Last week I made up my mind to turn over a new leaf...I was sick of my own attitude, the feeling of malaise I had allowed to take over. Frankly, all I wanted to do was eat a bunch of foods that would do me no earthly good, lay in bed overly long each morning and do nothing all day but stroll through You tube. This won't do! I have plenty of tasks to do just staring me in the face! There are loads of things extra I can think of to do that are fun. Yes, I'm turning over a new leaf!
I'm taking extra care just now to look hard at foodstuffs and insure we use them ALL in one form or another. So the water I boiled eggs in yesterday went over the tomato plants and bee balm to give them a little extra boost. I've put in a request for a couple of big bags of really good potting soil so I can get those tomatoes potted up...
Friday was a very productive day in the kitchen. Today naturally was a quiet day, as we took our Sabbath time. Was pleased as punch to get a call from Katie saying that Taylor was with her this weekend so we went over to visit with the little girl and that chunky laughing boy. Katie's boyfriend had cleared out the back yard and it was amazing to see it looking so much better. It had gotten very overgrown in the past few years even before Mama moved out of the house. It was a bit of shock really to see how large it looked.
John and I are definitely having a metamorphosis of some sort...We found ourselves looking at a tractor this afternoon! A tractor...and he's talking more and more about a garden and has mentioned bees and chickens. He's only been living here in the country for 24 years now and he's finally coming around. This might be his new leaf!
Work this week:
Homeschool Josh...Two days and there's honestly not much to it. He's that smart that he really doesn't need help just a little encouragement. I told him we'd study about bugs this week but he didn't seem so keen. He's not crazy about bugs overall. I guess I'll have to talk to him to see what interests him the most. In the meantime, we've plenty of worksheets and I'll figure out some fresh ways to interest him in his lessons.
I did everything on last week's list except start cleaning the kitchen cupboard doors. That's on the list for this week.
Make Bagels and ask Bess if she wants to come join me for that process. I also want to make yogurt this week. I won't do that with Bess because she already makes her own. I will also make a new loaf of bread. I am ready now to experiment with a new recipe since I've finally got my oatmeal bread recipe down...Oops! I forgot to share that in last week's post. I'll include that at the end of this post...
We've had some quite cool nights of late but we are now past our 'last frost' date so I am going to chance it and start planting flower and vegetable seeds. I only have bush beans and zucchini seeds at present and my three tomato plants but I will start with what I have.
I have a few houseplants that desperately need to be repotted. I can scratch up enough soil to tend to those I think.
If we've dry enough weather, I'm going to gather some of my old plastic pots and give them fresh coats of paint. I just want to do what I can to make the yard/garden pretty and I've a good bit of paint on hand.
John is working one day this week. I think I'm going to have to go see about Mama on that day. I've kept my distance from her but I know she's going to need a few things. It's been over 2 weeks since I last went out to do any shopping for her.
Meals:
I was seeking inspiration last week and then I decided to write down all the meals I keep thinking of making but don't or haven't made in a good while or that are just favorite meals of mine or John's.
Mac n Cheese, Italian Roasted Vegetables I never made this one last week...
BBQ Beef Cups, French Fries I prepped this on Friday and then we missed lunch I'd planned which was something John had wanted. So this became Saturday evening's meal. This was awfully good and a scant half pound of beef made 6 muffin sized portions. We had two leftover.
Teriyaki Chicken, Rice, Steamed Broccoli, Sliced Oranges
Cubed Steaks, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Tomatoes Au Gratin
Taco Pizza, Salad
Chicken Pot Pie, Pear Salad
Red Beans and Rice, Corn Muffins, Coleslaw, Baked Apple
Bread Machine Oatmeal Bread
1 1/4 cups room temperature buttermilk
1/2 cup oatmeal (I use old fashioned)
3 tbsps. sugar
1 tsp salt
3 tbsps. Oil
2 1/2 cup flour
1 3/4 tsp. Yeast
I use the setting for a 1.5 pound loaf. Last time I added 1/2 cup raisins and a teaspoon of cinnamon and it was super yummy.
I have adjusted my yeast to suit the brand I'm using. My loaves were 'sinking' after rising so that the top was not domed over. I had a perfectly flat top this time with no sinking at all.
I did have to add an extra 1/4 of water due to the low humidity we had this last time.
(C) Terri Cheney