Day #24 NaBloPoMo

I don't have too much to show because it was Craft Day here on the homestead and most of my crafting is for Christmas so it's 'top secret' except for tomorrow on YOP post.  But I thought I would share a few tips on my turkey stock from yesterday.  I simply added the carcass to my stockpot, plus 2 onions quartered, 4 celery stalks chopped so they fit, and 4 carrots peeled and chopped so they fit.  Fill the pot with water to cover and a bit more.  Add some peppercorns and bring to a boil.  Once it comes to a boil turn it down to simmer and let it simmer all day without a lid until it is about 1/2 the volume you started with.  I actually mark the outside of my pan with a magic marker (it comes right off my stainless steel pan).  I let it cool overnight and then get out my quart ziplock plastic bags and mark them with the date and amount (2 cups in each) and what it is.
The trick is getting it out of the pan and into the bags so here's my method.........I first empty the pan with the stock into a pitcher.  I place the bag inside a container that will hold it comfortably and allow me to fold it over the rim.  I then use my 3 cup plastic measure and pour 2 cups from the pitcher into it and then from the measuring cup into the bag.  It may dirty a few more items but it is well worth it as I have made some big messes in the past trying to bypass the previous steps!

2 cups per bag allows some airspace so they will lay flat and you can freeze them.   They take up less space in your freezer and once frozen you can actually stand them up if need be and slide them on the side of your freezer so they're easy to grab.  I was able to get 4 bags for a total of 8 cups of stock just from a turkey breast carcass.  I was happy!

Since I can't show you what I am spending most of my time on...I did relax last evening with my mindless cozy memories blanket..............that I can show you although you're probably sick of seeing it! LOL!

 It's getting so big I can't fit the whole blanket in the picture.....that's a good thing!
Before I leave you for the evening I thought I would share some more Thanksgiving humor with you.  I know I have a sick sense of humor but my favorite thing in the world, I think, is laughing and this one made me laugh!

Happy Trails!!!

Day #23 NaBloPoMo

 Well, I got the mashed potatoes done and the turkey yesterday but that was about it....the Bears started at 11:30 so it cut into my cooking time.  I didn't starve though and the potatoes and turkey were great!  Even today I am still behind..... but I took a bath, changed sheets, did laundry, ironed and de-boned the turkey, made gravy and I have been simmering turkey stock all afternoon.  It smells like the turkey is cooking all over again! LOL!  I had a great turkey sandwich for lunch with homemade whole wheat bread and my bread and butter pickles.  The stock will get frozen along with quite a bit of turkey.   

 Yesterday I did start my turkey cross stitch......how appropriate on turkey day...........this is another cross stitch where I could not locate the pattern to buy so I am  'hoofing' it......

That's all for today folks...........I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving....I did and now it's time for...........

Happy Trails!!!

Day #22 NaBloPoMo

I can't believe I am keeping up with this!  Day #22!   And.........

I also have to print out this one every Thanksgiving................my favorite reminder to those who would like to stop immigrants from coming to our country.............

Now I have a real 'funny' for you this Thanksgiving.......this morning when I was getting ready to make my mashed potatoes in the crock pot.....BTW....they're still not in there........oh well...I'm taking it easy...........I was reading the recipe that I printed off and the recipe must have been a bit bigger than the standard printout and this is what I got................I had a great laugh!

It's supposed to be in the 60's today and is already beautiful out......Nitty is enjoying it......

Miss Peeps was at the door looking to see if any of her feral relatives might stop by...........

I didn't get to watch the parade as you have to have cable or satellite....I remember when I was young that T.V.  programs were free and everyone got to watch the parade.  I guess now it is just for those who can pay for it.....everything has a price nowadays...........even tradition.....oh well, most of t.v. isn't worth watching so I'm fine with that.  I can afford it I just don't think it's worth it.  I will get to see the Bears game though!  Go Bears!!!
I hope you all have a wonderful and fulfilling (in more ways than one) Thanksgiving and that you have much to be thankful for..........I know I do!
Happy Trails!!!

Day #21 NaBloPoMo

Here I am .....busy little homemaker!

 

  I was up baking my whole wheat bread first thing this morning.........it turned out great and was very tasty and toasted great too.  All set for grilled cheese tonight!  I found a great new podcast called Jenny Can Cook and she can!  She's funny and cute and has great recipes and shows you how and you can print off her recipes......very interesting....I enjoy those types of shows as opposed to regular t.v. programs which are mostly for men with their violence and 'shoot 'em up' stories.....so immature!  LOL! 

I did a lot today.  I vacuumed and washed my kitchen and laundry room floors as I needed to cook and I couldn't stand the sight of it anymore!  I also cleaned off driveway and sidewalk and washed Annie's bed and blanket and srcubbed pet spots as she wet her bed last night.  She can't help it so I try as best I can to stay on top of it with my spotbot and my Resolve mop.  I also brushed Nitty as it was such a nice day....any excuse to be outside! It was near 60 and sunny.  I sat outside and knit a bit and watered my greens in my greenhouse...nothing yet!  I finally made the frosting for the molasses cookies and frosted them...........there were a lot!

I had every counter covered and you have to let them 'harden'...the frosting that is but it was a drippy mess!  I doubt if I'll ever make these again.  I don't think much of them or the 'frosting'.  A lot of work for something that doesn't taste that great.   It's a Susan Branch recipe...I'm making her cranberry sauce so if that doesn't turn out I won't be making anymore of her recipes.  I think it's maybe a regional thing?    These might be recipes they grow up with on the East Coast?  If I remember any molasses cookies in the Midwest growing up they were called molasses crinkles and they were not soft or frosted. It probably brings back memories for her and a lot of people in that area.
So, I didn't get my side dishes prepped today but that's okay.....it's just me and the girls but I do want to watch the parade and the Bear's game!  We'll see what I get made.  Happy Thanksgiving to all of you...even if you don't celebrate it!

  Happy Trails!!!

Day #20 NaBloPoMo

 I like to have chopped up things ready to go.  I find if I always have some chopped onion and green pepper available and ready I will use them in a variety of dishes.  This  morning I had an egg dish where I threw it all in a bowl....eggs, green pepper, some diced black olives, some leftover provolone cheese and some leftover corn.  I added some almond milk and mixed it all up and cooked it like scrambled eggs which in reality...it was.  Delish!  It's like soup,,,you can't go wrong no matter what you add.....or else I've just been lucky.   Leigh, from 5 Acres and A Dream (on my sidebar) had a great post last week about how to make Scrap Soup and you really need to read that post if you want to utilize your scraps and leftovers to the fullest.  She has tips and techniques that really help reduce waste and give you delicious add ins for your soups.  That girl is so knowledgeable!  Well, duh, she's written books about it so I guess she does know what she's talking about!  

Today was chilly but sunny so I washed a load of rugs and hung them outside..............

I also watered plants and to my surprise my Christmas or should I say Thanksgiving cactus was blooming...............

I'm waiting for some whole wheat bread to rise so I can bake it off.  I was going to have grilled cheese and tomato soup tonight but at this rate it may just be tomato soup!
I hope you had a great day!
Happy Trails!!!

Day #19 NaBloPoMo

Holy Cow!  I almost forgot to post today!  I had so much going on and I was sitting in bed with my feet elevated eating my pizza and watching the news tonight when I remembered I  had to blog!  So glad I remembered although for all the 'doing' today I don't have much to show for it.  I had calls to make for car, propane etc. and I don't know what else but the day went by in a flurry!
Yesterday I defrosted pizza dough that I made using Rain's great recipe (Rain's Garden.....on my sidebar) and it turned out great.  She has all kinds of ideas for different types of toppings too.  Okay, so maybe it's a little rustic looking but it tasted great!  Here's a picture and please stop by her website and take a gander at all her wonderful recipes and gardening and artwork and cheese making!

 The girl is a true Wonder Woman!  I made cookies yesterday but never even got them frosted today.  Tomorrow is car in and bread making and more laundry and yada yada yada but life is good!  I did work on my Merry Monday project but forgot to take a picture so maybe tomorrow.  I hope you all had a great Monday!
Happy Trails!!!

YOP Week #21

and Day #18 of...........

 YOP 2018-2019

Finishes so far:
1.  4th of July xs pillow
2.  Hitchhiker shawl
3.  Felici Hibiscus self-striping socks
4.  Felted wool loafer slippers with leather soles for me
5.  washcloth (extra large) and back scrubber for Christmas or birthday for SIL
6.   Iowa Hawkeye hats for Sam and Grayson
7.  Techniques learned so far this year: a) knit cast on, b) reading a knitting chart, c) lace work, d) inserting and using a lifeline e) charting a graphghan
8.   dishcloth(s)...I need to count them

FINISHES:
  This was not a craftily productive week as I was 'out and about' but I did finish a dishcloth which is just like the one in the advent picture below.

WIP's (works in progress) for this week:
1)  A Cub's hat for Uriah......sorry about the lighting...it's very dark outside as it's getting ready to rain so I had to have the lights on.  I like the brim on this one and it's much easier because it's knit a whole round and then purl a whole round as opposed to the other ones which were K1P1 for every round of the brim.


 

2.  Cubs ornament for Uriah: This is my Merry Monday project...not too much work this week......but some progress..........

3)  Advent Calendar - my daughter and I are exchanging Advent gifts this year but we have decided to just do The 12 Days of Christmas instead of 24...........whew!   Here's what I have so far..........

I  have ideas for a pin cushion and I need to revisit my Secret Gifts board on Pinterest.....I need 6 more gifts....I thought I had more than this....oh well...carry on!

I need to be focusing on Christmas presents now both bought and made but this week of the Thanksgiving Holiday here in the U.S. I will be working on some of my projects just for me......hopefully next week I'll have more to show you.

 Please share any quick, easy and inexpensive gift ideas you have as Christmas is coming and I'm sure we can all use them!
Acquisitions:  I bought this size 13 crochet hook and need knitting needles both DPN's and circular in the same size for some Super Bulky projects that I see in my future!

 MISC:  My neighbor feeds the birds but the line to the feeder starts in my yard! LOL!  So I get the benefit of her visitors............please id if you know...I'm terrible....is the first one a Cedar Waxwing?

Not a clue but I like the little bit of yellow under the wing on this one.............

This one was in the grass...an obvious ground feeder...................very unique looking with a ruff and yellow 'eyebrows'..........

Molasses cookies are finally being baked but probably won't get frosted until tomorrow.  These are cake like cookies....I actually like them plain....

Vegetarian pizza all prepped...okay I might put the leftover bacon from breakfast on it which would eliminate the vegetarian part..............there's also 3 cheeses, black olives and mushrooms and sauce.......I think I'm getting hungry!

That's it for this week!
I hope you had a wonderful week and enjoyed working on your projects.  Happy Thanksgiving to those in the U.S.  Please stop by and see all the other fantastic projects that other  YOP'ers are working on.
Happy Trails!!!

Day #17 NaBloPoMo

Yes, a vanilla pumpkin ale and I deserve it!

It was a gorgeous day..sunny and in the low 70's............I had to take advantage of it as rain is coming and lower temps tomorrow..  So..........I made my baby greens greenhouse................I think I mentioned watching Roots and Refuge Farm podcast and she showed how to do this so you can have baby greens in the winter..........how wonderful!   You take a large plastic storage container and lay the lid on the ground where it will get sun all day.  You cut open a bag of soil like the picture shows.  I had to remove some dirt as there was too much.  Smooth it out and break up any lumps and sprinkle your seeds over it.  I used what I had which was some kind of lettuce and some kale seeds.  The object is that you will clip them when young and they will grow back and you will have a steady supply of 'baby greens' all winter..... 

I have this great mister that you can purchase for $10 at Me and My Stitches and it is great!  I need more as I use it for everything....it is great for misting the seeds so they don't wash into one spot.

No batteries required...it's the bees knees!  I then put the container on top and it should stay warm and moist.  I'll keep you informed on their progress.  She says if it gets super cold you can mulch the container with straw or leaves or anything you have.  You do have to remember to water it too.

I also washed some windows.....I had to take advantage of the weather....it won't stay this way forever!  These were dinner napkins...you can see the folds but the other curtains went in the wash and I don't like living in a fishbowl so I put those up.....there was more for the middle window too but it was so pretty I thought I'd take a picture before putting up the rest of the curtains.
I had phone calls today which put me behind so no pizza tonight.  Just a bowl of organic chicken noodle soup from Progresso.  I made the molasses cookie dough and even had the oven pre-heated but after the calls I covered it with saran wrap and turned off the oven.....I'm beat!  Time to recline!
I got up at 3:30 so it's been a full day.

What were you up to today?  I hope you had lovely weather where you are or stayed inside your cozy abode!
Happy Trails!!!

Day #16 NaBloPoMo

Okay, I'm whooped!   Walmart took all my money, all my energy and all my muscle strength...
It was a beautiful day today....sunny and near 60 F so it was a pretty drive but I'm done for the day.  I also had to stop by the pharmacy and pick up some meds.  I did buy a pattern today on Ravelry but it's a gift so I can't show it today.  I need to order needles and yarn and don't forget FREE shipping on Amazon and others until the 23rd!  Not much exciting on shopping day.  I was going to make molasses cookies but who am I kidding?  I do have the butter softening and I have enough leftovers so I don't have to cook anything for supper but other than that I am off to elevate my legs! LOL!
My daughter got me this bag and I love it.............

 I'm not afraid I'm just too tired...........
Happy Trails!!!

Day #15 NaBloMoPo

 This is the way it usually looks around here in November...............

But not this year!  I woke up to snow this morning and 22 degrees F
...brr.........I had to postpone Wally World again...not worth it when tomorrow it will be gone along with the black ice and in the high 50's and by Saturday it will be in the 60's and window washing weather again!  Yay!  I only got a few washed before the cold front came through last week.  The snow was beautiful though...........for a minute I thought that red dot might be Santa but then it's bit early for him.......

Many of the trees haven't even changed color or lost all their leaves yet..........crazy...........

See?  These are still green...........but I'll take this weather any day compared to dry 'fire danger' weather after seeing the terrible fires out west................

  Yesterday and today I tried organizing my grocery list making and menu making.........I got into my MS Word program and copied an inventory template.............I know it's a little hard to read as I was backed up to another cupboard trying to take this picture.  It lists the common things I buy at the store usually and as I think of other things I will add to it.  So far there are 3 pages and it's a great reminder when I am making out the grocery list.  I also have a list of favorite menu items.  (BTW, that magnetic clip I got at the Dollar Tree....5 for $1....bargain!)  There's also a column for prices of items.  After shopping I am going to fill it in so I can keep track of prices and know when a 'deal' comes along so I can stock up. 

I also got these Fall magnets for decoration for my frig at the Dollar Tree....you guessed it....they were $1.............I love that store!  I also got some fall window clingies but they are hard to take a picture of.

I made out my menu and it is hanging on the other side of the frig along with the inventory sheet and my grocery list for tomorrow.  When I make out my menu I go back through and get the recipes and write down on my grocery list everything I need.  I check my cupboards, pantry, linen closet and bathrooms.  I buy things when I only have one remaining so I always have a backup especially with Winter coming.  When I have written the ingredients needed for a recipe on my grocery list I then put a check mark next to it on my menu.  I also put the book and page no. of where the recipe is or I print it out and clip it with the menu.
In wanting to be as self-sufficient and 'home made' as possible I went through my list and Googled to see if there was a recipe for something that I buy prepared.  I looked for Triscuits and there were a few but the ratings were low.  There are saltines and wheat thins which I will try.  I did print off a recipe for oyster crackers because I have some clam chowder and I always have oyster crackers with it.  Of course, I will make bread these coming days plus  English muffins.  I wasn't crazy about them the first time I made them but I think it was me more than the recipe.  I needed toilet bowl cleaner so I researched that and came up with this recipe which I will be trying........if you can't read it just click on it and it will enlarge it for you. 

  I'll be making cranberry sauce from scratch and pizza dough.    I looked at my Thanksgiving Day menu and decided to fore go a few items unless I want to 'roll' into Christmas! LOL!  No 24 hour salad and no sweet potato casserole or scalloped corn.  There will be Brussels sprouts. but I refuse to give up the pumpkin roll (speaking of 'rolls'!) LOL!
That should keep me off the streets and out of trouble through Thanksgiving. 
BTW!!!  Did you know Amazon and maybe Target too is having free shipping from 11/16 through the 23rd?!?!  Be sure and check your favorite online stores as it was on the news that many are trying to get a jump on Black Friday. 
Happy Trails!!!