Seasonal Pleasures

Hello, friends.  I hope your week has been a good one.  The pup's dog food was on sale at Food Lion last week, but the one I stopped at didn't have any, so I requested a raincheck, the first time in years.  They musn't give out many, as my cashier didn't remember how to do them, and called the manager.  She said they stopped doing them during the pandemic, which I found interesting.  I'm assuming due to the lack of staff.  The bags were $6 off, so I felt that was worth asking for, and asked for three bags.  The birds have been busy at the feeders.

before the ornaments

I baked two types of cookies, some for J and some to give at our family gathering.  Just before leaving for the gathering, I noticed a hole in the cardigan I planned to wear, so I grabbed needle and thread before heading out the door.  In the hour it took to get there, I found several additional holes, but had it all squared away, before we arrived.  This is a festive red sweater I thrifted years ago, and generally only wear this time of year.  It's hard to tell if it's just falling apart, or if moths got to it, though I've not seen any sign of them otherwise.  

Last week, I harvested a head of lettuce, rosemary, and greens for the pups and chickens.  Laundry was dried on the line.  We got the lights on, and decorated our tree.  Like several others I've noticed this year, simplifying feels right, and I began gathering some holiday things I will be letting go of, keeping only the things that bring the most pleasure.  Happy Winter Solstice, Merry Christmas, and Happy Hannukah!

She's Not Yellow Anymore

Hello, friends.  Well, this was the big painting week.  Joseph's business partner took off time to be with family out of state, so as the weather was cooperative (mostly), he took this time to paint the bus.  Before starting, he masked off all the areas that needed covering, created a plastic tent, then applied primer.  I sanded the bus, then wiped it all down with a damp rag, with a little help from him in some of the highest spots.  There were some wind gusts, quite a bit more than was forecasted, that tore off the plastic on three occasions, but he muddled through it all.  

He then gave the skoolie two coats of Seaside Teal.  She's not yellow anymore!  We're discussing what detail we might want, and are both leaning towards a curved line somewhere.  That can come in time, though, now that the main paint job is done.  He also plans to give it a coat of clear sealer.  It was an enormous amount of work for him, and something he hopes to never do again.  I've been gathering a few more items, like dog beds, bathroom soap dispenser, and stair treads.  There's still quite a bit to do, but this definitely feels like progress.

Mid-December

Hello, friends.  With the garden in its quiet phase, there's not a lot to report right now.  I did harvest kale, for a salad to bring to J's family's holiday gathering.  They also requested I bring the family's heirloom lima beans.  I recently came across these fruit Santas online, and decided to make those too.  I almost forgot to take a photo, before they were all gone.  Mine weren't quite as cute as the photo I saw, but they were all eaten.  

Early in the week, I canned up butternut squash.  Besides a small, homegrown one, they all came from Azure Std., and were all in pretty bad shape when we received them.  Some parts had to be cut away, but the majority of them were saved.  It was our first time ordering fresh produce from them, and we're hoping it was not representative of the typical quality of their produce.  The flesh was a beautiful color.  This was the initial filling of the jars.  They were all filled to the recommended 1" head space before canning.  I hope your week is a good one, where you can enjoy the beauty of the season.

New Cargo Deck

Hello, friends.  I intended to get this up yesterday, but ran out of time.  Joseph has been busy working on a rear cargo deck for the skoolie.  Our auxiliary fuel tank fits inside the mid-section, and there are compartments on either side, which will house the sewer connection hose and hose support on one side, and the fresh water hose, power cord, water pressure regulator, chock blocks and other miscellaneous items on the other.

Another day, he fabricated corners, where the bumper used to be.  You can see in the top photo that the bumper is now shifted rearward and reattached.  He sanded and gave the bus a good scrub yesterday, and intends to prime it soon! 

A Quiet Week

last Sunday nights surprise snow

Hello, friends.  I enjoyed being able to stay home last week, except for some errands.  I froze chard in a muffin tin, after preparing enough for one meal.  The last of the eggplant was dehydrated.  I made purchases by going through Swagbucks, which gave me 4% & 5% back, and also redeemed points for a $25 GC.  Our sweet potatoes were used in a curry dish one day last week, and baked for dinner another day.  Books were requested from the library, the day before I planned to go to town.  We're still low on rainwater, so J switched us back to well water, long enough for me to do laundry, all of which was dried on the line.  I held off on the light laundry, until we've got more rainwater.  We've got several chances of getting good rain this week, which will hopefully fill our tanks back up.

I dehydrated some eggplant this year, to try a new to me recipe for patties. The recipe was actually from a 19th century cookbook, and shared by someone, with her instructions.  J & I both agreed they weren't wonderful, but worth another try, with some tweaks.  We're still using tomatoes as they ripen, though the dish of them is getting smaller.  Some were used in pasta sauce last week, and cherry tomatoes were used in salads.  They're not the same as peak of the summer tomatoes, but still decent.  A year ago this week, McNibs took off after a scent while on our walk, and went missing for eight days.  I know that every day since has been a bonus, and am so thankful to have had another year with this silly boy.  I hope blessings find you this week.  

The Last Flowers

Hello, friends.  Last week, I harvested peas, lettuce, winter greens, rosemary, and thyme, plus greens for the chickens, on the days I was home.  I recently noticed something has been eating the chicory down.  Sigh.  Well, it's now taken care of.  The temperatures have been getting colder, and is supposed to hit the teens in the next few days.  On Thanksgiving, J and I covered the lettuce and chicory with row cover, to protect it a few more degrees.  Peas can thrive below freezing, but not once it hits 25 or so, so I harvested the last picking of peas on Thanksgiving.

More goods not seen in the foreground L & R, and a room to the left

Other than Thanksgiving, my week was spent shop sitting at the gallery.  I think I've mentioned in the past that this building was originally a livery.  The wood is just lovely.  Things I brought to do during lulls included paperwork, the peas to shell, thread and needle to mend a sweater, and Christmas cards to write.  I also brought reading material, to have some relaxing time.  During the time I was home, I made golden paste for the pups, and suet for the birds.  Before it got into the low 20's, I cut a couple remaining roses.  Joseph was so helpful, and did a great job of preparing simple dinners each night.

Enjoying the last of the flowers

Back home Sunday, I worked to catch up a bit.  Two loads of laundry were hung on the line.  The peas I'd shelled were canned, along with a pint jar of lima beans I'd recently shelled.  Joseph had baked extra sweet potatoes Saturday, so I made a pie with most.  A jar of cashew parmesan was made.  Broccoli Pad Thai was made, using our broccoli and garlic.  J picked up items to do an oil/filter change on my car.  He asked what deals they were having, and ended up saving about $20 overall, which was great.  I'm very much looking forward to spending this week at home, other than running a few errands.  I hope your week is a good one, spent doing just what you like.

Bucket List Express

Hello, friends.  Joseph came up with a name for the bus, and hired a local man to paint it, on the front visor.  He removed a fuel line, and had three new hoses made, one for that line, and two for the new transmission cooler.  He changed the fuel filters, and replaced the priming pump.  

I assisted Joseph in connecting and purging the lines for the mini split.  He completed the wiring, so it should now be operational, which we'll be testing soon.  He put protective covering on the water lines, as well as more support.  He connected the drinking water tank line to the faucet, which is the last of the plumbing.  The punch list is getting shorter all the time!