Monday, August 23, 2010

Jelly Roll Quilt & Garden Preserves

Last week I finished the quilting on this jelly roll quilt (my own!) so I have to get cracking on the binding.
The 'paying' job of the week (now moving into two weeks) are the drapes. Hopefully they will be completed by Tuesday 5 pm. That's my target, anyways.
Last week in the kitchen:
Monday - freeze 8 cups of green beans.
Tuesday - make 2 loaves of zucchini bread and freeze 18 cups shredded zucchini.
Wednesday - huh. I got nothin. I think I picked tomatoes with the intention of making sauce later this week.
Thursday - Red Hat day - lunch in Normandale, crepes in Port Dover & visited 3 quilt shops. Make 5 jars of raspberry jam. Had to pick the raspberries first - our neighbours are on vacation and told me to help myself - TAKE ALL YOU WANT is a direct quote.
Friday - had lunch with my brother and gave him one of the zucchini loaves. Then I went to the local quilt shop where I gifted Anne with a jar of raspberry jam, went to the library, then drove in to the city and took Mom for a walk. It was a gorgeous gorgeous day and we had a lovely mother/daughter visit.
Saturday - the tomato sauce night. When I checked the recipe I realized I needed 5 1/2 cups of chopped carrots. Definitely not enough in the fridge. Shite. Must go out and dig some from the garden. Shite again. It is POURING rain. On the plus side, I get to wear my funky rubber boots.
However, by the time I got back in the house I was soaked to the skin, to the extent that I felt like I'd been thrown in the pool with my clothes on. Even my lovely boots were full of water. The neighbours must think I have a screw loose.
Here is 100 roma tomatoes, 8 large onions, 1 bunch celery, 4 green peppers, a zillion carrots, and 4 1/2 hours. Hmm. $2.99 for a large jar at Fortinos looks better all the time. I was actually feeling resentful (even though making this stuff is ALWAYS my idea, and DH was helping by cutting the onions {cry, cry, cry} and then putting everything through the food mill, in spite of him wanting to watch a race on the big-ass TV). First, my evening glass of wine was seriously delayed. Alcohol and bubbling hot product on the stove is not a good mix. Also, I have the drapes in progress in my workroom. I could have been making money instead of sweating my arse off. Although, in REALITY, it was Saturday night and I would not have been working. Still ... But now that it's Monday, I'm no longer resentful. Everything except the celery & garlic came from the garden so this stuff is almost 100% organic. Even the seasonings came from the garden (oregano, basil, sage, rosemary). And it really smells delicious - I know I'll enjoy it in the cold dreary winter months.

4 comments:

  1. Your one busy lady!!! Next year I am going to get my garden going again. Hubby was trying to talk me into just going to the market but it is just not the same. Men!!! Your sure going to eat well this winter..lol. Way to go.
    Love the quilt..nice design. Nice to keep one for yourself isn't it.
    Hope we can get together the next time your over visiting the Kawartha Lakes area.

    Judi B.

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  2. Organic is good. Just think of all the time you save because you don't have to go to the grocery store - and the money you save not driving to the grocery store (more money for fabric.)

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  3. Hi Just popped in from stitches and hooves, judiB. I'm as well in the kawarthas. Its nice to meet new quilters. Yes I agree with organic is good. We will be putting in a garden next year ourselves. Just moved hear in Nov, so lots of other priorities.

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  4. MMM! I've been wanting to can some whole tomatoes/sauce too! I'll have to get your recipe!

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