I know I'm a stickler for it, but Monday is my laundry and ironing day so I was up and going at 6 a.m. getting that started.
It was my turn to have my handwork group here at 10 a.m. There are seven of us gals but, of course, not everyone can make it each time. Yesterday six of us crowded into my quilt room (hey, I did spend a couple of hours in my quilt room!) and, per usual, the chatter (and the handwork, honest) was non-stop along with a lot of laughter and very good natured giving-of-a-hard time to one another. (What else are good friends for?)
In honor of the upcoming Halloween holiday, I made a (Tootsie Pop and kleenex) ghost for each of the gals and had the bunch of them in a jar as a centerpiece on the table. (The ghosts, not the ladies.)
In the afternoon, Papa Pea asked if I would do a couple of errands in town so after changing yet another load in the washer, off I went.
Since I was there, I couldn't resist stopping in at the library (I love our library) to pick up a couple of novels. No real need to do so as I'm not even 1/3 of the way through the one I'm currently reading. The only time I read is if I manage to get into bed at night before my better half, and then I usually can read maybe 10 minutes before I conk out. I'll bet I've brought about 100 books home from the library in the past year, but have managed to actually read through probably only four. Sigh. (That's gonna change this winter though.)
When leaving the library, I remembered our local resale shop has already gone to their winter hours and is open only three days a week, Monday being one of those days. And, boy howdy, am I glad I took the time to go there!
We've been looking for some long-handled tongs for a while now for grabbing birds out of the scalding pot prior to plucking the feathers. This set was just what I've been looking for.
I also found a brand new insulated coffee carafe exactly like the one I already have. (New one on the left, old one on the right.) Yesterday morning for my handwork group, I first served from a pot of coffee, then they drained the one carafe filled with more coffee, and I definitely could have used more. Well, now I'll have a second back-up carafe next time they're here!
Okay, that just about took care of yesterday. Did I mention I was in bed asleep before 9 p.m.?
This morning we dug our potatoes. Not the best crop we've ever had but we guesstimate we got between 125 and 130 pounds. The number of Yukon Golds were a bit of a disappointment (the light colored ones in the picture), but the ones that did grow were quite big.
All of the potatoes that were very small or had holes in them where slugs had munched will be cooked up on Papa Pea's garage wood stove and fed to the poultry.
This afternoon we harvested apples. No, not from the paltry number on our trees this year. Those same few apples that Blue Jays have nearly decimated. Is that sad or what?
These apples are from a tree in the yard of good friends of our daughter. It's a very big, old tree that was planted by the husband's grandfather. No one remembers the variety, but it is a beautiful, healthy tree that had about a gazillion apples on it this year. It isn't sprayed with poisons or insecticides, yet the tasty apples are unblemished. What beauties! Countless people had already come to pick as many apples as they wanted from it and only the ones on the very tip-top were left, but we were offered them if we wanted to take the time and trouble to pick them. Did we ever!
With the combination of an apple picker on a long pole and an extension ladder, we got about 3 bushels of them. Considering we thought we were going to be darn near apple-less this year, we're so very appreciative of this couples' generosity.
Now I'm trying to do my weekly ironing (okay, I'm fluffing off getting this post written) and heating up leftover soup and making some garlic bread for our second meal of the day.
And that's why I'm not in my quilt room yet! (As said by Lily Tomlin in her "Edith Ann" voice from Laugh In. Anybody but me old enough to remember that?)
15 comments:
Nice potatoes! Digging them up in the Fall is one of my favorite events in the garden year.
Laugh In what a forever memorable bunch of character's emerged from there. I know many reference the 1950's as the golden days of television and true there were many famous folks there. Of course I am not old enough to know this from being there. In fact we didn't have a TV for the longest time. But 1980's had a few shows that really loaded the decks with some talented folks.
Great post with lots of fun packed into one place Mama Pea. I am so delighted to not be the only person in this world who is guilty of checking out more books then I can read at one time.
And how much fun to have your ladies group at your place. Do you met once monthly or more often? Same location or rotation? I haven't been able to get to the Shedd in several months. I miss those talented ladies.
Congrats on two amazingly productive days.
Phil - When our daughter was nine years old and was at a friend's for the afternoon, her dad and I dug the potatoes from the garden. She was very upset with us for doing it without her! So, yes, it's not only a bit of work to do, but fun, too!
Goatldi - We meet the second and fourth Monday each month, usually at a rotation of each others' homes. However, in the winter or bad weather (and icy back roads or yards) we have been known to meet in a church basement or in the meeting room in our food co-op. It's a unique group in that we have an unwritten rule that what is said or shared when we're together doesn't go any further. We're comfortable with each other, have been a true support for each other through thick and thin and have been meeting for I-don't-remember how many years. Also, of course, seeing the different pieces of handwork and learning from each other is very inspiring.
Mmmmmmmm.... Now I wonder who asked that question???
"When are you going to get into your quilting room?"
I can't imagine who, would have been so "cheeky" as to ask you, that question!!!!!! >,-)))))))))
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wisps of words - No matter as it's a question I ask myself at the end of nearly every day! ;o}
Hmmm, the apples look like Cortland to me. I have 3 sitting in front of me on my work desk (my snacks for the day...I never ate the am one as someone brought muffins in to work) They are the same mottled stripey red and yellow, some more red than others.
Athanasia - You may be right about them being Cortlands! The shape reminded us of McIntoshes but they are harder and crunchier. Made an apple pie with some of them this a.m., but haven't tasted it yet.
Those are beautiful apples! I am NOT a fan of blue jays. They are loud, pushy, aggressive, and destructive. Sounds like a lot of fun with your craft group. I sure would love to be part of one here, but no such luck. I do hope you get into your quilt room soon - such treasures come out of there!
That's a lot of potatoes and they all look good.Sounds like you have a lot of fun with your group of friends! Good friends are few and far between. My goodness those apples look so good. I bet alot of apple pies and apple sauce!! Yummy! eventually you get to your Quilt room. Yes, I remember Lily Tomkins. I loved that show. Remember Artie with the Baby buggy? Can't remember his last name. He use to make me laugh so hard, I'd get tears in my eyes!! Such good memories. The younger generation doesn't know what they missed. xo
Thanks, Sweezie! We had a FLOCK of them descend upon us for about three weeks late this summer. There was not much we could do to keep them off the apples -- the few there were. We've tried covering the trees (what a job!) with netting but the birds just went down to the ground and under the netting and hopped up onto the branches. A couple of years before we were invaded by robins that did damage to the apples AND the blueberries. 'Tis a struggle some times!
Lynne - I baked an apple pie this morning with some of the apples that had fallen on the ground. They had a few bad bruised spots, but were otherwise just fine. I'm very eager to try the Yukon Gold potatoes. I haven't grown any of those in several years 'cause Papa Pea prefers red ones. They're supposed to have such a good flavor, very buttery. If I make them into mashed potatoes with gravy, I know he'll eat them!
Oh gosh, Laugh In was such a good show. One solid hour every week when you just laughed and laughed. So different than the sarcastic, demeaning, sometimes dirty humor that is out there today. Bet a lot of people today don't know that's where Goldie Hawn got her start.
Your right about the sit-coms they have now a days. Rather disgusting to me. I really don't see any funny in them. I'd forgot that Goldie Horn got her start there. So many good shows have gone by the boards!!
Lynne - I totally agree!
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I love Lily Tomlin, that made me laugh, I could hear her voice lol!!! Holy potatoes and apples!!! That all looks great! I didn't weigh my tater haul, just counted them...268 was the final tally I believe! :) Your group sounds like fun, how cute that you made those little lolly pop ghosts! Oh Mama Pea, I feel the same way...I love to read in bed, but my eyes just shut after 10-15 minutes or so. Even if I'm really interested in the book I struggle to read. I hope that'll change this winter too! :)
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