"Green Beans From the Garden......"

As some of you may remember, I planted green beans seeds in the circular, stone raised garden, along with some marigold plants I'd purchased.  I wasn't sure how the two would get along, but found out they do extremely well together.  :)

I picked our first batch of green beans a week ago, using them that evening.  The next batch of beans I picked, I processed and froze for later use.  A bit of background.......I took 3 classes from the Michigan State Extension Office, which was sponsored by our local food co-op, Oryana.  The classes were 1) Water Bath Canning, 2) Preserving Low Acid Foods Using a Pressure Canner, and 3) Dehydrating and Freezing Foods.  I have used 3 of the 4 methods so far, with Pressure Canning yet to try/experience.

Back to my Green Bean Processing.  After picking, sorting, and cleaning, the beans were ready for blanching.  By the way, blanching is done so that the "ripening process" of foods is stopped.  If not blanched, the food, even though frozen, will continue to ripen or mature, possibly going past its prime while in storage.  Blanching stops this process and allows the food to be stored, in better condition, for a longer period of time.  When I froze my asparagus this Spring, I didn't know the reasoning behind blanching and followed advice to the contrary.  I now know better......

While the beans were blanching, I prepared my "ice water bath" that the beans would be plunged into from the blancher to immediately stop the "cooking" process.

Here is the blancher doing its thing.  The beans needed to be blanched for 3 minutes, timed from when the water came back to a boil after adding the green beans.

After timing the 3 minutes of boiling, the blancher was taken off the stove and set into the sink so that I could easily remove its insert, which is a built in strainer of sorts, and then poured the blanched green beans into the ice water bath.  The beans were blanched for 3 minutes and their time in the ice water is also 3 minutes.  That holds true for whatever vegetable is blanched, the time for blanching is used for their time cooling down in ice water.

The drained green beans were then divided into meal sized portions and placed into quart sized freezer bags.  Did you notice my little bag holder?  It is adjustable for different size bags, folds down quite flat when not being used, and is easily stored in a drawer.  It certainly helps with the ladling process.  :)

I now have 4 meal size packages of "home grown" green beans in the freezer.  It may not seem like a lot after the work involved with processing, but I personally think the time and effort used to process these 4 bags was well worth it, and I will be especially proud when I pull them from the freezer this Winter and use them, knowing that only sun, rain (or well water), organic fertilizer, and a little work on my part, brought these green beans to our table.  ;)

"Warm Up #1......."

Wood stacking has begun.......in stages.  ;)

I had to clean up the area where the new firewood was to be stacked.  It is quite clear the area had been used for that purpose before and has been set up specifically for that purpose.  After raking away the old debris, I began the process of stacking wood.  I truly do not mind this work and find it fulfilling, but the camera has caught facial expressions that do not look like I am having a good time.  I really am!  ;)  Yes, it is work, but work that will bring a lot of joy and comfort come cold weather season.

The documentation began when Don came out to check on me.  I'm sure he is expecting to find me lying on the ground having had a heart attack or stroke one of these days.  Perhaps this wood stacking will help me "melt" some fat off this old body, eh?  It IS great exercise.  ;)

See what I mean about "facial expressions"?

The long sleeved tee shirt and sweats fit like spandex..........OY!

Little by little the stack builds......

Back for another few pieces.  I'd forgotten how heavy firewood can be!  We think quite a few of the pieces are a bit too large for our wood stove, so are thinking about investing in an "electric" wood splitter.  All in good time.....other priorities come first.  :)

I was definitely more flexible after my short time stacking wood.  Perhaps when I can consistently work this activity into my mornings, I will become like I was when I was 55!  LOL

The cold season will be here before we know it, so I'd best get finished with this pile of firewood so we can get another ordered and delivered, eh?  :)

The old saying of "wood warms you twice.....once when you stack it and another when you burn it" isn't really true, but leans toward the real truth.  It warms you MULTIPLE times.....because each time you stack it makes you plenty warm!  LOL

"Tomato Bonanza....."

Remember that "Tumbling Tom Red" cherry tomato plant that we bought which was loaded with blossoms and tiny green fruit?  If not, here is the link to it. (http://madcitymike.blogspot.com/2013/07/tasty-tomatoes.html)
Well, those tiny green fruits are ripening at a fast pace, but so far we've managed to keep up eating and enjoying them.

Here is a photo of a "picking" from last week, plus there have been smaller harvests since then, too.  I will be harvesting another large batch today or tomorrow, too, having them ready for snacking on while friends Penny and Sheila, who arrive Sunday, are visiting for a few days.

Here are some photos taken of the plant this morning........

Many, many days of good eating here, eh?   ;)

"The New Land Purchase......"

Here is a photo of the beginning of our road, Section Line Road, and what it looks like.  It is basically a "2 track", which is 2 paths made by tires with dirt/grass in-between.  It leads to, and turns into, our driveway, which is also a 2 track.  Our driveway begins at the end (where the sun is hitting the 3 tree trunks).  Click on the photo to enlarge it if you'd like a better view......

There are several homes along the right side of Section Line Road, whose back or side property lines end at our road, but no one shares the road with us.

Here is where our driveway begins, although the Section Line Road basically turns into our driveway with nothing to distinguish the two.  Notice the realtor sign further along the driveway, which you'll see in the last photo, too, and it will help give you a good idea of the size of our new 2 1/2 acre parcel.  Our house is also on another 2 1/2 acres.  The area was divided into 2 1/2 acre squares, so each parcel is wider than an acre, and not rectangular in shape.

In this last photo, taken from the edge of our original 2 1/2 acres, you can see where the driveway begins down near one of the houses which back up to Section Line Road.  If you enlarge this and the last photo, you will be able to see the realtor sign easier and then be able to judge the parcels size.  Needless to say, but I will, we are THRILLED with acquiring this piece of land!

"Don's Been Busy......."

Don is having the time of his life!  While exploring in the woods awhile back, he found 2 old rusty metal chairs out in what he thinks is the corner of our 2 1/2 acre property.  He has just finished making a path to them, lined with downed trees and branches.  The old chairs may be there for now, but we bought a new adirondack chair for him to sit in and relax while watching for "Bambi", who, by the way, came for a late "snack", night before last.  Yes, another motion detector sprinkler head is ordered and I made another set of "tin can/fishline deer alarms".  ;)

But back to Don's path making.  Here is the "entrance" to the path, which is just past our fire pit ring.

In time, we're planning on constructing an arbor from branches to show the entrance to the path.

Another bit of news......yesterday, we took possession of the 2 1/2 acres that our driveway has easement through, so we now own 5 acres.  Don's goal is to have more paths in our acreage and started another one last night.  It going to be very cool!  More to come on his continued path making later.  ;)

Here are some photos showing the paths progression to the chair area.

In the upper right hand corner of the photo below, you can just see a tiny bit of brown through the trees, which is our log house.

You can tell from looking at the first 2 photos showing the entrance area and these next few photos heading back to our clearing in the woods, just how much brighter it is around the house than in the woods.

So as my "Trailblazer" continues with his work (actually it is wonderful play for him), I will post more photos.  Have a good one and thanks for stopping by!

"Balloon Tuesday......"

I was letting Copper outside this AM when I heard that "Whooshing" sound again......yep, I got the camera quickly and went outside in time to get this photo.  2 hot air balloons this morning that took off from the grass airfield located through the woods from our house.!  The blue one is hard to see, but it is down and to the right of the yellow one, framed in leaves.  Click on the photo to enlarge it.

"Some Random Photos....."

Don has been quite busy taking photos of many, many things.  Here are a few of them......

Remember that nice little round, rock raised bed where I planted Marigolds and Green Beans?  I wasn't sure if the Green Beans would do very well and now I have my answer.  ;)  Blossoms galore and baby beans in the making.  Don has since "permanently planted" the stepping stone that we received as a gift  from Deblyn (handmade by "herself"), our shirt tail relative via marriage, which we brought with us from Madison.

Here is Copper coming to check out what Don has in his hands, hoping, I'm sure, that it might be something to eat and he would share.....

And speaking of things to eat, I'm not sure exactly why Don took a photo of his breakfast, but I do know he was quite happy with it, so I guess I'm sharing it with you for of that reason.  ;)  By the way, we do not eat breakfast like this on a daily basis.......cereal, oatmeal, or toast is the usual fare.

The lighting from inside versus the coming of night caught his interest.  I'm sure there will be many more like this from different seasons in our future.  :)