Saturday, December 31, 2016

Farewell 2016 Hello 2017

Wow, another year coming to an end.  They aren't kidding when they say as you get older time goes so dang fast.  This was our first full year in Awesome Opossum and it was, well, awesome.  Of course not everything was perfect....the garden had it's challenges,

we lost our beloved Louie as well as quite a few hens to the many predators that we now live with,

we tried our hand at ducks and decided it wasn't for us and a few other incidents.  But overall, 2016 left me very thankful and happy to have experienced what life threw at me.

The twinadoes successfully started kindergarten, and I, well.... after many tears and breakdowns released my grip on them and let them go.  It took a few weeks to adjust, but now we are all enjoying this new adventure.  I can't believe how much they have changed in the three months since they started.  Thing 2 really shows the changes, her vocabulary, her behavior, yowza!

For me, I went on my first job interview in about 15 years.  I didn't get the job but I did feel pleased that I did it.  After the rough first few weeks of kindergarten for Thing 1 I can now see it as a blessing that I didn't get that job, he needed me a lot more than any employer ever would.  So thankful that I could be there and not have to worry about telling an employer that my son needs me.  Finally unpacked the last of the boxes from moving, and even got rid of a bunch of stuff (still more to get rid of....).  Added more power tools to my collection and learned how to use them.  I'm getting to the point where I feel confident that I will be able to really start making some cool stuff this coming year.  Tested new vegetables in the garden, some successes some failures, and have a good idea for the next one. 

Mr. Housewife has been so helpful in my adventures at home.  Building me little things I request for the garden and hens.  Supporting my crazy ideas and sometimes adding on to them.


He even bought a chainsaw to cut down some trees that were hindering my secret garden space.  Those little trees led to a few others which led to some really neat craft ideas that use cut logs. 

This year as been a good one.... The Drunken Breeder and I became friends, went on some fun mini vacations,
met my beloved Ina Garten at a book signing (isn't she lovely?), ate amazing food and overall had a wonderful time.

What will 2017 bring?  I have no clue.  Hopefully more fun, love, good times, adventures, eggs, a new rooster and..... who knows.  What I will shoot for is good health and happiness for my family and others.  Wishing you all a prosperous, happy, healthy and adventurous new year!! 

HAPPY 2017!!!!!





Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Beef Stroganoff

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Beef stroganoff is one of those meals that has it all, meat, noodles and yummy sauce/gravy.  What's not to love, really?  It's not difficult to make, can pretty much be done in one pot and doesn't take any crazy culinary skills to achieve success.  Winning!!  I pretty much stick to the same recipe every time I make it, however, I do change out the meat sometimes.  I mostly use beef tenderloin (fillet mignon) since it produces the most tender meat and it's quick, but you can also use sirloin, chuck or pretty much whatever you have.  The only consideration to make would be cooking time, some cuts you will need to let cook a little longer in order to achieve a nice tender result.

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Also, I use crème fraiche, but that too is optional.  You can be a purist and use just sour cream or you could make kind of a mock crème fraiche with sour cream and cream cheese.  To be honest, all are really delicious, so it's not a big deal what you use.  The other optional ingredient is cognac, I just love the flavor it gives, but understandably, you can choose to omit.

For the Recipe:
a few tablespoons of oil (canola, avocado, grapeseed), this can vary since it depends on size of pan you use
2 lbs beef tenderloin (or meat of your choice), cut into bite size chunks *see note for using other meat
1/4 c. flour
salt and pepper (you will need about 1 1/2 tbsp. total of salt and 1 tbsp. of pepper throughout the recipe)
1 1/2 tbsp. butter
1 large onion, chopped
2 c. mushrooms, sliced (I use crimini, but you could also use shitake or any other you prefer)
2/3 c. cognac (optional)
3 c. beef stock, homemade preferred
1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
1 container of crème fraiche, they are usually around 8 oz.  (or substitute sour cream or a combo of sour cream and cream cheese)
1 pound noodles of choice

In a large pan heat the oil.  While the oil is heating, coat the meat with flour.  Season with salt and pepper.  Next you want to brown the meat.  This part can be tedious but don't skip it!!  Place each piece in the pan and let brown on each side, don't crowd the pan or it will not brown it will steam.  You will probably have to do this in batches, just be patient.  Once the meat has been browned set it aside.  To the same pan add the butter and onions, approximately 1 1/2 tsp. salt and 1 tsp. pepper, let cook until starting to brown a bit then add the mushrooms and a little more salt and pepper.  Cook for another 10 or so minutes until the mushrooms also start to brown.  Next, TURN OFF THE HEAT!!  Time to add the cognac and unless you are truly going for the flambé action you need the flame OFF.  You will use the cognac to deglaze the pan and make sure all the brown goodness is coming and becoming part of your sauce.

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Now you can turn the flame back on and add the beef broth. Bring to a simmer and let cook for about 15 minutes.  Now would be a good time to make the noodles, according to the package.  Next add the Dijon mustard, crème fraiche, and salt and pepper to taste. Because I used beef tenderloin that I browned (pretty much cooking it to almost rare) I add in the when I add these last ingredients so it doesn't cook too long and get tough. You really don't want to overcook such gorgeous meat.  Serve over noodles and you are ready to enjoy this retro yumminess.

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Enjoy!

**note** because I used beef tenderloin I did not need to cook the meat a long time.  If you choose to use another type of meat you will want to adjust the cooking time, adding tougher meats earlier in the cooking in order to give it time to cook properly.  I've used sirloin steak, chuck roast and even got desperate and used ground beef once.... you can vary it up according to your needs.

Monday, October 31, 2016

Congee

Congee is such a lovely dish, it's also very versatile.  Oh, did I mention that it's quite the frugal dish as well.  It's a traditional dish from China, dating back thousands of years, but served in many Asian countries. 

Chicken is the one I tend to make the most since it's easiest for me and the twinadoes like it, but you can use whatever protein you want or you can leave it out completely.  The condiments that you serve along side are what make the congee over the top delicious.

For the Recipe:
1 chicken breast, but into small pieces **see note for chicken
1 tsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. fish sauce
1 c. rice (jasmine or long are typically what I use)
1/2 of an onion, diced
4 c. chicken stock (or you could substitute just water)
1 inch knob of ginger, grated
1/4 tsp. ground white pepper
2 tbsp. fish sauce
1 tsp. sesame oil
salt, depending on how salty your chicken stock is will determine amount
water, amount will depend on how watery you like your congee
Condiments, listed below

Place the chicken in a bowl, add the soy sauce and 1 tsp. fish sauce.  Stir and let marinate while you cook the congee.  In a pot add the rice, diced onion, chicken stock, grated ginger, white pepper, and fish sauce.  Cook over medium heat, whisking regularly to break up the rice grains as they cook.  When the grains start breaking up the congee will thicken, about 20 minutes, add 1 cup of water.  Stir in well, taste for salt and add as needed.  Add  your chicken that has been marinating, stir well.  The chicken will not take long to cook if you cut into small pieces, just a few minutes.  If the congee is too thick for you, add in a bit more water.  I tend to like mine a little thicker, but I have had it more soupy and it was good as well.

Serve in bowls, let everyone choose their condiments.  As for the condiments, I normally choose one type of egg from the list below, fried shallots, green onions and the ginger.  You will quickly find what combination works best for you.

**I love using chicken thighs in congee, since they are more forgiving than chicken breasts you can add them in earlier. 

Condiments:
Hard Boiled Eggs
Preserved Eggs
Fried Eggs
Fried Shallots
Green Onions
Julienned Ginger




Saturday, October 1, 2016

Korean Short Ribs



Thing 1 loves short ribs, he asks for them anytime we go to the Korean restaurant or the local teriyaki place.  I honestly don't know why I don't make them more often, it's not like they are difficult, I think that is going to have to change....

A few years ago when we were still in Snohomish we had a pot luck barbeque, one of the guests brought some short ribs.  Those were gone in mere minutes, and she had brought a lot.... they were that delicious.  Of course I had to ask for the recipe, and luckily she shared.  Like most recipes (not baking) when you cook you can customize to suit your tastes. 

For the Recipe:

1 c. soy sauce (I use low sodium)
1 c. sugar (you can use half brown half white if you want to change it up a bit)
3-4 garlic cloves, grated
2 tbsp. ginger, grated
1 bunch of green onions, chopped
2 tbsp. toasted sesame seeds (use the Asian sesame seeds)
2 tsp. sesame oil

Mix all the ingredients, add the short ribs and marinate overnight.  You can get away with marinating for six hours and serve some sauce on the side (must bring sauce to a boil then reduce to thicken, never use straight from the marinating due to bacteria).

This would also be good with chicken.  For a little extra sweetness add 1-2 tbsp. honey.

Cook the short ribs on a barbeque or indoor grill so you get those nice grill marks.  Be careful though, this has a lot of sugar in it so it will burn very easily. 


Serve with rice and if you really want a taste treat make some Hawaiian noodle salad as well, you won't regret it.

Thursday, August 11, 2016

It's Been a Decade


Tomorrow is my ten year anniversary with Mr. Housewife.  Ten years.  Ten years and a set of twins later we are still here.  Am I surprised?  I would be lying if I said no, marriage is tough and it's not always full of glitter and rainbows.

When two very stubborn and head strong people come together there is bound to be friction, heck, even if you put two calm submissive people together there will be friction.  It's how you deal with it that tells the real story.  And speaking of stories, I'm just not buying the fiction some people spout about never fighting with their partner or saying they always get along.... uh sure.

Let's just state right here and now, I am no marriage expert, not even close, but I've been to a few.  What is the reoccurring statement they all say?  Communication is key, and they are correct.  When that breaks down failure is sure to follow if the proper steps to fix it isn't taken.  Sometimes it really is easier to say "I'm outtie" and move on.  Of course there are reasons that divorce is better, when there is abuse, or other act that is unacceptable, I don't want anyone to think I'm promoting staying in an unsafe situation.

Mr. Housewife and I were outside and he says to me "next week we have a big day".  I'm thinking we have an appointment I forgot or something along those lines.  Clearly my puzzled look gave away my confusion, so he reminded me of our anniversary.  Yes, I'm the one in our relationship that forgets when we got married, I do know the month it's just the day that escapes me sometimes.  I purposefully kept some matches from our wedding that have the date on them.  Sure, it would be easier to jut put it on my calendar so it pops up (note to self to do that).  He asked if I wanted to get away without the kids or what, and it's stuff like this that I try to remember when I'm furious, times when the guy really does try. 

Every day I make sure I remind myself that I am a lucky woman because it's easy to get in a routine where you want more and more and forget what you already have.  To get busy with kids and forget that you wouldn't have those kids if it wasn't for your partner.  Making time gets tougher and tougher, but it's important. 

I may forget the date on the calendar but I haven't forgotten the actual day.  There have been some bumps, heck some major potholes, in the road over the past ten years but we are still all here driving along.  With work and COMMUNICATION we will still be here driving along this curvy bumpy road ten years from now, hopefully we've learned a thing or two over the past ten that will help.

As for this year's anniversary, well, we've decided to spend it at The Salish Lodge, a whopping ten minutes from our house.  And we are bringing the kids!!  That's how we roll and I wouldn't have it any other way.



Friday, July 29, 2016

Going Back to Work...

Last week I went on my first interview in a million years (yes being dramatic).  It was so strange, I wasn't nervous it was more like a hesitancy, kind of hard to explain.  Why did I go on an interview?  The twinadoes are starting all day kindergarten in little over a month which means I'll have all day without them.  Yes, I could sit around and lounge, watch tv, play with chickens, etc.... however, there is an opportunity that *might* be presenting itself to add on to Purple Pastures.  If I went back to work I would be contributing to this new adventure, and I like that idea especially since it's pretty much me spearheading it.

Unfortunately, I did not get this particular job, they gave it to a person that already had it but left for a bit and wanted to return.  Am I bummed?  Maybe a little, but I'm one of those people that believes everything happens for a reason.  I'm not meant to have that job.  There will be another one that is better for me or maybe it's just not my time to head back to the workplace, I really don't know at this point.

What I do know is my twinadoes are going to start school soon and everything will be changing.  I also know that I want to do more than sit around waiting for them to come home.  This opportunity that might happen is something I'm super excited about, and of course I'll share more if it becomes a reality.

For now I'll keep my eye out for jobs that interest me and work for my situation.  I think when I find the right one I won't feel so on the fence and I'll be more on the side of feeling more confident that it's the right time to head back to work. 

Other mothers will surely tell me I'm not alone in feeling guilty for wanting to head back, I had a little breakdown myself.  I was so conflicted that if I was excited to be working did that mean I was slighting my children.  Was I not doing my full mom job, cheating my children?  Of course I'm not, but when you've been home with them their entire lives and it's what they are used to it's hard to not feel like I'm being a bit selfish.  Thing 1 asked me what will happen if they need me during the day, will he be left at the school with nobody to come for him.  Insert crying....

How do moms make the important decision to go back to work?  How do you deal with the guilt?  Please enlighten me, someone!!!

Garden Pictures

This morning I decided to snap a few pictures in the garden after I let the ladies out.  There was a lot of growth in the time we were away at the beach......

Not only did the flowers grow, but so did Nina's baby.....


I love this path, was never meant to be one but it just evolved and we really like it.

 
I don't know how well they work anymore, but I still keep all the owls out because they add character.  Originally they were meant to scare flying predator from the hens.

 
I just can't stop adding flowers and plants to this area.... each time I think I'm done I add "just one more".

 
The one area that I've left pretty much untouched is around the little pond, I think it looks nice all green and natural.

 
As usual, Louie flew out of the chicken run to walk with me in the morning.  I just love this guy!

 
My beans are finally growing!!!  Had to start them three times!!!

 
I planted this watering can with kenilworth ivy a few weeks ago, look how nicely it's grown in.

 
 
How are your gardens coming along?  Picking any vegetables or flowers?

Thursday, July 28, 2016

Eating On Vacation

The past four days the family and I were at the ocean staying in this really cute little cabin.  Of course I brought snacks, but I figured we would eat out most of the time since we were on vacation.  Well.... the first night there we pick a restaurant that got pretty good reviews on Yelp and had a full parking lot.  Uh, not sure if we just got an off night or what but it was horrible.  Most of the food was left uneaten and when the waitress asked if there was a problem I decided to speak up.  Normally I would just say "oh we are full" or some other random excuse, but not tonight.  She did feel bad and ended up taking the appetizer off the bill, but the rest we paid for.  When we got back to the cabin I told Mr. Housewife we were not eating out again, that I would be heading to the little local grocery store to pick up food for the next few days to cook in the cabin.

Not only did we have meals we liked but we saved money as well.  Yes, that's a no brainer, cook for yourself, make what you like and not pay the extra money to have someone else cook it for you. 

For breakfast I made egg, cheese and ham sandwiches.  They were really easy and tasted wonderful, it helps that I had packed eggs from home.

One of our dinners was pork loin, mashed potatoes, zucchini (brought from my garden) and a side salad.

I did some improvisation and made chicken parmesan using mozzarella cheese sticks, yes, it was a tad odd, but not bad.

I made a few other meals that were on the same page as these, fairly basic and quick.  Next time I will definitely plan ahead and bring groceries and not run to the local store that doesn't have the normal food we eat.  But overall it was so much better than eating out and wasting $150 each time we ate only to not like the food.  I spent less than one meal's worth on all the groceries I purchased. 

Not only did we save money and have food we liked but the kids were so much happier not having to go out every time we wanted to eat.  We could go to the beach and not worry about getting all cleaned up and hunting for a place we thought looked good. Brilliant I tell ya!!!




Saturday, July 16, 2016

Pickled Eggs, and then some....



Oh my goodness, I think I have found my new favorite snack.  It's been over a year since I made pickled eggs and clearly I had forgotten how amazing they are.  Of course I had to look up a recipe, and found hundreds, so in usual Real Housewife fashion I did a combo of a few to get the results I wanted. 

For one, there are no beets in this recipe, but I did use beet powder to get the red color, totally optional of course.  Also, most recipes either called for white or apple cider vinegar, well I used both.  I only did one dozen to make sure it was going to be something I liked, and it was.

For the Recipe:
12 boiled eggs
1 red onion, cut into rings
12 radishes, cut into slices (not too thin)
1 1/2 c. white vinegar
1 1/2 c. apple cider vinegar
1 c. sugar
2 tbsp. kosher salt
1 tbsp. beet powder (optional)
3 garlic cloves, smashed
1 heaping tbsp. coriander seeds
1 heaping tbsp. peppercorns (I used the rainbow mix, but you could use plain black)
1 tbsp. fennel seeds
1-3 hot peppers, depending on how spicy you like it (jalepeno, cayenne, serrano, whatever you have)

I used a quart jar for these and it fit great. 

Put a four eggs in the jar, then 1/3 of the onion rings, and lastly 1/3 of the radishes.  Repeat two more times and set in the fridge.  In a saucepan heat the remaining ingredients (except for the 1 cup of ice water) until they come to a simmer.  Take off the heat and let steep for 10 minutes.  Cool the mixture with 1 cup of ice water. 

When cool, pour over the eggs, onions and radishes, put back in the fridge.  Let sit for at least 6 hours, overnight is definitely best.  I totally get how people can't stop eating these, I had to try them a couple hours after I made them, they were good but really taste better after sitting overnight.

Enjoy!

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Week Two of no Spending

Changes have been made to include home items that are not necessary, and that's been a tough one.  I love picking up items that I think are interesting or cool, or a good deal.  But in the words of Mr. Housewife, "a good deal that ends up just creating clutter is not a good deal".  He is right.....  I've actually been really good about not buying those items, only once when I found some outdoor lanterns on sale.

This week the goal is to try and cut back on grocery spending without really anyone noticing.  Considering we have a full pantry and freezer I don't think it will be too difficult.  Shopping without the twinadoes will be the key to that.  Their little hands just start grabbing like they are on some kind of television contest that's timed.  Yeesh....

One activity we did not do this week was go to any garage sales.  Thing 1 and I love going, but there's nothing we NEED at a garage sale.  It surprised me how easy it was to explain to him we weren't going to find any this week.  He understood and only grumbled a little.  Yay!!!

Hopefully next week I'll have made more progress and really start seeing some results in this no spending thing.

Teaching a Lesson with Eggs....



When my ladies are laying well we get 15+ eggs a day, more than we need.  It's so fun collecting the eggs and letting the twinadoes help, then counting them to see how many we have.  But with that many being laid they add up quick, and before you know it you have ten dozen eggs.  When I see an excess I simply post them for free on my local Facebook page, and within minutes they are all claimed.  There are also people that post their eggs, but for a price, usually $5 for a dozen.  Could I sell my eggs?  Of course I could, but I choose not to.

The ladies feed costs about $30 per month, so really not that much, six dozen eggs would pay for that.  However, I use these eggs as a lesson for the twinadoes.  They've asked me why I don't sell the eggs and I tell them that we have a lot of eggs, more than we can use so it's nice to share.  Share and not expect anything in return, plain and simple.



The first couple of times I posted my free eggs I received a message telling me to sell my eggs, that giving them away for free might impact those that are selling theirs.  My response to that was I don't have such a large amount that it would really affect any egg selling business and if it did they might want to rethink their business plan because it's not working. 

These eggs have been the segue into them sharing other things with people, like their toys they no longer play with.  Last night we were discussing just this and the twinadoes were having a hard time, they were thinking we meant all their toys.  Mr. Housewife was explaining to them about sharing the toys they NO LONGER PLAY WITH and how that was the right thing to do.  And what does he use as an example?  My eggs!!  I almost melted.....




Don't get me wrong, I totally understand the people that sell their eggs to pay for the food out of necessity, and that is also a lesson we teach our children.  We are very fortunate, we have enough food to eat, a home to live, clothes on our back and a few extras that some people do not.  The twinadoes are learning that when you have more than enough to share, you should and to be thankful for what you do have.  Five is an interesting age.  They are seeing the differences in how people live. Why one of their friends lives in a small home and another in a big one.  Why one friend has every toy imaginable and five computers and the other has barely any. 

So the eggs have started them learning a very good lesson in sharing.  But that lesson has expanded to being thankful for what they have and understanding not everyone has the same as everyone else.  Yet another reason my ladies are the best, they don't just give us eggs, entertainment and bug control, they give us life lessons.  I have the best chickens ever!!!

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Week One of No Spending

Week one is done!  Quite honestly, it wasn't that difficult.  What I realize is I don't buy a lot of stuff meant specifically for me, it's mostly items for the house and garden.  The other area we go a little bonkers is food.  Pondering how to shave off a little on everything without making the rest of the family feel like they are on the same restrictive journey as myself will be the challenge.  I stated at the beginning that this would be all about me and not the rest of the family, however, I truly believe we can cut back and nobody will be the wiser.

First, the house and garden.  We need absolutely nothing right now in this department.  What I consider house and garden items will be home décor, extra cooking utensil/cookware, etc..., flowers, garden art, basically extras that are not needed only wanted. 

The food, well, here's where I'll have to get a little more creative.  Last week I took Mr. Housewife to my favorite little store in Fall City and introduced him to my butcher hook-up.  Well it just so happens that Mr. Butcher had found some grass fed beef filet and New York steak for an amazing price and asked if we wanted any.  Mr. Housewife immediately said he did.  After offering to order extra for a few other people, then having a slow pick up and not wanting poor Mr. Butcher to get stuck with extra meat we ended up with not only what we had originally ordered but also extra from the other orders.  All in all we ended up spending a little over $500 in this meat, now keep in mind this was over 40 pounds of meat that will last quite a while.  But my point is, there are little things like this that pop up that I can't just put my foot down and tell Mr. Housewife "no, we are on a food freeze".  He would give me the stink eye and call for my "spa" reservation asap.  What I need to do is find the middle ground where everyone still feels satisfied and we aren't spending a mortgage payment just to feed our little family for a month.  I know I can do it, I'll just have to be mindful of what it is I purchase.

This coming week will be like a transition period for all these changes since I think if I just implement all my ideas at once it's going to be very obvious to everyone and they will complain.  Clearly I need to be a sneaky ninja with all this and do it without them even noticing. 

I posted on my Facebook page about getting organized in the laundry room and how it's going to be an important factor to all of this.  An organized home is a money saving home, yes, I have finally learned this simple lesson.  I assessed all the cleaning products (multiples of everything) and put them in the "cleaning product cabinet", I also found several of those items you need randomly and know you have but can never find (those little felt things that go on the bottom of chairs so they don't scratch your floors).  Amazing I tell you, it's truly amazing how crazy excited I was when this room was done.  The kitchen will be next, I guarantee there will be some multiples of items found as well as things I had totally forgotten.  It's going to take longer than the laundry room, but will be worth it.

Seatac Sally came over several weekends ago and helped me organize my stuff in the garage but I still need to tackle the other side with all the tools, hardware, etc.... I'm going to be so busy organizing I won't have time to even think about shopping!  This is going to be a successful week.  As usual, I'll post a daily blurb on my Facebook page about the day....  Until next week!

Monday, June 20, 2016

My Wallet is Closed....



Today is the first day of summer and the first day of my no spending for a month challenge.  For the record, it will only be me participating in this little experiment, not the twinadoes or Mr. Housewife.  But let's be honest, I'm the main spender in the home so this should be interesting.  Food, bills, necessities will all be purchased and paid, but all extras will be ceased. 

I've been thinking about doing something like this for a while, but just didn't feel like putting the effort out, but dang it, I'm doing it.  Yes, one month doesn't seem like a lot and I think that's why it seems doable.  Saying one year would start me out in a place mentally that I would already be thinking of failure.  At the end of the month I will assess what I've learned, what was really challenging and what I've gained (other than money).

One of the first things I did was figure out where I was spending the most money, and it was quite obvious when I looked over the bank statement..... Amazon!!  The daily deals, the suggestions they give from previous purchases, and the list goes on.  Another area I'll be avoiding are the endless emails I get alerting me of sales and deals.  Just this morning alone I deleted 17 emails that I knew contained deals, didn't even open them.

Boredom shopping, now this one is a killer for me.  Sometimes I pop into a store "just to see what they have" and the next thing you know I'm walking out with bags of stuff.  That is coming to an end.  Kind of on the same lines, all the little add on items I throw in the cart when I'm shopping for something I need.  Everyone goes on and on about shopping lists and sticking to them, well, I'm going to have to do that if I want to succeed.

Oh I won't lie, this is going to be a challenge, but what I'm really hoping is that it will show me that I can survive without all the extra shopping (yes, I'm being dramatic).  Money can be saved or put towards one of our large home improvements we want to do. 

Lastly, I'm curious if Mr. Housewife will notice the extra money we have in the account at the end of the month....  I'll be doing weekly updates on the blog and daily ones on my Facebook page.  Anyone else want to do this with me?

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Some Tuesday Randomness Here at Purple Pastures.....

This morning Dahlia, the cat that thinks she's a dog, and I took a walk around the yard to snap a few pictures.  I swear this cat doesn't know she's a cat, she runs and plays with the kids and doesn't even care if it's raining out.

 
My tomatoes are doing so well this year without the chickens.  I really felt bad locking the ladies up for the summer, but seriously, it was just too frustrating to put in all that work and have pretty much nothing in the end.  They ruined everything!!  My goal of having enough tomatoes to can at the end of the season just might become a reality.  Now to learn how to can.....


 
 
It seems late to me, but I'm still starting seeds in the greenhouse, I have my second batch of pumpkins and cucumbers going right now.  Some I'll share, others I'll randomly place around the yard just for fun.  If I get enough I'll leave a pumpkin here and there and let it decompose and hopefully the seeds will grow next year.  It's called lazy gardening....


I planted a bucket with basil, lavender and thyme seeds, so far the lavender hasn't germinated.  Not sure what happened, but 2 out of 3 isn't bad, right?
 
 
Behind the greenhouse there's this random spot that gets great sun but was pretty much a bunch of blackberry bushes and rock when we moved in.  I slowly hacked away at the blackberries and moved rocks so I could plant my raspberries.  They seem to be loving it.  It's also where I keep my big compost pile, which by the way has so may things growing in it, potatoes, peas, squash, onions, etc... I'm going to let them all grow and see what happens.
 
 
The peppers in the greenhouse are going crazy!  They clearly love it in there so I'll leave one of each plant and move the rest outside.  It will be interesting to see if the greenhouse peppers do better.
 
 
My citrus trees are doing amazingly well, especially since I thought I was going to have to toss them all.  They were infested with grey citrus scale which led to the mold fungus that spread everywhere.  They were in really sad shape and nothing I did was helping, they were just too infested.  So as a last ditch I put all the citrus out in the winter, I figured the cold would kill all those darn bugs, but knew there was a chance it would also kill the plants.  I was pleasantly surprised to see it did kill the bugs and stopped the fungus.  But it still took a lot of work to clean off all the fungus, I had to wipe down each leaf and branch, but it was worth it.  They all survived and are blooming!  I still get those pesky grey citrus scale, but now I check them regularly and remove them when I see them before they can become a problem again.
 
 
My squash are doing fairly well, some better than others.  I planted quite a few plants in various places to see where they do best.  Gardening in a new place is always a learning experience the first couple years.  I'm still learning.
 
 
 
A kick I'm on this year is using baskets in the garden.  It started when I picked up some really cute ones at a garage sale, got them home and realized I really didn't have a place in the house for them.  Then I saw some of the most beautiful planted baskets at the garden show, the prices were not so beautiful, and I was inspired.  This one is just filled with mint, but I still like how it looks.  There are more randomly placed in the garden that have flowers, herbs, and vegetables, all different.  Instead of paying $50 and up I paid a fraction and did the work myself.
 
This basket has mostly herbs, but also a strawberry and some trailing flowering ivy that I love (not the hanging planter).

 

It's hard to see, but the water bulbs I tossed into the pond are growing, no flowers yet but it's still early.  Some time in the future I would love to redo this pond and make it deeper.  It's currently about 18 inches deep and I would love to go another 12" or so.  But that project is pretty far down on the list.
 
 
And now for my ladies and gentleman.... I so wanted this handsome boy to be a hen, his coloring is amazing (this picture does not do him justice, guess I'll have to get a better one) and he has a wonderful temperament.  He follows me around everywhere and makes the saddest noise when I leave the run (basically their fenced in area).  He lets me pet him, pick him up and is good with the ladies.  Louie doesn't even mind him, which is great.


This is the other rooster we hatched, when I was rehoming the other boys he was on the list to go but I he caught on to what was happening and refused to be caught.  He pretty much avoids me and keeps a low profile, so that has bought him a pass to stay here at Purple Pastures.... for now.


This pretty girl we call Baby, she was the first chick to hatch here and is the sweetest girl.  She will be another blue/green egg layer.  I love them!!!

 
Earlier this year we picked up 9 hens from a woman in town that was getting rid of a bunch.  I really had no intention of getting more, in fact I was going over to look at them for a friend, but saw how pretty they were and had to get some....


This is Ninja, she is such a character, even Mr. Housewife likes her....
 
And then there's Roxy.... she's broody right now and we've decided to let her sit on two silkie eggs.  She is a mean little hen right now, puffing up and trying to look all mean if you come near her.  She was sooooo happy to get her picture taken this morning.....
 
I have a few (ok many) more chickens that will eventually make their appearance on the blog, but for now these cuties will be the stars.
 
What's happening in your garden and yard?

 

Friday, May 27, 2016

Easy Patriotic Trifle


There are some days when I just don't want to put a lot of effort into baking or cooking.  I want fast, easy and delicious results that looks like something I want to present to others.  This super easy layered trifle is just the ticket.  You could get all fancy and make your own pound cake, but why?  Most store bakeries offer freshly made and if yours doesn't stroll the freezer aisle, there's one there that I've used many times that's actually pretty good.



Recipe:
1 store bought pound cake (or you can make one)
3 c. heavy cream
2 tsp. real vanilla
1/2 c. powdered sugar (I'm not into super sweet whipping cream, but feel free to add more)
2 containers of raspberries
2 containers of blueberries

In a mixer add the heavy cream, vanilla and powdered sugar.  Whip until you have a nice stiff whipping cream.  Usually takes around 4-5 minutes on a fairly high speed. 



While this is whipping cut the pound cake into bite size cubes. 



Add one layer of the pound cake, top with 3/4 container of raspberries.  Next add a layer of the whipped cream, spread it evenly. 



Top this with another layer of pound cake, 3/4 container of blueberries and more whipping cream.  For the final layer add the remaining pound cake, and the rest of the berries.  The remaining whipping cream can be used when serving, put a dollop on the top.  I prefer to wait to add the last bit of whipping cream so the berries do not bleed on it.  Totally optional to do it this way.  Also, you can trade out the fruit, but since it's Memorial Day weekend and this combo of berries is wonderful it's what I chose.

Enjoy!!!