Holcomb Happenings

Thursday, September 4th

{ 06:27, Thursday, September 4, 2008 } { Link }

Yesterday we picked up Grandpa and Grandma from the airport. We did grocery shopping on our way home. When we got home, we finished making beef stew, cabbage salad, and biscuits for supper. We started AWANA last night. We had 9 in Sparks.

Today we went in to Walmart to pick up my glasses. When we got home, we canned 18 quarts of peaches. Grandpa made two peach pies.

The girls had the day off of school. We had planned to be gone today, so we did school on Monday.

Supper tonight was taco salad, corn, and chili rellenos.

What a Day!

{ 08:21, Tuesday, September 2, 2008 } { Link }

We have had internet problems since yesterday morning. Finally by 1:00 this afternoon, we have been back up. Hopefully it continues to stay up. It is a little hard to do school online when you can't access it.

If you can't do school, you can clean the house for company! My parents are flying in tomorrow. I will pick them up at the airport tomorrow morning.

Supper tonight was pork chops and gravy done in the oven, mashed potatoes, peas, cherry tomatoes, green peppers, and cantaloupe. As I am writing this, I realized that the cabbage Emily cut up never got put on the table. Oh well, it is ready for tomorrow night.

Harold and I finished picking the peaches after supper. We also picked some nectarines. Josh picked more cantaloupe. I just went outside to take a picture of our sunset. It was beautiful.

Wood Cook Stove

{ 06:58, Monday, September 1, 2008 } { Link }

The kids did school today so that we can take Thursday off. They got quite a bit done. Harold was home, so he did things around here. We were going to go for a hike this afternoon, but it was cool and windy. Harold did clean the jars out from his aunt. Some of the food canned in these jars was from the 1960s and 1970s. He dumped the food into the wheelbarrow and then got some water over the campfire outside. He put the jars in the water and let it heat up. Once they were clean, he cooled the water down and put the jars out to run through the dishwasher. I have two shelves in the mud room full of clean quart jars ready to use.

We also brought in our Majestic Wood Cook Stove. He still has a ways to go, but he can do that inside the house.

Here is the oven. Harold painted the chrome part. Here is the whole stove. He is working on the connecting the chimney pipe to the stove pipe. We couldn't go straight up as it would go through the girls room.

Supper tonight was a pork roast, purple mashed potatoes, carrots, green beans, gravy, cabbage, and tomatoes.

Sunday, August 31st

{ 06:51, Monday, September 1, 2008 } { Link }

On the fifth Sunday of the month, our Church has a potluck and then an afternoon service, instead of an evening service. We stayed for the potluck yesterday. We brought a cabbage casserole, cantaloupe, tomatoes, and peppers. After the service, we had an AWANA meeting. Our club starts up on Wednesday.

We came home and relaxed. The kids and I watched some Little House while Harold did some things outside. We had BLT's for supper. Harold, RaeAnne, and I went back to Aunt Doris' house to get more jars. I think we got them all this trip.

Only two of us were able to take showers outside last night. The weather was cloudy for most of the day. While we were in Sunday School, we had a great thunderstorm. It poured rain over there, but we only had a few raindrops or so at home by the looks of the dirt. That was a good thing as Harold has hay down in the field waiting to be bailed.

Canning Day

{ 09:48, Saturday, August 30, 2008 } { Link }

This morning we started out the day with Peach coffee cake, scrambled eggs with sausage, onions, and peppers in it, and orange juice to drink.

Josie and I picked some green beans. I think we will leave the rest on and pick them in the fall. We then picked some tomatillos and peppers. RaeAnne and Josie picked tomatoes while Harold and I picked peaches and Josh picked cantaloupe.

While the girls started on canning the peaches, I washed jars that were canned earlier and Josie dried the tops and dated them. RaeAnne took them to the root cellar.

We got 28 quarts of peaches, 9 quarts or tomatoes, a couple of big bags of diced peppers, and 3 batches of salsa made. I let the salsa marinade overnight and will can them tomorrow afternoon after church.

Josh and Harold mowed the lawns today. While Harold did things around the place, Josh picked up fruit off the ground in the orchard and then mowed out there.

Supper was quick tonight. I made a sausage, onion, celery, peppers, and potato soup. We had some tomatoes, and garlic bread. After dishes were done, we went into Nampa to Home Depot. We then went to Aunt Doris' and got some more jars from her. We found several jars, and have to make another trip. Maybe I will have enough, but I am not sure. RaeAnne also found 9 bars of Fels Naptha soap that Aunt Doris didn't want. While it is old, it should still work for making my laundry soap.

Eye Doctor

{ 06:27, Friday, August 29, 2008 } { Link }

This morning I had an Eye appointment. I needed some new glasses. At least I don't need bifocals, yet. I picked up some milk and cheese, ran by the library, and then came home. The kids worked on school while I was gone. Once home, I went over some things with them if they needed help.

I did some cleaning inside and took it easy. I have peaches sitting in the walk in cooler. I need to get them done. I think I might have RaeAnne make some peach jam tomorrow. I will use the really ripe peaches for the jam. I want to dry some more peaches. I think I may just leave them in quarters. I sliced them to thin last time.

RaeAnne helped with supper tonight. We had sloppy joes, home made potato wedges, left over peas, corn, and green beans. We also had fresh cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes. RaeAnne also made a fruit salad with peaches, nectarines, apples, blackberries, and raspberries.

Peaches, Tomatoes, and Blackberries

{ 07:11, Wednesday, August 27, 2008 } { Link }

This morning while the kids were in school I canned another 9 quarts of peaches. I also filled all 12 trays up in my dehydrator. We like dried peaches. I want to try some peach butter. Harold and I picked another 4 boxes tonight. Here is a picture of one we found. We added the glasses and the eyes.

After I finished the peaches, I started on the tomatoes. By then, RaeAnne and Emily were done with school. They helped me can 15 quarts of tomatoes. I dice them up and can them with the tomato juice or some hot water. I also canned 4 quarts of blackberries.

RaeAnne made a peach blackberry pie for dessert tonight. Josh made the taco soup for supper. We had cornbread and tomatoes to finish off the meal.

More Peaches

{ 06:41, Tuesday, August 26, 2008 } { Link }

Today I did more peaches. Josh and Emily helped towards the end of the 33 quarts. I still have 2 more boxes in the cooler, and about a 1/2 box that needs to sit out a day or so. I think that brings me up to 89 quarts. I need to find more canning jars. I don't like the thought of having to buy them new. I need to check at an aunts house. We got a lot of jars from her a few years ago with food still in them, canned in the 60's and 70's. We just dumped the food out and scrubbed the jars and then ran them through the dishwasher.

School ended sooner today. Josie took the longest time today. She had a math lesson online with her math teacher. Tomorrow she has a language class, and then Thursday she has another math class. This has been a great review for her.

Harold and Josh got the alfalfa cut when Harold came home from work. It may take a week or so to dry. Today we were only in the 70's. Tonight it is suppose to be in the upper 40's. That is unusual for us in August.

Yesterday when that wind came through the valley, it sure made a mess in Boise. A fire burned 10 homes, damaged another 10 homes or more. One person, a professor at BSU, was killed in the fire. I am so thankful we didn't have any hot spots from when Harold burned along the ditch bank on Sunday afternoon. We knew the cold front was coming, so Josh went out yesterday and really hosed things down and made sure there weren't any more hot spots.

Supper tonight was fried chicken, mashed potatoes, milk gravy, spinach, peas, and fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers.

Peaches and tomatoes

{ 09:14, Monday, August 25, 2008 } { Link }

Today was a busy day. I canned 20 quarts of peaches while the kids were doing school. We picked a lot of tomatoes. I will try and can them tomorrow. We also picked 7 boxes of peaches.

There was a strong wind tonight. I hope the rest of the peaches are okay. I did see some apples fall while we were finishing up the peaches. I will need to go out and check those tomorrow.

School was a long day. The kids started science today. The Chemistry seems okay right now. We will see as the year goes on.

Quiet Sunday

{ 06:33, Sunday, August 24, 2008 } { Link }

This morning we had some Streusel Raspberry Muffins for breakfast. RaeAnne helped me get Swiss Steak in the crockpot before we left for church. We had a guest speaker this morning as our Pastor and his wife are on vacation. He preached from Acts chapter 12.

For lunch we had swiss steak, mashed potatoes, corn, and cantaloupe. The kids and I watched some Little House on the Prairie this afternoon. I went out to the orchard and picked a fresh peach from the tree for a snack. It was very good.

I reviewed the math lessons for tomorrow. It can be challenging when I have to teach Precalculus, Algebra I, Geometry, and Pre Algebra. I am slowly getting back into the routine of teaching. RaeAnne starts school tomorrow.

Supper tonight was leftovers, along with some more cantaloupe.

Livestock Auction

{ 06:47, Saturday, August 23, 2008 } { Link }

This morning Harold and I dropped off RaeAnne and Josie at a friends house. We then continued on to the library and Walgreens. I was able to pick up some spiral bound notebooks for .19 each. We had time to get some paint and gas before the livestock auction. We were looking for some pigs to buy. We ended up getting three of them. One for us and two for our friends. Emily and Josh decided that pigs didn't care if they had girl or boy names, so our girl pig is called Haman.

I just checked on her a few minutes ago and she is eating the Kosher weed that Josh and Emily threw in for her.

Emily and I canned the salsa we made yesterday. We got 20 pints. We also canned 15 quarts of peaches before calling it quits for the day. Harold and Josh mowed the lawns today. Now Harold is watering the yard.

Supper tonight is beef stew, biscuits, tomatoes, and cantaloupe. Harold and I need to study our lesson again after supper. We will be in Genesis chapter 17.

Dilly Beans

{ 07:21, Friday, August 22, 2008 } { Link }

This morning RaeAnne and I picked green beans. We got almost a bucket. I have enough canned beans, so I made 20 pints of dilly beans.

I made two batches of salsa. I mix my ingredients together and then let them sit overnight. I will can the salsa tomorrow. We had some fresh for lunch, and it was good.

Supper tonight was polish sausages, homemade baked beans, and mashed potatoes. We will have yogurt and cantaloupe for dessert.

Harold is continuing to work on the wood cook stove. He is now working on fixing the warming oven up. After supper Josh washed the van and the International pickup.

Peaches

{ 07:46, Thursday, August 21, 2008 } { Link }

RaeAnne and I canned 21 quarts of peaches today. We have another 7 quarts to do in another day or so. We will probably pick more tomorrow night.

I had a yearly doctor appointment this morning. When I have to go somewhere in the middle of a school day, it always messes up our day. School went longer today as a result. This evening I spent some time printing up pages for RaeAnne's science and history lessons.

Emily helped with supper tonight. We had spaghetti, garlic bread, and green beans. After supper Josh and Josie picked tomatoes. I picked peppers and tomatillos. Maybe I will make a small batch of salsa tomorrow. This afternoon I counted up the remaining quart jars I have left. I have only 341 quarts and 59 2 quart jars left. I still need to can nectarines, plums, tomatoes, grape juice, tomato juice, peaches, and applesauce. I have several pint jars, so I might need to can in those.

First Day of School

{ 08:41, Wednesday, August 20, 2008 } { Link }

Josh and Emily were able to look over several of their courses. Emily started in her English. They are staggering the start dates over the next week. Josie started as well.

After a supper of soup, garlic bread, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, and cantaloupe, Harold, Josh, and I picked more peaches. I will get those canned tomorrow. RaeAnne will help me can those. She picked cucumbers this morning.

Cantaloupe

{ 06:30, Tuesday, August 19, 2008 } { Link }

We had our first cantaloupe today. It was delicious! We had it this afternoon after lunch and ate the whole thing. Josh cut up three for supper as well.

We picked green beans today. I got 21 quarts. Josh and I also picked some peaches. I got enough for 8 quarts. I have some more that I will can in a few days. I also canned 2 quarts of blackberries.

Supper tonight was pot pie (without the crust). I decided to make biscuits instead of the crust. We had honey and apple butter on the biscuits, pot pie, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, and cantaloupe. RaeAnne and Josie made a chocolate cake for dessert.

We need to get into the school routine. We will start tomorrow morning after breakfast dishes are done. The kids have some elluminates (live lessons online) to go to as well as starting their courses.

Monday

{ 06:23, Monday, August 18, 2008 } { Link }

I let the kids sleep in this morning. Our local district started school today. We start on Wednesday. RaeAnne actually starts next Monday, August 25th.

I spent some time reviewing Josie's lessons for the week. She has Pre-Algebra A, American History since 1865, Earth Science, Music, Art, and 6 grade Language and Literature. Emily will start high school. She has Spanish I, Literature and Composition 2, Modern World Studies, Algebra I, and Earth Science. RaeAnne will have 10th grade Literature, Geometry, Physical Science, Spanish II, Digital Photography, and World History. Next semester instead of photography she will have Speech. Josh is carrying a full load for his senior year. He has AP Language and Composition (he didn't want to take British Literature), Chemistry, Precalculus and Trigonometry, Government, Economics, a computer class, and Digital photography and video. Next semester he will also have speech.

We went on a walk this morning. We collected some aluminum cans. We did some things around the house. We picked some tomatoes. I need to can some tomatoes and tomato juice, but they just are ripening quickly. We get a few here and there. I will probably be doing peaches this week. We have picked a few to eat fresh. They sure have been good.

Supper tonight was an enchilada casserole, mexican rice, refried beans, corn, cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes.

Sunday, August 17th

{ 07:05, Sunday, August 17, 2008 } { Link }

Today in Sunday School we had a special speaker. He took the Jr. and Senior High Classes. His main theme was "Just Do It". He talked about how we as believers need to just do it and live for the Lord. It was good to hear. I hope that we can all apply it to our lives especially as the school year starts this week.

Here are some pictures of the shower house now that the inside is painted. When Emily found out that we were painting it blue, she wanted us to put the duck stencil in the shower house.

Lunch was a beef roast, purple mashed potatoes, green beans, and corn.

A busy day

{ 07:13, Saturday, August 16, 2008 } { Link }

Today we accomplished many things. Harold irrigated the orchard and alfalfa. Tomorrow he will need to continue irrigating the garden and pasture. He also painted the shower house, put a screen in the window, and hung a mirror in there.

The kids picked cucumbers, zucchinis, and yellow crook neck squash. I went out and helped pick green beans. We got 16 quarts today. Those are all canned, and will be washed and put away tomorrow after church. I worked on some cleaning inside and did some laundry.

We were overdue on getting our septic tank pumped. They came today to pump it. That is now done for another 3 or 4 years or so.

Joshua started to paint the outside of the shower house. We do need to get some more siding for the side and back of the shower house and then he can finish painting that.

Supper tonight was chili, cornbread, tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. There is some blackberry pie left from last night for dessert later. The kids are watching the Olympics now and folding the clothes.

Beautiful Moon

{ 09:15, Friday, August 15, 2008 } { Link }

Tonight I went outside to check on some things about 9:00. There was a beautiful moon shining between the trees on either side of the driveway. I set my camera on the tent trailer with the tripod and took this picture.

Grocery Shopping Day

{ 07:29, Friday, August 15, 2008 } { Link }

Somehow when I have grocery shopping to do, I don't get many other things done around here. I had several other errands to do as well as shop.

Supper tonight was homemade pizza, and fresh tomatoes and cucumbers. RaeAnne made a blackberry pie for dessert.

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