A Desert Road Trip Revisited...

 Sorry, I haven't posted much this week..been busy! Alot of jobs this week...all but one were "lock outs", evidently the banks are getting tired of carrying peoples loans and started to foreclose again..Alan is at one as I type this today....
Yesterday we had one in San Diego and then had to drive out to Borrego Springs for a third time for a foreclosure....this time it wasn't so pleasant as the house was in bad condition out on a desert road..isolated and a little creepy...originally, I think it had been nice, with large bedrooms, living room and a country kitchen but that had been long ago....the lot had many dead and drying trees...including a dead rabbit at the back door....many out buildings that were falling down from dry rot...lots of debris around, old sinks, trash,etc......not only that but it was really windy and hot, even though it was the late afternoon before we got there.....
Alan was able to pull the garage door up so we drove the car in  so he could work in the shade.....and we had to replace 6 deadbolts as they were the wrong type for a Fanny Mae property.

Fanny Mae requires a special code on all their properties with Quickset locks.....all the  locks on this house were Schlage ....normally we have enough but for whatever reason we didn't  so we had to go through all the locks we had and "frankenstein" enough for the house...which.took me about 40 minutes,,spreading all the locks on the floor of the garage, going through bags of parts...not too much fun...I started feeling very frustrated, hot, and got a little panicked. as I couldn't seem to find what was needed.....
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While I was working, Alan went through the house and took all the old locks off...there were so many as the house seemed to have endless doors....(we ended up with a very heavy bag of locks to take back).....there were 6 exterior doors..with two locks each...we just take any keyed locks off the interior doors.


When he got back to the garage and saw the state I was starting to get into.....got me a cold drink out of the cooler, told me to relax and he found the parts I needed within about a minute.....what a great guy! While he was doing the re key...I took a break and walked through the house....I could hear the wind whistling across the top of the roof....my frustration and panic subsided..and looking out the back windows, watched the dust and sand blowing across the desert floor.......wondered if anyone would buy this house..it had possibilities but would take alot of cash, sweat (literally!) equity.and as it was in the middle of nowhere, why? I also thanked the Lord for giving me such a great husband....feeling 100% better, I went back and installed our Frankenstein deadbolts with no problems......we also checked all the windows and made sure the house was secure....

One thing about Borrego Springs...I don't think they have much crime as all 3 houses we've re keyed...had no sign of anyone getting into them even though two of the three were open.....no vandalism!We both decided though it wouldn't be a place to retire, this last house wasn't a good example of the types of homes in Borrego Springs..there are much nicer ones, as I've posted about but its just a little too isolated for our needs. ..We were glad to get home...it was a 240 mile around trip!  have screwdriver, will travel.....

Be sure to sign up for my June Giveaway!

June Giveaway!

In my other blog, I decided to giveaway this little black work picture I shared a few posts ago.....I will be having a monthly giveaway so if you are so  choose, please sign up...I try to make the giveaways fairly easy...I get put off by those who have so many rules and hoops to jump through.....enough of that in real life, right? The link is on the left hand side......

Crocheting Baby Hats +

We had a nice weekend...didn't do much..the kids were out and about......and the weather was very nice..on the cool side...I even wore a light sweatshirt as the wind came up and it got chilly........
yesterday, we grilled some steaks, and corn on the cob outside....I had made potato salad earlier, using our newly dug up red potatoes, one chopped onion from our garden and we pronounced it  very good indeed..there is just something special about harvesting and eating your own vegetables....
Later, we sat down to movies and I crocheted this little baby teddy bear hat for our soon to be born grandson.....thought it turned out cute....for those of you who crochet, I came across a site with tons of free patterns....am planning on making more hats..here is the link   Crochet Pattern Central.so many cute crocheted baby clothes, hats, etc. I think I will get a few skeins of brighter colors..just had some yarn left from his little blanket....I found a pattern on the site for a baby baseball cap with  his initial on the brim....fun!

..Jayden is expected August 1st...the doctor moved the date up as he's growing so fast...
The kids have found a trailer to rent in the same park as where her dad lives.....so its a start for them..they decided to wait to move in until after the baby arrives so they can save a little more money...and there will be family there so its good.....

I added a few more things to my selling blog...this is wonderful pewter trivet..Texas all the way....its found in the Treasure Chest......

also under vintage linens and stitchery..this very pretty hand crocheted pineapple centerpiece....its large, measures about 20" across......

squirrel count----10 this weekend....

Cherries +++

Yesterday we canned the first of the year....sweet cherries....there was a big one day sale at a local store so we bought enough to can 14 pints...these will be so nice this winter....it was hot work but well worth it.....

                               had enough left over to enjoy now....these are so sweet and good....
We also got a few early tomatoes.....

This is one of the heirloom varieties....Amish Paste....very good...most of the tomato plants are loaded now with green ones so it won't be long...I am planning on making a homemade pizza using some goat cheese and fresh tomatoes...it sounds good anyway.......

The corn is doing well and is over knee high already...and you can see how the tomato plants have grown..we have a total of 54 plants.....most of them are heirloom and just a few hybrid......haven't had any bug problems thanks to Mrs. Q.....but we are having squirrel problems.....the darn critters ate 3 tomato seedlings this last week so we put the live trap out...have caught a total of 5 squirrels so far...we take them out into the country and let them go......

I want to wish everyone a happy Memorial Day...I won't be posting again until after the holiday. Our weather has been so wonderful..its just too nice to stay inside!

Friday, Blackwork, Stuffed Potatoes Plus

I've been working on my embroidery and got this black work framed yesterday..the pattern is from Bird Brain..and I just love it.....I tea dyed the fabric but as it was terribly pale, added some black walnut stain to it and I think the color came out perfect...have two more to do and they'll be in my shop........I also finished a vintage pillowcase and am working on the second one....plus there are two more black work ones to do...the primitive patterns don't take too long as they are simple stitches......especially I like the little sheep.......

For supper last night, I threw together stuffed baked potatoes...no real recipe...I grilled some chicken breast until it was nice and brown..then shredded it....shredded some cheese...and found half a jar of mushrooms in the fridge...baked several potatoes in the microwave..when they were done...I put the potatoes on the bottom, split them and added the chicken, mushrooms and cheese...Oh, I did cook the mushrooms a bit in some butter.......then a dollop of sour cream on top..or cottage cheese..really good, filling and quick.......I've done this with pork also if we have some left overs or you could use browned meat of any kind...or if you don't have meat, steamed vegetables, especially broccoli is very good....kids like this as they can build their own..both the boys enjoyed these when they were younger and last night, our youngest put together his ..he doesn't care for mushrooms....
We used to have family pizza night too and I would make homemade pizza dough in the bread maker...lots of toppings in little bowls, everybody made their own and we popped them into the oven...really good and fun....
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Thanks for the kind comments about yesterdays post........I think as we get a little older....we look back on our lives and hopefully without regret....I was blessed with a wonderful childhood with loving parents..my only regret was not finishing college but its not a big regret.......now it seems having a college education isn't a guarantee of a good job when you graduate....quite a few college grads are back home with their parents after school.......if you are not acquainted with Iowa Hawk.....he is a gifted writer and yesterday did a post on graduation...but I do warn you....sometimes his posts are sharp  and he occasionally uses bad language but its always appropriate and in context....
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well..that's about all for today...I woke up to Alan canning cherries! as I type this, we have 7 pints already done.....more on that tomorrow...

Handkerchiefs

I've been going through my things....trying to downsize and found some of my grandmothers handkerchiefs...she was a prolific crocheter and nothing escaped her crochet  hook, including these simple cotton handkerchiefs...they are in perfect condition and just look at the pretty trim she put on each one....tiny stitches.....she never went anywhere without a pretty hanky.....they are for sale under vintage linens in my selling blog.......I found other ones also....

 The top one has lovely tiny embroidery and the edging is tatted...I never realized she knew how to tat......isn't it pretty? I found some printed ones also but haven't taken photos of them yet..and also a pretty Christmas handkerchief......

 I think times were better back then...most mothers stayed home and raised their children....ladies always dressed nicely even to just go to the grocery store.... I remember Mama and I would get all dressed up to go on the bus downtown to shop....we often went to the drugstore for ice cream...I remember sitting on a stool at the ice cream counter, dangling my feet, waiting for a strawberry ice cream cone..watching the soda "jerk" pile it high on the cone.....nothing tasted so good.....I still prefer strawberry ice cream...

Garden Update

Blogger isn't cooperating this morning so no photos...but we are starting to get some produce from the garden this week...dug  up our red potatoes and boy! are they delicious! We had them steamed last night along with some yellow summer squash with eggs....again..the first of the garden...and we got two tiny cherry tomatoes...wow! the flavor just explodes in your mouth when you bite into one....well worth having the garden..we are eating far more healthy and loving it........hope to have photos next time...blogger is rejecting everything I try to post...sigh...

Also praying for safety in the Midwest....

Sunday Coffee Cake...

Sometimes I like to throw together this little easy coffee cake...there are only a very few commercial products I use..Bisquick is one..been around a long time and as its sugar free, we use it occasionally....

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

1 1/2 c. bisquick
1/2 c. sugar (or Splenda)
2 T. softened butter or margarine
1 egg
3/4 c. sour cream or plain yogurt
1 t. vanilla
Heat oven to 350...grease or Pam a square pan....8x8x2"...Mix all ingredients above and spoon into pan....cover with this streusel topping..

Streusel...
Cut 2 T. firm butter or margarine into 1/4 c. Bisquick, 3 T. sugar (or splenda),1/2 c. cinnamon and 1/4 t. nutmeg..until very crumbly...

Bake streusel covered coffee cake for 30 minutes or so...serve warm...

This is a very simple and delicious coffee cake..not too sweet, tender and delicious....Sundays just seem like a coffee cake day...

Drying Fruit + More Desert Photos

I've gotten several questions about drying fruit....drying is very very easy to do....last fall we went to Oak Glen and bought several bushels of apples...Alan is partial to Jonathans as they keep their flavor very well in drying...we are on a mailing list for an orchard there and they email us when the different types of apples are ready.....
our old dehydrator was ruined in our garage fire last year, so we replaced it with a similar one...we've dried fruit for years in our old HarvestMaid dehydrator,  you can also find it under Nesco.....

This photo is from the Nesco website....ours is in its box in the garage attic right now waiting for this fall.....we find this type of dehydrator is one of the best ...you can buy extra trays if you need them......
for apples, we also bought a old fashioned apple peeler/slicer...we had one also before the fire......

those are the only two equipment pieces you need to start drying.....and once you have them..they keep going for years and years...we had our original ones for over 30 years and they can be handed down for future dryers so its a good investment...
you simply slice the apples with the above and lay them in the trays...they do recommend dipping the apples in a lemon juice solution and .we've done that at times. Other times just left them...with Jonathans, there is very little browning without any extra treatment...turn the dehydrator on and just walk away......the booklet with the dehydrator tells how long to leave them...usually 8-10 hours or so...I check them occasionally...when they are done, I store them in ziplock freezer bags and keep them in a dry place....
The trays are very easy to clean and can go in the dishwasher...
You can make quite a few others things with a dehydrator, all types of fruit,  fruit leather 9with the addition of a solid tray), some vegetables..and of course, jerky...dried foods keep for quite a long time......apples and other fruits make great and healthy snacks...often, when we are on our road trips..we take along a bag of dried apples...we also make a mix of chopped dried apples, peanuts, almonds, and other nuts as a type of trail mix which is really good.

We planted quite a few onion starts this year so I am planning on drying  some...have to dry them outside though as onions are very "fragrant"...once I dried some when we lived in our condo which was a mistake.....had not a few complaints from the neighbors.....LOL but we did enjoy having the chopped dried onions for recipes....
Alan can't tolerate fresh onions but can eat them dried in recipes.

Our second trip to Borrego Springs was really nice again....the house was wonderful..sorry, I didn't get any photos of it......it was ranch style (one of my personal favorites)....with a country kitchen, lots of cabinets and cupboard space, and a fireplace...they had built a platform in the back for enjoying the desert nights and it had 3 (!) fig trees, and two grapefruit trees.....3 bedrooms and two baths....very roomy....we picked some of the fruit to take home....Brown turkey figs (like our tree) and pink grapefruit.....my dad said that you can grow anything in the desert..all that is needed is water...
I did take a few photos when we stopped at an outlook looking down in the desert valley...clicking on the photos expands them for a closer look.....we saw a sign saying there were mountain goats in the hillsides but we didn't see any......

hope this answers any questions about drying.....please feel free to ask as we've been doing it along time.....even tried strawberries one year!

Dried Apple Pie and more

Dried Apple Pie

3 cups dried apples

2 1/2 apple juice or cider

your favorite pie crust recipe

3/4 c. sugar or splenda

1 t. cinnamon

2 T. flour

1/4 t. nutmeg

dash of salt

heat juice or cider to boiling and add to the dried apples in a bowl..let them soak for about an hour. Cook apples in the juice until tender about 10-15 minutes. Take off heat and mix in rest of ingredients (except crust)

Roll out your crust and place in a 9 inch pie pan...Pour apple mixture into prepared pan...cover with your top crust....Brush top crust with milk and  you can sprinkle a little sugar and cinnamon on top if desired...Bake at 400 for 50 minutes or until done....
Warning....the dried apples expand quite a bit and in my case, lifted up the top crust....it does go down while cooling though......

We are going through all the goods we canned last fall....doing a little inventory and Alan is building some shelving in the garage for them...I discovered we still had quite a few bags of dried apples hence the above pie...its very good and sure saves alot of time peeling and coring apples...

This has been a very slow week workwise for us...we are going back to Borrego Springs tomorrow  to re key another house.....such a nice trip we're looking forward to it...this time its in another resort area with a  lake.

I finished all the toweling I've been embroidering...the vintage striped ones and the flour sack too......these are the best I've done so far, some of my best work......they are listed on my selling blog....its been very cloudy here and cool so the photos aren't as bright as the toweling really is..they are much nicer than the photos show ...
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