Early June gardening
Tomatoes are happy plants in the greenhouse, so happy they are flowering and setting fruit
Apparently the slugs have found their way to a happy hunting ground as well. So today was “Sluggo” day in the greenhouse. 
The Bananas are extremely happy. I will be bringing them in the house this fall with added lights and see if there is any chance of having bananas this far north.
And most of these plants are waiting to get planted outside, though a few of the lettuce and kale will remain inside as “cut and come again” plants.
How is your garden doing?
Move over, Rosie!
Mary, my friend came over to “play” to day. We were going to work on treadle machines, but decided that we really didn’t want to. Then we walked into the family room and I asked her if she could put the motor on my honey extractor. She never turns down a challenge and it was a real challenge including two calls to the company. When I purchased the motor, the salesman told me it would just take a few minor adjustments to put it on. NO WAY! The machine had to be taken completely apart and an old fitting had to be hammer out (think really hard to do). The new parts were put on and the machine is ready for this season and more. This took a good two hours, but Mary persevered after which we went out to lunch.
“Tell it to the Stars” block 6
The blocks I finish this month will finish half the blocks for this year 2014. Difficult to believe we are that far already, isn’t it. Here is the first of the ones I’m doing this month.
And here are the ones for the year so far.
Mother Earth News Fair
This is a terrific fair! I always learn so much about living without making such a big footprint. Come with me as I share with you a few of the photos I did remember to take. I usually forget to take photos when I am so enjoying the moment
First of all there were the organic seed companies which I enjoy perusing.
This was the first time I’ve seen a freeze drying machine which could have been all mine for “only” $4000.00.
And of course there were the chocolate and other food companies displaying their latest temptations
We saw a variety of composting toilets much improved from the old “out house”
Soft hot tubs and I can only guess that this way of living is going to make one’s muscles need soaking. But when would one have the time?
There were lovely folding shopping bags for when one would make a shopping trip — not often because most of this show is geared to “backs to the land”
These women are promoting the North American Wool Association
LOOK! these are the baby Cormo lambs I purchased a month ago. The Association wanted some Cormos on display so my babies were happy to oblige.
I had not seen sisal made into rope before and this man was demonstrating how it was made 100 years ago.
It’s always fun to have period costumes when one is doing a craft that once was a necessity.
Although the fair had so many other things as trees and bees and soaps and books and a myriad of marvelous things to see, I leave you with the delighted look on the face of my daughter who was a 4H-er for many years
as she looks at these pygmy goat kids.
summer socks pair 1 finished
These socks are intended to just cover the foot in the shoe. So I should be able to get two pair from the same fiber from which I usually get one pair since I always have some leftover. If I don’t have quite enough for the second pair, I’ll finish the toes with something else – who sees way down into your Nike’s anyway? I had a lot of waiting time this week so was able to finish them quickly. It may take the entire month of June to finish the second pair as the plan is for my brother and his granddaughter to visit as well as my daughter and grandson. And we will be doing some “going”.
Look closely as I’d like to point out some flaws. It’s difficult to see in this photo, but the top sock is definitely a lighter grey than the lower sock. I purchased this fiber at JoAnn’s and it is a decent sock yarn, but I didn’t bother to check if it was the same lot number and it isn’t. You will notice that the stripes also do not follow the same order. It’s as if one was rolled reverse from the other. Now on this pair of socks, none of this matters because when I make the second pair, it will be the same story, so by taking the dark sock from each pair, I will have a matching color pair – the same with the lighter gray ones (assuming I have enough to finish both socks with this yarn) However, if this had been a full pair of socks, I would have been unhappy and probably stopped after the first inch and reappropriated the yarn to another project – scarf or ?
So lesson learned. Lot number can be extremely important.
The second pair is barely started and will be put on hold until the house is company ready.
In the Kitchen – Granola and Broccoli recipes
Yesterday we made granola which is really fast to do and isn’t nearly as sweet as what one gets in the grocery store.
GRANOLA
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10 cups rolled oats
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1 cup sunflower seeds
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1/2 cup raw cashews
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1/2 cup slivered or ground almonds
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1/2 cup honey
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1/2 cup olive oil
Mix all together and put in dehydrator until done – usually 2 days in mine. This is very basic and I often put up to 3 cups of seeds and nuts without changing the rest of the recipe. (instead of just two) Adding a bit more or less of the oats, seeds, or nuts or adding other items just adds variety to your breakfasts. If adding dried fruit, add it after you take it from the dehydrator.
QUINOA with Broccoli
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1 1/2 cup quinoa cooked as box states in 2 cups chicken flavored bullion
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1 onion sauted then add
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1 large head of broccoli and cooked until barely tender
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11/2 cup vegan or any type cheese such as cashew cheese (I used Daiya cheese for this photo)
Mix quinoa, broccoli, and cheese together and place in casserole dish. Pour cheese over top and bake 400 about 30 minutes.
This recipe was adopted from Vegkitchen When served for company, we don’t have leftovers for the next day.
Cream of Broccoli Soup
This makes 9-10 cups of thick soup and stays hot awhile.
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broccoli – approx. 8 cups I peel and save chopped stems in the freezer from when we have steamed broccoli.
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1/2 cup red pepper – I use what I have or even what I have dehydrated
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onion – 1 large chopped
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5 cups water
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1.5 t salt
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garlic powder 1/2-1 teas (depend on taste)
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1 teas savory – optional
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2 Tbs chicken flavored bullion
Place onion, seasonings, and about 5 cups of water in large kettle Simmer til broccoli stems are tender. Sometimes I will blend this and Then add the broccoli crowns – about 3 cups and red pepper. Simmer about 5 minutes.
If you are freezing it, this is where I freeze and add the rest after thawing.
In the blender add 3/4 cup cashews, 1 cup water and 1/3 cup potato starch*. Add to soup, stir and serve.
Sometimes we add a spoonful of salsa to the top.
*Instead of potato flour, you could use a cup plus of well-cooked rice or a large potato, well cooked. Either will thicken the soup.
These recipes are not exact as that’s the way I cook. So if you can fudge one way or the other on them.
I hope you enjoy them.
Quick fleece gift tutorial – scarf, blanket, hats
The Bible says, “the poor you have with you always” I take this as a call to service. For me summer is a great time to start on my charity gifts. By the time cold weather arrives, I usually have an arsenal of small gifts, none of which took me much time. I also have blankets and quilts, but they take a bit longer.
SCARF (fleece blankets can be done the same except use 2 yards and just trim the margins off the sides and use a plate to make round corners.
Yesterday’s blanket backing was fleece and left me with scraps. Buy a 1/4 yard of fleece in colors for the recipient. I suggest the dark or team colors for men. This does not need to be prewashed as it does not shrink.
Since the piece was 66″ long and 8+ inches wide on each side, I cut those sides off.
Then trimmed them to be 8″
Then fringed each end by laying a ruler across the end where I want the fringe to stop and cutting every 1/2″ up to that point. I do not measure, just eyeball it. (If the fringed pieces are pulled they will curl). The fringe is optional.
With little time and money you have a quick gift or charity project. We make these for street people along with fleece hats and in purple for the hospital “shaking babies” program.
HATS
Average Head Sizes from Martha Stewart
Newborn (6 months and younger) Circumference: 14 to 17 inches Crown: 8 to 10 inches
Infant (6 to 12 months) Circumference: 16 to 19 inches Crown: 11 to 12 inches
Child (12 months to 3 years) Circumference: 18 to 20 inches Crown: 11 to 12 inches
Child (3 years and older) Circumference: 20 to 22 inches Crown: 13 to 14 inches
Adult Woman Circumference: 21 to 23 1/2 inches Crown: 13 to 15 inches
Adult Man Circumference: 22 to 24 1/2 inches Crown: 14 to 16 inches
Using the infant size above I cut 2 hats with the 11 x 16″ measurements
Then sewed the long sides together with a 1/4″ seam to make a tube.
Sew a seam across the top of the hat
Sew the two points together using a strong thread (for a beginner, this is better done with a needle and thread)
Bare heads lose a lot of body heat, so I have not stitched the bottom of the hat. One can turn it up once or twice or even leave it full length. For a child, it can be used for a longer time.
Today, we have put away 2 scarves and 2 hats for gifts.
And because we paid for all the scraps, I want to use them. So using a bit of satin binding left over from another project and the last usable piece of this fleece, which is 10 x 11.5, I sewed the binding on for the baby to take along when they leave the house (esp in case she is a thumb sucker). In this way, mom can pin the piece to baby’s clothes and baby has her comfort piece.
In case you are concerned about the selvages cut off, they will become plant ties.
Pinwheel baby quilt
A good share of today was spent quilting and binding this baby quilt. These pinwheels were left over from making another quilt. I really enjoy being able to use parts that are put to the side when the first quilt is make. I’m quite happy with the way turned out It still needs to be wet down and laid out flat to relax the binding as I tend to stretch it to keep it straight as I sew it. I plan to do that in the morning.
The other part of the day was spent researching whether we will go with plan A, B, or C for our water. Our well no longer provides the amount of water it has in the past. So we have an appointment with a pump man and may get one with a well driller and will price holding tanks as well. Ah, the ebb and flow of money. It just isn’t flowing the right direction.
