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countrylane's Blog
countrylane's July 2008 Entries
Last Post 20 hours Ago
Jul 31, 2008 | 1:39 PM PST
So far I have 5 quarts of applesauce made. It takes a lot longer for one person to do it all and also the other things that comes with having three boys around, who seem to always be hungry! Hubby needs to come home and do the coring so I can make the sauce. :) He said that his great grandma always had him do the cutting stuff so she could keep doing the cooking stuff. #1 son's job is to dump the yucky stuff onto the compost pile. Yesterday, he was getting fed up with the gnats and fruit flies, when he ended up stepping on a bee. So I made sure the stinger was out, put on a paste of baking soda and water, and gave him a piece of chocolate. The rest of the evening he wobbled around, you'd have thought that he had lost a toe or worse. Then when my mom came over, he was telling her about it and telling how much it hurt and she said that she could top that. She had been cleaning out roses and sat on a bee! She thought at first that she had sat on a thorn, but figured it out that it was a bee. She felt bad for the bee, saying that she had ruined its day (and life)!
Looks like I'll be taking over the mowing at our church next year. My mom has done it for years, but she's getting frustrated with it and other stuff, so hubby and I thought that maybe it's time for her to stop and me to take over. Talk about mowing, I need to mow our yard.
Jul 30, 2008 | 1:15 PM PST
Walked around the garden yesterday evening, waiting for hubby to come home, when I looked through my cucumbers and found orange ones. I like to pick them when they are about 4 or 5 inches long, because they are sweeter then. But some of these weren't but 6 or 7 inches long, wide and orange. I know that cucumbers gone too long unpicked do turn color, usually yellow. But I have never seen an orange one, that was still pretty small. And they weren't soft, like those that are rotting.
Been working on those apples. Some are on the stove as I speak, cooking down, to make applesauce. Will work on more tomorrow morning. I still need to clean out the rest of our old freezer. I have cleaned out all the veggies and fruits...made me kind of sick to think of all that was wasted. But the Lord must have better plans than mine. Hubby can't wait till the switch is made to the "new" freezer. The freezer above the fridge is getter rather full. I have lots of frozen blueberries, strawberries, and sweet corn to put in their new home soon.
Mom's coming over for supper tonight. Kids are all excited as they always are to have her come over. I'm looking forward to it too. :)
Jul 29, 2008 | 2:10 PM PST
Today was the last day of our VBS at church. The theme was the Armor of God. The kids got to paint and decorate a cardboard shield and sword. Since it was the last day and hot, we all went to a lady's house who lives very close to the church and played on their water slide. Well, at least the kids did. Us, girls sat around and talked. :) Talked mainly about homeschool and when everyone was going to start. We also go to talking about blogs that each of us are on or like to visit. They kept telling me that I should start blogging, so this time I told them I did! I got to brag about this site! This place has been a God-send, literally. When hubby is gone all week and I'm not talking to mom, I get to come on here and talk to others who all have at least one thing in common. And I get to meet so many wonderful people!
We had a nice rain the other night and everything just perked up. Esp. the pumpkins and watermelons. They were looking kind of sad. I try to water them slowly, but God does so much better than I. Today, it is so hot and humid. The weatherman says that by the end of this week, we will be having temps in the mid-90s!
Jul 28, 2008 | 6:49 AM PST
Hubby was home on Friday evening, so he took me out to eat to celebrate our "anniversary week". Hubby's family has a tradition to have a "birth-week", instead of a "birth-day"! That was nice! Saturday evening, we all went to his family's house. His mom and great aunt were putting up corn, so we ordered pizza and took it over. #1 son kept busy taking corncobs out to the back 40 to dump. Dad-in-law found us a "new" freezer! He and hubby picked it up yesterday evening. This week will be spent cleaning out both freezers and then making the change. Lot cheaper than what we thought we would have to spend for a new one. It makes a difference when we pray that the Lord would provide instead of giving us the money that we need to make the purchases needed! The truck's expenses were minimal, the freezer free, and the washer is doing great! He is merciful and does provide!
Mom brought over two 5-gallon buckets full of "transparent" apples. Great for applesauce and applebutter! Will keep me busy the rest of today putting them up.
Jul 25, 2008 | 6:19 AM PST
What a blessing! Mom-in-law stopped by on her way home from work, bearing gifts! She stopped at Marsh and picked up a 5-lb. box of blueberries and 2-lb. thing of strawberries!!! She's such a sweetie! Her maters,she said, aren't doing well at all. Mine are doing very well, so I will share with her the bounty.
The beans are growing and growing. Mom thinks the vine coming out of the compost pile is pumpkins, which is what I thought, but wasn't sure. There are loads of pumpkins growing on it. Even have a volunteer tomato blooming on the pile. The raised bed of peas are done. Picked the peas and pulled the plants out. Planted some cowpeas in their place. We'll have to wait and see if they do anything. I know it's getting late to be planting things like that, but I didn't want to NOT plant anything there.
Made some more necklaces. Mom said she wanted one with a pair of matching earrings for her birthday (in Sept.). Mom took the kids and I out to eat Wed. evening. That day is officially hubby and I's anniversary, though we celebrated it last weekend. But mom said that there is an unwritten rule, that one should not cook on their anniversary! :) So even though hubby wasn't home, she took the rest of us out to eat anyway. Then we stopped in a park in town to let the kids run off some steam. THey were really good during supper.
Hubby is going to be home tonight and part of Saturday. He has to head out the later half of Sat. to start driving to NJ. He has to meet another man in Penn. and then they will drive to NJ. Hubby is hauling the other half of whatever it is that has to be delivered on Mon. a.m. He hates to be gone weekends, but the last 10 weeks have been rather slow, so this will make some good money for the business (and all those bills coming up). I'll just have to have mom and brother out for some meal during the weekend.
Jul 22, 2008 | 8:55 AM PST
Wow! What a storm we had last night. Roared thru here around 1:30 a.m. Looked like strobe lights outside, the lightening was striking one right after the other. Lots of wind too. But it's cooler this morning! Yesterday, I was walking around the yard, checking on all the growing things. Found a summer squash ready to be picked. Thought maybe the cucumbers might have some ready. Glad I checked! At least a dozen! Most of them were getting too big, past their prime, but we will still eat them and enjoy! Came up with my own version of a cucumber sandwich. Used a tortilla, spread it with ranch dressing, layed some slices of turkey on top of the dressing, then sliced the cucumbers very thin and layed them on top of the turkey. Rolled up and enjoyed! Yum! I also picked a mixing bowl full of peas. Need to shell them today.
Hubby is in Georgia picking up a load to bring back up to Kentucky. He said he missed the storms, but is enjoying the cooler weather. Having mom over this evening for supper and cards. We were supposed to go to VBS today, but it was called off due to most of the kids are sick (hand, foot, mouth disease). THe Lord was really protecting our boys this past Sunday, when they could have been exposed to the children who are sick, but they weren't. He does protect even when we don't know it. (By the way, we go to a small church, yet have lots of kids. VBS is usually just the kids in our church, though by the last meeting, there's a few others that trickle in.)
Made a couple of new necklaces. Love to make beaded necklaces. So relaxing and a way to vent my imagination. I did sell some at a family reunion a few weeks back. Wasn't looking to do that, but an aunt was buying them before I knew it. She wouldn't just take them. I have a few that I need to make and then send them to those who wanted me to make one with them in mind.
Jul 21, 2008 | 12:07 PM PST
My dear hubby and I had a most wonderful weekend. We were celebrating our 14th anniversary early. We left Saturday morning for Cincinnatti (we dropped the kids off at my mom's house). We actually stayed in a hotel in Newport, across the river from Cincinnatti. We went to the Newport Aquarium (COOL!!!!), went to a bookstore, watched the new "Dark Knight" movie, and went to a Reds game (they won!!!!) Then we walked back to the Newport across the Purple People Bridge. It was so nice and moonlit! We ate at Joe's Crabshack and then went back to the hotel. It was so nice not to have to worry about feeding 3 boys at the regular eating times (we ate supper at 10:30 p.m.) and just be "us" again! We came home Sunday afternoon. The boys did miss us, but they had fun with grandma, too! It's such a blessing to have family so close! The aquarium is definitely the money to go in. Shark-petting, too! Had to talk DH to pet one. He wasn't so keen on it. :) Bawk-bawk-bawk! My brother, Unca John, took the kids on a ride on his 4-wheeler. #2 son loved it! #3 son wasn't about to get on it, he was too busy with Rocky, Unca John's dog. It was a beautiful weekend. Hot, but beautiful!
Jul 17, 2008 | 1:08 PM PST
I don't know how it can be so hot and humid and not a cloud in the sky! Just hanging the clothes out on the line made me sweat! I gave the mint a haircut. It was taking over the garden that it is in. Now the okra and the one watermelon will be able to get some more sun. I pulled some weeds and checked on the peas in the other bed on the west side of the house. Not ready yet. One of the hot pepper plants have some big peppers on it. I guess I'll wait til it turns color? My first year to grow those. The cucumbers, autumn clematis and pole beans are all clambering up the hog panel arbors. I hadn't thought that the cukes would do that, but they are. I don't mind though. The zinnias out by the road are blooming and looking real nice. I took pictures of flowers the other night. Hope to enter one into the fair next year.
Talked to the friend who farms around us. We both agree that this is such a strange year, summer. Everything seems to be mixed up. Timing all off.
Some friends are coming by tonight. THey are having a house built out this way, so after he mows, they are coming over. Their oldest, who is 3, loves to play with our three.
Jul 15, 2008 | 3:35 PM PST
Last night, we all went to the Decatur County Fair and watched the tractor pulls. #2 son lit up like a firecracker! He yelled, "WOW, did you see that???", as loud as he could after each pull! Too funny! These were the suped up farm tractors. Black smoke would roll out of their exhaust pipe and some would do wheelies on their way down. #1 son liked the wheelies. #3 son could have cared less; He lit up when we went to pet the animals. He loved the pony, which he called a cow, though there was a cow next to it. :) And he loved the goats. They all were too cute. I've often thought that a goat or two would be fun to have around. We then got a milk shake and then drove home. It was a nice evening and they have a real nice fair. Makes our fair shameful!
Today, I was able to pick some peas. Not much yet but I was delighted! Mowed grass and after supper (homemade pizza) my mom's coming over to play cards with me. Anyone ever heard of "Hand and Foot"? :) (By the way, dear hubby went to Toledo, OH, so he won't be home. We will miss him. )
Jul 14, 2008 | 7:46 AM PST
It's been awhile since I've been on. I had trouble getting on this site for some reason, but now I am on again. I was beginning to miss getting on GG. I wanted to tell about the evening that I had outside a few evenings ago. It was a beautiful day! Blue, blue sky and not a cloud, except a wisp here and there. Perfect temps and just a breeze. I sat out in a chair under a tree and read a book while the kids played in the yard. My #1 son was bent on making himself sick with winding up the tire swing and then sitting in it and letting it go. :) Every kid should have a tire swing! Beans are blooming-they are purple blooms! The peas are filling out in the pods. The onions are growing big in the soil, the carrots are filling out, the cukes and squash are forming. The okra is getting tall, the pumpkins are going to bloom soon. The watermelon love their new bed, out in the sun. The tomatoes are filled with green ones. The kids were all getting along. It was very theraputic esp. for someone with a summer cold ( I hate these things). Very relaxing.
By the way, the sticks I place around the bottom of the pole beans to keep some critter from chomping on them must have worked, for they are all growing and nothing has eaten the leaves since. I cleared the sticks away and all looks great!
Jul 10, 2008 | 7:07 AM PST
Dug up some irises. Mom-in-law had been wanting some of the many blue or purple ones that I have. She's promised to give me some of hers that aren't blue or purple. Mom gave me yellow ones, but they haven't bloomed yet. Maybe next year. But while I was digging up and seperating the bulbs, some were squishy and big ol' worms came out of them! Yuck! So those got thrown into the compost pile. Under a pile of yucky weeds wet from the rain. Maybe it's too wet where I had these bulbs. Besides, I planted a raspberry start there. When I move all the watermelons from the bed on the side of the hill, then I will plant some irises there instead.
Noticed lots of poison ivy starting to make its appearance around the yard. I'm going to have to pull them. In the past, before having the twins, I would be a mess about 2 or 3 times a year with poison ivy. I always made a yearly visit to the doctor's for a shot and for him and the nurses to go, "Ewww!". I'd get it in my eyes, ears, on my lips, lids, etc. But my body changed after having the twins. Now I get it but it's just a little spot here and there. No huge rash!
Gotta go and mow the grass this morning. I love to mow!
Jul 9, 2008 | 7:52 AM PST
I have heard of people de-stinking a skunk. Won't do it to one though, as some day I would love to have chickens, and they love eggs. Plus it wouldn't be a good choice for a pet for my 3 boys. #2 son is a little leary of animals, though from afar he croons over them. #3 son loves them and seems to get along with them. #1 son wants to get a dog, though I'm waiting for the right one to come along. The Lord knows the right one for us and His timing is perfect. (Though it sure is hard to wait!)
It's raining again. Seems it just about dries out, then it rains...again! I've never seen it rain here like this. Even in '94 when the Mississippi flooded from all the rain. Towns and cities have flooded around here that one wouldn't think it would flood! I think sweet corn will be a rarity around here. But, I don't have to water. I rather enjoy watering the plants, but I never do as good as a job as the Lord does. And I don't have to mess with the skeeters while watering. They are bad this year!
I think I will have to transplant the watermelons that I had planted on the side of the hill, outside the twins' room. To much shade there and they seem to dry out too fast. That's okay. But I have to wait till it stops raining...
Jul 8, 2008 | 2:59 PM PST
That's what my #1 son said as he came running down to the house. I had promised to go with him on a bicycle ride on Sunday, but when he opened up the shed doors, he said the flower pots came down and there behind them was a skunk! He lit out of there like a house afire! Can't blame him. Hubby and I went around on either side of the doors and together shut up the shed, until that evening. We also threw in some moth balls, hoping this would drive out Pepe La Pew! I checked on the shed today, and I couldn't find him, so hoping he crawled out the window. Need to put up some cardboard so he doesn't revisit it. I don't know where he's been living, but I sure smell him at night. One night, I was on the computer and heard something on the porch. Figured it was coons, and almost rushed out the door to scare them off. Glad I didn't! It was a skunk! Last year, we had a family of them living in the old Hickory tree. But she moved her babies out of there and out to the old barn. But we would still see Mr. Skunk, who was almost all white, once in a while ambling off across the field. Guess he was looking for some chicken eggs for a snack. They are cute and some are quite pretty. Sure would make a pet people would talk about, if you could de-stink it first.
By the way, zinnias are starting to bloom and they are so pretty! Also, I finally did a job I wasn't looking forward to doing...thinning out the carrots. I sure hate to pull things that have so willingly started to grow in my garden. :( I know I had to do it, so that the carrots would be big when I pulled them this fall, but still...
Jul 8, 2008 | 7:35 AM PST
It's been awhile since I've blogged (a week maybe) and I've missed the company! We had a great weekend! The family we had out turned out to be a great choice and we all enjoyed the friendship and conversation! And all the kids played well! One of our guests wanted me to go around and share all about my plants/flowers. I was in "hog heaven" talking about them. Like a proud mother hen talking about her chicks. Sunday evening, friend brought a golden raspberry plant for me. He's been promising me one for about a year. I had a bed all ready for the plant, just waiting for it's homecoming. It blooms twice a year, so double the harvest.
This weekend was good and bad...The truck's rear end went out, the freezer died and the washing machine is on its last leg. The washer is being prayed through right now. :) The freezer was full of beef and fruit that I have been getting when it's on sale and had washed and froze to use during the winter. I'm hoping that the strawberries and cherries are okay, but everything else I'm sure I will have to get rid of. Makes one kind of sick. But we're praying that the Lord will provide. He knows our desires and our needs.
Jul 2, 2008 | 6:41 AM PST
My hubby said that he remembered things he learned in horiculture class about cold frames. And mom's lent me a book about country living that's called "Back to Basics". They have some ideas on cold frames. I know I can round up some old windows from someone, even maybe mom. I'm really looking forward to having those. Yesterday, I mowed the place, while hubby weed-eated (Yum!!--LOL) and burnt the pile of sticks that have been growing since last fall. Wow, what a difference! Noticed lots of blooms on the squash, volunteer pumpkin, and cucumbers. Also the peas, and maters have blooms on them. Getting ready for the weekend. We're trying to decide on two groups of people to invite. Either the group that we all enjoy having out and have a great time with or the other group of people that we haven't had out for a long time, but there is a reason for this. (smirk) It sounds like a no-brainer, but still...
Jul 1, 2008 | 6:08 AM PST
Planted the blackberries, tomato, and the bachelor's buttons. Talking to a friend on Sunday at church, the subject of cold frames popped up. We both were talking about how hard it is to get the maters that you start in the spring to produce anything before the first frost in the fall. He suggested building a cold frame. Of course, I had heard of them and knew roughly what they were, but figured I would never have one, so I haven't paid much attention. But when I mentioned it to dear hubby, he told me about them and was all for building a couple of them! Yea! My mom has a tomato variety that was my grandma's favorite. Big yellow ones with red stripes, and not much acid. (Grandma's tummy couldn't handle the acid very well, but she loved maters. That's why she grew this one kind, for her to eat.) This way I can keep those seeds going, growing that plant each year! And keep the torpedo and hopefully if I get the spoon, then those two, too. (Does that make sense?) Same friend gave me a baggy with some seeds of a parsley that tastes like licorice??? Mom had heard of it, but others haven't. Anyone know the name of it?
