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.

Yeah !!

Filled my son's truck with garbage.  What was left from my last sort and toss, some house garbage and some from outside.  We came back and loaded 6 bags of pop cans, his aluminum scraps and steel scraps.  He made $24 and I made $20.  There is regular recycling and some stuff for Habitat for Humanity left to take.  (The truck loads are always in a small truck)  The basement is getting better!

Update
We took one load out of the basement a couple days later.  Half to H. for H. and half to Goodwill!

Skills List

What do I know!  Hmmm, a list would help ...........

• Sewing, since 10 years old
• Crocheting, self taught at 12 years old
• Knitting, taught a few others also
• Spinning, re-learn (drop spindle)
• Cooking
• Baking
• Canning, jam, jelly, fruits
• Dehydrate food
• Vegetable gardening
• Raised chickens (for eggs)
• Raised rabbits (for meat)
• Kept goats
• Kept horses
• Start a fire (chop wood)
• Hunted birds
• Shooting - shotgun, rifle, handgun
• Fish, dig clams
• Pitch a tent with no help
• Use tools - Circular saw, hammer, screwdrivers, etc
• Drive a stick shift
• Photography - amateur
• Draw - Commander Mark style
• Balance a checkbook
• Bookkeeping/Accounting
• Scored for son's baseball games
• Grow houseplants
• Read instructions and follow them
• Housekeeping, know more than I practice
• Recycling, religiously
• Re-purpose: clothes, dishes for serving 
• Making jewelry (beginner)
• French braid - my own hair and others

I love to learn new skills and there is so much left out there to absorb and use in every day living!  I have read articles in magazines now for many years telling us how to 'save' time in chores to gain a minutes here and there.  WHY?  So we (society) can sit around, watch TV, gain weight, thereby diseases can set in like the heart or diabetes, etc.  Gardening, canning, sewing, cleaning house is being connected.  Staring at a TV is dumbing down our population!

Denim Re-use

What have I used denim for!  A list of things I have made over the years:

• Purses, 4 styles - lined (sold a few, too)
• Coin purses - lined  (from back pockets)
• Rail fence quilt (UFO)
• Circles quilt - with frayed (started, a while ago)
• Heart wall hanging (gift to brother)
• Pocket wall hanging
• Vest, strip pieced
• Toy carpenters apron for toddler
• Organizing hanger for a child's bed
• Round purse (experiment)
• Heart shaped drink coasters - sets of 4 (gift)
• Flower (experiment)
• Backpack (stolen from my car)
• Chair covers - stapled over previous one
• Pillows, 2
• Picnic blanket, large triangles (gift)
• Soft 'buckets' - stay upright when full 
• 'Sleeve' to hold plastic grocery bags

My projects have come about from necessity, I love to sew and tight incomes do not leave room for personal  interests.  Since this happened off and on during the kids young years, they came first!  Friends started giving me their cast off jeans, I could turn to sewing with a little creativity without the guilt.  And recycle, which I am passionate about!  I have 3 of the large garbage bags full of jeans still.  My newest  project find is the 'buckets', I absolutely love them.  Gave 2 away and have one myself.  Will need to make more, because I am going to store sewing and knitting supplies in them.  The 'jeans' are the inside with pockets and fashion fabric on the out (found the instructions on the internet),  been looking for a new ideas lately.