Canning relish, oven roasted chicken legs, dessert and another square made

Our cucumbers are doing very well this year. I already canned 24 jars of dill pickles, so today I canned relish. 

I used one of our onions and about 7 medium cucumbers. 

Deseeded them. 

Put through the processor but not too long , I didn't want mush or juice. Do the same with the onion, add to the cucumbers,  mix with 3 tablespoons of  canning salt.  Let stand for two hours.  Turn on the timer and go do something else. 

Each Wednesday I go see one of my sons and make them dinner. Dessert was super simple and I saw it on Pioneer Woman. I had leftover graham crackers from last week's full moon night outside with  s'mores. She used an 8x13 pan and I just wanted to see how this recipe works so I used an 8x8pan. I mean, this recipe is so easy … would it really taste good? 

So line the pan with the graham crackers, I used the honey ones, she used the chocolate ones. 

Melt a package of almond bark. Mine only used 1/2 package. She used a double boiler. I used the microwave.

Pour the melted bark over the crackers and spread. Top with what you like. I like sweet and salty so I used M&M and crushed pretzels.  Put it in the freezer to let it set. 

It comes out of the pan easily. 

It was a great success. I will make more tomorrow since my son and my family ate all the bark and loved it.

I did make the wrong block for week 5 on the Ultimate Beginner Quilt so I made that one today and cut out week 6 to finish tomorrow. I follow it HERE .

Okay, back to the relish... squeeze the cucumber and onion in a colander to get out all the excess water.  Leave it there and start with the vinegar mixture. 

In a nonreactive metal pan heat 3 cups of white vinegar, I added 3/4 cup sugar, a teaspoon of garlic powder, 2 teaspoons of dill weed (we grow our own), 2 teaspoons mustard seeds, and 2 teaspoons of celery seed.  Heat to a boil.   Add the cucumber and onion mixture, return to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for 10 mins. 

Add to hot prepared jars. Process in water bath for 15minutes (I'm high altitude).

The taste was delightful. I can't wait to use it. 

I roasted a pan of chicken legs, red potatoes and sweet potatoes to take to my son's family for dinner. I did it like I do when I roast vegetables.  Spray the pan, add chicken and potatoes, drizzle with oil add herbs (I used rosemary I grew last year and dried thyme from this year's garden), kosher salt and pepper. Toss well.  I put in at 450* F for 20 minutes, turn and went in for 20 more minutes. I do use a meat thermometer to see if it reaches 180* in the chicken to make sure it is finished. My family loved it. Here it is going into the oven. 

Made this little one in the past to take to my grandson today. 

I am a lucky mom. 

peace

Sunday update

Just a quick update of our Sunday.  

It was great to begin a day with friends visiting. As always, it goes by quickly. 

After lunch, I made my way toward Boulder to deliver and share in what we grow … Chickens and eggs today. 

I had to move this bad boy (turkey) out of the way to get to our chickens. 

Bingo.... even frozen they look beautiful. 

The day was gorgeous, despite being very windy.   The temperature was in the 60s.  Yes, those are snow clouds making their way across the Rockies. 

Here is what I was listening to to help the hours pass. I had forgotten what a wonderful book it is. 

And on I went...

I made it home in time to sit and enjoy the Super Bowl.  We are having a fairly healthy meal of chicken and roasted veggies. 

Made a second batch of veggies to take to work tomorrow. 

We went for a quick walk before settling in .  The wind was harsh. 

I had to laugh. I put my hands in my pocket to help ward off the wind and found an egg. 

These two came bouncing along to greet us. 

The rest of the afternoon and night will be the GAME, reading and meditating. 

peace 

A very autumn Friday!

We had a very busy morning going from appointment to appointment.  We warmed up the car and scrapped the ice and frost off the windows before heading out. 

It is World Arthritis Day... appropriate that Dude had his follow-up appointments for his new shoulder (arthritis, spurs and other such invasions had been removed 6 weeks ago).  Science and medicine are truly amazing these days.  Healing has been wonderful, all considerations being taken. (grin, Dude says large magnets pose a problem when he walks by them)

We didn't come home until 2 pm.  It is always great to be home.  I did take a small detour to the library.  Angels and all the spirits of the season were looking out for me as I went back to the car. I was reading the back of a book when I looked up to see a snake slithering and zigzagging across my path.  As I screamed, it looked up (I thought to strike me), said hello, wink and kept on sliding into the ornamental grass nearby.  A young boy came running out , smiling and yelled... how cool!  It took me a moment to breathe and head home.  Dude and I are so connected. He called right when I got in the car to ask if I was okay. (he couldn't have known what just happened) I asked him why and he said he didn't know, he only knew he had to call me right then.  *love*

I took time to be with my birds and lambs to calm my nerves. 

Look at those irradiance feathers!

I gathered up a few gifts they left and thanked them with corn. 

I watched the farmers bringing in the silage (corn). It is amazing how it strips the corn right from the cob!  Notice the snowcapped mountains in the background?  I went out and talked to the guy who owned the farm and asked if I could glean for crafts and decorations when they were done. He was more than gracious to share. 

This is the sorghum down from the corn. 

Here's the book round up from this week:

peace

Wednesday already? And lesson learned

It is only 3 pm and I am exhausted. I am used to working 10-12hours with the commute but I am always sitting.  It is my turn to give back while Dude is recuperating. 

I was late getting chores done. Rule one at the homestead is feed animals first... I had to get full caffeine tea and breakfast before I went out.  I got all the morning chores done and watered not only the gardens but filled all the water containers for the animals. The last one to fill is the horse trough. I found out the hard way... make sure you remove the hoses!  I came out around 1pm and found the trough completely empty. What the heck?  Well, if you keep the hose in, despite unhooking it from the primary hose, it will syphon all the water out!  At least I learned. 

I came in to finish the laundry, clean the spare bathroom and do the final check on the spare bedroom. My sister and husband were coming to help.  I am afraid of horses but I did soldier on …. smile... my sister loves horse and rides them.  It will be great to have company . Plus, Dude can be very stubborn and we need to make sure he rests. 

Picked parsley .

Have cuttings from plants to plant... roses, black raspberries, basil, and coleus. 

Drying parsley.

Picked some goodies. 

Washed eggs. 

Refilled Dude's ice pack.

I had a chicken thaw, soaked in salt water and time to put in the oven when family arrived. 

My sister was doing chicken jokes. 

Anywhoooo, it is cleaned, oiled and rubbed in herbs, salt and pepper. It will be cooking in the oven for a couple hours... Me? 

I am going to take a nap and it's only 330pm!

Until tomorrow... peace