The WE2's

Tonight we went through Steak N Shake and splurged! They also were having "free fries" the past several days, so we got two extra orders of fries with our meal. We're FULL! But it was certainly an EZ on the cook night and a "get out of the house" afternoon.

Worked at the homestead most of the morning. My seedlings endured the frost just fine in the little green house. I "tightened" it up a bit more though since it's supposed to get cold again tonight. Out of that one chicken from the electric pressure cooker...we have meal #1 Hobo Casserole, meal #1 (today) chicken noodle soup. We still probably have 3 more meals or more. I squeeze a chicken until it thinks it's a big as a turkey! Son is holding his own, but I know he's pretty scared right now. He's become very "clingy" to momma...and he's 53 years old.

We didn't give up our fun for religion...

Hey y'all...this stay at home ain't half bad...

COLD last night! Put on my long bottoms and a t-shirt. Hubby worked more at the homestead and then again for his customer. God has really blessed us with this customer. He needs hubby's strength (and can afford it) and we can use the extra income. Sort of funny, hubby mentioned that "it will be simpler and less expensive for me to do this work on this side if it wasn't full of stuff". Customer said, "OK, I'll move...no I won't...you'll move it!" So ... that's the way it is. We keep tabs on them because they are extremely high risk during this time, and if we needed to, we have pantry items we can help them with if necessary. We stocked them with tp and endust last time. They say they have what they need for the time being. I put a chicken in the electric pressure cooker and let it slow cook all day. Tonight was a "hobo" dinner...shredded chicken, Basmati Rice and pork and beans, topped with shredded cheese...nuked it. Lazy me! Rest of the day I just did wifey stuff but it was a "low thyroid" day I guess. Because I learned that orange juice and grapefruit juice don't go well with thyroid meds, I started taking the thyroid stuff at night before I go to bed (on an empty tummy) because I drink orange juice every morning with breakfast. Listened to a pastor's FB message a bit ago...hubby's parent's home church. His 2nd cousin in TX did an online communion but we didn't stay with it. The dog's barking in the background were just too much to take. He was doing it outside his parent's home...and they live in the country...but still needed social distancing etc. Sunday we're going to load up in Miss B and drive to a state park (that's open for hiking etc.) and take a nice walk/hike and commune with our Lord in the midst of His beautiful trees, skies and air. Not being church goer's this shelter in hasn't bothered us at all. We do miss fellow shipping with our friends and family though. It's got to be awful though for people who are alone and in apartments etc...

Closed all the windows, shut off the ceiling fans and turned the heat back on....COLD! The high today barely reached 50 and windy...supposed to get down to 30 tonight. Guess I'll find out if my plants in the little green house will survive. They're only partially covered...but...this is an experiment on viable seeds...I keep telling myself that My sweet potatoes show no sign of rooting slips...so I probably will chuck them out as a failure. Strange...I bought them from the Amish store and you wouldn't think they'd be treated with anything that would prohibit them from growing slips?. Hubby worked at the homestead and looks like we'll have hot water in the house shortly! I'll enjoy that in the kitchen where we wash our hands. With this mess in our country, looks like we may not get moved as soon as we thought so when it does warm up, hubby may have to put window a/c back in here. Was hoping we'd be moved and could enjoy the central air at the homestead. Oh well, life happens...and we're safe and well. Fixed enchiladas tonight for supper using my "homemade sausage" from turkey burger. Filled another bottle of Tumeric capsules. We only had another day's supply and today was a good time to do it since I was staying here.

Divided some freezer meats into smaller portions and put in the chest freezer here. No need to take them to the homestead since we'll probably eat them right away...only double bagged them, no vacuum sealing today. Cleaned the blades on the ceiling fan over our bed. Did some laundry to take with us in the morning to the homestead. I'll dry them while I'm tending to my seedlings etc. Hubby worked the afternoon at his customer's toy house. Got the storm door window open and the ceiling fans going...feels good! PS...did get hubby's hair cut yesterday. Glad I've been doing that for so many years!

Nope, never have. I fill my jar about 1/3 full of boiling water, add my potatoes (one jar at a time) and then fill the rest with boiling water. I leave about 1 1/4 inch. headspace for the potatoes, and 1" for the water. Just seems to work for me. I add nothing to my jars other than the boiling water.

Hubby worked at the homestead again this morning, draining more from the water heater. Just about got most of it out...yippee! Then he went to work for his customer...they keep their distances. Hubby works on the "Toy Shed" while customer pittles around in his garage/shop next to the shed. Hubby then came home and "de-pooped" Abby-girls yard and mowed it... A bit ago, Abby renewed her contributions... I washed up the remaining 14 quarts of potatoes, labeled them and got them in boxes for transport. Also made up two containers of alcohol wipes. We bought some rolls of the very heavy duty painters paper towels, and I cut it into 3rds. Works great and absolutely a lot stronger than any paper towels. Supper was another Chilli Rellano Casserole...one of our favorite dishes. The rest of the day I pretty much rested. Didn't take any Vit B and I got a bit sluggish. Took it a bit ago along with my Tumeric and Vit. D cap. Now I'll be P'ng yellow for sure!

Hubby helped me finish up the last 14 quarts of potatoes. He peeled and I washed, chopped, filled jars, and got them in the pressure canner! Love that man! After finishing helping me, he worked pulling out even more calcium/mineral deposits from the water heater at the homestead. He says there's still more believe it or not! How in the world did my mom ever have enough hot water with my son living upstairs and using it also?! I said "I bet that water heater feels like a brand new one, and is heaving a sign of relief!" After supper all three of us loaded up in the van and just took a drive...looked at the clouds, the skies, the green fields, the homes with all the cars in the driveways, no children outside playing, WM parking lot full, Menards parking lot full, restaurants and stores mostly closed. Then we did the awful thing! We stopped at BreakTime, went to their ice cream cooler at the front of the store (all the drink area is shut down) and bought us an ice cream sandwich! The cashier was behind a shield and wiped down the counter area before and after we left. We wiped our hands etc., off when we got back in the van, and then washed our hands when we got home. Abby-girl didn't wash her paws! LOL Hubby did have to make a stop at Menards but he wore a mask and wiped his hands when he got back in the van...earlier today. He made that promise to me...especially when he learned than any blood types other than "O" are a higher risk...and I fall into that higher risk scategory. There's just not much sun out there these days and Vit D works a bit on the inside, but the skin starts to look translucent when it doesn't get some fresh air and sunshine of some sort. Listened to some lovely Christian music a bit ago. Relaxing for me. I'll read my Bible and write in my journal later. We are not church people so this hasn't had any effect on us ... we've worshiped here at home for many years. Everybody stay happy and let's make our Country work again! Just sayin...

Got some of my 'taters jarred up...7 quarts. Boy my feet, hips, hands, back...plus..??? sure let me know how long it takes to peel, cut and prep quarts! But I have so many quart jars that we either purchase so cheap it was criminal to not purchase them, or they were given to us. Just makes sense to get them used up. I'm using the metal lids . Told hubby "I have a feeling I'll be giving some of these away before this crisis is over"...so I don't want to use my Tattler's. Hubby came from the homestead and said "You wouldn't believe it! I got 20 pounds...yes...20 pounds of calcium/mineral deposits out of the water heater!" I felt like staggering across the kitchen floor. No wonder my mom had trouble with it running out of hot water...plus it's only a 30 gal. But...we're not in the market for another water heater. We're praying this one will last until we can buy an on demand. He said it's still got more in it to get pushed out, so he'll be busy with that tomorrow while I jar up another batch of 'taters. I still have 2 full bags and 1 partial. Got 7 quart jars washed up today, but I'll need to wash up at least another 14. They're used so it takes a bit more scrubbing with soapy water/bleach and scalding water. The weather was REALLY cold yesterday and last night. Pulled out my long johns again! Took my radishes back inside (yes...they seem to have survived the cold...it didn't freeze) as well as the seed pods that I planted. The window will be the radishes home for a bit longer and one container of the spinach is sprouted up. Wonder why the other is late? Maybe planted deeper? I normally sprout my seeds on wet paper towels placed in plastic baggies and under a light, but this was (and is) sort of an experiment to test the viability of these seeds. So far I am really pleased. The tomato plants are reaching for the sun too! I'll be thinning them out into their own little pots before too long. I may have to go ahead and put them all in the little green houses and put the plastic covers over them. It would be warmer than in the house even. We've turned the furnace off there, but it still stays about 50.

We have a box of 10 of the cheapy masks that we bought a few years ago at $Tree. We'll just hang on to them in case. But, it I was to make one or more, I'd probably start by using some of hubby's good t-shirts, some cheese cloth, some gauze pads and some of the panty liner material. Just thinkin'...

Glad we followed our "gut" ... our Governor issued a stay at home order for all businesses like Lowe's, Menards, WM, When we went to WM, they had roped off the entrances to only one door, and I guess were getting ready to restrict the number of people who could be in the store at one time. Withdrew some cash, paid all the bills that were due, stopped at $Tree, WM and Sav-A-Lot. Got most of what I was after at WM...two jugs Aloe Vera Juice, several more rolls of blue towels from the automotive department, some tp and endust for some friends who are extremely high risk. (Gave them an alcohol wipe to wipe the things down the minute they got the bag in the house). We were VERY strict with our distancing, and people probably didn't think of it when I used one of my wipes to touch the screens on the card reader and then wiped my card down. Also picked up two new printer cartridges, two cases of hubby's Diet Dr. Thunder, and because they were out of Zinc tablets, I just bought a couple of bottles of Zicam tablets. They have a lot of Zinc in them. At $Tree we picked up several jars of mushrooms, the limit of 4 of Peroxide, the limit of 4 boxes of heavy duty dish gloves, 6 pints of Almond milk, a couple of jugs of liquid hand soap refills, and a few other items I can't remember. At Sav-A-Lot we picked two more bags of Russet potatoes (gonna jar up them 'taters tomorrow!), a Kabaska (?) link to use with some left over cabbage strips, four cartons of orange juice, and a couple containers of cottage cheese, a bag of sweet peppers, a small package of zucchini, and four Roma tomatoes. Just didn't want to fight the mess at Aldis. .I love my cold plate lunches while hubby eats his sandwich and chips...LOL Anyway...we're in for the duration. The gas tank is full in the van, and there's absolutely nothing I can think of that we need to get out for. Stay safe peeps!

Went with hubby to the homestead and while he dug out the rest of the roots etc., from where the berry bushes live (tree roots) I opened a new bag of potting soil and got out my left over Jiffy pots from last year, filled them with potting soil and got some seeds planted and put them on one of the shelves of the little green house. Brought the radishes outside to let them take in some sunshine. They were getting a bit "leggy" trying to reach the sun through the west side window. The little tomato plants are about a half inch long in the window, so they'll also get transplanted into the Jiffy pots when they're a bit bigger and then outside until we have their container put where we want them to be. Then home for lunch and then hubby went back to work on the basement/bathroom project and I got some chores done around here. Did rain a bit around 4 or so with a little thunder...but I left the front door storm open and went and stood there looking out with Abby-girl standing by my side. She did pretty good. Just wanted to let her know it wasn't something to fear. We had bought 4 packages of fresh ground turkey last week or so because I wanted to turn it into sausage and hamburger flavored crumbles. Got the sausage flavor crumbles done, and man! They taste like sausage! Much cheaper than regular ground sausage...that give me two different ways to make breakfast sausage...this way plus the ones I make using rolled oats. I'll defrost the other 2 pkgs later and try the hamburger flavor. Either will be good for pizza etc. I used one package of the sausage crumbles in our crunchy burritos for supper. Could not tell the difference. Yeh! Tomorrow i'll peel and jar up some potatoes...we bought a couple bags to do that. Didn't want to drive all the way to Amish store just for potatoes and maybe them not have them. Don't remember seeing them the last time we were there, so it will probably be a few more months before they have them out for sale. I'm going to just do them in quarts this time because I have so many quart jars and so little time. I'll cut some of them in small chunks and some in fry size.

Kappy your garden and containers look beautiful! You two rock!

Seared a nice sized roast this morning before we left to go the homestead, and got a pot roast into the crock pot for supper. VERY nice to come home to! Got the 2nd 4x12 raised bed and the last of the 'taters planted and watered in as well as wired over so no cats or birds can try to dodoo or take a dirt bath in it. He took his weed burner and took care of all the weeds around the outside of the beds. Talk about smoke! LOL Betcha it sent the skeeters on their way ... if they were any where around! I keep a garden sprayer of water beside him just in case we need to put something out. Still watered it down when he was finished though. Got the two mini green houses out, hubby put the new one together for me...I'll be starting some seeds tomorrow. Clyde's garden planner says another week, Farmer's Almanac says now...so I'm going to push the envelope and get them started. I looked at our weather for the next week or two and it doesn't look like there's any frost anywhere in sight. Besides...if I see it's going to go too low, I'll put the plastic hoods over them. The containers are pretty easy to cover in bad weather. Just a screen or an old sheet. For the 5 gallon buckets...I learned a couple of years ago that the splatter screens at $Tree fit perfectly over the tops and keeps flying things off the the new plants and roots. I use DE around the bottom of all my containers to prevent creepy crawlies...especially snails and/or slugs...or ??? Hubby worked his tail off and has just about dug out all the old cane and roots from the old blackberries. Couldn't find any new growth...looks like they're all dead? We do see new life in the Raspberries though. The neighbors 2 blocks south of us had about 10 kiddo's out playing on a trampoline and having a ball. Not one curse word heard! Must have been family members? Looks like most of the parents are keeping their children at home in their own yards. Just don't see them out period??? Let Abby-girl in the garden area...she just knows there's a rabbit somewhere in there! LOL She loves taking a drink from the faucet that's on our rain barrels.

Yes, I've done it...miniature cake...do NOT put anything over the top. The air will suck it right up into the element. Ask me how I know!

Won't go there anymore. I was sitting in the van with the window down and some dude walked up right to my window to "admire" the van...telling me how rare they are and that they're selling for premium dollars in Minnosota, and not in near as good a shape as ours. Too close for comfort...so...we're staying home! Fixed some wonderful chicken noodle soup!

Wanted to give a praise report. As many of you are aware, one of my younger brothers is fighting lung and throat cancer, which is stage 4 (involves some lymph nodes). They told him that if the chemo worked, he'd have 2-5 years. Well they did a CT scan last week and the tumor has shrunk, FROM THE INSIDE OUT! I and many others have been praying, and I've been specific in prayer asking Jehovah to stick His finger in those cancer cells and kill them...in Jesus' Name! Can I get a hallelujah? Just can't pray any other way my friends.

Long line of senior citizens waiting for their early shopping event. A man tried to push his way to the front and one elderly lady took her cane and beat the fire out of him. He got up, and tried to push to the front of the line again. This time an elderly man slugged him and knocked him down. He got up, threw his hands up and yelled...if you guys don't let me to the front, I can't unlock the door!

As for the buzz haircuts...I'll come near murdering my hubby if he did that! He's got the most beautiful, silver white hair and I love it. It's naturally curly in the back and would make anybody jealous...especially me! I goofed up a couple of months ago and cut about 3 inches off my hair (myself) and then put in some layers. Never again! I'll be letting it grow back down and keep it all one length. I just finished cutting another half inch off to let the other stuff catch up. I don't wear bangs (hate them!) so cutting long hair is easy for me. I just part it down the back, pull each side forward and fasten it with a rubber band...then do the "feather cut" with my scissors...on each side. The level off the back. Works for me.

Jeepers...we've found jars at Menards when other stores were out. Today hubby worked up the other 4x12 raised bed and then I raked the dirt around (lovely black dirt!) and he sorted out the grass clippings pretty much. Hopefully I'll plant the rest of the potatoes tomorrow. I also raked up the weeds and roots he drug up and put them in a pile to take to the city's recycle yard. Drove out there just to check and they are open, but only to dump debri. No compost for sale. Pulled my mini-green house off the front porch and set it in the garden area and tied it to one of the awning's post so it won't blow away. Hopefully hubby will find the new one (he bought at a yard sale last year...for 10$) and I'll get it snugged down also. Our local pantry's "food kitchen" sent out an announcement that they were serving hot lunches from 11:30 to ??? Anyway, out of curiosity we drove there. Got two hot meals...tuna in pasta, peas, and bread pudding. Not bad for hot and free. You just walk to the door and they hand the food out to you in styrafoam containers. Maybe not what some would do...but if we can save on our own food right now...we figure we're ahead of the soup and bread lines that might come later??? The salvation army also serves lunch, but we tried that several years ago and they served "swill"...just won't eat that stuff! Had to hunt up some sun block though...even though we both wear straw hats and gloves, my arms and neck were exposed...and I was shocked at how my skin was almost translucent from being inside most of the winter! So glad the sun has decided it's spring and wants to shine! Since we had a pretty big lunch, we just ate sandwiches and chips for supper. EZ since we were both tired from working outside most of the day and no dishes to wash

I planted speghetti squash and acorn squash in the square buckets...they did fine until the bugs got them!

We've got the mineral containers and the square juice bottles ready for gardening! We're planting potatoes in two of the raised beds. We'll row plant the Okra and pole beans. Just about everything else will go into the containers even though we still have four more raised beds that we need to work up. Those had the wood side rails and are just about gone. We'll do the concrete blocks for them...yes, I know...some people frown on that but it works so beautifully for us. We need to cut the old canes from the blackberries and raspberries and cut some new starts to transplant someplace else. Those beds would just be in our way. He has several videos...some with the large mineral buckets, some with 5-gal buckets. We've done both. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuqYmRmJrHo

Worked in the garden again today. Planted the first raised bed with Russet's while hubby worked up the 2nd bed. It's going to need some work before I can plant the red potatoes. I filled two compost barrels and half of another with the green and brown's from his weeding and me clipping the dead stuff that had grown up through the blocks. The radishes are looking pretty good considering the age of the seeds and the transplant I did on them! LOL When I can harvest them I'll just add some more potting soil and plant some more. They seem to really like the homestead's kitchen window...I do to! It's just about 2 feet above the counter/sink and they go just about all the way to the top of the ceiling. Same way with the "vintage" kitchen cabinets. All the way to the top of the ceiling....so much more storage than these modern pre-fab ones. The Mayor "finally" closed the city's park playgrounds! We can still walk, bike, take our dogs for a walk and fish in the two that have lakes, but no playground or shelters. Said if people didn't observe the order, he'd have to shut the parks down completely. Hopefully some of these knot heads will listen!