It was a Dark and Stormy Night....

Last week we had strong storms roll through our area 3 days in a row.


Let me tell you, something.  It's a whole new experience trying to get a dog to do her business before going to bed, when it's thundering, lightning is striking and the rain is pouring.


I went out to let Maggie do her duty and took some pics of the sky.  Granted, I just have a little point and shoot--so the quality isn't super.  But even with my camera they turned out kinda cool!

The one thing I don't have a photo of?  The standing water in the fields!  I know we were on the edge of a drought, but all this rain is CRAZY!

Dear Neighbors....

Dear Neighbors....

Should you find our mail blowing around in the field....or in the cow pasture....or in your vegetable garden, please bring it back our way.

Thanks to the company installing the natural gas pipeline right on the property line, they not only ran into our mailbox post, but they ran into it so hard, they snapped the board securing the mailbox to the post in half, ripped the mailbox off the board, yanked off the mailbox "door" and left the mailbox laying in the ditch.

Never mind that they couldn't be bothered to pick up the mailbox and bring it to my father-in-law when they came by the apologize.  No.  Just leave it in the ditch--on a windy day.  We won't be having this problem again, because they've offered to pay for a replacement mailbox.

But, until we get it put back together, lets hope that there aren't any bills....or important paperwork blowing around the country side.  If so, send them our way please.

Sincerely,
Your neighbors down the road.

A Good Problem to Have....

The Big Guy started working with a nutritionist and weight loss doctor back in February to help him lose weight.  He was given pretty simple guidelines:  keep a food journal, 3 meals a day, 1 snack a day, exercise, and keep your meals within a certain calorie/carb range.  Nothing is off limits, he just needs to be honest with his portion sizes and ingredients.


He's been a champ!  He downloaded the My Fitness Pal app for his iPhone and has been using that as his journal.  He has had checkups every few months and has to show his journal to his doctor.  


The other day I noticed this:

That's his wedding band.  It was sitting on the shelf (and still is) near the kitchen sink.  It's there because IT IS TOO BIG!


We bought a ring made out of tungsten.  This metal cannot be re-sized.  In short, it means that if I want the Big Guy to wear a wedding band, we need to buy a brand new ring in a brand new size.  


I think that's a pretty good problem to have, don't you?

If you're wondering, he's lost 34 pounds since February.  His goal is to lose 50 by the time we go to England in September.

Thank You Captain Obvious....

Sunday night we had some strong storms roll through here.  Gusty winds that rattled the windows, hail, pouring rain.....needless to say, I didn't sleep all that well and it was a 2 cup of coffee morning on Monday.  For some, a good thunderstorm is the perfect sleeping pill.  For me?  Out on the farm?  Away from sirens?  I hate it.


We have satellite TV and because of the storms, the signal went out.  Thankfully I could still access the internet.  As I kept refreshing the webpage for the Weather Channel, I couldn't help but notice this:

I had no idea I was in the middle of a thunderstorm!  That would explain why the dog had no intention of going outside.....gee....thanks!


I mean, are people really that clueless?

Strawberry Rhubarb Freezer Jam Recipe

Last week, the strawberry farm that is down the road from us, opened for business for their u-pick season.  While I LOVE the idea of picking your own, the amount of berries I wanted would mean I'd be u-picking forever.  So I called ahead and ordered a pre-picked flat for 10 pounds of strawberries.

Why so many?

Because I wanted to make Strawberry Rhubarb Freezer Jam.

I saw a recipe in the Midwest Living magazine, but because I wanted to use Low or No Sugar Pectin, I wasn't sure how to figure out the measurements.  The original recipe called for 10 cups of sugar for 10 half pints.  TEN CUPS!!  I like my jam sweet, but goodness....that was a bit too much for me.  Doing a little internet search, I found the Ball Canning Website has a step by step measurement & directions for how to make your jam.

So, here's my recipe:

7 cups (approx) of hulled strawberries
2 cups washed and diced rhubarb
7 1/2 T of low or no sugar Pectin
1 2/3 cups of water
2 1/2 cups of sugar
10--8oz (or "half pint) freezer jars

Here are my strawberries and rhubarb.  I had mostly smaller strawberries in my flat.  See?  ha!

I weighed the little containers and it weighed out to about 3 pounds.

I washed and prepared my fruit.  The directions on the website said to mash your fruit with a potato masher.  Forget that!  I used a food processor to break up the fruit and rhubarb dices a bit more.

Add your fruit to a deep pan (used my dutch oven).  Add the water.  You'll also want to add your pectin.  Here's what the pectin container looked like in case you decide to go this route.

You want to cook the fruit/water/pectin until it comes to a rolling boil that you can't stir down.  Add your sugar.  Stir well and bring it back to a rolling boil again.  Remove from the heat and ladle into your half pint jars.

I let it sit out at room temp for about 4 hours until it was cooled.  I then put the lids on and into the freezer it went!  It can last a year in the freezer.  If eating fresh, keep it refrigerated and use within 3 weeks.

Seriously.
This was so good I literally licked the pan.

  
Yes.  It's that good.

We have a dog park?!?

Last week I was taking a walk around campus during lunch and I came across the "Dog Enrichment Area." (aka....a dog park used by the vet tech. program at my college).  This fenced in little area has a bench, trees, well kept grass, a trash bin for doggie doo's and even plastic bags to boot!

I contacted the chair of the Vet Tech program and said, "is this for anyone?"  He replied, "Sure!  It's a little more restricted during the school year, but help yourself!"

YES, PLEASE!!

I loaded up the dog and off we went on Sunday.

We ran.

We looked.

We tried to figure out what that big plastic covered thing was and why the wind caused the plastic to rustle.

We drank water.

We chased a ball.

All before we got home and the rain started to pour.

I think it was a good day. 

Where the Rubber Meets the Potato...

I worked in my garden this weekend in the hot, humid 90+ degree weather.  While out of town on a work trip, my garden has really taken off!  I mentioned that I had very lofty "garden goals" this year and so far so good!

While we have this garden patch on the farm, I'm still a city kid through and through.  I want easy gardening with minimal effort.  I did share a few weeks ago about my garden and using tires to grow potatoes.  I thought I'd give you a sneak peek as to how this is working.

I love fresh garden potatoes.
I hate digging them out of the dirt.

My mother in law suggested planting my seed potatoes using tires.  The idea is that as the potato plant grows, you add more dirt up the stalk of the plant, and stack a tire up to keep the dirt and potato plants contained.

Here's the potato plants grown so far.

Who knew a puckered, old potato would produce THIS!?!
Because the potatoes are going to grow from the stalk (that's what I'm told), we need to keep the stalks covered with dirt.

I covered the stalks and put on a 2nd tire.

As the stalks continue to grown, I'll cover them with dirt (I won't cover the leaves--just the stalks) and add another tire.  When the potatoes are ready, we'll be able to take the tires off and pull out the potatoes, rather than digging with a shovel.

I'm excited to see how this works out!
Anyone else growing a little something this summer?

Up to my Elbows in Tourist Books...

Hiya!

Long time no post, huh?

I know.  I know.  I'm a big bloggy slacker.   First it was that million dollar grant (which is submitted!  WHOO!) and now I'm mapping out and booking the details for our trip to the UK and Iceland in September.  We have our Scotland leg booked, and now we're planning London.

Speaking of which....

We purchased the Rick Steves book, Great Britain 2012 back in February.  By far one of the better travel books.  I dig Rick Steves.  I feel that while he makes his living by providing travel details, it really feels honest and genuine.  

But I had to chuckle a blurb in his book about the Norwegian YWCA just outside of Notting Hill in London.  Check this out:

photo taken with my phone of the page in the 2012 book.

First, KFUK is Norwegian for YWCA.  

(get your mind out of the gutter)

BUT!  Check out the last line of his blurb (click image to see it a bit bigger)....

I'm now convinced that Rick Steves throws this stuff in there just to make sure you're reading it.  And to be honest, friends....that line was worth the $22 I spent on this book.