Joyfilled

On 7/17/2021 at 9:39 AM, Mt_Rider said:

I thot this article by Scott Sexton at GrowNetwork about various salts was interesting.  I've tried the Hawaiian ones including the evaporated salts collecting on the sea shore.  We use the Himalayan pink for a lemon/lime icy mix for when I get hyperthermia.   

 

https://thegrownetwork.com/types-of-salt/

 

MtRider   

We use Himalayan pink salt, too! For all our cooking and baking. I like it a lot! 😊

Wow!! That sounds fun! Well, you know what I mean...

11 hours ago, Annarchy said:

I can’t add much to Mother’s post.  Except mentioning the work.  Cleaning the manure, milking twice a day, feeding and veterinary services.  We had 20 cows, in the 60’s & 70’s.

That's a lot of cows!! I'm not sure what we would do with all the milk!

Thanks for the tips, and encouragement! I'm not sure I can convince DH on goats, but maybe someday! We have 7 in our family (including a 1.5 year old!), plus my parents and DH's dad. DD and I also make butter (and it's buttermilk), yogurt, farmer's cheese, and have high hopes of making more variety of cheeses. I realize it's a lot of work, but that's actually kinda what we're going for. And...so much to learn! Hopefully work ethic being one of them. Kids are 20, 9, 8, almost 7 and 1.5. I'll keep you posted! Hopefully we will get one this spring. Thanks again!!

Anyone have one? We are hoping to get one soon.... Any tips or advice? Thanks!!

On 11/24/2020 at 9:52 PM, Becca_Anne said:

Thanks Mother I hope to be able to pop in now and then

 

 hi Becca Anne!! Time has flown, hasn't it? It's nice to "see" you again! 

(Happy Girl)

Hi Snowmom!! Remember me (Happy Girl)? 

It's so good to hear from you! 

Thanksgiving....last year was a lot of fun. 5 guests plus the 10 of us (including grandparents). We made it work and really enjoyed our time together! This year we won't invite anyone because of Covid....so just the 10 of us. Christmas will be the same. I have most of the food that we need for Thanksgiving (thanks for my parents help), and a ham for Christmas. All the gifts are bought, so here's hoping. 

But....no matter what happens, we can always celebrate, right? We can find something to be thankful for and celebrate that the King of kings came....for us. Turkey or no, gifts or no, there's always something to celebrate.  🥰

So far we have most of our Christmas gifts bought and most of Thanksgiving food bought. Ham for Christmas. Now with cooler weather, I hope to do more sewing done. 

I think it's going to be a hard winter. We're in the middle of KS, and it's already freezing here. May God help us.

On 10/13/2020 at 8:02 AM, TheCG said:

FYI, picking stitches out of fleece is NOT fun because they sink way down in.  Double check everything before you start sewing.

Ohhhhhh.....thanks for the tip! I will measure a bunch and sew carefully. 

Around the same time I got the machine, I bought 10 yards of fleece to make pajamas.... Every Christmas Eve we give the kids (5 of them) Christmas pajamas, so this year I thought I would make them: pj bottoms for hubby and sons, oldest daughter and myself, and dress pajamas for the little girls (6 and 7). I'm pretty nervous about it, but I think I'll be okay. My Mom used to sew, so I'll be asking her to give me advice....and I'll be checking in here with ya'll! I'm not sure the material is fleece....but super soft and warm.

I also got material for making quilts. My hope is that by the time the kids are grown, they will have several quilts that they can then pass on for their own children someday. So....busy fall for me, after we're done putting away the garden. Here's hoping!

8 hours ago, Jeepers said:

Boy clothes...shorts. 

Oh, that can't be too hard, right?? I could see about making same or complimentary material. Yes, I'm that Mom. 😂🙈

8 hours ago, Jeepers said:

What a great gift. Very nice. I'm a straight line sewer too. I can do curves...one stitch at a time. I've made a lot of curtains in my life along with quilts and comforters. I can't make a buttonhole to save me. 

My mom showed me the mark that's to make buttonhole....I had no idea. She laughed....I was glad to offer comic relief. 

10 hours ago, euphrasyne said:

If you decide to start doing clothing, baby and kids clothing is easier to make than adult clothing IMO.    This is because they have fewer or no darts.  

 

And I have a bunch of kids....so I should!! I'll be asking for advice! 

My finished napkins! The material I got for Christmas napkins I'm going to try to make a different style. I need to put away the rest of the produce from the garden first....I also made summer dresses for my younger girls (yes, I know it's fall, don't judge me!), simple ones. They felt so loved!! Now my son is asking for boy clothes, too. Help!

So fun and rewarding, though! 

Back when the pandemic started, hubby got me a brand new Singer. I'm just now pulling it out!! I'm no seamstress, by any means....but can sew in a straight line, so have made curtains, quilts and napkins.

We like to decorate our table for the seasons, so I bought material to make (more) cloth napkins. They will be simple, and then I'll try to do the fancy corner ones....wish me luck!! 

22 hours ago, Littlesister said:

Joyfield, I am loving that outdoor kitchen. I know you will be so happy when it is fully finished. A picnic table would be great. You and your mom can sit out there and have lunch  together while you are canning.  

Oh, that would be lovely!! 🥰

2 hours ago, Jeepers said:

Wow Joyfilled! That is so nice. It looks so...pleasant out there. And peaceful. I'd love to be out there canning when it's raining outside, all cozy and dry listening to the rain and hearing the jar lids go "ping". Of yeah! Don't forget to put a chair or stool out there. Maybe a fan. Heck, I'm ready to move in. Thanks for sharing your picture. 

Thanks, Jeepers.....it's one of my favorite spaces at our place. I'm hoping to add a picnic table outside for my Mom to be able to join me and help. 

Nothing is hooked up yet, and I'm afraid it won't be this season....but I'm so thankful that we can get it set up and ready for the next one! And, if stuff gets really bad, I have a place to cook and bake.....and of course, can! 

So....the outdoor kitchen is almost done, but hubby had to put it aside and start the greenhouse before it freezes....here's hoping he gets it done in time! The kids have been helping, too!

Here's what it looks like now:

Thank you ladies! It was for some cowboy candy I made (jalapeno jelly, kinda). It's yummy with cream cheese on crackers. But I made a ton! Prolific plants, I guess, praise God! I am thinking about pressure canning them, just to be sure they're safe.... I don't know about the percentage of acidity, so I'll be sure to look!!

Hi! 

Wondering if apple cider vinegar is okay to use instead of white vinegar when it comes to canning? Thanks!

So....I saw an article on CNN about the shortage.... because people were cooking a lot during quarantine. 

https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/07/us/mason-jars-canning-lids-shortage-trnd/index.html

2 hours ago, Jeepers said:

Joyfilled, your jars are beautiful!  

I love looking at home canned food. 

 

Here is a reliable web source for canning:

https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can3_tomato.html

 

Ball Blue Book PDF:

https://ia802906.us.archive.org/5/items/ball-blue-book-guide-to-preserving-2010/ball-blue-book-guide-to-preserving-2010.pdf

Thanks!!

I also pressure canned green salsa, and made pickled jalapeños! I'm a happy girl! 

On 9/20/2020 at 7:04 PM, Jeepers said:

If you added anything else to the tomato products like onions or bell peppers etc. it really needs to be pressure canned to be safe. You could freeze it or re-can it in a pressure canner with added acid. Since they have already been sitting out, I wouldn't waste time. They should be fine to re-can or freeze since technically they are canned. 

 

 

For newbies who might be lurking, anytime you add any veggies (onions, peppers etc.) to tomatoes, they must be pressure canned. And you must add acid (lemon juice, vinegar, ascorbic acid) to the plain tomatoes to raise the acid if you water bath them.

 

I know our grandmothers didn't do that. They didn't have too. Modern tomatoes have been genetically altered to reduce the acid content for fresh eating. We oldbies can remember way back in the day when we would get a sore mouth in the summer if we ate too many fresh tomatoes. Real tomatoes.

How long would I need to PC the tomatoes with onions, etc? I have a bunch of blended sauce (tomatoes, onion, garlic and salt) that I froze, but would love to can and free up the space, because ice cream . I'm happy to pressure can it, I'm just not sure for how long....

Thanks for all the tips, ladies! I ended up freezing and eating (and giving) the spaghetti sauce. Tomorrow I'll try again, and pressure can it this time. Again, for how long?