Sunday, October 5, 2014

Sunday Night and Why Am I Not in Bed?

I am showered and have my jammies on.  I just finished my second half glass of wine and my eyesight has gone a little blurry.  Why am I not in bed?

I finished up my quota of Stuffed Green Peppers for the freezer (and "convenience" meals this winter) today.  I made a mistake this year.  It was such a slow growing season because of the cold, late spring and pretty much sunless summer that I didn't pick any peppers until early this month.  Big surprise!  How did they grow SO BIG?  The result is that I had these over-sized peppers with which to make my Stuffed Green Peppers.  I should have kept a better eye on them and harvested them when they were of a more manageable size.  Live and learn, as they say.  (And, yes, I did make a note in my garden journal to be wiser about this next year.)

Our weather has turned quite cool and blowsy.  Still no killing frost, or frost of any kind for that matter.  Up over the ridge north of us they have had a light snow covering already.  Is this the forerunner of another heavy snow winter like last year?  I wouldn't mind that at all if it didn't entail snow plowing and shoveling nearly every day.  Papa Pea and I have made a pact to get back into our cross-country skiing groove this winter (great exercise for my hips that seem to spread when I'm not looking) and good snowfall is a must for that.

It is said bad news comes in threes.  Within the last week our community has lost three members.  One a twenty-five year old who swerved to avoid a moose on the road and smashed into a tree.  She was dead upon impact.  Another fellow quilter lost her six year battle with cancer.  Today we said good-bye to a lovely lady who had been a delight to all who knew her to . . . well, old age.  I so admired her for her many talents.  So musically gifted, her creative artistry, her beautiful, kind and caring nature.  She was a fantastic horticulturalist and darn good cook along with being a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother.

It's a thrill to notice that the remaining salad greens in the garden have suddenly been rejuvenated by this crisp, fall weather.  They look revitalized and taste crunchier so once again we're enjoying big salads.  I feel kind of like a big old bear storing up vitamins for the winter!

I have a list of foods that seem to taste especially good in this autumnal time of year.  One of them is Alsatian Sauerkraut Soup which I plan on making tomorrow.  And, yes, it has sauerkraut as one of the main ingredients.  When we had the restaurant even professed sauerkraut haters liked it.  I haven't made it in a coon's age so doing so tomorrow seems like a good idea.

Our plans for tomorrow have changed and it looks like it will be a "home" day.  We had thought of spending one last day in the canoe on one of the inland lakes, but the forecast is for 40% chance of rain during the day (with a high temp of 49° -- brrr!) and a 50% chance of a rain/snow mix for tomorrow night.  We may have just missed the last of the canoeing weather for this year.  Oh, well.  Staying home, making soup and doing the laundry tomorrow sounds like a better idea anyway, don't cha think?  Ya sure, you betcha.

20 comments:

Carolyn said...

Why am I not in bed either?!
Staying home & doing laundry sounds good, but not sure if I'm up for soup, I think it's supposed to be near 80 degrees.
So.....exactly how old is a coon?

Sparkless said...

I'm not in bed either. I know I'll regret it tomorrow but I got reading a book and then stopped to check blogs before I went to bed and then got engrossed in reading blogs past time I should have been in bed. I hope you can get another day to canoe. The weather has been glorious here and I'm ashamed to say I've not be out enjoying it more.

Mama Pea said...

Carolyn - NEAR EIGHTY??!! Oh, my goodness. Do we live in the same country? I finally succumbed to my chilly bones yesterday, packed away my summer duds and got out my winter ones. This morning I'm much more comfy in a turtleneck and zip front sweater. (Well, a couple other articles of clothing, too.) We've been having our fall winds (nothing bad so far though) and nippy temperatures that are toughening us off for Old Man Winter who can't be too far off.

How old is a coon? Old.

Mama Pea said...

Sparkless - Our colors are past prime now but there are still lots of leaves hanging on the trees. Fall is such a lovely time to be paddling on a lake . . . if one can find a warmish kind of day.

Now go sit out in your yard today if nothing else. Inhale that glorious air you've been having. I know, especially in winter, I don't get out of the house to take in better air as much as I should. Must change that . . . even if I just take 15-30 minutes to sit on the deck.

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry for the losses. I will keep their families in prayer. I hadn't thought to freeze stuffed peppers, will give it a try! I love them, not the kids though.

That looks fabulous Leigh! I can't wait to get my pigs next spring :) I actually met someone local the other day who had American Guinea's. Going to have to find out where she got hers.

http://caffeinatedhomestead.weebly.com/blog

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

I was up too, but watching the football game with Hubby. His team lost. Sorry to hear about your community members. Your large green peppers sound wonderful. Our fall peppers were too small to make stuffed peppers with.

Unknown said...

I'm up way too early!

Lisa said...

Sending sympathies your way. Small-town, close-knit communities are each other's families, whether you are 'kin' or not. I am so sorry for the losses your area is experiencing. Methinks your 'home' day needs to include time in your quilting studio.
P.S. I cannot believe you had enough of a summer to even 'grow' a green pepper, much less grow big ones!!!

tpals said...

How strange that we've had our first frost before you!

Susan said...

So, just how big were these peppers? I took a cue from you and fixed some convenience meals - chilis rellenos. I am sorry to hear of so many sad occasions in your small, tight-knit community. I hope that is the end of it. I cannot stay awake beyond 9:30 these days - I think it's because of the shortening days.

Sandy Livesay said...

Mama Pea,

I'm sorry to hear about your 3 friends, may they all rest in peace. Sending prayers!!!

I've had issues with trying to get to sleep myself. Until I started drinking chamomile tea with a bit of Valerian Root. Now I sleep well at night, have you tried using Valerian Root in the past?

Sue said...

We had our first frost THREE WEEKS ago! Lucky you?? No--I'm DONE with gardening! I'm enjoying the great indoors now-peppered liberally with long hikes.
Sorry about the loss of your quilting friend and the others.
How is your foliage looking this year with all the gloom you've had? We're just coming out of four straight days of gloom.....................but the leaves still are managing a terrific showing.

Mama Pea said...

Stephanie - Pulling out a serving of Stuff Green Peppers for your dinner of a night would be an easy, good meal for you. I find they are like rocks when they come out of the freezer so I usually take them out early in the day and let them defrost on the counter. Then at night I sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the top and bake in a 350° over for 30 minutes. Voila! There you have it!

Mama Pea said...

Kristina - We should have somehow combined our peppers to get good stuffing sized ones this year!

Mama Pea said...

Nancy po - Yep, it can sometimes be a real pain . . . to bed too late and then up too early! WHEN are we supposed to get our beauty sleep??

Mama Pea said...

Lisa - You have to remember I had my green pepper plants under a cold frame ALL SUMMER long! Otherwise, I wouldn't have gotten a harvest at all in our cool, almost cold, summer!

Mama Pea said...

tpals - Strange, yes, but just a continuation of the topsy-turvey weather we've all been having!

Mama Pea said...

Susan - How big were the peppers? H-U-G-E! Half of one stuffed will be more than my hungry hubby can eat for a meal. Wanna come help him?

Yeah, I'm ready to call it a day (or night) 'round about 9:30 these nights, too. But what I find hard is getting up when it's pitch dark (again) in the mornings!

Mama Pea said...

Sandy - Thank you!

I've tried chamomile tea (didn't seem to have any effect) but not Valerian root. Does this help you stay asleep? I never have trouble falling asleep, but will snap awake (WIDE awake) at 2:30 or 3:30 and not be able to fall back asleep.

Mama Pea said...

Sue - We've had so much drippy-drizzly rain lately we've had trouble getting out to hike. Hubby says, "Well, you know we do have rain gear . . . ," but that's not my idea of a fun hike!

Our fall colors were just as spectacular this year as any year. Even though we're past the peak color time, it's still mighty purdy out there. Usually the color ends with a big wind/rain storm that takes all the leaves off the trees, but we haven't had that yet.