Fit as a Farm Hand week 4

Here is the permalink if anyone else wants to join in.

Sorry this is late.... I forgot to post it!

Weight Loss..... None... But I am ok with that as I didn't gain anything either!

Exercise..... I didn't get on the treadmill but I did go out walking with Grim a couple days this past week.

Diet.... No real changes but I did buy a veggie steamer so I can start cooking broccoli!

I really did get to do more canning last night. I had to wait for the kitchen since Grim was making an Irish Red. He made the Stout on Sunday. They will be ready for St. Pat's. He also has a Scottish Ale that he is going to be making. I know your thinking why all the beer. Well, it blooms much better in the cool weather and it will last up to 1 year. So might as well, put this weather to good use!

On to the canning, I did take some really nice pictures with the camera. But since I still can't upload them, here are the camera phone pictures. They didn't turn out to bad with daylight behind them.
Lemon Jelly

Canned Clementines

I even ironed out the fabric and cut out all the pieces for my first apron. It is actually for Grim. But it will count for the merit badge. Now I just have to figure out how to put it together. I don't know if I have ever said this before..... I really don't know how to sew. I mean I have always had a sewing machine, and I can thread the bobbin and make the machine go. And it is mostly making a simple stitch to make a blanket or put a patch on. This is a pattern that I need to figure out?!? I have to go out and get bias tape? not sure what that is but I'm sure I will know before this day is out. Oh, and I have fabric leftover so I am going to make a couple of pin cushions. Here is a great site for a pattern for them.

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Witty Topic

No witty topics... LOL! I just couldn't come up with a title. In my little correspondence box it says that today is a good day to write. So here I am. Since I did the jelly, I was feeling a little bit energized to do more canning. It is like tattoo's, it gets in your blood. So off to the market I went. I found another 5 pound box of clementines. And I found a great way to preserve them. Marisa at Food in Jars has inspired me to try out her recipe for Canned Clementines.

I also have a few lemons that I need to do something with. So I will be trying my hand at Lemon Jelly. I found a recipe here. I will be water bathing them for 10 minutes for 1/2 pints and 15 minutes for pints, as paraffin wax is no longer an recommended method for preserving food. And have no fear I will be taking pictures with my crappy camera phone. *reminder to self buy a cord for camera*

I got my sprouts all cleaned up and in the fridge. Now if they will only eat them. That is ultimately the question. I also started some mung beans to sprout last night. Then they will have a couple of different types to choose from. Worse comes to worse at least I know how to do it if I ever get animals, then they can have greens in the winter. But I'm not giving up hope just yet, it is still a very new concept.

I have now officially become a paid member to the Mary Jane Farms. So I will be working on my merit badges. One of the first ones that I am doing is making my own cleaners. I have wanted to do this for a long time, just never got around to it. Last night I made up an all purpose cleaner. I will post the recipe for it later when I have the magazine in front of me. Don't want to give any bad information. But I did find a site that has a great deal of recipes that you all might be interested in. Homemade Household Cleaners.

Gotta Run,
Yart

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