Saturday, October 31, 2015

Boy oh boy have I been absent ...

It seems to go in spurts - nothing to say for a long time, even though things do happen, it just doesn't seem blog worthy.  I wish I could hit a consistent pace ... like once a week, or twice maybe, but sometimes I don't think you want to hear on a daily basis that I'm dehydrating onions ... I've been doing that almost daily for 1 1/2 weeks.  I dehydrate because I can't eat them fast enough, so dried they last forever and nothing goes to waste.

I've also been experimenting with other things like zucchini, pineapple and bananas.  Now I need to experiment with re-hydrating them.  Most of what I've read says to use HOT water for hours or even a day or two.  I'll find out.  I guess it also depends where you live and the humidity in the area at the time.  I love the dried pineapple - the process concentrates the flavor and even though they are a bit chewy, they are GOOD!!

I have some banana chips I did in July 2014, and they are still crisp and flavorful.  I've also dehydrated celery ... it comes out wonderful too!  My dehydrator is a Dehydro by Presto.  It has one temperature and the on/off switch is unplugging the machine.  The temp is set at 140 deg, but it seems to work fine even though some of the instructions say 115 to 155 degrees.  I just watch the time and check the food after every 90 minutes.  I may eventually move up to a bigger and better machine, but I have to save my nickles and dimes for that! 

My friend, Susan, and I were vendors in a craft show on Oct 10.  It was a so-so show.  I sold enough to cover my expense for the table, but Susan did not.  I think there were 15 vendors and I doubt many of them enjoyed the fair.  There weren't many people coming through, and those that did were elderly.  I'm elderly so no offense meant, but the items Susan and I had were for all ages and the holidays.  There were a couple of families, but nooo, not the best show I've ever done ... We will do it again next year - it could just have been a fluke this time.  It was only the 2nd Annual fair, so we'll give it another chance.  We will also express our ideas to the group putting on the fair about other things they need to do to attract attention and draw people in.  She asked for our opinion and for help, so we're not stepping on toes ... LOL  Susan and I have both organized craft fairs, so we do have some ideas ...

The weather is turning and getting colder, rain in the forecast, but the snow is a whole week off.  By the time we hit Sun 11-8, I'm sure the snow will disappear from the forecast.  We need SNOW desperately as the last 5 years have been very dry, but I'm beginning to despair of ever seeing 3-4-5 foot snowfalls again.

The two new chickens I got in March or April haven't laid one darn egg!  No they are not males, but if they're laying in the yard, I haven't found anything even though I walk the yard 1-2 times a week.  The older girls need to go in the stew pot, but I'm not ready for that yet.  Next spring when the new 'crop' of chicks come out I'll probably butcher them for the freezer - at this age they're only good for soup & stock, but they will be enjoyed none-the-less.

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

I'm still around ... really!

I always seem to be busy in one way or the other ... but when I look back, I can't see one darn thing that was accomplished!  I'm retired so there's always time to get things done, except it just never seems to get done no matter what.

My procrastinating has got to STOP!!  I don't know how to schedule things that needs to get done so they get done ... I schedule my grocery shopping trips on things I'm running out of, like milk or coffee, but that doesn't help setting up a schedule.  When I do need to shop I gather several places that I need to go, but nothing gets scheduled ...

I have to see the doctor regularly to refill my prescriptions so that scheduling is on the calendar and I have no problem keeping the appointments.  I have Arthritis and terrible pain in hands and basic joints so I HAVE to have the pain meds.  Now why can't cleaning house be like that?  I like a clean house, but it so often looks like I picked up the house and shook it vigorously.  Then I complain about it for a month until I get sick of looking at it and things start to get done, but somehow I run out of steam ... I really run out of pain-free time and it takes several days for me to get the umph to continue.

I sure hope some one can come up with a schedule I can keep ... some way, some how! 


The first weekend of May I went camping with my friends to a Black Powder Shoot.  People in costumes from the mountain man era competing for prizes in a variety of activities representing that time.  A lot of fun!!  There are also raffles for different items and I won one this year!!!  A hand carved fish with lure on line in its mouth in a mountain stream with rocks and weeds.  It is about 10-11" long, 8-9" tall and 5-6" front to back.  ALL hand carved and painted.  It is a wonderful piece of art that the carver donates to a drawing every year.  I gave it to one of my best friends for his birthday ... he's more into fishing than I am, but I can see it anytime I visit him and his wife.  Looks wonderful sitting on top of a gun cabinet!

Another camping trip for my birthday was fun but pretty uneventful ... We just got back last Sunday from another birthday trip.  We spent almost 5 days in the woods.  I spent time reading and knitting; not too much fishing since it was lousy.  The weather was warm to hot during the day, but it did cool down at night so I could sleep.

See, I need to get on a schedule so I post more often ... April 5, 2015 is waayyy too long between posts.

Have a great day! 

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Easter Sunday

Have a Happy Easter Bunny Day ... and more seriously, have a Wonderful Easter Sunday.  I wish I could be in Texas with my family to celebrate this High Holy Day.  I miss them, but they are all in my heart.

I know it's been a long time since I posted, but since my last post in January, nothing in the world has changed ... it is still burning, the Christians and Jews are still being persecuted, the terrorists are still killing anyone who is not Muslim ... I have strong opinions on the above mentioned items, but for today I will Pray for Everyone!  It can't hurt ...

It's snowing outside and the temp sits at 32 ... nothing is sticking of course, but it is COLD.  Thankfully there is only a slight, slight breeze, but it is still cold air moving around.  Brrrrr!!

I'm starting my list of items that will be needed for our Black Powder Shoot camping trip.  It is hard to foresee what kind of clothes to bring this time of year.  It could be sunny, but still cold or it could be raining or snowing ... LOL   Food will mostly be the basics ... milk, bread, etc., etc.  and WARM food, he, he, he.

I sure hope it warms up by then ... we will be leaving home on April 29 and back home on May 3.  This might be our last year to have the Shoot where it's been for many, many years.  The company that bought the property is extremely worried about fires and people drinking where there are guns.  There has never been an issue before with the drinking and guns ... we really are adults even if we dress up in period costume ... I sure hope the Mt. Mazama Mountain Men can find a place that is just as nice or better.  There will be observers from the company to see if we are good boys and girls ...  

I'm also doing some knitting, beading and crocheting for a Craft Faire in October.  I know it sounds like a long way off, but when every thing is hand made it takes time.  My friend and I have knit/crochet 2 Yoda Baby Buntings ... beaded little Angel earrings and wrist Rosaries.  I have patterns for Ornament covers; I'd like to have between 6-10 done in different designs and colors.  My friend will make soap and I have wash/dish clothes that we will sell together.  I am very excited, and should be busier than I am right now.  There is time, but it has a habit of moving very, very quickly.  I WILL GET IT ALL DONE!!!! LOL

I leave you for now with Prayers for Easter.  God Bless.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

I'm still around ...

Things have been very blah and so so since my last post.  The weather has been real cold with a day or two of 'nice'.  No snow to speak of which makes me sad.  I've been following the things going on in the world, but I really have nothing to say since I think the govt is as crooked as a winding mountain road!  The attacks in Paris makes me worry about when it will come to the US ...

My animals are healthy and a lot of fun to watch - crazy chickens.  Of course the dog and cat are equally fun, but the chicks are the best!  The cat, Joey, will hang on the living room screen when he wants in, and will keep it up until you open the door.  PIA, but at least I know what he wants.  If I don't pay attention to his antics they will get worse and worse when he wants out - he'll terrorize the other cats or knock things down just to be let out.

My Social Security was increased by 1.7% this year ... that gives me $16 more a month.  I promise I won't spend it all in one place ... LOL  It's wonderful to get a raise, but when every thing else, car ins., cable, phone bill goes up more than the raise ... I want to say  "what good is it", but it is an increase even if it doesn't cover the bills.  I DO appreciate it, but to call it great is a really bad joke.  I now make $5.79 an hour using the formula of annual pay divided by 2080 (the number of hours we normally work during a year) and I just can't make it stretch ...

Tim, my grandson, enlisted in the Navy at the end of last year - I'm sooo proud!!  I'm also a bit scared.

The two granddaughters are doing fine, I just can't believe how grown they've become; K will be 27 at the beginning of March and A will be 25 at the end of March ... WOW, makes me feel OLD!!

I've been knitting quite a bit this last 6 months or so, now I just need to finish those projects ... LOL.  I have to finish binding off a cowl for myself, but the yarn is hard to work with - homegrown (not me) alpaca with quite a bit of fuzz and size 5 needles. I can only do so many stitches at a time since the yarn splits really bad.  I will get it done this week sometime which means I will start something new.  Never mind that I already have a half dozen other projects to finish.  I love my knitting!!

Even though it's only January, I'm starting to think gardening and what I'll plant this year.  I need to plant a ton more of each veggie and learn how to can for long term storage ... I got tons of bell peppers last year, but instead of puting it by, I ate them almost faster than they ripened!   I hope I can get this down before harvest this year ... I also need better soil; that would help too!!  LOL

I think I've run out of nonsense to talk about, but this is pretty much how it is on a daily basis here on my little patch of earth.  I have to post more often - 3 months is NOT acceptable to me!!

Bless you all, and Happy New Year!