~Old Mother Hubbard's cupboard is overflowing~

Written by Sue, Sunday evening, July 12, 2020  hot hot hot, humid humid humid, high 90's it must be summer.

Would you like to know what I've been up to? I am in what I call "my season of preparation"!
Summer is when we grow lots of vegetables and fruits for preserving and enjoying fresh from garden to table.

This what  my dining room looks like today,I am running out of space, this week I will getting the pantry organized and filled with  corn, beans, tomatoes, potatoes, peas, carrots,salsa, relishes if I can find a veggie or fruit, I will either freeze it or preserve it in a jar.😜😋

This is what my kitchen counter top looks like today, here I have homemade meat sauce, which I use with all kinds of pasta dishes, such as lasagna, spaghetti, even on pizza. The bright red jars are canned tomatoes, the yellow jars are pineapple, the green jars are the last of the green beans.

I alway try canning something new each season, last week Aldi's had pineapples on sale for $1.19 each, I use a lot of pineapple in my baking, and cooking, and find it rather pricy, I said, "why not", It turned out perfect, I made chunky,

 and crushed, both were delicious.What? Did you not think I was going to try this sweet stuff, oh, yes I /we did!😱

A vegetable that I have always wanted to can was carrots,since we grew them this year,

I said, "why not". I am looking forward to trying these with a pot roast!

We have also had wonderful times with family, celebrating birthdays and summer holidays, so not all has been work. For example we were leaving daughter's place recently,(after celebrating a special birthday, on the menu buffalo steak, so delicious) when we saw  on the patio 

this fella, busy as he could be weaving a web,

 it was so fascinating to see how fast he was spinning the web, only a matter of seconds between theses shots.As you can see it doesn't take a lot to make me happy! 

Sending lots of Love and Smiles your way,

Sue

~Things that I am smiling about today~

Written by Sue, Monday, August 26, 2019  finally a break, beautiful day, sunny, 70's

Cut flowers from the garden, these are the last of the zinnias for this year, while I was gathering them they whispered a secret, they promised to be back next year, zinnias always keep their promises.😘,

 Gathering herbs, (sage), bell peppers, cayenne peppers, all gathered this morning, the green peppers are in the freezer,

 Cayenne pepper and sage  in the dehydrator, to be used for soups, turkey dressing,sauces etc.

Ask any southerner what they think about what is in this jar and what it is used for and they will tell you right away,...This is cayenne peppers in vinegar, and are a staple in all southern homes, (well most homes anyhow) ~wink~We  eat them with collard greens,turnips, all kinds of greens!  Don't forget the cornbread ! yummy! I also froze okra and canned more pickled okra today!

  My fall candle, (Leaves) on the counter top, causing the house to smell like fall, Mr P. says so.

 Ahh! fresh laundered towels and wash cloths, do you sniff your linens, I do as I am putting them away.~grin~

 No cleaning, decorating today, the weather was so nice, I just had to get outside, work  in the garden, gather the last of summer's bounty and prepare for winter. We also prepared the soil for planting some fall crops., garlic, beets,carrots, lettuce, spinach.

 I hope you are having a great start to your week.

To all who stop by and say "hi",

 thank you from the bottom of my heart

Blessings,

Sue

~A Quick Howdy Doody~

Written by Sue, Monday,July 22, 2019   hot, humid, sunny, heat index over 100, relief on the way!

Most folks like it when Friday rolls around,... me,... I like Mondays, because  I feel I get another chance to try and get it right.~wink~
I know it has been a while since I posted here in the neighborhood, (posting sporadically on instagram)blogging remains my favorite. The only excuse I have to offer is, I have been so busy, if I remember correctly it has always been the same excuse, and you, dear friends, are probably tired of hearing it, I know I am. Nuff said about that.

It would take lots of photos to catch up, so here are just a few with thoughts...

Most of my friends know we grow and preserve lots of veggies from the garden, and this year even with the high heat, humidity and drought, (we irrigate) it has been such a bountiful crop, which we give thanks to our heavenly Father.

Field peas are picked, hand shelled, washed and

pressure canned in jars, yes, they turn brown when cooked Love, love these, I think only southerners can appreciate them

Taking time to enjoy some of our veggies, nothing better than fresh from the garden

 Lets not forget fresh cherry handmade pies, oh so delicious, and easy,... tasty and easy is what I like best!

I have always wanted to can cherries, I found some fresh ones on sale, voila' I think they look great, the true test is in taste. I opened a jar, and they were good, but that is not what I wanted, best is what I strive for.Canning is trial and error, I followed directions, exactly, but they were a little softer than what I wanted, next time I will cut the process time in half. in the meantime I am enjoying them. ~wink~

I made sweet and dill relish, so good, I use them in salads, on hot dogs, and burgers, trust me if you make your own you will never buy commercial again.Another easy recipe.

I am not a great pickle maker, that is, until this year, these are called Bread and Butter pickles, once again I found out through trial and error. In the past I wasn't slicing the pickles thick enough, therefore they were not crisp, by slicing them thicker they now meet my standards., very crisp, you can hear them crunch in my mouth, ~Wink~Next year I will try dill and Kosher pickles.

 Last week I canned tomatoes, and will finish this week, preferably tomorrow with my meat sauce, and salsa. My kids and grandkids love these.

 Who likes tomato juice, I do!

We have made some wonderful memories this summer with family and friends too, birthday celebrations, Father's Day,etc.  May your summer days be filled with love, laughter, and wonderful memories with family and friends.
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Today I will be preserving okra, laundry and ironing, waiting for the cold front to move in tomorrow so I can work outside  in my garden.

Blessings,

Sue

Farmhouse news

Written by Sue, Wednesday, July 25, 2018,  thunderstorms, temps. 80's somewhat humid.


My! how summer is passing, I have finished most of my canning, just a few Lima beans and I will be done until fall when the grapes and apples are ready. 

This gives me a break to finish some projects and much needed gardening, which I truly enjoy!My roses have done so well this year. This is one of them, isn't it pretty, I wish I knew the name. 

Dh and I decided we would take a wee break this week, and do what ever we wanted, which we have been doing each day, sleeping a little later, lingering over devotions on the porch, and over breakfast. We have also been doing a little shopping  at two of our favorite stores, Lowe's where we found this great deal,(half price) on double knockout roses, there are 6 more in the car.

and Tractor Supply where I found these lovely planters, also half price.

We have also been shopping for a new refrigerator, I thought I had found one until I got home and realized it was not going to work, so much for relying on my judgement of measurements, so back to Lowe's with the right measurements. I'm sure none of you have ever done this before. ~Wink~

We are also getting some much needed rain today with cooler temps., still humid though.


I took these photos at about 5 p.m. today, the soil will be perfect for planting  the rose bushes tomorrow.

Result after 2 1/2 inches of rain., maybe the roses will get planted.

I am so happy to be back blogging, I have missed it and y'all so much. I also do instagram, sporadically, but blogging is my favorite way to stay in touch, I find it so much more personal. Why? I slowed down I have no idea, I took lots of photos and would have all these posts in my head but when evening came around I simply was to tired, told myself I would post tomorrow, and when tomorrow came it was old news, I guess it must be old age catching up with me. LOL

Enjoy your evening,
Hugs,

Sue

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Hello everyone

  Written by Sue, Monday, July 18, 2011.                                              very hot, high 90's, high humidity....

Checking in to say hi, and to let you know what we have been doing, during these hot dry days of summer                                                  
 Over the past few months it has been somewhat difficult to blog regularly, due to the work here at the farm. Our hours are long,and the weather has not cooperated with us. I truly miss not visiting with you, and I miss not posting of our days. I think of you all so often especially while busy with work.... and with that said, I will try and show you a little of what we have been doing.....

This picture doesn't do it justice, I love to open up and look in. I saw dh looking at them the other day, and grinning. Why so much preserving? We give to our children when they come home.... The other day Susan called "whatcha doing? (me) "canning corn!".... "Oh Mother, are you canning some for us, you know we just love your canned corn, peas, meat sauce, and jams,  and you know I always bring an extra suitcase."
She didn't knowI was smiling, and nodding as she was speaking., because I have already got it packed and ready for her. I don't know about you it is always so great to be needed by my children.  Just as God likes to be needed by us, He loves to give us great gifts too, And when we ask Him, I feel He is smiling and nodding . He also has our gifts packed and ready for us too.James 1:17~ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. How Awesome is this!!!

Multiply what is on these shelves two times....I sent the same amount to my mother, she and I have been partners in preserving our produce, but this year, she wasn't able to help,... because she went and got herself a job, ~lol~can you believe that at the age of 83, she works four to five days a week at a friend's  boutique . I have really missed spending time with her, we have so much fun together. ..Dh told her not to worry that he would help in her place to preserve.... 

Did I ever tell you what a wonderful son he is to my mother, he calls her every night to find out how her day was and to say good night to her. I am so blessed that they have such a great relationship, anyhoo, he did exactly what he said he would do, that is... he has helped me gather, shell, shuck and get everything ready to preserve....

Here he is picking field peas, today.. he picked, I shelled, and pressure canned...today finished  our season for peas.There are still lots of peas on the bushes, we have given to neighbors and family. Now what is left will dry on the bush, and we will gather for seed.

Even with the drought and heat we have had a very productive season, due to the fact of Mr P, irrigating constantly,  because we grow organic, we have an over abundance of bees,so pollination was not a problem.. but most of all our Heavenly Father gave the increase And because of having such a good, great, fantastic season, we are planning to let this field lay out next year and rest, take a vacation . We are going to replenish the soil with compost found right here at the farm.


Give me a glass of iced tea !!and I can shell up a storm! These, and some more produced

this....

Do yo remember as a child, how we always wanted to please our parents, that's the way we felt, yes even at our age. ~smile~ We could hardly wait to get Mother's  goodies boxed and taken to her.  DH and I would pack the car and here we would go, she always greeted us with such a sweet smile, but was saying, "I feel so guilty for not being able to help." And then I was feeling guilty because she was feeling guilty, so one morning I called her and said " Mother, please don't feel guilty about not helping, cause I am tired of feeling guilty because you are feeling guilty, ~lol~ Mr P and I are enjoying doing this for you, there is no way we could ever repay you for all that you have done for us."  enough said ... and she didn't ~grin~  Sometimes us children have to  take charge~wink~..

Most of you know me well enough by now to know how important my relationship is with my Lord, and how I know that He directs my life.... God is concerned about every aspect both great and small... He knew how this season would be, and not one time did I feel overwhelmed with work, tired yes, a good kind of tired. As I was working I felt His presence with me, He protected me and I only had one jar that didn't seal, and that was today, It was a jar of peas, I  poured it in the pot and we ate it for dinner, with okra  LOL.

OMG it is so late, I have been working on this post for three hours, my eyes are about to close, having had three long phone conversations, with children, while trying to post! ~BiG Smile~ love hearing from them.. I have so much to share, and as you can see, Ellie Mae( my camera) is back in my loving arms, and she is doing her job quite well, I might add....until next time, bed here I come!!!!!,,,,   to be continued.

Much love ,

Sue

My memory verse for today just spoke to my heart...
Proverbs 18;10~ The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.