Amishway Homesteaders

Need another reason to prep?

This one will make you say: “Eureka!”

Backstory-

We have been very busy doing this and that, going here and there, and helping out wherever needed. And the last few weeks seems to be from sun up to sun done, and then some. So things we had planned to do like shopping or food cooking in bulk sometimes got put on the back burner being replaced by something more important. Last week we had plans to go shopping on Monday but that got changed, then we thought we could squeeze it in on Thursday, but that too didn’t work out as we were needed longer at the Amish Farm Picking stuff for market. Maybe over the weekend? But Saturday’s Plans got changed and then on Sunday we took a day off and when to Ithaca, NY

So anyway here it is Monday and we have no food in the house to eat! (other than all the food we have in the house). So Lori said to make ‘sandwiches’ out of something and she would be right back from visiting the neighbor. But I didn’t want sandwiches so I got creative……

Went out to the garden to get some tomatoes, but there was a very nice eggplant all ready for me so I picked it, went to the cellar for a jar a pasta sauce and came in to the freezer for some shredded mozzarella cheese.

Back in the house I found the bread crumbs I had made from old bread and got out an egg from the refrigerator.

Guess what I made – Eggplant Parmesan! And that was a lot better than PB&J sandwiches! (this time)

So It got me thinking, how many times we were too busy to shop and had to raid the canning jars to cook Dinner or go out to the Garden and ‘pick supper’ as we call it. So remember it is another way of saving money and eating well when we can or have a garden………. Or BOTH!

Yes Lori came back inside and said it didn’t smell like sandwiches! But was glad for a hot meal instead, before going to work today.

OK - I was wondering where to put this one and here it is.........................

It was in a catalog we got from countrydoor.com

I wish I could post the picture as it says it all!

Vertical Rotisserie Oven! (page K #E)

This is just BAD!

Think of a big black round thing with a glass front door.

Now put your chicken onto the metal thing standing up in the middle so it 'stands up" (legs handing down to bottom tray and wings out to side)

Now push start......................

AND the inside lights up so you can see how it is cooking! AND it rotates!!!!!!!!!!!

I swear the chicken in the picture looks like it is Dancing on a stage!

How can you eat it after seeing that?

all they need to add would be stripper music!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I still have (and use) a hand pumped jar sealer! (Think of a small balloon pump or one to fill basketballs)

you can use any jar-screw top or canning jar.

First you use a tack to punch a hole in the top, and then you take a piece of tape (with a small rubber piece on it- looks like a Band-Aid) over the hole.

Then you put the pump with suction thingy over that and start pumping!

IF you need to get out a bit of whatever you have in jar just lift the tape a bit, the air rushes back in and then you just put back on the lid and pump again and it seals!

How cool is that! It has to be over 25years old and still works!

With all the weird weather this year and not much growing the price of feed was going up and you know they are going to just pass the price increase on to us.

I am seeing that come this fall EVERYTHING is going to cost more due to weather.......................

And THAT means gas prices too - as they will find some way to blame it on weather that they are going up to $4.00 a gallon again!

Looking for something new for homeschool this year? When not try Postage Stamp Collecting, it is a fun hobby where you will learn Geography, math, and lots of other things that you can use as school work. Just don't tell the kids that they are learning while having fun! There are lots of websites on Stamp Collecting as well as places to get stamps. You can buy Albums or make your own to start with using blank paper and a loose-leaf binder. There are even sites on the web where you can download papers. Don't forget the US Post Office has a ton of free stuff for Stamp Collectors; you can even sign up for their free Stamp Magazine.

For the little ones they may just have fun looking at all the art work on the stamps or finding the numbers on them to collect. The older ones can use maps to find the Country the stamp came from and for the advanced try looking up the names on stamps written in another language to identify them.

Since starting this hobby (again) only a few months ago we are having a blast with all there is to learn about stamps. We are even starting a Youth Stamp Club at the Local Library as a branch off of the Adult Stamp Club we belong to.

After a very busy few days I am able to be home and rest.

So I wanted to take a break and have a snack but first I went out to check on the gardens seeing we have been leaving very early in the morning and coming home later I haven’t been out there in 3 days.

So I headed out and was checking the tomatoes and one was just so good looking I ATE IT!

Then on to check the string beans and a few needed picking , so I did and ATE them too.

On to the pea patch and was checking to see if they were ready yet and well.......... some were so I did a taste test (Just to make sure) LOL

Oh look! A cute little pickling cucumber is sticking its head out of the vines.................... mmmmmmm it was good!

On the way back in I spied some red in all the cherry tomato vines so I took a few and popped them in my mouth!

Came back in to the house for some tea and crackers with cheese but for some reason now I am not as hungry as I was before I checked the gardens?

Anybody want to join me for just a spot of tea?

Up early to water the garden and weed before the sun gets to hot!

Did some quick shopping for us and neighbor lady that can't drive anymore and Go check on friend that had a pass maker put in on Thursday ,she is doing fine but we did a few things for her then headed home.

Just in time to leave for the "Bag Sales" at 2 places first was a Church Rummage sale but today was the last day so it was Fill-a-bag for $1.00 each! We got 5 big bags of stuff!

Then home unloade that stuff so we had room and headed to the big one! After 20 minute drive we were at The Lions Club Auction and Bag Sale They ALWAYS has tons of stuff that can’t go in the Auction so sell it just before the Auction, Today over 250 boxes to look though and fill a bag or box for $2.00 each! We filled 3 big boxes and 1 big bag. BUT it was in the parking lot – in the heat and sun! Headed home AGAIN and unloaded all that and sorted out: ours, gifts, Flea market stuff, things on list for Amish Friends, more stuff for Flea Market, and then just “STUFF”.

When the room was clear and things packed away we started to pull out the Dollhouses (18 going to this Show!) and put them into front room to get ready to load into van. But we have to wait until it is cooler outside or the wax we use to hold everything in place will melt and things will fall down!

Back into office to check on you guys and the phone line is down? I hit it while moving boxes around so I had to stop, pull out boxes and find the plug. It was pulled out so I redid it, put everything back against the wall and started here again.

…………………And here I am now just sitting and typing.

Dollhouse Show it at the Farmers Museum in Auburn, NY so we need to be there at 8am to set up the Display and be ready at 11 am for the opening. But first have to wake up Lori at 5 am so we can pack the rest of the stuff that can’t be out in heat, leave here by 7 am so we can get there on time.

Wel that’s about it for today! See not much? LOL