Thank You Ma Fletcher

My sister, Angel, gave me several boxes of canning jars this summer.  Today I was making some Hot Pickled Mix and got out some of those jars.  This was one of them.  The labels says FROM THE KITCHEN OF Ma Fletcher CONTENTS Sweet Pickled Peppers DATE 9/84.  This gesture from the past made my heart sing.

I love canning and I love it for many reasons.  One of them is because of the long history of generation after generation of women preparing food for their loved ones.  The time it takes in the preparation, the gathering of supplies, the hot sudsy water as you wash the jars.  Jars that if you are lucky are passed from woman to woman, family to family.  The love and care and yes, the science that goes into preparing foods that will stay good and will nurish your loved ones.  I love canning in a quiet house, my kitchen sounds, the running of water, the fire of the gas heating the pots on the stove, my footsteps going back and forth to the sink, island, stove.  These are the sounds my kitchen and I make preparing foods with love for those I love.  I also love canning when my family is home, the gazillion tv's, the laughter of the boys, even the squabbling.  My kitchen noises are drowned out by the sounds of the family I love living life.  Their footsteps racing through the house drown out mine...but mine are still there..following in the footsteps of all those who have gone before me.

I was lucky enough to know 2 of my grandmothers, Mamaw Cheek and Grandma Doan.  Both women shaped my life and who I am today.  Most of my happy memories revolve around the time I spent with them.  I took their quiet lessons with me and they live within me.  I didn't get to know my Grandma White, but my Uncle Bruce told me some about her..and I know I would have loved her.  We are so similar and I am proud to be their granddaughter and to carry on the traditions that I know they loved.

So, thank you Ma Fletcher for your jar.  I will happily fill it will love over and over.  And Ma Fletcher...if by some chance you have moved on...could you please tell my 3 Grandmas hello..thank you for the life lessons and I love and miss you.
Tina

Farmers' Market Guilt...and Glee :)

So...rainy day...get to Farmers' Mkt and there is ONE 1 ONE  vendor Out In The Open..so I MUST buy from him...because well he hung IN and all... and isn't in the Covered Area..so... well...I Have To, Right??  So, I did...2 beautiful cabbages.  And then I went inside..and bought lots of peppers, and broccolli and cauliflower and did I mention I bought more peppers??  So...Hot Pickle Mix, and Peppers...all to be canned is on my immediate horizion and I made..YUMMMMM...broccolli cheese soup :)
Peace,
Tina

At Least My House Smells Great!

Made up 1/2 bushel of Spy Apples into Apple Butter this morning.  The yield is :
Pints=12
1/2 pint=21
4 oz jars 10.

I still have 2 1/2 bushels left!  I am going to do the rest in applesauce and sliced up and frozen for apple pies/crisps.  Clearly I was clueless to the amount of apples I was getting!

Banana Peppers
When I went to the farmer's market last time I picked up a 12 qt basket of banana peppers.  There was a mixture of red, green and yellow.  I canned them up with some vinagar and sugar and salt.  They have to sit another week before the guys can dig in.  Super easy and I think they are so pretty!  Next year's garden will definitely include banana peppers.
Tina

Spiced Pear Butter, who knew?

Saturday I got tired of tripping over the bag of pears I picked up last week and dug out my ball blue book (bible) and made up some Spiced Pear Butter. OHHHH MY HECK! Incredibly good. I had a little more pears than called for so I added a bit more of this and that and the other and it turned out so dang good. I canned it up and now we will have it to enjoy for awhile. Hopefully there will still be pears when I go to the farmers mkt this week and I will make up more. I had no idea this would taste THAT good.
Tina

Boo!

Jamie and I are going to go to a grown up Halloween Party tonight. We are going as Shrek and Fiona!! Oh the costumes are sooooo funny. We are like a couple of silly kids giggling with excitement and anticipation. Things were a bit rough for us for a few months and this feels really really good to be able to share this fun and anticipation as a couple. I can't wait to share pictures with everyone!

Tomorrow we are going to my sister's house and going to see Mom and Harry too. Going to take the boys to a pumpkin patch near Angel's and have some fun carving them.

My weekend is promising to be loads of fun and I hope yours will be as well!

Take care,
Tina

Finally!

I have tried for the last couple of years to become a "runner". I have never really felt comfortable actually saying that I am a runner, more along the lines of I run or I'm trying to become a runner or I like to run sometimes and even I ran " x-amount". Finally, with my efforts over the last few months I am comfortable saying "I am a runner". My inner definition is that I am capable and comfortable of running for a minimum of 15 minutes and a minimum of a mile. And I enjoy the actual run itself. I am starting to run less in the shape of a "C" all hunched over, eyes on the ground and more of a shuffle than a run. I find I am standing taller, head up, butt tucked and able to actually look around at the passing view. Shoulders squared. I think this is partly my voice in my head telling me to stand straight but, also, my confidence is growing in my running. I no longer feel like I am a "fake runner" but can say with confidence, I AM A RUNNER!

Farmer's Market Love

Spent a wonderful hour at the Farmer's Mkt this morning. Came home with a wonderful haul again. Apples, pears, banana peppers, red & yellow peppers, garlic and some onions. I will be canning apple sauce and apple butter, pear butter and hot banana peppers. The red & yellow bell peppers will be sliced and frozen. I am so loving how much local produce I am putting up for the winter :)

Happy Weekend!
Tina

READY...SET.....GO!!!

It's Socktober once again! Kristin Kapur has her Mystery Knit Along starting today on Ravalry as well as her blog ThroughTheLoops. I have my yarn ready, needles ready and the first clue printed out. Now to just find a bit of time and some peace and quiet and I am good to go :).

Happy Knitting!
Tina

9/28/2010
BUZZZZZ...

I have been reading Novella Carpenter's Farm City The education of an Urban Farmer and my mind has been racing since I started it. I can't stop thinking about all the possibilities in my own little area of land. I actually floated the idea of beekeeping to the family and have placed a call for more information. This year's garden was a succes and definate plans are in the works to enlarge and expand for next year. I feel like my mind is just buzzing with ideas lately.

On the knitting front, I have both sides of the front as well as the back of my Slouchy Cardigan done and am working on the sleeves now. I also have a pair of socks on the needles and my needles and yarn ready to go for Kristin Kapur's mystery sock knit a long starting on Friday.

I love feeling so creative :)

Take care and Happy Fall!
Tina

Walking & life lessons

On one of our recent walks it occurred to me that taking a walk with Darius is a whole lot like living life with Darius. See, when you take a walk with Darius you have no choice but to go at HIS pace. Just like life. Now, we always are going forward, eye on our goal, which with the walking is getting to Aunt Deb's house and in life is getting to spend some time with Aunt Deb. Sometimes we walk slowly, sometimes more quickly. You might hear us sing, and just as easily might hear him griping at me and telling me to stop being so bossy-again..life reflected! With life, having him grow and develop at a slower pace has really helped me to relish the time he is in NOW, the progress he is making and instead of zooming through life's milestones we have been able to enjoy them at a more leisurely pace. Sometimes, I'll admit a bit grudgingly and with some longing to be on to the next. Now with walking, again, the slower pace has really helped us to be able to talk along the way, enjoying our progress, seeing the neighbors and our neighborhood. We stop and smell the flowers, touch all the different bushes, fences, learn our safety lessons (stop, look left, right, left again-ok safe to cross)and enjoy all the richness and textures of life in our neighborhood along the way.

I'm blessed that God has given me this gift of a child, teaching me to enjoy the here and the now, the slow but steady progress of both life and walking.

Weekend cooking goodness

Sorry...no pictures to accompany the blog today.

Saturday I made smitten kitchen's Tangy Beef Brisket-YUUMMM-for Sunday's dinner. Here is the link-so good! http://smittenkitchen.com/2010/04/tangy-spiced-brisket/


This is a 2 day deal so be sure to keep in mind when you go to prepare it.

To accompany such wonderful meaty goodness I made egg noodles from scratch that sent husband and boys over the EDGE. Who knew egg noodles were so easy? I just did a search for egg noodles on allrecipes.com and used it. I was being lazy so I just plopped everything into the Kitchen Aid with the dough hook and let it do the work. This also takes a bit of thinking ahead because you need to let your noodles air dry before cooking.

AND-just a fun little tip and a way I incorporate my quilting and cooking-I washed up an old quilting ruler that I never used and used that and my trusty pizza cutter to cut the noodles up and it went quicker than quick!

Brotherly love

As long as Lucas is around we will never have to worry about Darius. They've always been the closest but over the last 6 months Lucas has started to really be D's right hand man. This morning Lucas went to the library (we only live 1/2 block away and he goes 2-3 times a day) and came back with 2 dvd's for Darius. I asked where his books were and he said "oh I didn't go for me, I'm still reading mine. I just thought D might like a movie" <3 <3 <3 Again...he's 8!

Yummy yumm

This week I made Spicy Pulled Pork from Pioneer Woman's cookbook. ANOTHER awesome recipe. I am loving this recipe book.

This morning I made brown sugar banana muffins from Williams Sonoma's Family Time cook book. Soooooo delicious!

Jamie made choc chip cookies this week and we were out of sugar so he substituted Splenda-OMG! Who knew they would taste SO good??? Kids never knew the difference and to be honest if I hadn't known I would not have been able to tell. I was pleasantly surprised.

Hoping to get some knitting in today-no-wait I WILL get some knitting in today. Can't wait to be done with these socks so I can move on to my next unfinished project.

I have to see a couple of patients later this afternoon. Yeah! Hopefully things are starting to pick up.

Now both vans are acting up....need some serious car healing mojo..

Have a great Saturday!

More knits off the needle for 2010

I finished up Lucas' socks today and last week I finished a scarf I was working on. Now working on the second sock for a pair for me :). Feels good to get some projects finished!

Another winner winner chicken dinner

I tried the recipe for Pioneer Woman's Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti this week and it was a big hit in our house. Only changes I made were to use Mezi Penne instead of spaghetti. Delicious!

Friday

Busy productive week.

I was able to get some visits in which equals money in the paycheck. Now I just have to finish the documenting and get it all turned in by Monday.

I sent out my resume to a company (fingers crossed) and took initiative to generate more visits, which again..equals money in my paycheck.

Set up a table in the living room for games/cards/drawing/etc. and it has been used so very much. I wish I'd thought of it sooner. The boys and I are using it a lot! Pics to follow at some point. I've been soundly beat at Uno more times than I can count this week.

Cooked new recipes and managed to keep the dining room table cleared off so we could eat as a family every night.

Lots and lots of knitting. Finished up one sock of Lucas' and almost finished the second.

Got great news that my son is coming home soon.

All in all..a good week.

Couple things I'm loving

I was gifted with The Pioneer Woman's Cookbook for Christmas and I am loving it. I've made 3 or more recipes out of it already and I'm very happy with the results. I'm also loving all the inspiration over at www.asoftplacetoland.net. Man..I lose track of time over there and get tons of inspiration for things I want to do.

First knitting off the needles for 2010

Here is a picture of the 3 hats I knit for the boys. I had intended them for Christmas but just didn't get them done in time. This is a great, simple pattern that works up very quickly. You can find it here http://a-friend-to-knit-with.blogspot.com/2009/12/saturday.html
My knitting focus this year is finishing what has already been started.

New Beginnings

Hello,

Trying to get back here. Going to try and get back in the routine of things :).