Adding to my pantry

I have roasted  4 pie pumpkins, measuring 2 cups into freezer baggies for pies, muffins and dump cake.   I do have 3 more to do (tomorrow).  The seeds were also roasted and I have a quart jar full.  Also, two more batches of dehydrated apples are put away.  My pantry is overflowing,  I have done more this year than ever.  Not enough to be independant but I feel good expanding and experimenting.  A few fails were no plums and I did not pick blackberries for jam, jelly and syrup.

We had our first bone chilling cold, wind chill brought the temperature down and tonight may get down to 28 which is extreme and early for us.

Fall had returned.

100 things exiting the house, I love keeping record of my progress (10th batch).  With a lifetime of accumulated objects it's hard to see beyond the mess.  I really need to get back into the basement and become a lot more ruthless.  I am learning and getting better at letting go.

A have had a good fall putting putting away jam,  drying apples and expermenting with dried zucchini, candied zucchini, candied pumpkin (both dried), kale,  some herbs, dried and powdered vegies to add flavor to soups and stews.  The candied zucchini was something I read about and it reminds me of golden raisins.  So I tried pie pumpkin and it's interesting and good.  I simmered the zucchini for half an hour in concentrated apple juice and 1 can of water (no lid), drained it and dried it.  The pumpkin simmered closer to an hour, it was just starting to fall apart, drained and dried it.

I didn't get out and pick the blackberries this year, a big fail!  Seedless jam is a  big favorite and syrup for pancakes (it never gets to the pancakes though because the syrup is so good on ice cream).  No plums this year, another favorite jam and perfect for drying.

I am enjoying the return of fall.  Especially after the excessive heat of this summer.  Still a little warmer than usual but I'll take it.

A very busy day!

I started my day cleaning apples for the dehydrator, a sackful.  The peels and cores went into the pot to simmer for jelly.   There is enough now for another batch, I have been freezing the juice and am hoping there will be enough to make a couple half pints of syrup.  Also,  I made Mojo de Ajo with 8 heads of garlic and Oh my! the house reeks of garlic.  I have not made this before and am looking forward to trying out this condiment.  Baked garlic is so good, but this is DEVINE!!

                                                                                                                

Yesterday someone gifted me with vegie tray leftovers (broccoli and sweet peppers, blanched) that is now dehydrated and my son made 4 pies (2 with a friend).  The vegies will be made into powder along with a half pint of the dried zucchini (from A Working Pantry),  I am hoping the broccoli is not too strong.

And yes, I am thinking of Christmas and have bought a few small things.  I need to start my list!

Fall . . . .

. . . seems a couple weeks early.  Some trees are in the middle of turning already.  Beautiful, very warm days and night under 60 degrees.  Yay, and what a relief!

I have been busy!  Pulling stuff out of drawers and tossing more 'stuff' (half my make-up went).  Started washing blankets for the winter.  One blanket need repair before washing.  The comforter and 2 sleeping bags will be done at the laundromat because of their size.  Six books left my bookcase for their rightful owner.  A load of recycles went and a couple sacks to the Goodwill truck.

For the pantry I have dehydrate 2 3 quarts of zucchini (apparently I cannot count), this is new for me to try.  I think adding about a 1/4 cup to soups or stew will equal about 3/4 a cup fresh.  Also in the dehydrator went apples, the grandgirls love them as a treat.  The peels went into a batch of apple peel jelly adding 11 jars to the pantry.

Feels so good!  And yes, so much left to do.

. . . the art of imperfection

Japanese: the art of imperection is Wabi-Sabi.  I have fought against the perfect day every Christmas Day that we took over th family traditions.  Refusing to fall in with perfect potsition of chairs and presents under a tree.  Kids do not see the details.  As parents we feel them!  I just want the experience NOT the perfectiuon.  The experience replays in my mind with details, perfection does NOT!

I love reading Down Under, the reflection on life parallel mine in reflection but not always in practice1

Seaons and the 'Heat Wave'

The temperatures in my area can vary up to 15 degrees the 150 miles of coastline, but the islands are generally cooler.  I live a a hillside looking over a valley with a sliver of the Sound and an Island.  The high temps for this week are:  today 89, Sunday 90, Tuesday 90. These highs are predicted in the big cities that are about 30 minutes south of me.  One of the local saying here is 'Summer doesn't start until after the 4th of July".  And yes, we have had cold and downpours on the 4th in the past.

Summer has always been my least favorite time of year.  I love the the gardening and learned the early morning and dusk are the best times to be out working and taking care of animals.  I sit in the shade or stay in the house during the heat of the day to avoid getting too much sun (I don't mind being pale).  We are known for low 70's with the occasional heat waves.  My choice not to leave this area is because of the temperate climate and of course the beauty!

I absolutely LOVE spring and fall.  Spring brings lots of rain but the new greens are brilliant against the dark evergreen forests.  The first hints of spring are my favorites, the daffodils, crocuses, the unfurling of the ferns, the songbirds waking from winter.  Fall is the time of warm colors, browns, oranges of the pumpkin and leaves, yellows.  I love the warm days of 75 with breezes and cold nights down to 50 degrees.

And then comes winter, not many like winter here.  We get a LOT of rain!  Many grey days!  This has never bothered me, a good book, a cup of tea and the drum of rain has always soothed me.  We rarely get snow and it almost never sticks around, some years none.  Not many like winter around here and we do have a lot of SADD in the population.  So this is why the week is going to be unbearable for me and yes the temps around the country are going to be much hotter which is not comparable because I choose here.

Went fishing!

. . . .  with my parents, Aunt and Uncle and a cousin on Spectacle Lake, WA.  Oh my, but we had a good time.  My dad had surgery on his back about a month ago and I was glad I had agreed to go (this trip wasplanned a year in advance).  I loaded and unloaded the boat each day.  I helped him in the boat and it took Mom and I both to haul him up onto the dock. We caught limits of trout on 2 of the three days.  One bucket was salted for pickling and the rest were frozen.  I think it was just the 'tonic' he needed.  When not fishing, we played games and enjoyed the view.

From Spectacle Lake Resort

Island Retreat . . . . . .

This week, while at my parents for a few days, I spent a day mowing the lawn, digging in some bags of steer manure, changing license plates, emptying the composter, storing the compost, starting a new batch, and washing a dog.  They have been slowing down which is so hard because the mind still thinks younger.  I used to think they would be around forever but knew this is not possible.  Generations of family is such a gift.  Looking back into the past with wonderful memories, then living the future and building (like blocks) memories for our children and grandchildren.

Today Viven  made 3 yo-yo's for the apron I made for her.  She also learned to load 2 stitches on the needle before pulling the thread thru and is now on her way to doing a running stitch.

Viven has learned to make yo-yo's

Modeling the finished apron I made

A trip to the dump, half the truck loaded with household garbage.  The other half with stuff set aside from my 100 things challenges.  Also a couple sacks to Goodwill.  I have been working outside a little here at my house and spent an afternoon at my daughters.  She wanted help getting beds ready after the tilling was done.  One bed was so fluffly, I went barefoot.  I felt like a rebel, the top was sun warm and then wonderfully cool underneath.  What a great day!

Sewing

I was sitting at my sewing machine table when suddenly the urge to re-arrange and clean drawers came over me!  Many times they remain open so that dust and lint settles on thread or becomes dust bunnies in the corners.  The tool drawer had accumulated too much non sewing items, so out they went.  I moved my threads to a drawer where they would sit up right, it's a bit harder to sort for colors so maybe a tray will help.  The drawer the thread was in I am keeping my pins, they will still be right beside my machine.  Also,  tools were spread out in multiple locations and now for instance all the hand sewing needles are in the same place, etc.  So far I am not too lost and may like the new arrangement!  I left the bottpm drawer and small cupboard for another time.  The drawer has patterns stored in it, all sitting on edge like files (it was built for this purpose).  The cupboard was probably for current projects but has a hodge podge of stuff now.  This was not on my 'to do list' but needs to be done once in a while!

My dad built 3 of these sewing tables when I was too young to remember.  One for my mom, my grandmother, the third don't know for whom.  I have had my grandmothers table since leaving home.  Mom's was loaned out and nobody knows where it is.  They actually look like a desk with drawers on either side.  He had cut a hole in the top to have the sewing machine sit in the table, the fabric would then be level between the machine and table.  The hole now has a wood piece cover, my machine sits on top of cover.  Mom and I both own Bernina's and the knee lever is a must for hands on sewing, so the modification is OK.  The table is a prized piece to me with generations of history of sewing in my family.

A couple weeks ago I bought 25 lbs of oatmeal and dry processed 12 quarts in the oven, this used approximately half the bag.  Nine quarts sealed, 3 did not.  I am looking to keep about 2 doz quarts rotating thru my pantry to cover a year.  The 3 unsealed quarts will be used right away to test the quality of the dryer grains in breakfast cereal.  The other half of the bag will be make into granola or cooked for breakfast.  Also not on my 'to do list' but may be a good thing to practice!

Keeping busy

I have had some productive days!  Yeah!  This week I have emptied 2 more boxes in the basement and redistributed a bin in a 3rd floor so it can be put to better use made bone broth from 9 chicken carcasses )from the freezer). Today I made a list (a short one) and  crossed off every line.  Library, vacuum,  wash canning jars that have been stored too long (with dust and bugs), repack my 3 new bins down to 2 (for now) and start filling the 3rd with canning jars.  One of the 5 pieces of furniture also went to Habitat for humaity.  Happy dance!  This year is starting out much better than my efforts of last year. 

More sacks of  'stuff' to the charity AND another 100 'things' out of the house.  Must have the garage sale this year, for sure.  I need the designated sale stuff out of the house, too.

Visiting preps and pantry

I went thru my preps and pantry,  and rotated everything older into the kitchen to be used.  Newer foods went into some tubs I bought just for this project.  I divided everything between 3 - 18 gallon tubs and added a fleece blanket to each and will also add minor first aid (I have a comprehensive first aid kit).   Also I am going to add composition notebooks and pencils.  I have to shop for some replacement foods and then comtinue to add items each month!  I am using tubs because they will be stored in the basement, my yarn is in tubs also and haven't taken on any bad smells.  So far the year is starting out good.

A positive start to a new year

100 items out the door challenge #8, delivered to the 2nd hand truck up the street, the garbage part down in the basement all tidy and waiting for the next trip to the dump. I am happy!  I am also determined to tackle my goals, it feels so good to simplify my surroundings (also hard).

2013 review

My successes (in a minor way) are few.  I completed 100 things out of the house only twice this year.  It is HARD to get rid of memories which I have done with some struggles.  The big pieces are still in the basement and the garage sale didn't happen.  Bummer!  I did get to the dump 3 times this year which is good since these trips are mostly downsize loads with little day to day garbage.  Goodwill trips  added up to approximately 6 trips (I keep a sack ready to fill at all times, if a decision to get rid of something is made then it goes into the sack).

'To Do' list (supports goals) for 2013

• To Habitat for Humanity X 1
• 100 hundred items out of the house x 2
• Save money
• Sort/clean out living spaces
• To the dump x 3
• Re-pack anything left in basement
• Have a garage sale

The skills list is also going to stay the same. That's right, other than reading an article on sourdough nothing was accomplished here either.  Living happily with thrift is actually something I already practice, getting others in the house on board is another problem which I can't solve for them.  Kombucha was brewed continuously but can stay on the list because I want to up the amount brewed and figure out how to do a second brew in the bottle.  Maybe a physical list is needed as a daily reminder.

New Skills to Learn in 2013

• Cheese
• Kimchi
• Kombucha ( keep up on the brewing)
• Living Happly with Thrift
• Master Recipe List
• Root Vegie Kimchi
• Sourdough (delve deeper)