come up to get supplies twice during the pandemic, we went to 18 months  as they wiped me out to 6 months and I was getting worried... there was 2 freezers almost empty. . This year I went for 2 yrs supplies on most stuff but what I have seeds to grow. 

Why? We are already seeing issues trying to get some foods in the area. 

BUT let's look at what we  use.

I bake our breads/ sweets (not much) etc. unless I get it from Amish/ Mennonite. 

I make waffles, pancakes, muffins, cakes, noodles, wonton wrappers (just starting that), flour tortillas (just starting that), crackers (just starting that) and breading for frying. I use  on average the least 10 lbs. of flour a week. If I am making noodles, I use 20 lbs. to fill my 5 gallon food grade bucket with noodles.  So I average 520 lbs. of flour a year. 

I average 240 lbs. of sugar a year, 360 lbs. for 18 months and 480 for 2 yrs. This year it's up to 340 lbs. due to extra canning of pie filling and jams. Today I pick up 27 lbs. of sour cherries for pie filling. 

I buy 3 lbs. of yeast a year (stored in freezer) I do make sour dough bread sometimes but not often as neither of us care much for it. 

We use 4 pints of veggies a DAY . That is 1460 pints for a year, 2190 for 18 months and 2920 pints for 2 yrs. 

We use 2 pints of fruit a DAY. That is 730 pints for a year, 1095 for 18 months and 1460 pints for 2 years... that is not touching pie filling, jams, jellies and fruit butters that would add 105 pints for a year, 158 for 18 months and 210 for 2 yrs. 

I can 104 pints of whole tomatoes, 104 pints of plain tomato sauce, 104 pints of salsa, 52 half pints of pizza sauce, 52 quarts of pasta sauce and 100 quarts of tomato juice. for a year. I will try for 18 months this year.  

I do pickles... asparagus, beets, zucchini, cucumbers, onions , coleslaw and kraut. 

I can chicken broth, beef broth and ham broth. 12 quarts of each per year

I can turkey, chicken, pork and beef. 

I do roasted red bell peppers. I won't this year as son 2 found  some on sale on base and bought me 6 jars. 

I dehydrate zucchini, mushrooms, onions, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, corn, herbs and mints.

I still need applesauce, apple pie filling, apple butter, and apple jam. 

I do freeze broccoli, cauliflower, Swiss chard, Chinese cabbage, zucchini, yellow crockneck, eggplant and green tomatoes (breaded for frying). I do freeze berries. 

The last time I bought canned veggies was last year to make veggie soup. I canned enough for 2 yrs. 

I can 104 pints of chili soup a year. We also use it for tortilla chips and casseroles.

I buy 2 cases of each of condense soup, cream of mushroom, cream of chicken, cream of tomato, cheddar, fiesta cheese and Campbells chicken and noodles. I have 1 Amish if they can't get to the store, will stop for 7 cans of cream of what ever soup. She makes "pantry" soup every single day for supper and uses it for the base.

Room left in the pantry

IF I CANNED IT, DEHYDRATE IT OR FROZE IT ... I don't want to see it on the supper table for a day, ok, a week... maybe a month.

I harvested another batch of potatoes that will give us 3 meals for the winter storage.

 I canned 18 quarts of a mix of seasonings, carrots, tomato and zucchini in a vinegar sugar syrup (think pickled beets syrup without the beets LOL)

I had to actually walk to the gardens to get 2 golden cherry tomatoes and 2 zucchini to finish the last 2 jars. Hubby laughed.

I have room for 1 jar of beets (won't be filled).

I have a row space for some store canned fruit (might not be filled unless I find apricots on sale)

I have plenty of room in the tomato section (pasta sauce, pizza sauce, plain sauce, enchilada sauce, and juice).

I have one row in pie filling in case I get the cherries. Still iffy if they are coming in and if they are getting enough to get some to everyone on the list. 

Fruit/vegetable 22 cubic deep freezer is FULL.

Pork/nuts 22 cubic freezer is taking on the over flow of fruit/veggies but has just enough to handle a couple racks of ribs, a pork loin  and 2 hams. 

The beef/ bread 22 cubic freezer is go a decent hole but since I know the turkey and prime rib will be going in there I will be keeping a good size home in it. 

All 3 refrigerators freezers are full. 

I need to finish straightening up the basement, hang the cured onions and figure out a better storage for herbs and spices.   

I need a better way to store the herbal teas.

LORD I am tired. BUT I am sleeping better since my anemia has been figure out and I am on blackstrap molasses for it. Iron pills don't work to me.

Waiting

 for the dew to dry so I can go pick Roma beans, yellow wax beans and blackberries which is all that I left unpicked yesterday.  Got our first small batch of purple potatoes, enough to 2 meals also. They will go in storage for fall which is 8 weeks away. 

I will be canning Roma beans, yellow wax beans, beets (I bartered for ) and zucchini as I found 3 the size of my thigh that we missed on Saturday. I am also dehydrating zucchini.

I will then water the entire garden as we only got 1/3rd of inch of rain 2 days ago and the excessive heat is coming in tomorrow afternoon. I will also apply blossom rot meds (ha ha) to the tomatoes so I can quit throwing them over the fence towards the pond.

Hubby has put all 15 metal beds together and started filling them with dirt. He is piling the old wooden beds to the side as E said he can burn them in his one pit he has for that type of stuff, then he then cleans the metal out of it. I need to get started planting the fall/ winter crops but it's not going to be the next two days with this heat coming in.

 Today he went to go pick up a wagon that has a lift so it can dump what ever is in it. There is a part broke but he thinks he can fix that himself if not there are a couple places around here that do that type of work for reasonable $. It will help to have our own wagon for getting wood from the sawmills plus be able to dump it means I am not standing on top of a pile of wood tossing it at Hubby.

The guy said no one wanted it even though he had it for sale for 1/10th of the rest. He took pictures of it and measurements for Hubby. It has a PTO (Hum drive shaft to hook to a tractor to run) and not a motor. The guy is surrounded by Amish. E thought it  was funny as he would have picked it up in a heart beat and rigged it for a motor. Told Hubby he would help change it to a motor if he couldn't get the PTO fixed. 

It's now drifting to the back side of my arm also. It hurts to lift my arm over my head .  I caught it on a part of the 50 pound canner when lifting it up on the stove. I definitely seem to having issues with bruising easy this summer. I am NOT on blood thinner or on OTC stuff that would thin your blood also.  

Looks like the dew is drying up... back to work