Early December Days

Hello, friends.  Last week, I hung laundry on the line two days.  I tried a couple of new recipes.  The first used our kale in a quinoa salad, with dried cranberries and walnuts, which was very good, even better leftover.  I changed up the dressing, using less oil, and using lemon juice in place of the ACV.  I also tried a new burger recipe, which used lentils and oats, which was also good, and helped use up some of the lentils that need using.  Oregano was harvested and dried, for those winter nights when it's already dark, and I don't want to go outside when a recipe calls for oregano.  I dehydrated a batch of sweet potatoes that had been chewed on.  We had tried eating some of the larger ones, but they were bland tasting, so I decided to use them for dog treats.  My soap business has been quite busy, for which I'm so thankful.

One night last week, we ran out of rainwater, which is the first time that's happened in more than two years.  Though we had a couple of good rains in September and early October, it obviously hasn't kept up with household use, which means we're back on well water.  We both notice how drying it is to our skin, and I've got discolored fingers and nails again, from the excessive manganese.  Though we do collect warm up water, turn it off while brushing teeth, and follow the mellow rule in the bathroom, we could both do lots more to conserve.  I wish there were some way to track how much water we have in the tanks, but J says there's no way to do it.  He says an attached outside gauge would just freeze and break, or grow algae.  Needless to say, we're both looking forward to rain, and there looks to be a good chance midweek.  Hopefully, there will be enough to make a difference.  Thankfully, we have a separate rainwater tank for our drinking water, and it's still half full. 

After a soap delivery, I returned and picked up books and movies at the library, and got groceries.  Though the price of our dogfood has increased, it was on sale, and I purchased a couple of bags for $6 less than the new price.  I'm thankful it has remained in stock, as I've heard of some shortages of other pet foods.  I harvested mint, and dried it, as part of a Christmas gift.  Suet was made for the birds.   I'm not sure if it's the same across the country, but shortening has really gone up here.  I usually buy it at Aldi's, but have not seen any on the shelf this holiday season, which is usually when I can find it there.  Another hen has begun laying again, so we've actually had 2 eggs a few days, something we haven't seen in a while.  We've got some big, beautiful heads of broccoli that I'll soon begin harvesting.  I sauteed the last of the tromboncino with mushrooms, our onion, and all but the last two of our tomatoes.  A cube of frozen basil was added.  Orange skins were added to a pot on the woodstove, along with cinnamon pieces that were first used in making cranberry sauce, making the house smell cozy. 

 

While packing orders and wrapping soap, I listened to an On Being podcast with Jane Goodall.  What a beautiful human being she is.  J & I enjoyed a quick getaway, meeting dear friends at a historical Inn an hour away.  It was such a treat to spend time catching up, not to mention the dinner and breakfast we enjoyed in the French restaurant on site.   Before we went, I researched and found a tree farm in that town, so on the way home, after finding a few treasures at an antique store, we stopped and got our Christmas tree.  Service was great, the trees were all sitting in water, and the cost was $15 less than our local big box hardware, where all the trees are piled together and usually drying out.  After getting home Saturday, J got the tree inside.  We got all the Christmas boxes down from the attic, and put lights on it Sunday.  We need to pick up another string of lights, then will start decorating it.  It's a bit early for us to have a tree, but this seemed the best chance to have a healthy tree at a reasonable price.  Have you started any holiday preparations?