Garden Harvest

We got a late start on our garden this year. We decided to build to above ground garden boxes this year. Gary built them out of stakes and cedar garden fencing. We didn't plant anything until late June but I have finally started getting a good "pickin". Last week I even had enough tomatoes to make homemade spaghetti sauce and picked enough beans to freeze a few quarts. I've already made two patches of spicey pickles from the peppers and pickles in the garden.

Pickle Time

My in-laws planted a ton of pickles in the garden this year so you know what that means....I had to can some. This was the first year doing it by myself, usually I head over to Mom's house and destroy her kitchen for a day but I just had a small batch to do this year and I think Mom still has pickles coming out of her ears from last year. Gary is obsessed with pickles and brings the jar our for every meal. I got up early to get them done before my kitchen got to hot. Aiden decided he was going to help me ( excuse his outfit of just underwear it's been hot lately). We got started cutting and stirring before Owen was awake but it didn't take long until the little one was up and ready to "help". We got 6 quart jars done and ran out of brine for the pickles so I have a bowl full of pickles waiting for round two in the fridge...

Changes

Well change can be a good thing and I was needing one in my life....so I quit my job. Upon hearing this Aiden starting crying saying "what about my toys?". I told him not worry I had another job lined up. Work was becoming a stressful, toxic place and I was done with that environment and people. So I went back to a good ol favorite of mine......Kutchey's!!! I'm back working the 10 mile stand four days a week and love it.





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Homemade Laundry Soap

Yes I'm nuts, yes I've made my own laundry soap!

I know a few people who have made their own laundry soap and absolutely love it. I thought I would give it a try...

Homemade Laundry Soap
1/3 bar Ivory soap
½ cup washing soda
½ cup borax powder
~You will also need a small bucket, about 2 gallon size~
(I doubled the recipe and used a 5 gallon bucket)

Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan. Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into the bucket. Now add your soap mixture and stir. Now add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. You use ½ cup per load.

Raspberry Jam

My in-laws have raspberry bushes in their garden and this year has been a great crop. The last two years they have hardly got berries, but this year with all the rain and nice warm days, they've had a HUGE crop. The boys and I picked a ton and decided to make some jam. I found the simplest and tastiest recipe, no sure-gel was needed.

Aiden and Owen helped me smash the berries and measure the sugar.



The finished product!!!


Raspberry Jam
4c. mashed raspberries
4c. granulated sugar
1T. lemon juice

Bring 4 cups mashed berries to a boil in pot
Let them boil approx. 2 minutes
Add 4 cups sugar and 1 T. lemon juice
Stir until the sugar dissolves and bring back up to a boil
Let the berry/ sugar mix boil approx. 4 minutes.
Spoon into hot sterilized jars.

Snowman Family

The boys and I headed outside to play in the snow on Sunday, Aiden thought it would be fun to build a whole snowman family. The boys helped me roll the first snowball for our first snowman and then gave up and went to play on the swingset. So.....guess who was left to build the rest of the family?....me! After rolling all those snowballs I also kind of gave up and didn't add much decoration to the snowmen other than arms. After playing outside for awhile we went in to warm up and I got out my camera to take a picture and one of the snowmen. Of course by the time we got in one had fallen over already. Tom was here helping Gary re-do the bathroom and surprised me by going out and standing up the snowman...he even added some touches to the fallen snow"woman". Can you guess which one it was?
 
 

Can't Believe I"m doing this.

With a little encouragement , ok a lot, from Gary I thought I'd share a little before and after picture of my weight loss so far. Currently I'm 32 lbs down and have more to go. I've been in a bit of a rut and haven't gained anything back but I haven't lost anymore either. I'm ready to get my butt back in gear!

Canning

Mom and I were crazy and decided to can 10 dozen ears of corn and 2 bushels of tomatoes while also watching 4 kids. We got it all done and realized that we might need to do some more, maybe without kids this next time.







I kept teasing Dad that he needed to have a sick day and stay home and help us, that didn't happen. Here are the boys waiting on the step for Papa to walk in after work...

Mommy Moments

When I thought of myself with kids there was always a little girl in the picture. I always loved the thought of nail polish, pig tails and barbie dolls. So isn't it kind of ironic I'm now surrounded by boys. Moments like today have me thrilled to be a mom of two of the most wonderful little boys. As I was sorting laundry today I heard a "clank". After digging through the pockets of Aiden's shorts I found a handful of rocks and a quarter. Something about that picture brought a smile to my face and a tear to my eye. So there may not be dresses and pink frilly bows but I have still found a way to work that nail polish in...

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Sunflowers

Just thought I would sahre some recent pictures I took that turned out pretty cool.

Pickles

I spent the day at Mom and Dad's canning pickles today. We had 1/2 bushel which didn't seem like much until we got going. We quickly found out we did not have enough vinegar or jars and made a quick run to the store. Midway through the process we had some surprise visitors, Nana and Papa. They stuck around and Nana helped us finish up the pickles and get some hot peppers canned also.

It was also great to have a visit from Brye, though it never dawned on me to take a picture while she was there. We even got to sneak out and do a little shopping!

Green Thumb?

After planting perennials a few years ago they are finally looking awesome. I've been trying really hard this year to keep up with the yard and my flower beds. Right now everything is just starting to bloom, I love going out every day to see what is new. Some things in bloom right now...

Hollyhocks, I just LOVE these, so dramatic.



Honeysuckle bush, my neighbor informed us when we moved in that this bush was over 50 years old, maybe older since our house was built in 1929.


The wild day lilies are in full bloom along the edge of our yard.



The sunflowers Aiden planted are very close to opening.


Our tomato plants are full of little green tomatoes.


Aiden request for a picture of a bumblebee ( that was a tough photo).

Cookies

I think we have started a new tradition among friends. This was our second annual cookie bake. Brye and Melissa were able to make it out even with the horrible weather we had the night before. We only managed to burn a tray of cookies and a batch of chocolate, Melissa, my microwave smells horrible everytime I use it now! Jake and Aiden were both very good boys. I think we are going to be outnumbered by kids next year.






Aiden Sharing his cars...


The three of us....

Applesauce

I brought home some apples from the stand the other day to make some applesauce, so yesterday while Aiden was still at Grandma's I decided to make it. It turned out very good. I used golden delicious and left it a bit chunky.


Before


After