Tomatoes

Total of eighteen tomatoes plants provided us plenty of tomatoes for this season. which we have enjoyed through out the season. It is been a while I bought some from the grocery store. I wish I kept a neat organizer how many plants I had from each variety. I know for sure I had few heirlooms. 

Few of canning recipes I worked on this season included 

• Herb tomato sauce 
• Ripe Tomato Jam
• Green Tomato pickle
• Salsa Verde
• Green tomato chutney

I can assure myself that I have a full stock pantry with our garden bounty for this winter. I am hoping to put them to use. Looking at the jars in the kitchen with many colors reminds me of the wonderful summer I spent with my family. Canning is definitely an Art! 

Have you saved the bounty from your garden. If so How do you save it? and Do you can your crop?

Sala Verde - Canning

Five pounds of tomatoes were sitting on our newly build kitchen counter. I knew I had to do something with this beautiful bounty. The weekend is vanishing right in front of my eyes, I decided to take on canning early Sunday morning. No group y-cycle for me, since I needed to to finish many tasks. Including a trip to the local farm to pick a pumpkin.

I found this easy recipe from the ball - canning site for salsa verde. Saturday was cut short due to work but the rest of the day look was open and busy but we took it easy to catch up and spend time together with each other which includes a afternoon nap as well. Then the rest of the day was spent with friends in town while waiting the oldest to return from a meet. Then filling orders and finally, I was able to get some reading done!

Sunday, getting few more projects done, cooking, canning, and a trip to the farm. Time spent in the kitchen was well worth since I decided to take on canning the green and red tomatoes. As you can see I enjoy every bit of this process. The kitchen was filled with the wonderful aroma of salsa. I am wishing for at least one or two snow days this winter to open some of this bounty from our garden. 

What do you make of green tomatoes. Do you fry them, or pickle them. Few of my friends who tried this said they were great!

home made bath salts...

Summer brings a lot, working in the yard could make ones body a bit painful at the end of the day but, in an unusual way. A bit of a satisfied pain and lately I have been going through it bit more often due to weeding and cleaning. No matter what, I believe a good long soak in the tub can magically cure all aches. 

I like investing on bath salts a bit, recently I decided to make my own bath salt. With my little helper, I made couple of batches. The first batch of course for me. 

Gathering all the materials took a while but the process was fairly easy. After the initial attempt we decided to make few batches for gift giving. 

I bought culinary lavender from from amazon shop, and bought epson salt. I had lavender essential oil from a previous project. I used two cups of salt to 1/4 cup lavender seeds and then few drops of essential oil. Mix them well and stored in a jar!

I did used mason jars to store the rest of the batch for gifts! Neat gifts to teachers, friends, and baby sitters! 

I personally loved it. I feel like totally renewed after a bath! 

Completed...

Balancing work with family life, school, and crafts needs creativity. But my hands and mind work together find few minutes work and finish projects. This is the season for fleece and there are so many projects. 

I bought the fleece from the ruminant rack last year. Its being a while and finally I made this cute little no sew blanket. Nicolette still enjoys her naps at school and a warm blanket would certainly take her to the deep slumber. She refuses to wake up but she also falls a sleep little later at school comparing to home. 

I might keep one in the car on our way home from work so she can rest for few minutes. 
This is a very time friendly blanket to make for busy moms.

Enjoy!

De- clutter, Order, and Role-modeling...

Since we have downsized our living space. I have a difficult time creating master bedroom/study room in our cozy little house. I do not know how I have a huge mess on my chest of drawers. I am totally responsible for  this since I have created it. 

It holds everything and anything you can possibly name that can go on a chest of drawers. Sometimes it disturbs me when I have to study. I guess I need an order in my environment to study. I kept postponing to clear out this space saying I am going to get to it tomorrow. Then some days I feel like that tomorrow never comes. 

I will be going to work this Fall while in school I need order and I need my room to be a functional space in every possible way. I have acquired so much stuff that I hardly use.

I took control and went through every little thing and cleaned the entire place. When I was done I was so happy that I have created and orderly space in my room. 

I tends to spend so much time creating order for kids and it was my turn. I felt If I did not create that space they are not going to internalize order into their life. It was in a way kind of role modeling. I am  very happy with the space that I have created for myself. 

Quote of the day “light a dark corner"

Enjoy!

Poncho & a Hat

I wanted to make this Poncho because I was inspired by a Mom at the Library. So I went all the nine yards to make this one. I bought the fleece and cut a hole started to stitch using the blanket stitch. Then I wanted to make yo-yo’s and add it to this project. I kept stretching my ability to create.
Initially I just wanted to make the Poncho, since I take my little one thrice a week to local library to story time it’s been a hassle to get her in and out of her jacket four times a day including the drop off her big brother at school.
Of course I loved her fleece Poncho idea. It took couple of days but I also knitted a hat to go with it and incorporated some fun fabric ideas. Yes, I am a mixing media gal; I used tulle, button and fabric with this hat. I loved it!
Hope whoever takes a peak on this blog would like this project.

Christmas Cards...

Hi,

I have been very busy creating Christmas cards and greeting cards... Since I am heavily into scrap booking I thought I will give a chance for the creativity side of my brain. I finally took a class how to make cards... it was FUN... I have been on the Internet surfing how to make cards and running to local Michael's for the supplies and was able to create a few cards. The class I took, I have to admit was phenomenal. I was so glad my friend Cathy encourage me to take it... it was a big change because now I know how to use the tools correctly that was a huge achievement for me.

This is whats going on in my life right now. The last batch of cards I bought from Walmart on recycle paper was a while ago. I cannot wait to return those cards now. I love creating these cards with my own hands... most of all the final product is always breath taking. I also feel like it is very special when you make something for some one you love and care with your hands, because you give time to creativity, helps you to think about the person's likes and dislikes... and most of all you get an opportunity to personalized it I thought that was very COOL...

In other words it's different when you cook a meal at home than going to the restaurant to order some thing. You feel proud/accomplished of what you made with your hands and what you have in the pantry... I like what I make at home...

I have slowly start to mail my products to my friends and family. Some times I get GREAT reviews and some times none but I am very happy with what I am creating.

If any of you took some time to see what I have been doing... Please let me know what you think about this I thrive on FEED BACKS...

For all the people out there ENJOY life because you never know what's going to come NEXT!