Day 3 of the Jesse Tree, tried a no-bake bar, and window herbs

Today is day 3 of the Jesse Tree. 

December 3 - Noah: Genesis 6:5-19; 7:16-24; 8:1, 6-11,15-22 Symbol: ark 

I cut a template from cardboard of the Ark, then two out of felt. I glued the cardboard between the felt and added the red windows. Then used a hole punch to string it up. 

Here are the other ornaments so far...

Day one - felted earth. 

Day 2 -- Apple ornament. 

I cut 3 apples from card stock (cut an extra since I was just testing my theory of how it might work) .  Leave one flat. The other two fold in half and glue them, one to each side of the flat one making it 3D. 

The first cookies of the season were made today. I used to love that my mom would have all kinds of treats for anyone who would stop by.  She would get out her tiered plates and put out a wonderful selection of treats.  Today I decided to try an no-bake chocolate oatmeal bar.  I love the no-bake cookies that are similar but these have way less sugar...but alot of butter (mo butter, mo better).  They turned out great. I popped them in the freezer for the season .

I found the recipe here .

About a week ago I decide to try forcing seeds indoors.  These are my purple and green basil.   So far they are doing really well. I have them in the kitchen window.

peace

How we decide what to plant

When we go to plant our gardens we think about what we like to eat.  Here are some ideas for gardens:

Salsa garden: tomatoes, onions, garlic, tomatillos, cilantto, regular peppers (bell, banana, pimento), jalapeños , cherry peppers.

Herbal/tea garden - raspberries (I love to dry the leaves too), mint, catnip, borage, basil, oregano, chives, chamomile, dill, parsley, sage, thyme, lavender, lemon balm, and rosemary.

Salad- lettuce (variety), spinach, radishes, carrots, beets, cucumbers, beans.

We don't usually grow potatoes or peas because they are so cheap in the stores.

Extras  - zucchini, watermelon, variety of pumpkins, corn, sunflowers, zinnias, variety of squash.

Fruit - boysenberries, strawberries, raspberries, peach tree and two apple trees.

I did get an eggplant plant today because it was on sale .  -smile-


We love it when the grandkids come out.  They came to see the gardens, animals and learn to crochet.  They are working on single crochet stitch and making a scarf.  They had been practicing just make a chain before. 

Yesterday we got a downpour of much needed rain and the last for a while. 

peace 

Sunday update. herbs, crafts, recipe and more

As my sister in Florida,  is hunkered down in a school shelter riding out the hurricane, we, here  on the eastern plains of Colorado are hot and dusty.  I took full advantage of this morning cleaning the water containers, the goose pool and watering the gardens. It was hot and sweaty but the heat is giving the outside plants another chance and I picked cantaloupe, peppers, zucchini and tomatoes.  Tonight I will pick baby pumpkins, spaghetti squash, lettuce... lots of lettuce, and flowers. 

Yes, I like to sit out there with the birds to talk and watch them. 

While I did all that Dude mowed. As you can see it is extremely dry here . Oh, and you see his copilot? Yep, Norman the puppy is riding shotgun. 

I came inside, rescued from the heat and took tarragon and oregano out of the dehydrator.  I love oregano and used so much last year that I finished off the jar I had a couple of days ago.  I think a visit to my mom's herb garden is due again. 

Oregano

Tarragon... never used it or grown it but my prairie sister, Sunny has and gracious shared with me. The word tarragon is derived from the Latin dracunculus, ‘a little dragon’, so it is believed it cures bites and stings of venomous beasts... just in case you meet up with a dragon.  It is great with all kinds of meats including fish. Don't eat meat you say?  Then I will try a tarragon vinegar for all that lettuce I have in the greenhouse! Plus, it's good combined with goat cheese stuffed peppers.  I read it is good for tummy ailments, arthritis, and I love the old wives tail about putting some in your shoe to give you strength on our walks. (need to give it a try since I have been slacking this week in my walking). 
                                      Tarragon - smells so sweet.

Yesterday I took my mom to her first glass class.  It still needs to go into the kiln but nice start. This is a picture of my friend Susan.

These are mine, below . The small ones will be necklaces. The round on is a bowl, The autumn plaque is the second one of my seasons and the medium rectangle will be slightly rounded to be a tea bag dish. 

My mom's. Round one will be a bowl. The rectangle is a spoon rest or soap dish and necklaces. 

Another person made dragonflies for her bathroom.

More bowls and a loaf dish. 

Dinner was a kind of sweet and sour pork steak with egg noodles. Grilled the pork should steak with salt and pepper.  Boiled egg noodles.  For the sauce. I took a few things from the garden and chopped up. 

Saute with a can of pineapple chunks. 

Make a sauce.  In a small bowl mix 1/2 cup of ketchup, 1/2 vinegar, 1/4 cup of soy sauce, add some garlic, ginger and mix up. Pour over the vegetables leaving a 1/4 of a cup to mix with 3 tablespoons of cornstarch. Heat the pan and stir in the remaining mix to thicken.  Pour over noodles.  Top with hot sauce like Tabasco. 

I did manage a craft for the Halloween party.  I found these large skulls at the Dollar Store. 

They are a glittery felt. 

I wanted to make it easy so I used stickers and squeeze paints. 

And there you go! 

Peace 

Sunday - mass, healthy eating, walk and sewing

Today was mass, eating healthy, a good walk and sewing. 

Mass Reflection - We are constantly looking to others or relying on ourselves for answers. Today's society is looking for the quick answer... google it or looking for a prophecy in a movie or show. (I did giggle to myself when I looked up today's readings online and horoscopes and psychic readings came up - just my point. ) Listen to the Word of God, go silent and in prayer. Eternal life begins right here , right now if we only believe.

Eating healthy - I had always thought I was very healthy but the last eight years things have steadily been getting worse. Last year I had surgery, with doctors thinking I had cancer... thank goodness I didn't but I did have growths and tumors removed. I have some heart issues and diabetes both I think if I really work at it can reduce my risk from dying from these diseases as others in my family have.  I am on medication for diabetes and cholesterol.  I was told in December to lose weight or go on insulin. I went on a high protein diet and things got worse. From January to March I ate mostly meat, cheese and some veggies. I felt sick and tired all the time and like I had a low case of the flu. My blood sugars were going up and up. I couldn't figure it out.  I went to the doctor and found I had issues with my liver. I decided to begin to read up on best diets for both heart and diabetes. I studied books and information by Doctors Dean Ornish, Joel  Furhman, William Li and Caldwell Esselstyn. I didn't totally take out meat and eggs but greatly increased my vegetables, fruits and grains...not so much on the fruits. Within three days I was moving better, not bent over like an old woman, sleeping better and my blood sugars were finally coming in a normal range. I also lost 8 pounds in 2.5 weeks.   Dude won't go pure vegetarian but I will go more toward that way for my health. I will still cook meat for Dude and will indulge now and then. I hope to share my progress and what I am making for meals. Here is today's lunch - revised from Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease. Dude did like it.

 Bean Salad 

Can of  chopped tomatoes

Chopped red and yellow peppers

Chopped sweet onion

Fresh parsley from the garden

Can of black beans drained

Can of garbanzo beans drained

A cup of chopped artichoke hearts

Mix all together

Dressing - whisk together

2 TBSP lemon juice

2 TBSP balsamic vinegar 

a squirt of brown mustard

1 Teaspoon dried oregano - from the garden/pantry

1 Teaspoon dried garlic - from the garden/pantry

Sea Salt and fresh ground pepper 

Pour over the salad and toss. 

It just seems like the right way to go- living on the homestead and of the fresh things we grow.

Saved some for this week's lunches.

The garden - Parsley was ready for the dehydrator.

The walk... the wind was angry today probably because it wasn't part of the snow yesterday. I walked the property to release tumble weeds caught and bending the fencing. 

I did have company.

Once I set the tumbleweeds free they ran across the fields all the way to the highway.  

Wilbur and Felonious were a little jealous they weren't on the walk and screamed from the other side of the fence to come be with them. 

Gulls circled above.

Sewing - I didn't get as much done as I wanted but I did get something finished. 

Of course, I had help. 

A challenge mug rug. 

A mug rug for me.

A pin cushion.

 Dinner was pineapple stir fry over brown rice and quinoa. Another hit with Dude, yay!

Time to read. 

peace