Beautiful Blessings - 8/22/15

~ Spending the morning rhyming with a friend. The smiles on my part never did end. I suppose y'all find that quite queer, but for me, I fear, there is someone even better than that. My Mommy dear, who can rhyme things at the drop of the hat! Isnt she great? I shall have to accept my fate as second best. And now for the rhyming, I shall give it a rest. ;~)

~ Having the heavy clouds clear off for beautiful blue skies!

~ Enjoying a lovely snack of a tomato and a mushroom! And....playing with the mushroom ;~)

~ Finding a flowering sunflower in the sun!

~ The moon <3 Its just about half full!

Science Saturday: Raspberries, Snapping Turtles and Bullfrogs, oh my!

Winslow LOVES raspberries! He was so excited when he heard that it would be one of the topics for Science Saturday! T-Tot actually picked some to go with dinner today! Mmmhhhhmmm good!

A few interesting things about Raspberries, Snapping Turtles, and Bullfrogs:

• Raspberry bushes have a 2 year growth pattern. The 1st year the canes grow. The 2nd, they bear fruit. After they produced their berries, the 2nd year canes die.
• Raspberries (and Blackberries) are actually not berries. A true berry has seeds in the center. Some examples of true berries are oranges, lemons, grapes, and tomatoes.
• Raspberry prickers aren't as sharp and poky as Blackberry prickers.
• Most turtles are slow, but comparatively Snapping Turtles are "fast". Their neck and head move quite quickly. Which is an advantage for when they are snapping at people or things.
• When Snapping Turtles are in the water they are not as aggressive as if they are on land.
• Snapping Turtles' shells grow to be about 1ft long. Occasionally they will be larger than that. They also range from about 10-20lbs. In a few select cases they've gotten up to 80lbs. 
• Bullfrogs usually don't awaken from hibernation until late spring.
• Bullfrogs are well-known for their deep resonating vocal calls they make. 
• Bullfrog tadpoles hatch in about 4-5 days after they are laid. It takes 2 years for them to become an adult, and another 2 years for them to mature and repeat the cycle.

6000 views!!!!!!

:~) You guys are as awesome as:

 brownies,

 tomatoes,

 cookies,

cheese,

 donuts,

 ice cream,

 muffins,

 banana bread,

 pickles,

and apples! 

Have a lovely day!!!

Garden Delights!

Our tomatoes are ripening faster than we use them! So we have been making homemade sauce! :~D

We made smooth sauce the other day; today we made chunky!

 Here is the recipe! :) We made it in a stock pot this time instead of a frying pan. :)

We've also had an overabundance of zucchini! So we made pickled zucchini!! My Mom can't eat cucumbers because she is allergic to them, but she likes these because they taste just like pickles! I think she said they taste like Claussen. :~)

Our Gardens

Our tomato, broccoli, cauliflower, and herb garden. We have citrus mint, chocolate mint, and peppermint. In another garden we have lemon balm and spearmint. I want to get some wintergreen sometime, too. 

Pepper and broccoli garden.

Squash, eggplant, and watermelon.

Tomatoes, basil, and cauliflower.

Squash plants under a nearby shade tree.

Our veggie gardens.

Apples! I planted this apple tree when I was 7 or 8 and we might have apples this year!

Previous years we'd have frosts, and woodchucks. ;~) 

We love gardens and have several throughout the yard.

Whats in your veggie gardens?

Wacky Wednesday!

This week's wacky Wednesday is wacky because:

Here is Munchie Monday & Tutorial Tuesday!

Munchie Monday: Green Tomato relish, (no really, is yummy)!

We made 2 half recipes with things out of our garden (tomatoes and peppers).

• 24 large green tomatoes (we used 12)
• 3 red bell peppers, halved and seeded
• 3 green bell peppers, halved and seeded (we used green peppers and banana peppers)
• 12 large onions (we used 1 for a half recipe)
• 3 tablespoons celery seed
• 3 tablespoons mustard seed

• 1 tablespoon salt
• 5 cups white sugar
• 2 cups cider vinegar

1. In a grinder or food processor, coarsely grind tomatoes, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, and onions. (You may need to do this in batches.) Line a large colander with cheesecloth, place in sink or in a large bowl, and pour in tomato mixture to drain for 1 hour.
2. In a large, non-aluminum stockpot, combine tomato mixture, celery seed, mustard seed, salt, sugar, and vinegar. Bring to a boil and simmer over low heat 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
3. Sterilize enough jars and lids to hold relish (12 one-pint jars, or 6 one-quart jars). Pack relish into sterilized jars, making sure there are no spaces or air pockets. Fill jars all the way to top. Screw on lids.
4. Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with boiling water. Carefully lower jars into pot using a holder. Leave a 2 inch space between jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary, until tops of jars are covered by 2 inches of water. Bring water to a full boil, then cover and process for 30 minutes.
5. Remove jars from pot and place on cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Once cool, press top of each lid with finger, ensuring that seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). Relish can be stored for up to a year. You can also freeze some in zip lock bags! 

My Mom loves having relish... she is allergic to cucumbers, this is so similar no one would know the difference. 

Another thing to do with excess tomatoes!

Tutorial Tuesday: T-shirt skirt!

I made one for the 6 year old, and she loves it!

I used a Hanes Men's Adult Large pale pink shirt.

I chopped off the bottom straight across from under one sleeve to the other.

Then I pinned over a inch, (left a spot for the elastic) and sewed a 3/4 inch (or so) single stitch from the edge.

Then I fished the elastic through and sewed the elastic together. 

Last I sewed up the "hole" and Voila! 

My sister loves it!! :~D

If my tutorial makes no sense, Google it. I did it with out a pattern/tutorial...just grabbed the memory of my Grandma making one and worked from that. :~D

UPDATE: http://thehappyhousewife.com/home-management/shirt-skirt-and-headband-tutorial/

Wacky Wednesday:

For those of you who know me. This is TOTALLY RANDOM!!!

I painted my toenails blue (well my Mom did it for me....close enough).

Yup, they are a dark blue. :~D

I decided to do something random yesterday.

{Pardon the feet, between walking around the house barefoot, and dancing, they aren't purty! ;~) But my toenails are!!!}

Have a WONDERFUL DAY!!!

Munchie Monday-Pasta Sauce

I made 3 batches for the freezer and this winter.

My hands smell delicious!

For each batch:

6 med-large tomatoes (from our garden!)
1 medium pepper (from our garden!)
Half an onion (The first one was sitting out, bu the second when I peeled brought tears to my eyes.)
1 garlic clove/piece
Plain tomato sauce (optional)
Olive oil
Large frying pan

1 Find some music to listen to, I listen to Casting Crowns
2 Find a cute apron, time to start! (or manly)
3 Put enough oil in the pan to lightly cover the bottom, do not put too much! Heat pan on Med.
4 Chop onion, pepper, and garlic, finely. 

5 Saute the onion mixture.

6 While onions are sauteing chop tomatoes.

7  Put the tomatoes in when onions are slightly brown.

8 (Optional) put in the tomato sauce, about a 1/4 of a cup or so. Mix everything.

9 When it bubbles lightly turn stove off and let cool.

Serves about 6 servings.

To freeze: When mixture is cool, place in freezer bags and place in freezer.

Tastes delicious! 

Makes the kitchen smell good too.