Join - Welcome - Thank You - Canning Broth - Sweet To Die For - Bathroom - Give - Away

I would like to start my post today by welcoming a new blogger to my blog. Welcome Sinder Ella at "A Modern Day Cinderella" blog.  Thank you for joining my blog, please sit back and enjoy the ride.

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Today was a canning day; I was able to put up in the pantry several quart size jars of beef broth.  Next will be chicken broth and spaghetti sauce.

While canning, I enjoyed a delicious turtle bar and a cold glass of home brewed green tea.  If you love chocolate, Carmel and graham crackers like I do, you need to try this recipe from Paratus Familia blog.  I just couldn’t help myself.  Word of advice, eat before reading blogs.  I came across this recipe, and I just had to make it and have a turtle bar immediately.  These bars are to die for, they are very rich but oh so yummy.  Thank you to Enola Gay for sharing this recipe.  It’s my understanding Enola Gay will be coming out with a cook book in the near future.  I can see myself adding Enola Gay’s book to my library.

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I also targeted the ceiling fan in the bathroom.  You heard right, in the bathroom.  I’ve pulled off the fan blades, sanded them, and painted them a nice vibrant glossy white.  Anything is better than the dull light wood look.  The bathroom in our rental home has no ventilation vents, just a ceiling fan and a window.  I’m trying to make this bathroom light and airy, to make it look larger than it actually is.  I have a lot more work ahead of me.

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Remember to register for the Real Tree Men’s Camo Vest Give-Away here.

COMPUTER GLITCH, GRRRRRRRRRRR

While attempting to publish comments through the moderation screen, I ran into a computer glitch, my computer crashed.  Any posts between the hours of 3:53AM- 1:00PM today, February 28^th were lost.  Please re-post your entry to the give - away.  Sorry for the inconvenience.

 

 

Give – Away Entry Here

*****Give - Away*****

REALTREE AP

MEN’S VEST

 

Reversible Camo Vest

One side for wind

One side for rain

Men, Size XL

Rules

Entries must be received by Friday, March 8, 2013 by 11:59 PM. The drawing will be held Saturday afternoon, March 9, 2013. All names will be placed in a bowl, and a name will be pulled from the bowl Saturday afternoon, March 9th. If your name is picked as a winner, I will post your first name on my blog site along with my e-mail address. You will have 4 business days to respond to me by e-mail. If there is no response, your entry will be null (void), and I will be required to pick another winner.

How To Enter

All entries must be made on the comment form of this post.  One entry per person. Good Luck Everyone!!!!

 

Storm - Atlas Shrugged II - Give-Away Preview

Weather men are predicting a blizzard hitting us this evening.  High winds, snow and ice.  Am I going to run to the store like all the sheeple, the last minute shoppers, to be prepared for the storm, no!   I’m going to hunker down, and enjoy watching the moisture hit our state.  We’re prepared; we have food, water, gas, items necessary if we lose electric and good company.  What more can a person ask for? 

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pic source: movies.broadwayworld.com

Bulldog Man had picked up Atlas Shrugged II in blue ray form to add to our collection of good movies. The plots of the movie, citizens refuse to be overcome by government control and taxation. We both watched this movie last night with anticipation of getting closer to knowing “Who is John Galt?” If you haven’t watched this movie yet but plan to, you won’t be disappointed.  This movie, part II moved at a faster pace than the original movie Part I), it will keep your interest, and had all new people playing the characters.  There were several surprises throughout the movie, the biggest surprise; the end.  Bulldog Man and I now can’t wait for part III.  Would Bulldog Man and I recommend this movie? Yes!!!

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In closing, I thought I would share a sneak peak of an upcoming give-away I will be posting on my blog. 

 

 

Estate Sale - Annual Books Sale - Magazine Recommendation - Sowing Seeds - Experiment

I was so excited this morning, Bulldog Man and I were going to a very large estate sale at the local fair grounds. There was supposed to be a Loom, spinning wheel, butter churns, old-fashioned ice cream makers, dishes, antique furniture, linens, materials, frames, camping items, chests, jewelry, Asian rugs, and an old doctor’s carriage. There were two estates selling items today, one from a California home, and another from an Oklahoma home.  We drove up, looked at large items displayed outside of the building, and looked through the windows to see what was on display inside while waiting for the doors to open. 

When the doors opened, Bulldog Man and I walked in and went to the items of interest, those items we had view through the windows.  After a detailed inspection of those lanterns and household items, we both were totally disappointed.  The items were broken, and priced way out there, as if the items were brand new.  We also looked at the Loom, and I wanted to cry.  The Loom’s pieces were broken or missing and the price was $1,250.00.  Totally disappointed, we left the estate sale empty handed.

After the estate sale, we continued on into the big city where we hit the indoor farmers’ market, and the Oklahoma City annual library books sale.  Bulldog Man and I ended up picking up several books, my favorite, and cookbooks.  The prices of the books at the sale were extremely reasonable; $1.00 on hardcover books and 50 cents on paperback.  Without exaggeration, there must have been over 100,000 books.

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Have you ever seen this magazine? 

I’m reading through this magazine now, and may consider a subscription.   It’s very interesting, and outlines great articles on survival, and homesteading, it would make for a great reference. Another magazine I love to read and use as a resource:

 

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The seeds I just sowed the beginning of the week have started popping out of the ground.  I have broccoli, golden beets and hyssop (herb) growing!!! 

 

I planted the hyssop seed for its beautiful blue/purple flower; this flower attracts both the bee and butterfly.  The herb itself is great for congestion.  My plan; make essential oil from hyssop (learning process), and then create a chest rub for congestion.

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I’ve started cutting off the ends of my celery bunches purchased at the grocery store, and putting the ends in water; to start rooting the ends for planting in my garden when winter decides to leave.

 

As an experiment, I also cut off the tops to parsnips and placed them in water, after two weeks, I have a little bit of a root and leaves appearing.

 

Have you started sowing seeds?

Need a Laugh?

Source:  You Tube

N R A Legistrative Alert

Today I received, in the mail, a legislative alert from the NRA on the following proposal issued by Chuck Schumer, Dianne Feinstein, and other anti-gun Senators. 

They're pushing a proposal that would dramatically expand the current instant background check system by criminalizing private firearm transfers.  They are using the misleading label of “universal background checks” to create confusion in order to pass this legislation quickly through the U.S. Senate.

Don’t be fooled.  Any system that criminalizes private firearms transfers-- whether between a grandfather and granddaughter, father-in-law and son-in-law, or two law abiding gun owners who have known each other for years – is a direct infringement on your Right to Keep and Bear Arms.  Further, criminals will never submit to such a system so it will have no effect on crime – and the only way to enforce “universal background checks” is to create a national registry of gun owners. 

Please write AND call your State U.S. Senators and ask them to OPPOSE   this gun control scheme in addition to any bill that would reinstate a failed ban on semi-automatic rifles or magazines.

 

Source: NRA Institute for Legislative Action

Sowing Seeds

Last Friday, I picked up a portable greenhouse to help with sowing seeds.  I put together the greenhouse last night, and this morning I started sowing.

Closed view

Open view

Disposable oven trays to protect floor
from any water leakage


Vegetable seeds
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Beets
Caspian Pink Tomatoes
Georgescu Chocolate Peppers
Albino Bullnose Peppers

Herb seeds

German Chamomile
Chives
Thyme
Hyssop
Broad Leaf Sage
Spearmint

In a couple of weeks, I will have more vegetables to start inside and out (depending on weather) like peppers, tomatoes, leeks, corn, carrots, beans (various), lettuce, sweet potatoes, spinach, luffa sponges, and parsnips to plant.

I will also need to start additional herbs, fruit (melons and berries), and flowers.  

                                            Additional Herbs

Echinacea
Meadow Sweet
Cilantro
Bee Balm Lemon
Oregano
Lavender
Feverfew
Borage
Anise
Yarrow

Grain

Amaranth

Flowers

Shasta Daisy
Texas Blue Bonnet

 

Have you started sowing seeds?  Have you started preparing your garden beds?

Honeybells - Bananas - Coffee??

The last time I went into town to do groceries, I came across a deal I couldn’t pass on; Honeybell oranges, $2.50 a bag.  I picked up 4 bags, took them home, and peeled all of them with a little (very little) help from Tank.  We removed pith and separated segments. I setup for canning, and canned 10 pint, and 3 quart jars of Honeybells.

 

Honeybells segmented



4 quart jars for the refrigerator

 

For the pantry, excuse the bread in package above (son likes this crap)

A present for my compost

 

 

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While out and about, I decided I was going into the big city; Oklahoma City, to make a pit stop at Whole Foods for some specialty items to include fish, and these unique bananas.  They’re from Guatemala, red bananas, also known as Spanish Red, Colorado, or Lal Kela.  When this banana ripens it will have a thick maroon peel with a pink-salmon flesh, and is sweet and creamy with raspberry highlights.  I’ve never heard of this banana, and decided I was going to snatch up two, bring them home, and give them a couple of days to ripen.  Then Bulldog Man and I can test them and not share with anyone else in the family, lol…………………….

Have you ever heard of, or tasted these bananas?

 

 

 

 

Free coffee grounds! 

Huh?  You heard me, free coffee grounds.  While in town, I stopped off at Starbucks to pickup a free bag or two of used coffee grounds for my gardens and compost.   And…..well…. maybe a cup of coffee. Okay, there you have it, I splurged.  Note: you don’t have to make a purchase to get the free grounds.  These grounds are packed back in the original coffee bag, sealed and placed in a basket inside the store for customers to help themselves.  If the basket is empty, ask the clerk if they have used coffee grounds you could have, they will be more then helpful and pack you a bag. 

Anyway, back to the coffee grounds.  These grounds are a great source for acid loving plants i.e. parsley, blueberries, thyme, and basil.  Coffee grounds are also great for late summer, early-fall vegetable gardens. 

Coffee is another ingredient, when added to your compost, that will help create a well balanced nutrient for your garden.  When composting, please remember to use 1 part greens (coffee grounds, vegetable peels, egg shells) to 3 parts browns (paper, leaves, straw, pine needles).  You always want to make sure your compost pile is moist and turned periodically.

Hard to see, adding to compost

Another great reason for using coffee grounds is that earthworms love coffee grounds.  It provides the worms with nutrients, and in turn you will see the worm population increase, making great soil and nutrients for your garden plants.

Random Pictures



This afternoon, I drove Tank into town to pickup his truck from the shop.  While driving there, I captured a few random pictures.

It rained all morning, I'm not complaining.....we need the moisture

Enough rain to get the dry creek bed flowing again

One of the neighbors got his tilling done before the rain

 

Gas prices in town going up once again

 

Indian Grass Steel Sculpture

I love pictures of trees standing by themselves

 

 

 

 

Rain turning into snow (large flakes)

Beans is not happy, see the large blurry
 snow flakes (he doesn't want to get wet)

The large flakes landing on him

Bug is not happy, these strange flying things
 are trying to get me (one got my ear)

Beans in his bed giving me the one eyed glare

The snow is starting to pick up

The snow is coming down but not staying

Happy Valentine's Day!!!




 

 

Political Correctness, Not!

Video from You Tube

****Winner Announced****

 

 

 

A big CONGRATULATIONS goes out to Cherie Campbell!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cherie was selected the winner Bear Grylls Gerber Survival, Fire Starter.  The winner has been notified and has until Thursday, February 14^th, to respond to me with a mailing address. If the winner does not respond by February 14th; I will have no choice but to select another winner.

Cherie Campbell, please e-mail me with your mailing address.

 

My E-mail is: SandyLivesay@gmail.com

 

Get Well - Beautiful Card - Give Away - Snacks - Crochet - Jars - Kitchen - Weather

                                                                                                                                                                          Pic Source: Fun.krishoo.com

I would like to start my post out by saying, Get Well to a friend, Lotta Joy.  I want to also thank Lotta Joy for the beautiful card she made and sent me.  Lotta Joy sent me this card to say thank you for the spices she received from a giveaway won.   

Front of card

Inside of card, left blank for me to use

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One day left to register for the Bear Grylls - Gerber Survival, Fire Starter, so here to register.

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Instead of making a large meal for the Super Bowl, Bulldog Man and I baked 2 separate trays of chicken wingettes, one with honey pecan BBQ sauce, and the other with hickory bourbon BBQ sauce.  Then we made up some pico de gallo dip, opened up a bag of tortilla chips, cut up various types of delicious cheese, pulled out various types of crackers, cut up a tray of vegetables, and the entire family pigged out for the evening while watching the game.   We had enough leftovers to last several days for lunch and snacks. 

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Great news, Bulldog Man sold his 1994 Ranger truck with topper shell today.  It was a great little truck; we used it for years, and decided it was time to sell the truck instead of putting more money into it.  Now we’re down to being a one truck family, saving money by no longer putting money and time into a 2^nd vehicle, yet another way of being FRUGAL!! 

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When I’m not doing things in the house or on the property, I love to sit and read a good book and do some crafting.  The last time I was in town, I picked up a book titled, “I taught myself Crochet” and some yarn at Hobby Lobby.  Yes, you heard right, I’m going to teach myself how to crochet.  I want to start out by making dish cloths for my kitchen, and then I will eventually move onto larger projects, time sparing of course. 

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Speaking of doing this in the house, I just finished pulling absolutely everything from my kitchen cabinets and ended up rearranging them again.  This house we’re renting is an older house and the kitchen cabinets are not real deep, making it extremely hard to store large plates.  The end result, the larger plates ended up being stored in the drawers on the far side of the kitchen.  I’ve was able to clear out a large double wide cabinet for the vegetables and fruit I will be canning in the next several months.  Here’s a picture of the kitchen, and older cabinets before we started making it our kitchen with crazy décor.

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The canning jars I scored at a yard sale a couple of weeks ago along with those recently purchased when completing groceries have been washed and ready for the next upcoming vegetables and fruits to be canned.

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The weather today, extremely foggy, drizzling, rain, and a chill causing a person to want to crawl back in bed and light a warm fire.  How was your weather today?