Wow they grew fast!

Yes, it is another potatoes in tires update, already. I don't know if it was the rain, the warm days and cool nights, or the added organic material from my last update, but those taters grew like crazy over the last week. Wednesday I added more tires and more manure/sawdust. Currently there is one stack of three, nine double stacks, and three still with a single tire.

Lifting those tires and shoveling the dirt isn't easy, but it is easier than I remember planting in rows last year, and the work comes a little at a time rather than all at once. I'd rather get my daily exercise in the garden than with exercise equipment anyway. One tip, if you are thinking about trying this, I'm finding the plants easier to work with when they are about half the height of the next tire. Put on the next tire and fill it enough to allow the leaves to still show and inch or so. Let it grow and add more compost. This works better that letting the plant get so big that it is already above the new tire. Just makes it easier to get the compost around the plants and in the sides of the tires.

In case you're wondering, the rest of the garden is coming along well too, I'm just excited about the potatoes this year! :)

Patio Furniture Touch Up

Last summer we picked up a patio set at a yard sale. It isn't the highest quality patio furniture, but it was in good shape and the price was right; a lot less than home theater seating. When we bought the furniture there were just a few small places that were showing a bit of rust. I intended to repaint the furniture last year, but never got to it.

This spring those few small places had grown and several more were starting; time to paint! I bought some Rustoleum paint like this. I chose a color close to the original to make the painting easier, but you certainly could change the whole look of your furniture by choosing a different color.

First use a wire brush to remove any loose rust and paint. Wipe off the the chairs. Then cover the seat material or other areas you don't want paint on with newspaper and masking tape.


Paint in an open area. You'll want the ventilation and spray paint tends to get on more than you intend. It is easy to get runs in spray paint too. To prevent this don't get too close and keep the can moving. So easy, even a nine year old can do it!


We didn't do a perfect job, but the set looks much better, the rust spots are taken care of, and our yard sale patio furniture is all set to last us for many summers.

Crockpot Mexican Lasagna

My grocery shopping schedule has been thrown off, and having guests for over a week now has completely emptied the kitchen. Yesterday, we cleaned up a lot of leftovers for lunch. After lunch, I found myself with a very empty refrigerator. (Which reminds me, I should clean it now while it is empty.) Among the few leftovers that remained were Black Bean Salsa and several pieces of rabbit. I also had a partial package of corn tortillas from making enchiladas a week ago; a perfect start to Mexican Lasagna. Since I had the main ingredients out already, I put this together in the crockpot right after lunch. It was ready by dinner. What a delicious way to use up those leftovers!

Crumble Bacon Quickly

Mmmmm bacon. Bacon for breakfast. Bacon in our beans. Bacon crumbled on salads and baked potatoes. Bacon, bacon, bacon. We like it!

We use bacon crumbles to add a flavor to a lot of things. A quick and easy tip to make bacon crumbles quickly is to cut it before you cook it. I use my kitchen shears to cut up the slices, and then fry it up in a pan. It is ready in a hurry and saves you from waiting until it it cool enough to handle. It works for me!


Photo: goatopolis

Create Digital Recipe Cards

I always love reviewing new recipe sites. Today I found Key Ingredient and spent a bit of time digging around and playing with the website. I like its search engine. It fits the way I cook. You just enter the ingredients you want to include and it pops up a list of recipes for you. There are other sites that allow you to do this, but you have to dig for that option on the other sites. On Key Ingredient that is the main option and is found top and center on the main page. Find Easy Recipes and lots of other categories of recipes.

Besides looking for recipes you can also create your own digital recipe collection. Your collection can be made from recipes already on the site, recipes at other web pages, and your own recipes. When you enter your own recipes you have the option of making them public, sharing them with friends, or keeping them private. The recipes are stored in neat little digital recipe cards like the one below I created. If you are a blogger, a widget is available to post the recipe card onto your blog.



This site has a lot to offer. I am still digging around and checking out the many features. It is one that I will be going back to.

Make It From Scratch #65

This week my lovely sister-in-law, Delilah hosted the carnival. Check it out at The Miller Way. This week is particularly notable for the unusual recipes. You will find such things as

Stuffed Grape Leaves

Lemon and Green Olive Chicken

Dandelion Jam

Enjoy these and the other great entries this week!

Download Free Music - Legally

I just recently got my first MP3 player. I know I am behind the times. I've been missing our former pastor's sermons. They are available for download from the church website. I had a gift card left from Christmas that would cover the cost of a generic player, and viola now I have one.

There is little music on it, just a few songs, mostly because I don't want to pay for it. Music is just background for me. I mostly just listen to the radio, but it would be nice to have a little more music on there sometimes. There is a way to do that for free: Get Free Music From MPFree.com

The way this works is you fill out surveys, request product information, and enter sweepstakes. I've done those kind of things before to earn points, and even to earn cash, but with this service you earn music downloads. The songs are downloaded free to you and mpfree pays the royalties that are due. The music is free and legal.

Every Seventeen Years

Seventeen years ago I did not even know my husband. I was living a very different life in a very different place. The place that I live now was entirely covered in trees. In those trees female cicadas were splitting twigs and laying eggs. Those eggs hatched, the larvae fell from the trees, and they buried themselves deep in the forest floor.

This weekend those cicadas once again dug through the soil and emerged above ground. They came through holes like the ones you can see here at my pinky and my wrist.






After coming above the ground they continue to climb the trees or other nearby plants. They shed their outer shell to reveal their adult forms. The shells stay behind.








They will live above ground for four to six weeks. You can hear them in the heat of the day; a low humming in the distance. Some say it sound like they are calling, "Pharaoh." They will mate, the adults will die and larvae will bury themselves for the next sixteen and a half years.

There are many "broods" of cicada (also called 17 year locust.) This is the year for the brood where I live, but different broods emerge at different times. The cicadas do pose a threat to trees, especially young trees. (Glad I didn't plant fruit trees this year!) Young trees should be protected with netting, or other cloth.

Reportedly, Cicadas taste very good. They have been compared to shrimp and crayfish. In my head eating them makes sense. Have you ever seen a whole shrimp? The really are not the most appealing thing, but my stomach can not get past the idea of eating something that looks like an overgrown horsefly. I've eaten a lot of things people may see as strange, but I draw the line at cicadas.

It is hard telling how life will be different the next time these insects make there appearance. In seventeen years I am sure to be a grandma. I hope to still be living here, but hopefully not in this house. Perhaps I will be adventurous enough to fix of dish of cicadas, but probably not. If there still is such a thing as a blog, and I'm still at it, I will be sure to tell you about it!

Cicada Resources
Cicada Mania
Cicada-Licious (recipes and information)

Planting Potatoes in Tires- Round Two

Back in April I shared with you how we were trying to grow potatoes in old tires this year. Today I put a second tire on some of the stacks.


As you can see from the photo, the potatoes have grown at very different rates. All of the tires have some compost in them. The ones on the left were then mostly filled with leaves from last fall. The tires on the right were filled with partially rotted sawdust. The tires with leaves were planted about a week before the sawdust tires. The potatoes came through the sawdust first even though they were planted later. The potatoes in the leaves have come up slower, but the plants seem to be thicker and fuller. The plants on the bottom left corner are about double the size of any of the rest. I have no idea why.



Five of the sets of plants were high enough for a second tire today. I laid the tire on top, and filled it with a mixture of partially rotted sawdust and manure. You do need to be extra gentle to be sure and not break off the stems. I had to use my hands to do this, and to fill in the outside of the tires. So, you may want to wear gloves, or at least take off any designer jewelry before playing in the manure. I left an inch or two of the leaves exposed.

Now if these potatoes do what they are supposed to the newly covered stems will send out roots and make potatoes. The plant will send up new stems and leaves, and when they get tall enough I will add another tire. The process will be repeated until there are four tires on each stack. In the fall we should find those tires filled with potatoes. I will keep you updated!

Homemade Baked Beans

Wow what a great week! The week went so fast, and now I am trying to get a few things caught up and switching gears for the Memorial Day weekend. How can it be Memorial Day already? Doesn't that mean summer and breaking out the sexy swimwear, or in my case the very modest full coverage swimsuit? YIKES!

My brother and his family are here this weekend. We will be celebrating my niece's birthday, heading to the Vandalia Gathering, and enjoying some summer food favorites, including baked beans.

Baked beans are something that I make a little differently every time. What goes in is greatly dependent on what I have on hand. One of my favorite recipes for baked beans to either follow or use as a general guide is Old Settler Beans.

Old Settler Beans
1/2 lb chopped bacon 1 onion, chopped
1/2 lb ground beef 1/4 smoked sausage, sliced
1/3 C ketchup 1/3 C white sugar
1 tsp liquid smoke squirt mustard
1/2 tsp pepper 1/2 tsp salt
16 oz kidney beans 32 oz can pork and beans
16 oz butter beans

Brown meats and onion together. Drain grease. Mix sugars, ketchup, mustard, liquid smoke, slat and pepper. Add meat misture and combine with beans in a large casserole. Bake covered at 350 for one hour, or simmer in the crock pot on low for four or more hours.

Some of the ways I like to vary this is using BBQ sauce instead of the ketchup, liquid smoke and sugar, varying the combination of beans, or adding green pepper. I often just use bacon, but it really is better with the combination of meats. I usually use dry beans which does lower the cost of the dish. Using the variety of beans and meats gives the dish an interesting texture and color. The flavor is just delicious!

What summer favorites will you be making for the holiday weekend?

Make It From Scratch #64

Mama Bird has provided us with great carnival this week at Surely You Nest. Go check it out and check out the wide variety of articles included this week!

For more information about the carnival or about hosting see Make It From Scratch - the carnival

Last Week's Links

The house is clean. Well, as clean as it gets. The meals are planned, and some items are prepared in advance. I'm ready for guests. (Deep sigh!) Here are links to last week's carnivals and festivals.

Homesteading Carnival

Learning in the Great Outdoors

Carnival of the Recipes

Make it from Scratch

Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling

Carnival of Family Life


Happy Monday to you!

Rest

It has been a particularly busy few weeks. The up coming weeks are no less hectic. I'm finding myself feeling drained and battling a cold. The following is a piece I wrote for another place some time back. I find that it is a needed reminder, to myself, right now.

Life is busy. There is always something demanding our time and our attention. It is easy to feel like you are spinning your wheels, while the to do list just keeps getting bigger and bigger. If you are trying to live a frugal lifestyle, you will find many frugal activities require your time in exchange for their money saving benefits. More things to do! Don't despair. Rest. It will save you money, really.

I'm not talking about a good night's sleep, though that is very beneficial. I am referring to a day devoted to doing nothing. No deadlines. No to do list. No pressure. A day just for relaxing, and as we call it, piddling. Relaxing doesn't mean sitting or sleeping all day, though that is fine, if it is what you need. Relax by reading a book, taking a walk through the woods, or planting flowers. Those are the things that I find relaxing, but perhaps you craft, drink coffee with friends, or piddle on other projects. The point is you engage in activities you enjoy, and feel no pressure to complete. We need these days to replenish ourselves, both physically and mentally.

How does this save you money? In so many ways. When you are rested the world just looks better. You can think better. You can look at options, come up with ideas and plans, and have the ambition to try new things to solve problems. All of which will save you time and money in the long run.

When you are rested you are less likely to reach for the convenience foods at the grocery store, to run through the drive through, or take the family out for dinner. You'll have the energy to pack your lunch and make your dinner from scratch. You won't be needing all those super charged caffeine drinks or the high carbohydrate snacks that go with them, to keep you going either. Skipping the overpriced coffee shop saves you money.

Taking time to rest will also benefit your health, making your body more able to fight off the virus' waiting for the chance to make you sick. Potential savings there in medicine, doctors visits and time off work. Not to mention the mental drain of trying to function while you are sick.

We need a day to relax. Ideally, it should happen once a week, though that is not always possible in reality. For my family, days devoted to rest probably happen once every other week on average, depending on the season. If you haven't had a day to rest in a long while, schedule yourself one now. Yes, put it on your calendar, in big bold letters RELAX! You'll find it beneficial, mentally, physically and financially.

Resting and relaxing are not things that come easily to me. I like to keep busy, but constant activity takes its toll, especially during stressful times. For this week my goal is to get all the cleaning and preparations for next week done today and tomorrow. Sunday I will rest. I need a day of rest to prepare mentally and recharge physically for the up coming week. It is a frugal thing to do.

Frugal Fridays

Stop the Ride! - Lite

This week has been a busy one preparing for and extra special guest that is coming here on Monday. Despite my best intentions, I did not get any articles pre-written for this busy time. I have titles and ideas, but nothing completed. So for the rest of this week and next week too you can expect a lite version of Stop the Ride! (If you are wondering about my extra special guest you can find out about her here.)

In the meantime you will find some fabulous reading and creative ideas at The Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling. There is a new topic everyday this week. Today is Eco-Fab (as in economical and fabulous!) Yesterday was arts and crafts. I'm sure you will enjoy the entries to this extra large carnival!

Keeping Guacamole Fresh & a Recipe

Guacamole seems you love it or hate it. There is no in between. I love it! What is not to love people? The color may not be the most appealing, especially if the guacamole is exposed to air and turns dark, but the taste is wonderful!

To keep your guacamole from getting dark and slimy is really easy. First be sure to use lemon juice in your recipe. Just like using lemon juice with other fruits, it helps to keep the original color.

Guacamole tastes best when it sits a few hours in the refrigerator to let the flavors blend. Even with lemon juice in the mix, a few hours of sitting can give your guac a layer of dark yuck. To keep that from happening take a piece of plastic wrap and lay it right on top of that bright green goodness. Smooth the plastic right over the guacamole so no air can get to that top layer. Then take a second piece of plastic and put in on top of the bowl. It helps keep the first piece in place and gives you double protection. When you are ready to serve, your guacamole will be as bright green as the minute you made it!

There are a lot of variations of guacamole, but here is a simple recipe to get you started.

Guacamole

2 ripe avocados
2 TB lemon juice
1 small tomato chopped
2 TB onion finely chopped
1/4 red pepper
1/4 garlic powder
salt to taste

Cut avocados in half, remove pit, and scoop out the fruit into a bowl. Mash with a fork. Mix remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate.

Enjoy your bright green and delicious guacamole! Works for Me Wednesday!


Photo credit: Shutterbuggal

Every Penny Counts

Wordless Wednesday

Make it From Scratch #63

Thank you to all who participate and support Make it From Scratch. This week is our sixty-third edition, and we are still going strong! Find this week's installment at It's all for the best! Enjoy the carnival!

For more information about the carnival or about hosting see Make It From Scratch - the carnival

A little of this and a little of that.. . .

A busy weekend, a touch of the flu and a rainy day has left me a bit unfocused today, but here are a few things going on.

It has been rainy for the better part of the last four days here. Normally that might be a cause of complaint, but I just can't argue with how green it has made everything. The trees are now fully open. I know it doesn't show up well in the photo, but my little bean seedlings that were barely popping through before the rains are now several inches tall. Though I might prefer sunny days, we sure do need a few rainy ones.

Today we are making a few things to take to a picnic tomorrow. I made guacamole with some avocados I got for $0.10 each last week! The were very green, but a week in a paper bag and they were ready to use. We are also making chocolate chip cookies. You just can't go wrong with chocolate chip cookies can you?

Crystal has a freebie list over at her site today that is of particular interest to those who homeschool.

I have a lot to do this week to get ready for some out of town guests who are coming on Monday. So I'm trying to focus today, and not doing a great job of it. I did manage to plan a few meals and make a grocery list, but that was about it. Really I don't need drug rehab. I normally am a very focused, efficient person. What I need is to not be sick. It always hits at the worst times doesn't it?

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to you.

Hoping you have a day filled with extra kisses and hugs, and feel extra appreciated and loved.

We don't normally do gifts for holidays outside of Christmas, but I suppose you could call my night away my Mother's Day gift. It was a good one! Just what I wanted and needed. If you get gifts I hope you get something that make you feel appreciated. I hope you don't get something like a new iron that implies that you need to do some work, or like a mini trampoline, which may mean someone thinks you need exercise. Well unless of course you want an item like that.

Today we actually are celebrating Nolan's fourth birthday, which is tomorrow. We will just be having family over for dinner and cake. It will be an enjoyable day.

What does your family do for Mother's Day?

Photo credit: missnoma

Making a Planter from Repurposed Items

The vegetable gardens are full, and now my mind is turning to flowers. I don't plant a lot of flowers, but I do like to have a few planters around. I do have a few store bought containers to plant in, but my favorite planters are ones made from repurposed items. Those of you who've been around awhile may remember the planters I made last year from rotten logs. My mom uses an old fashioned cream separator for a planter. This year I planted herbs in an old wash basin.

You can make planters out of about any item that will hold the dirt. Here are a few tips for making a planter out of repurposed items.

1. Choose a container.
You'll want one proportionate to the plants you want to use. Just be sure to pick something that doesn't have any chemical residues that might kill the plants.

2. Do you need fill?
If the container is large you do not have to fill it all with dirt. Put plastic bottles in the bottom. I used shopping bags in the log planter. It takes up space and creates drainage, not to mention keeps your planter lighter.

3. You do need drainage.
Extra water can't be allowed to puddle in the container. You need a hole or two in the bottom. Put drier lint over the holes to allow water to flow out while keeping the dirt in. A layer of gravel in the bottom of the planter can help with drainage also.

4. Fill with dirt.
Use potting soil or your compost.

5. Put in the flowers.
Be sure to choose plants that will grow well in similar conditions and in the location you intend for the planter.

6. Enjoy.
Don't forget to water.

Planters can be made out of so many things. What catches your eye? Planters out of old wagons, bathtubs, or chipped pottery pieces are interesting. Maybe you could create a theme out of a hobby like using a golf bag or other golf equipment if you are an avid golfer. Just remember there can be a fine line between creative and just junky. Never could figure out why people planted in old toilets! What are some different items you've seen used for a planter?

Saturday Morning Link Love

After two days of rain I finally see the sun in the sky this morning. I'm not complaining about the rain though, we needed it. The rain has made the garden and the tree pop! Everything is green! I love it! Here are some links for your Saturday morning reading:

Carnival of Recipes - Spring Fling

Homesteading Carnival

Last week's Festival of Frugality and this week's edition.

Make it From Scratch

Don't forget about the Carnival of Modern Homedweling coming next week.

Looking for Chevy grills?

Have a great day!

That sold for $760?!!!!!!!!

You truly can buy and sell just about anything on eBay. I've seen some weird things, corn flakes in the shapes of states, baby clothing for adults, empty Olive Garden bags, and this tic tac mint pack which sold for $760! You've got to be kidding me!

Of course you can also buy and sell things that people will actually use. Selling on eBay is a great way to earn a little cash from the items in your home you are no longer using. You can list the items yourself, but sometimes you just don't want to take the time involved in the transaction.

That is where companies like iSold It have stepped into fill the gap. iSold It has stores across the nation You take your item to the store, and they do all the work for a commission of the sale. The take the pictures, write the listing, and handle any communications. When the item sells they collect the payment, and ship to the buyer. Then they write a check and send it to you.

There certainly are some weird things that sell on eBay, but there are a lot normal items too. You can earn a little extra cash by selling the things that are just collecting dust in your home. If you don't want to take the time to sell them yourself let iSold It do the work for you.

Summer Carry In Favorites - TT #26

Summer is not even here yet, but the carry in picnic season is in full swing. I love this time of hanging out with friends and family, and enjoying the goodies that everyone has brought. Here are some of my favorites to bring the summer carry ins.

1. Pasta Salad
It is colorful, inexpensive, and delicious. It also holds up to the summer heat better than other favorites like potato salad.

2. Black Bean Salsa
This is a delicious combination of flavors. I usually tone it down a bit for carry ins by using one can tomatoes with chilies and one of just diced tomatoes. I made it like this for a function on Monday and someone (you know who you are) still said it was too hot. Geesh, just goes to show you can't please everyone!

3. Deviled Eggs
Give them a little zip by adding horseradish. Yes, they don't do well in the summer heat, but they never last long enough for that to really be a problem.

4. Baked Beans
Make them from scratch with a couple kinds of beans. I really should post my recipe.

5. Zucchini Strudel
A great way to use up all that zucchini, especially the ones you let get too big. No one will know it is zucchini, unless you tell them that is.

6. Veggie Tray
Keep the dip cold by putting it in a small bowl. Then fill a larger bowl with ice, and set the smaller bowl in the ice.

7. Spinach and Strawberry Salad
Especially good this time of year.

8. Garden Green Beans
Never better!

9. Sliced Garden Tomatoes
Those who don't grow tomatoes will thank you!

10. Fruit in a Watermelon Bowl
Use what is in season. It looks pretty and is refreshing.

11. Freezer Cucumbers
Cool as a cucumber can be.

12. Sugar Cookies
Can you believe I've listed eleven things with nothing sweet?!

13. Bread and Jam
Blackberry jam on homemade bread is always a hit!

Summer is almost here, so put away the down comforters, break out the picnic baskets, and enjoy! What are your favorite summer carry in dishes?

Thursday Thirteen


Apologies for the lateness of this post. We lost power this morning. It has been that kind of week.

Immature Pokeweed

For Crystal!

This is when Poke is safe to eat. Wash and par boil and drain the water. We use Poke until the berries start to come. Older leaves may need two changes of water to get the bitterness out.

You'll find poke just about anywhere the soil has been disturbed. It grows along our road and places where we've cleared and graded the land. It grows in vacant lots, and the other day I saw it beside the fiberglass columns at a local store.

Wordless Wednesday

Make It From Scratch #62

The Make It From Scratch blog carnival can be found this week at Creatively Me! There are a wide variety of posts this week. I can't wait to check out

Quick Purple Kohlrabi Pickles

Zen and the Art of Mowing the Lawn

Recognizing rural America: soybeans

Finding Treasures in Books

What are your favorites this week?

I don't think you'll find any posts about beer pong tables.

For more information about the carnival or about hosting see Make It From Scratch - the carnival

Kroger Adds 10% to Your Grocery Dollars

Perhaps you've seen it in the Kroger weekly flier this week, but in case you didn't, Kroger has a promotion going on right now that adds 10% to your grocery dollars. When you buy a gift card for $300 or more, they add 10% of the value to the card. So if you buy a $300 gift card you get a card that is actually worth $330.

I don't shop Kroger frequently, but I do like to shop their loss leaders on occasion. Investing $300 to get $330 worth of groceries purchased on sale and with coupons seems like a good deal to me! I plan to buy myself a gift card when our stimulus check comes. Using the card for part of my grocery budget through the summer will help to free up cash in other areas, and provide a buffer against the rising food costs.

Speaking of rising food costs, if you haven't seen it yet, you really should check out Cheap Healthy and Good's article about the food crisis.


Leptovox

A Little Break

I will be taking a little break while I join my friends from Market Street Fellowship for a women's retreat. We are talking a day and a half with no cooking, no whining kids, no butts to wipe, no dishes, and no laundry. A day and a half full of fellowship and fun with people serving my food and clearing my plate while I chat it up with old and new friends. Oh yeah, I am all about that! See you here on Monday. Have a great weekend!

Poke, Bacon and Eggs

Yesterday we gathered the first poke weed of the season. We gathered about a mixing bowl full. I decided to try something new to fix it.

Poke, Bacon and Eggs
First wash the poke weed. Trim off the leaves and peel the stalks, if using. Put in a pot. Cover with water. Bring to a boil, and boil for a few minutes. Drain, rinse and chop.

Chop up four pieces of bacon and fry in a pan. When the bacon is almost done, drain the excess fat, and add 2 TB chopped onion and 2 cloves chopped garlic. Cook until onion is soft.

Beat six eggs and add to the bacon and onions. Cook until eggs are dry, stirring frequently.

We had this for dinner last night with cornbread and beans. It made for a delicious, nutritious and economical meal, but I must say I have a love hate relationship with cornbread. You can see the love...


And the hate...




How do the kids get so many crumbs on the floor?