What I learned this Month

Well my dears, it has been a few weeks since I last wrote you so I guess I should catch you up on what's going on in our little community.  First of all our small fire has grown to over 31,000 acres!!! and would you believe the federal government doesn't want to help pay for it?? They say since it was never a threat to any homes they see no reason to help monetarily.  Well that explains why it is still burning....if you can't pay the fire fighters then of course they aren't going to put out the fire!  Oh yeah it's still burning!  Whenever we do get a good rain (I consider any rain a good rain these days) we get smoke with it.  Well at least it is 90% contained.

Took a short working vacation to South Carolina to visit some relatives recently.  We helped work their garden and can some vegetables.  Now I just love to can.   Always have loved doing that, reminds me of my childhood watching my mother and my aunts work with my grandma.  One of my earliest memories is of my dad chopping cabbage in a big metal bowl.  He must have chopped all morning while all the women in the family packed the jars.  They were making kraut.  Homemade kraut is a wonderful thing.  We call that "good eating".  You know it is hard work to preserve food but it sure makes for a lot of "good eating" in the winter time!  Nothing better than a warm cup of soup made with summer time tomatoes from a jar you put up yourself. 

So since I have been home from South Carolina, I have continued canning.  I have put up 19 jars of jam, 28 qts of tomatoes, 10 pts of chow chow and 2 qts of squash.  As I write this to you I have 8 qts of tomatoes waiting in brine to be transformed tomorrow into salsa!   Yum!  Still got the blueberries to do something with, not sure if I want to make Blueberry Wine or Blueberry Jam....both are out of this world!  Oh found a recipe today for Maple Peaches and Vanilla Jam.  Thinking about making some of that too. 

Just ordered me a pressure cooker and a dehydrator.  Used to have a dehydrator til my kind yet eager to please ass decide to loan it out....yep you guessed it!  It never came back!  I was told "Oh it broke so I knew you wouldn't want it back".  Yeah I was really told that.....kinda reminds me of a saying.....with friends like that who needs enemies!  lol  Anywho I learn the lesson.  Now if you see something I have and you want it?  Well there's a Lowes 1.5 miles up the road from me....oh and don't let the door hit ya in the ass on the way out either!  lol  

I decided back in the spring that this year at Christmas it would be a homemade Christmas for me.  If I couldn't make it to give no one was getting it.  This means my family and friends.  My sisters, brother, parents, cousins, neighbors, friends, etc. would be receiving hand made gifts.  So if you happen to fall into one of the categories, there is a very good chance you will receive some of what I have been working on the past few months and in the coming months!  So if you are following this blog enjoy while I struggle making it and perhaps you will truly appreciate the gift.  I know I have developed a high respect for those who make and give homemade gifts.  Believe me there is a lot more love in this kind of gift then the kind of gift you buy at any department store.  lol

I also read a book recently that I just couldn't put down my dears!  This book was written by Katherine Stockert.  The title is The Help.  Excellent book!  Reminded me a lot of my own childhood.  Reminded me of what it was like when I first moved to Jackson MS back in the late '70's.  Even though time had moved on everywhere else, in Mississippi it was as if time stood still.  There are some places still like that there.  Places were time never came and change didn't know.  I learned a lot there too.  I can see so many of my friends' mothers in that book, makes me wonder.  I'm sure there was more than one garage door replaced when this book hit the shelves in Jackson, MS!  So if any of you are looking for a good read, check it out!  It's in most libraries now and it's available in large print for us old folks!  lol

Got to see my Wayfaring Son today!  First time I have seen him in months.  My what long hair he has now!  lol  He tried to tell me there were no barber shops in New York....yep.....and I just fell of the turnip truck!  But his stay was only for one night and half a day.  He was gone by lunch back to New York he said.  Well at least he's making money and not bumming off anyone.  Looks like he may be moving to Rhode Island come fall.  He and his girl friend have found jobs up there where there are none down here.  I'm really interested to see how his skinny butt can handle a cold cold winter in the north.  Oh well it is his choice isn't it?  Besides I'm  looking forward to finally getting to see the nation!  You see the Hubs won't take me there but now that our Wayfaring Son is moving that way ....well it's only a matter of time before he will load up the Mater Car and off we go seeking our son!  Yay!

Just found out two more of my friends are going to be grandmas come spring.  Congrats to them both, especially Jeanie, she has been wanting a grandchild for a very long time.  Maybe someday soon I too will have a grandchild to hold.  Until that day comes along I will continue to dabble at making blankets and crocheting baby things.  Have I told you how many patterns for baby things I have?  Really?  I have TONS.  So when and if I ever get a grandchild, well she/he will be the most over dressed, spoiled, stink to high heaven, little kid in Hampstead!  Yeap sure will.....

I guess now would be a good time to explain to you why you cannot find my last story under notes on facebook.  I wrote a story a few weeks ago that apparently was not well meet by someone I love dearly.  Sometimes this happens when people write, others tend to think it is about them when in reality it isn't.  So instead of causing any further problems I removed it from view.  I do still have it in my possession.  I created that story and I cannot bring myself to destroy it.  Sometimes when I write a character will come along that takes over a story.  I know it is hard to explain but these character tend to take on a life of their own.  At any rate I meant no harm to anyone.   I will continue to write here on my blog and in other places too.  But what have I learned?  Ah lol I will not share with that person again!  lmao

I hope you did take time to read my poem I wrote after I took down my last story.  Poetry is not my strong point however words do come to me sometimes...lol  

Well my dears, I have a delivery person coming in the morning, oh yeah I also bought a freezer.....I've got sooo much to do tomorrow I will be lucky if I have time to set down! lol  So you folks be good to each other and until we meet again that's the way I see it!