Wishful Homesteader

the past few days

Wednesday I worked ALL DAY, and when I got home all I had energy to make was grilled chicken salads for Dave and me, and leftover hot dogs and macaroni and cheese for the kids.

     Yesterday, my mom and I went strawberry picking.  We went in the morning, and we picked yesterday because it wasn't too hot outside.  I picked 10 quarts of strawberries!  My dad watched the kids while we were gone.  They would have gotten bored.  Emily would have been ok, she would have just sat there, but Cameron would have run wild!  So I took them home, and I taught Emily how to make strawberry jam.  I had gotten a kids' jam-making kit, so it's just the no-cook freezer jam, but she learned something and she was proud of herself!  I cut the tops off the strawberries, and I helped her crush them, but she stirred it herself and she ladled it into her containers and put the lids on.  She really didn't make as big of a mess as I thought she would.  She was very careful.  I could have done it a lot faster by myself, but she learned something, so it was worth the extra time.  Cameron doesn't like doing stuff in the kitchen unless it's eating, LOL.  After that, I got the kids some lunch, and then I hung out a load of laundry that I put in the washer before I left in the morning.  I put in another load of laundry and I baked 2 loaves of strawberry bread.  While it was in the oven, I got all the rest of the strawberries ready for the freezer.  I put some in bigger bags and some in small bags.  I will use them for baking or smoothies in the fall and winter.  Since I picked 10 quarts the lady let me have them for $2 a quart instead of $2.50 a quart.  I had scrounged up the money I thought I needed, so I bought some honey while I was there.  A local beekeeper takes his bees there when the strawberry plants are starting to blossom, and the honey is made from that.  After I was done freezing all the strawberries, I hung out the other load of laundry and then I started on making other things.  Eggs were on sale for 88 cents a dozen, so I made pickled eggs and egg salad for us to snack on.  Dave loves them both!  Dave took Cameron to tae kwon do, and I started supper.  I made spaghetti.  It's Dave's favorite, plus it was easy for me to make.  They came back, and Dave said that Cameron broke his first board at tae kwon do!  It was pretty thick, too!  He got to bring it home.  I am so proud of him!  After supper, we watched a movie together.  Well, mostly.  Dave's friend called in the middle of it, and he sat and talked to him.  The night before, he called in the middle of dinner and Dave talked to him forever then too.  I am getting really tired of it, because Dave doesn't say more than 2 words to me most times, and when we get more than 2 seconds together, his friend calls.  Whatever.  I am goignt o go now, but I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

I can relate

{ 08:41 AM, Thursday, June 26, 2008 } { Posted by lerdman4 }

I certainly can relate to the "friend" calling. John's does also, but I do feel sorry for his friend, his wife passed away in Jan 07 and he is very very lonely... so I do try to remember that. But sometimes I do find myself a bit irritated about the whole thing. And I do try and think maybe he doesn't realize he is intruding, and maybe Dave's friend doesn't realize either. But I do know where your coming from... at dinner John wouldn't even answer the phone, he would just call him back.
Strawberries, YUMMY..we haven't had time this year to pick them because of our kitchen demolition. I do have to get on my blog and put some pictures up, I may go over there and try it.. I forget how to even put pictures on my blog, it's been so long. But I will try again...
Glad you updated, I still have to read the 17th update, I was on vacation then. I hope your doing well Michelle..

Lisa