November Peas

Hello, friends.  Well, the mystery regarding the drinking water has had another piece solved.  Though the gunky gutters didn't help, we realized there was another issue, after we got 3/4" of rain, but didn't have enough to use.  When J went to check the pipes, he found my ex-husband had never glued the PVC pipes together, and they had separated at some point, which allowed much of the rain to pour on the ground, rather than into the tank.  I'm very thankful J cares more about the quality of work he does.  I was surprised to learn that it appears a third of the weather stations reporting data in the UK and to the NOAA in the US do not exist.  The "data" was fabricated, which of course skews the data.  It's disheartening at times, to learn of all the corruption, but also hopeful that so much of it is coming to light in these times.  I believe, brave souls that we are, we signed up for this, knowing a great shift would be taking place.  Bravo, us!

From the garden, I harvested cherry tomatoes, eggplant, green beans, peas, and chard.  With veggie bags threatening to take over the freezer, I filled two large pots with the scraps, simmered them on the woodstove a day, and canned the broth.  Just after, I canned peas.  With the nice, long Fall we're having, the pea experiment has worked out very well.  I've been able to put some jars on the shelf, for the first year ever.  Sadly, the third orchid dropped it's buds this week.  Still, I'm considering the one that's blooming a definite win.  Before I went out of town, I gathered sweet potato leaves for smoothies, froze ripened tomatoes, and froze the excess chard in muffin tins, to use over winter.  The night before I left, we had rain (~2/3"), and J was able to get the drinking water turned on for the house. Not enough yet for the household water, but we're hoping soon.

I had a great weekend with my niece.  She had found a women's build with Habitat for Humanity on Saturday.  Though not actually hurricane relief, when the family moves into this home in January, it will free up their current housing for someone else, which is sorely needed.  This was in a Habitat neighborhood of around 20 residences, including several duplexes.  There were two other teams working, in addition to the women-built house.  I worked on setting up scaffolding, and we both did painting, on window frames and a door.  It's obvious at least someone in the family is excited.  This plaque was up, in one of the rooms I was working in, which gave me a smile.  It was very organized, and nice to meet all the other workers.  It was my first time working with Habitat, and I'd definitely do it again.

Guinness keeping me company while picking peas

Though she had worked a previous Sunday with the group we planned on helping, they're apparently no longer open Sundays, so we had to come up with a plan B.  I'd seen several mentions of a distribution center not far from the college she works at in Swannanoa, so we dropped in there.  They were happy to have us, and set us to work organizing a container of donations.  After lunch, we worked as pickers, which meant as the cars drove up, a team leader would get their needs, then send pickers to gather all the items.  I told J I definitely got my steps in that day.  It was all outdoors, a beautiful day, and a fantastic group of people to work with.  Though it was satisfying to finally get there and help, I'd love to do more, and am hoping it works out to go back.  I've already got the OK to park our skoolie in their parking lot, which might be wishful thinking.  I'm sure needs will change as the weeks go by, but expect help will still be needed in some form.  It would be great to be able to have the ability to help more than a day or two.  Most of the workers I spoke with were from other parts of the country... TX, IL, New Orleans, S. Carolina, and were staying for a time, all good souls.  Sending you wishes for a good and peaceful week.