Driving and a Giveaway

I've been riding around with our youngest as he works on driving..he passed the exam just fine and has his permit...I think he's going to be an excellent driver....I was nervous to begin with but he made me feel comfortable after a few minutes....we drove around quite a bit today and he will probably be taking the driving test in a week or two once he gets more confidence....he's growing up so fast now...hard to let go as it always is with your youngest but I am coping......he thanks everyone for the prayers and now asks to pray about this job offer coming up...its a wonderful opportunity for him..and a career maker...

I wanted to tell you about this nice giveaway...at the Rusty Thimble...
this darling snowman makedo....would look great in my cabinet but then it would look great in anyone's...I am not very lucky but perhaps you are...please take a look at her wonderful creations while you're signing up.....she has giveaways  twice a month! I do love snowmen.....

I've been busy stitching some fall and Halloween goodies....got some fall fabrics at Walmart..they are the only ones around here with fabric ..our local Michaels has zero...I have a table mat and a Halloween candle mat almost finished....but needed backing for them...is it just our neck of the woods or is it a more common thing not to have fabric stores around? JoAnns does carry fabric but it's quite a drive to ours and then the lines to get it cut and then another line to pay for it, is a real turnoff...

America in Color

Not a long post today...I was just on Facebook and one of my pages had this wonderful link website I wanted to share..the most fantastic photos of American during the depression in color..they were taken originally from slides...please check it out..it does take a few seconds to load as there are so many (at least with my camera)..my parents lived during this time as young people..what a generation! 

Captured: America in color

I had posted  before about my parents, growing up in Spokane, Washington during the 1930s...they married in 1939 and at first, before the war...baked pies to sell in grocery stores. My granddad owned a bakery....

Grandpa and Mama, 1936

Anyway, I know you will greatly enjoy the link and photos..and as I did, gain a greater insight into those hard times..we are anticipating something similar as this depression/recession lingers on..especially with the Bush tax cuts gone next year....we are still seeing tons of foreclosures here..both commercial and residential.

End of the Garden

Our garden is coming to an end for the year....the heat we've had the last month as done in most of it..still some tomatoes but that's about all....corn has all been picked and frozen, as have the beans...eaten all the squash and given alot away....
we have lots of canned produce though so am very thankful.....we could plant a winter garden but our energy is about spent, just cleaning out the garden beds for the winter sounds like alot of work...but we will preserver and get that done at least.
I would say this was a very successful year for the garden and we are both pleased. Now to get the garage repaired and the patio cleaned.....we noticed alot of stains on the concrete that need to be power washed...Alan would like to cover the concrete slab with pavers or bricks...but that's just in the talking stage at this point. I'm pushing for just staining or painting the concrete...time will tell what we decide to do....we spend alot of time out there in the fall, and have an outdoor fireplace that is wonderful for cool fall evenings...
I don't know about you but I'm noticing the days are getting shorter and its getting cooler here at night..down into the 60s...and this is just August....!!

I am regularly on Facebook and have really enjoyed both the games, getting connected to old friends and making new ones. I just discovered another great cooking/recipe site through FB and they are offering two, yes, two FREE ebooks..grilling and desserts...wanted to give you the link..Mr. Food
There is a FB page where you can get loads of free samples...I just am starting to get mine..they send you links every day to sign up for loads of free stuff....so far, I've gotten two free items..a coupon for a Starbucks snack plate (which my son enjoyed) and yesterday I got a free sample of a laundry product.  Its worth signing up for FB just for these free things..although I think you can sign up directly from the website at FreeFreebies.org...Bless our frugal hearts....

Spiced Peaches

Our little kitchen smells wonderful today..Alan didn't have but one job so he's making pickled peaches....wow...everyone who comes in the front door can't believe the delicious spicy scents..wish you could smell it.....we have lots of peaches so one entire box is devoted to these toothy delights....the other will be dried in the new dehydrator...plus tomorrow its more tomato soup as the big patio table outside is covered with ripening tomatoes....I am not sure why we feel compelled to make so much this year but God has blessed our garden with abundance.

Spiced peaches

6 lbs. peaches (about 2 dozen medium sized ones)
8 cups sugar (we used splenda or you could go half and half)
2 3/4 c. cider vinegar
4 cinnamon sticks
4 t. whole cloves

Make sure the peaches are ripe and sweet..wash and then dip them in boiling water for about 4-5 minutes, then immediately ice water..the skins should slip off easily this way...
cut off any brown spots and mushy areas....cut in halves or quarters and remove the pits.
Mix the sugar, water and vinegar in a pot and get it boiling. 8 cups sugar, 2 3/4 c. cider vinegar, and 1 1/3 cup water. Heat until sugar is dissolved. Put the spices in a cheesecloth bag and add them to the boiling liquid. Boil for 5 minutes or so..Add the prepared peaches to the hot syrup. Bring to boiling again and simmer for about 10 minutes or so until tender.
Place peaches in hot jars, fill the jars and then add syrup to 1/2" of the top of the jars. Seal and put them in the water bath canner...process for 10 minutes
Lift them out on a towel or wooden cutting board to cool....this recipe makes 6 pints..we went overboard (as usual) and ended up with more....7 pints and 2 quarts..

I am doing a little stitching between helping the big guy can, cleaning up the kitchen afterwards, taking care of the household, laundry, cats and young men, etc...a cute little Halloween mat...I will show you when I get further along on it......
Our youngest went today to get his driving permit....he asks for prayer....he has a very good job offer with our water district but he has to have a drivers license..he's a born procrastinator...and has put this off for months......he's been studying the drivers manual all morning and set off to  the DMV this afternoon..hope he didn't leave too late!

Recipe Club, Soup, and Peach Pie

I just discovered on Facebook the Just a Pinch Recipe Club.....one thing the ladies in our family have always done is share and enjoy recipes...since most of my family has passed away, I really miss the fun...my mom and aunts would pour over recipes, drink coffee and have such a good time.....I am hoping for something similar by joining....sharing good recipes and discovering new ones or improved ones is fun....
This morning, I turned this

into this

and then canned 5 qts of it...its absolutely the most delish tomato soup I've ever had.......I can't claim any credit....got the recipe from Oodlekadoodle Primitives
she's been posting for several weeks, canning recipes..this week its making your own pie filling, yummy! we buy sugar free pie filling from Walmart but its expensive, even there..so something we will probably want to do.....maybe some peach pie filling as Alan (again) brought home two flats of peaches..they have been so good this year and cheap! Peach pie.....I could use a slice right now!

My New Shop and a new Dehydrator

I've been working on my second blog and changed it to a selling one....still in the baby stages but I've had added Paypal buttons...and have a few things  listed..some holiday  tags, a pretty vintage crocheted centerpiece..a holiday craft book and some childrens books....I have some nice flour sack towels I will be embroidering for the holidays....and will list them later....plus I have some vintage aprons and other goodies to add in the coming weeks.....the link is on the left side..the little red storefront.....also if you are on Facebook, I have a page set up...The China Lake Shoppe       ...I will keep my prices as low as possible and right now there is free shipping on everything as an opening special...
I will have a giveaway soon when I get 50 followers so please stop by and either like on Facebook or the blog  or both!..

We are still canning away...Alan is making more of the fig conserve as its simply wonderful.....like the ambrosia in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe...this time, he's remembered to add the pecans.....I also found a tomato soup recipe on Oodlekadoodle Primitives...it will be nice this winter to have our own tomato soup ready to go on a cold afternoon......with a toasted cheese sandwich....we still have lots of tomatoes with more coming.....
Alan surprised me and ordered a new dehydrator..ours was right above the fire in the rafters and was totally destroyed.....so I will be drying figs and other goodies. Our old dehydrator was a very good one..plastic but the really sturdy kind..we looked several places around here and couldn't find anything like it..but he managed to find one online through Walmart that is similar......it was a nice surprise to see the UPS man come to the door with a large package.....funny, I love getting kitchen gadgets.....not that I have the space but I sure enjoy them...

Thoughts on a more serious nature

we've traveled and so enjoyed a few of our national parks....more in the western north than anywhere else..Arches, Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, etc. I viewed this video over a week ago and its message has bothered me ever since...our country is being trashed,and polluted by not just normal people looking for work but drug runners, ( seeing prayer rugs, and Koran's listed ,perhaps terrorists). The drug running is so bad and violent, they can't send anyone in these areas to check on the wildlife.


regardless of your opinion on illegal immigration....our borders desperately need to be secured.

Canning Adventures

Here is our canning so far....nowhere to store the jars as yet but they are done.......Alan just went to the store to get more pints/ jelly jars......he's into sugar free jam now......(.the gallon container on the left is vinegar for pickles...)
I woke up to him puttering in the kitchen, slicing peaches for peach jam, he then cooked the peaches until they were soft and put them through the food mill...
added sweetener, lemon juice and pectin...a big pot is cooking right now..so no photos of the finished product..we both decided quarts of peach jam was a bit much..hence, going to get the pints and jelly jars

He had already made a Fig Conserve......which we hadn't tried before and were pleasantly surprised..a conserve is just jam with other goodies added...this recipe includes chopped pecans (which he forgot to put in) two chopped lemons, and crushed pineapple..he must have got up really early!

I was woken to the delicious smells coming from the kitchen...and was treated to an English muffin with some of this delicious conserve + coffee

Think I'll keep him!

Here is the Fig Conserve recipe...

2 lbs. ripe figs
1 cup crushed pineapple, small can
2 medium lemons, cut into small pieces.. peel and all
1/2 t. salt
1 cup chopped pecans
sweetener..add to taste..we used 3 cups of Splenda..

Wash figs and cut into pieces. Mix with pineapple and lemons..put into a large pot with equal amount sugar (or other sweetner) and the salt. Bring slowly to the boiling point and simmer gently until thickened. Stir in nuts: put in hot jars. Makes about 5 jelly jars.....we doubled the recipe.....and also water bath processed the jars...can't see to going to all the trouble of making jam to have it spoil.......10 minutes in the water bath canner will do..

A Quiet Monday

I am getting a few things accomplished...3 more tags done.....I will start listing them soon.....in case anyone would like a set (or two.or three) ..there are two more designs to go and then I'm planning on some tree ornaments......
today was  a quiet day...everyone went to work...all the 4 guys...kinda nice to have the house to myself..turned on the radio, and did alot of housework...then stitched these up this afternoon while watching a movie.....
this morning we enjoyed  the plum jam Alan had made the day before..our youngest (19) sampled it and  his eyes got big..."Good stuff!" he couldn't believe how good homemade is.....
the weather is warm here but not too bad..the clothes on the line dried very fast as we had a good wind too....it felt like it could rain , and wish it would to break the  humidity...I cooked up some of the tiny little apples that we have from our Beverly Hills apple tree...they didn't make too much, only about two cups but it sure tastes good....we will have it for dessert this evening...yum!



Thought you might enjoy these very old cat photos..guess adding captions isn't a new thing.....

Fig Jam and Fabric Tags

Yesterday we made 6 half pints of sugar free fig jam....it is soo good...the fresh flavor shines......its so good in fact, we decided to make more in the coming weeks....this is the recipe we used which is very easy..how to make fig jam..we used Splenda instead of sugar......we will be pickling some also and got the ingredients ..we just  need to wait a day or two for more figs to ripen..

things have changed quite a bit since we last did serious canning..they now have packages of spices for different types of tomato sauces..we picked out one package to try..for pizza sauce...

.found these at Walmart. A favorite thing to do on a Saturday night is make homemade pizza.
We spent Friday night making tomato sauce and canning whole tomatoes...made 7 qts...plus 3 qts, of canned nectarines....now we can make pizza sauce too!
I bought the new "Clash of  the  Titans" and frankly, we both like the old one better...we used to call our youngest "the Kracken" when he was little as he was such a roughneck....

.I've started stitching holiday tags....here is the 3 that have been completed..

These need to be trimmed slightly and washed but they are basically done....the pattern is from Primitive Stitches..she has several new patterns out..
I sold quite a few tags last year, including this pattern..its one of my personal favorites....they make cute card enclosures, bookmarks or even to hang from the tree or on a doorknob, wreath..or a peg shelf...