Ready For Tea!

A few weeks ago I harvested the chamomile flowers and put them in my dehydrator to air dry. Today I pulled out the trays and Wha-la! perfectly dried flowers ready for making hot tea when the months turn cooler. I wish you could smell this. It is amazing!

Solar Sun Oven

I have wanted a sun oven for years. The concept of using the sun to cook has always intrigued me and I finally stumbled on a deal I couldn't refuse! Anything that bakes in a regular oven can be baked in the solar oven, even bread and cookies. Today I cooked a whole meal in it.
I set it out around 11 this morning and while it preheated I put my meal together.

My menu was chicken quarters over a medley of root veggies of purple sweet potatoes, carrots and Jerusalem artichokes. I seasoned them with salt, pepper and Italian seasoning.

The oven was ready to go so I popped my covered roaster in and walked away. The only thing I did was occasionally reposition it in the direction of the sun.

Supper was served at 6:30 this evening!

The kitchen has smelled delicious for the last few days as a large pot of lamb stock has simmered for the last 48 hours. Freezing and canning season are just around the corner, not to mention we will be processing our meat birds very soon. I have been trying to make some room in the freezer so I pulled out a large bag of bones to cook and can up some stock.

Today I strained it and canned 7 quarts of a gorgeous stock the will add nutrients and a rich flavor to soups and dried beans!

Baby Ducks!

Well the duck that beat me up finally hatched her babies. 5 cute fuzzy ducklings are wandering around the chicken coop.

Mom and babies are doing well and with extra help from Uncle Ed, the goose, who is keeping a very close eye out on them all should be well!

Medicinal Herb Bed- Done!

Sometimes you just have to do things yourself. I have been patiently waiting (well not really) for hubby to help me get my medicinal herb bed built. Several weeks back I bought a bunch of herbs and have been having to keep them watered. I had picked up the corner block already but needed the boards. After several nights of him skipping Lowe's I made the decision I would do it myself. Now, I have never gone and bought lumber alone, always with hubby. I have watched how he looks down the board and makes sure it it nice and straight. I had this. Off I went. Wouldn't you know what I needed was way back under the shelf. I was climbing up under and had found 3 nice straight ones when a kind young man took pity on me and asked to help. I paid for my boards and proudly loaded them up, once again all by myself!
To construct the bed I needed 2 boards cut in half. Well after my lumber run I was feeling pretty confident and said to self, Self you have watched hubby use his skill saw for years, you can do it! Once home I drug out the drop cords, saw horses and skill saw. Amazingly, I cut both boards exactly right and did so without loosing any body parts!
I put all his stuff up, exactly how I found it and headed to the garden to construct my bed.

I put down weed block under the bed to hopefully keep out some of the grass. Ta-da! Here is the finished product.

 To his credit he did help me level one corner and put 2 scoops of topsoil in it with the tractor which saved me a lot of backbreaking work. This is the finished bed, planted and mulched,

I plan to build several more along the side of the garden. One for culinary herbs and 2 or 3 for new asparagus beds.

Strawberry Syrup

The strawberries have produced their little hearts out this year! We have eaten all we could hold. I have made jam, have given away several gallons to family and today made some strawberry syrup.
I must say it turned out divine!

Pancakes are on the menu for Sunday breakfast!

Canning French Fries

I have been wanting to haul out the canners and get busy filling the pantry. I have already canned several quarts of stock and today I canned french fries!
Now why you may ask would someone want to can french fries? Well when I crave ketchup my fries are only a few minutes away! Drain them, place on a greased pan and bake. No peeling, no mess and a craving satisfied!!
They turned out really pretty. I did hot pack them but I think next time I'll forgo that step and cold pack. It would save a lot of time. Yum-o!