Barter and other randomness

 

I'm putting together my barter for my husband's cousin.  She is the one who found me canning lids and had them shipped to my home.  I bought a red plastic basket and found this cute "canning" decor.  She'll get a jar of home canned tomato soup, home canned ketchup, and some other items I haven't yet decided on.

There are two brands of whole dried elderberries being recalled, and one is certain batch numbers of organic starwest botanicals.  I received an email, but thankfully it is not the batch I bought.

Tuesday was a much less stress over housework kind of day.  So thankful for that.  

I had one daughter home early and the other home later.  We moved front porch furniture (some) into storage and hauled the wood we split to the porch.  

The chainsaw parts have not arrived yet, and there has been no word on my car (going on week 4 of the car).

I haven't found any copies of my "Teabag Tidbits" newsletters.  Yet.  I may have them on a flash drive.

I put a basket of snacks on a small table on my porch.  I also added bottles of water.  I put a note in it for the UPS, FedEx and USPS.  Yesterday UPS came, and it totally made my day to see his smile and watch him take a snack (even with 3 dogs howling).

Barter ~ This and That

I finally met Hubby's cousin "C" and she bartered with me - tomatoes for me and strawberry margarita jam for her.  She is a hoot too.  We are planning a meet and greet meal soon to meet more family members.  First up?  Tomato sauce.  If I have more after that, tomato soup or crushed tomatoes maybe.  I guess I'll find out when I weigh them.

I also bartered with our 20 year-old daughter.  She came out yesterday to help me do more cleaning and picking up, and she got strawberry margarita jam and lunch. 

Organic grilled cheese sandwiches and organic tomato soup with a dab of organic butter.  I miss my home canned tomato soup. 

We got the living room back in order, some carpets vacuumed, master bath completely cleaned but the shower and tub (it's an overly big bathroom) and wood work still needs wiped down, finished the laundry, picked up stuff in the bedroom (oh my, craft stuff everywhere, which was still everywhere because we ran out of time), and swept and mopped the master bath.  So happy to have her help too.  Romeo loves her visits too.

We got rain, so laundry was put on drying racks yesterday.  It was much cooler too.

I ordered our traditional Christmas Eve pajamas.  I waited too late last year, and paid the price.  I got them at great prices and the colors and styles I wanted.  So glad I remembered.

I had to make a run to the store for vinegar to make another container of homemade lysol wipes, so I stopped at the dollar store and picked up these kitchen towels.  I got a few other fall designs too.  Just $1/ea.

I'm on the hunt for book sales now.  I want to buy 25 books for the grand kids for a countdown.  We'll see if I make it happen.  I have over a month to do that.

Preparing for Flu Season and other Tidbits

Two weeks ago, I placed dried elderberries and raw honey in a canning jar.  I let it sit in a warm location to infuse.  

 The result?  

142 Recycled Post Marked Postage Stamps ~ Saturday Rambles

In the midst of a mad-woman cleaning day, I ran across a box of printed cardstock that was storing an unfinished project.

Cooking from Home Storage ~ Homestead Tidbits

Remember all of this from last year?  Well, it's slowly dwindling.  However, the pepper mustard sauce (the yellow quart jars in the photo) will be a "keeper" recipe.  I canned the 4 jars using 36 hot banana peppers, and it's been wonderful.   How do I use it?