Hello, friends. Though it seems winter came early here this year, we have the last few days of autumn to enjoy, before the winter solstice. We received another couple of inches of snow on Monday. Lots of rain since then has cleared it all away. Unsafe roads changed my massage schedule during the week. Most times we have wintry precip in this area, there is black ice to deal with. After work, errands were done, including a thrift store run, where I found an outfit for our GD, a canister I'll turn into a compost crock, and a planter that I'll use for an amaryllis I'm gifting. I picked up some wine for gifts, and as I was half way there, I went to the co-op I belong to, for produce, organic jam sweetened with fruit juice (on sale for $2.99), and a couple of vegan things to try. I tried a plant-based cream cheese, which as a first impression with jam on an english muffin, didn't seem much like cream cheese. The real test will be on a bagel. I did recently find a creamer that works for me in my morning Chai rooibos tea. I'm navigating the suggested diet changes (caffeine and sugar free, and modified vegan), trying to find products and recipes that work for me. It's a little tough to be doing it this time of year. If you have recipe or product suggestions to share, I'm all ears.
I placed several online orders, after checking with ebates and swagbucks for the best cash back. I managed to hang two loads of laundry on the line during the week, but it's been so damp, both had to be finished off in the dryer, but at least it saved more than half the usual drying time. It's been a real challenge to paint our online shop orders. On Monday, J's shop was closed due to the storm, so I primed four stands in his shop. Another day, I was able to get a coat of finish paint on outdoors, which is where I usually paint them. Things should be drying up by Sunday, and I hope to finish painting then. The orders keep coming in, of which I'm so grateful. The lettuce, chard and celery were covered with row cover before nights in the 20's. All looked good when uncovered, except the chard was sitting under water from all the snow and rain. I created some spots for the water to run with my boot heel, but I need to go out there with a shovel and work on it some more.
We headed to town on Saturday, for our Christmas tree and a couple of other quick stops. While stopping at Lowe's for a plant saucer for the olive tree I bought recently, I noticed all bulbs were 75% off. I found two types of alliums, one a fragrant one, and bought those as well, at 35 bulbs for $7.47. When we went to get our tree, we noticed a significant increase in price. I've bought a tree from these folks for many years, but they priced themselves out of our range, with almost all at $55 to $60. There was also a "+$5" on every tag, which we could only figure meant they now charged extra to trim and put in a mesh bag. We headed back to Lowe's, just a couple blocks away, and between the trees being marked 25% off, and J's military discount, we got one for $30 and change. As much as I try to support the little guy, this was more doable this year.
Our evening meals were eaten by candlelight all week. There are also three sets of twinkly lights in our main room, which add to the cozy feeling. The amaryllis I purchased for gifts were all potted up. I hoed a little ditch near the chard, to let the water run off. We are going to try to catch the comet that should be visible tonight. I'm off to plant bulbs, get Christmas down from the attic, pack up gifts to ship, and paint Berkey stands. I see that The Prudent Homemaker has posted her week of Frugal Accomplishments, so I'll end here, and do the same. She has redone her website, and it's looking beautiful. Wishing you a week of seasonal joys, friends.
8 comments:
I love the row of amaryllis lilies that you are growing. When I was little, my grandparents grew them at Christmas time. I really enjoyed them. I'm sure yours will be lovely. Be sure to put a picture when they bloom:)
It sounds like you have had a good week. Have a lovely time getting ready for Christmas!
I'll be giving the majority as gifts, but will take pics of any that stay. Though we're borderline here, I plant them outdoors in the spring, and had one bloom this past summer.
We are being gifted some collard greens. I have never made them as a vegetarian dish. How do you make yours? After my dad pasted away this year, we sold his home. He had several beds of amaryllis. Our family dug some of them up and replanted them at our homes (we left plenty for the new owners). I am hopeful that they will bloom this spring.
I hope you'll have some amaryllis blooms, Christine. I've planted them for several years, and this was the first year one re-bloomed. We're zone 7, and they seem to be more common in the eastern part of NC. As far as the collards, the first way I cooked them was saute onion, add collards, and when they're tender, add soy sauce or tamari and sesame seeds. This way more recently: https://www.thespruceeats.com/easy-vegan-collard-greens-with-rice-3377827
Christine, in the first recipe, I should have said to trim the leaves from the stem and cut in pieces. I usually do that by cutting a V in the leaf to get the stem out, then with a pile of the leaves, fold in half or roll up and cut through. That makes pretty quick work of it.
Thanks for the recipe. I think I will try the one with soy sauce. It sounds yummy. Our amaryllis die back each winter, but come back and bloom in the spring. These were nice big bulbs, but I moved them in the fall. I'm not sure when they should be moved.
I heard on the news that Christmas tree prices were up this year. I haven't bothered with a real tree for quite a few years. I make do with my little fake tree that sits on the mantle. Glad to hear you have lots of orders coming in!
I wondered why tree prices were up, Michele. I'm pretty sure you were the one who turned me on to Lowe's trees being marked down some years ago. It wasn't as good a sale this year, but reasonable.
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