Homemaking Homesteader

Free Potholder Patterns...TipNut

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

Free Potholder Patterns...TipNut

Canning Rhubarb in Syrup

I decided it was time to harvest my rhubarb - I picked most of it!  It was starting to look more like a jungle than a garden - I probably should have harvested awhile ago.  I was able to get to the raspberry bushes and get them tied up before they start getting ripe - the bushes are pretty loaded!

I clipped off the rhubarb leaves and put them in the compost and brought the stalks in.

It took me awhile to wash and chop the stalks, sorting out the bad ones as I went.  I put them in a big bowl.

I measured 20 cups into one big pot with 5 cups of sugar and 16 cups into another big pot with 4 cups of sugar, stirring to combine well.  The directions said to set aside for 3 to 4 hours and let the juices come out.  It was already late, so I put them in the fridge overnight.  Tonight, this is what it looked like - lots of juice!

Next, I brought the mixture to a boil and got my canner ready for boiling water bath.  Got the jars, lids and rings ready too.  These kind of projects make me wish for a bigger stove, or bigger kitchen.

Then fill up the jars, wipe rims, fit with hot lid and ring.

Then lower into the hot water in the canner, making sure there is a couple inches of water above the jars.  Bring to boil (this took forever!) and boil for 15 minutes.  I put the lid on the canner to keep in the heat.

Let sit in the canner for 5 minutes after turning off the heat before you take out the jars.  Then I just put them on a towel on the counter.  I had extra to taste - it is very good, just the right amount of sweet for the tart I think.  I look forward to using it for rhubarb crisp, as a pie filling, over ice cream...  I ended up with 13 pints and 1 half-pint - hope they all seal!  I'm pleased that they kept their color, I worried about them looking like yucky mush  :o)

Kitchen Fire UPdate: Oven here!

We got our oven yesterday.  We are all so happy.  I can't imagine not having one.  I know people who wouldn't have hurt without an oven, but for us it was torture.  LOL!  Even my little  3yo understood we couldn't make bread, cake, muffins, etc. 

Last night to break in the stove we made a half batch of sugar cookies.  After I got to starting on them I was freaking out with each ingredient... sugar?  (I threw out the open sugar, do I have any other sugar?),   Cream of tartar (we threw out most every spice in the cupboard, but I had a spare new one in the bulk cupboard), almond extract?  (I knew I threw it out, but I had recently bought some new that I hadn't opened and it was ok).  I didn't have any regular white flour, but I did have bread flour... the cookies ended up a bit heavy, I imagine from the higher gluten content.  I imagine we won't eat the entire batch anyways... Steve and I are trying to eat healthier and the girls are just not woofing down the sweets.  It was more of an effort to give Paige some Mommy time.  She saw the oven and said... Mommy, I want to make cookies.  She wanted some "normal" back into her life... so we made cookies. 

As we were placing the cookie dough onto the sheets Paige looks up to me and says so sweetly... Mother, I am glad our oven is back... with a soft sigh. 

The oven does look almost identical to our other one... which we were told to replace as close as possible.  Even thought we had just bought the oven this January, the model is not a current one, even thought it was new.  So, we had to find something as close as possible with the current models.  We lost our warming burner.. .to get it was another $100, but we didn't use it and it was in the way.  But now all the burners are able to cook with two different sizes... so it was a trade off.  I am happy with the exchange.  I would have liked to have gone back to a gas top /bottom electric oven, but that was more yet and not comparible in price... I just find I am not crazy about the flat top stove.  It is not flexible in my mind and the pans swim on the top surface... driving me crazy!  But DH loves it and I will eventually get used to it.  Dh says if I can't manage after a year he'll buy me an LP stovetop... But that seems silly to me altogether! 

Anyways, we all just sighed when the oven came... life is feeling more normal. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

Preparing relish making and a trip to New Jersery....Do I need a passport to go above the Mason-Dixon?

     Good Midweek to ya!  This has been another busy day at the Beale Bungalow.  I am very pleasantly tired tonight.  Work-not-boredom  is the precurser to the good night's sleep that I am expecting!  This day has passed so quickly that sleep is about all I can think about tonight! 

    This morning there was a twist to my morning routine.  As I was sipping on my morning coffee I was making reservations for three nights at a Bed and Breakfast in New Jersey.  I was hoping that this would be a much needed solo vacation, but alas, my darling husband did not want me to travel all alone.  He said he could not live four days without me.  Yes, I know that I am blessed.    Anyway, we will be staying in the Periwinkle Room  .....oooOOOooo...sounds sweet doesn't it.  This B&B used to be the home of a doctor.  It is a renovated old victorian house that boasts of 9 bedrooms, a beautiful yellow welcoming parlor and a lovely old fashioned porch in the heart of Medford.  It looks charming and the prices are cheaper than the local decent hotels.  I am looking forward to the change of scenery.

     Why New Jersey?  you may ask.  Well, our daughter is getting married.  It is going to be small-just family and few close friends.  Choices, choices.

     A few posts back I stated that I had saved some money.  I needed clothes very badly, but I wanted books.  My friend, Marianne and my husband took care of the books, so I did some clothes shopping today.  Now, I am a simple person.  I do not need name brands to make me feel worthy.  I do not need the newest styles to make any form of a statement about myself.  I just want modest, comfortable clothes that are without stains and holes.  I bought just about everything on clearance!  Five shirts, one pair of jeans, and a khaki pair of pants.  Nothing fancy--just simple, new looking clothes with fresh colors!  It sure made me feel nice to be able to walk out of the store with some clothes for me.  I do not do that often and believe me--it shows. 

     Since the wedding is a very casual and simple affair--I am going to wear a dress that I have had for a long time, but I have never worn!  I washed it today, and I will hem it tomorrow.  I might try to go out and pick up a new pair of sandals to compliment it.  I think Donnie, Seth and I will all be wearing khaki, but that will be alright.  Anna, my daughter, said to be comfortable and that is what we are going to try to achieve.

     The next thing I did after shopping was come home and start chopping!  I chopped for 5 hours total!  Green and red bell peppers, celery and cucumbers.  I will be making my Sweet Pickle Relish tomorrow.  I decided to do all the chopping today, refrigerate and then begin early in the morning.  If I have time I will post the recipe and picture of the results tomorrow.  I do love this recipe, but the chopping was a bit tiring this evening.

     Several thunderstorms decided to visit us this evening.  My beautiful 7 foot tomato plant is now about 4 feet tall.  The wind blew it over.  We are going to try to stake them higher tomorrow.  The storm will be over by then.  I was a bit heartbroken about it, but sometimes that is just the way the wind blows. 

     Well, as you can tell, Wednesday has indeed been a very busy day! I am glad it is bedtime.  Goodnight and God Bless!!

Yesterday...Remember When (from GypsyFarmGirl)

OK gang...just remember...I'm an oldie goldie compared to some of you!    I was a kid in the 60's and a teen in the 70's (class of '77!)...Sooo, this may even be a history lesson to some of you!  HAHAHAHA!!  Have fun!...

What were your 3 favorite things to watch on TV when you were a kid? 

1) Beany & Cecil the Seasick Sea Serpent, 2) Beverly Hillbillies, 3) Andy Griffith Show.

What 3 commercials do you remember most from when you were a kid?

1) Don't squeeze the Charmin/Mr. Whipple, 2) Frigidaire [sp?] commericals w/ladies dressed up, dancing around their appliances,  3) Marlboro Man cigarette commercials.

What 3 toys were popluar when you were a kid?

1) Barbies, 2) G. I. Joe, 3) Baby First Step.

What 3 things did not exist when you were a kid?

1) Telephones w/o a cord, 2) VCR/DVD players, 3) CDs. (I still miss the huge posters that we used to get w/our 33 rpm albums!)

What 3 fads did you fall for when you were a kid?

1) Earth Shoes (did you know they're back!!!  Love 'em!), 2) white lipstick, 3) huge bell-bottom jeans.

What 3 songs do you remember most from when you were a kid?

1) ANYTHING by the Beatles!, 2) "Easy Come, Easy Go" by Bobby Sherman (oh, be still my heart!), 3) "Puppy Love" by Donny Osmond.

What were your 3 favorite movies when you were a kid?

1) "Mary Poppins" (the FIRST TIME it was out!), 2) "101 Dalmations" (the FIRST TIME it was out!), 3) "The Ghost & Mr. Chicken" (the FIRST TIME it was out!).   

What are your 3 most embarrassing moments from when you were a kid?

1) Throwing up on the school bus, 2) when a hoody-type girl who - for some unknown reason - made it her life's goal to make my life miserable tried to get me to fight her.  Of course, since I wouldn't, everyone thought I was a chicken...yep...public school is great! What was your question about socialization?  3) falling off the top of the monkey bars...back then we HAD to wear dresses in grade school.

What 3 things do you wish you could get back from when you were a kid?

1) My friend Debbie who moved, they were an Air Force family, 2) my cat, Boots, 3) my grandparents.

~~ If you do this, let me know!!

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Selling our land!

Sometimes you have to do what you don't really want to do, and that is what is happening with our land.  We know it is the wise thing to do, however, it brings a bit of sadness too!  This land is in Bonanza, OR (near Klamath Falls).  If you check out the link, click on "More Photo's, and the first picture will be of the view from our land.  I just love that view and imagined that one day I would be sitting on our big porch drinking coffee and viewing that gorgeous view.  Well.....maybe in another location one day!  :)  Now we wait for a buyer.  We know that it is in God's hands!  :)

http://www.oregonranchland.com/land235.htm

Powerless Sketches

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.

Wordless Wednesday

IT's the final countdown

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

Zucchini Recipe ( Creamy Mustard zucchini slaw)

I know its that time of year where we all have zucchini ..I've had a few folks ask for recipes and I got thinking..I have a  cookbook its name is The Classic Zucchini Cookbook..By Nancy C Ralston, Marynor Jordan,Andrea Chesman..

My plans is to start listing recipes here to share..Now I haven't made any of these myself ..But I plan too..I will share a recipe now ..And plan to do more tomorrow.. Enjoy..

From our kitchen to yours..

Creamy Mustard Zucchini Slaw

2 medium-size zucchini

2 carrots grated

pinch of salt

4 tablespoons mayonnaise

1 tablespoon brine( liquid) from dill pickles

1/2 cup toasted sunflower seeds

freshly ground black pepper.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1~In a colander,combine the zucchini and carrots with 1teaspoon salt.Mix well. Set aside to drain for about 30 minutes.

2~Squeeeze out as much moisture as possible from the vegetables.Transfer to a medium sized mixing bowl.

3~Combine the mayonnaise,brine, and mustard in a small bowl.Blend well.

4~ Add the mayonnaise mixture to the vegetables.Mix in the sunflower seeds. Taste and add plenty of pepper. It probably won't need additional salt.

5~Let stand for about 30 minutes before serving or refrigerate for up to 4 hours and mix well before serving.

Serves 4

The sunflower seeds add the crunch the grated zucchini lacks. This slaw is particularly good on sandwiches..