Update

Nonni ended up at the ER again this weekend.  Her blood sugar dropped drastically.  She is home again and I'll be there tomorrow night for my shift.  Dad has his big chemo treatment tomorrow.  Prayers are always appreciated.

It is going to be a busy week for me, so you may or may not hear from me.....

Email me if you need me.

Canning and Freezing Inventory to date

Here is my list for the season so far:

Apple Pie Filling - 9 quarts - gave two to my mom
Applesauce - 6-1/2 quarts
Pear Sauce - 4 pints; 1 1/2 pint - one pint to my sister
Strawberry Fig Preserves - 4-1/2 pints - one pint to my dad
Salsa - 2-1/2 quarts
Raspberry Jam - 9 pints
Blackberry Jam  - 8 pints
Corn Cob Jelly - 5-1/2 pints (tastes like honey) - making more this weekend!

Still had three strawberry jams and four blueberry jams from last year - which I have been doling out to the family. 

Freezer:

Dandelion greens - 2 bags
Green beans - about 6 lbs.
Beet greens - 1 bag
Collard Greens - 2 bags
Kale - 1 bag
broccoli - two bags full, plus one quart

Everything else from the CSA or the garden I have used.  It has been a very, very good year for me!

I don't have a food dehyrdrator or a pressure canner.  I need to invest in these, but one step at a time.  I am down to ONE empty canning jar left.....if anyone of my local friends in blog-land has any canning jars in their basements, attics, where ever, let me know.  Otherwise, I'll pick some up this weekend. 

CSA Friday

Here is what I got:

Half Share:
1/2 dozen corn
1/2 lb leeks
1 lb potatoes
1 lb tomatoes
1 lb sweet peppers
1/2 lb hot peppers
1 lb cucumbers or zucchini
1 head green leaf lettuce
1 lb apples
turnip greens

In my future I see....... leek and potato soup and some more salsa.  Maybe I'll be able to can  more salsa, too. 

With the apples that my son picked, I made another 2-1/2 quarts of applesauce.  The apples were Jonathan and Gala, and the applesauce came out a nice reddish brown color and is a little chunkier than the first batch!!!!

If I save the corn cobs from this batch of corn and add more to them next week, I should be able to make more corn cob jelly next week.  So much to do at this time of year and so precious little time........... 

I also ordered two organically raised chickens cut up.  I haven't made fried chicken in a long while.  It's time!  Sunday supper?

Have a great weekend, everyone!!

Updates!

We are all pitching in to make sure Nonni is safe in her home.  Everyone is taking a turn and tonight, my husband and I have a shift.  I'll let you know how she is after we take care of her later.

I got my camera, but I couldn't figure out how to use it.....I was too tired to read the directions last night, so today, I'll read them and try to understand everything, so I can post pictures after this weekend.

My cousin from Cape Cod came to visit last night....so happy to see him!

My son got me a blender....I made my first green smoothie - I was really pessimistic about the whole taste thing, but WOW - it is nice to be pleasantly surprised!  Kale from the CSA, Figs from my dad's tree, Raspberries from my bushes, water, ice and a little sugar.  Breakfast for this morning and tomorrow morning is made!!  It is thicker than I might have liked, but next time I'll put a few less kale leaves in it.  You should try it!

We are getting five eggs a day (most days!).  I love my girls!

Four and a half pints of fig/strawberry preserves last night.  I made this one with the jello recipe......I wasn't sure how it was going to come out, but it really is good!  I will probably be able to make a little more of this before the season ends.

I'm off to work - have a beautiful day!!

Nonni is coming home....

.......tomorrow!!!!!!!

That is the best news we could ever receive.  She will need care and help but we will all pitch in when we can and we have someone coming in at night to stay with her.  But she can't wait to get in her own home and we can't wait either......

Tuesday Word of the Day

Ennui

I first saw this word in a historical romance - and had no clue what it was.  But I get it now. 

Definition: a feeling of utter weariness and discontent resulting from satiety or lack of interest; boredom.

Pronounced "ahn-wee"

(I just like the way it sounds......)   ;)

CSA This week

Here is what I got:

Edamame (I have to look up what to do with them - they are still on the plants) - really cool, though! - I got quite a few of these!
Two Peppers
Four cucumbers
One Bunch of Carrots
One Zucchini
One Yellow Squash
Four Tomatoes
Bag of green beans

New Year for CCD

I am teaching CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine)....CCD is much easier to say.   Anyway, fourth grade is mine again.  Looking forward to a new year with great kids and hopefully some great parents.  I have to start thinking about our service project this year.  I think I'm going to do something for Easter.  Maybe Easter baskets for St. Vincent de Paul here in town.  We will see.

Update on Nonni:

She is still in the rehab center.  She really needs to walk better, but she is getting there.

I need a camera

When I started this blog a year ago, I had a camera and I used it all the time.  Then it just sort of disappeared.  I don't know where it went, my daughter didn't know where it went, and the boys hadn't a clue.  We searched but to no avail.  Hope got one for Christmas last year and she would upload some pictures when I asked her to, but it was a chore for her, so I stopped asking.  I have asked for a new camera for my birthday to be used for this site.  Not something difficult or expensive.....just something that takes pictures and I can upload them here.......A blog just isn't good without pictures.

So, expect pictures within a week or two!!!

Crazy Zumba week

Between practicing and starting our new Zumba sessions, I am a little busy (HAH!).

Last Wednesday was the free class.  Last Thursday, was my first Session for the new Thursday session Saturday was the first session for Saturdays, Monday was the first session for Mondays.  Tuesday (the same).  I am off on Wednesday (Thank God).  Thursday - 2nd class, Friday - Master Class and then again on Saturday.....

In 10 days, I will be teaching Zumba 7 times and that didn't include any of the practicing......

Applesauce

25 Apples = Four quarts applesauce (I thought it would be more......) But it looks great! and it tastes great!

Tuesday Word of the Day

Zumba

It just sort of flows off your tongue, doesn't it?

Definition:  Latin inspired dance fitness; FUN. Try it!

Family

I got to see my whole family this morning for a three shift breakfast.  Hubby and Brother (my son) came in at midnight from two professional football games.  Hubby went to see the Steelers and Brother went to see the Dolphins in Buffalo.  (and both teams won! - that is always a plus)

The first shift for breakfast was Hope and I.  My oldest son was the second shift.  And Hubby and Brother were the third shift.  Biscuits and coffee and oj.  Nothing fancy, but it was nice to have everyone home.....at least for a little while.  And then we are off for work/school for the day.

Rain finally!!! here in CT today.

Canning

I got nine quarts of apple pie filling canned, five and 1/2 pints of corn cob jelly done and 1 quart of salsa (we already ate the other quart :))

Made a big pot of marinara and made two trays of eggplant parm.  One batch of zucchini quiche is already eaten and I am done for the day!!!

I love Sundays!!!

(Applesauce will have to wait for Tuesday night!)

Apple picking

Between the soap making and the cooking and church supper and visiting Nonni and teaching Zumba, we went apple picking with the trips on Saturday.  Last year was so much fun, we went again this year.  The triplets loved it and ate the honeycrisp.  I think they are everyone's favorite apple.

I picked too many apples - 37 lbs.  But I'll use them or give them as gifts.  I see applesauce and canned apple pie filling in my future............

Soap Making

My sister called me yesterday and said there was a soap making demonstration at the local Nature Center today for $5.00.

It is something we both have wanted to try.....so, we learned about soap making, saponification (Tuesday word of the day, maybe??), essential oils and chemistry.  It was a wonderful class - Thank you, Dawn.

I probably made about four bars of Tea tree oil soap.  My sister made rosemary soap, so we are going to trade off two bars each.  I am very, very, very happy to learn this process.  I won't be using it for about a week, until it is ready, but I'll show pictures and let you know how it worked out.

I have all the ingredients, except for the lye....I hope to make more in the future!!

CSA Friday

Here is what I got: (and I got everything)

Half Share:


4 ears of sweet corn (corn cob jelly this weekend)

1 lb beans (green beans)

2 big eggplant

3 large sweet peppers (approximately 7 inches long?)

1/2 lb hot peppers (3)

1 lb summer squash (1 zucchini and 1 yellow squash)

1 bunch beets

1 bunch kale or collards (I got kale)

One year later....

It was my blogging anniversary this past Sunday.....One year down.  I can't believe it has been that long.  Time sure does fly...And so much has happened in the last year.

So, the beginning starts here.  If you are new to readership, I hope you like it here.  If you don't like it, please look around for other blogs.  There are just so many.  I recently found blogs for my sister who loves the Amish.  Yes, they have blogs too!!!  You can find anything you are interested in the blog-o-sphere.  I read running blogs and locavore blogs and farming blogs and Dave Ramsey blogs. 

Enjoy!  And start your own blog if you want!!!

New Picture on the Side Bar

I hope you all get a chance to look at my beautiful new picture that I found on the farmgirlcyn blog.  (The green one with peas).

I thought it was wonderful!!!!

I updated the blog a little bit too.  I thought the eggs looked appropriate!

Yesterday

Yesteday was a whirl wind day - too much to do and too much going on.

I went into work early as I was taking a two hour lunch to visit with Nonni.  My dad was getting his new chemo medication at the hospital during the day.  Left work a little early to drive to pick up my daughter and company from cheerleading practice, then had 2 hour class for drivers ed (mandatory for parents now in this state), and then to Lauren's for a two and half hour session getting ready for the new zumba session.  Pulled in the driveway at 10:30.  I had left the house at 7:45 that morning.  Hubby wasn't happy and I don't blame him.  Finally, I ate dinner, showered and fell asleep - I really hate those days.  REALLY hate those days.  But we get through it.

Tuesday Word of the Day

Serendipity.

I love the way it sounds.

Definition: a propensity for making fortunate discoveries while looking for something unrelated.

Labor Day Race

The New Haven Labor Day Race was today.  My sister and I ran, as well as my niece.  The trips came with my other sister and my other niece and cheered us all on.

Time was net 26:41 - 1093 out of 3185 runners.  Not too shabby.

I was pleased.  It was a great race and the weather was perfect and nothing bad happened.....

I hope everyone had a great Labor Day off from work.

On a happy note, Nonni got moved to her rehab facility.  With any luck, she should be out of there in a week or so.  She is doing great.  Ate good today.  She likes the new place.  And she got mad at everyone for being noisy during the Yankee Game - now that is a GOOD sign of improvement.........

CSA

Yesterday for my CSA, I received:

1 Large zucchini
1 small yellow squash
2 huge eggplant (for Hope)
four cucumbers
six ears of corn
1 bag of green beans
four tomatoes

The newsletter said I was supposed to get beets too, but I didn't.....Hmmmm

RIP

Rest in Peace: Richard Charles Bailey - October 4, 1962  - September 3, 2007

To those of you who would understand this, a butterfly flew into Hope's school today (the windows are all open because of this oppressive weather), landed on her desk and sat for a minute and flew back out the open window.  It wasn't black like the one that stayed at Rick's graduation party all day, but it didn't matter. 

It's a tough day.

Tonight

I went to the hospital to see Nonni tonight.  Well, she has her sense of humor back - thank Goodness!  She ate like a trooper - same old appetite.  She didn't get out of bed while I was there, but she did walk around today a little bit.  She got the darn neck brace off - FINALLY!  She looked 100% better than Monday.  She was a little off with thinking there was a dog on the bed and she made everyone laugh.  I'm so glad I got to see her for myself and I got to feed her and give her a kiss.

She will be going for a little rehab to get her walking well again and to get her arm useful again, but all in all, she is doing great.

Running (in more ways than one)

I ran again this morning - the air quality is disgusting.  At 6:45 in the morning, it should not be like this on Sept. 2nd.  My glasses fogged up, my breathing was awful and my t-shirt was soaked!  Four more days until the big race....Bring on Earl!!!!!

Nonni is doing better.  She actually took a couple of steps last night.  We will be visiting her tonight, so I'll give a full update once I see her for myself.

New playlist for one Zumba session is finished.  We just have to review a couple of songs.  New playlist for 2nd zumba session is finished.  This one I know.  New playlist for third zumba session will be completed this weekend.  Two hour jam sessions with Lauren are ongoing.  I can't wait!!!

Family dinner was at my house last night.  It was wonderful.  The nieces and nephews LOVED playing with the chickens!  It was a great evening and there were only 22 of us.  Nice!!! 

Goshen Fair this weekend - my favorite!! 

Pear sauce - 4-1/2 pints done! 

CSA tomorrow - I'll post that too!