I've Grown Some Weird Looking Tomatoes and These beans are not MIne!

 

From this angle the tomatoes look normal.

But get up close...and they kind of look like a small pumpkin.  I've grown some weird looking tomatoes. I believe it's from the drought we've had.  Although I've watered there is nothing like real rain water on a garden.  We finally were blessed with some rain last night and we are expected more this weekend.

Just in case your wondering, I've been picking them and letting them ripen on the porch, hoping to get ahead of the groundhog.  He seems to like them more ripe.

These beans are not my mine.

Husband got afraid with the dry weather that we would not have any beans to can.  We found a man on facebook marketplace selling white half runners by the pound, half bushel, and bushel, so we made a hour trip to his small farm. We ended up buying a half bushel plus a few more pounds. He also gave us some extra seed for us to plant next year.   

This man was 94 years old and going strong.  He had irrigation helping him in this dry weather and he showed us how he supported his beans...he put us to shame.  Now I just need a few more acres and a small pond for irrigation.  

You know, I dream of doing things like I'm 30 years younger and I think that this man does too, maybe that's what keeps him going.  My body is not in great working shape but you know his wasn't either but he just kept rolling along doing what he could.

Now, if you can imagine a former KY man and a former TN man talking ...oh my.. they relived all their childhood.  I finally got tired standing and smiling and waited in the van.  It was there that I found my shirt was on backwards. So, that's why I got funny looks at the gas station.

I canned 5 quarts and 7 pints of green beans.  

This should do for now.

**Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden! As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here).      

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Strawberry Jam, Cross stich, and Well problems!

 

I was able to buy strawberries this last week for .99 a quart at Meijers.   

I always get excited when I see this sale because this is how I make my supply of strawberry jam for the year.  I noticed when I cleaned the canning shelf that there wasn't a jar of strawberry jam left so it came just in time!

Drama came right in the middle of this strawberry deal.  The well quit.  No problem the strawberries were staying cool on the porch, just waiting to be used.  Now, I would like to say we were well prepared with water but we still had to borrow some from our nice neighbor.  There are still good people in this world.  You should get to know them and talk to them.

Husband looked and saw the problem part and sprayed some wd 40  on it (I think he might have hit it too-ha ha) and it started working again.  Then the well man came and he replaced the part.  We have water again....then I made the jam.     See everything is good.   Parts and labor were $160.  Not bad for a part replacement on a well.  I would tell you the name of the part but really I have no idea and it's 6 in the morning ...husband is sleeping.  

I did start my onions about a week ago and I'm finally seeing shoots.  I haven't started anything else.  It's really too early here I will start more seed maybe at the end of March.

Before all this happened I was lazily doing my cross-stitch baby blanket.   I know no one that is having a baby right now so I can get it done without pressure.  This will go in my gift closet.

**Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden! As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here).  

Be sure to follow me on Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog.

Good deals, Saving Seeds, Crocheting, and Canning!

 

I spent $6.00 at Meijer.  I bought two pairs of shorts and a skirt in the clearance rack for $2.00 apiece.  I'll be ahead with clothes next summer.   Better than Goodwill!

I'm crocheting a white afaghan.  Something I've been seeing laying accross the bottom of beds.  Yep, got to have one ha ha.  This will only cost me about $2.00 with the good deal on yarn on bought at a garage sale last month.

Starting to save seeds.  The table will be full soon.  You can read how I save seeds here.

Right now I'm starting to clean mustard and turnip greens for canning.  I had to take a break in between bags for the back.  I'm getting it done though.  

How's it going in your neck of the woods?  

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Who says We have to Stand all the time While we Cook? (Flashfood deals and garden is coming in)

 

My flash food order of the week (Meijer)

4- 1 lb packages of ground beef 73/27% fat -$2.99 each 

We don't usually buy this but so far we have used this in tacos and hamburger stew -drained very very well.

Total $12.56

Perdue Grilled Carved chicken strips one at $1.99

Perdue Rotisserie chicken strips 3 at $1.99 total $5.97

total $8.36

Dashmart

7 packages of Oscar Mayer Hot dogs for $1.01 each total $7.42- I couldn't pass up this deal!  Into the freezer they went.

If by chance you haven't tried flashfood yet and it's available in your area you can use my referal code of VICK36PZH and we both get $5.00 towards are order of $7.00 or more on your first purchase. Just download the app on your phone.

In the garden:  

The garden is coming in a little at a time so I'm canning a little at a time.  7 pints of tomatoes.

More zucchini flour.

Today's feat will be apple butter from our apples in the backyard.  I have it all at the table so I won't have to stand.  Who says we have to stand all the time while we cook?

The mustard greens and green beans will be ready the first of next week.   

My two biggest mistakes this week:  

1. Not saving the rest of the cooked cabbage (I gave it to the chickens).  It would have been great in the hamburger stew.   

2. I have an electric stove- I didn't check to make sure the burners were correctly attached and getting hot.  I was pretend cooking for 10 minutes.  Sigh...

How's everything going at your house?

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Cabin Fever Canning 1/21/25!

 

Our cat does not like this cold weather (it's 4 degrees this morning).  He has decided to sleep through this cold.

He loves going outside.  He goes with me to check on the chickens normally but he knows it's too cold for him now.   

In  order to combat cabin fever I decided to get with it and can.  Although sleeping sounds good too!   I finished the carrots we were given yesterday and today I'm on to the pinto beans.

I just let this thing go and I don't worry about it.  That part I love.  No more thinking it's going to fast or slow.  I just go about the house doing things I need to do.  

 Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden**As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here).  My thred up link is also a refer a friend link.

***If you are interested here is the link to the canner.   It's an investment for sure.  I'm weird I requested for my birthday/Christmas present.  

Be sure to follow me on Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, Free Kindle books, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog.

Canning in January and Our Extra Fridge!

 

It was so neat when I wanted to try out my electric canner that strawberries came on sale for 99 cents a quart (the sale was last Friday and Saturday at our Meijer).  For some reason I was so nervous with this first time use but I read the directions and looked up youtube videos to watch to make myself more comfortable.  

I now have 7 pints of jam in January to help fill my shelves. 

My next project is canning pinto beans.  

With the cold weather, we now have an extra fridge on our unheated porch.  It came in real handy with all the strawberries we bought and keeping his pickled bologna cold.  Last night, husband remembered the pop we had in the garage that we had leftover from the holidays and brought that in.  It was well on it's way to freezing completely and that would have been a big mess!  Can you imagine the noise it would have made exploding? LOL

We have been in the high teens and low 20's for about a week. The wind chill yesterday must have been bad but I refused to know. We haven't had a big snow just the cold.    

How's everything were you live? I hope everyone is staying warm with the storms that have rolled in.

Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden**As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here).  My thred up link is also a refer a friend link.

Be sure to follow me on Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, Free Kindle books, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog.