Snapshot--Moving on (A couple of photos added)

We've been actively looking for our second vehicle for a few days now. May have found it but I am not excited at all yet. Looking for a Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo (or vice versa, I'm not sure).

I did get to spend a part of the day elderberry picking with friends! That is so much more fun than doing it alone as I always have in the past. We just threw them stems and all in a trash bag and put them in the freezer. Supposedly that will make it easier to get them off the stems when we have enough and are ready. I did actually feel my age for a short time but I got over it.

Monday or Tuesday I need to make the peach preserves out of my saved peaches. Aside from that just housework and cooking, I hope. And puppy loving time of course! One load of laundrey in now for a headstart on tomorrow.

Both ebay items sold so I got them packaged up and ready to go!

The newly canned peaches are wonderful with homemade vanilla ice cream!

We did get the jeep we were looking at and it suits me just fine! I haven't liked a vehicle this much in years and it is a 1998 with low miles! Interior is perfect and paint is original and in good shape. We have to replace the struts that lift the hatchback and have the mechanic go through and replace worn rubber stuff but it is a great vehicle!

Truck is back home after having transmission super flushed and running ok now.

I never made peach jam, just ate the peaches. The car search took up our time.

My friends and I have 4 trash bags of elderberries with stems in our freezers. We intend to make syrup and tinctures. There are SO many stems! I have read that the stems are toxic and have read that the stems are slightly toxic. I have read that the seeds are toxic yet I have eaten many elderberry pies and jams. Freezing helps with stem removal and we are getting a good portion of them out but (and this is my question), will a small amount of stems hurt in the cooking process since we will strain them out anyway?


I have only made pies and jam in the past so any input will be appreciated.

Today I made a chicken pot pie for dinner and a pear/apricot gingerbread cobbler for dessert.

Tomorrow is dog bath day and then I will get elderberries from my friends freezer to start de-stemming.

Have a great week everyone!

Congrats on the new jeep!

I think that if you get as many stems out as possible first, you will be ok if there's just a few. I always take the time to get as many out as I can possibly find before I do anything with my elderberries, but I know a few sneak past me.

Everything's coming up elderberries! Made 2 pints of tincture this morning. Tomorrow will make a few pints of syrup with ginger in it and Thursday, hopefully jelly. That way all stems should be strained out. Also may pick a few more on Tuesday. Freezing them really makes it easier to get rid of most stems.

We have received the replacement side mirror and door handle for my new ride so it should go to mechanics soon for a "look through" and to replace worn parts. DH will change oil in it tomorrow. I just love it!

Not a lot homestead wise going on right now. I did pick more jalapenos today and they are blooming again! The pups are good--mostly except for my cricket eating girl schnauzer. Right now, all is well with job and home. We all know it can change on a dime so I try hard to appreciate those in my life every day! And try to be ready for whatever comes down the road.

Tomorrow I am making red beans and rice with "Grits and Cheese Bread". I made Debs brownies again a couple of days ago. That is the best recipe! Crispy on the outside and fudgy on the inside. Just great!

Guess I'll go read how you guys are doing. Will update with elderberry photos soon.

Could you send me some of those brownies? I've been wanting some, just been too beat and too busy to make any.

Brownies? What brownies? LOL They are gone, gone, gone! A few to some young children and a few to their Great Aunt that I visit, a few to work and more to dh and I. Poof! All gone. P.S. Deb--I double the amt. of cocoa and then add a touch more. Hard to get them too chocolaty! If I need a little liquid, I add a little bit of coffee from the pot.

I am not feeling the ambition I hoped I would this morning. Perhaps a bit later.

Same here. My ambition has gone walk about. I think I'm just tired after the summer.

I'd love to double the amount of cocoa, but I have a feeling ti would trigger my vertigo. I've had problems B4 w/brownies that people have doctored up B4 I was ever diagnosed w/this, so I play it safe.

I have brownies! *passes out brownies to everyone* DD made me some for my birthday while I was working

Now Deb-- I don't doctor them up like that. LOL Seriously though, I understand. And Happy Birthday Cindi!!!

Ended up just doing housework today and eating leftovers for dinner. Soaking beans tonight for red beans and rice.