ewwwwww

cess pool issues again
this time it is a clogged pipe and looks like it's going to cost us big

meanwhile i have to sit by the phone waiting for their call, as they will sandwich me in between other jobs

so now that was our weekend......... how was everyone elses?

it was warm this morning, in the high 40's so i didn't light the woodstove
i did however notice jackass neighbor (remember that ass?) last remaining abandoned un-neutered tom cat in the yard today......
they are gone but their legacy still lingers on like a malignancy

i am still trying to clean up the latex in the studio, still trying to get the omph to knit, still terrified of the periodontist on the 29
still out of sorts

next week is thanksgiving....... we may be having DUCK if thumbprint doesn't settle down.
he decided to go for me sunday...... so we had more drake discussions.....he's a persistant little monster
and to think i was worried about him LIVING?
more like i am personally ready to cut off his fool head myself

we got that new log rack, it's really nice, holds a lot and is sturdy
it's a bit too close to the woodstove however for my comfort
i do however like it a LOT.....so much so that i am thinking we need to get a second one for on the deck..... slightly bigger.... it holds a 1/4 face cord, so one that holds half a face cord would be good for the deck i think....... and they do come with covers too!

bernie has decided that he doesn't want that horrible candied yam with marshmallow thing that he normally eats on thanksgiving!!!!!
(who are YOU and what did you do with bernie?)
we are going to have roasted sweet potatoes!
i am going to miss my mashed for the gravy but that's ok

this year we are most likely going to roast a 21 pounder and then can a lot of it
i have two in the freezer and i think i can get one more free one.....i hope anyway.
we are getting hit with some extra expenses that i didn't anticipate with the cesspool/pipe thing

meanwhile today bernie has a new guy starting, Ismael! i kid you not........ without the whale! naturally when i heard his name i had to ask about the whale....
thankfully bernie doesn't remember moby dick so he won't say anything that this poor guy hasn't heard a billion and two times.

in just odd little tidbits, i found the text of the book 'what dreams may come' that the movie was adapted from..... i found the complete text online!!!
cool huh?
so i got it up and i am reading it
HERE is the link
i was originally looking for the image of the toy theater that is in the daughter's room when robin williams has his scene with her and the chess game.......
i ran across the book online and naturally couldn't resist reading it
so i am reading that on and off
and i am also reading "Good Wives: Image and Reality in the Lives of Women in Northern New England, 1650-1750"   by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
and a few cook books (bread bakers apprentice, a book on soups etc)
did i mention i love used book stores?
i am going to see if i do have books to trade for cause i want more how to's and cookbooks

well it's almost 9am, and i am drinking my coffee
i have given the budgies their food and water, and given the cats their hot fancy feast with olive oil and probiotics
i need to get the hellion ducks out next
most likely taking those damn baby drakes out one by one
oye
MEN
have a nice day everyone
and if you all have time
talk to me about what your traditional thanksgiving 'must haves' are?

a touchy woodstove

and a lazy sunday morning.......well sort of

today we have to stack some wood
and do something in the studio
as i spilt that white mask the other day and made a huge mess.
(then since latex reeks of ammonia, thaddeaus peed on it all)
oye
meanwhile the studio is starting to think about defrosting
the woodstove is giving me a hard time
oh and the new woodrack...........GREAT holds about a 1/4 face cord
just we have no place to put it!

hahaha
oye

so meanwhile i am drinking coffee with my wool hat on and my layers of sweatshirts etc
yesterday we went to a new to us used book store
i scored a bunch of cook books, a few knitting and craft books and a book on goats
bernie scored a couple of books on WW2 history which he loves

yesterday thumbprint decided that bernie was his 'bitch'
hahaha
we had a discussion with thumbprint last night.... in drake speak
(which involved wiggling his butt while holding his head down and then hoisting him on his back in the air which he did NOT like at all)
today we will be hiding me while bernie takes the boys out so i can see if thumbprint learned
and if bernie learned........
cause bernie needs to remember how to handle them.....remember my gum surgery is coming up and he'll be responsible for them for a few days

now being the wonderful loyal wife that i am (i can't even type that with a straight face)
i laughed hysterically hearing about how thumbprint wouldn't get off bernie's leg
then naturally had to point out that me the 'little woman' had no problem with any of the THREE mature drakes here
and that they all obey and get the hell out of my way when i tell them
hahahaha
oye
somehow i am thinking he'll never really make a farmer
or even a country boy......
he's always going to be a city boy at heart
although his latest woodpile looks well stack if not well covered

let's see, in budgie news..... the love affair between captain cuttle and emma is still going on but has settled down a bit.... last night all the girls were hanging together while captian cuttle was reduced to romancing a ring toy.
i have got to get the other two boys soon........
i would like a violet factor pied, and i think a bright lime green or a pastel lime green
that is colorful enough i think for this cage
i have to say i do so enjoy them and their antics, and even though i didn't tame them, i love to listen to them talk and watch them interact
they need new apple branch perches too, i should cut them today while i am out there (and thinking of it?)

bernie remembered i was looking for rutabaga for thanksgiving and picked two up the other night for me.
i had forgotten i had asked
that made me feel so much better
i really was upset with him for not having that four day weekend....he's so tired and he needs a change plus we need stuff done around here that i need help with
so he's agreed to take black friday off, as well as the following monday, tuesday, wednesday........as i have the gum surgery on monday.
(no i am NOT looking forward to that, it's the first of 4)

i am getting a box of stuff together to send to a friend's son in afganistan, i got toothpaste, qtips and tpaper so far
i am going to get to a cvs or riteade and get some stuff too
i would like to send chap stick, zinc ointment
goldbond, hard candy, playing cards..... and other odds and ends
kevin is going over by spring it looks like so i should get one together for him too
oh and i broke down and texted that kid
he does worry me
oye

well it looks (and feels) like that woodstove is starting to catch, i want it hot enough to clean the chimney if i can get it up there
and the studio temp has risen 2 degrees now......... bernie is going to start breakfast in a few minutes
and after i have some work to do in there

have a nice sunday you all

a bad mishap

i was working on that painting, just starting to do a color layout (which was not working btw)
and spilled an entire brand new bottle of liquid mask or frisket
oye
now here's the thing about frisket
it's a latex, and reeks of ammonia
and it's better to let it dry and then pick it up
so i did
meanwhile we discovered that the former homeowner painted the floor with a water soluble shit brown something or other
latex is also water soluble
what a mess
now as you all remember i have cats
three cats
all naughty cats
none so naughty as mr thaddeaus peabody................
who promptly peed all over the papers that i covered the mask with
so now i have mask, papers and peed to clean up
and the latex isn't completely dry yet
plus i am out of mask
and i am thinking
that this painting hates me and doesn't want to come to live
?
oye
meanwhile i think the mishap was caused by my very large, very heavy but totally beloved drafting table, which i can not move easily........no wheels
(another 'bernie will help' that never happened.......)
so i need wheels and a leg cradle or something to get this thing mobile
and then i need to refigure the studio yet again due to the woodstove

and mr PEE body is sitting on the floor right next to me, trying to make up to me for peeing all over the latex
oye

oye oye oye
oh and for the record........the watercolor paper didn't stretch right anyway
UUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGGGGG

now we have delayed errands.
bernie was sent to the PO with the inducement "perhaps your title is there"
ha most likely not but thats ok
i did all the duck water etc last night so all he has to do is walk 7 ducks OUT......... they will walk on their own two feets
while he follows with food bowls and closes the pen doors behind them
how's that for easy
i'll be getting dressed

so susan, i hope it isn't echo-y in here.....i posted, it's a crappy whiney post but it's a post

to end this a bit lighter
amelia (she was called bigfoot until her gender became more then obvious) loves her momma and wants to be held a lot......think lilli with gray and brown feathers
prudence likes mom but isn't sure she wants holding yet
all this while lilli is telling mom that mom is a female doggie......without parents
cause lilli is growing in flight feathers in this late molt from hell
but at least the two sisters (lil and phoebe) aren't fighting too badly

and i can't wait to sit and draw ducks
maybe after i get this mess cleaned up

maybe i should think of a tabletop easel
or a french easel without the legs (cause the french easel has the draw that pulls out to the front, more convenient for someone without a lot of space no?)

i'm thinking that the wood is wet

cause i am hearing hissing in the wood stove.

ok i am laying out a new painting, which may or may not happen.
it's santa in his workshop.......sorta

you all saw the old guy (yup it turned out to be just a study, but i sort of thought that)
i was thinking, if i was that toymaker..... what would i want to be surrounded by?
THAT question lead to a LOT of google imaging......
so i started a digital file
(yup this is how i work in color)
i got images of wing chairs and sextons
toy theaters and fireplaces
night skys and art nouveau windows
draperies and brandy snifters (no i don't drink but i figured an old guy that traveled the world would)

and as i type 'old guy' i realize that he is about my age! hahahahaahaha oh man-funny how it's the other person that's OLD

and colors, ok deep rich wine reds, glowing ambers, dark icy blues and greens out the window lit by stars and snow reflection and inside glows from the fire
polished wood
aged leather
deep and heavy velvet draperies

ok so that's what i see in my head
now as to what is going to happen on paper......well we'll see

ok so that's what i am involved in now

and you?

been busy......... you all better miss me

so much for a 4 day weekend

it never happened....... two day weekends rarely happen
i am up and started the woodstove or i'm TRYING to start the woodstove
it apparently does NOT want to start
cranky vi
cranky morning
cranky woodstove

i also don't want to go to the periodontist on the 29
which bernie not only forgot but probably won't take off the days he promised me he would to help me after the oral surgery

oye

i got that chicken stock all done.....it's the same color as good apple cider....a deep amber color.
i have so much to do today between the kitchen and town...... stuff i didn't get done saturday
and yesterday turned out to be all day just to pick up chickens

ok i think i got the woodstove started......
first thing this morning i must go to the post office
after chickens and ducks i have to do dishes and process meat and make some pickles
i am going to plan a shopping trip tomorrow i think
depending on how much i get done today

meanwhile due to the road call and chicken run
i've eatten processed food and now am exhausted.......NO ENERGY
so it's going to be interesting

i am still trying to get the house warm, i didn't know why bernie didn't throw a log on the fire this morning
oh and i have to bring in wood too
oh man
i better go i am behind before i ever got started

da pot da pot ***

***da STOCKPOT !!!!
da chickens da be in da stockpot all nice and cozy.

we got chicken stock
i got them stewers going
unfortunately i am still sick so the ducks got out late
i got my stock going though
i didn't eat much yesterday but still had 'issues' this morning

i think it's got to be viral as bacterial i think would have passed so to speak already

meanwhile i will attempt to stay vertical long enough to get something done today.

i got enough wood in for today and part of tomorrow but i need to get an indoor woodrack
it would help big time
and no more lost mice UNDER the wood on the floor huh?
makes sense no? then please tell me why i put it off for 5 years?
i'll see what lowes and home depot have, but i may end up ordering from amazon simply because they deliver.

anyway this one is short and maybe sweet as i have to try and get vertical and get something done
maybe i hope
wish me luck

take good care everyone

fast fast

cause yesterday i was sick and got slow slow so am behind behind
oh boy
before the rain comes back i think i need to get the wood in no?
and the ducks out
i had an 'issue' with malcom........ gee am i tired of testosterone right now
i felt his little beak on the back of my legs while i was trying to close off the back pens
his 'love taps'
when i got him, his head was in the mud
i also noticed that thumbprint's back was all muddy
hmmmmmmmm

malcom did end up in the air....... he wasn't happy and i got a stick to herd him with
damn boys

i really need the new pen finished and now i need yet another pen

in other news i am behind in cooking, cleaning, chicken chores and a mole is running around the basement that the ducks and the chickens have not caught yet

everyone that promised me help with chores naturally (my nephew specifically) didn't show up
bernie is working this weekend so wood stacking looks like my job totally
oye
he's also moving his shop to bethlehem this coming week so maybe he'll get home earlier then 9pm?
7 would be nice
6 would be better, his base day is 12 hours...he works from 6 to 6 but 6pm usually is more like 7 or 8 pm....
on salary so that is 60 base hours a week........
no comp time
plus 24/7 call
no down time

he's exhausted and when he drops dead the company he works for is going to be shit out of luck
they need him
he needs them
it wouldn't do any good to anyone to kill him off from exhaustion
i don't know if he'll listen to me
i doubt that they realize it (or believe me the ceo and pres would put a stop to it..his company is wonderful when they do realize something)

meanwhile thaddeaus just puked breakfast all over the place so i gotta go

ttyl

and stewers are in the cooler

but naturally today and the rest of the week is rain rain rain
just warm enough to not get good draft
cold enough to need a light fire
did i mention it's raining? so the wood won't be dry if i take it in today
(i am struggling to light the fire)

bernie found one of my halloween mugs that had gone missing somehow, i saw it this morning.
it was my favorite with the witch on it
today, if i don't go out with jen ( i owe her, as we didn't do her errands yesterday) i have dishes to do
lots of them...
i just did them all .........so i don't know where they all came from
last night i did a roast, so that will be either sliced for tonight or cubed for stew
i have some other meats to do and then the stewers
oh and it looks like the woodstove finally took!

i been thinking after 5 years of woodstove, when i get too old to do the wood (like last week)
we had better put in a duel fuel stove that does biomass such as pellets, corn, etc.
it won't cook though
a good biomass stove that has a soapstone surround and can be cooked on would be good .....really good i think
so would passive solar....
so anyway back to chores
it seems like that's all i do anymore ......chores
or entertain family
or errands
i do love duck and chicken chores (not mucking but grazing them and stuff)
i like some of the gardening...... harvesting it wonderful most of the time

maybe right now i am a bit tired and a lot overwhelmed at what still needs doing?
i have to finish putting the garden to bed and still some garlic to plant
i have to clean the chickens and the basement
i need to tarp the back pen run
and i could really use some help finishing off the duck pen plus some inside pens for the ducks to be kept seperate
it would be more efficent to have a long bank of pens that are connected huh?
oye
i need a jack of all trades that works for cookies

speaking of cookies, my kitchen aide mixer is shot
so i need to find a new mixer
now kitchen aides are not good anymore
not the new ones
and a hobart (who initally made kitchenaide and is the gold standard) cost 2035$ for a 5 quart
so that's out of the picture ( and they do come in RED too .....shit)
i want something that can beat the cookie doughs and take the big batches,
i would like a tilt head if i can get it
and i would like bigger then 5 quart if i can get it
does anyone have any recommendation?

part of the issue with the cookies last winter was the mixer wasn't taking the doughs
i struggle a bit every year but since bernie broke my kitchen aide it's never been the same, even the repairs sucked on it
it sounds like it's about to fly apart even just creaming butter

anyway, i am sitting here drinking my coffee, watching the fire on and off
listening to the budgies chirpping morning songs to each other
it's about light enough in spite of the rain to take the birds out

prudence and amelia are so cute when i put them in the basement, they keep asking me to put them in with the boys, but i can't now.....the boys jump them
so i spend that short time talking to the girls and telling them they are good girls
this molt for them isn't as extreme as lilli and phoebe's molts are this year
so they will be coming around to tame faster..... they are starting pretty good now

ok i am going to finish this coffee and read my email
ttyl

waiting for the sun to come up

it went from black to gray-ish and i am waiting
i have to get everyone out early today as i am going to pick up doomed chickens for whacking today

(retired layers who are going to be stewers)

i put amelia and prudence in the basement last night with our chickens..... so lights out was early.
they get the front of the big pen today and the bathtub (yesterday was boys bath day)
who said that duck ownership was easy? it certainly is mobile!
and feather filled! since with this molt there are feathers all over the place!

i got a good fire going in the stove now. it started up quickly without matches this morning, that is always a plus
now today after the chickens ( and whatever errands jen is dragging me around on) i will have time.
i am hoping that during this time
i accomplish the following

1. box for the unit in afganistan
2. socks finished for jen at spirit trail (yup had to rip them out)
3. a section of the studio gone through and papers shredded
4. thanksgiving baking started
5. a new mixer acquired

wow, i realize that is not a huge list considering what all really needs to be done but it's what i got now
i also would like the woodstove looked at by a professional or at least me and a 'professional' who i won't trust as far as i can throw them
i think it needs resealing and it's not air tight any longer

bernie is in bethlehm today, his company is donating a wheelchair lift equiped van to someone .....he'll tell me more later
he's supposed to be making the full time move to this office in about a month
i hope so
as he's so terribly exhausted right now i am actually worried about him

ok my beloved chicklets
it's light enough to see my own hand outside
so i am going to get dressed now
and finish my coffee........

you folks all have a nice day

today is tuesday

it is election day, i had intended to vote
i got my card and all
then found out that i don't know who to vote for
!
oh man
from what i can see not one of them is worth the air they are breathing!

oye

now the other stuff i gotta do is get the title to the white van for bernie (send it away to harrisburg)
i got more wood to bring in (*told him to leave what he tossed on the deck for me today)
go to the pet store and the post office

i want to get a leslie sansone dvd, i have one from like the 80's that i used to use daily (and did a jane fonda one every other day with it)
i can't get out to walk so i have to do it here, and since the weather is getting such that i won't be out to the garden a billion times a day, i am figuring a daily walk aerobic thing should be started
and we should probably move the 'entertainment' thing to the other room (the entertainment thing is a joke, it's a 20 year old 15 inch tv, with a vhs player and a cheapo terribly balky dvd player.... see what i mean.....we don't actually have tv so that's that)

now this morning when i came down, the studio was still at 67 degrees but the stove was nothing but ash
i am stacking and burning it now
took a bit to start up
i am blowing through wood right now though, and i realized that i needed to get at least 6 more cords so i can have them stacked for NEXT season........as the dryer the better for these stoves
even slightly damp or green isn't good at all......now explain that to bernie please

speaking of whom..... he needs a vacation.....a true rest until he's bored
he won't listen to me
but he's sounding bad, he has a cough he can't shake (got me worried sick too)
and he's getting like 4 hours sleep a night
saturday he almost rear ended some guy who was making a left, then he forgot the headlights on in the van during the DAY, then he did something else that had me upset but i forget right now what that was
all stuff that is silly but due to him being sleep deprived

even when he's gotten home early, he gets calls in the middle of the night....... by crews by accident. but that wakes us up and it's not so easy to go back to sleep then

well so that's today
more or less
i am trying to figure a better way to keep the ducks seperated out
now that the babies are hitting puberty
oye
teenaged ducks......
adult ducks with pms......
oye
oye
did i say oye???

oh my......my poor little blog

susan reminded me ......i forgot you!

ok so
saturday was fall stuff ......winterizing chores!
storms are mostly in
ac units are mostly out
wood stove blanket it is
and i lit the first fire last night
the second this morning
halloween was quiet.....not like normal which was good actually
cause normally bernie screws up halloween big time
this time it was just sorta of very low key on his part

today i had to finish his chores and bring the wood in, which i did sorta
he didn't stack the deck nor the studio so i am going to be bringing in the wood all week it looks like
now if i have to do that...it's going to again cut down on my knitting time
as well as other things
cause it takes me forever to do wood......bernie it takes 20 minutes me it takes 20 hours or so it feels

i found a deceased mouse in the basement...... i don't think the chickens got it
even though the chickens are turned out to EAT the mice.....
colette is thrilled to be able to follow me around now....and get picked up often
she's not going to be happy when she's got to go back in the day pen full time again

the baby ducks are feeling their hormones
and today i took the boys to the back part of the back pen leaving the girls in the front part of the back pen
(thank goodness for two parted pens that have a gate to close or open)
the boys were not happy
the girls were happy until they realized that the boys couldn't get to them ......then the girls where not happy either
ducks
can't please them
and now they are too old and tough to eat them

i am watching my woodstove while i type this, it's got a hot and lazy fire in it
i need to put a bunch more wood in but for now i'll wait until bernie gets in

tomorrow i have to get a new title to the white van, which bernie sold....
get cat food in town
possibly a rutabaga and a pumpkin
i think something else but i forget
oh and i ordered an 8 quart stock pot...... with shipping for 37.98
all stainless, with an encapsulate bottom from zwillin/henkel (you know......the knife people)
for boiling pasta!
now tomorrow with luck i get stewing chickens for NOTHING! which will be processed on wesnesday!
(chicken whacking wesnesday!) i am hoping for at least 6 but i could be getting 7!!!
now that is an abundance of stewers.........all slated for the canner!

i could get about 15 gallons of stock out of them birds or more....plus meat
i would like that
and i have the big stock pots to help out too!

i also got the green tomatoes but haven't had time to pickle them yet
maybe wesnesday.......?

oh and my nephew is going to be leaving for some military training so he can get sargent..i had to read it on his FACEBOOK page, i'm crushed.......sniff
but i am still planning on keeping him in cotton socks when he deploys
oye

ok off i go
bernie is almost home

just for donald......

i am making homemade stuffing (cornbread and shredded wheat...it's good)
i'll make rutabaga for me
and candied (yuck yuck yuck) yams for bernie
a salad i think for a veg
gravy homemade from scratch
mashed i think for potatoes so i can do cream of spinach soup after
homemade fresh cranberry orange sauce (with star anise, it's wonderful!)
maybe creamed corn (again for the leftovers, i am thinking a turkey pot pie)

we'll have turkey bagels on friday...... it's TRADITION

i am debating on pumpkin cheesecake or maybe apple turnovers for dessert?
but i will cheat on the turnovers and do frozen phyllo dough

i asked bernie and he wants baked brie this year..... hmmm
maybe forget the apple turnovers then? and go with either a cheesecake or pumpkin custard minus the pie shell?

and CIDER
yup yup cider

do you realize

thanksgiving is almost here?
do you?

DO YOU?????????
oh man

ok so stuffed mushrooms or baked brie?
baked potatoes or mashed?
whole turkey or breast?

oye

now yesterday i did night crates...... thank goodness!
and i have clean duckies
naughty ones but clean ones
next is chicken day pens
and then duckie day pens
i have however misplaced my pitch fork........

today is breezy and coolish, i suppose i should do laundry
i should also do more dishes, and clean something else
have i mentioned how much i truly hate to clean
i wouldn't mind if there was someplace to put everything but there isn't

now i also would like to figure out something for bernie for christmas, most likely a dvd player
his is a crappy one that never worked right to begin with
it freezes up mid dvd

that's about it right now as i have to run
how about someone commenting?
so i know you folks are still out there?

it's so sad

all the family having gone home.

the weather here is warmish, so not fall like.
today we have fog ... a LOT of fog
and bernie is very tired. i am so glad that tomorrow is friday, i expect him to sleep in and do some wood and such
we got the cesspool pumped, which seems to have alleviated the burping of the pipes
i need to blitz the house now

has anyone knit aeolian? if so let me know...i am having an issue with printing out the charts!

i can't believe it's almost halloween, then the slide into thanksgiving and christmas.... to new year
we still are not ready to light the woodstove
with the family in and out all summer a lot didn't get done
including the replacement ceramic fiber blanket in the top of the woodstove, but it's sitting there waiting
we also didn't get a tank of oil either

bernie seems to have sold the white van
which leaves us with my van .......just one running vehicle
i am not so sure that's a good idea

ok in garden news we still have tomatoes!
and i have more garlic to plant
because of the weather and then the family coming i am behind on that as well
but as i realized, after all the excitement i need down time...it's that adrenal thing again- i try to fight it, however it kicks my ass every time.
(we also were NOT eatting right while colleen was here since we ate out daily due to being in nj so far away from home)
i am still in down time, and overwhelm ...it's going to take a while

ok i best go now

i dream an aweful lot.....

the other night dad came...... talking about my nephew
he is concerned.

today i dreamt i was going back to art school......and had to run and pay tuition
then got into a discussion about oil paint verse water color
and realized that i knew oils
but just started to really tap watercolor
in the dream i was running across the street to pay tuition and wondering if it's ok that i draw ducks

in waking news....i got my back out again
plus i need to move three cords of wood so the septic guy can get in to pump
we have a problem with the sceptic
bernie went to work
oh man
i am going to call the chiropractor to put my back, back together. and find out if i can stack wood so i can clear the driveway to get the septic guy in
wish me luck

i think i am back

colleen left yesterday.
i met my mother in law...... for the first time
EVER
after what? 34 or 35 years of marriage
i took my nephew down with us one day....he met his gramma
i will be going back as often as i can to see her.....by myself it looks like

i was accused of stalking my nephew because i am concerned about him, and i am concerned about his welfare. which i think is all a bunch of bullshit to cover some guilt up with
i am trying to recover from the last week or so

rhinebeck rocked as usual
did you all miss me?

i am so tired, and i am worn out right now emotionally
my nephew is most likely being deployed by spring...... add that to the worry.
he also had an accident pulling into our driveway the other day
oh man

in knitting news....i am about done with the manditory family hat knitting, i have one more to do and that is for my mother in law. i will use acrylic though for her as the nursing home won't hand wash

the next projects for winter are
1) replacing the ceramic fiber blanket in the woodstove
2) stacking the last three cords of wood
3) doing storm windows
4) tank of oil
5)covering the ac unit in the studio

and then we are done i think
meanwhile......i am sort of feeling sorry for me and missing the family

so now you all need to remind me to post again daily

vi

dentist, family and rhinebeck

be back in about a week and a half.....

you all better miss me

sniff
i'll miss you all

life is good ****

why can't we know that for ourselves sometimes?
**** this post is brought to you by nothing in particular except it's stuck in my head****

one of my friends who recently buried her mom, called me not too long ago crying.
she misses her mom. this doesn't seem to unusual but this person was so busy being strong for her mom, for her family...... and doing all the legal stuff and guardian stuff that she didn't have time to realize....
she was going to miss her mom when her mom was gone.

she realized now

what does that have to do with life is good?

well i wish she'd had some inkling of that revelation while her mom was still alive...but that's ok better late then never.
however she missed the opportinity to tell her mom while her mom was in the flesh
she did however get a 'vist' from her mom, the other day and so told her then.

how often do we get mad at our family?
i know i get mad at bernie a lot...... part of it is worry on my part, when he works late 6 nights a week, comes in and falls asleep in his chair before he eats.......
or when he does something in the house in such a rush that i know it's going to take a ton more work to undo it and then redo it right

but the reality is, i do love him with my whole heart and soul and toenail.... i just get disappointed sometimes.

isn't that the way?

also i keep wishing for an addition....funny a few years ago all i wished for was enough money to survive....just pay the bills, buy heat and food......

AND A KITCHEN WITH COUNTERTOPS--

however i think we are in a better part of our lives.....so while i look forward to an addition to the house..... sometimes i am just happy to BE

and if BEING means pain free so much the better

i also realized, a lot of things i do take away from other things just as important to me
and i would like to find a way to streamline some things ( like chores) so i have a bit more time drawing and painting, making dolls, cooking/canning, and knitting
i want to spend more quality time with bernie, and i am hoping that he can get work (once past the new office opening) a bit more streamlined so he can get home at a decent hour.

i realized what a waste of time some things are.....and how some people can waste your time and spin your wheels. (yes that person who didn't show really got me annoyed)

anyway...
what is good in your life? what are you going to keep? what are you going to dump?

a hat a day?

next week is rhinebeck, which my sister in law colleen is going to for the very first time
sooooooooo
as it's due to rain (sorry mo, i think it's going to be cold wet and really nasty weather.....)
i knit her a blue and grayish white tweed colorknit hat
in about six hours
but since it's not any thing really spectacular..***hello, only six hours***
i expect she'll only wear it if the weather is nasty
i am going to wear i think bernie's light blue one
he'll wear his darker blue one or maybe colleen will wear one of the solid blue ones
anyway
we have hats for rhinebeck
(mine will most likely be a barn hat)

oh and the budgies are all getting along fine btw, the yellow one is now estella from 'great expectations'

now i have a question for you all, about your levels of tolerance for other people, and their stupidity or whatever

do you find yourself more tolerant or less tolerant of other people and their personal 'quirks' as you get older?
i think in many ways i am much less tolerant- a case in point, yesterday someone was to have come over my house for me to do them a favor...they never showed up nor called... i got a PM last night- that since i didn't call THEM, they didn't come, besides they had a bad day.....!
can i do it for them today or tomorrow
now the deal was.....i did this favor for them, they helped me plant garlic, (which i actually didn't expect them to do as it is actual work) and i am thinking that the garlic planting had something to do with them not bothering

here is my thing, i think that if you want a favor, you show up when it is most convienent for the person doing it for you.....
or does a favor imply inconvience for the one doing it?
while ordinarily i don't mind doing something for someone, i do mind when i feel imposed on

as a side note, this particular person asks for favors a lot....swears she is going to 'help me'
i hear 'let me help you' regularly..... but have yet to seen her show up to help
this happens a lot around here
i hear offers of help a lot but no actual help ever seems to happen.
 so i figured i would ask you all

what do you think of this ???
what's your experiences?
(also if you post i will answer in the comments ok?)
i really would like to get a dialog going here about this if we can.......since this is something that puzzles me

i had the oddest dream

both my folks were in it......and dad apparently worked with bernie
my cousin's wife michele was in it too
we were around the table (we're italian where do you think we'd be?)
some woman came up to dad from behind and put her arms around him and commented on how cold his hands were
mom didn't notice!!!!!!!!!!
bernie and dad commented that they both needed to be back at work but no one moved and we all sat around talking and eating
part of the dream was me asking bernie what it felt like to have a kid with another woman
as i figured that in raising that child they would have an interaction and intimacy that really should be framed in a committed relationship (or a marriage)
now in real life bernie doesn't have any children with anyone that we know of...
so this was an interesting part of the dream
oh and i woke before he could tell me

now that one was an odd dream
then i woke up to henrietta crowing like a rooster.....(she isn't a rooster she lays an occational purplish egg)
she actually sounded like a young roo! i was shocked when i heard her
well today is a go to town fast day.....so  i can't dawdle.....
the budgies are all ok still .....getting used to sharing a big cage
emma and the captain are still hot and heavy
poor boy, emma follows him around and bosses him too
oye

a budgie soap opera

all the budgies are now together in the big flight
and captain cuttle has abandoned mrs fezziwig for his own true love, emma ( one of the easter budgies)
meanwhile estella (the yellow easter budgie) is heart broke with unrequited love for captian cuttle.....
mrs fezziwig doesn't really seem to care either way
such DRAMA
so intense suspense......

will captain cuttle and emma abandon the other budgies and raise a family in the corner of the flight?
will estella ever find true love with a new yet to be purchased MALE budgie
will the new, yet to be purchased male BUDGIES (plural, we have to get two of them) be interested in the girls or will they be interested only in each other?????

stay tuned to have these and other questions answered when we return to our next episode of 'ah the budgie turns'

oye

and the countdown begins......

28 days (giver take)
i love halloween
not the gory stuff
but the pumpkins, ghosties and witches..... bats, cats and full moons
add that to the fall leaves, apple cider, doughnuts, etc....
oh yeah am i ever THERE
we've been putting some stuff up in the house now.... since jackass neighbor is gone we feel we can celebrate now!!!
so pumpkins are starting to show up all over the house....... hmmmm even in the bathroom
hahahahahaha
did i mention i love halloween?
ghost story books are on the nightstand
and the mantel
and i am trying to hang orange lights over my drawing space...mmmmmmmm orange lights!!!
 meanwhile in family news, my sister in law colleen is coming back, not only to come to rhinebeck with us but to visit her mom who she's not seen since i think she was.....11?
and of course to meet kevin
one of my other sister in laws may come to rhinebeck as well (rhinebeck is on her birthday) and i hope our new friend susan comes with also
we'll be meeting vicki and bob up there ..jen and scott are following us
life seems very sweet right now
in spite of the heat coming on during the night..which can only mean one thing,

 THE FIRST FIRE OF THE SEASON

and i can't wait... i love my woodstove so much!
sadly however, after halloween comes the much harder darker times of the year.... when i freeze putting the animals out, and when i worry about if i am going to be able to haul water out and wood in by myself.
but right now i am not going to worry about that....
i am going to revel in halloween and rhinebeck....... the BEST TIME OF THE YEAR!

small vignettes

 on the left is a picture i took while waiting to find out if we had to continue on with the sunday road call.... we had started out, and were then called and informed that the crew were trying to get a jump down where they were. on the right is calpurrnia, taken yesterday while she was up on the top of the knocked down bed- she HAD been laying with her little head down..... looking so amazingly innocent. but i missed that shot when i got the camera.

we've had rain for the past two days, the ducks were not happy. i actually had to carry the babies down the hill as they were not going there.......

they followed me down the hill but then realized i was going to put them in the back pen... and all four turned and FLED up the hill-like all the hounds of hell were after them.

they wanted to stay in the small pen near the house but since there are 4 of them they need to be back in the big pen..... it stays clean longer and also they have more room to flap their wings around

i put lilli and phoebe in the top pen, however the babies aren't happy

so one by one i carried babies......WHILE they told me that my parents were canine, and that apparently i was a boy as well...!

even thumbprint got in the corner of the pen and told me off..... wow! thumbprint came out of his little world??

just to tell mommy off!!!

oh and the drakes are having voice changes now.....so the telling me off is even funnier in person

oh i finally got the broccoli done, but the tomatoes are still waiting

now tomorrow i have the periodontist, which is scary.

oye

meanwhile bernie is taking off to take me or so he says... i have to leave here by 2:30

oh and i also need to make a vet appointment for thaddeaus, fawn and calpurrnia... which is an hour away,.........will my car make it there and back?

ok folks i know i still owe you pork and ham

i want a maslin pan

tis the season for THAT lust too
cause of pear preserves
i do them the french way.... a bit of sugar sprinkled over and then they set
boil up the syrup........ and then let them set again
finally simmer them together with the syrup and can
i NEED a maslin pan
it's a want, a need, a lust, and an obcession.....
and it's also about 200.00

oye
and a side note to vicki in ut
have your dh do the furance, use a shop vac, replace the oil filter in the line and go online for the specs to set the nozzles at
bernie did ours for years

last night we were called out on a road call, we left and were on our way when we got a call that a unit local to the downed vehicle was going to try and jump them
so we parked and waited.
they were able to be jumped so we came home!!! and ate leftovers
but while we waited we were near a lake and watched duckies!!! now you all know how much we like our duckies....hahahahaha
so it was fun

today is raining out
duckies don't know that yet
SURPRISE duckies!!! i know how you all hate the rain
oye

meanwhile i dreamt of chris isaak!
just a brief mention of his name

then a transparent girl called my name and talked rapidly with her transparent hands over my head
however i don't think she was a dream
i told her to slow down as i didn't catch what all she was saying
except when she called me by name
my real name
no one calls me by that
so that sort of woke me up
that's when i realized her hands were transparent and waving around over my head......to the left
i wonder who it was
she was not a young girl so she was between like 20 and 38 or so....... maybe a tiny bit younger
but she wasn't an older woman either
i don't think it was thea, as normally she makes sure i know it's her
although thea was one of the few childhood friends that ever called me by my real name consistantly
so there is a puzzle for you

well my beloved chicklets.... i need to finish this coffee, get dressed and get ducks
and then start a very busy day today
i have pears, broccoli and apples to do
along with some spinach. and tomatoes
hense the maslin pan lust
ttyl

and just when you least expect it

another good weekend (well so far at least)

we filled my thryoid med rx yesterday, so now i have peice of mind until  i need to get this renewed again.
i need an endo though

well let's see, we got some chicken on sale and i put it in the freezer, which caused the eviction of my wool and yarns......sniff
oye
so i am going to see about sealing them in bags
we also got new litter boxes and new litter for the cats, no one is using them however and there is STILL pee on the floor.
oye
i got butter on sale...and pears to make pear preserves, some broccoli to freeze up
tomorrow i hope to get 20 or so red peppers as i would like to do my sweet roasted red pepper sauce

we still need another 3 cords of wood and a tank of oil for the winter, and 40# of blsl chicken breast that i want to batter dip and crumb for the freezer.....as well as 100 pounds or so of potatoes
then i think we really are done with that
bernie needs to do the snowblower and i want a new shovel
we have even started to put in newspaper for kindling.

so what are you're winter preps?

and with the advent of fall/winter i get closer to doll making, drawing and knitting...i can't wait

yesterday

jen came over to knit on the deck.
i know she was concerned as that stupid doctor knocked me for a loop monday
then the girl that took poindexter & may came over with her two kids, so we all sat on the deck and visited a spell

it was hot

today i am finally finishing up my poor long suffering pathetic little space that passes for a kitchen around here. (it's pitiful i know) i've had stuff all over the place though and today i am getting it a bit straightened out.
meanwhile the cat problem (which no one has commented on, i am beginning to feel very unloved here) still is going on, so we decided to pick up three new litter boxes and a different kind of litter and see if that helps a bit

now just about every night this week bernie had come home very late, around 9........add that to his/me not sleeping... well, i asked him please if he could, come home at a reasonable time tonight.... 7 would make me happy.

another sleepless night

thank goodness it's wen- i can't wait until the weekend... maybe i'll actually get some sleep?
yesterday, i grazed the big girls, and i wore my wool hat out instead of my straw floppy sun hat.
everyone stared at me
even lilli was confused!
bernie didn't get in until after 9, so we had oatmeal for supper, he got a shower and it was off to bed.....i didn't sleep
he did thank goodness

i am still obsessing about the doctor on monday, she was better then the one that insisted i had high blood pressure after meeting me for one second and reading the inaccurate blood pressure that her incompetent assistant took- but this one's take was 'when i was ready to take charge of my health, and lose 100# come back'
i truly am so sick of doctors who don't know how to treat what is wrong with you so they latch on to anything... and then get angry at YOU... when you don't fit the stereotypes.
and the level of hostility is amazing......
i have had doctors tell me (without blood work taken mind you) that i am diabetic **i'm not***
that i have high blood pressure ***i don't think so....117/72 isn't high***
that i have high cholesterol.... ** at 143?***
that i will die before i am 50, 60, 70, 80..... or 90....... ahem... i am over 50, and let's face it, living with the adrenal hyperplasia and the pcos isn't a picnic in the park.... i would rather have less years of higher quality then longer and no quality
so how many 90+ year olds are truly enjoying their lives? or are they stuck in nursing homes?
frail? ignored.....?
a doctor's fear of death shouldn't be pushed on a patient, i am not all that afraid of the after life.... just the pain and indignity of dying
but like everyone is telling me......i got my thyroid meds renewed.... without having to get a blood test that i can't afford right now
so she is a bad doctor and it worked for me
but i spent the day in tears as the aftermath..... ***and this little tropical depression is brought to you by adrenal hyperplasia...and stupidity in the medical profession*** i was so miserable even bernie felt sorry for me...
my old doctor that closed her practice used to make me feel so good when i walked out of her office... and i always made progress.... these doctors locally make me feel like i should just die as i have no obvious redeeming qualities as i am so (insert the adjective here - at least i think you insert the adjective here......... ) fat, combative, non compliant ( that one was from the one that told me i have high blood pressure as she wrote a rx for meds) an obvious liar.... (i couldn't possibly be not eating crap, or watching portion size or exercising enough or i would not be fat damn it... two diseases that cause obesity but it's me doing something way wrong

and i am so sorry to rant but stuff like this gets me so angry.. if i had listened to these doctors i would be dead.. they wouldn't give a shit either

ok i am about done with the scarf for spirit trail...... lately my knitting is extremely slow
i have to finish the one sock then do the other and i can send them to her
i have to block the scarf
i hope i can find my blocking wires

when i am finished i plan on sitting down and drawing...... and sculpting
i have a photo of amelia (aka bigfoot) 'instructing' the other ducklings.... i want to start with
then some drawings of the big girls in the garden hunting worms
and then..... baby drawings
i hope to draw a lot of ducklings this winter
i hope i took enough pictures
with the way the summer played out i don't think i did take enough stills, i took mostly videos

and i want to sculpt... (bernie may come home one day soon to find porcelain molds on the stove again...just like 30 years ago when i was starting out) which also means plaster dust all over.... when i do the molds around the sculptures to pour porcelain
i really want to do some doll making in porcelain again... although i may just finish some cloth stuff.
i never know what i am going to do.......until i do it

i also want to put some halloween stuff up in my drawing corner, as well as the rest of the house
tis the season

we are also having a problem with the cats, they have clean litter boxes, but they poop and pee just outside of them
clean boxes........THREE cats THREE BOXES
they are driving me nuts
anyone have any ideas?
it started when jackass' cats sprayed our front door
then we had pee wars...... the ferals on the outside
our's on the inside
they may have ruined the floors!
anyway, if anyone has any ideas on how to fix this or solve this please let me know
and no getting rid of them is not an option..... oh and they are healthy

ok i am off and dragging
i came down with bernie this morning again
so i am not really with it yet

it's cold here this morning

so cold that if i had brought wood in, we'd have a fire right now.
so i bring in wood later maybe.
i wish we had a back door downstairs or at least deck stairs down stairs. it would make things a bit simpler

now today i plan on cleaning night crates....harvesting some stuff in the garden
doing dishes, canning some tomatoes and then more knitting ( and renew my rx)

i also have to fax some stuff out. someone remind me

and i am a bit unsettled between the doctor yesterday and this whole mother in law thing
i think an afternoon of knitting maybe just what i need....... possibly on the deck?

october is almost here, which brings rhinebeck, halloween, and the last of the winter preps. last year we had snow if i remember on halloween.
i need to do the hoop house soon
oh and my friend tina is getting married on halloween!

i am still not settled enough to finish up the ham and pork post but i will get to it
and some time this week i'd like to make up a big batch of meatballs
but my top priority is getting the knitting done this week, blocked and posted out
and getting bernie's thing faxed out
gee it's almost 9 i had better go
ttyl

the new doctor..isn't

you know you are in trouble with a doctor when they write something down before you answer them
and it's wrong
and they don't correct it cause you see....... they know your body better then you ( although they've met you five minutes before)

oye
so the search continues

meanwhile, may and poindexter seem to be making friends at the new farm...... poindexter is friends with a staffshire terrior now
and may.....well she's friends with worms..... and NOT friends with poindexter at the moment but that will change in a few months

meanwhile i have to finish the knitting for spirit trail.....she's going to hate me i think, i've had it so long
and then once that's finished it's the drawing board and the sculpting table......
fall is just about here!!!!!

today i mucked out the top pen
i have to do the duck room and the girls night crate tomorrow

ok i forgot about this post and went out to bring in the girls and the babies (and falstaff)
bernie just called, he's on his way......... it's almost 7
leftovers tonight

this and that on sunday morning

well first up, the two sets of budgies are talking to each other. this is a very good thing
i am hoping that they will end up together by the end of the month or mid october at the least.
then i can sterilize the small cage and look for the two boys i still need for these guys.
also it will be easier on me to feed them all the chopped veggies and sprouted seeds etc in one cage
they are funny all taking turns hanging on the sides of the cage closest and then ignoring each other 
i love birds, even though they can be difficult at times, right now i am watching captain cuttle feed mrs fezziwig......and the easter budgies are also watching.
(the little lavender/gray budgie is emma and we haven't named the yellow one yet....she's not told us her name)
DAMN and i just spilled coffee all over my keyboard....damn.... all over my patternworks catalog

the girl that has poindexter and may now sent me a video on facebook of them so i feel better. she said may isn't limping anymore which is what i suspected. (they were too crowded in the night crate)
she also said that her father brought the crate out for them the other night and they gratefully ran into it.
i think that amazed everyone that they were trained.
vicky (their new mom) said that she was surprised at how much personality they had. and how they did know their names and would wag their tails when you call them.
yup
them's my babies...

meanwhile the rest of the flock is lost....... thumbprint/kevin nibbled my shoes and both of my legs all around ....he knows, and he knows i feel bad too. so they may be lost but they are also a lot calmer without poindexter leading them astray.
i think poindexter and may will be ok away from home, as it was tramatic enough for poindexter to realize there could be danger around. they are a bit young to be gone though but i told vicky to call me if there was a problem

my nephew and sister in law have acquired a cat... kevin wants to call him larry, and his mom wants to call the kitten fred. i think it's very funny either way. they tell me he is orange and white and about 10 months old.....ahhhh and that he slept with kevin the first night. 
i hope they send me pictures

now it looks like we aren't going to be finishing the raised beds in the garden nor the cold frame this fall....nor the big duck pens
oye
i still need a load of wood and a tank of oil, plus insurance is in october so that will have to come first.
i am going to try for a hoop though so that i have spinach, chard, mache, for winter.

i know i still owe you ham/pork and i am getting to it...
ok tomorrow i have a doctors appointment...... i hope this will be my new personal care doctor... i still need a close and steady endo that is familiar with pcos and ncah and isn't a moron
i never realized what losing a good doctor could do to you. and i am hopeful that tomorrow night i will have a renew on my thyroid meds.......since obviously they are helping me

ok i will talk to you all tomorrow but the ham thing is probably not going to happen until tuesday

empty pens

in this case are not a good thing
i had a rough time with may and poindexter leaving...jen dragged me out
and i did make a new friend (hi susan) who is a very interesting person... we are going to have a blast together i predict
but it was still a rough day

today it seemed so odd to see only 4 babies
and the babies were looking for may and poindexter also

i feel so guilty

i divided their little family

now today, i am cleaning the kitchen, while bernie is cleaning the woodstove
he's not happy about that but then again it's not a pleasant job so i can understand
getting the chimney back togethe is a nightmare

we had a late start on chores as we had to go to the petstore for cat food, kibble/cans and a calcium perch for the budgies.....we got a huge one last week and they ate it already!
we moved the easter budgies over next to the older ones and right now, everyone is ignoring everyone

someone tell me please......why do i love birds so very much? they are really difficult at times

my nephew told me that there are 75 in his unit, and that they are looking to get shipped out
i cried all night
between that and my babies going
well i don't know if i can stand that
and my nephew said to me... 'but i knew that, i joined the army during wartime, i knew i would be shipped out'
oh man thru my heart....yet i am so proud of how mature he is
i love this kid with my whole heart.....i would give him my kidney....
i wish you all could meet him, you would see what i mean.
he loves his mother and sister and his nan...... he's a wonderful boy/man

ok enough
or i will be crying again and i have a whole kitchen yet to clean

take good care everyone

my babies fly the coop today

may and poindexter are leaving for their new home.....and i am wishing they weren't going.
they have to go but i wish they weren't

i owe you folks an outline of batch cooking for pork/ham i know
i don't think i'm up to it today however....and i have one or two things for ham i really want to do justice to, so i am going to wait on that
has anyone done any batch cooking with my outlines?
if so let me know ok?
i been doing this for 30 years now ( gees i am so freeken old) i remember when we moved into our first nice apartment, the very first thing i saved for was a freezer, we still have it!
and i started doing BIG batch cooking/stocking.... i did a lot of make ahead stuff with the little apartment fridge freezer but nothing like when i got my big freezer
now we have two freezers. and i would like a third one! (the third one is for wool)

also has any of the informal cookware reviews helped anyone?
i would also like to know

ok folks i have to run ( 5:46am but i got a day ahead of me)
please let me know about what has worked or helped you and what hasn't ok?

ttyl vi

up early- beans and odds /ends....

i dreamt about my deceased brother in law...... it was 'interesting' but i didn't say it was exactly pleasant.
however it did get me up
so here i am
bernie forgot the living room window open all night, which concerns me due to bear and raccoons etc.
plus it is now pretty cold in the house
anyway that is some of the morning odds and ends out of the way no?
i got a doctor appointment monday, a new one, as i need a pcp, and this one is an internist.
we'll see
i need a renewal on my thyroid meds
as i feel pretty good right now, i would like to continue that
i have a periodontist on the 30th
heaven help me

friday poindexter and may are leaving for their new home. i am so going to miss them. and we named big foot...... her name is actually AMELIA!!!! who knew?

now i want to talk about beans a bit...... dry beans
i really should save the bean talk until another day right, but i'll put some in here
dried beans are a great staple to have on hand.
try to get them in bulk and try to get them for less then 1.00 a pound
my favorites are kidney, cannelloni, navy, yellow eyes, roman, lima and i also like turtle
there are a ton of different beans

they are simple to cook, soak overnight, drain, rinse, cover with water with an inch over them... add an onion and some garlic and simmer until tender
THEN ADD THE SALT
now you can add stuff like meat or tomato sauce
or the stuff to make boston baked
or ham
or you can grind them to make 'meat' (i add oatmeal, cooked barley, garlic, onions, and oregano plus an egg or two...enough garlic and people don't know it's not really 'meat')

and a few home canned jars of beans ( keep them soupy, soak over night, 1/4 of a jar full of beans, fill with water and pressure can for 60 minutes pints, and 75 for quarts at whatever weight for your elevation)

you can even make PIE with ground up beans, it's quite good actually, tastes like pecan pie without the overload cloying sweetness......
use a commercial pie shell and google 'bean pie' (actually click that link..... it's already googled for you)

a home canned jar of ham, and a jar or two of home canned beans..... heavenly on a cold snowy day- super score if you reheat on the woodstove! or in a solar oven
how cool is that?
the convenience alone is worth the work of home canning dried beans.......and we've found that the more things we pressure can (with a full canner load) the more electricity we save overall for the year!
after a while a jar of this and a jar of that off the shelves really do add up to huge savings....even for someone who is living alone, as this way at least they eat a varied diet of homemade foods, with less crap in them.
ok it's about 5:30 am now..
i am going to finish my coffee.......... (anyone out there with me on the coffee thing?) and try to get some of the other stuff i need done today started...
i realized that i also need to clean the chickens yet again
i don't know why!
the bedding looks fine but there is a slight smell that's bothering me
have a good day everyone

after use cookware update

remember when i started research on cookware and started replacing all our non stick
well here is a sort of follow up after a while of use

i love Cuisinart
 love it i have the 5 quart saute, and a 2 quart pour lid sauce pan...... and the 12 quart stock pot with the pasta insert and steamer insert.
in the chef's classic......it works well (remember to heat it slowly) cleans up like a dream, the handles are good, and i like that i can slide the lid over the handle and hang it. the lids fit tightly- the stock pot takes forever to come to a boil but it IS 12 quarts.... and i also double use it as a boiling water bath canner for small batches of pints and jellies!!! too bad this cookware isn't induction ready or i would get even more of it- i adore the 'helpers' handle on the saute....... believe me it needs it.


emerileware, i have a 3 quart saute..... harder to clean.......a LOT harder to clean, i've seen the really bad reviews so i am super careful with it, the lid does slide over the handle so that is a plus. but the copper line on the bottom is a pain to keep clean, that is a minus- and i don't trust it so that is a huge minus

berndes- i have two saucepan/casseroles...... this brand needs to be wider known here. i like that it doesn't have rivets.. it's inductions ready. not as easy as cuisinart to clean though. but a nice solid sauce pan for rice, potatoes, small amounts of pasta etc.. i have a 1.5 quart and a 4 quart.......the 4 quart gets a HUGE amount of use

wolfegang puck- i have a 3 or 4 quart low sauce pan. i like it very much except for the handle design, which is difficult to clean, and the rivets...i really hate rivets. but the pan itself is good, and easy to clean. i also don't like the seam in the metal edge of the lid.... so this one is iffy for that and the handle. so if you get this at a huge savings.....then ok.

tjmaxx store brand, i have a 4 quarts that i paid 19.99 for...... save your money, it isn't bad but isn't great either... i have to clean it up with vinegar. and the vent hole in the glass lid needs to be cleaned often. it's not worth the money though to me.

le creuset.... i have a 4.5 quart soup pot at the moment..... give up lunch for a month and buy this stuff.....yes it really is that good
this or staub ( i have one small staub- love the spoon rest handle on the lid, they don't do that anymore)...... cast iron is wonderful...i am still experimenting with it but i tell you..... i'm hooked
now when i got all the cast iron i slowly heated it in the oven on like 175 and then oiled any exposed iron with mineral oil. let it cool and wiped off the excess. i also hand wash them always.....then dry in a warm oven. i boil water in them for baked on stuff.
i am planning on some ovals to do chicken and roasts in
and yes this stuff is worth EVERY SINGLE PENNY
i also just bought a pre seasoned cast iron, lodge 5 quart but haven't used it yet, i got it for no-knead bread. i imagine it will be awesome.


now what i want to try and haven't yet
Sitram professional......i plan on a chef's pan, it can go on induction and while not totally inexpensive isn't allclad-ragous either, if it's good i am thinking maybe also a 3 quart saute
i am also thinking of trying cuisinart's mult clad..... i would like a 4 quart saute in that if they make it
but i am going to look into more chef's pans as the smaller base will fit the current electric coil stove i have.

and i need a few smaller stock pots..... like a 6 quart and an 8 quart ( i never thought i would say SMALLER and STOCKPOT in the same sentence!)

i am going to start with serious knives soon...and a sharpening system
as well as some GOOD cutting boards
end grain maple i hope

ok so there you have it
a cookware update
the two that i don't use are the 1.5 quart berndes ( maybe it's just too small?) and the tjmaxx store brand cause it's a pain in the ass to clean
everything else gets regular rotation in the kitchen

i am also still without a decent small replacement skillet for frying up one egg... it's a toss up between enameled cast iron, seasoned cast iron, or cheapo non stick..... it's for bernie so he'll have to have a say in it
i am leaning to enameded cast iron or seasoned cast iron due to the birds in the house..

oye
now all i need it the kitchen to go around this stuff!

yesterday i baked bread

it's been a while...... and i remembered, my oven isn't calibrated properly
damn
but it wasn't bad bread, not fantastic but not bad either
i didn't knead it long enough though
(it HAS been a while)

ok let's see, batch cooking and chicken

we usually get boneless skinless chicken breasts (chicken cutlets) at a local provisioner in allentown
B&M by the 40 pound box. when i do tend to bread half and can half

i dip the chicken in flour, then in a thick batter then in the following crumbs- then i freeze on waxed paper covered cookie sheets. i bag them in 2 gallon zip locks after and they seem to store forever in the freezer (however we do eat a LOT of them )

batter
2 or 3 eggs, flour, dash of salt, milk.....make it thick like pancake batter

 'bread crumb'

1 part corn bread
1part shredded wheat or all bran (without the raisins)
1 part rolled oats (oatmeal)
garlic powder
onion powder
parsley flakes
paprika
kosher salt

now to cook the cutlets, bake in a 350 oven for 20 minutes one side and about 10-15 on the other
do NOT over back them
we drizzle the pan and the cutlets with olive oil and they oven fry

we use them plain like that
or with tomato sauce and mozzarella melted on them the last 5 minutes or so
or with mushroom gravy
or chicken gravy
or cheese sauce

sometimes i make chicken cordon blue, which also freezes well.

once the crumbed breasts are in the freezer, i can think about putting breasts in marinades in the freezer for fast skillet dinners
marinades such as red wine with garlic/onions
(anything with garlic and onion though i tend to want to use within 3 months)
lemon/lime/onion/ spearmint/garlic and honey
what's your favorite?

out of the marinated stuff
the one with the red wine i use as is.........or add dill and sour cream (after cooked) for a chicken stroganoff  over noodle

most of the marinades are over rice
add chopped fresh veggies to the last couple minutes......we like sweet peppers, onions and mushrooms
but you can also add stuff like zucchini or carrot shavings, chard, spinaches


*** remember after you roast a turkey to cube up and package 2 cup amounts of meat for casseroles, as that is about the right amount in a casserole for 4 people or so***
i roast a turkey occasionally just to can some and freeze some

now i also canned a lot of grilling sauces and sweet sour fruit things that we use over oven baked chicken as a sort of 'grill'
pineapple is great with peppers and onions and a bit of honey

however i have to tell you all, my very favorite is just plain roasted chicken breasts with the skin on and crispy... i love it!!!!

during the winter i do a stewing hen, at least once or so a month. it makes 5 gallons of broth that i usually can, and a bunch of chicken that i cut up for soups or sandwitches..
i highly recommend doing something along these lines
you always have a great base for suppers that way
i use the broth for gravy base or soup bases, in meat loaf and in casseroles. and i would be lost without this in the house.

so this is mostly the chicken post, i do chicken parts just like the cutlets, including the ones with the skin on... and i do a lot of the chicken on stove top.... or baked in the oven.
my standard oven baking starting point is usually 350 degrees for 30 minutes, check to see if it's done
let me know what you all think ok?

Wednesday, June 16, 2010 *** i lifted it and reposted it here
stock making for catherine

ok normally i start with a stewing hen, if you buy one it may be called a hen or a stewing fowl
or a 'fowl for stewing' or fowl for fricassee
i try to get a big one 6-7 pounds at least
if you are using carcuss, it's a bit different so i'll start with fowl and end with carcuss

i use a 20 or 25 quart stock pot
fill it about 3/4 of the way up with cold water
i add a carrot or two, an onion ( a BIG ONE) two stalks of celery
and about 4 garlic cloves....try to make sure they are BIG ones as well
it they are tiny, i may use the whole head
a bit of freshly ground pepper corns
some fresh italian parsley (dried if you don't have fresh)
sometimes dill..not much though
add your chicken and a bit of kosher salt and set it to simmer
i skim off the foamy protein and feed that to the cats
i simmer for at least 3 hours.....but i prefer 5 or 6
and i add water as needed
when it's done i set it in the cold......either on the deck (during the winter-during the day)
or in the fridge
i do sometimes defat it
but my dad said always keep some of the fat and he was right as there are soluble vitamins in it
i either can or freeze it
you can puree the veggies with some of the broth for a 'cream' soup
i pick over the chicken well as the meat makes the BEST salad and sandwitches
now for some stocks i will roast the veggies ahead and then put them in and do the stock that way
as to a carcuss
you can brown them first, sometimes i do put the carcuss back in the roasting pan and brown them then deglaze them with water
sometimes i just toss it in the water as if it was a fresh whole fowl
it all depends on what i have on hand and what i have time for
some times i will simmer off the stock when it's done until it condenses and i will can that
or use that condensed stock with saute'd mushrooms as a concentrate.......canning it in 4oz jars for soups and sauces and gravies
does this help?
some folks add a teaspoon of vinegar to the stock as it's simmering to get some of the calcium out of the bones
you can do that.....it wont' taste any different
usually 3 quarts make a supper soup for us
the basic stock can be used for almost anything after..... all sorts of soups and such

the weekend was good

my nephew, neice and sister in law were here.
we had a tiny birthday party for my neice who turns 23 on the 23rd of september
it was wonderful
the day was nice
we did have a small problem with yellowjackets but we got them gone pretty quick
i think the kids had a good time too

i made a ton of food
i sent home a ton of food with them

sunday we lost goldie the chicken, it looks like she out grew her heart. she was a huge chicken.
it's not going to be the same down there

may the duckling is doing better, so it looks like her and poindexter will be leaving for their new home in cherry valley on friday.
i want a drake out of poindexter though, he's gourgous......and i am so upset that i don't have pen space to keep him

yesterday it finally rained......so fall is arriving- rain appears to be in the forecast on and off all week

we are still waiting to hear how bernie's mother is going to take the news that we found her....
this should be interesting

meanwhile i am still looking for the family albums
still trying to figure workflow (now more then ever) in the kitchen.....
still cleaning and moving crap around in the house...(tiny tiny house)

i got a new ghost story book (ghosts in the mirror) with another two on their way... bernie got me a halloween magazine
and i am hoping to do a batch cooking post this week on chicken and/or pork
also i need to update you all on the cookware that i bought because some is not worth the money, some is worth every cent

that's about it for now...
bernie and i took a drive in the rain, up to lake in the clouds, it gave us a new perspective and a change of scenery...... we saw a few houses that we liked, as well as property for sale (too far away IMO from his job to be feasible but we'll see)

that's all she wrote folks

ttyl

9/11

i don't think anyone living through at date could forget
even if they don't say much
how could you not thing of the families that lost love ones?
we almost did, my cousin rockie was in there and made it out.
we were so very lucky
there were all those people who didn't
there are all those people now, the first responders who are still sick (if not dead) from that day
so many children growing up without a parent

today my nephew is coming with my neice and sister in law
family we didn't know we had
today brings us personally new hope
i wish that for everyone
hope
strength to go on
happiness, sunshine, laughter, love
and a feeling of security that we've all lost

i don't know what all the answers are, i know that everyone, EVERYONE not just americans or christians or whatever are all in this together......... and i also know that by just trying a little harder maybe........ we all can over come the fears that seperate us?

what mom taught me about cooking

i can remember watching my mom start the sauce, chopping onions, browning meat.
i still start the sauce that way.
i don't measure
mom never did either
you don't have to

starting the sauce is a good way to introduce folks to cooking without recipes.
even if you are more comfortable with recipes, it's always good to have ideas and methods to use without, you know....just in case

in our house a lot of cooking starts with chopping the onions, and smashing the garlic
heating the sauté pan over medium heat adding cold oil and adding onions.......stirring until they are translucent and lightly caramelized
how many onions
start with half a medium
how much garlic? start with three cloves smashed
you gently add garlic......never brown or burn it
then add the meat and brown that (add some salt or it tastes flat) how much meat?
how big is your pot? how many folks are you going to serve or around here........how much meat do you have?
we'll say about a pound ok?
more or less
usually less  (maybe about the size of a large grapefruit)
but that's a round figure
brown it up nicely and pour off a bit of the fat
add some puree
homemade is great, a good canned is good too
add enough to cover the meat a few inches
stir it up well
now add some of the other seasonings.... here it's oregano, not too much
basil..... A LOT
parsley a bit, maybe more then the oregano
i like to make sauce in a 6 quart stock pot so it works out to about 4 quarts of puree or three of puree and one of crushed tomatoes
a couple grinds of fresh peppercorns
cover and cook on low stirring occasionally............ you want slightly bubbling.....not seething cauldron of molten red oil
i simmer for about 1/2 hour if that's all i got..... an hour is better
a dash of wine is a good thing for the sauce towards the end....

you got the sauce made
and didn't measure a thing did you!
congratulations

doing a pot roast?
how many folks? add one carrot, one potato, and a quarter of an onion per person at least
add a stalk of celery chopped for the pot
and a couple cloves of garlic smashed
how much meat? how much you got? if you have more then you need........ leftovers are great
brown the meat in a bit of oil or fat
then layer the veggies add the meat on top and add some stock or water and wine to just cover the veggies and a tiny bit of the bottom of the meat... add a cover and bake it in the oven
you can smell when it's done
but check it about 20 minutes into it
normally i start baking everything at about 350.....
now roasts need low and slow......so 200 to 250...... a nice beef roast roasted slow and low is a beautiful thing.... add some water under it and some garlic power to the water .......... you'll have dripping in there later and you can make the gravy if you'd like

learn to check smell for doneness....... if you use a thermometer to  check meat's internal temp remember what the SMELL is...... after all this time i don't use a thermometer ( ok i only used one once when i was a bride) i trust the smell. it will smell good and finished and you will be hungry

the french start stuff with onions and celery and i think garlic
we start with onions and garlic...... chop the onions smash the garlic
heat the olive oil
caramelize the onions... it doesn't' really matter what kind of onions...... or how much, if they are big....use a half, if they are small use two
then you brown the meats....... then add a liquid if using (and i almost always do use a liquid even if i am 'dry' roasting)
lots of liquid makes soup
a little bit makes gravy or sauce

now if instead of making sauce you want say pork chops
you still start with the onions and garlic....... do maybe a half an onion per chop
dredg the chops in flour and then brown them
pour off most of the fat
add some water and stock add back in the onions, sprinkle with the dredging flour cover and simmer on low.... it'll make onion gravy, and will cook the chops
serve over rice or noodles.......add a salad

what do you think so far?
go ahead and try making sauce..... TASTE it as you add stuff
tell me what you think? does it need more oregano..... more basil?
make pasta and eat, use a GOOD cheese that you grate at home fresh before you eat
that's the real secret to cooking..... tasting
you must taste it as you go
have a spoon and a tiny bowl ready and taste

now how about chicken breasts??

ps: i saw this video and i am going to try and embed it ......... i loved it

big batches!!!

i love to cook but just not every day
and if i like something i would like to have extra tucked away for a rainy day
or a day i am very tired
i used to do something like the oamc.......a billion years ago when we lived in jersey and i worked outside of the house..... we would go food shopping either friday or saturday and i would cook the next day
i was exhausted

now i see what's on sale
chicken is cheap???
here comes chicken

but the BEST is ground beef......what jersey folks call chopmeat
when you get a good sale on that you can have a LOT of fun and do a lot of things

spaghetti sauce
meatballs (use for: meatball stroganoff, in soup, in sauce for pasta or in sandwiches, as pizza topping)
stuffed peppers
stuffed cabbage
meat loaf
hamburgers
salsbury steak
pasties

now when i do the meat for the things like meatballs and meatloaf i do a huge batch
it's maybe 10 or 15 pounds
now that i am getting on i been using the kitchen aid or bernie to mix it
i make a 'bread crumb'
1 part corn bread
1part shredded wheat or all bran (without the raisins)
1 part rolled oats (oatmeal)
garlic powder
onion powder
parsley flakes
paprika
kosher salt

i also make this ahead so 1 part could equal 4 cups
i grind this all together in the food processor into crumbs
and i store it in either mason jars or zip locks in the fridge

i take the meat and to 1 part meat i add about 1/3 of a part of this crumb mix
plus a few eggs (like one per pound of chicken and one per two pound if i am using duck eggs)
mix it up lightly but thoroughly
then pull out what you are going to use for meatballs and stuffed peppers
to that you add oregano and a bit of basil
the stuffed pepper meat will also get some tomato sauce in it and i add locatelli grating cheese

pull out the part you are going to use for meatloaf
for my meatloaf i puree a thick slice of cabbage, half an onion, a stalk of celery, a half of a red and a half of a green sweet pepper and about three good sized cloves of garlic
(if you don't like peppers then maybe add broccoli)
i add that to the meat loaf mix plus some shredded cheddar and some homemade chicken stock

now for the meatballs i use a tiny scoop...about one inch as it makes it easy
and i brown them all over then freeze them on wax paper covered cookie trays followed by packaging them individually for things
really these are fantastic to have in the freezer, i use them so many different ways i like to have a lot on hand

i make meat loafs in a O shape, with an empty center as they cook FAST at 350 (like twenty minutes)
the stock in them keeps them juicy and you can make gravy if you take the meatloaf out (use a stovetop/oven proof pan when you make the meatloaf)
freeze the meatloaf in freezer to oven pans or partly cook and freeze that way

to the stuffed pepper meat you can add some rice if you'd like but i usually leave the additives to tomato sauce and the cheese
blanch the peppers before you stuff them
i freeze these also, one per person and i like to use red and green peppers
freeze them on cookie sheets as well and when you bag them add a bit of sauce on the top before you seal the bag

a fast tip to getting cabbage leaves pliable, freeze the cabbage head! when it defrosts the leaves will be soft enough to roll

to the meat for stuffed cabbage, i take some sauce add some of this meat and a bit of brown sugar
i simmer it a bit let it cool and then stuff the leaves.....i don't make it too liquidy though
this i freeze in casseroles and add more of the sauce over it

i freeze hamburgers as patties and i do use waxed paper in between, i use the patties as burgers and as salsbury steak
take a bit of flour and add some garlic powder, onion powder, parsley and some paprika, a bit of fresh ground pepper and some kosher salt
heat your pan and add a bit (not too much) of oil
dreg your patties in the flour (and i will cook them frozen) and gently saute in the pan
pour off a lot of the oil but keep the browned bits (fond)
take the patties and hold them aside
add the remaining flour to the dripping, stir over medium heat to make a roux
add some water and some woustershire sauce (that seems to be the key)
until you get a gravy
add the patties back and serve immediately
( this whole operation takes about 20 minutes from start to finish)
ok that's basically my chopmeat batch cooking
you can (and i do) break it down
such as this week i plan on doing the meatball part
because i have none in the freezer and that is a good thing to have on hand
if i can get a nice batch of sweet peppers at a good price (my plants didn't do well) i have bulk chopmeat frozen for that.

we found over all that we save on utility costs, as well as time when i do this
plus for the most part i have dinner on the table without a hassle
meat loaf even cooked from the frozen state since it's got a hollow center is only going to take about 30 or 40 minutes so i can have dinner fast even if i am not well and bernie has to put it in

now to the canners
i can the meatballs in sauce and in a concentrated meat stock
pints 75 at your pressure
quarts 90 at your pressure
i have experimented with un stuffed peppers (meatballs and slices of sweet peppers in sauce)
same times
ditto on the meat loaf but remember to use widemouth jars for the meatloaf
i also canned unstuffed cabbage too
hahahaha
i love having this stuff around

one more thing i do that is fast
i have small packages of plain raw ground beef in the freezer
when we have leftover rice,
i brown the chopmeat
pour off most of the fat
add some frozen mixed veggies and some chicken or beef stock, add leftover rice
i do this in the oven or on the stove top
season it
salt, pepper, garlic, onion, parsley

stir it occationally if on the stove top, don't stir if in the oven (20 minutes in the oven)
add shredded cheddar before serving

any questions let me know
i love batch cooking

you can also break this down into a few days if you need to
prep your crumbs, etc the day before
brown off your meat and start your basic tomato sauce and while that is simmering do the basic meat/crumb mixes then do the stuff that needs sauce
freeze all that and the sauce
then do the meat loafs etc
you can bake the meatballs 350 turn them after like 15 minutes

take care and wish me luck at the dentist today

ps: tomorrow remind me, we'll talk about how to cook without recipes