~Trying Something New~

 Written by Sue, Monday, September13, 2021,   sunny, very warm and humid,  90's 

I  am a label reader of packaged food, clothes, appliances and so forth, I also try and buy things made in the USA, local, and organic when possible. One thing I enjoy on my hot dogs, and hamburgers is chili sauce. Since I am a label reader I did not like the ingredients  I was reading on the back of chili sauce cans and would by-pass them. 

This is a well known brand, but most other brands had basically the same ingredients, I try and not buy anything with MSG in it, so not healthy for us to consume.

I went in search for a recipe to make my own, found many,  tweaked one to my taste, using all natural/organic ingredients. I wanted one I could preserve in canning! It must have been delicious as family were  calling for more, so I made two batches. 

This was my first batch,simple ingredients: ground beef, water, onions, garlic, tomatoes/tomato paste, brown sugar, lemon juice, vinegar, cumin, chili pepper, salt and pepper, process in pressure canner!

Btw, I had cleaned and put my pressure canner away for a while, but this certainly brought it back out again. The canner is cleaned now and put away, but stay tuned anything could cause me to bring it back.~wink~

It looked so yummy in the jars, everything was all organic even the spices. With this sauce I have made tacos, plans are for chili with beans with more hot spices added!

I just had to try some on a hamburger, this was before I added sliced onion, lettuce, tomato, pickle, mayo and mustard! Though I didn't have a bun,sliced  bread did fine, for this time.😉😉This was so well worth the effort, I will definitely be making more.

I always love Mondays, it seems I get a chance to try and get it right, my lack of staying in touch hasn't been intentional for sure, it has been a very busy summer with  some uninvited circumstances,one thing for sure.:

The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet as deer's feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills. Habakkuk 3;19 

 The Faithfulness of God  in all circumstances brings me to more Thankfulness for His unfailing love!

I think of you all so often, and really miss you!

Blessings,

                                                                                     Sue 

~Hello! I'm still here~

Written by Sue, Sunday, August 22, 2021   sunny, hot, humid  90's, hurry fall🍂🍂🍂🍂

Hello Everyone, it's hard to begin after such a long absence, but I will try. First things first, I mentioned in my last post of being quiet sick, well it exacerbated, I was basically in bed for  weeks, it has taken quiet awhile to regain my strength, I got so far behind on cleaning while trying to preserve food from the garden! My DH was so helpful, I couldn't have gotten the food preserved without his help, he kept the veggies picked and helped me prepare the food for canning, all the while doing his everyday chores. He's my hero!

May I add, one thing that has helped me regain my strength, I began taking b12 injections with b6 and amino acids, as well as other supplements!

I am happy to say, the pantry has been replenished, (more thoughts about being prepared for emergencies, in later posts, (so important).

I have been fall cleaning  getting ready to decorate for my favorite season,(fall) and my favorite holiday, (Christmas!) There! I said it Christmas!🎄🎅

 Once I was feeling better I also  tackled a project of enormous challenge, what an adventure that was for me, are you getting  curious. 

On a more serious note! We must remain  diligent, in praying for our country, and that includes those in authority, our American citizens and military personal that are in harms way! We must pray for and encourage one another, it would be so easy to become discouraged if we, looked at the circumstances,and  took our eyes off of the author and finisher of our faith!

Psalm 46:1~ God is our refuge and strength, a very  present help in trouble!

Notice~ God is in present tense, acting now on our behalf! Nothing, nor no one passes  by His eyes.

That's all for now, thank you for stopping by!

Blessings,

 Sue

One of many projects completed, Yay!

Written by Sue, Monday, April 26, 2021,,sunny warm, 70's

 I think it's past time to get beyond the Christmas and Valentine's Day post, don't you, after all, I have been doing other things, lots of things, and projects!

One thing I have been dealing with this week, is my very first cold virus of the season, and it has/is a doozie, I am so thankful it wasn't covid19!  Colds are bad but for me Spring colds are the worst, as I have to deal with pollen too!

Since I last posted we have been busy with many projects here at Pear Tree Lane,....

Do you remember last year when we decided it was time to redo the herb garden. here is the before, quite a sight, so we disassembled it and started over.

The process.. #1~Assembling  the raised beds....#2 placing the beds,#3 filed the beds with organic  compost(sheep manure) and soil, #4 once put back together gravel poured in walkway.

As you can see in #1the garden was in dire need of repair,#2 the fence was taken down, repaired, sanded and painted.#3~reassembled, mesh wire on fence to keep little critters out,#4 planted with herbs and veggies.

We had our first taste of fresh, organic butter crunch lettuce and kale for Sunday lunch, delicious. 

One of many projects we have been busy with, I am so happy to check this one off the list. Photo was taken this morning, we had a late frost the weekend, my basil didn't survive, it will have to be replaced, everything else survived, happy about that.

 This week we will be planting  beans, corn, peas, transplanting tomato and pepper plants. I will also be filling my planters with flowers, gathering herbs and drying them, after all, May is almost here. 

Thank you for visiting, 

may you have a most blessed week.

Sue

~Moving on~ Happy New Year to Everyone

Written by Sue, Monday January 4th, 2021,       sunny cool, temps. low 50's

 Its time to say 'good bye',  oh no, not to you dear Friends, but to all the Christmas decorations. As I write this note, our Frasier Fir, has become so aromatic, and that means it is drying out. It is called my memory tree, most decoration are homemade from kids and grandkids over many years,many years, bubbling lights and tinsel make it even older.

Even with all the lockdowns and restrictions I can honestly say this has been one of the most enjoyable Christmas' in lots of ways except for not having family  gatherings, which I missed the most! But we made the  most of what we had.

Each morning as Dh and I awoke we would turn on the Christmas trees,(yes I said trees, we had 6), enjoy our coffee time with devotions,

 and make plans for the day! There was no rushing to the mall to buy gifts, not a lot of baking to do, just keeping an eye on the ewes as they were beginning to lamb. 

We always have a Christmas baby, as a matter of fact we had 5 born Christmas Day. Our total so far is 25 with more to come.

The weather has cooperated for camp fires,  warm but cool enough to have bon-fires, three last week, the full moon made it even more special.

Yesterday as I finished taking the foyer tree/decorations down, I decided to move one of my new trees from the dining room, it was my bird tree just birds. 

to the foyer to decorate for Valentine's Day,  perfect for adding Valentine's Day decorations, after all Valentine's Day will soon be here. I am still tweaking this area, not completely satisfied yet. 😕😉

Bunny says "to a sweet little Miss", 

Wishing all of my Friends, 

a very Happy New Year,

Blessings,

 Sue

Tis' the Season.. of Giving

Written by Sue, Wednesday, Dec.16, 2020  rain cold, 40's

 Trying to write a post that is not too long while being absent from blogging is quite a task, so I thought I would give an update on one of my favorite people, my Mother, and what she has been up to during this pandemic lockdown.

She has been baking up a storm, most times when I call she is in the kitchen baking cakes, cookies,pies, or complete meals for  shut-ins, or busy hand sewing. Have I  mentioned that she is 92 soon to be 93? 

 Since the beginning of the pandemic she bakes and gives cookies once a month  for a local police precinct in our town.

 Dh and I stopped by last week to pick up stockings she had cut, hand sown and decorated for us to fill with goodies for a nursing facility. 

 I always like to take a photo of her before we leave, as I was about to take the photo she picked up a medal and showed it to us,

 it was a commendation from the law enforcement, when given this badge/medal she was told that the medals are not given to just anyone, but to special people who have done special things. She was so proud of her medal, but also told us, and I quote,"I don't do things for recognition, this was so sweet of them." See that box of cookies, she asked us to deliver it to a shut-in on our way home.

Now back to the stockings, she had been working on them all through the summer, our daughter, Susan, donated the money for the goodies, Mr P. and I shopped for the items for the stockings as well as filled them.

We then delivered them to a minister's family who delivered them to the nursing facility! Sounds like a lot of delivering doesn't it, I am happy to say they got to their destination safe and sound. While filling these stockings, looking at all the intricate details, I  thought about all the hours she had spent on each one, and knowing Mother she was praying over the recipient. 

we filled 37 stockings.

This really is the season of giving as we celebrate the most precious gift ever given to mankind, 

Luke 2:11~ "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

Blessings,

Sue

~Tuesday's meandering thoughts~

Written by Sue, Tuesday, October 27, 2020  sunny, cool fall day 70's

I have no legitimate reason for not blogging, but have plenty of excuses, i.e.; limited time, to many projects going on, but most important is, I just haven't felt like it. My blog is not political, but I am very patriotic, and love this country so much,especially  since having had a father that served this country for over twenty yrs. so that I can keep on enjoying freedom.

I have prayed many prayers for this country and all the divisiveness that is turning family,and friends away from each other. It used to be that we could all agree to disagree while being  civil toward one another! I only hope and pray that this will soon be resolved.

 I am so thankful I have never seen this here in Bogland, as I have always felt so much love, understanding and just plain caring for one another. Bogland is a neighborhood that welcomed me many years ago, has understood, and accepted me for just being me. I am so thankful for the friendships I have made, and for all that I have gleaned from you, you have no idea how often I think of you and appreciate you so much.

💗💙💚💛

Now, here are a few things I have been busy with, my spring green beans did not do well, but the fall garden is flourishing,

 I am so thankful, for God's many blessings.

 I use a lot of green beans, I had ten pints, 7quarts! 

The squash did well too, here they  are ready for the pressure canner.

as are the peppers. I froze the green peppers, the hot peppers are air drying

A major project that is almost completed, is the herb garden, the outdoor shower, and my potting shed. It was on hold for two years, I guess having a lock down can have some positive effects.Remember when life gives you lemons,don't just make lemonade, MAKE CHERRY LEMONADE.  😄😅😌 I am already making plans for my refurbished herb garden for nest year.

Here is the before photo, what a mess it was, I can hardly wait to show the finished project. Imagine having to sand each board before painting.

I will show the finished project hopefully real soon, this was such a major undertaking, it has taken about six weeks.We are so delighted at how everything turned out just a few more touches. Stay tuned.

Hope you are having a great week

Love and hugs from me,

Sue

Wednesday Hodgepodge~ Days of our lives~

 Written by Sue, Tuesday, Oct., 6,2020   sunny, warm 70's beautiful fall day!🍂🍂

I am joining Joyce and many other sweet ladies on Wednesday Hodgepodge, I often ask myself, what questions might Joyce be asking this week? Most of the time they are questions that cause me to pause, and think about my daily life. Please join us.

 I also enjoy getting to know others by their answers, for instance last week was mainly about coffee, I found that most ladies drink about 2 cups a day, as I do, the next day while pouring that first cup I thought about those who were up early and pouring their first cup, wondering  how they were doing! I am also getting to meet and make new friends.  Thank you Joyce for hosting.

  1.What's one part of your everyday routine you'd be better off without?

 I couldn't think of any thing, I have been doing this for so long it just comes naturally to me.

 However I will show you one thing I enjoy each day as I am washing dishes, the view from my kitchen window, I get to see the seasons as they come and go, and of course the sun as it rises between the trees, a reminder of a new day, and I get to try and get it right.

Psalm 118: This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

  2. October 5th is/was National Do Something Nice Day. So what did you/will do?

Cooked dinner last evening for daughter and family, she has such a busy schedule, going to school, teaching, and building a new home. We usually try and eat healthy but once in a while you just have to have something else! menu: fried pork chop cutlets, smothered in gravy , over a bed of rice, peas, salad, and homemade biscuits! Did someone say yummy, we made pigs of ourselves, no pun intended.😋😋

  3. What question do you hate to answer?

My age, simply because I don't act my age, I decided many moons ago to stay at 39! I have been trying to convince my body of this, but to no avail!

4.Do we have control over technology or does it have control over us. In the same vein, have you watched The Social Dilemma (available on Netflix) and if so what did you think?

I believe  technology  controls us, (happy to say, not me anymore, I learned the hard way) I see this all the time, especially when dining at a restaurant, people cannot even have a meal with their family without most of them  on their phones!  I look at the children who are not on phones, isolated, longing for that personal attention from the ones they love the most. Time is so short, and precious with our loved ones. 

And what's this with texting, though I do some,I love to hear a familiar voice over the phone.

No, I haven't watched.

 5. What are three small things that make your day?

      A good morning kiss from DH, my first cup of coffee, my evening walk!

 6. Insert your own random thoughts here.

  After many months of extreme heat, and humidity Fall's arrival has brought so much relief, I  am enjoying spending more time outside, gardening, walking, savoring the sights and sounds that it is bringing, even our animals are happier.

I have been busy this week repotting my household plants. I try and do this every two yrs. or when needed, it has been over two yrs, the plants were root bound and so much in need of pruning. 

First thing, I usually have extra pots, so I wash them, 

then I start repotting...I also take cutting from said plants and root them therefore making new plants. Most of the time I have some kind of plant cutting rooting in water, thus making more plants.

"Hello my pretties," Feeling better?

I started Monday and will finish today, I have three large plants left. Whew!!! this has been a real task, but what a wonderful feeling as I walk by and say "hello" to them. They will sit here on the dining room table for a few days to acclimate before finding a new home, I have plants in every room, yes, even the bathroom.

Thank you for stopping by,

 may your day be filled

 and overflowing

 with many blessings,

love,

Sue