Dee

They've grown up and have lives of their own. I'll get grandson to rototill for me soon but that's about all I'll get out of him/them. With school, ballgames and other things they're busy and not around much. Oh, how I miss those little grands but they're growing up like they're supposed to.

A belated Happy Birthday Midnightmom. Hope it was a great day!

Good to know about the violet jelly. How did the redbud turn out? Was it tastier? Are either as colorful as they sound? We don't have anything ready to do anything with but I'm hoping it will soon be time.

I'm in and waving like mad. Do you see me???? I have very few ideas yet on what I'm going to do but I still have a couple of weeks to decide. I know this year; I'm planning to try tomatoes in 5-gallon buckets on the south side of my new (yea!!!) garage. I may have to move them if they get too hot. Time will tell! We have acres upon acres of land here so I'm not sure there's any particular reason to use buckets, but I like trying new experiments and this is one I've chosen for this year. I've never grown potatoes in containers either, although I've seen many videos of people doing it. That might be kind of fun too. Plant seed potatoes and when they grow some, add more soil again and again. Cool sounding, huh? This is fun!

Did you know, if you're out of yeast there are things you can substitute? I try never to be out of yeast and actually keep it in my freezer way past the best by date, BUT, when I'm at someone else's home and they don't have yeast on hand I've been known to use these. 1. 1 teaspoon of baking soda, ½ teaspoon of vinegar, and ½ teaspoon of milk. This replaces 2 teaspoons of yeast. 2. 2 teaspoons of yeast with 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of the acid, which is lemon in this case. These DON'T work for kneaded breads but they're good with muffins, pizza crusts, pancakes, batter bread, etc.

Ruben sandwich, quiche and beans all sound delicious. I have a ham bone from Easter that I plan on making bean soup with over the weekend. It's supposed to a rainy cold weekend here and with a batch of cornbread and bean soup will just hit the spot. Yum! Cricket, let me know what you think of the 13-bean mix. I've seen them in the store but never bought any.

Ducklings sound exciting Mt. Rider. It's been a long time since we've had baby anything around here. How far do you walk daily Miki? I walk everyday too but only make myself do 1/2 mile. When the weather is good I often do at least another 1/2 mile. I used to do 3 miles days but that ended a few years ago. I lowered it and lowered it until 1/2 mile is the main thing. themartianchick, hope your mom feels better each day and your job is a good one! I'm meeting a friend for Chinese afterwhile. I'll get a few groceries while I'm out and then back home. Today is a free and lazy day and I'm going to enjoy it. Hope you all have a great day!

I'm a social person. I love doing things with girlfriends. More so now that I'm older with children grown and on their own. Here's a few ideas on how to make friends when first moving to the country. Give it time. It won't happen overnight! video talking about making friends 2.mp4

Happy Belated Birthday!

Nope, I can't open it either. Just a tiny picture in the middle of a black screen.

Snapshotmiki, I'm so glad you save some. It's awfully nice to have around. I love squash soup Ambergris but DH balks, so I seldom make it. I can get by with it once or twice a winter but that's about it. However, when I do make it, I make enough for me to have it 3 or 4 times.

I've never forgotten that episode either, ladies. I too have multiple pairs of readers, of all strengths, from the Dollar Tree. I don't want to be caught like him. The poor man! I've always thought they would be great bartering items too!

It surely is!

I have made dandelion jelly and rosehip jelly but that's all the flowers I've ever used. Buttercup mentioned she's made peony jelly and that Pinterest has all kinds of flowers to use for making jelly. I haven't checked it out yet but I'm going to. With all the flowers, wild or otherwise, around it would be fun to try this or that. I've also made dandelion bread. Can you make other breads with flowers? This could be fun! Never try a flower or any kind of plant unless you know it's safe. There are too many good things out there to ever chance something that might be bad. If you try it let us know. I can hardly wait!

Moving to a rural area is sure a lot different than living in the city. I learned that the hard way. video, meeting Pat.mp4

Well, I ended up not liking, "The Pact" at all. It was on teenage suicide and that is NOT for me. I just finished, "Nothing to Lose" by J.A. Jance. It was pretty good. Now, I'm just getting into, "Run Rose Run" by James Patterson and Dolly Parton. I'm not far enough in yet to know if I'm going to like it. I didn't prologue though, so I'll just have to see. Someone has to be reading something......don't you???? I would love to hear what it is and what you think of it. I love recommendations too! Keep reading!

I baked a pumpkin pie this morning for our lunch at the library at noon. Will get a haircut at 10:15 and then to the library where I'll do my walking before lunch. Unlike your nice weather snapshotmiki ours is 48, rainy and windy. I'll do mine inside walking round and round the community room. Have a good day everyone!

Amazing what one can "throw" together and have it come out delicious, isn't it euphrasyne! When I take a tossed salad to the library for our luncheon, they all rave how I make the best salad ever. "What do you put in it", they ask. I tell them I throw all but the kitchen sink in. Whatever I have on hand. Always lettuce, carrots, etc. but I'll also add nuts, craisins, raisins, coconut, fresh fruit, Durfee's French onions if they're opened and need using, or whatever. I don't put all those things in one salad but always some of them. It doesn't really matter what you put it, it's all delicious. Ambergris, did you get your poults?

Did you know you can make pumpkin pie from squash? Well, you certainly can. Most cans of pumpkin/squash are actually a squash. A particular kind of pumpkin/squash called Dickerson but called pumpkin all the same. Anyway, last year in our pasture I found these huge green things. Turns out they were a squash but even the Extension Office didn't know what kind. I cooked one, tasted it, waited a day or so and didn't get sick or die so we had some of it with butter and brown sugar. Oh yum! Now, I thought, what am I going to do with all these squash? Ah, I decided, I'll try making a pie. Oh yeah, it was delicious and tasted just like pumpkin pie. So, if you grow more squash than you can eat.....cook it, scrape out the seeds, run the meat through your food processor and freeze in 2 cups bags. When you're ready to use it, put in the fridge overnight (or even 2 or 3 days), strain it well and make your pie. Here's one cooling that I just made this morning.

That's too bad Ambergris. Hopefully, some other fruit trees will do well and make up for the mulberry loss.

Well, aren't those something. Maybe DH wouldn't mind the white poop on the cars so much! So, when you make a pie or jelly is it clear, white or what? I can't picture anything but the purple.

SusanAnn and Mother, I've never heard of a white mulberry tree. Sounds unique. Guess I'll look one up on Google!

I do too Mother and the pie was delicious. I was glad to have a slice left to bring home to DH. He was too .

Thank you Annarchy! We appreciate all you do!

Love this story, Homey. Sounds like so many escapades we've had around here. How about the "idiot" Darlene. When you get your meat?