Today was a good start to the week. Got the laundry done and hung out on the lines early this morning. Brought it in as it dried, folded it and put most of it away. Tonight I ironed what needed ironing.
This morning I also picked about 12-14 pounds of strawberries. After lunch I sat and cleaned them all. That part is NOT my favorite as it's so tedious! (And you can carry on a conversation with a bowl of strawberries for only so long before you start getting a little funny.)
After dinner I made two batches of jam.Then I baked a birthday cake for our daughter because we're finally getting together tomorrow night to celebrate her special day . . . only six days late. No picture of the cake 'cause I only got it baked. I'll frost it tomorrow.
Below is a picture of our granddog, Tucker, that I snapped today. His favorite place to take a nap in the house is by the back door because it's coolest there.
The room right inside the back door is a step down from the rest of the house and apparently the little guy was so tired he needed to rest his chin on the step before falling fast asleep.That's a little bit the way I feel right now.
Yup. 'Twas a good day. Now I'm ready for a good night's sleep. Hope I make it into bed instead of zonking out on the floor like Tucker.
30 comments:
I agree with you 100 percent! I retired for 4 years, gardened, canned, sewed...did tons of stuff...went back to work so I could get some rest!
You always amaze me with all you do. I don't think you did any less when working, too. Your jam looks great. We made two batches of raspberry jam last night. It feels so good to be putting up jams for later.
Ah, Monday wash day! I'm surprised at the amount of people that do their laundry on Monday--I always have. Got it all washed, hung out on the line and dried/folded/put away before noon yesterday. It was a PERFECT laundry day--nice breeze and no humidity. Beats waiting on a dryer. I got all the floors vacuumed and mopped, bread baked and the dusting done while it hung outside drying. I don't know why people think a dryer is "quicker".
Isn't it a great feeling to get so much done? Cute picture of Tucker. Have fun with your daughter!
~~Lori
I applaud the title and first sentence of your post! Your jam looks beautiful. I just love looking at home-canned goods. They have a simple beauty about them to me. and what a cute photo of Tucker! Looks like he's plum 'tuckered' out. :)
I hardly consider homesteading a retired position! LOL We homesteaders work our butts off. Retirement is for those that sit around, read books, and golf all day every day LOL
Retired? I think you just changed jobs, LOL. Cute picture of Tucker all tuckered out. Bet you are tuckered out too after all that.
You're not retired, you just work at home..(smile). By the way, we all get a little nuts when canning by ourselves (I was afraid it was just me).
Lynda - There's something about the work you have to do at home that you can't leave. Can't get away from. Night or day it's always in front of your face! But, truth to tell, I am so thankful to be a full-time homemaker and would not trade it for the world!
2 Tramps - I know! What it is about jams? We don't need them to survive but they are one of those little special things that makes life more enjoyable!
Sue - The thing is I actually enjoy the process of hanging things on the line. And if you have a good drying day, you're taking them down before the last load is up! (I do wish the towels wouldn't be as stiff and scratchy as they are from the line though. Never satisfied, am I?)
Lori - Yes indeed! It's a wonderful kind of tired at the end of a productive day!
That is why you need to get another dog or keep Tucker around. Gives you someone to talk to other than the strawberries:) Sometimes they actually seem interested to listen. I am sure they are hoping for the magic word 'cookie' but at least they fake it.
Lisa - For me it harkens back to having a good supply of food put by for your family. (I still don't know how the old-fashioned, hard-working mothers of huge families ever put up enough preserves of all kinds to feed everyone! Ha! Or GREW it!)
Freedom Acres Farm - No, it's a never-ending job, that's for sure. (Just like motherhood or being a homemaker!) But I choose to work my butt off on the homestead rather than go to the gym to keep fit!
Tombstone Livestock - I think Tucker exhausted himself being outside patrolling the grounds all morning because when he came in in the afternoon, he zonked out completely for hours.
I was tired last night, but it was a really good tired.
Simply Scaife Family - I just have to remind myself as I'm washing tons of produce or preparing it for preserving how easy it is to pull it out of the freezer or off the pantry shelf in January. That's homesteader's convenience food!
Jane - We never got used to being totally dog-less when Zoey died because we had Maisy and Tucker during the day. Now with Maisy gone, both hubby and I find ourselves giving more attention to Tucker so he doesn't feel lonely or confused. I could have used him for conversation yesterday, but the darn dog fell asleep on me. Is it my less than scintillating conversational abilities?
Oh, I had a good laugh at your 'retirement'! Let's face it. None of us can function on any speed slower than all-ahead-full. I don't like those tedious jobs, either. And my dogs don't listen to me - as soon as it's appearent there are no 'treats' to be had, they turn their backs on me and leave the room. Stinkers. I can almost smell that lovely jam...
I agree! I was just telling Tom the other day, I'm so glad we can always fall back on the grocery store... that we don't have to shoulder the pressure to grow and preserve enough food even though it's just for the 3 of us.
work is never done! How is tucker doing with Maisy gone. How is Chicken Mama doing? Jam looks good .
shhh,but I heard the heat is returning,don't tell anyone I aid so,hehe--see the heat has melted my brain
Wow, that's quite a strawberry haul! Ahh, one day I'll be able to retire and do with my day what I want!
"Two batches"?? That looks like a heck of a lot more than two batches of jam to me! How much is in "a batch" exactly? :)
I've been happy to get a couple of strawberries off my potted plants and a handful of raspberries off the bushes in the back so far. Just wait til next year when I can turn my full attention to cultivation instead of weeding and taming the neglected yard!
Susan - Yeah, but you continue to get a full day's work done . . . after you come home from your day job! No fair. Makes those of us home all day look bad!
Qwaynt - Tucker did go through several days of seeming confused and needy. I'm happy to say that he's feeling much better now. Chicken Mama was strong enough to know that Maisy shouldn't be left to go on any more and she knows she made the right decision.
judy - Oh yeah, the heat has been back with full force up here for sure. I had to quit outside this afternoon 'cause it was just too miserable. When does fall start?
The Weekend Homesteader - And when you do retire, you'll be busier than ever, I promise you! You'll just have more time to do all those things you want to do!
Jen - I got 7 jars out of the first batch and 8 out of the second. Both batches were made with 2 quarts of mashed berries which is significantly more than that in whole berries!
I'm betting in a couple of years you're going to be into berries in a big way!
I know! I am in awe of the gals who are moms, garden and work outside the home, don't know HOW they do it!
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