I cooked my crook neck pumpkin today and I have enough stuff for 4 pies....  Or two pies and two cakes..... or whatever else I can think of!

I did get the freezer cleaned out and inventoried and that makes me feel good....tired but good!  And Frankie stopped for a visit, gave Cooper a bath and left him her while she made a quick trip to WM.  Then we visited and now they're both gone again. 

And I managed a half hour nap in there somewhere.

Patricia, you are very organized with your prepping for meals.  That's kind of what I did when I was working.  And I always saved money by either taking my lunch with me or scooting home to eat it.  Thankfully, I only lived a 10 minute car ride from the store.

Now I'm going to see how the crock pot is doing.  Might just have a good supper here!

Hope everyfriend's day is going well!

I'm heading for the haystack!  I wish you all a peaceful night's sleep and a happy, healthy tomorrow!  And may God bless us, every one!

Good evening EVERYFRIEND. 

Not much to tell about today.  It was cool out this morning, so I turned on the heat!  I think there is a frost warning for tonight but we are not going to worry about trying to cover any of the plants as they are probably not going to last much longer anyway.  😩

JANE, you accomplished quite a bit today, as always!  I know you were happy to get the freezer inventoried.  Always good to know what you have in there.  Glad you had a nice visit with Frankie.  Sleep well.

Have a good evening.

Jenny

Good Morning everyone, I am I think up for the day and already stressed out. waiting for court date's sure takes a tole on my Patience. Is mostly clear and 49º headed for 66º for the high here the weather guesser Is saying. Hope you all have a good day as equal.

Lloyd

Good morning everyone.  I hope I wake this early tomorrow morning, my appointment at the dentist is for 10:30. I will have to remind my son later today.

LLOYD  7 hours is a good sleep, I have been getting 7 or 8 lately and it feels good.

JANE  I am wondering if the witch is going to maybe unlock the doors down on the main floor. Got a call yesterday from her peon asking how my health is. calling everyone to find out if they had any signs of the virus and he had gotten to 95% of us so far and no one with any signs. I sure do not see many people and except for Yvette  I see family. 

AMY  your temperature yesterday is what is in the forcast for here today. We had rain in the forecast for today and the next 2 days, now it is only for tomorrow with heavy rain in the morning. I better make sure I take my pills before I go out. At least the chairs at the dentist are comfortable or I would be squirming

PATRICIA  when I g  et up in the morning I grab my rollator and a bent  way over like  pretzel. Takes awhile to straiten up. At least my legs are OK.

JANE  tomorrow will be a good day to make a stew in my crock pot but doubt if I would be able to eat it after aving a tooth out.

JENNY  the last few days I ha the AC running and  2 weeks ago I had the heat on.

Hae a good day and keep safe.

Good morning everyone..

Rain during the night but think it has stopped for now. Yesterday we went for our colour tour and the leaves sure didn't disappoint us. From the vibrant reds, oranges ,yellows to the milk chocolate browns of the frost bitten ferns, one can't help but be in awe of the display.

Today is clean up day after I nip into town to pick up oranges and items for my friend. They are off to Costco  and will pick up supplies there but good luck on toilet paper or paper towels as the hoarding has already started. Then hom to make a pot of beef barley soup.

Patricia, I have always bought in bulk, then put into smaller packages. Never one to buy a lot of canned items other than mushroom or tomato soup. Make a lot from scratch rather than a box mix.

Gloria, we were to get rain for most of the week. Good for the wells and lakes but will pound the leaves down. We had the a/c on in the van yesterday, more so for the dogs .

Jenny ,there does come a time when we have to just let nature take it course. Frost has yet to hit all the geraniums but they are protected by the pine tree for now.

Jane, cleaning out the freezer is a job that I have been putting off. Will have to bite the  bullet and get it done soon.

Lloyd, prayers for you and Nancy today. I could say worry won't help but it is hard not to worry about this.

Better get
Enjoy your day everyone..stay safe.

Good Morning Everyfriend!  We're up and attem this morning!  Mickie has an appointment at the doggie beauty parlor this morning so we have to be ready to leave the house no later than 9:15 to be there on time.  And while she's relaxing in tender care, I'll be doing some errands in town.  Hopefully, I can get them all done before she's ready to go.

I need one more item for my veggie soup and there's only one place in the area that still has them and it's almost next door to the groomer.  My Dad, the soup expert, said "You have to have a soup bone!"  So that's where I'll head.

I have two more things to do in town and then I'm ready to come home and make green tomato chili.  I sort of hope that's the last thing I'll be making with green tomatoes.  I think this is the week to pull up the vines and settle that part of the garden for the winter.

JENNY, I not only inventoried the freezer.  I made a list of what's in there and made a copy for the kitchen and one for above the freezer so I don't have to root around wondering where it is!

This week, the temps have been great!  They've been no lower than the high 50s and low 60s overnight and on some days have reached 80 during the day.  I like this weather!

There goes our boinger so we better get breakfast and get moving so we make our appt.  Enjoy your day everyone!  Make it your own!  And don't forget to hop in to the Soda Shoppe and share it with all of us!

Cloudy and rainy here, too, with more coming this afternoon.  Cool temps. coming in for the rest of the week and I won't mind that even one little bit.

Been trying to get myself pumped up to get out to get a flu shot.  Not enthused about it at all but I know that it must be done soon.

Take care, All.

Good morning, it's 29 degrees right now, heading to a high of 56, and you can see where all the waters; rivers, ponds, and creeks are in town by the low lying mist. Leaves and their colors are fading, and many have fallen. Today is another stay at home day, and all is quiet so far.

My freezer is full of ziplock bags with colored tape for different item labels. I use a check-off system posted on the inside of the freezer door for tracking. I seem to have too much chicken, so I need to use more of that when I'm more interested in the moose.

We had rain from May through the middle of September, and the past week has been cool but sunny.  When I'm reading all your weather reports of fires, hot weather, and hurricanes, it amazes me how different we are. I'm not sure if it's prevailing winds in the upper atmosphere or if it's somehow all of a piece?

Hello all!  I have been absent and had to re-register.  It is very nice to "find" this place once again.   

Carol, welcome back.

Patricia, must admit my choice of wild game is moose!! I would rather have it over beef. Love fish, but it needs to have the wiggle cooked out of it first.

Phyllis , for the first time I have signed up for the flu shot. With all that is running rampant I thin k a bit of protection is better than none. I was going to make your lentil soup but didn't have kielbasa so I will pick that up tomorrow and make it.

Jane, did you ever make stone soup with the Guides? We had two troops of Beavers and got together to make a stone soup. Each boy brought a vegetable and we all worked together to make this soup...and it was delicious..



 

Carol, hello again, nice to have you back!

Amy, I remember my stone soup days, but that was as a military dependent in Texas in the seventies. There is a cafe in town, staffed by ex-cons and people from local shelters called Stone Soup. I've never actually been in it and don't know if it's still operating in this pandemic, but I had heard good things about it. They also had a lot that they used to grow most of their own food.

I have bear, moose, caribou, wild goat, and Dall sheep in my freezer thanks to caring friends. I'm lucky enough to have freezer fallout from one as her Fish & Game husband fills theirs up again. I mention this as Dall sheep is my all-time favorite. And, as you know, the meat isn't loaded with chemicals and hormones. I have some salmon, grayling, and rainbow trout, but I'm not using as much of it as I should. I'm fortunate to live where wild game is available.

I'm ambivalent about a flu shot. I never had the flu until 1985 when I had my first flu shot during a company-wide promotion. Within a short period, I had visible chills running up and down my body, spiking temperatures, and fever. My boss was going to take me to the hospital, but I voted for home instead. I was out for six days, without pay, with severe flu. I have never had the flu before or since and that was my one and only flu shot. People have said you can't get the flu from an immunization reaction but then what did I have if not the flu?

I'd like to edit my previous post where I tell you that I'm envious of all of the options you have in Amish and Mennonite food stands and markets. We do have some regular farmer's markets here, two in summer only and one year around as well as ethnic groceries.

However, the farms that provide crop shares either through purchasing outright, working a set amount of time or by pick and pay; have gone up each year in  fees and for folks on a fixed income, over two hundred is pricy for a small share. I realize demand is high due to a poor, wet, season and I'd like to support local farms but still.

Hello CAROL.  Come on back when you can.  We like to "see" new faces.

PATRICIA, my freezer holds not just local produce but I have pheasant, elk and venison also.  And if I chose, I could have rabbit.  I said "no thank you".  When my kids were growing up my FIL, husband and son all went hunting both around here and once a year to Wyoming.  My MIL didn't like wild meat and she refused to cook it so my freezer was always full.  And when my inlaws came to dinner we frequently had venison meatloaf or venison pot roast.  She never knew what she was eating and always complimented my cooking.  My FIL just looked at me and winked!

Tonight, I had pheasant for supper.  I found one small pack in the bottom of the freezer when I cleaned it and inventoried.  So not to lose it again, I cooked it tonight.  It was delicious!

And I also cleaned my fridge today.  I know I don't do that as often as I should but it doesn't seem to get as slopped up as back when 6 of us were opening and closing it!

Tomorrow, I think I'm going to start the veggie soup.  I got my soup bone today and I think I'm ready. The canning will take some time because I expect I'll have at least 4 canners full.  And it has to be done in the pressure canner!  But cooking first!

AMY, I have made stone soup often with the Girl Scouts and with my kids and the kids at church!  What fun!  I even remember the first time I ever made it as a kid.  Also, when we went on hikes, we sometimes took along  a "pocket lunch".  Everyone would bring something to share and what fun when you stopped to eat and found that you had all kids of stuff to make sandwiches and no bread. I think that might be where I had my first bologna and cheese rollup and I still like them.  But there was always lots of potato chips and lots of candy!

Now I'm heading for the haystack!  It's time to rest my weary bones.  I wish you all a peaceful night's sleep and a happy, healthy tomorrow.  And may God bless us, every one.

Today was Nancy's Birthday . she caught Back up to me. we Had a good day, and Made home made
ice-cream. was a real treat. good night and sweet dreams. see you all tomorrow.

Lloyd

  Happy Birthday, Nancy!  Many more to share with us.

Sweet dreams & God Bless! Hope tomorrow is a winner for all.   Shirley

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO NANCY! I HOPE YOU CELEBRATE MANY MORE HAPPY ONES!

Good morning everyone.

We had rain again last night. Not sure what today will bring. Have some ironing and sewing to do so there is my day.

Lloyd,    Happy birthday to Nancy!

Jane, had to giggle at no bread....but look what you came up with!!

Better git.....slept in again..

Enjoy your day everyone..stay safe.

Nancy wont get on here ,she dose not mess with the computer. I read all the post here and She said to tell you all thanks. we Have been watching a show On TV this morning. Living off the grid, where this man in Alaska shows all about building his root ceiler and log cabin. gardening and getting herbs out of the forest. also some cooking in his out side Killen ( interesting) Have a great day.

Lloyd

Good Morning Everyfriend!  My soup bone is cooking and we're waiting for Cooper to arrive.  I also found  recipe for green tomato salsa that I can can. So when Cooper gets here and wants to go out in the yard, I'm going to check the vines for whatever is left of the green tomatoes and start pulling up the vines.  If I have tomatoes, Frankie will get a batch of Green Tomato Salsa for Christmas this year!

When the soup bone is cooked the rest of the meat that is stored will go in with it and that's the beginning of the veggie soup and a concentrated 3 day process.  Hopefully, there will be enough soup to share with family.  They all like it!

Also have about 3 lbs of red tomatoes left to deal with.  I haven't figured out what to do with them yet but I have to do that pretty soon. 

Mickey is gorgeous!  She got a bath, haircut and nails clipped and a new collar.  I decided she doesn't really need to cart around that heavy harness so now she's down to just a collar!  I think she kind of likes it, too!

I better get back to work or nothing will be accomplished.  The weather is a bit cooler after the rain yesterday.  Highs in the high 50s and low 60s and lows in the mid to low 40s.  I think it's coming!  I absolutely HATE coats!  And boots are hazardous foot wear!!

OK, I'm off to the salt mines!  Hang in there everyfriend!  Come by for a visit now and then!

Good morning. We're at 43° and overcast this morning. At 7:47, it's just beginning to lighten.

Lloyd, happy birthday to Nancy!

Jane, while I've had snowshoe hare, which is our local rabbit, I'd have to agree, very dry and not that good.

I haven't had pheasant nor venison altho since a moose is simply the largest deer, perhaps I have? The only deer in Alaska is a small one in the Southeast, Sitka black-tailed deer. I'd be interested if Amy or anyone has had both venison and moose could mention if there was a difference?

The lentil soup is on cooking...

We did go into town to pick up a few thing  and home again. We are also playing tis your turn for the rollator!  Kyle is using it today..so far my leg is doable. without it, just have to be careful how I step.

Patricia, as I said I love moose...no gamey taste at all at least to the feed I had but venison..well tis gamey and you really have to know how to cook it. Not a taste I like but moose to me is so close to beef but without the fat.

I have batten down everything that may fly in the wind and hope it finds another area to go.

We have a fire on just to take the chill out and will likely find it too hot after a bit.

Gloria....where are you? Hope the trip to the dentist went well.
 

Just a quick note....

PATRICIA, there's a marked difference between the flavor of our local venison (White tail deer...much smaller) and the Wyoming Mule Deer.  The mule deer is a wilder taste but one I like.  In fact, I like both!

Now, lunch is over and I'm back to clearing out the tomato vines for this year.  I think I still have one to go and my tomato harvest (both red and green) is already just about doubled.  I don't think I'll ever run out.  But I now have enough to make Frankie's green tomato salsa and I forget if I said, I found a recipe that I can can.  So I'm off to finish my job!  Enjoy the rest of your day.

Good afternoon.  it is a pretty sunny day, but cooler than it has been.  At least the sunshine makes it look warm.

I just wanted to add my little 2 cents worth about cooking venison.  Some years ago, my son  had a friend who would go deer hunting and sometimes he would give my son a deer roast. 

At that time, I used to make sour beef with potato dumplings......I guess some of you might call it sauerbraten..... and I am not sure if they are the same.  It is an old, old German dish.  It was my husband's favorite meal and I would always make it for his birthday and have all his brothers and sisters for dinner, along with our own family. 3 brothers, 3 sisters
  and their spouses, , and 5 in our family.  I used to make over 100 potato dumplings and my husband and his brothers would see which one could eat the most. It  made for a really fun dinner.

Anyway, one year, I decided to make up one crockpot using the venison roast.  I knew that some of the family would not eat it if they knew it was deer meat, especially one of my sons. Made it exactly the same way as I did the beef. As it turned out, the ones who did eat it thought it was better than the beef. A lot sweeter, they all thought.  So, when I was lucky enough to  get some deer meat I would use that. Haven't had any for a very long time. 

We have found a restaurant in our area whose specialty is sour beef and dumplings.  And, it comes as close to mine as we have ever found. So, now when we are all hungry for it, we go to this restaurant. The only difference is I put several cubes of dried bread in the center of my dumplings and the restaurant doesn't do that.. But, the dumplings are exactly alike.  This restaurant serves 3 different sizes as an entrée, and I always get the largest size with a couple extra dumplings so that I can take leftovers home.  I am making myself hungry just thinking of it.  Now that winter is coming, it is a great winter dish.  But, probably won't go until this virus thing is over with.  Might have to go back making my own. LOL.  I don't mind making it. Isn't difficult to make,....just time consuming.  I usually marinate the meat for 2 or 3 days. And, I use the old-time ginger snaps for the gravy..

Have any of you ever made it. Lots of the German restaurants serve it with red cabbage and I don't like that.

Jane,  you just amaze me as to all the canning you do.  I guess you are like most retirees I know who don't know how they found time to work. LOL

I am reading a really good book on my Kindle and have gotten nothing done today so far.  I am just so lazy.  But, I am anxious to get back to the book.  Stopped to eat some lunch and chat a little bit on here.

Amy, sure hope your leg will get better soon.  Please be careful walking around without the walker

Gloria, hope your dentist appt. went well.  That is something on my to-do list when all this mess is over.

Happy Birthday to Nancy.  Hope she has had a nice day.

Hope all the other friends are doing well and enjoy the rest of the afternoon.

Joy

Well, the tomato garden has been put to bed.  I picked all the red and green tomatoes and pulled all the plants and cleaned up the area where they were planted.  That was harder work than I've done in a long time!  But it was also very rewarding.

JOY, I've told many people since I retired that I really don't know how I ever had time to work.  And I really don't think I could do all the fun stuff if I still had to work.   Some of your recipes sound so good!  I was just looking at one for Sauer Braten today!  I probably won't try it but I bet I've eaten it and didn't know what it was.  My grandfather was German and he cooked a lot of the old recipes but called them by American names.

SHIRLEY, tomorrow is the day I'm sharing with you!  My new great grandson, Michael, will be joining our family tomorrow.  This is the little love I heard about the day you lost your brother!  He's going to be born by Caeserian Section tomorrow morning.  EVERYFRIEND, please say a prayer for him, for his doctor and for his mother ALLISON.  I'll be back to report when I hear of his arrival! 

Now, I'm off to the haystack to check out the zzzzzzs.  I sure hope there's plenty waiting for me because I'm really tired!  I wish you all a peaceful night's sleep and a happy, healthy tomorrow.  And may God bless us, every one.

    Let's make a new start HERE