Canning garlic and card making day

The day began warm and sunny.  Breakfast was outside.  It's evening now and raining with lots of lightning. 

When I first moved to the country I didn't know anyone.  Someone suggested I start making cards and look for a stamping representative.  I looked online and found Sherri who lives in our little town who gives classes on making cards.  It is one of my favorite days of the month. 

It is amazing that we can begin with a blank card and end with beautiful cards to mail.

Today's 6 cards:

After a bit of shopping at the store and the Meat Locker (Dude wanted rib-eye for dinner... and I will have salad) I decided to can a wee bit of garlic. 

Man, I hate peeling garlic and remember the wonderful minty-lime aroma of the house from canning yesterday? Today it is so garlicy smelling there is no fear of vampires!

I went to get pickling spice out and found we had none. So, I made my own.

In it goes in the bottom of a jar.

Again, I am using a recipe from Preserving by the Pint. I like that it is about small batch canning. In this recipe the twist is using red wine vinegar.  

I will let it cure for about a week and then give them a try. I love garlic and will probably eat at least one a day. 

Dude did do some work today at a friend's home but came home early.(yes, he does all this work himself) It's his birthday. His cake is simple but what he likes...angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream.

peace 

Goals, winter planting and sewing

It is a cold and blustery day.  Last night the winds were brutal and even blew the stop sign on our corner down!

Goals - I am the type of person that loves to make goals and lists.  Last year I missed the mark on a couple of my goals for the year, like a trip to the east coast where I grew up and instead of buying two milk goats we bought two lambs. Otherwise, I did okay.  Here is what I made for 2019:

So I started the day!

Journaling… I love to journal.  I have a problem , though, writing anything negative. Here is a page from the journal...

Gardening in the winter... I worked in the greenhouse today.  I ran out in the cold but found the harsh winds had jammed the greenhouse door shut.  My cuttings were blowing all over while I struggled to get the door open.  Dude saw me from the window and came running to help . He had a screwdriver in hand.  He has had experience with this in the past.  I was in in a jiffy.  Ahhh, it was so warm in there. 

My son gifted me a coleus plant and I have already paid it forward with three plants from it and now these!

They root within days in water. 

I also rooted and planted rosemary from my kitchen plant. 

Began the day with orange and peppermint in the diffuser to get us going.  Later in the day the dehydrator was working on drying rosemary.  It is reported  to be good for memory and good for when you are studying. It is said to help with circulation and warding off evil spirits.  I don't know about that but we grow and dry it for the lamb we raise and topped on bread.  The house smelled like perfume to me... the kind I like. 

Creating time … I want new pajamas and cut out this pair. I love green. This fabric has been in my stash for probably 10 years. Time to make something of it. 

Recipe... was garlic soup. No, Dude, did not have any.  It is super simple and something I do to change it improves the flavor 100% - oranges.  It is a can of beef stock, a can of water, a whole head of garlic sliced, dried parsley, sage, and rosemary (all homegrown) and I added dried orange that I minced.  Heated it up and ate. 

I saved some for lunch tomorrow... I will need to remember to pack mint tea and my toothbrush or sit alone all day!

Recycle... we love when people give us their old cardboard egg cartons. Yes, we use them for our eggs, but better yet, they are great as fire starters for our woodstove. 

Towels are laundered and dishes done (teamwork).  Now, three hours of just reading and getting ready for tomorrow. 

peace

Homestead diet and pickled peppers

Okay, for almost 3 weeks I have been working on getting healthy. I gave up fast food, the machine food at work, diet pop, walk 2 miles a day (breaking it up in 30/15 minute increments), and eating as much homestead food as possible . I eat carbs in the morning and done by 2-4 pm. Eat nothing after dinner. By blood sugar started at 300 and is down to 140 (120 in the middle of the day) and down almost 10 lbs. I still have a ways to go but I am determined.

Breakfast is either milk protein shake, oatmeal with fruit and nuts, or eggs with a toast and veggies.

Lunch is veggie salad, bean salad, or chicken or tuna salad. Add some berries or half apple.

Dinner is regular, whatever we have planned and if no plans, then a big salad ... just no seconds. Today it was homemade pizza with leftover spaghetti sauce and homemade cheese. Last night was spaghetti squash with sauce.

Eat nothing after dinner. This was the hardest part of the whole thing.

Another cool part about homestead living is my mom calls for her groceries... milk, eggs, carrots, cabbage, onions, spaghetti squash and tomatoes for now to deliver tomorrow.

Pickled peppers canned today. I combined the sweet and jalapeno. We love these on eggs, sandwiches, burritos, just about anything. Nothing complicated just peppers, garlic, salt, sugar, water and white vinegar.

I had my husband separate the garlic cloves so I can plant them tomorrow for next year. 

And homesteading is all about this!

peace 

Planted garlic for the spring

Had some time to work in the garden this morning.  Every time you go out you find two more things to add to your list.  Today I worked the compost, planted garlic, moved the strawberries and watered. 

I am so happy Dude put in another water spigot.  We now have one at each quadrant of the house, the greenhouse and at the pump-house for the animals. 

It's a great time of year.  Everyone is harvesting, including the birds. Alfalfa has been mowed and the sunflowers are drying out. Crows and blackbirds are everywhere.

I spent the rest of the morning looking for my jury summons...ugh. 

Happy Friday. 

peace, health and happiness