Yup, I'm having a little trouble buckling down back here at home. I think it has something to do with the gorgeous weather we've had since returning. How's about we just put the canoe back on the top of the Suburban and go off on a day trip? Huh, huh, huh? Can we, can we? Pu-leeeeze?
Okay, I have not been a total slough-off. Yesterday both Papa Pea and I went to work and painted preservative on the boards that will be used in the reconstruction of our high-sided trailer. We hope to get that little (?) project crossed off the list yet this year before the weather makes it uncomfortable for working outside.
Some garden clean-up and a bit of late-season harvesting has gotten accomplished also.
In my effort to be nicer to myself, I spent some time in my quilt room today. I worked on what I hope will be a new holiday wall hanging for the kitchen.
There's this blank wall space between two south facing windows and I've been keeping a seasonal wall hanging there, but I don't have an appropriate one for Christmas/New Year's. The quilt of fall leaves pictured above is one I did a few years ago. I hand quilted the whole blasted thing and I remember it taking for-EVER to complete. But I have to admit I've always been very happy with the way it turned out. (Have I ever mentioned patience is not one of my virtues?)
I'm kinda winging it on this new one I'm making and it may not turn out at all, but I'm enjoying the process so that's the important thing.
Tomorrow will be given to extracting honey. Our guess of how much we will get this year is bouncing between thirty and sixty pounds. This time tomorrow night we'll know for sure. Harvesting the honey from our hives is always fun and satisfying, but at the same time a messy (to say the least) operation that will take up the better part of the day by the time all the clean-up is done.
We have some apples that we think are ripe on a couple of our fruit trees and hubby has been hinting strongly for an apple pie so I'm going to get one in the oven first thing in the morning while he's getting the extracting equipment set up and ready.
Like it or not, kinda looks like I'm getting back into the routine here on the homestead, doesn't it?
P.S. I DO like it.
30-60 lbs? Thats a lot of honey! Do you sell it or use in place of sugar? This whole week we've been *off* schedule also. Just cant seem to find the energy. Monday...Monday will be busy!
ReplyDeleteKatidids - Nope, we don't sell it. We use it ourselves and give some away as gifts. At the price of real honey in the store these days, it's worth a lot to us!
DeleteA lot of folks have been complaining of lack of energy this fall. I think it's a combination of the change of season and the fact that we've all been kind of beat up this summer for numerous reasons!
Wish I had your energy, seems all I get done lately is basic chores and some kinda crisis I did not plan in my daily routine, maybe if this dag nab it weather ever cools off I might accomplish more than basics. Supposed to have record heat this weekend. Frankly I am tired of it and beginning to believe this global warming stuff.
ReplyDeleteTombstone Livestock - I got a chuckle (only because I can relate) out of your ". . . all I get done lately is basic chores and some kinda crisis I did not plan . . ." Ain't that the truth!? A friend is coming over around noon today to get water from us because their well has suddenly gone kaputz and they can't figure out the problem.
DeleteAs far as I'm concerned, the weather you're still having is the best excuse ever to not have any energy. Hoping it cools off for you SOON!
I'm always amazed at how much honey can be in one super. Marianne and I were discussing a study that was done of a test of honey taken from supermarkets, big chain drug stores and big box stores a couple of years ago - NONE of it was 100% honey! A portion of each jar held an 'unknown' substance!?!? Yeesh. That fall hanging is just beautiful! Can't wait to see the new one...
ReplyDeleteSusan - I know! We simply would not eat honey from an unknown or retail source. I mean, would you want to ingest honey from China (which is where the bulk sold in the U.S. comes from right now) not knowing what was in it or WHERE the bees got their nectar from??
DeleteThanks for the compliment on the wall hanging. I like the dark background on the yellow kitchen walls.
Hey Mama Pea...love that pumpkin header!....and really love your fall quilt hanging. I hope I don't miss seeing the Christmas hanging (with how sporatic my blog reading is these days). How on earth did you get any apples that far north? All of our buds got froze this spring...only a few peaches on the bottom half of a protected tree.
ReplyDeletedr momi - Just another illustration of the wacky spring we all had this year . . . when you and spots a lot farther south of us had that frost that knocked out the fruit tree buds and blossoms, we didn't get it!
DeleteThose two pumpkins in the header photo are now even bigger and fully orange. I've got the biggest pumpkins this year I've EVER grown. :o}
I got that same whine outta SM this morning. "But I don't FEEL like doing anything." Ha! Right now I've got him cleaning out the garage (with me stuper-vising of course.)If you're running solo it's so EASY to talk yourself out of doing anything. But with that other person around, somehow we manage.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the honey harvest. Sticky kisses tween you and Papa Pea
tami - "Stuper-vising!" I gotta remember that one!
DeleteYup, I do think man (or woman) was not meant to live alone. Although we all have to learn how to "share" when we live with someone, there are so many advantages to a good relationship that it's worth it.
It will be sticky kisses, sticky counters, sticky floors, sticky clothes, sticky dog . . . oh wait, we don't have a dog right now. This will be the first extracting day in many years we haven't had a dog to try to keep out of the melee.
You are so much better at getting back into work than I am! I went to blog Friday and couldn't believe it had been like 2 weeks.... I am disgusted with myself LOL. Post pics of that pie!
ReplyDeleteErin - I'm STILL not anywhere near caught up with reading blogs since I was gone a couple/few days this week!
ReplyDeleteAnd, yes, Little Missy, you'd better start doing a better job of blogging more regularly! I miss keeping up with all that's going on with you guys so far away!
Your wish is my command: Picture of apple pie is posted.