MENU.

 First thing I do is check what is leftover in the frig... what can I make it into or add to it for enough for a meal. Might be a small meal for lunch or enough with something else added for supper.

Bfast: granola with dried mixed fruit, bagels, pancakes with berry pie filling, eggs, muffins with fruit, baked pumkin doughnuts, yogurt with fruit and grapenuts on top, leftover rolls with jam, scones, and sweet rolls.

Lunch: leftovers or plan overs (leftover pork chop got chopped finely into omelet). Lunch meat wraps with apple (Hubby's favorite when he worked) , cottage cheese, applesauce and beets (my go to).

Supper: 

Dom's (Dom Tiberi channel 10 Columbus OH recipe) meatballs with spag. and homemade sauce, broccoli and cauliflower, mixed fruit.

Meatloaf, mashed sweet potatoes, peas and carrots, apricots.

Pork chops, hominy and spinach, applesauce and rolls

Chili, tropical fruit, corn bread

Sausage patty, mac and cheese, green beans, peaches

Casserole of leftover mac and cheese, drained can of tuna, can of cream of chicken soup(no water) topped with homemade bread crumbs. Cranberry sauce (in the can) 

Tacos and burritos (taco meat from freezer)

Cottage pie(or hamburger pie or what ever you call it) using leftover mashed potatoes, corn and sloppy joe from freezer.

Homemade baconater (like Wendy's) with potato chips and homemade chip dip.

Homemade pizza. Dough, sliced pepperoni and sausage crumbles from freezer, pizza sauce,  mushrooms, black olives and mild banana peppers from pantry, Cheese from frig.

Baked chicken breasts, wild rice, cranberry sauce, mixed veggies.

London Broil, rice, sliced veggies that was going to go bad to top rice.

M's veggie soup with rolls(has hamburger and elbow mac in it)

Chicken chili with white beans and corn bread

Breaded fish, breaded mushrooms and breaded cheese sticks with fruit cocktail

Shrimp with buttered thin spaghetti, garlic bread using leftover sub buns from freezer and California blend mix veggies with diced mango

Store bought Phlly steak subs (Freezer dept. Add bell peppers, mushrooms and black olives.) 

Leftover Philly steak filling mixed with rice, added Chinese sauce to it, airfry egg rolls

Airfry chicken nuggets, breaded ravioli, breaded cheese sticks and breaded mushrooms and serve with sliced apple

When you combine down grid with homesteading and finances LOL

 

These cover what I had trouble getting during the pandemic especially when the milk cow next door went dry. I got my oats and speltz flours from the Amish bulk store.

Hopefully the new place that is going to grind flour for the Amish will be open this year.

I restocked medical supplies.

I need to check paper products, dog items and restock the cresote logs when we stop using the wood stove. 

I will be starting seeds next week in the grow cart.  SO I will need to cut other places to pay the rise in the electric bill. I already got it down almost $35 a month the last 3 months. 

I might be able to cut the amount of propane I usually order also. Will know by May.

We got news that there could be a drought late summer going into fall so I will plant with that in mind. As we already are in a drought, our pond is so low the Amish didn't cut ice from it. Neighbor bought square buckets like we use to freeze ice for them in summer for ice cream making, and filled them with his well water and let them freeze during the sub zero weather. Said he had his ice house filled and extra in one week and didn't have to be out in the cold at all.

We still have 16 yrs on mortgage, already cut 14 yrs off the 30 yr loan. We have been paying this loan 4 years. So I need to reset that and stay focused on getting it paid off. Right now our interest rate is half of what current farm interest rate is.

If I save $5 on something, penny found on the road,etc.I put that in the saving and note it on the calendar. At the end of the month I add those savings up and transfer to the mortgage. Refunds go there also. Our withholding on taxes changed, I put the differnce in savings. When our Social Security comes in and I pay the bills, I more that savings to the mortgage. I actually save more doing that instead of letting it sit for months in the savings. 

The only things I need to put in stock for food is corn, asaparagus (Cross fingers it doesn't get frozen before harvest like last year), peas, cauliflower, broccoli and brussels sprouts. We are almost out in freezers of those in freezers.

SIGH

 Sorry...really sorry... 

I disappeared in canning pork and lard then beef. Froze some of both also. All freezers are full

Then went into freezing and dehydrating 24 winter squash

Then went to roasting and freezing 28 lbs of sweet potatoes. Also dehydrated some. Then moved the garden wagon that had the sweet potatoes back out to the barn and brought the grow cart in. 

I need to deal with the last of the onions. 

Then got the result of skin cancer (very small amount, like a pin head) around my nose that was removed... then today got the notice they want deposit of $100 and deductible AND permission to do an automatic withdrawl for what ever amount they decide on and Did NOT bother to give me a estimation of payment for the bill to check to make sure they got it all to begin with. Guess AG is getting a message from me as I really don't think that is how it should be done especially the day before the surgery. I already got the number for a local doctor which I probably should have done when we moved here that several of Hubby's family has used.

As disabled son pointed out we need to see doctors we can get rides to when we no longer can drive ourselves. Something he is having issues with where he lives.

Placed my order for next year's meat. Steer will be grass and chemical free corn that was raised in the field behind us LOL. 

I kept track we buy about 500 lbs of beef and 500 lbs of pork, 6 of 20 lbs turkeys, 52 lbs of white meat chicken and 52 lbs of dark meat chicken and seafood every 3 months. We stock for 18 months, will have extra for when we have company and share with the kids when they need help with groceries.

I need peas, corn, asparagus,broccoli, caulflower, brussels sprouts,cabbage and white potatoes for next fall.

We started pruning the asparagus. Usually have the Amish neighbor do that in the fall but his "mower" broke and the one he went to borrow was broke also. I don't mind not pruning the berries but the asparagus and the flowers need pruned.

Hubby pruned the apple trees and took the twig pile (that's what he called it) over to neighbor as he already had a "to be burned" pile started. 

Amish have started tapping maple trees !!!!

It warmed up yesterday so we let the wood stove go out. I will clean it today. It's supposed to be in the high 40s to mid 60s the next 4 days so good weather even if it rains a bit to work in the gardens. We have a cold spell in forecast for mid March for about 2 wks so going to move wood around for that before we get hit with it.

We got our taxes done. Didn't even have anything owed on school taxes. So that was good news. 

Blessed be 

Stay safe and well

Garden 2026

 Hubby walked out to get the mail , actually I think he was skating in boots to get the mail. 

Next month I will be pruning berry bushes and asparagus. Hubby will top off the garden beds with raised garden bed soil and I will add fertilizer. I will also start seeds from the cabbage family in the grow cart first part of Feb.

I went through my seeds, didn't realize how low I was in cool weather crops.I think I didn't acknowledge I plant those twice some times three times during the season.

I know I did 3 rounds of January King cabbage, maybe 4 as I think the second round got ate in the gardens. Couple years ago we still had it in the gardens in late Feb.

Still a bit sticker shock with searching for the best price and amount.  When it comes in I will put the date on it  and where I ordered it from. I did order more bok choy and lettuces that I haven't grown that some of the Amish are now growing. 

I don't see me running electric to a grow cart through the winter to grow greens in like our doctor does but maybe a covered area during cool weather???

I won't be growing any winter squash EXCEPT maybe butternut if we need it for ravoili .... might just go buy a couple LOL. I did get a recipe to try for winter squash bread. Makes 2-3 loaves but I will try it. We can always eat it as French toast or bread pudding if we don't like it for regular bread. 

Blessed Be 

it was soot

 Hubby would have had me in the ER if it was a bruise.

I got 11qrts and 16 pints of chili canned.Brought the sloppy joe, taco meat and beef crumbles each up to 52 meals in the deep freezer. I have the butternut puree in the freezer. 

 Ready for the cow to be butchered which is scheduled for Thursday early morning. 

I spent $33.77 on groceries. I will have to get another gallon of milk towards the end of the month.

We went to sawmill to pick up our dump wagon that was loaded with sawmill blocks and got 4 tubs of scrap wood for free.

E came over and asked Hubby to pull out a couple trees they had cut down last year to cure. He decided he didn't want them , over ran with scrap wood from his sawmill so gave it to us. Hubby went back and cut the limbs off so he can move the trees with his tractor this week. He will cut it up probably this spring. We have enough coal,blocks *we hope* and night wood to make it to spring. More than one Amish have said they didn't have enough fire wood brought in as we face another week of bitter cold and winds driving the feels like temp below ZERO.

All the bills are paid so I can make the extra payment on the mortgage and another deposit to the savings accts.

I'll be wiping the chili jars down and moving what has been canned this week down to the basement. 

Stay safe everyone

Blessed Be

On the to do list

 1/2 side of beef when it comes in.

MEAN TIME I am taking last year's beef to make a year's worth of  the following:

Sloppy joe bagged in 1 cup amts and froze.

Taco meat bagged in 1 cup amts and froze.

Beef crumbles, canned in pints

Chili canned in pints.

I need to make noodles to dry.

I need to roast the butternut so I can puree it and freeze it to make ravioli for son2

I need to dehydrate 10 other winter squashes.

I need to dehydrate sweet potatoes.

I want to have the entire house deep cleaned by Lent.

1.12.2026

 

I cleaned the wood/coal stove. Hubby took one look and went out the back door. LOL. 

But it's cleaned and started back up. Winds are gusting at 20 plus. windmill is moaning , temp is 35 F.So feels colder. 

We ran the furnace 3 days. Dropped the propane from 60% to 56%. 

I dealt with the lard. 62 pounds of it. We won't need lard for a couple years. I have 2 kids that would like some. 

Since the beef isn't coming in on the 20th (E was here to let us know)E and Hubby decided to cut some trees down later this week for us. Hubby still has 2 trees in the maple woods over at E's that need pulled over here as they are laying in the pathway E runs when collecting sap. E said that would give us 4 good trees for next year's  Day wood. We are almost out so I talked to Hubby into burning more coal to make the wood last longer.We have 5 tons that would last 250 days WITHOUT any wood with it. 

We took the dump wagon to the sawmill to get blocks that will cost $60. Should be able to pick them up by next week.While we were there we asked if they could throw scrap wood in our barrels/tubs what ever. They filled 4 right then and reloaded them in the truck. Pit stopped Saturday and dropped off a couple more empty tubs. I can go through a tub a day during the winter. Spring and fall maybe 2 to 3 days. All they do is drag the scrap to one of their fields and burn it. We did ask how much they wanted for the scraps... Owner is thinking and he added he might start using it in the wash room if his wife is okay with that. 

All the Christmas decorations were down by end of Dec. AND put back in barn

I started Jan 5th deep cleaning doing a section each day(not Sundays). I got 8 areas done and started on 2 others since I was moving stuff around. 

Electric bill was $150 in Oct. Freaked me out thinking about what it would be at Christmas. In Nov it was $140... Just got Dec bill... $127....HUM. So called my electric company. A full freezer and full refrigerator uses LESS electric. 

SO I got all the bills paid, all were below budget except mortgage LOL. I moved what wasn't used to separate acct as I KNOW sometime they will come in ABOVE the budget. Money will be earning interest and I won't stress trying to come up with the difference.

We stocked up on over the counter meds etc. that was on sale.

Be safe Blessed Be

December roller coaster weather...hog in

 

We got 4 inches of snow, temperatures have not went above 32 for last 5 days. Winds were wicked and then stopped.  Not to get any warmer for the next 7 days.  Are being warned that another round (or more than one round) of being hit with the polar vortex is coming in the next couple weeks. 

Since we lived through blizzards and polar vortex before we know exactly what to do to prevent as much isssues as possible. 

Today we are facing another snow storm 3-5 inches as the rain already melted the snow we had plus more frigid temps BUT this coming week we are looking at  40s and even a 50.

The hog is in at 410 lbs. I divided the loin in to 5 loin roasts and 3 meals of thick pork chops since it is just the two of us and into the freezer. Spare ribs are now 4 meals and sausage patties are 36 meals.Vacuum bagged and in freezer dated. 

I need to divide out the lard and freeze it and then vacuum bag it for the freezer to stop it from going bad so quickly. 

Tonight we pick up the jowl bacon (for son2), bacon, hocks (for son 2... girls don't want any pork, but asked for beef Son 1 does not cook, he gets too many leftovers from the other side LOL) and the 2 full size hams from the Amish smoking it. 

I have one shoulder (about 25 lbs with bone) in roaster on a slow roast to shred and can for pulled pork. The other shoulder will go in roaster Sunday night to slow cook over night. 

I will finishing making brat patties today.

I had Hubby bring up the Monster canner (holds 16 qrts wide mouth or 19 of regular mouth jars). Jars that was in storage of barn is now in house after being washed in dish washer. The kitchen looks like a canning store LOL.

I NEED to finish the Christmas decorating, Christmas letters mailed,finances and mending 2 pairs of socks on top of the hog to be finished.  

Changes in grocery shopping

  We have cut back from once a week, then every other week to one major shopping to 4-6 wks and only getting a gallon of milk or milk and a loaf of bread between. We spent about $325 a month.

Yesterday as we stopped and I ordered the prime rib for Christmas eve, I brought up reducing the grocery list and using what we don't spend on paying off the house. 

Then we talked about limiting the grocery list. I had used Kroger's app to finger out what he thought we could buy for $100 a MONTH.... I figured it to be $50 a month using the list I had on me. 

I brought up the book I had reread, Prepper's pantry and that we had in the pantry everything to stay healthy evenif we wasn't taking a vitamin pill so that took that worry off. No sense doing something that is going to make your health worse. 

He came back with let's just buy milk (I can make yogurt and ice cream). 

I added heavy cream and or half and half once a month or every other month for whip topping and custards.

Then he suggested we split the savings between stocking back up and the mortgage. Suggested we start Jan 1st. and go to Lent.

I said NO, now. I already paid for the prime rib and that's the only thing that would not be regular groceries. We would do the next 14 wks (around Lent) and see how that goes.

Going to be an interesting year.

quick update

 Hubby's younger brother text last night his wife is going back in for heart treatment  on Friday(day before their mother's service) and might not be there. This is the 6th time she's had the treatment trying to get her heart to stay in rhythm. This is basically the same issue MIL had last couple years. * She was there but said they were looking at her getting a pacemaker.

FIL doing okay, said he just focuses on that fact she can sleep (was only sleeping 2 hrs before the shortness of breath would wake her) and he isn't worried about going to get groceries and coming home to find her on the floor where she fell and something broken.

Using drying rack almost daily even after hanging on the line. Can't tell wheither something is damp or just cold.

Largest turkey that was in freezer is canned. Second turkey thawing. Three beef roasts thawed to can in chuncks this morning.

Carrots and celery to blanche for freezer today also.

We have below freezing weather coming in tomorrow so I will finish hanging the last of the winter curtains also.

Doc told Hubby to get his steps in as he isn't losing the weight like he needs to,otherwise we are in good health and I am still off meds.

Everyone be safe, have a good holiday 

Blessed be

Odds and ends

 

Son2 moaned over this. Daughters 1,2,3 and 4 crabbed. Guess who uses this ...

Washer repair guy told us to replace the washer as the gear box seal went bad and the oil was on the floor. Gave us a couple suggestions , Maytag, Whirpool and Speed Queen but make sure we had a local repair guy for Speed Queen as they don't do those repairs. Got  a Magtag at Menards with 11 % rebate. Lowes had some on sale but they were too small.  

I wrote down while sick, 30 casseroles, 30 soups, 30 beef main dishes, 30 pork main dishes 30 poultry main dishes ,etc. As I use that dish I mark it off. Has worked well. I did scan the lists to my computers so I don't have to rethink it again LOL. The hog and 1/2 beef is paid in full. 

Took this last week. Snow is starting to go away,supposed to get a warm up to 40s/50s this coming weekend. We will reload the wood and coals then.

Hubby's dad let us know his bowel blockage (cancer) is back for the 3rd time. Then called to let us know Hubby's mom had a heart attack. She had congestion heart failure for years and has had several bad attacks. This time she passed. Miss her but glad she's not suffering any more. Her service is Saturday. His Dad told the 4 kids if they wanted to go to lawyer about her will, that was fine. He will update his the following week and the 4 kids are welcome to go with him. 

Amish neighbor's families had 6 deaths in the last 2 wks.

Got our vaccines. Hubby usually has a mild reaction, this time it was me, just achy. 

Got the beef freezer defosted,inventoried and organized. Poultry/veggie chest freezer the last one. 

I started thawing the largest turkey I had in freezer to can this week, probably will be doing the other 3 between now and Tday as 2 are on the small side. Will make a good size hole for pork that is coming in as it's in the pork freezer. 

Hope everyone is well, stay safe

Prayers for peace

Blessed Be

Here's a rainbow for everyone

 Faint in the back ground but it's there.

Hubby is doing well... our clothes washer stopped spinning out and I am now recovering from a nasty bout of flu (Doc said due to worrying about Hubby) that involved dry heaves.I think I picked it up at Walmart when I went to get my glasses fixed (yes they broke of course) and went and got bread. The store was packed!!! Since I have the flu, I rescheduled the repairman for the washer, no sense sharing this crap. He was grateful as his grandmother (80s) lives with him. THEN my filling came out of my tooth  SIGH. That will be fixed after I quit runing a fever for 5 days.

House needs cleaned but it has been aired out daily for at least an hour. Wood stove is back on after 4 days off. Means windows are open to keep the temp below 80. We air out daily when wood stove is on, Doc told us to do it even with regular furnance is on... I used to when the kids were in school and my kids didn't get sick like the other kids did.

After laying on the bathroom floor for 2 days I took to laying on the bed for another day. Yesterday I moved around slowly. Did work on the budget for next year.

The hog and 1/2 side of beef we bought is paid in full. That will be processed end of Nov or middle of Dec. That will give us enough meat for at least 1 yr if not a yr and a couple months. I asked an Elder Amish lady (just her and her hubby) how she makes sure she has enough and she gave some good advice since I am now trying to get away from the stores as much. She processes her meat then divides it out by month... say she processes 120 lbs of pork, and she wants it to last 14 months (says you always want a few month extra incase of bad times). That means pork is served 8 times a month. I will still have to buy my smoked sausage. Do the same with beef. I can do that with poultry , just have to think about getting it done. She thought it would help with meal planning also... She does 14 meals of beef, 8 meals of pork, 16 meals of poultry, 12 meals of eggs and 10 meals of beans and 30 meals of leftovers as soup or casserole... that's eating 3 times a day for a month. She used to go to the store twice a month.... I was shocked until she told me what she was getting was to fill in. So she started growing winter squash for when potatoes run low, and using more soup beans.Cut her costs in half. To use up stale bread she made French toast or bread pudding or stuffing or all of it. 

Anyways. Since I am still not wanting to eat much at all LOL.I did decide to work on the menu so that info helps.I have pushed grocery store to every 6 wks except for milk every two weeks. I cut the food budget down to half, even with helping Son2 with groceries.He should be okay now if he stays careful with his shopping. 

Blessed be everyone

Stay safe. 

prayers for peace

weeks run together

 Son 2's cat died . He was 20 yrs old. He still has the younger one but had stated he will not get another cat due to his own health going down. His paperwork is on hold for his medical retirement while the gov't is shut down but since he has his Army medical retirement he is ok. VA did give him some good news, they connected with an Urgent Care close to him so he isn't looking for a ride to get there as he no longer drives interstate.He laughed when he found out it was our old doctor's before we moved here. 

Daughter 4 is now sharing  a car with her older son so they could buy a chest freezer. Younger son is walking to work to save $$.  She's glad the oldest and her family are doing ok.

Daughter 1 has blocked family due to ALL of us reporting to her doctor/law she was drinking and selling her prescription drugs. Her husband backed us as he worried she was going to end up killing herself. She's in rehab now so it's wait to see how this goes. 

Daughter 2 is worried about losing her job working at the school, last hired is first fired,she is still bartending but acknowledged her tips are way down and her hours there have been cut in half. She has 2 of her boys (adults) living with her still but they told her she should start looking at getting a smaller place as they are looking at moving next summer.

Daughter 3 said she is working 2 part time jobs, she has the 2 younger kids still at home both are working part time with still being in school.

Son 1 said he is doing fine, still working steady at IT company. 

Parents in law are doing good but Hubby's SIL of his younger brother was in really bad shape between heart and other issues. She's doing better after she said something to her heart doctor that our son had been zapped and it fixed he AFIB.SO they tried it.... it straightened it out like his did. 

Hubby got over pneumonia, Doc decided he wanted another test CT scan with dye on his lungs. Found granulomatous, passes through genes, affects immune system. He has recovered but we now know why he gets sick easily. Will have to work on a better routine for home blessing and making sure he eat healthy.

I have another tray of green tomatoes turning . I will add them to the ones in the freezer to cook into sauce.

I gathered thoughts of what I wanted to do with the beef that will be coming in late Nov thru Dec. Made the list so I wouldn't side track and not remember something. Already decided on the pork.

We have the wood/coal stove on for the last 2 weeks. I've been doing most of the keeping the wood in house. 

Hubby checked on the whole house generator and the solar well pump. He does a monthly test run to make sure they are in good working order. 

I still need to finish the deep cleaning. Slow process since there was several medical appts for Hubby.

I checked the pantry, medical supplies, etc. Have 2 out of 6 deep freezers to defrost, clean, organize and inventory this month. Picked up a few things we were low on. 

Worked on finances for next year. Need to check a few more things before we set those numbers. 

Set for a hard winter they keep talking about.

I hope everyone is healthy, got supplies for your homes and find something daily

Blessed be  Stay safe

Hubby's birthday.

 This is from the other day but he loved how well it turned out. Ribeye steak, baked potato and asparagus I froze will be his meal for his birthday.

Son2 is now off work for medical. His employer suggested he file for assistance thru VA as he can't stand very long on his feet. PAIN just runs down his legs through the feet. Doctors don't have answers of why YET, more testing  to come.  He can pay his bills, maintenance on car and house but limited on groceries with the cost that just keeps going up. He was an idiot (his words) and gave his emergency back up incase of electric failure to his girlfriend that is now his ex.   We raided ours, found stuff that we will not use here since we have a wood/coal stove to heat and cook on, solar pump for the deep well, hand pump on cistern and 2 generators. He ordered a grid down "bucket" of dried food that will stay good for 25 yrs. Figured that would cover some of the food issues.  One of those , I don't need to have a pantry as the store is 3 blocks from me. Store manager put a sign out if they lose electric the store would be CLOSED as they don't have a generator to run the store , just protect the freezers and frigs. 

I checked with the girls and Son 1... they said they would be okay for at least a week. I told them to push that amount to 2 wks (comparing to Blizzard of 1978). I will ask again next month. Two of the girls live across from each other, one will have heat, the other has a grill so they decided worse case grill gets carried across the street along with blankets and pillows. LOL

We cleared the gardens. I froze the tomatoes to can later. The last of the winter squash will be cured Thursday so I can move it to the basement then. 

We did a trail run of the wood stove since we changed the cap on the chimney.

Started nicer ... Hubby put 1round log (8 inch wide, 15 inches long) in for night time at it was down to 40 ℉, just one and it ran us out of the house at almost 90 ℉ with every window open GEEZE.  Hubby might have to cut them in half and only use 1 instead of the 6 we used last winter . He thinks it was Birch wood as it burns hotter but doesn't last as long. Took a good 24 hrs to get the house back down to mid 70s 😌

I have all 3 refrigerator freezers organized and 4 of the 6 deep freezers sorted and organized (and inventoried) Still have the beef freezer and the other freezer that is a combination of poultry, seafood and veggies. I restocked nonfood items and otc meds. 

I didn't go to store yet so it will be 8 weeks since we did a shopping except for milk and I picked up large bag of carrots, 2 celery and 25 lbs of bread flour as I shared what I had with M and she just gave me the cash to replace what I gave her.Bulk store was out of all flours and was waiting for delivery. Came in almost a week late. She sent a pie over with the cash . 

I paid all the bills, that's always a sigh of relief. Stayed on budget for groceries/nonfood/ OTC meds.

Now I need to finish the fall cleaning 😕SIGH. 

Blessed be, stay safe

Prayers for peace

Rolling into Autumn

 Kalettes did not produce due to drought  😞

Harvested last of winter squash to cure. Moved cured squash to basement. Gave what we didn't want to neighbor.

Eggplant is not turning. Hubby said he would recheck it this weekend and if it's still green he will pull it.

Tomatoes need picked and plants pulled.

We harvested the last of the potatoes, didn't do well at all.

We harvested the last of the sweet potatoes that did extremely well. Probably will end up sharing that in a couple months or so.

Hubby redid the ruined insulation in the pump house. Wore a cover all for it but didn't bother with a face mask... caught pnumonia and was down for two weeks and still gets tired very quickly which means I was doing his work along with mine. 

I got a sinus infection, so running a fever SIGH SIGH SIGH...neighbor on other side burnt drywall and didn't warn anyone and the smoke drifted all over the neighborhood. Even my Amish neighbor complained.😮

I only bought 1 loaf of bread and 2 gallons of milk in Sept. 

Not as done with autumn work load as we had hoped to be due to health issues but still doing decent. 

Hope everyone is well and that you have something to smile about. 

LORD GIVE ME STRENGTH

 Sister in law, went into AFIB and they found a lump at her pancreas. The surgeon said it didn't look to be cancer but being a nurse she went Googling it and said she's sure it is. She has long term Covid. Lump was removed and sent for testing. Her heart doctor will see her Monday.

Mother in Law didn't use her walker and fell AGAIN. Doesn't help that she has polio and heart medication that does increase the chance of falling.Still she's been using a walker for YEARS so we are trying to figure out why she isn't using it now.

Son2 has hired a lawyer to deal with his civil side of military of work that doesn't agree with the Army side that he is disabled and Army put him disablity with pension...SIGH. 

We now have wasps to go along with the yellow jackets and bees(not honey bees as we had E come check) so since the wasps nests are 20 ft up in the area ,we hired that to be dealt with. I am highly allergic. Decided when Hubby seen termites in the woods across from us (not were we get our wood) that he would have a contract for quartly inspection. Last year it was RED ants. Actually will be less than the costs he was spending on sprays and such.I kept track LOL.

 Our hog could be butchered anywhere from end of Sept to Dec. I defrosted the pork deep freezer. Cooked sausage to make 52 meals of sausage crumbles (pizza, casseroles, etc). Inventoried what was left. I need to move a bit yet but can just stack it. Son2 is taking some of it.

Beef (1/2 steer) is coming in December. I will defrost and inventory the beef deep freezer before then.

I need to defrost the poultry/seafood/veggie deep freezer next as Turkeys will be coming on sale in Nov. 

I canned 14 qrts. and 8 pints of M's veggie soup. I thought Hubby was going to stick his head in the pot I made it in LOL. I did scrap out a bowl for him. 

I paid the bills and changed it to to paying all of them midmonth. I deduct the automaticwtihdrawls/pays also. 

The 250 truck needs to go in for oil change etc tomorrow.

The silverado will be next month, maybe.

I paid the bill for the stuff we needed for replacing insulation in pump house. Hubby took out the damaged insulation, repaired a couple studs and started installing the new insulation and a vinyl wall to help protect the insulation if a pipe blows again. He ordered a 10 cubic "clean up" bin from our refuse company. That is paid already.

Our house and auto ins agent left the company so we have a new agent. Actually is within 30 miles of us instead of 90 minutes since we moved to the farm.

The electric is DOWN $10. Instead of running the AC we are running the furnance as it's too warm (for us) to use the wood/coal stove. I turn the furnance off when the day is up to 68 but nights are around 40 degrees. NO rain, pond is really low, cisterns are drying up for several Amish, ours is low. Can tell the deep well is low also. 

I only got dairy and some salads at the grocery store. 

We harvested tomatoes (in freezer to can sauce later), eggplant,and winter squash.

I know we will be harvesting more winter squash, potatoes and eggplant this coming week.  Not sure about anything else. Sweet potato vines are starting to die so I will be checking on their sizes before I start harvesting. 

Hubby was given some firewood that needs cut so he's been working off and on dealing with that even though we don't need it for this coming winter.

Charlotte is due for her shots so we will get her nails cut also when we take her at the end of the month when we got to chiro. 

I decorated for fall.... still need to do deep cleaning and change out curtains. But decorations are up and done. 

I pray you are all well, stable in your homes and doing decent. 

Prayers for peace and healing

Blessed be

why I do long to do lists Sept/Oct to do

ONE... Hubby and I work off the same list. Once in awhile he will tell me he has some other work to do, writes it on a scrap paper and within a couple days it's lost so I write it on the main list also. His cognitive disfunction AKA brain damage due to head hits in sports and farming happens daily.

TWO... Due to my own health issues, I look at the whole list, and think

How do I feel today? What absolutely needs done? Can I do this job in sections (different days) or is it a one day job deal? How can I do it easier?

A morning of doctor appts with in an hour drive, wears us out but we can add vet appt for Charlotte or grocery store stop as I can get in and out in 30 minutes ...but then we are done for the day after putting the food away. There very few doctors now in our area. We now call the local hospital a bandade center. Would not be surprised if it closes. 

I know Monday I will start defrosting the pork deep freezer and probably canning some of what is in there as the hog is expected in a couple weeks (or beginning of next month) , the beef freezer will follow with it being butchered when deer season starts and the poultry/seafood freezer will be last. The other freezers were just defrosted due to veggies coming in. 

I need to move canning supplies off set of shelves so I have a place to store the meat I can that is coming in. I need to deep cleaning the basement since that is where the canning/ freezer stuff goes before I start on that. I keep it dusted and swept but I want to check shelves etc and make sure things are in correct areas not just shoved here and there. Hubby put tomato paste with soups and I thought I was out and ordered more... SIGH.

Besides the pork and beef coming in I have other things to process along with garden slowly coming in that needs dealt with. Soups and apples to can or dehydrate. M gave me 6 dozen of eggs so I can make my noodles for winter. When the butternut squash is harvested I will make butternut ravioli so will be making more pasta then.  

I need to set up where I am storing onions, sweet potatoes, potatoes and winter squash

I have deep cleaning (wood stove is done) to get done and winter curtains, bedding, clothing to deal with. Hubby needs to wash the house, deal with some yellow jackets and deal with the pump house.

There are 64 listed on the to do list not counting appts and grocery store. I think we can do with just milk runs during Sept. Meal will be quick or what ever I am canning. M's MIL gave me bread so I don't have to deal with that the next 2 wks. I put some of it in the freezer to cover that.

BUT today I am just checking lists, planning what is first (pork freezer defrosted) etc.

Prayers for peace, Stay safe

Blessed be

canning meat

I have canned raw meat and precooked meat.

I strongly suggest you check out  this website. I have seen canning stuff on social media that could put you in the hospital or kill someone. 

https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/preparing-and-canning-poultry-red-meats-and-seafoods/meat-ground-or-chopped/

IF you have a local ag extension, call them and ask. 

Amish vegetable soup for canning

 Due to meat being in it a pressure canner is required. 

This recipe takes time with all the dicing, you could use veggies from canned goods or freezer. 

2 1/2 gallons of tomato juice...(M uses only 4-6 qrts) 20 qrts if using orginial recipe , closer to 16 -17 qrt using M's with less juice.

1 quart each of corn, peas,small dices of carrots, small dices of celery (M removes strings first) small diced onion, and small pieces of green beans. Make the dices all the same size.

2 sweet bell peppers diced small.

2 quarts of small diced potatoes.

1 of 15/16 oz can of navy beans 

1 of 15/16 oz lima beans

2 lbs ground beef (or other meat) precooked and grease removed and in very small crumbles.

12 oz box of macaroni

2 cups brown sugar

salt to taste

2 tablespoons dried parsley

4 small packages of beef stock (M used Knorr slow cooked beef stock)

1 package of each seasoning... beef stew, meatloaf, sloppy joe and taco.

DO NOT SKIP THIS or it will not be as good. (M skipped it and said she would never skip it again LOL. She used McCormick as that's what to store had)

Fry onions , cook macaroni half way done

Cook carrots,celecry,and potatoes until soft. Added beans. Mix with meat and onions. 

Mix seasonings with tomato juice (4-6 qrts if following M )

Mix everything together and pack in jars.

M adds more corn and green beans. You can change up the veggies.

Processes in canner 90 minutes up to 2 hrs.  

good morning. two weeks worth

  AUG 11th 

Laundry is on the line, dishwasher is unloaded, supper is picked out and I flung 27 items and decluttered 15min.  I pulled the last half loaf of bread out of the freezer. 

We have a gathering to go to this weekend so I need to decide what to take. Won't be any veggies as their gardens are almost as big as ours. 

Our electric went up $45 ... ran the AC for over a week, add on new freezer (switched it to all freezer instead of frig/freezer) 3 dehydrators and having fans running so was not surprised. Well ....we were surprised it wasn't higher.

 Did a lot of maintenance last month and those bills came in.Best to get it done because costs is only going to go up. We have one more project to buy for, going to use Menards rebates to lower that cost.

Hubby is going to drag 4 more trees up that are cured and 2 more that aren't. We don't need them cut to size right now but he figured he would move them out of E's way for maple syrup time this winter. We need mineral spirits for oil lamps still but waiting until the next order comes in so it's fresh. We used 4 gallons this past year.That is down from the year before but will go back up as I replaced an oil lamp.

The "winter get it done" list is basically deep cleaning the house and replace insulation in pump house in cooler weather, that's the last project. That's good since it's still Aug and not late Oct like a couple years ago.

Winter squash is starting to come in. Onions have been pulled and are curing. Looks like we will have another round of potatoes to harvest.  Moving canned goods also to make sure we used the oldest first.

Son 2 and I have been sharing and writing down meals. He is off work due to medical.Income has been cut in half. He said money wise he is okay as long as he is careful and his paperwork for disability goes through in 3 months.  You would think if the Army said you were disabled that would go for all the rest of disability  BUT NOOOOO. 

Mother in law fell, gave herself whiplash. I and her daughter are taking turns helping her in the shower as she still can't raise her arms to wash her hair,face, neck and back. Father in law is doing housekeeping and meals.  Grandson stayed for a week until she could get out of bed by herself and to help do odds and ends.

LORD HELP!!! Aug 28th.

Laundry on clothes line, watching as we are to get rain, fingers crossed as our cistern is almost dry and Amish neighbor's is completly dry. But I hope the laundry is dry or close to being dry before it hits.FINGERS CROSSED.

E's dad was hit from behind while in his buggy. Thankful he didn't have any of the grandkids in with him as he usually does. Guy said he was too busy watching the storm come in while driving and didn't realize he was that close to the buggy. E's dad was thrown 20 ft into field. Said he landed on a shock of straw that helped soften the landing. He is doing OK, guy that hit him is now helping with the chores before he goes to work and at night. Admitted he was distracted with watching the storm come in.He called the sheriff and reported it all.

Half cow and the hog meat will be in during Sept/Oct. I need to move things in freezers before doing house deep cleaning.  I can either freeze it or can it or both. Son2 suggested I can what I have in the freezer and make room for the fresh to go in freezer.That way I will have quick meals ready while dealing with the fresh meat. Sounds like a plan.

Have winter squash, mini eggplant,some cherry and paste tomatoes (regular did not do well), sweet potatoes still blooming, potatoes probably in next 2 wks. I pulled the last of the banana peppers, Might get some of the colored small bell peppers still. 

I went to store and got dairy, 4 salads, carrots and celery. I might buy some fresh apples for eating during the winter but what I bought is what I think will be our standard need to buy list when we go to the store this winter. When the gardens are completely done I will start growing sprouts. Amish family that we help their Dad while in surgery for 4 months off and on, got together and had an Englisher buy the stuff  from Amazon for us as that is now what they are doing for "fresh" veggies during the winter for last 3 yrs. 

We still don't have the furnance on ( update..just turned it on as house is dropping below 65 rain is spitting here and there), won't start wood stove until it stays cold during the day. Today it's low 60s but starting Saturday it will be back up into 70s. Might have to turn furnace on this evening because its not even noon and the house is back under 65 but that's okay. I planned for those type of days when I ordered propane.

M sent over small eggs from her new chickens, I mentioned I needed to make noodles and since her new chickens (pullets) are ALL laying she is getting over 5 dozen a day along with her older chicken laying, She sent 6 dozen and said she had more as they are now laying twice a day. Charlotte will get some since she is itching due to allergies and the eggs calm it down. 

On the to do list

We got the pump house insulation stuff when we went to help MIL so that is on site. Hubby called our trash collector and they said we could have what they call a "clean up box" the week after the fair (next week), they just need a 3 day notice to deliver it. 

I need to can apple jam, onion chutney, vegetable soup (M gave me recipe for 20 qrts). Need to freeze eggroll mixture for eggroll bowls. Need to make noodles to dry, dehydrate apple slices and peels and cabbage. Need to make granola for bfast cereal. 

I need to fix the freezers to get the meat in or plan on canning all of it.... or some of it. That's around 600 to 700 lbs of meat  coming in.

I need to deep clean home and flip to fall/winter clothes. Local plants and animals are forcasting colder than normal winter. We have been going more with plants and animals that the local forecast. LOL

Stay safe, prayers for peace and sanity

Blessed be