The WE2's

Lunch was 2 cans of "miscellaneoius" soups and left over mac & peas from supper...sound weird? VERY tasty! Served up with toasted french-type bread!

'bout the silliest thing I've seen is the thingamajig that hooks on the rim of your thunder mug and "sprays" away toilet stains??? That could be "Bidet" gone bad if you're not careful!

Do all the stairs at Cabela's count?

Let's hope nobody practices this after a HTF episode...wouldn't want it exiting up into my "end of the line"...LOL

DID YOU KNOW...I save money on my coffee by perking it in my microwave coffee pot, taking the "guts" out for cleaning, and what I don't drink I just set the whole pot in my frig to neuk the next morning! I also have a microwave coffee pot in our RV. Love those little buggers! Had to search high and low to find them though.

Went to garage sale on hubby's lunch break (screening in a exterior hallway for a client) and found some items we've been watching for...a folding clothesline $4 (to give my dryer a rest), several popcorn tins (to store foil pouch foods in) $2 for all, an area rug for the homestead apt. upstairs $4 (son just moved in) and...hubby just "had to have" a near new canvas work pouch $9 (you know how men are with their "toys"...LOL Makes us both happy!

Friend had some "cutie oranges" that were headed south and she froze them...gave them to me. So...got out my "Bullet" blender/chopper and made them into OJ...had lots of pulp left so debating on whether to fire up the dehydrator and make "leather" out of it or...orange marmalade. The limes I think I'll just put in my citrus jug in the frig.

Don't have a kindle...my reader is another brand.

Pretty much a scraper. I save the ends of lemons, limes & oranges, freeze them and use for citrus water or zest's. Veggies etc. I put in vacume sealed bags and freeze for soups or to boil down for vegetable broths which I vacume seal in mason jars and put in spare frig. Peanut butter...I put in microwave for a few seconds, pour into a small mason jar adding some honey and vacume seal it for frig. I even save the heels on my bread, toast them REAL well, cut into cubes and vacume seal for dressing. I'm like most of the rest of ya's...I just don't throw out. If I just cannot find an edible, storable or ??? use...to the compost barrel it goes!

Just gave my new dishwashing soap a test...dipped my sponge in and gave it a quick squeeze or two...LOOKIN' GOOD! Sudsy!!! That's what I'm after. One sponge full washed 2 saucers, a small bowl, a small skillet, a small plastic storage container & lid, some misc. flatware, and some cooking utensils and still have a sponge full of soap and suds! The previous versions just had too much water I guess, and too much washing soda. Kept the soap from being sudsy??? Anyway...for me, I think I'm good to go! I've got a gallon of dishwashing soap for the cost of a bar of Yardley and a bit of washing soda...all of which I had! Oh...they say NOT to use Fels Naptha on your dishes etc. I didn't like some of the previous recipes because it called for adding oils (T-tree...essensials etc.) and I think it reduced the sudsing also. Anyway...just my own concoction! LOL

Anybody got a nice recipe for making liquid dish soap, for handwashing dishes? I've tried several and just can't find one that I like enough to continue making it when I can buy regular stuff for a buck at our $Tree store. Suggestions?

 

 

Update...I think perhaps I've found one that will work for me. Here's what I've got mixed up for in the morning...

 

PHILBE'S HOMEMADE LIQUID DISH SOAP

 

(for hand washing dishes)

 

 

What you'll need:

 

Wire whisk

 

1 bar of Yardley's soap (whatever fragrance you like) or Ivory

 

Medium sized stock pot w/lid

 

Empty gallon bleach jug

 

3 Tablespoons of Super Washing Soda

 

 

1) Shred the soap (use food processor or grater) as fine as possible.

I prefer almost to a powder.

 

2) Fill bleach jug a little less than half full of water and then pour that amount into your stock pot.

 

3) Bring water to a near boil (DO NOT BOIL!) and reduce heat.

 

4) Add soap shreds and whisk vigorously, and frequently until soap shreds are totally dissolved.

 

5) Add Super Washing Soda, turn off heat, and continue to whisk.

 

6) Fill the bleach jug again, a little less than half full of water and pour into stock pot of soap mixture.

 

7) Wisk vigorously and put lid on. Let sit overnight.

 

8) When morning arrives, pour finished mixture into bleach jug, but leave room at top of jug to shake before each use. I like to write "Dish Soap" on the jug with my magic marker.

 

Here's a pic of my stock pot that sitting in my breezeway...waiting for it's final results!

Had oatmeal with raisins, cinnamon & honey with sides of sausage patties for breakfast, instead of omelet or ??? (truthfully...I was out of eggs! LOL) But...it did save $$!

If you're close to Iowa, Fareway has whole pork tenderloins on sale this week $1.79 lb. cut and wrapped however you like.

 

My store had a limit of 2 per coupon. Yep, I got 2 and had them cut into 3/4-1" thick slices with 3 put in each package. Ended up with 15 packages of great chops for $30.

 

Way too far from me....but you gotta a great deal! Just saves us tons of $$$ when we can buy like that! I have a meat slicer so I even buy my cheeses bulk and put them in the freezer for a little bit, then slice them myself and then seal them with my food saver. I can almost smell your chops from here!

Philbe, you're from the Warsaw area? My but we had a nice time there. Stayed in a lovely little cabin, like new, somewhere there. They usually don't rent for 1 night only but I suppose they figured these 2 little old ladies weren't going to do much damage. We enjoyed it soooooooo much.

 

Up and down the highway and then off to the north (probably totally wrong on that) to a little berg of a gas station at least 10 times. Across the bridge (again! ) and in to town in the morning for breakfast. My word the prices in that little place were amazingly low and delicious food. Cousin bought a sign from a wood guy there on the highway.

 

All and all we enjoyed our stay in Warsaw. Wish I'd have known you were in the area, could have had a cup of coffee and met!

 

Next time!

 

 

 

About a 30 minute drive from Warsaw proper...my Dad & his wife live there. We absolutely love the Berry Bend area for camping...just to name a few! It's so lovely in the lakes area. We often take a motorcycle ride for a "day trip" to the lakes area.

We purchased (at a stiff price) heirloom seeds for our square foot garden. They fared no better than what I bought at big box stores...soooo...I stocked up on seeds instead of trying to preserve seeds. Also, I told hubby that with the draught etc., I felt seeds would be hard to come by...especially corn. Well...when seeds went on sale in late August (5 to 10 cents a pack) corn was no where to be found, except at our local ACE. I had to pay over $4 a scoop!!! But, went ahead because I reckon it won't be any cheaper come spring.

How did your potatoes in a bucket do?

 

 

Not too bad considering we goofed and planted Yukon Golds...found out they only sprout one level no matter what! Grrrrr!

Y'alls from my vicinity! Hugs...

Got some more "freebies" from local pantry. Several cases of small cans of sliced and water packed water chestnuts and sprouts. Yum, yum, used a can in my soup chowder yesterday! Also a case or two of water chestnuts with pineapple chunks. Tasted pretty good on salad! Then another local source "just happened" to have tons of bread, bagels, etc...from a Panera store. Guess when their breads don't turn out just right they donate them. Who cares if a nice fat loaf of bread is a little too brown or a little lop sided or bagels have too many sesame seeds etc. on them! Me stocked up! You can bet your sweet tooty I'm a happy camper!

Well, the finances have cleared up a bit - I was able to get a personal loan from my credit union to take care of the financial havoc caused by moving, and get things running smoothly again. The auction folks will come get the items that I want to sell so that is less work for my friend/family. Although I would love to keep my husbands collections, my space does not allow it. I am so happy he got to enjoy his things, and now it is someone else's turn. The auction folks say it will bring in some $. Even that old push reel style lawn mower is a collectible(!). So the bow is coming up on this old storm-tossed tugboat, and things are looking up. Thank you for the support I needed so badly in an "what the Sam Hill am I gonna do?" moment. (Who the heck was Sam Hill? I never did ask my mom, who used that expression.)

 

I just googled it....the things I learn around here....There is a story sometimes told (for example in Edwin Mitchell's Encyclopedia of American Politics in 1946) that one Colonel Samuel Hill of Guilford, Connecticut, would often run for political office at some point in the early nineteenth century but always without success. Hence, "to run like Sam Hill" or "go like Sam Hill". The problem is that nobody has found any trace of this monumentally unsuccessful candidate.

 

On the other hand, an article in the New England Magazine in December 1889 entitled Two Centuries and a Half in Guilford Connecticut mentioned that, "Between 1727 and 1752 Mr. Sam. Hill represented Guilford in forty-three out of forty-nine sessions of the Legislature, and when he was gathered to his fathers, his son Nathaniel reigned in his stead" and a footnote queried whether this might be the source of the "popular Connecticut adjuration to 'Give 'em Sam Hill'?" So the tale has long legs.

 

The expression has been known since the late 1830s. Despite the story, it seems to be no more than a personalised euphemism for "hell".

 

So glad to see other's extending encouragement. When my first husband passed on after 42 yrs. of marriage, I felt like depression had hold of both of my ankles and was dragging me deeper and deeper. Then one morning in my quiet time, God gave me a vision of my first husband gazing into the cloudy image that I knew was Jesus, with such a wide smile on his face. Then the image of Jesus pointed to this huge field with all the toys (cars, tools, woodworking etc., and other loves of first husband) and spoke to him these words..."GO PLAY!" It truly gave me a peace that passes all understanding...for "in my house are many mansions...I go to prepare a place for you". You'll walk this out girlfriend...and remember one thing! The power of God to hang onto you is greater than your power to hang on to Him! As a former post said..."this too shall pass". I can see great hapiness for the life God has ahead of you! You've probably been a giver all your life so now it's time for you to learn to receive.

Watching tv last night and Abby's "mattress" is at the foot of the coffee table, in front of our tv (had to make room for her) and suddenly she popped up, growled, and then gave her "alert" bark. When I said "what is it?" She alerted again, so we got up and she headed for the back door. When we got to the last back entry (we have 2), flipped on the porch light (from sensor to manual) opened the door to let her out FIRST (which is something we normally don't do...for obedience sake), we were very impressed to note that she was notifying us that the wind (or a cat?) had dumped over our trash can. Not bad for a 9 month old pup! We congratulated her enormously for doing a good job. That's EXACTLY why we adopted her from her rescued momma & 8 littermates...we wanted an alert dog. Now...we've got to figure out a hand signal for "show me" since we're trying to teach her sign language along with verbal commands. (oops...wanted to mention that the reason we were so impressed is that she heard it over the tv!)

Did you know...Garlic oil is a wonderful antibiotic. I keep a squeeze bottle in my frig (cooking quality) as well as bottles of gel caps in my medicine cabinet and storage, and have used it numerous times as a treatment for my own ears, as a precaution. Used it also on my new hubby when he had a bit of an ear ache. Just passing my own experience along with the use of garlic oil.

Added several bottles of "garlic gel caps" to my OTC's. When my late husband complained of an ear ache, I looked and found his ear to be flame red and swollen almost shut...had a badly infected ear, I pierced a caplet with a needle, squeezed the oil into his ear canal (yes it stinks!) and put a piece of cotton in it. Within a couple of hours the pain was gone and next morning ear was back to normal. Garlic oil is a wonderful antibiotic. I keep a squeeze bottle in my frig (cooking quality) as well as the gel caps in my medicine cabinet, and have used it numerous times as a treatment for my own ears, as a precaution. Used it also on my new hubby when he had a bit of an ear ache. Just passing my own experience along with the use of garlic oil.

2012 garden...done...yep, pretty much (frown). Still have so many green tomatoes turning. Being a dehydrator...I've always got an eye peeled for frozen foods on sale. Have a peaceful winter Dee!

Since we're leaving in a few days, I figured I should try to dehydrate some of the fresh stuff that we won't have time to use up. I have a tray and a half of lemons going, as well as a tray and a half of bell peppers, and a handful of jalapenos.

 

I also have russet potatoes chilling in the fridge so I can do those tomorrow (or later tonight should the stuff in the dehydrator are done sooner than I expect).

 

Here's what I have done so far (vacuum sealed in mason jars) : russet potatoes, corn (from 2 lbs frozen), carrots (from 2 lbs frozen), strawberries (from frozen), broccoli (from 1 lb frozen), peas (from 1lb frozen), and green beans (3 lbs frozen). --- do you think there would be a problem if I keep adding to the partially jars, re-vacuum sealing after each addition?

 

I read they will last longer double bagged, but since I forgot to add oxygen absorbers to my last LDS order, I am waiting on transferring them to bags.

 

 

edited to add the picture I forgot to include before...

 

 

Regarding re-vacume sealing jars just to add more...I would feel quite safe doing it. IF I'm going to continue using the dehydrated food, I'd just put the lid on and put it in my frig...just did that today with a jar of celery/carrot mix when I made some chicken barley soup. I don't use oxygen absorbers in my vacume sealed jars...only in my food saver bagged items. Looks like you've got some very pretty dehydrated stuff!!!

Thanks for the info...I've put in my share getting the upstairs apartment fixed up at our "homestead" so our son will have a "soft landing" as he tumbles through being jobless and headed for a divorce, and relocating from several states away. Mom lives in lower unit. I've been up and down stairs very similar to these about 20 times a day for almost a week! Huff, huff, huff and more huff!Again, thanks!