Buh Bye!
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Bye!
Bag are packed and excitement mounts.
Jacob will take me to Janice’s in the morning and after a quick lunch, she and I will hit the trail. Destination: west, northwest and whichever way the wind blows.
Ya’ll behave while I’m gone but remember to have fun. See you in several weeks!
Shirl
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Categories: Travel
The final countdown
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Long Sleeve Tee
Though it’s hard for me to comprehend, we are in the final days prior to leaving on our trip. I’m getting more excited by the minute!!
Tonight, Bob took my last minute shopping list to the store and picked up some traveling necessities. It’s written in stone I can’t drive on mountain roads without Nacho Cheese Doritos® and bottled water. It’s tradition! In addition to other snacks, he picked up extra items he thought we might appreciate, like tiny packages of baby powder, swabs and hand sanitizers. Sweet.
Along with Jake and the dogs, I suspect Bob will also miss me… or my cooking!
Upon noting the nippy nighttime temperatures in Yellowstone, Yosemite and Redwoods parks (among others), I decided it might be wise to sew some long sleeve tees to wear under the jacket I plan to pack. Not only will I enjoy wearing them on the trip but they will be a welcomed addition to my casual wardrobe when the rumored upcoming winter finally arrives here in Texas. (It was 104° today!)
Since I’ve been packing newly sewn, unwashed clothes in case of fire evacuation, tomorrow I will take my chances and unpack, launder and repack. It’s been a beneficial trial run as it has shown how large a suitcase is necessary for all the clothes, books, medications, toiletries, etc. needed for a 3 week trip….. REALLY LARGE!
Janice (my travel companion sister) and I visited last weekend to finalize our plans. We’ve added more sights to the ‘Bucket List’ and agreed to exclude others, with hopes of catching them on a future trip. We are both hoping to make traveling together an addiction.
Shirl
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Hazy, smoky sewing
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Tees and gown
With our continuing drought here in Texas, instead of planting a fall garden to feed the family, I’m sewing more items to feed my hungry closet. I’ve reached my goal of having all new clothes for the upcoming vacation and am now sewing for the pure pleasure of it. Though I’ve made a number of new items, the fabric stash shows no sign of shrinkage. Could it be I have too much? NO WAY! Since I’ve used some of the stash, do I have a good excuse to purchase more fabric? Ya’ darn tootin’!
With the serious threat of fire and continuous heavy smoke in the air, as I finish sewing each article of clothing, I pack it into a suitcase in case we’re forced to make a quick evacuation. I’ve set aside a carload of items I must save with thoughts of losing all else. Other than my family, critters, a few photos, important papers, my sewing machine, laptop and a couple of quilts, I’ve come to terms with the possibility of losing our home. It’s part of the risk of living in a rural area during a historic drought. I still wouldn’t trade it for a big city home with nearby well-equipped fire department. We’ve had that and I’m very glad we’ve evolved to no longer hear constant sirens.
Though dry, our weather has finally cooled this week. We’ve not seen triple-digit temperatures for the first time since May. It feels wonderful to spend pleasant (though smoky) time outside.
Shirl
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Picot elastic – not just for undies anymore
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Picot detail
My closet had become so bare, to nourish it, I’m continuing to sew. I really like the way this t-shirt turned out with just a touch of trim around the neckline. I had no pretty edgings or lace but in the stash of various pantie elastic, I found the perfect blush-colored double picot to match the flower print in the black cotton knit fabric. I applied it like a standard edging, sandwiched between the shirt and facing. It came out exactly as I had hoped and gives the neckline a unique touch without looking like elastic.
In preparation for the upcoming vacation with my very special sister, I’ve ordered and received several new clothing items. It’s been so long since I’ve splurged on new clothes, it feels like Christmas! Along with the new items I’ve sewn, I have a new jacket, jeans, sleep shirt, blouses and walking shoes. Today, I’ve ordered some sandals and flip-flops. With the recent gift of new undies and a blouse, I’m all set for the trip. The suitcase will be stuffed and I won’t look like Pitiful Pearl in ragged clothes!
I can hardly wait to escape the high temperatures and drought of Texas and head into the cooler mountains, then to the west coast. I may never come back home!!!
Shirl
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HOT!!!
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There’s no doubt about it, it’s been a HOT summer. This is the warmest we’ve ever seen in Grapeland since moving to the area 20 years ago. The air conditioner never stops roaring and the electric meter zings. I fear our next bill!!!
This picture is of the remote readout for the thermometer mounted in the shade overlooking our garden area.
While temperatures have been HOT, I’ve had the opportunity to learn a few things:
- It’s important to know, okra is crazy! While all other plants are dead or dying, with only a little water once or twice a week, okra flourishes… and when okra is happy, grasshoppers are happy. Those plant munchers are large enough to filet! I harvest (okra, not grasshoppers) each morning before the heat becomes unbearable. Gooood eating!
- Don’t leave 2 liter bottles of carbonated drinks in the car through a HOT afternoon. Bob went to the grocery store and purchased a dozen sodas (to feed Jake’s fizz addiction) along with a bunch of groceries. When he returned home, we unloaded the car, but we got tired and HOT so left the drinks to be brought inside later. MISTAKE! The bottles got HOT, pressurized and the containers split. We’re so lucky they didn’t explode or leak all over the car. Not noticing what had happened, we brought them inside where they started to hiss and seep. Lesson learned!
- Some of our super special wireless Internet equipment is heat sensitive. We have 8 customers (socked in by pine trees) which require special wireless equipment for delivery. Each day, when the thermometer rises to 104° without a breeze, that equipment shuts down. I have no clue how HOT it is on the tower where the equipment is mounted but it’s obviously too HOT. Each evening as the temperature drops, the equipment works again and there seems nothing will fix this problem except cooler weather. Fortunately, the customers would rather suffer the minor inconvenience than lose our service. Most of these same customers are suffering water and food shortages for their livestock so a little downtime for Internet is minor by comparison. <shrug>
- We have free-range dogs as does everyone in our area. Lolita’s and Coalie’s original owners live across the road on two large properties. Both dogs enjoy visiting their old homes for a little while each day and the old owners encourage it. The dogs also enjoy swimming in the neighbors’ ponds. Lately, Coalie (Newfoundland mix) stays inside (too HOT for his arctic blood) as does Nugget (he seldom treks anymore – getting old). Lolita, with her bubbly personality and slick fur, doesn’t mind the heat so much and loves visiting Marie, who spoils her with tasty treats and a welcoming lap. Recently Lolita returned home limping and whining. After checking her paws, I discovered she had blistered her pads while crossing the HOT road. OUCH! I mentioned it to Marie so now she sometimes drives over and picks up Lolita for an afternoon visit and lets her walk back home in the evening. Sometimes Jake drops her off so she still gets to socialize. Yep, she’s spoiled!
- After experiencing 110° temperatures for several days, 103° seems downright pleasant.
Shirl
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Categories: Pets, veggie gardening, Weather
Sewing with thoughts of travel
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T-shirts
I was finally able to put an unnoticeable dent in ye olde fabric stash by making several shirts from fabric purchased from individuals online. These were SUPER bargains on high-quality cotton knit fabric and I love the wearability. I have several more pieces to cut and sew with thoughts of wearing them on an upcoming trip.
My most gorgeous, brilliant and generous (only) sister and I are tossing around the idea of an early fall vacation with thoughts of clearing a few items from our ‘bucket lists’ and having a great time to boot. We plan to beeline it to Grand Canyon, then wander into Utah to visit several national parks there and see if temptation pushes us further west. We’ll be traveling with open minds and schedules. Blessed freedom! What fun!!
Shirl
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The garden wanes; sewing flourishes
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Trained Killer Garden Guard
Here’s a picture of a little guy I see each okra-picking morning. I listen to him sing songs of love each evening. He’s been around for nearly 3 weeks and though I enjoy seeing him, I wish he’d find a lovely green partner to start a family. A herd/gaggle/swarm/flock/pack (?) of them would be most welcomed in the garden. Our lizards and geckos would appreciate the bug-eating help.
Though I still pick okra every day or two, the remainder of the garden has finished production and the harvest is canned or frozen. It’s still too early to start our fall garden so this is the time I’m able to take an air conditioned break and settle with fabric and thread. My aching back is more than ready for a rest!
I’ve spent a few days with new clothing patterns, taking measurements and redrawing to accommodate my unusual size. Yesterday, I finally cut fabric and assembled a new t-shirt. I spent today taking the neckline apart to rework it more to my liking. Had I followed the pattern precisely, I’d not been able to get it over my head! As it turned out, it’s still more snug around my neck than I prefer. Phooey on patterns! With a whack, a few snips and newly created facings, tomorrow I’ll have a custom t-shirt to love and wear often.
Also tomorrow, I plan to start making another shirt or blouse or nightgown or shorts, depending which fabric calls the loudest. Sewing is such fun and I love the infinite clothing choices it offers! I can make things plain or frilly, chic or funky, according to my disposition and if I don’t like how it turns out, minor or radical changes can be made. Thankfully at this stage in my life, I have the patience to rip out, re-design, re-cut and re-sew. There’s no reason to settle for less than pleasing!
Shirl
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Categories: Sewing, veggie gardening
Not worth a hill of….
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Hill of Peas
In my youth, I once heard a least favorite aunt claim I’d never be worth a hill of beans. That may very well be true but here’s proof I’m definitely worth a hill of peas!
Thus far, each day this week I’ve gone out to the garden before morning coffee and picked peas. During the heat of each day, I shell them while watching videos and by evening, they are washed, blanched and packed. As of today, there are 41 quarts of various fresh peas in the freezer. Thank goodness we like them!
I was able to pressure can 4 quarts of tomato/okra gumbo this week. Sadly the tomato crop has now succumbed to the heat though the okra plants are producing nicely. Tonight I’ll make a batch of fried battered okra to accompany our dinner. There’s nothing tastier!
Soon, I’ll be freezing, pickling and canning okra for winter enjoyment. This Southern family likes okra any way it’s prepared so I hope the crop continues to produce.
The sewing machine, new patterns and fabric stash continue calling to me. As soon as I get the peas and okra whipped into submission, I plan to make some much-needed new clothes.
Shirl
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Categories: canning, veggie gardening
More harvesting and canning
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More Canning
The garden continues to amaze me with the amount of veggies it is providing. I spend many hours each week harvesting and canning as I ignore housecleaning. The garden offers the perfect excuse!
Thankfully, we were able to purchase the high-efficiency small freezer I wanted and it’s now over 1/2 full of various fresh peas. I’ve put up 30 quarts of snow peas, purple hulls and cream peas and the cream peas plants continue to produce. I’ve saved room for late-producing okra and for corn I hope to purchase at the farmers’ market.
After putting up 12 quarts of dill pickles, 12 pints of sugar-free bread and butter pickles and 10 pints of sugar-free sweet relish, I’ve decided to concentrate my energies on canning the bumper crop of tomatoes the garden is providing.
Our windowsills and tables are filled with ripening tomatoes and thus far, I’ve canned 40 quarts. It appears I will meet and exceed my goal of canning 52 quarts of tomatoes this season. If we continue experiencing occasional rains as we did today, the plants will produce enough tomatoes I might be able to put up some chunky green tomato relish too. I’m also hoping to pressure can some tomato gumbo (whole tomatoes with okra, bell peppers and onions). Tomato gumbo heated with a few shrimp served over jasmine rice is an easy family favorite.
Shirl
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Categories: canning, veggie gardening
Three Bucket Day
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Buckets O’ Peas
Today is a three bucket day in the garden. Even before drinking my first cup of coffee of the day, I was out picking Texas Elite Cream Peas. The temperatures were bearable with a very pleasant breeze.
I picked the first gallon bucket within a couple of minutes, then grabbed the second gallon bucket. It filled as quickly so I dumped it into a 5 gallon bucket and continued to pick. Before long, the big bucket and the two smaller ones were full and the sun was beginning to heat up. I decided I’d finish picking peas either late this evening or in the morning. I’ll be busy shelling peas this weekend as I watch movies or listen to music.
Today, I plan to can ripe tomatoes and cucumbers.
Since we retired the big, inefficient chest freezer last year, the refrigerator’s small freezer is stuffed full. I’ve decided to purchase a small, high efficiency chest freezer to help hold some of our harvest. We don’t own an operating pickup truck (the Dodge is dead again!) so I’ve researched the cost to rent a truck. YIKES! In our area, daily rental for a small truck is $79 per day plus mileage! Because we live several miles behind the boonies, the mileage alone would be a major factor. The cost of transporting the appliance would double its cost! I’ve not found any store willing to deliver to our location. Yep, sometimes living in the country has its drawbacks… no pizza delivery, no trash pickup and no store deliveries… BUT we have fabulous night skies and no traffic!!
To solve the freezer dilemma, I decided to purchase a trailer hitch for my SUV which came with a towing package. A high-quality hitch costs about the same as one day’s truck rental and I can rent a small trailer for less than $15 per day (no mileage charge). This is the most reasonable solution and offers me the option of hauling composted dirt for the garden, the new mattress I want, and recyclables we’ve collected.
Ahhhh… Liberation!!
Shirl
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Categories: veggie gardening