Search This Blog

Sunday, July 31, 2016

JUST A CHAT

Hello dear friends!  You won't believe it!  We finally received some rain!   Can't tell you how exciting it was to see wet pavement when we awoke.  I'm sure the plants must feel the same way.  It's been a very strange year garden-wise; everything was so slow to germinate and now everything is ahead of schedule.  At this rate, we'll have everything harvested by the beginning of September.  Our phlox and stargazer lilies are in bloom at the moment.
They usually don't bloom until mid-August.  And look how big and orange our pumpkins are getting!
We harvested our garlic this week, which never happened this early before.
Ran made these lovely drying trays from pallets and a window screen we found in someone's garbage when we were out for a walk. We're more observant  when out on Sunday night aka garbage day eve. I tell you garbage day is like Christmas to us!  We found so many incredible things over the years, from antique doors,windows and lighting fixtures to furniture.   Early in our marriage we found a wonderful old headboard that we used for many years. We did shabby chic before shabby chic was a style.  People throw out some amazing things, just for the sake of getting something new, I think.  That's why creativity is the best superpower a person can have.  What a pleasure it is to make something from nothing.  Speaking of, one of the projects I'm currently working on, is making a crazy quilt shawl.
I got the idea from an old movie I was watching.  I thought it was a shawl, but it turned out the character actually had a crazy quilt wrapped about her.  No matter.  A shawl sounded like a fun idea.  It's a slow process.  Whenever someone gives me a present tied in a silk ribbon, I add it to the shawl.  Sometimes I find old stained linens at garage sales for a dime and remove the lace and add it.  There's old ties in there, too. I even reused the chintz pocket of an old threadbare jacket.  Whenever I'm bored I get out the many skeins of floss that I've collected and do some fancy stitching on the seams.  When will I finish?  I don't know, just enjoying the process.

One work-in-progress is fine but two drives me to distraction.  So I am diligently working on finishing my knitted shawl.  I had hoped have had it finished this week to show you, but canning got in the way.
I canned sweet pickle relish, jalapeno peppers and my somewhat famous oven roasted spaghetti sauce (judging upon the number of readers of that post).  Also made up a couple bottles of garlic-dill vinegar.  See the bottle on the left-hand side?  That was a tequila bottle that some party-goer had thrown out in our yard last week.   It's a dandy bottle that looks a lot like an old apothecary jar.  I'm a major bottle collector. Whenever someone gifts me with an expensive store-bought jam or condiment, I'm typically more pleased with the jar then the contents.  On the rare occasions when I need to buy something from the store, such as artichoke hearts and maraschino cherries, I  buy the one that comes in the most interesting jar even if it cost a few extra pennies.  I use them for my homemade  herbal concoction and  mixtures.  So how's that for crazy?

In last week's comments, we were brainstorming on ideas to use up zucchini.  I forgot one of our favorites, mock crab cakes.  It's an old recipe that's been around for a while.  If you don't think of them as actual crab cakes and just a pleasant meatless meal, I think you'll be happier with them.  Here's how I make mine:

RECIPE FROM THE GARDEN

Zucchini Crab Cakes

2 medium zucchinis
1/2 tsp. salt
 1 tbsp. mayonnaise
1 C. bread crumbs (I use Italian seasoned ones)
1 1/2 tsp. Old Bay seasoning (or any other seafood seasoning)
1 egg
1/2 tsp. pepper
dash of hot pepper sauce (optional)
oil for frying

Shred the zucchini.  Place the shredded zucchini in a colander and stir in the salt.  Let stand for one-half an hour to drain out the water.  Take your zucchini and place it in a tea towel and squeeze out the excess water.  You should end up with  about 2-3 C. of zucchini.  Stir in the remaining ingredients except the oil and form into patties.  Fry patties in the oil until golden brown.  Serve with tartar sauce.

I do so love reading your comments and suggestions.  One person asked how she subscribe to Hope and Thrift, so now there's a link at the top of the page for doing that.  I think that's the correct term, "link".  I 'm terribly ill-equipped to write a blog, I'm afraid.  I never learned  how to link back when blogger didn't make it easy for you and my pictures sometimes don't appear where I want them to go.  It took my son and husband to get the "subscribe" button up there on the page after I made a mess of it.  I never would have been able to, that's for sure.  That's  why all your suggestions on how to make this blog better are appreciated.  I do truly love to read your comments also.  So if you have a suggestion, an idea, a question, or just want to stop by to say hello,  you are most welcome to do so. 

THRIFTY THINGS WE DID THIS WEEK


Harvested garlic

Harvested peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, green beans,  blueberries, raspberries and zucchinis.

Canned sweet pickle relish, jalapenos and spaghetti sauce.

Saved the seeds from the tomatoes for next year's garden.

All of our meals this week came from the garden and pantry.

Baked our own bread to make panzanella  Delicious!

Received a rebate for some dog medicine.

Bought some pantry  staples such as brown sugar, bread flour and rennet in bulk at the bulk food store.

Bought coffee and tea and the scratch and dent Amish store for a few dollars.  What a blessing that store is to us!

Dried our clothes out on the line. One thing a hot dry summer is good for.

Well, that's about it for this week.  I hope you all will have a terrific week!

Hugs
Jane



22 comments:

  1. Your flowers are gorgeous, Jane. Our pears are already ripe! They usually don't get ripe before at least the middle of August.
    I adore the crazy quilt shawl idea. There are all kinds of things to do if we just take a little time to do them. I'm knitting a shawl myself. I do love my knitting. And I usually only have one project going at a time, but I'm planning to cast on another pair of socks tomorrow. The shawl is at the boring point where the rows are getting long.
    Hope you're having a great day!
    Toni

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Toni! I understand about shawls! I got bored with this one after about 10 inches and it needs to be about 70! I'm trying to knit one pattern repeat (18 rows) a day. But I can find any excuse to not do it. I want to knit one of those hats with the sheep like you knitted, but I don't want to start until this is through or I know I'll never get back to it.

    Almost all our pears dropped during the drought. We're hoping we'll have better luck with the peaches. Maybe now that it has rained, they'll perk up.

    Happy knitting!

    Hugs
    Jane

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Jane, so glad you stopped by and enjoyed the post. I like alleys too. In big cities they can be scary, littered with garbage and such but in Charleston our alleys are really pretty and very interesting to walk down. I think the shawl idea you are working on sounds really neat! Would be so cozy to wrap up in that on a chilly Fall day out walking around the yard or a snowy winter night while reading a good book!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Beach Gypsy! Growing up, alleys were the place to play. I always liked the idea of an alley. It was nice when the neighbor's property didn't butt up into each other.

      I'm dreaming about those cozy days ahead. Each passing year I discover more reasons people in the past did what they did. Shawls are so much more convenient than sweaters to use while puttering around the house.

      Hope you're staying cool!

      Hugs
      Jane

      Delete
  4. Oh I love crazy quilts, and your shawl is beautiful. The lace really sets it off. How do you attach it as I don't see any stitches.
    Will have to try your recipes. The crab cakes sound good, do you rinse the zucchini after it is salted? Haven't had panzanella before either...waiting (impatiently) on my tomatoes to ripen.
    Hope you have a great week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kathy! I just hand stitch the lace in place using matching thread. No you don't rinse the zucchini but be sure not to salt them afterwards. Panzanella is one of the perks of summer. It's one of our favorite foods. Hope your tomatoes ripen soon!

      Hugs
      Jane

      Delete
  5. Dear Jane,
    I just heard the weather forecast for the next 3 months in my part of the country (NH) and its supposed to be "hotter than normal" the whole time. I had the same thought as you: I won't have to use my dryer until November!
    Cheers,
    Dana

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Here too, Dana. Guess we'll get another break on heating this winter, also. Although I do love a crisp fall day. The weather forecaster can't get the next day's prediction right, so I'm wondering how they can predict three months into the future. Guess time will tell! Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful week!

      Jane

      Delete
  6. Good morning Jane,
    I just love reading what other homemakers are up to 😍
    The last 10 days or so about did me in, with grand babies around th clock and then husband had dental surgery. Now, things are getting back to normal and I'm doing a little more than just keeping people fed and dishes washed up.

    No suggestions from me, I like your blog just like it is. Well, I would prefer if you blogged more frequently
    Have a wonderful August!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really don't know how you do it, Rhonda! One long weekend with a houseful tuckered me out for weeks. Thanks for the kind words! Hope you are enjoying that new grandson!

      Hugs
      Jane

      Delete
  7. hi jane,
    another great post. the grazy quilt shawl looks wonderful....
    thanks for the recipe...it sounds good.love the bottle with the garlic-dill vinegar.
    i knit still on my pale blue shawl.
    my tomatoes need sun but it's still gray.
    have a nice week,
    regina

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Those shawls, Regina! Certainly are time consuming. I'm afraid it's not going to be a good year for tomatoes here either. We have just the opposite problem of too much sun and no rain. They haven't set any new fruit in quite a while and many have blossom end rot from the drought. Oh well! That's why when you have a good year, you have to make hay while the sun shines! I'll make a pact with you; you work on finishing your shawl and I'll work on mine this week.

      Hugs
      Jane

      Delete
  8. So glad you are blogging again! I think your blog is wonderful and cannot offer any suggestions for improvement. Love the crazy quilt shawl! Ithe will be so nice special and unique. Really looking forward to seeing it completed. Still very hot and humidity here but thoughts of fall make me so happy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too, Shirley! Yesterday I saw some autumn scented candles in the store, it filled my heart with joy. Too bad the summer and winter squeeze in on the season so much. The forecasters are predicting a warm fall this year, I'm not sure that's a good thing! Can't wait for sweaters and fires and pumpkin pie. Hope you are staying cool until then!

      Hugs
      Jane

      Delete
  9. That shawl is so beautiful! What a wonderful idea. :) You flowers are so pretty/ Our lilies just finished their glorious show here about a week ago. I enjoyed how they perfumed the air every time I walked by them. Thank you for the recipe for the zucchini crab cakes...I can't wait to try making them myself. Be blessed!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks Debbie! The shawl is so fun to make. The crab cakes must have been a hit with the guys, they requested them again this week. That's a sign of a winner! Hope you are enjoying a lovely week!

    Hugs
    Jane

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks for the visit to my blog, I have been reading through past posts since I discovered you via Down to Earth blog, you have a wonderful blog full of wisdom and the little things of life. I love the crazy quilt shawl idea, and the recipe for the zucchini crab cakes sounds wonderful. It is so nice to see pictures of summer gardens while we freeze here in MZ.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the kind words, Sharon! I'm glad it's cold someplace on Earth, gives me hope that it will soon be cooling off here. Today's in the 90s and I'm canning carrots. I can feel myself melting! Stay cozy!


      Hugs
      Jane

      Delete
  12. It's been a week of canning for me. First it was zuchinni-jello jam and now I'm canning elderberry juice. I am working on my 3rd canner now, so that will make 19 pints done up today. On the jam I think I have made up 8 pints now. The tomatoes are starting to turn now so any day I'll have enough at one time to start making juice. I'm glad I don't have nothing to do :) And luckily it's nice and cool this weekend anyway. Next week they are saying only in the 80's . Heavenly :) Nannie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Canning like crazy here too, Nannie. Today it was 16 pints of corn and 32 pints of carrots. Yesterday I did up 8 quarts of crushed tomatoes, 8 pints of yellow wax beans and 8 pints of corn. Glad to have the carrots finished up. They're so much work! Glad you're getting some cooler weather. Can you believe it, only one day of rain since the 4th of July. The potato vines are dying, so we'll probably dig them this week. More canning! How do people find time to do other things? Well, happy canning! At least we won't starve!

      Hugs
      Jane

      Delete
  13. Dear Jane,

    You creative, fun lady! How I wish we could exchange recipes and cuttings over the backyard fence. :)

    Our tomatoes are poking along, not giving us much. Good thing for a nearby farmer's market with great prices!

    Love,
    Marqueta

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It would be a dream to live next door to you, dear Marqueta! I would love to have you guide me through foraging and herbal remedies. All the guidebooks in the world don't compare to some hands-on instruction. That's why I enjoy your YouTube videos so much!

      We planted a lot of tomatoes, so we'll get enough to put up, but with this drought we lost quite a few to blossom end rot. That's why we have to make hay while the sun shines!

      Love
      Jane

      Delete