The First Hummingbirds

Hello, friends.  Last week, I harvested lambs quarter, lemon balm, asparagus, nettles, dandelion greens for the pups, and thyme.  I canned spaghetti squash, and dehydrated pumpkin, nettles, thyme and lemon balm.  Trying to use up squash, I made a dish using spaghetti squash and lambs quarter, and made a double batch of curried butternut soup.  Half of the soup was frozen for future meals, and the rest fed us two meals.  Small amounts of pumpkin were added to the pups breakfasts all week.  A container of meat bits and broth was defrosted, and small amounts added to their dinners.  Three volunteer bachelors buttons were transplanted to a flower bed.

All laundry was hung on the line to dry.  I made suet for the birds, and planted basil, eggplant and paste tomato seeds.  I went through Swagbucks for a purchase, getting 4% back.  After an appointment, I shopped and got my senior discount at Harris Teeter.  They had only one OG celery, but the hearts were on sale for 2/$6, so still some savings over Food Lion.  I picked my free ebook for April through Prime, and picked up a free card at Hallmark.  At Dollar Tree, they had no lentils, but I was able to pick up evaporated milk, 4 packs of vegetable and fruit seeds, and scrubbie sponges.  The hummingbirds began returning, which is always a cheerful sight. 

At Food Lion, I got our dog food on sale for $6 off.  They have been having this sale on a regular basis in recent months, so each time they do, I try to pick up two or three bags.  Last week, I learned that an invasive plant we have is Florida Betony Root aka Rattlesnake Root.  We're not sure how it came to be here, but found out it is edible.  We'll have to try it out.  We picked up our taxes, and thanks to our solar purchases, will be getting a refund.  I baked a sweet potato pie for J, and added four more sweet potatoes to bake while the oven was on.  I'd heard gas prices were expected to rise, so filled my tank, though it was only a quarter down.  Soon after, it rose .20/gal.

J worked up a spot for sweet potatoes, and we got them planted.  My sister and her husband came by.  I potted up four tomato seedlings for her to take, and sent a dozen eggs home with her.  J was able to get a free pecan seedling, and planted it.  Someone left several boxes of Christmas things in a storage building, which I took straight to the thrift store for donation.  They also left a pretty, like new banner with flowers and birds.  I kept that, and switched out my cold weather banner to this one.  I go through a lot of broth preparing recipes.  I'd guess I used four pints the past week, which is good, because I already have 5 or 6 gal. bags of vegi scraps to make more.  I'd be overrun with jars of broth, if it wasn't used on a regular basis.  It's such a good use of something that could be wasted, and with bountiful health benefits.  If you're not already saving vegi scraps and making your own,  I encourage you to try it.  Freezing the broth works just as well, if that works better for you than canning.  Have a good week, friends.