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dbjc364's November 2010 Entries

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Nov 30, 2010 | 1:08 AM PST
Tag: time to hang the wreath..
that shovel in the dirt, I would get the "warp,warp,warp," against my head now.Yup, she's finally frozen.Which makes me a bit sad.Not because I can't garden,but because I was getting into the groove of burying my compost in the beds,kinda like a squirrel feels.The temps will sneak up higher today-low 40's, so I'll trudge out to the big compost and get rid of the small pile I have.I have another lady saving her compost for me now.Now that we'll take this next coming year off from building anything{I think},I can play a whole lot with the compost garbage.I have a second big bin,but never got so far as to start filling it.Just a bunch of weeds growing very happily in there.We've had a couple of snows,but only an inch on the ground.I'm so close to clearing the last bay to get my car in there.After finishing up a small job in town,I can get back to that today,if I don't get sidetracked yet again.The cabinet.I've gotton farther on that.An older beat up cabinet that his sister gave me,that more than likely she would have tossed on the dump. Which is something I totally lack in this kitchen.A difficult kitchen to remodel because of all the doors etc.,so I've been acquiring piece by piece for little or nothing but my time.This is the last piece.I figured it would take me all winter,but I am farther ahead right now.We changed out the casters,put a back on it,added a missing shelf underneath.I have 2 medium size drawers and one big one.Whoo-hoo! its like my birthday! After we blow out the wall and create another bump out, sink the fridge, then I can slide the cabinet into place where the fridge was.Its the correct measurements too. Jim says," you know I could have built a cabinet there".No, dear, sorry you can't. You can do many things,but your not a cabinet maker.I"ve never seen you build drawers,you dont have the right tools for that job.Besides,this in reality, has only taken a couple hrs. of fiddling with. Building a cabinet from scratch would have been much more, and I like this one.So far my cost has been $10, a new one,bought or made would have been much more.So just get that idea out of your head,I'm keeping this one". My next step is a quick sanding down, and primer,and I should be able to get that part accomplished before Xmas.We had a good turkey day,with a small gang here,and plenty of good food.I cleaned up the carcass the next day, and made my first fantastic Turkey pot pie, and a big pot of soup which was also very yummy.Then the standard big bowl of cut up turkey for sandwiches.I cheated for the top of the pie, and made Bisquick biscuits,instead of one sheet of crust,but we both really liked that,as the round circles made it easy to scoop out.Next I will try a beef pot pie.Now onto trying some more new recipes.Cranberry stuffing was new & yummy this year,and better than the plain ol' stuffing.Cranberry Salsa will also be a new addition this year for Xmas,I just didnt have enough time, as it was an afterthought.I'm also hankering for some cranberry muffins,so I must be on a cranberry kick.Another new kick, the making of Krem Fresh,the french way of making cream sauce for some recipes.The french use alot of creams, and use-drink a fair amount of wine,which probaly keeps their cholestral down.I'm not sure I could copy the accent,maybe only after 8 glasses of wine, and watching 30 Julia Childs episodes.lol. Well,the last bucket of garden fresh tomatoes sat in the mud room.Since I didnt get around to doing anything with them,I figured I'd have to chuck them,but to my surprise,they yielded a good bowlful of ripe tomatoes for Thanksgiving.Dredged in olive oil & garlic,salt & pepper,they were a nice addition to the meal.My first attempt at making sweet potato fries was a bust. I burned them.Actually I killed them.ok.I'll try again,when I'm not so distracted.I tried a couple, I thought they were just so-so,but then I dont like sweet potato either.But Jim does, and he loves the fries,so I'll try it again.A sunny day upon us,with mild temps at 42*,so I'm sure to get something done around here...ah,yes the Xmas decorations...

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That dastardly rain,

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Nov 8, 2010 | 2:44 AM PST
Tag: raining hard..
is upon us for today and tomorrow.And its pouring hard. I don't like it when it rains this time of year,as the temps are too close to freezing,and create slick roads.That means back-up plan B.Can't really work outside much,unless we're in the garage-which wouldn't be a bad idea either.So I quess my furniture gets moved around quicker than I thought.And hubby has the day off from work today & tomorrow.All I have is a breakfast counter-so before thanksgiving gets here,I like to shift the furniture around,and add a small table in case of company,which always happens at some point.Then I usually leave it till spring.I cleaned up the grill & parts before we stored it away,so it'll be ready to fire up first thing in the spring,and I'm happy there was enough room in the overhang addition for it.We got my computor moved last night,so today the furniture,and by the looks of things,some heavy dusting.Jim also has thursday off,so we'll take Landon overnite wed., and they'll go get their haircuts.His computor is back to working,which makes him happy so he & Jim can play frogger together.I haven't seen "How to train your Dragon" yet,so we'll rent that also.Landon has 1/2 day wed,thursday & friday off this week from school.I quess its a good thing I just got groceries,and if he's good,which he usually is,we may keep him an extra nite.The sun is suppose to come out the second 1/2 of the week,so he would enjoy being with Pappa outside.Time to take the battery out of his John Deere for the winter,and I'll be surprised if he still fits in it next spring.I think he's going to sprout up too much and his legs won't fit.The hubby forgot he didn't have to work today and set his alarm.But it turned out to be a good thing,he went down to check the stove, and the cellars flooded,a couple inches on the floor.That hasn't happened for a few years-but its been raining really hard.After he's had his first coffee,he'll find out why. We bought a new sump pump for a spare,last spring,so thats a good thing if the older one is shot.Or maybe its just not plugged in for some silly reason,which is entirely possible too.At any rate,its warm down there, and the stoves still got a good fire.Thats up on a cement pad,just in case of this happening.I quess he'll wake up now...yup-good news, the plug was just a bit knocked out in the outlet,now its running fine.ok,on with our day of silly shananigans...

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A senior moment,,

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Nov 7, 2010 | 1:49 AM PST
Tag: winter mode..
is the only excuse I have..Since I'm over 50, I now qualify.There's a word for the style of gardening that is still used by the old german folk.I read about it- decided to do it, and now can't remember what its called,and havent found the article anywhere since I can't remember what its called.I've been waiting weeks to get out back to the raised beds for even a little while,as everything else in the yard has waited patiently for its turn.Hubby went and did a small computor job uptown while I got groceries,by the time I was done putting them away he was back.After a late breakfast,he hopped on the tractor,and started clearing more of the garage sale stuff out front,storing it behind the garage neatly up on pallets.He fixed the plastic that was ripped on the front window. I got out to the pile of compost ready and loaded up the tractor and he took it over to the hole that was already in the bed,and covered it over with loam.Thats what the german do,just dig holes and trenches in the bed,and plant next spring.I already had 2 of them done,so we did 2 more. Last year the only thing that didnt decompose was the corn on the cobs.I already had a pretty good pile in the regular compost bin,and covered over for the season,so this just gives me 7 more of them,and now that mom is supplying me, I have alot of compost weekly.And I have to say putting it right in the beds,it does a better quicker job of decomposing than my regular compost pile.It is still my plan not to plant next spring,but keep improving the beds.It'll take a whole day of shredding leaves next spring for all of them,but I've got a heck of a stockpile of leaves also.Besides the shredder is now buried under all the deck furniture that we stored away yesterday.Well, how did I ever live without that little overhang addition? Its pretty packed now,and thankfully not my gardenshed.I keep getting a hankering for some warm choc. chip cookies,brownies,banana bread,baked mac & cheese,pineapple upside down cake,turkey,etc., and the recipes are also patiently waiting for me.A new braided rug is coming in soon,mom is making me,so I'm shifting around the rugs I have along with some of the furniture.Its winter mode time.When I told Jim I needed to move a few pieces,he just laughed at me,I dont know why.Just let me know when your ready he said,but he was glad I'm not moving the tv.And since we're still working outside,it'll get done a couple things at a time.I am completely behind the eight ball.Since the daughter cut her finger cutting the fat off a steak,found out she cut the tendon,I am still working with her,with the 2 clients I had given to her to take care of.She's now in a splint that has to stay on for 6 weeks to see if it'll reattach by itself.I did manage to pack & donate 7 big bags of clothes last week.This afternoon, I should be able to get back out there for another 4 bags to go,and add more compost that comes in,to the bed.If some spring bulbs havent turned to mush yet in the pots, I can get them in the front bed tomorrow also,so maybe I'll do that first,before the ground freezes up on me.Besides its been quite awhile since my hands have been in the dirt and I miss it.The daughter and I ask Landon what he learned in school today everyday, and he doesnt know.He waits till he's in the bathtub, and recites the whole "Pledge of Allegince" to himself out loud,along with everything else he's learned.What a hoot he is.He's sprouting right up,all his pants have that highwater mark look to them,so it was new pants this week,along with winter boots & gloves.He moves out of his clothes so fast,he doesnt have time to destroy them,so on the garage sale they go.She says he's going thru yet another growth spurt,eating her out of house & home again.He seems to go thru this every few weeks.From the time he gets home from school till he goes to bed she says he's eating at least 4 times.He gets a healthy snack for snack time,but not sure how much he's actually eating at lunchtime.Wow,I told her, can u imagine what its going to be like when he's 15 ?? lol.You'll have to buy a cow...

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