Amish Tomato Prep

Hello, friends.  I did get some of the ripening tomatoes canned last week.  There were four pints, though one didn't seal, because of a tiny chip I missed on the jar.  That's alright.  I just used it in pasta sauce the next night.  With tomatoes on my mind, I also prepped four pots of tomatoes for spring, as in Stacy's video on Amish tomatoes.  I took advantage of the woodstove, melting soap oils and cooking small sweet potatoes for Guinness.  It's been cold recently, and I've been enjoying huddling up by the woodstove, whenever I need some warmth.  Wood heat is such a toasty heat.  Lettuce and chard were harvested, including some for the chickens.

Amish tomatoes

I've been working on my to-go bag, or bug-out bag.  If it wasn't possible to remain in our home, or I was away from home, this is meant to keep me going for a few days in an emergency, whether it's due to weather, fire, or some other catastrophe.  J & I went to the local army-navy surplus, where I picked up a few things that would be helpful.  I hope this is never needed, but I'd be so grateful to have these things, if it was.  If you're interested in putting together something like this, there are multiple resources online.  The Prudent Homemaker has a list here.  The lists vary, so you may want to read a few, then decide what would be best in your case.  I used up all the carbon material for biochar the week I worked at the gallery, so I need to gather more.  These cans will become the newest retorts.  I noticed in the Prudent Homemaker post, there was a mention of charcloth, which I learned is made the same way.  I may have to give that a try.

I made colcannon, using a portion of our last cabbage.  With the holiday season, my soap shop has had lots of orders coming in.  I'm grateful.  J & I went to get our Christmas tree on Sunday.  One of the local schools was selling them as a fundraiser.  We got the last small one (4-5'), for $40.  All the others were 8' or so, and cost $90 and up.  We're not quite ready to put it up, but I'm glad we went when we did.  J put the trunk in the pond, so the tree will be better off than at the lot, in no water.  I'm thinking about starting to wrap and decorate, making things festive.  I hope your week is peaceful, and meaningful in the ways that matter to you.