A stinky gopher is eating my garden.  It seems that it has been a particularly difficult year in the garden with more bugs than usual, seeds not germinating, and things eating the plants that do come up.  I know that I am not alone as I have read of others having difficulty.  We had to dig up all the potatoes already to save what we could.  The gopher may have won the battles, but I won the war.  I would have liked to hear his little sigh of frustration when he couldn't find any more potatoes.  He headed to the carrots.

The potoates are curing in the garage and we are considering planting more.  I canned some carrots, beets, and turnips.  I am considering pulling all the carrots and canning or freezing them to keep them from the gophers' jaws.  I must have some fat and happy gophers!

We harvested our first green beans, summer squash, and zucchini.  We have save most of the squash and bean plants from bugs, but they got the cucumbers.  This is a year when I am happy to have plenty of pickles canned.  This is the reason why people talk about having two years worth of food put away in case you have a bad harvest.  I preserve extra if I have the produce and the room to put it, but we need so much each year it is difficult to get ahead. 

Next week is our family vacation and we are really looking forward to it.  I am off of work now for 10 days and I can't wait to spend some time at home.  The girls and I are working on aprons, bonets, and nightgowns on the sewing front.  We figured out our sow is not bred so we will need to get a piglet or possibly go without pork for a few months.  As always we are keeping busy and enjoying our little homestead. . .

Evening everyone. I'm sorry it's been so long since I've posted. I can't believe how time flys. I've been busy working and moving and it's been busy at work so not much down time to come post.

I rented a dumpster for the other house on Monday. Yesterday I spent 4 1/2 hours putting stuff in it. I finished cleaning out the living room of old rotten furniture that I refused to move due to it's condition. Then I went upstairs to my daughter's old room. I've asked her time and time again if she'd be so kind to come help since it's her mess but she will have nothing to do with it. It's smelly and disgusting. I got almost half shoveled out. I found a bunch of dishes I had lost as well as a few of my old things I thought I lost.  Uff da, what a mess!!

Let's see, aside from work..... I've been busy dehydrating. Started with strawberries - oh so yummy!!! I managed to end up with a gallon jar filled before they quit producing. Now the trick will be to stay out of them until at least fall. The grocery had sliced baby portabella's (my favorite) on sale so I dried a bunch of them - almost a gallon jar's worth. If they go on sale again I'll get a couple more and top off the gallon. I'm hoping to obtain some other fresh veggies next week. I'm looking for peppers, corn and zucchini to dehydrate. My shelves can't hold any more canned foods so I've decided to dehydrate the fruits and veggies this year as they take up less space. I miss having the room of a basement for sure but am making do with what little room I have. I couldn't fit all my shelving units in the small room I have to use for storage so am unable to can up any more to top off my stock. I have a list of what I eat and what will last for a year and try to make that par. Well, last year I was still planning for two but now it's just me as my daughter moved out. There was quite a bit left then as it was just me eating from my stores since mid-December but I'm still below par for what I figured for myself and to get thru till next summer.  Whew, I sure hope that makes sense LOL.  Also on my list is of course a nice variety of apples, peaches and nectarines, pears, onions - I do a variety of sweet, red and yellow.  As things come in season I'll dry them. Apricots unfortunately never go on sale or have a seasonal price here but fortunately I have a half gallon already dried. Someone gave me a bunch last year and I only ate up about a half gallon of what I dried. My Uncle runs a cranberry marsh so I'll get a bunch of them as well. So good in cookies - esp oatmeal. Blueberries are in season here so I'll also have to make time to pick some of those as well. I'll freeze the majority of those but do dehydrate some for adding to cookies.

Well, gotta go for now. Hopefully I'll be able to come back sometime this weekend as I work night shift all weekend. See you soon!!

Michele

We really like these free pre-made unit studies...they are geared at younger children but could be adapted for older children...they are fun and engaging...

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Here’s a fun freebie download, it’s a set of six different panhol potholders.

Free Potholder Patterns...TipNut

I decided to work on a few challenges from a blog list I am on, and came up with this for  #1 Draw your shoe. Now mind you this is just the sketch. I will be adding color to it later today.

Then for Challenge #2 draw a desk lamp I decided to do this one... There is a lot of detail in this one but I will be adding color to it as well. Not bad for doodling in the dark huh?!!

If you would like to see my other doodles and challenges please visit www.heavenlymouseprints.blogspot.com  I appreciate any comments, criticism, suggestions.

I am getting so excited about seeing my dear friend Laurie this weekend. We will be attending Anne Abgott's "Daring Color" class together and then having the weekend to do a sketch crawl, draw in the gardens, visit art museums and so much more. (Let's see how much we can cram in a weekend hehee)  Anyway, I was making my packing list and checking it twice and as I was thinking of other things to write on the list I started doodling and this is what I came up with. ..

1 Day 15 hours until I leave

Well, after taking a much needed blogging break ~~ I have prayerfully decided to resume my blog here at HSB!  I I want to use my precious time wisely, so I will try to blog with purpose & under God's direction. I am not sure how much time or how consistent I will be this time around. We'll see how it works out. :)

I have chosen to call my blog: " In all things give thanks" based on the passage from Ephesians 5:20:

" Giving thanks all ways for all things unto God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

One of the things that God has been showing me over this past year is to be truly thankful in all things ~~ both the good things, the great things, the hard things and yes even the painful things of life! In ALL things we are to give thanks & it is my hearts desire to use this blog to bring glory to Him and to lead others to do the same.

May you be blessed!

~ gloria ~