Busy Week!

Posted on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at 04:15

Good morning everyone. Had a busy week since I last posted. Busy here at work and busy on the ole urban homestead. I've been setting goals for each day - small ones that are easily obtained and then a list of "extras" that I blindly choose from twice a week to work on. For example Monday my goals were to get the laundry done, wash the truck, and get the tomato plants planted. I managed to accomplish that then picked an "extra chore"  (seperate from daily or even weekly chores) which turned out to be dig more sumac out of the back yard. I spent 2 1/2 hours pullin up baby sumac. There is still a lot left to pull, but wow, what a difference and a wonderfus sence of accomplishment. There's only about 3 extras in the bowl but I'll continue until they are totally done. One is the spare room and has a list of things that need to be done in there. When I pick that one I also pick one or two things off the list. When an extra is done, I'll add a new one.

I planted some sugar peas and pole beans in my Dad's garden. He and my mother are gone to California this week so have been weeding and making sure the garden is watered. The carrots, radishes, corn and spuds look great. 

Made some dog treats, granola and bread Saturday. The bread did much better than the last time I posted about bread. Must have been the weather LOL. I also baked a chicken Monday. Being lazy yesterday I didn't do anything with the leftovers. Today however, I'm going to make chicken and noodles or dumplings. Will add carrots and peas - maybe some corn but that would hike up the carb content of my meal to a few too many.  MMMMMMM, can't wait for fresh veggies. Strawberries should be ready in a couple weeks. I need to get out the dehydrators (I have two) and make sure they are in working order. Check my canning jelly jars, check my inventory of lids and sugar free jelly pectin, and clean up the water canner. About time to clean out that outside freezer as well so will pull out the pressure canner, take inventory of jars in quarts and pints, pick up a few more lids and have at it. I believe there is a turkey in ther which I'll cook up, dice and can then make broth out of the carcas and can that. Will do the same with the ham making a huge batch of bean soup with some broth made by boiling the bone that has the bits you can't quite get off. I believe there's a few venison roasts too. I'll cook them up in bbq sauce then can for sandwiches. Sure does make for a quick meal on a hurried day. Fruits are made into sauces, jams, jellies, butters, ect. All low sugar of course and canned in fresh apple juice. No sugar added as I juice the apples myself then cook down the pulp from that and add a bit of vinegar and spiced for apple butter. Mmmmmm. So good. Depending on the apples, I've needed to add a small amount of sugar (sucant) to the mix.

Well, I' m falling asleep typing so will sign off now. Sending those warm fuzzies to all! Have a wonderful day.