My Best Chili

Brown one lb. of hamburger in 1 tblspn. canola oil in frypan.  Add one package chili seasoning mix, stir.  Put crockpot on high, add 1 med. to large onion, chopped, 1 big can tomatoes, whole or diced, and 1 small can tomato sauce.  Add 1 clove garlic, minced, 1large can kidney beans or pork and beans, 1 can chili beans, all with sauce; add hamburger, 1 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. black pepper, 1/4 tsp. paprika, 1/4 tsp. cumin, 1/4 tsp. coriander (or cilantro), 1 tsp. white sugar, 1 tsp. vinegar, 2 medium tomatoes, chopped.  Stir well and cook on high 4 hours, or low all day long.  Serve anytime of the day or night, garnish with shredded cheese, crushed potato chips, and/or sour cream, if desired.  This recipe contains 2,800 calories altogether.   A serving of 1/8 of the recipe would be about 350 calories, garnishes are extra. 

                Festival Fried Rice

Put 2 cups water in saucepan, add 1 cup long grain white rice and 1 tsp. butter.  Simmer, covered, about 20 min. or until water is absorbed.  Fluff with a fork and set aside, keep covered.  Cook 1 chicken breast in 1 tsp. canola oil, salt, pepper and paprika to taste; when cooled, cut it up in small pieces, set aside.  One 12 oz. bag cooked shrimp, thaw and remove tails if necessary; cut up in small pieces, set aside.  Prepare and set aside 1/4 cup celery, diced; 1/4 cup green onions, diced; 1 carrot, grated.  Shred 1 or 2 cups lettuce, set aside.  Rinse and drain one 14 oz. can bean sprouts, set aside.  Scramble 2 eggs in a cup, heat 1 tblspn. sesame seed oil in large skillet or wok to med. low and fry the eggs, stirring.  Remove from pan and set aside.  Add to pan 2 tblspns. canola oil and heat to med. high.  Add celery, onion and carrot and stir fry 2 minutes.  Add chicken, shrimp and bean sprouts, continue to stir and fry.  Add 1 tblspn. hoisin sauce and 1/4 tsp. ground black or white pepper.  Add all the rice and 1/4 cup soy sauce, continue stirring and frying.  Stir in eggs and lettuce.  Serve immediately.   (Note:  I reserve the lettuce and add it to each individual plate or bowl, because I know I will have leftovers and don't like hot, wilted lettuce.)   The entire dish contains approximately 2,000 calories. 

Cleaned out cupboards yesterday, here's the soup I made:

                       Pea Soup

10 cups water, start heating in big soup pot.  Add 1/2 bag (4 oz.) of green split peas, rinsed in strainer, 1/2 bag yellow split peas, rinsed in strainer, 1/2 bag lentils, rinsed in strainer.  Keep pot stirred frequently, and skim off any foam that arises.  Add 1 bay leaf, 1 handful of barley, simmer about 1 hour, stirring often.  Add 1 tsp. onion salt; 1/4 - 1/2 onion, chopped; 2-3 large carrots, chopped; 2 stalks celery, chopped; 1/2 tsp. rosemary leaves; 1 clove garlic, minced; 1 tsp. minced ginger root; 1 large potato, peeled and chopped (I cooked this separately and added at the end); 3 cheddar bratwurst, chopped; 1/2 tsp. cumin; 1/2 tsp. cilantro leaves; 1 tsp. fennel seed, crushed with the back of a spoon; 1/4 cup cocktail sauce (yes); 1 tblspn. salt; 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper; 1 big bunch fresh parsley, chopped; 1 tsp. fresh oregano leaves; keep stirring every once in awhile, keep simmering (just); don't let peas stick to bottom of pot.  When all is tender, (2-3 hours) eat up.

I have brought in my oregano and parsley pots; that's why I have these on hand.  I picked all my basil and dried it; then bagged it up in plastic baggies for later use.  I don't even like to use dried parsley; it smells like horse piss.  So do other dried herbs, don't know why.

Last month, I spent quite a bit of money on purchasing new herbs, such as anise seed, fennel seed, paprika, Mrs. Dash, etc.  Prices of herbs are pretty steep, but I have them now and they should last me awhile.   

The weather has become cold, rainy, and very dreary.  There are no leaves left on the trees, and now the chilly grey sky shows clearly between the darker grey trunks of the trees.  The ground is a carpet of brown leaves, just waiting for snow. 

I went to town again on Friday, this time concentrating on dog food, etc. at Walmart, then on to Aldi's to get my monthly food supplies.  I also bought a digital scales to weigh myself properly; the old dial scale always said the same thing and was lying to me.  The truth is now being logged daily.  I will be interested to see if I do lose weight on my lower 1700 calorie diet. 

I've decided to use the grayish green paint for the living room, not the bedroom.  I now see a magenta in the bedroom and a teal in the bath.  In the meantime, I have begun the process of painting the kitchen.  But each section has to be taped and plastered and sanded first.  I've got the area over the sink done, and I'm liking the "yellowtail dam" yellow.  It looks darker than what I thought, but not that dark. 

Meantime, when not plastering and painting, I'm writing on my novel, that is still coming along - no major writer's block, just pauses and then I paint. 

I have to go to the dentist on Monday; a filling is cracking and causing me pain.  They were able to get me in pretty fast there.  So fast I hardly have time to be dreading it.  They will also clean my teeth.  Arghh!

I have been holding the sunflower seeds in my hand when I bring their seeds out in the morning; the chickadees will sometimes come and sit on my hand to take the seed.  But I don't want to push it; I keep thinking about avian flu... silly me. 

Yesterday, I went to the doctor for my annual checkup, and everything is good.  My doctor looked worried when I mentioned bird flu though... I got the regular flu shot.  The bad news for me is that I am still gaining weight; it is creeping up there.  I conscientiously count calories, and though my consumption of food should put me at 120 lbs. (the real me), my weight has gone up to 180 pounds.  No wonder I have muscle cramps now.  I started yoga practice last evening, and was surprised to find it felt good, not painful.  I also have decided to cut my calorie consumption to 1600 calories a day, not 2000.  I almost made it; yesterday I only consumed 1700 calories. 

Day before yesterday, I went to Menards (again!) and bought $105.00 (on my card, that is) more stuff.  I needed a roll of aluminum sheeting to cover the top edge of the metal roofing (until I can afford to get the next section of metal roofing on).  I bought a Black and Decker Navigator Powered Handsaw/Jigsaw (whew!), a miter box & saw, a handsaw, some drill bits and chuck keys, wood drill bits to make bigger holes, a utility knife, 2 pumpkins, a box of pretzels, and another gallon of paint in anticipation of being able to paint the bedroom, this time in a gentle grayish green they call Balsam.  Also, 2 more cans of foam.  I noticed that the back of the house, where the eaves meet the wall, that there is a sizeable gap there that never used to be.  THAT will be done today, the weather is beautiful. 

We are back on daylight wasting time, as some like to call it; I am just fine with it, getting up with the sun now, but it sure gets dark early.

I have been watching the series "Rome" on TV, I also watch "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and The Bill Mahr Show, The Daily Show, MSNBC News at 5:30, plus local news at 5:00.  The weather channel is a must.  I have that on without sound all day usually, on an old TV in the living room; I frequently check on the National Geographic channel, and Animal Planet.  Other than those channels, I will watch Forensic Files, and all those other gory murder ones, if I can't find anything better.  Public Broadcasting Station frequently, also the History Channel.  And, of course, on Sunday, the Packer Game.  Hmmm.  That looks like a lot of TV watching, but I don't think I would qualify as a couch potato just yet. 

Last night, I was fired up about something; can't remember what.  But I thought I should blog my personal political/religious thoughts and feelings.  I must have been on the verge of sleep; it begins with a diatribe about the creation of the world.  I was thinking that humans have the opinion that we should conquer and destroy the earth, use up all the resources without regard for the environment, and that God has given us the green light on this.  I was thinking that maybe God meant for us to solve the mystery and uncover the secrets of being here in the physical world. 

Then I went on to the abortion issue.  I am on both sides and always have been.  I can't resolve this issue, because abortion is such a sad event.  Yet the thought of our government paying for abortion on demand is also loathesome to me.  I firmly believe in reproductive rights for women; absolutely and 100%.  Last night, I finally figured out that I believe in reproductive rights for each and every child, male and female.  The real crux of our overpopulation problem lies in giving everyone in the world the power to say whether they will have a child or not.  That means intelligent, safe, effective birth control for every human being.  Let's face it - there would be no abortion battle if we would use our God-given brains to all get together and solve this one uncomfortable aspect of human beingness.  We ALL need to have choice.  Once we have that, we can choose to stop all war as well.  Every life would be sacred, and no one would have the right to send our children into harm's way, to their deaths. 

That's it.  Last night even the nicotiana and jerusalem artichokes bit it.  I raked leaves, covered things up with the new tarps I bought.  I should dig the celeriac and harvest the flowering kale, but already I feel tired.  Maybe I'll go for a bike ride later.....

My dog Pepper got into something stinky and rolled in it.  I have to say, this is the only thing I don't like about her.  If there is anything decaying at all, she will find it and roll in it.  Smells like fish maybe, or some kind of dead mink.  Ugh!  I need to shampoo her. 

Speaking of shampoos and things, I decided to go with a bob haircut.  I just brushed it, parted it down the middle, grabbed one half of it on one side, combing it straight and together, and cut it off at the side.  Then the other side.  Looks good, and comes to a slight v-shape in back.

The weather is beautiful, but the leaves are falling fast.  But that means that I get to see the sky again.  Last night, it was so clear, and the stars were twinkling away.  I love this time of year.  Although the temps have fallen to as low as 25 deg., it still hasn't definitely frozen my garden here.  I still have Jerusalem artichokes blossoming, and nicotiana leaves are still vibrant, but most everything else looks done for. 

I did a 4 foot section of wall today, putting up sheetrock and screwing it onto the joists.  Then I hauled my bookcase down from upstairs, cleaned it, put it in front of the 4' section, put books in it, and cleaned very good all around.  I put a stained glass lamp on a table next, and it all really looks so much better.  This is the third bookcase I have hauled down from upstairs and filled with books.  I also have some sort of plant stand that I converted to a bookshelf and I have one big shelf full of books there, too.  That takes care of, Oh, maybe 2/3 of the books I have, maybe more.  I could use another couple of bookcases, but the remaining books are, well, not my favorites and I would get rid of them, if I could.  Maybe next year there will be a huge donation to the Women's Auxiliary of the University of Wisconsin.  They have a big book sale every last week in July. 

Tomorrow I will get out there and rake the leaves, at least get started on that.  I have started a new diet.  This time, I have determined that if I eat 5 times a day, no more than 400 calories each sitting, that I will keep my calorie consumption to 2,000 calories a day.  That should produce some result, maybe.  The trick is to be certain about calorie counting.  So I've had to keep a food diary right by my plate, and list the calories of every dish I prepare, in total, then divide the dish into serving size portions.  So far, I've been at it for 5 days, and I haven't felt too full.  I eat at 9:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, 3:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., and 9:00 p.m.  I often don't feel like eating in the morning, but my appetite increases as evening approaches.  And evenings are the danger time for me.  I weigh in only once a week.   

As I'm dusting (finally), I'm also organizing and rearranging furniture.  I suppose this is preliminary to actually doing the home improvement thing, but it is time-consuming and I know I've been working, that's for sure.  It makes me happy to clean house, though.

I have an amazing number of supplements; not only do I take them, I apparently like to look at them too.  This week, yet another shipment arrived from Swanson Vitamins - these are going to keep me from getting bird flu (I hope).  I got hyssop, nettle leaf, stinging nettle root, DHEA, and zinc gluconate.  Last week I got oregano oil, CoQ10, ester-C, odor-controlled garlic, and full-spectrum cinnamon.  Every day I take calcium/magnesium, lecithin, potassium and sometimes glucosamine/MSM.  Because of my thyroid problems, which are still ruining my life as far as I'm concerned, I take synthroid every morning, and sometimes Thyroid & L-tyrosine complex.  At night, I may take Melatonin, St. Johnswort, Eyebright, and/or White Willow Bark, but not all and not all at once.  I don't take anything near the time of taking the synthroid.  When my daughter heard that I got DHEA, she read me a warning that it could cause erections (in men, I guess), baldness, and a bunch of other stuff like a beard.  Naturally, I had to take one pill of this before bedtime, just to see if I could join the circus in the morning.  I woke in the middle of the night, and my heart was pumping strongly at 65 beats a minute.  I thought it made me more perceptive about my real physical condition, which I consider to be pretty bad, since the thyroid killing.  I so regret that I didn't look into an alternative medicine therapy.  But I will just have to deal with it now.  Anyway, I will take the DHEA, at least occasionally. 

Still too cold and dreary out to do leaf raking...

So the Packer/Viking game was a good one, though the Pack lost, oh well, that last field goal by the Vikes was fantastic, 56 yards I think.  I went to Menards before the game, got my shopping done for home improvements, and was back before noon.  I got about $90.00 of stuff, including one gallon of a soft yellow paint ($18.00) for the kitchen.  I love to paint.  I also had to get clear silicone caulk for my metal roofing panels and 2-1/2" screws for the roofing.  They were on sale, $20.00 for a 5 lb. box.  And I got gripping shelf liner to glue on butts, knees (if necessary), and even hips, so we don't slide off the roof.  It's worth a try.  Got 22 1"x2" furring strips for ceilings, even walls.  Got some tarps to cover up my rear tine tiller and firewood, and that's just about all. 

The weather has turned rainy and cold.  Every time I am outside, I seem to develop an instant head cold, lots of sneezing too.  Waiting for dryer weather now to finalize all winter work, do some leaf raking.  My little chickadees are busy at the bird feeder, along with nuthatches and woodpeckers.  I love to watch them.

Went to town last night, got air in my bike tires, almost fell off my bike already this morning before 8:00 a.m. even - jeez, that wouldn't be good.  So I had a bite to eat with pals at a restaurant later last eve, that was fun.  Today I really am going shopping; I want to start home improvements on the inside of the house now. 

Here is a recipe for a bran/flax muffin that is actually edible.  Found it in Prevention magazine.  Only tweaked it a bit and added more baking soda.

                    Orange Bran/Flax Muffins

In one bowl, mix together 1 cup oatmeal, 1/2 cup soy flour (recipe called for 1-1/2 cups oatmeal, but I wanted to use soy flour) 1 cup white flour, 1 cup flaxseed meal, 1 cup wheat bran, 1 tblspn. baking powder, 1 tblspn. baking soda and 1/2 tsp. salt.  In another bowl, mix together 2 oranges, which have been peeled, seeded, and pureed in food processor, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup buttermilk (I may have used evaporated milk again), 1/2 cup canola oil, 2 eggs, and 1 cup raisins (optional).  Oven 375 degrees.  Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients.  Paper cups in muffin tins.  Bake for 20 minutes. 

My bicycle tires were too soft and squishy to ride, so I've loaded up the bike into the back end of my truck and I'm taking it to town today to fill the tires with air.  It's far too nice and beautiful out not to bicyle around.  The leaves are just past peak, not that they are less beautiful, but they are falling rapidly now.  The ground everywhere is carpeted with the glowing remains of summer.  I once tried to duplicate that look by carpeting my living room in those colors in a pony print, but the effect was ugh! not good.  I had to have that carpeting torn out.

I'm going into town later to shop, then to have a bite with the old girlfriends from school.  I'm looking forward to it. 

I have been applying myself to writing that novel, and I'm happy to report that I have not had any writer's block so far.  It just keeps coming and I am getting it down as fast as I can.  The temperature in the house is 62 degrees and I find it just a tad too cool to be comfortable - I've turned the heat back on, but it will take awhile before the floor warms up.  Guess I'll do dishes, that always warms up the hands.  I've got three blankets on the bed at night now. 

I'm going to cut my hair today, and have been toying with the idea of doing a Farah Fawcett cut, but something is telling me not to go that way.  I just don't know, but I don't want this long, long hair anymore.  Maybe a bob would be nicer. 

What is wrong with me?  I have forgotten to blog lately.  I've been busy writing on my novel.  I sent to Vantage Press and they sent me an envelope to send my novel to them, so I've been writing every day until I get tired. 

Yesterday, I went with my daughter out to their hunting shack on three 40 acre parcels way out west of here.  My son took me on the RV or is it ATV on the trails they have made through all the woods and over dams and through tamarack swamps to all their hunting stands.  I felt like I was riding through one of the Disney World trips.  We laughed because the only one I can now recall is "It's a Small, Small World" which drove me crazy.  About half way through I wanted to jump out of the boat, screaming "Stop!  Stop!"  Apparently, annoyance like that stays in your memory.  I'm sure all the other ones were lovely.  As was the ATV trip through the property.  The leaves are at peak color here in the northwoods, it was a perfect fall day.  What a nice outing!

I went for a bike ride today with my dog and also put away the last garden hose of summer.  Soon I will be raking leaves.  I had my septic tank pumped out the other day, cleaned out all my drains with a homemade cleaner (salt, baking soda, vinegar, followed by boiling water).  Went to the landfill, recycled all my stuff.  Hadn't been anywhere at all for a long long before yesterday.

My grandson finally contacted me - he has moved to Minnesota and will now be able to visit.  I can hardly wait to see him again.  I think it has been about 5 years; he's been living in the south for all that time. 

It did not freeze, after all.  The leaves around my house are beautiful.  There's a constant golden glowing that's very peaceful and I've been riding my bike around, enjoying the cool air.  I've pretty much abandoned the garden to the deer, though I will pick a few tomatoes before frost yet.  I've turned on the floor heat, but keep it on low.  As long as it stays 65 degrees in here, I am comfortable.  I baked a turkey with dressing the other day.  It was 12 lbs. for under $10.00; I've been eating on it for 2 days, and have 2 days more of food before I'm half through, so today, I will wrap up the other half and put it in the freezer.  I am still eating that corn chowder every day for lunch, too. 

I took a can of foam around the house and foamed every place that's a hole or opening where a mouse could get in.  I'm pleased with the results - there are way fewer scritchings and scratchings at night now.  I'm also going to get better mouse traps for any remainders.  The foam swells up overnight and this morning, I have big white bubbles sticking out of the places I foamed - that's okay.  It can be cut off.

My  daughter is worried about the coming bird flu epidemic, who isn't?  I told her we are all going to die, so get ready.  Am I good or what?  I mean, I don't really have any way to reasssure her.  It's sad, but our deaths are born when we are.  I wish our country would develop more medicine for it, tho.

I got out there yesterday afternoon and picked as much as I could of anything remaining above ground.  I didn't pick the green tomatoes though.  Last night, I put an extra blanket on my bed and that did it.  I slept like a baby all night for a change, guess I had just been a little too cold to sleep well. 

Today, I tackled the job of doing something with ALL the vegetables.  I made a corn chowder that I'll be eating for several days, and it is good!

           Garden Medley Corn Chowder

1 pkg. bratwurst (or any sausage you like) browned and simmered for 1/2 hour in frypan.  Cut corn off cobs enough to make 2 or 3 cups (I left two ears with corn on), put this in large soup pot, add 1tiny head of cabbage, chopped; 4 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed; 3 medium tomatoes, chopped; 1/2 cup carrots, chopped; 1 stalk celery, diced; 1 clove garlic, minced; 1 small onion, minced.  Add bratwurst and enough water to almost cover the ingredients, now simmer for 1 hour, adding the following to your taste:  kosher salt (1,2, or 3 tblspns.), freshly ground black pepper (1/4-1/2 tsp.), 1/2 tsp. Mrs. Dash (or other seasoned salt), crushed fennel seed (1 tsp.), basil or parsley (a sprig or two), white sugar (3 tblspns.), Louisiana hot sauce (3 or 4 drops), and lastly, just before serving, 1 can (12 oz.) evaporated milk and a big dab of butter. 

Other than that, I have decided to go back to the old-fashioned way of washing my hair in the kitchen sink.  I don't have a shower anymore, and washing it in the tub is just too clumsy and difficult.  It's a lot easier this way anyhow. 

And lastly, today is the last day before it freezes tonight, so I'll try to pick the green tomatoes, drain the garden hose and put it and the sump pump away for the winter, bring in my herbs and flowers growing in pots, turn over the birdbath, and rescue the large potted plants that have sat outdoors for the summer. 

Yesterday, did I mention, I made that apple crisp out of the apples from my trees and it turned out very good, but the recipe came from Good Housekeeping, not me.    

Again, big swing, the temp yesterday was 79 deg. and dropped to , well, it's 46 deg. mid-afternoon now.  I did sleep rather well though, and have been taking afternoon naps, especially if the dogs or mice keep me awake at night.

I've been staying in today, doing housecleaning, laundry and cooking.  Yesterday, I went to town and shopped for my monthly supplies of dogfood and human food.  We have had 2 inches of rain yesterday and day before, and that makes napping in the afternoon so pleasant.  But other places are really getting a lot of rain and snow; I suppose we are lucky here, but the lakes are so low that the fish may not survive the winter.  So I am all in favor of more rain.

I do have some peppers, tomatoes, cukes, and other things out there in the garden, waiting for me to go out there and get them.  I think I'm going to make a big pot of chowder today and also an apple crisp.  It still won't freeze tonight, so if I don't go out there, it won't really matter.  I think I am still recovering from the firewood gathering - just not up to snuff yet.  

What has happened to me?  I have picked the peppers, pumpkins, melons (all very small but tasty nevertheless).  I have sprinkled the garden with 50 pounds of lime.  I am picking up things and stashing them for winter. 

Two oak trees fell across my driveway and had to be cut up before I could get out.  I picked up and stacked all this firewood by the door of my house.  And then my back gave out completely.  This is why I went to natural gas in my fireplace in the first place.  Bush promised when he took office that natural gas would be plentiful and cheap.  And my back just couldn't keep on doing the firewood thing anymore.  But now that natural gas prices are scheduled to go up 70% or more, I will have to take out the gas innards and go back to wood heat in my stove again.  But it is killing me to do this work again.  I'm serious.  I haven't been the same since the firewood gathering.  There are a number of dead trees out there waiting to be brought in.  But can I do this?  Although the pain is subsiding, I have a "dead zone" in my back around the right shoulder blade area.  So, thanks, Dubya.

Mice are attacking the house again, moving in for the winter, bringing their acorn bowling alleys along with them.  I can't sleep nights with them scritching and scratching in the walls and ceilings.  I'm at my wits' end.  Or is it wit's end.  I only have one wit left.  Today, I boarded up one of their places where they get in.  Hopefully, I'll be able to get a good night's sleep tonight. 

Other than that, I feel like I'm waiting for the other anvil to drop.  Just the old October feeling, before the really cold weather sets in.  Maybe I'm just going into hibernation mode.  I'm not myself at all.    

                       Tomato Soup and Veggies

4 cups of peeled, chopped tomatoes, simmer about 15 minutes; meanwhile, add 1/2 cup broccoli, chopped, 1/2 cup cauliflower, chopped,  1/4 cup sliced onion, 1 small carrot, chopped, 1 tblspn. kosher salt, 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, continue cooking until tomatoes have cooked down a bit and veggies are soft.  Add 1 cup of milk stirred together with 1/4 cup flour, 1-2 tblspns. butter, continue cooking and stirring until slightly thickened. 

The way I peel tomatoes is to dip them into boiling water, then into cold water; their skins crack and slip off easily.    

It was warm and lovely out yesterday, between rainy days, so I went out and got in as much produce from the garden as I could, filling up about 4 large salad bowls with corn, cukes, beans, broccoli, beets, cauliflower, bell peppers, tomatoes and 2 heads of cabbage.  Then Jill came over and gave us a dishpan full of venison, freshly killed earlier in the morning.  She said to wash the meat, put it in a pan, cover it, and put it in the frig for at least a day or two.  I guess this ages the meat properly and gives it a chance to really cool down before freezing or eating, so I did that. 

Today it's raining again, so I'm in the house, dealing with the produce.  I made Harvard Beets this morning, and skinned all the tomatoes.  Now I'm making a giant soup of some sort, just making it up as I go along, from the tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower and one carrot I dug.  I'll add some cabbage later, maybe.  When it gets cooked down some, I'll add milk, butter and flour, salt and pepper.  I bet it will be like tomato soup, only with added veggies. 

I have peeled back the husks from the last Inca corn and am drying it for seed and to make corn meal when it's dry.  I gave some to Jill to get her started.  She only grew hybrid corn this year, which was delicious (actually, it was Delicious), but I think she will like the flavor of the Inca corn too.  I also gave her the zucchini loaves I baked the other day.  Her boyfriend is an Ojibway Indian and he is the one who got the deer, so many thanks for bringing us this special meat.  I know he likes the bread I made too. 

I am just amazed at how well the Inca corn grew; far better than any other and very productive.  Out in the garden, I still have colorful flowering kale, which will be even more colorful after it freezes.  There are still beans out there too.  And the baby corn, which I find I'm not very interested in, I will leave that for the little creatures to feed on in the winter. 

There were two doors that had 1" gaps between the bottom of the doors and the sill, so today, I glued foam weatherstripping under the door, then added a u-shaped piece of cardboard (came from the storm window packaging), cut if off the length of the door bottom, and tacked this on to the door with little paneling nails on both sides.  It really looks nice and there is now no space for cold air to get in under these doors. 

I made zucchini bread again today, this time without nuts.  These two loaves are in the freezer now, and will be given as gifts later.  I also made chicken and wild rice soup, did dishes, and threw out some rotting tomatoes that I couldn't get around to.  I went out to check on my squashes and pumpkins, and the deer have been very bold, eating the lone pumpkin completely and both the Lakota and Butternut squashes, partially.  So I harvested the remains and brought them in; I would like to get a taste, at least.  The deer have been exceedingly bold lately, and have pushed the fencing down to get into the garden, where they have decimated quite a few things.

The weather has been cooling off considerably; yesterday, I went to Menards and bought more caulk and some garage door bottoms; these are going to be used as trim on my shed roof part, as there is a 110 degree angle there.  These will fit perfectly.  I actually went to Menards for fascia and soffits, but customer service is practically non-existent these days.  I will try again some other day. 

I am a student of the teachings of Theun Mares; recently, I got an e-mail saying the books he has written will be available only in expensive leather-bound versions; so I jumped on Amazon.com and ordered the last two I didn't have yet.  They came yesterday, phew!  I'd rather pay $10.00 per book plus shipping, thank you.  The words are the same, I'm sure. 

After resting up on Saturday, Sunday, and even on Monday, I attacked the home improvement theme once more.  I cut a piece of plywood that measures 24" wide by 35" high, with two uneven sloping sides going to the peak of the roof.  It had never gotten done because I was busy supporting myself all those years and just couldn't find the time or energy.  It had been stuffed with a huge piece of upholstery foam temporarily.  But now that I'm home all the time, I really have no excuse.  There was a slight glitch near the top where some plywood was sticking down, so I took a handsaw up there and just sat on the roof and manually sawed a notch in the plywood to fit around the glitch, then nailed it in there and caulked all around, using up another tube.  I have one tube left, so will get some more.  It always comes in handy.  I am so proud of myself, I don't know why. 

I also made zucchini bread, using only two small zucchinis and it will make four loaves.  I ground them up in my food processor yesterday, and wrapped the zucchini in paper towels and put it in the refrigerator overnight to get out some of the moisture; otherwise, the zucchini bread would come out really soggy.

                        Zucchini Bread

Beat until fluffy:  3 eggs, 2 cups white sugar, 2 tsp. vanilla and 1 cup cooking oil.  Add and mix well 2 cups grated, drained* zucchini.  Mix together in a separate bowl 3 cups flour, 1 tsp. soda, 1 tsp. baking powder, 1 tsp. salt; 1/2 cup raisins, chopped dates or chopped nuts, all optional; and 2 tblspns. grated orange peel.  Stir all the dry ingredients in and bake in 2 greased, floured loaf pans at 325 degrees for one hour.

*Draining the zucchini is the secret of success in this recipe.  Press and roll the grated zucchini between paper towels overnight in a bowl in the refrigerator.  The moisture comes out nicely.  About 6-8 paper towels should do it. 

Yesterday, I went to see my son and his girlfriend.  They were staying at my daughter's house, while my daughter and her husband are going to the Packer game in Green Bay today.  It's their 8th anniversary, so they are celebrating. 

I just came in from the garden, where I harvested the last of the Inca corn, the Jung's baby corn, some Golden Bantam corn, 4 more cukes, some beans, 2 heads of broccoli (the snake is gone), a bucket of tomatoes of various kinds; the Yellow Pear, Pineapple, TipTop and Sungold Cherry.  I haven't found any Roma tomatoes yet, but I'm sure they're out there.  I took my machete out there and cut down the Inca corn stalks and I'm going to bind them together and make a sheaf for the birds.  There are little ears on some of the stalks, so the birdies should like them.  The sunflowers have all been eaten by birds.  I still have cabbage, flowering cabbage, carrots, beets, Chires baby corn, Golden Bantam corn, peppers, celeriac, morning glories, calendula, nasturtiums, rudbeckia, and cosmos.  The only the lonely nicotiana is still beautiful, but near the end of its time.  I will try to get seed from it for next year.  I am drying seed from all the open-pollinated varieties to replant next year.

Of course, I'm going to make a big salad today, to go with the meatloaf I made before, and if I have time and energy, I'm going to paint my water barrels, so they don't rust out too fast.  And of course, I'll watch the Packers play. 

Hah!  I got the storm and screen window in!  I woke up this morning and said I realize this is Friday and this is what I had hoped to achieve this week, and it came to pass.  I had to put on another 39" 2x4 on the other side of the window (for the life of me, I don't know how measurements could be this far amiss) but I did it without problem.  The instruction said not to worry about the footer board, so I then caulked the top and two sides and fitted the window right in there and screwed it in.  Then I measured the space beneath the bottom (which actually extended down under the porch roof) and cut a piece of plywood for that, vacuumed out debris that had accumulated down there and inserted the plywood.  It fit very well and I nailed it on under the storm window.  I caulked all around the sides and top and voila! it looks good.  What an improvement!  I am very happy.  I now have a window over the upstairs stairwell where nothing but plastic and screening existed before.  And I haven't hurt myself either. 

I went out to eat last night with my girlfriends and that was sort of okay I guess.  Nothing much, just to get away for awhile, talk to others. 

Have I mentioned that the snake was still on the same head of broccoli yesterday when I went out to harvest?  It was cold yesterday, so maybe he just was conserving energy and cleaning up bugs he could get from his lofty perch.  I harvested the last of the Inca corn today.  The kernels are so beautiful, I am saving the rest for seed for next year.  I believe they will come true to seed, because they are, or should be, an open-pollinated variety.

It finally rained Tuesday evening and most of the night.  Everything was suffering, but got a good soaking.  I went out to harvest my broccoli yesterday, but couldn't get them all, as a large garter snake was draped over the largest head.  I know he was feasting on nasty bugs and slugs, so spoke kindly to him.  Although they don't hear (or so I've been told), I'm sure they can pick up vibes of friendship.  I cut the broccoli into pieces and steamed them for a couple of minutes, popped them into a freezer bag and into the freezer.

I cut a piece of plywood the right size and nailed it up over my new door to match the rest of the wall, and also used two tubes of caulk around both my outside doors, laid down a nice seam.  Now for that window!

I got my camera charged up and would have taken pictures of my garden for this blog, but the camera told me to eject the tape from the cassette.  Turns out that tape was full and I don't have another, so will have to buy more.

I'm going out tonight with my high school chums (my shiner has healed already) to a restaurant where I used to be a waitress.  I could not do that work now; since my thyroid problems, it's all I can do to work an hour or two without needing a rest.  My brother Dan sent pictures of me taken when he was here visiting this summer.  It's hard to believe that is me.  Yesterday, I began yet another "diet."  It's back to counting calories, as well as eating low glycemic things.  I had been eating bananas and carrots; these high glycemic veggies and fruits just managed to creep back in.  Now I'm going to concentrate on AMOUNTS as well.  I'm going to measure everything instead of just guessing. 

It finally rained last night, enough to moisten the surface of the earth and soften the dying leaves, not enough to even begin to offset the drought though.  The lakes are down at least two feet.  I am just about ready to put the garden to bed, but there's no hurry.  I couldn't eat a cucumber yesterday, just couldn't. 

I am getting into the carpentry mode gradually.  Yesterday, I cleaned upstairs and took down my tent that I had lived in for almost 4 years.  It was very dusty, had to be washed.  I am ready to begin again with the carpentry work around here.  My black eye is really just a bruise under my right eye; John actually noticed it and was wondering what happened to me.  I had to confess, but did not tell him what I am planning to do. 

So away I go.....

So I contented myself with cooking some of the extra food I have sitting around.  I made an apple-rhubarb-blueberry coffee cake and a pasta salad, using many veggies.  I also cooked up corn on the cob, so that was fun.  The next day was Saturday, and I was completely out of butter, sugar and coffee, so went to town and shopped at Aldi's; only my second trip this month (saving on gas).  It was very hot yesterday, near 90 deg. again, and today it will be too, but it is breezy, so that helps.  I watered the garden day before yesterday, and harvested much of the Inca corn, eating as much as I can every day.  I saved one ear for seed; maybe I will save two.

I do have a bruise under my right eye from the tape measure, but that will be a lesson for me.  I am not giving up this time, as I did on fixing that toilet (actually, I WILL get that one too; I just need a locking pliers).  I am only "recovering" temporarily and rethinking.  I'm not discouraged.  But it's Sunday and hot, so I don't know yet what I'll do today. 

I can hardly believe my stupidity.  The window I bought is a storm window, not a regular window.  No wonder it was only $30.00 - I  thought it was a real bargain.  But that isn't so bad? really?  I got up there and measured the outside of the opening, only to discover that it is way too big, now I will have to add a 2 x 4 along the side, 39" long, as well as the 24-1/2" 2 x 4 at the bottom.  Now I have the problem of wondering if the existing plywood siding will have to have a match on the other side as well.  And did you know that a modern tape measure, if not held securely enough, can spring back, jump right out of your hand and bonk you in the eye?  Under my right eye, actually, is swelling up.  How will I explain this if I end up with a shiner?  I am trying to do this window thing alone and in secret, as a kind of surprise (at least it will be, to me!).  I imagine myself saying, smugly, yes, I put it in myself the other day.  For now, I have hidden it away with my tv tray so nobody will know.

I am back in the house, starting to make the pasta salad.  I now foresee a total home makeover that is way beyond my abilities, just to put in a *#*#* window.  I am not even going to concern myself that it is a storm window.  If I can just get it in there for now, it will be a major victory over having what I have now - stapled screening for summer, stapled plastic sheeting for winter.  Yes, even a storm window would be a huge improvement.  I could always get a real window later, couldn't I?

Cleaned out the refrigerator this a.m. after doing up the dishes.  I have reorganized my vegetables and I have waiting to be used:  eightball zucchini, yellow summer squash, tomatoes, corn, cucumbers, kohlrabi, beans, basil, apples; and from the grocery store, I have radishes and celery and onions.  There's a lot of stuff waiting to be picked out in the garden.  I will have to water again today, as it still has not rained.  I'm going to make a pasta salad today, using as many of the veggies as I can; I also want to make an apple/rhubarb crisp or coffee cake, and of course, there will be corn on the cob.  I am not going to pick the broccoli until later, I don't want to get behind. 

And I'm actually looking forward to another Home Improvement session.  Today, I will try to get up on the ladder and measure the outside of the opening before positioning the "board" I made yesterday.  I wouldn't want to get it in and then find out it was in the wrong place. 

Meantime, I have now finished with afghans, cups, plates, and clothing; I am concentrating now on Tool Organization and Books.  I already have even more stuff to go to Good Will; I hope the things I am bringing them are being put to good use.  I hope things that are not needed here in the local community are going to the refugees from Katrina; I should call up and find out if that is happening. 

Geese are flying, apples are bonking me on the head, I am wearing my thermal long-sleeved shirt and sneaker boots.  The temp is 55 degrees out and I believe I may actually bake something today.  I probably should freeze some of the extra produce lying about on my table; there's barely enough room for a plate to sit down and eat.  I believe, but do not know for sure, that the hummingbirds have flown south.  There's none chittering around my feeder, which isn't going down at all. 

Last night near dark, I was out there harvesting things from the garden.  I found a large cuke that had grown through the fence.  It was bigger on the other side of the fence, so I detached it from the vine this side, and pushed it through the fence.  I both saw and heard it fall to the ground, but minutes later, when I went there to pick it up, it was not there.  I went and got a flashlight so I could see better, and it simply wasn't to be found.  I finally found it today, BETWEEN the garden fence and the rabbit fencing outside it.  Also found many more cukes; will have to make pickles again.  I harvested kohlrabi last night; got 3 of them, and sliced one up and served it raw with dip, delicious.

Today, I am going to try to put a window in upstairs.  This may take some minor adjustments to the house.  The window is 24" wide and 39" long; the existing opening is 24" x 36".