Make it Mondays - Tomato Soup

 

We had an abundance of tomatoes this year.  When you have too much and not enough time to work on them - you wash and freeze them whole.  Make your soups, sauces when you have time to do it.  

I love homemade tomato soup.  This really is so easy, even if you don't have frozen tomatoes.  Just start with whole tomatoes.  I usually look in the refrigerator for whatever other veggies are looking like they need to be used.  So this soup, it's flavor, really depends on what you have to put in it.  

I have some herbs still hanging on, so I used some of those too, parsley, chives and rosemary.  Garlic, onions, carrots and celery, round out the flavor for this soup.  

I added a cup of water to get it going.  It's a dump it in, cook on low/medium until everything gets soft kind of soup.  

Yes, skins and all.  At this point, you can use an immersion blender to mix it all together until smooth.  After, I taste it and add spices I want.  Splash of Worcestershire Sauce, garlic and onion powder, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning and a few pinches of sugar.  You add what you like and let it simmer, until ready to eat.  

At this point, it could become sauce too.  Or, I like to add water to thin it for soup.  Enjoy.

My friend, Robin, from The Cranky Crow is bringing us, in blog land, something I've really missed a chain.  Click on the link to see her blog.  Several others are doing it too.  Fun! 

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Farmhouse Friday - Week 44 - November Gratitude

 

We have so many deer in our front yard this time of year.  This doe has been around a lot.  She wasn't even afraid of me when I drove off the deck with my scooter.  Everyone who passes our house - neighbors anyway - know to slow down because of all the deer by the apple trees. 

I kept up with the tradition of planting garlic on Halloween.  A client of mine, who was over 101 told me to do this.  I have ever since.  

We never really have many trick-or-treaters out here in the country, however we still buy full size candy bars.  This year my neighbor posted her address on our community Facebook page, so I added mine.  We had several.  I noticed that Aissa liked it so I was hoping she would bring her boys.  Aissa's grandma, Viola,  and my dad grew up together on the reservation and went to school together.  Viola married and moved to Ringle.  She had several children the same ages as our family.  They went to school with us.  Aissa lives in her house.  I told her that I would give her a basket someday.  I had her treat waiting for her too.  I love that she loves it!  

My great-nephew, Myles, asked if he could make us a meal.  He is only 10.  I asked him what his specialty was.  He said "all kinds of stuff."  We chose tacos.  We had lunch the next day too.  Now he wants to do it again.  O.k. sounds good! 

Do you follow Linda's Relaxing Lair blog?  Well, she posted this pumpkin muffin recipe and I knew I wanted to try it.  I did change it a bit.  They are like the best muffins I've made in a long time!  

What I changed was:  I had left over squash so I used that.  I also used 2 t of pumpkin pie spice instead of cinnamon and nutmeg, I used only 1/4 C melted butter and on the top of muffin I sprinkled pumpkin pie spice and brown sugar before baking.  

They were super moist!  

I often, like every night, fall asleep, either praying or listing off all the things I'm thankful for.  I thought this list was a good one for me to get some new ideas.  Just a "little talk with Jesus" to end my day. 

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Making "the" Announcement

 I made "the" decision back in July actually, to not renew my lease for the office/shop space in Hatley.  I was sad about it, felt little "forced" into doing it (things out of my control) but, after I made it...not telling anyone...I'm actually at peace with it.  

I didn't want to mention it to our customers yet.  I wanted to wait until December.  However, news travels fast in a small town and soon I had people coming in asking to see the space for renting.  Then a customer came in said "I heard from" I knew I better do it earlier. 

So, I have been saving little inspirational things on my phone to use when the time came to make "the" announcement.  I started with a post the day before as a hint.....

Then the next day, Halloween, I announced it.  Of course, I had to make it funny.  That's just how I roll....

I'm sure, some knew it was coming.  It's not all due to my health issues, it's because I want to do it.  I know the joy of having a shop, I've crossed it off my bucket list, I've been there for 4 years.  This decision was made easier because of the passing on of two of my friends.  I know that sounds terrible, but it's true.  

Our friend Sue, passed on in the spring, we did her estate sale with the help of our other friends in July.  It was a conversation I had with the other friend, while doing the estate sale, that made me know it was the right decision.  Pat was sharing his stories, while we sat at the checkout for the sale.  He told me a few things that confirmed feelings I had too.  He had no idea that "this" was coming.  I never had a chance to tell him, that his sharing with me, helped me.  Oh, I wouldn't take a million dollars for those days with him.  We had the best time.  He passed on a month later.  Shocking...unbelievable...loss!  

So, there it is, the truth is, life is too short.  I have sold about everything you can imagine in a lifetime of reselling.  I spent decades doing for others, what I'm now having a hard time to do for myself.  Are we quitting?  No, truthfully, I love all of "this" too much to stop.  I just want to be more mindful of what I do.

I've never been one to "want to go back" rather, I'm the type to always want to move forward.  I'm good with change, it renews me.  I've recreated my business, what I do, how I do it dozens of times and it's always been better for it.  I expect this will be the same, good Lord willing.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Make it Monday - Rustic Simmer Pot Gifts

 

I enjoy making stuff like this.  I wanted to make these for our Christmas Event on December 5.  There is very little, if any profit in them, but it makes me happy to make them.  I do use mostly (75%) organic, whole ingredients.  

I started with slicing and dehydrating a bag of oranges.

I did this over the weekend.  To me, nothing says "ber" weather, like the smell of something in the dehydrator.  Al made jerky when I was done with the oranges.

Then today, I gathered all the spices I bought last week from Golden Harvest bulk store in Merrill.  I used some spices I had here too.  I had the table full of things, to do like an assembly line to fill each bag.  

Next, I mixed up the dry ingredients.  You can't mess this up.  I just put in 2 T of each and like 1/2 C of cinnamon.  I looked for the "warm" spices and those that smell like Christmas. 

Mix together and put 1/2 T in your bag first.  

My husband cut the whole nutmeg for me.  I used whole allspice, cardamom, star anise, cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, cloves, orange slices and cedar sprigs off my tree.  Just a little bit of each, pinch or two, you can't mess it up.  

I used "treat bags" $1 for 20 with twist ties.  Added jute and a tartan ribbon.  I made over 30 of them.  The last time I made these for sale was maybe 4 years ago for a sale we did.  At the time I charged $2 a bag.  After adding all the costs, I will have to charge $4 a bag.  Not sure if that is too steep, but everything to make these (and so much more) have gone up.  If I don't sell any, I'll give them away for gifts.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Farmhouse Friday - Weeks 42 & 43 - Fall Gardening & Little Vacation

 

Did you know that tulips on average only bloom 3-5 years?  I had a beautiful showing of tulips for 2 years.  This past spring, only a few came up.  So, I ordered some new ones from Baker Seeds - Heirloom and Rare.  They are nestled into some fresh dirt, waiting for spring.  

Remember several weeks back, I did a quick pickle?  I said I wanted to do a quick pickle of my beets.  Well, here are the only 2 beets I harvested.  Believe it or not, even in raised beds, the deer pulled them all up.  I did roast these and added to a kale salad.  Next year I guess.

My husband, Al, is moving along raising all my beds to a height I can reach with my scooter.  I am still doing it!  I hope to keep gardening, even if I am in a mobile wheelchair.  

I was sworn to secrecy about what we did next.  I'm married to a military minded, German heritage, police science educated, port security Coast Guard - kind of man, swearing to secrecy is part of our marriage, haha.  Anyway, we went on vacation!  No one really knew, we didn't say anything, until we came home.  

We met our children in Williamstown, Kentucky.  Our Christmas gift to them for several years has been an "experience" like a vacation.  So far, we've only been to the UP of Michigan, which we all LOVE.  However, this year, we went farther.  I was a bit worried with my mobility issues.  I shouldn't have, it was so accessible.  We stayed in a super nice, one level, Airbnb.  

This attached game and media room was amazing!  The grands really loved it.  The sliding doors opened to a patio and fire pit area.  I could get around easily with my walker and wheelchair.  

The Ark Encounter and Creation Museum!

Both places were very mobile friendly.  We had the best time!  So thankful for the experience.  The Ark is incredible.  

We have been back home, but I still don't know what day it is.  It's always hard going back to a routine.  

An interesting fact about me, that you may not know, is I come from a long line of .... don't trust the government, type.  My mom's side is Scotch/Irish and my dad's Native American - both had reasons not to trust.  Today, I just say, I'm awake more than most.  So....if you've not been living under a rock....you may have heard about Operation Fortress.  The 90 day military base sustainability orders.  Not only in the USA, but MANY countries alerting their people of saving 72 hour rations of goods in case of (fill in).  So, those words are horns in preppers ears.  Now, I mentioned earlier, that I was married to Mr. "sworn to secrecy" so I'm not at liberty to share ALL we've been doing for a decade or more.  I can show you a great deal we squirreled away.  Organic, whole oats, 50 pounds.  A few branches, a match, a pot of water from the creek - we'll be good.  I say that jokingly, but you really should think ahead.  

I am awake enough to know, if the government is containing our military for 90 days, we best plan longer.  I would be remiss to say, I don't plan for this world, I plan for the next.  Even Jesus told the parable of the lamps and oil.  It's not for fear we do this, we don't live there.  If we find ourselves there, we will be prepared.  Don't live scared, live prepared.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.