Taxes & Simple Meals

Hello, friends.  Last week, I gathered some of our butternut squash, and made curried butternut lentil soup for a dinner.  I decided to prep the rest of the butternut squash, made a crumble with half, and froze the rest.  Kale was harvested for a salad.  All but one broccoli died during the cold temps, but I was able to harvest some small shoots from it this week, which were blanched and frozen.  I received a Rakuten cash back check for $19.74.  A box of groceries was dropped off at the local food pantry.  All of it was picked up at grocery markdown or Dollar Tree.  I filed my first dental claim with Medicare, after a cleaning.  I don't know if they'll cover any of it, but it's worth a try.  I see a holistic dentist, who doesn't take insurance, so we'll see.  

I picked up a 2L bottle in our ditch, and plan to recycle it as a wintersown container.  I'm not happy about all the trash that gets thrown in our ditch, but at least this can be re-used.  A jar of crowder peas was pulled from the pantry, for a dinner with brown rice and salad.  I finished working on our tax prep, and we dropped it off at our tax preparer.  That's always a load off my shoulders.  Veggie scraps were taking over the freezer, so I pulled out 6 1/2 gallon bags and simmered them on the woodstove, then canned broth the next day.  I baked another round of chocolate chip cookies for J.  The peas have started coming up in the garden.  I plan to resow lettuce and parsley this week.  We were surprised to run out of rainwater last week.  After just a few days, the toilet is already staining orange.  There's a good bit of rain in the forecast, so we hope to soon be back on rainwater.

My sister and I spent a day together.  We did our usual thrifting.  Other than a vest for myself, I bought a canister for the shop, and several needed kitchen items and a pretty, sunflower needlepoint I'll make a pillow with for the skoolie.  We also went by a discount grocery, where I got four containers of dijon mustard, 2 quarts of organic apple juice, and seven dried organic fruit snacks for $11 and change.  My niece's house is our meeting point, and I dropped off a spider plant baby for her while there, which was mentioned when she and her Mom were at my house recently.  All the homegrown broccoli was pulled from the freezer for a simple dinner, which we had with potatoes and rutabaga.  I started the 28-day raw food cleanse on Saturday.  He does say if you feel the need for cooked food, to have some steamed veggies, then you can pick it back up.  I'm going to be easy on myself, and if I want cooked food or just want to stop at any point, I figure that any part of it is better than not doing it.  I know with the 9-day one I usually do, I'm usually jonesing for potatoes after about Day 7.  We'll see how it goes.  Wishing you a most lovely week.

Door Framing & The Fridge

 

Since the last post, Joseph framed in the bedroom door opening.  I'm planning on putting up some sort of curtain here.

He's put up more molding, including the area behind the refrigerator.

Then I helped him get the refrigerator into the skoolie, so it's now in place.  Moving right along!

A Few Blooms

Hello, friends.  I hope you all had a lovely Valentine's Day.  We decided to have a quiet evening at home this year.  J requested this pasta, and I picked greens from the garden for a winter salad.  As I had a few day's notice, I was able to dry several slices of GF bread, to make the bread crumbs for the pasta.  I saw mention of a goat farm in Vermont, who make chocolates and caramels with goats milk.  Since having Alpha-gal syndrome, J's realized he can tolerate goat's milk products, so I bought him some for Valentine's Day, which he's enjoying.  The farm was one impacted by the floods last year, and it felt good to support them.

Here's a link to some very cool photos that Patrice shared.  I really enjoyed them, and hope you do too.  Laundry was all dried on the line.  Golden paste was made for the pups.  A pot of sweet potatoes for the critters was simmered on the woodstove.  While in town for an appointment, and to make a soap delivery, I stopped at a favorite thrift store.  I found a large pottery planter for $15, a new roll of ribbon and nice piece of brown velvet for .25 ea.  I'm always looking for good deals on large planters, for repotting, and was happy to find these treasures.  

Quite a few of the wintersown seeds have germinated.  The daffodils and hellebores are blooming, with some of the snowbells starting.  I've been reading about an MM 28 day raw cleanse, and testimonials on how it has moved the needle on a number of people's health challenges.  I'm planning on starting it soon, and have been collecting suggested recipes I think I might like to eat during it.  The above pic is his Banana Lettuce Boats, which was really good.  My blender didn't get the date "caramel sauce" as creamy as it should be, so I'll try my Bullet the next time.  It tastes great, even if it turns out similarly.  A friend shared this beautiful song.  Wishing you a lovely week! 

Canning Lessons & Estate Planning

Hello, friends.  Last week, I sowed two rows of peas in the garden, including seeds I saved last year. Every year, I hope I'll have enough to put some up.  Maybe this will be the year.  I soaked dried white beans one morning, which were used for baked beans, with hope that the recipe was tastier than the previous ones, more like traditional baked beans.  This batch was much better, after adding molasses and lemon juice.  A batch of cashew parmesan was made.  And, drum roll... I finally used up the last of the '22 "football" sweet potatoes, and started on the '23's.  I'm happy about that.  All laundry was dried on the line, and I caught up on ironing, which was all the napkins and tablecloths from the holiday gatherings.  The success with the baked beans inspired me to can a batch.  While watching the canner, I hand mended a sweater and a vest.  The chicken's egg production has increased, with the longer days.

We are in the midst of having our wills made.  As suggested, I went by the bank, and made sure J would have access to my accounts in the event of my death, without having to go through the court.  We're looking into what is needed to do the same for our vehicles.  We're late getting to it, though we've been talking about it for years.  It's good to finally be taking care of it, knowing the other person would have an easier time of it, once that time comes.  Recently, dear Annabel unexpectedly lost her husband.  He had taken care of many details for the family in December, almost as if he knew what would come to pass.  While at the bank, I spoke with a woman who has a family member with eczema, which continues to get worse.  I shared a little bit about the Medical Medium with her, and the morning protocol, which has helped me so much.  While there, I dropped off a book at the library and picked up a couple more.  There have been a few days warm enough to open windows, for fresh air in the house.

On Saturday, my sister came over to learn about pressure canning.  She had soaked garbanzo beans and lentils overnight, and brought them, and the jars and lids with her.  With some changes in plans, my niece was able to join us as well.  It was a good day, and also lovely and warm.  We talked a bit about gardening too, when we had lulls in the canning tasks.  All of the jars sealed, so a successful first attempt.  I've been intending to work on using up the whole wheat flour J had bought, knowing it doesn't have a long shelf life, so I made a batch of these chocolate chip cookies for him.  I baked a few of them, with the remaining dough in the fridge for upcoming days.  He was given 3# of sausage from a guy he does a lot of work for.  The beeswax candles in the first photo are some our great-nephew made.  We loved using them for our dinners last week.  I hope love of all kinds surrounds the world this Valentine's Day.

Trim Molding & A Little More Flooring

 As Joseph worked in another town all week, there wasn't a huge amount that got accomplished in the skoolie.

He did work on trim molding, and got the window above the kitchen sink finished.

And the window across from it, at our dinette, as well as more molding at the ceiling and in the hallway.

He also finished putting down the flooring in the hallway and beneath the armoires.  So many little steps, but he's getting them done!

Winter Sowing & Some Canning

 

Hello, friends.  On a lovely day last week, I wintersowed many flower seeds.  Some include bachelor buttons, hollyhocks, sunflowers, borage, zinnias and marigolds.  J planted onions, and worked up the soil, so I can plant peas this week.  Laundry was all dried on the line.  A number of stained items were treated with a stain remover soak.  It did a very good job on some, and some are being soaked again, to hopefully fully remove the stain.  A batch of suet was made for the birds.  The usual composting, saving warm up water, shredding paper and cardboard, collecting rainwater, and using homemade soap happened.  Homemade pizza crust and pizza sauce were pulled from the freezer, some veggies chopped, and a quick meal was enjoyed.  We enjoyed a lovely evening with several neighbors.   I brought veggies and hummus, made using home canned chickpeas and our garlic.  The leftover celery and carrots were chopped for a vegetable bean soup the next day, with our onions & garlic, home canned tomatoes, squash and cabbage.  Beans were canned.  First, was a mix of black-eyed and Iron & Clay peas.  Then I canned a batch of black beans.  One jar of peas didn't seal, and was added to our vegetable soup.  My sister has been wanting to learn to can.  Last year, she came to learn how to can tomatoes.  This coming week, she'll be learning to can dry beans.  I'm looking forward to her visit.  Wishing you a lovely week!

Flooring & The Co-Pilot Seat

 

Hello, friends.  Joseph has been working on the skoolie flooring.  He's finished the bathroom.

And he's made good progress everywhere else.  He's finished the living area.  From the bathroom back to the bedroom is partially done.

He picked up my newly reupholstered co-pilot seat, along with the dinette cushions.  I'll share those once they're in place.  

Jeannie requested some recent pics of McNibs.  Here he is looking dapper in his winter coat.  It's funny.  For the first 11 or so years of his life, he was very quiet.  These days, whenever he's excited, like before and after walks, he barks exuberantly.  That silly boy makes me laugh just about every day.  I'm so glad he's home.