Home-grown food!!!!!

                                              FRIED GREEN TOMATOES!!!!

It's NOT just a movie!!!!!

It's a staple on southern tables-and mmmmmm! soooo good!!!

Its really easy too-just slice a green tomato,sprinkle with salt and pepper and dredge in cornmeal.
Plop the slices into hot bacon grease and fry about 1.5 minutes turn over and fry the other side till brown.
Don't fry em up till just before the rest of supper's done-these need to come out of the fryin pan and onto your plate!!!!
NOW you've tasted southern fare!!!!!!

But wait-how bout a little fresh catfish(also from the our place)-just pan fry the fillets in butter and baste with lemon juice butter and salt and pepper until flaky-5-8 minutes,depending on the thickness of the fish.

And FINALLY some fresh from the garden green beans!!!

It's good to pick,catch and cook food from your own place!!

It just tastes better!!!

FUN RefurbishinG project

Luke rescued a pair of chairs like this little beauty several months ago. I waited to see if he had an idea but they just kept sitting on my back porch…..beckoning to me. What else could I do- just keep ignoring them , and their pleas for….repair?

Not me!

 

I thought about lots of things to use for the new seats but when I saw an old pair of jeans headed for the trashcan- well, need I say more????? What on earth is more comfy and durable than denim????Not much!

I think these will be for sale at the Flea Market in May.

The Front Porch

 

The Front Porch

is now open!

About a year ago I started making soap, hoping to sell it at the local Farmer’s Market. That plan has hit one snag after another- market permits,location and vendor limits-  ***sigh***

I really enjoy making soap and my family cannot possibly use all the soap I make so I really need to find a way to sell some of it –so I can KEEP ON PLAYING!!!

Go take a peek at

The Front Porch

my brand new ETSY Shop-it’s an online store to sell some of the creations I am accumulating.

Thank you to all my sweet friends who’ve encouraged me to keep on playing ….uuumm I mean working….on all my hobbies!

 

Make-over pictures!!!!!!!!

Don't you just love BEFORE and AFTER pictures? 

I couldn't resist !!!!!

Coming together is a beginning.

Keeping together is progress.

Working together is success.

                                           ~Henry Ford

Did my Hardworkin' Man make this look great or what???????

I am so pleased!

I decluttered the entire room AGAIN! This is the second time since Christmas!

AHHHHH- My mind feels better already!!!

Sweet treats!!!!

Our lemons are nearly ripe! YAY!!! It always seems odd to me that they rippen in Nov and Dec- not exactly lemonade time.
We're getting a few oranges as well, but those trees are a bit younger so produce very little so far.
If you have citrus trees I am told that the time to fertilize is January and February.
So far that's been good advice.

My broomcorn is harvested as well! It's drying now but in a few weeks I'll attempt the ONE broom I'm likely to get out of the whole crop!!!

The animals were not kind to me this year- thus the small crop!

I plan to save seeds and replant- this stuff is beautiful in dried arrangements as well as in brooms!!!!

Another Farmers Market behind me!!!

We had another beautiful morning and lots of visitors last Saturday at the local Farmers Market!

 Thanks to all of you who came out to support the effort!!!!

Miss Abby sold enough cookies to purchase her much wanted "footed pajamas" !

She made lots of new friends and as always had plenty of spunk to share with all of us!!!

I think she outsold some of us!!!:)

It was great to have Sarah with us this week too!

Her cakes were just beautiful and ooooh so good!!

I bartered some clothes for one of her cakes- German chocolate!!!!!

I'm ashamed to say that I have eaten at least 3 pieces!!!!!

Sooo gooood!!!

I think she sold out too!

The soap did alright as well- but truly I LOVE the people and visiting!!!

I think I make just enough to support my hobbies- and that's ok with me- so far. :)

Farmer's Market this weekend!!!!!!!! NOV 7th!!!! *updated***

Just thought I whet your appetite for some of the goodies that will be available this weekend!!!

If you REALLY want to have some fun come on out and see them for yourself!!!!!

You won't find any of this at the mall-

Handmade Jewelry.......by Marilyn

Market Bags-(unlike any you've ever seen!!!!)..by Marilyn

CUTE  aprons.........

and Handmade Soap- gift packaged for the holidays!

  This months holiday scent is Chocolate Covered Cherries!!! MMMM!

So get yourself out to the Brimestone Center from 8-12 on Saturday and BUY LOCAL!!!!!!

Abby and Friends will be pedding some

 YUMMY COOKIES at the Market...

you KNOW you don't wanna miss that!!!!!

SELF-PROMOTION??????

You probably thought this was an advertising free spot- but NO!NO! NO!

Hey- I have to fund my addiction to playing with soap somehow!!!!!

****************

The name you see on the soap is not just a random thing- it's my grandma's name. Some of the happiest memories I have were at her feet amongst "old things" that have come to represent... ME!

I connect with old rusty buckets,windows with peeling paint, old shoes and aprons!!!!

It only seemed right to honor her memory every day by seeing her name on another

old thing I wish I could have shared with her-

Homemade Soap!!!!

A local business man (and friend) agreed to give my soap a spot in his very cool store called

"81"

(3708 Maplewood Drive~ #533-8181)

(You'll have to ask the owner why the name- I dunno!)

If ya get a chance to stop by please do!!!

***** 

Somewhere in the store there is a sign that says

"UNCOMMON OBJECTS"

and believe me- this store is full of them!!!

It's my all time favorite store...full of rusty, cracked paint,dented old STUFF!!!!!!!

(antiques,collectibles and cool reproduction pieces as well as custom built things)

I'm working on a special holiday gift soap today- it won't be in the store until early November so come back here or go by "81" to see the fun new soap  for the holidays!!!!

The line of soap I'm working on are Farmhouse Scents-
Oartmeal, Milk &  Honey~Daffodil Blossoms~~ Gulf Breeze ~Summer Grass Stain  Windblown Sheets ~ Fresh Grapefruit


I   want to thank all of you who have so heartily encourged me in continuing with this little project! I have been feeling a little like an artist lately-  all the creativity and time to actually try my hand at some of the things I've always wanted to do.
Your words of encouragement, direction and affirmation have meant so much!!

Pan Sausage.....

Recently I was shopping for pan sausage and was surprised to find that it was $4.99 for a ONE POUND roll!!!

It's been a while since I  have purchased any but I know it wasn't that high last time.

I almost just tossed it in the basket but something made me stop and think, "Hey I know how to make that and I could make twice that amount for the same price or less!"

I strolled over to the meat counter and found ground pork for 2.29 a pound.

I already had the other ingredients- sage, salt and pepper!

The quantities are a littly tricky. Everyone likes a particular balance so just add small amounts of each to one pound of ground pork- beginning with a tablespoon of sage and 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper.

Mix well with your hands and make a mini patty to fry for taste. It may take several tries to get it like you like it  so just keep writing down the amounts and work with a single pound of meat until you get the taste your family likes.

I figure it cost about half as much as the roll with a fancy wrapper and name!

Once you get a  recipe for a single pound of meat it's easy to increase for larger portions.

Another way to cut cost is to buy pork steaks on sale and grind them yourself- it usually runs about $.99  lb.

Enjoy some farm fresh eggs, homemade bread and fresh pan sausage for breakfast!!!

Contradictions................

~ Vintage Lace ~

Isn't this vintage lace beautiful? Liz found it at Round Top Texas last Spring. It is so fine and perfectly done...I always wonder about the woman who made the fine pieces that I get to enjoy.

This particular piece was perfect to add to a set of bloomers and top for

Anna for their Fall trip to Round Top.

The bloomers and top were made out of authentic feedsack cloth.

Quite the opposite of this lace is another favorite thing of mine~

~ Primitive furniture ~

See what I mean- it's a contradiction!

This particular bench was Fridays project at Lukes job.

He (and his boss) were purty proud of it!!!

Luke is having a great time at his job and seems to have a real knack for woodwork ,I think.

Re-purposing binge!!!!!!

 

I have been busily re-purposing every item of clothing I can get my hands on!!!

 I'm certain it's unhealthy - I mean I do have to cook  and garden and ....well you know....all that stuff that HAS to be done!!!
None of it is nearly so much fun as finding a garment for 50 cents ...seing something different in it...and bringing it home to remake it!

These bloomers are both samples of what I plan to share at our local Farmer's Market soon-
The first pair was made from a beautiful bedskirt with fabulous wide crocheted trim. (Thanks Angela, for picking that up for me!!)
The second pair (modeled with the red top) was sooo simple....It was a pair of 100 % cotton capri pants (a bit too large ) that I simply added lace collars to..... the collars  arent exactly the same but I think that adds to the look! They   didn't fit all the way around so I simply pulled the original button closure and fastened it  to kinda gather the hem and here they are!!!

Gotta run- I have a whole stack of clothes  to re-make!!!!!

Canning Pears.....

My good friend Heather shared some local pears with me a couple of weeks ago and I am just now getting around to putting them up!!! They are soooo easy and when Fall arrives they will find their way into bread,cakes,muffins and likely a biscuit or two!!!The process is really simple and you only need a few tools~ First peel and core your pears, slicing into halves and quarters.

(To keep them from browning dissolve 3 TBSP. of Fruit Fresh into a quart of water and drop each slice into this mixture) 

 

 



Be sure to prepare your jars and lids by sterilizing in boiling water.Toss your funnel into the sterilizing pot too!!!



While the jars sterilize gather your tools:

jar lifter

wooden spoon

cup towel

After jars have been sterilized left them out one at a time filling to within 1/4" of top with pears. Wipe off the rim of the jar so that it will seal properly and twist the jar ring on just finger tight.

Once all jars are filled and sealed return them to the boiling water(with water covering them at least 1" over the top of the jars) and allow them to boil in the water bath for about 15-20 minutes.

Remove the jars carefully and allow to cool before labeling and storing in the pantry and planning all the good things you're gonna cook with them!!!!

Tying up loose ends....again!!!

I think I have more loose ends than anyone in the entire world!!!

Here I am, just a few days before vacation and I decide it's time to make soap!!!

Now I simply MUST get this done before I get us ready for vacation...even though I have a baby quilt to finish, an overdue wedding quilt and lots of other ideas just overflowing from my brain!!!

Sometimes I feel like I may explode from sheer excitement at finally getting to learn and do some things that I have never had time for before now!

How will I ever get the last year of home-schooling done if I keep adding threads and loose ends to my life?????

Back to those loose ends- Heather and I got an early start on soapmaking .

We were both a little unsure of the process but we muddled through ,made a big mess and had a great time. We also decided we were hooked on soapmaking! It was far easier than the research to prepare us and it appears to have come out right!

We'll unmold it tomorrow.It should take several weeks to cure before we know for sure if we did it all right! I'm so glad we tried it- even if I should have been finishing other things !!!!

( Don't worry, girls- the wedding quilt and baby quilt are next in line!)

A good friend and mentor in the arts shared her soapmaking supplies with us and boy did that make it a bit less intimidating!!! Thanks Helen!!! (See Helen's beautiful Lampwork and other art here~ http://helensharvest.com/ )

I wanted to show you a top that I ReMaDe-it was a simple linen top from walmart(I got it at the thrift store for 50 cents. I think it was meant to be a mini dress- but my knees will never see those days again!!!)

I stitched an old crocheted collar to the top and paired it with some bloomers I made last week.

What do you think? I LOVE this style- but it's not for everyone. My daughters keep reminding me of that!!! :)

OK no more starting projects BEFORE vacation!!! I gotta get ready to go see my kids!!!!

More than just pickled cucumbers....

It may not sound good but if you like boiled eggs and you like pickles you will love this recipe!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is my husbands special mix-

Hard boiled eggs(whatever amount fits your container)we used a half  gallon jar

1-8oz bottle of Season All

1 bell pepper,sliced

1/2 onion sliced

 1 jalepeno(optional)

50% vinegar

50%water

Boil all the ingredients(except the eggs) together and pour over the peeled boiled eggs.

That's it! It may take a couple of days for the seasoning to fully penetrate the eggs but MMMMM! when it does! It's a great summer snack!!! Store in the fridge.

A wonderful discovery!!!!!!

[caption id="attachment_63" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Best tool EVER!!!!!!"][/caption]

This may look like just another gadget to you but not so!!!!

I was recently reading a farmgirl friend's blog(http://beehavenacres.blogspot.com/2009/05/my-favorite-garden-tool.html )and she was writing about this wonderful tool.

I was thinking,"How good could it be-  "but as I read her words I realized she struggled with the same problems I did in the garden. Managing a hoe is not something I can do-it just wears me out and all the weeds seem to laugh gleefully as I pound and hack at them.

This tool makes all the difference!!! I picked it up at Lowe's for about $16. If you have a garden you NEED this tool!!!!!!

Somebody's gotta do it!!!!! (How to filet a catfish)

Can you just see the "EEEEWWWWWWWW!" on their faces?????

I know this isn't for the faint of heart- but if your gonna fish ya gotta know how to clean what ya catch!!!! Here's a step by step!!!

[caption id="attachment_51" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Begin by securing the head of the fish with your hand"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_52" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Using a very sharp knife(or electric knife) begin the cut just behind the gills"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_53" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="as your knife touches the spine turn it toward the tail and continue cutting just above the ribs and spine"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_54" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="continue working toward the tail moving the flesh away from the knife"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_55" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="separate the flesh at the tail"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_56" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="turn the fish over and repeat the entire process"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_50" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="MOST IMPORTANT- clean EVERYTHING up !!!!!!!! "][/caption]

Wash Day

I started hanging my laundry out on the clothesline a year or two ago when the utility prices began soaring each month. It's not always the best solution during really crummy weather , which we have plenty of, but it really saves on the electric bill when I can use the line.

Besides the savings in money, I enjoy the smell and just the feeling of being outside and doing something productive that's at least a little more physical than pressing a button!!! When my grandgirl ,Abby is here we talk and visit while she helps me.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another significant savings for us has been to make our own detergent. I spent months reading and researching which recipe to use and I have settled on one I'd like to share with you.

As close as I can figure it, the cost is about 1 cent per load- plus very little waste in the form of plastic containers.

(commercial jugs work out to around 6-10 cents per load)

Here's the recipe:

1 cup of Oxyclean(I use the no-name brand product)

1 cup of grated Felds-Naptha Soap(I have used OCTAGON as well-Misses Grocery has it)*grate the soap as fine as you can so that it melts easily in the wash

1/2 cup of Borax

1/2 cup of Washing soda 

Mix all ingredients well and store in airtight container.

I give mine a little shake to re-mix each time I use it also.

Use 2 Tablespoons for each load- a bit more for greasy of very soiled laundry.

Let me know if you have any info that I can add to this- I am still learning so much!!!

COMPOSTING ~

First you must know that I am a NOVICE - I have had so many people share their knowledge with me that I felt it only right to just keep passing it on!

Composting has so many advantages- recycling waste,enriching soil, minimizing our input to landfills and likely much more. For me it feels less wasteful. We don't have any recycling programs locally so it's a bit difficult to recycle things like glass, etc., but anyone can compost!!!!

 

I started last year with a black garbage can with a lid and hole drilled into the sides. I add all my vegetable waste,coffee grounds and even egg shells.

I quickly got tired of running outside to dump the collection of vegetable peels and such so I dug out an old enamel pot with a lid to make my kitchen scraps less ....visible. :)

  

 

 

 

 

 

 I empty the kitchen pan into the outdoor can where the organic materials begin to decompose. Since most of the things in this can are from the kitchen there is plenty of moisture to help things start "cooking".

Heat and moisture seem to be the key to getting this going right. This is just a regular garbage can with a tight fitting lid. We drilled holes in the sides so that there would be some air -another important factor.

**Don't expect the science about all this to sneak in here- I'm all about SIMPLE-



  

 

 

 

 When the big can  gets about half way full the it goes into the permanent compost bin, near the garden.

 



 

I 've been "cooking" this compost for almost a year now and plan on tilling the finished compost into the garden when we cultivate for planting. I'm anxious to see how the plants do using the compost-

 

 

 

 

Who knew garbage could be so much fun??????