Ldychef2k: Notes from a Wannabe - Ldychef2k fesses up.

Absolutely ! And that is the purpose of the book. If you are interested in knowing more about Paul Young, I think you would enjoy the results of a you Tube search. His personal history makes the book even more profound.

Kris
 
Finally, payday is here. Because I am an independent contractor, I get paid whenever the client is good and ready; no set payday. They usually pay every two weeks to ten days, but they are more than a week later than that and I am REALLY glad to see payday arrive.

Today, local markets have sales on chicken breasts for 99 cents and chuck roast for about $1.50 a pound. I want to stock up on canned chicken, so that's good, and also want to cube some chuck roast and cook it in the crock pot with onions and other seasonings, then can it. It worked very well for my stew, so I am thinking just cans of beef to use in recipes would be good.

Also hope to get enough RoundUp to kill the first layer of bermuda in my future garden area.

Sat on the back patio last night and tried to relax. Couldn't stand just sitting there, so I got the chain saw and took out a tree I have been meaning to eliminate from the landscape. I have a pile of brush ten feet high and twice as wide from three tree removals this year. Soon I will rent a chipper and make some great mulch. But first I want to get some twigs and small branches cut and stored for the rocket stove. I have three or four large tubs that I want to fill, and then cut the larger branches for fire wood.

Starting to investigate just how difficult it would be to build an outdoor oven for bread, etc. Not much of a pizza fan, but perhaps the difference in flavor would change my mind. Found a number of plans that I think I could do fairly reasonably, and I have a slab of concrete that would be ideal. So, just a matter of time.

My grandparents on both sides were farmers. I grew up visiting their land and doing things that i sure wish my daughter and her kids could have done.

I am thinking today that both families would be very pleased to see that one of their descendents was honoring their lifestyle. Even though I live in the city, I have a double lot and just enough space for an old, half disabled woman to take care of. I go slow, and it gets done.

Whatever gardening lessons I retained from Grandpa Switzer have been put to use, and the cooking and canning skills of Grandma Watson are serving me well. I was very blessed as a child to have had their examples, and even though I was a distractable child, I am glad I paid a little bit of attention !!!

Have a great one...

Kris
 
Her is a pic of the cob oven I would love to build .
may1809-62.jpg


I thought there were more pics of the construction somewhere...will look.
 
Dace, that is so awesome. I am going to have to check it out some more when I get energy !

What a busy day. Guy came to measure for new energy efficient windows.

Payday finally hit, a week late, so I needed everything, of course. Especially gas for the car, which was my first errand. Then to the dollar store for hair products.

I had paid bills online before leaving.

From there, to the produce stand to check out peaches, which were gorgeous, but I decided to wait because Foods Co had them for 47 cents and these were $8 a half lug.

Picked up a shelf from a Freecycler for my canned goods pantry.

Walmart for RoundUp, two Rx's, and clearance clothes for my 3 yo granddaughter.

SaveMart #1 for 99 cent chicken breasts, limit four family packs. Rented a movie, as if I will have time to watch it. "Knowing".

Smart and Final for 77 cent whole chickens, they were out.

Savemart #2 for four more packs of chicken breasts. They had blueberries for $3 a half flat ! Jam is being made soon.

Home to put chicken in ice box.

7 miles to another town for $1.49 chuck roast to can. 20 pounds

Home to put it away and start working at my job !

Called a pick your own farm in the meantime and she offered to trade produce for canned goods, so I drove about 15 miles up in the foothills and saw her garden, chickens, horses, dogs, and so much more. Got to taste her prickly pear wine, as well as some other healthy drinks she makes from cucumbers and mint, for example. Got lots of pattypan squash, yellow teardrop tomatoes for jam, okra, eggplant, some almonds, mint seeds...just tons of stuff !

On the way home, I stopped back at the produce stand and bought the peaches, because the 49 cent ones smelled like cardboard.

So, coming up we have blueberry jam, yellow tomato jam, chicken, beef cubes, squash pickles, freezer okra, and that's all I can think of !!!

Okay, time to eat dinner. I think my blood sugar bottomed out about two or three hours ago.

Love the cob oven !!!
 
Finally have some time to play with this list !

01. Name Kris Watson
02. Gender Female
03. Disneyworld or Disneyland Disneyworld. More to do, and it's a plane ride, so its a bigger deal.
04. What is your favorite color? It's going to sould hokey, but ed, white and blue. I am redoing my bedroom this winter to match a comforter my daughter gave me as a surprise.
05. What is your favorite kind of gum? Don't chew gum. Not enough teeth left.
06. How much do you weigh? Okay, yeah. Right. No problem. A am just going to put it right down here.
07. How tall are you? Better question. 5'8". If we went by weight, I ought to be 7'3".
08. Can you swim? Yes
09. Do you like to swim? Very much
10. Living arrangement? Alone in a low income built four bedroom house on one of the busiest corners in my town, on a double lot.
11. What's on your mouse pad? Don't have one. Optical mouse.
12. Favorite board game? Trivial Pursuit. No one will play with me.
13. Favorite magazine? Sunset
14. Favorite Actor? Dwayne Johnson
15. Favorite Actress? Meryl Street because she is playing Julia Child and she starred in my favorite movie of all time.
16. Do you have an accent? Nope.
17. Favorite smells? Lavender, peonies.
18. Least favorite smells? That stuff I just poured out of the Rubbermaid into the compost pile. That was pretty bad.
19. Favorite sound? "Grandma, will you 'holdyou' me?"
20. Do you prefer pools or oceans? Oceans, use to live very close to one. Nothing like it to eliminate stress.
21. Do you watch Buffy The Vampire Slayer? No
22. Pencil or pen? Fine tipped gel pen.
23. Who's better - boys or girls? Girls.
24. Would you like to own a motorcycle? Maybe a scooter with a trailer so I wouldn't have to drive two blocks to the grocery store.
25. Do you sing in the shower? Yes, praise and worship music.
26. Who's the best looking Disney character? Mickey
27. What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning? My legs are going to hurt when I stand up, but after that it's all down hill.
28. How many rings before you answer the phone? 2
29. How do you want to die? I want my girls to know I am dying soon so they can say and hear some important things. I want to kiss them all goodnight and then in the morning they will find me smiling.
30. Have you ever called a 900 number? 911, yes.
31. Gold or silver? Never gave it a though.
32. Would you ever go bungee-jumping? There isn't a rope strong enough, even the onest that tie up battheships.
33. Do you like dressing up?
34. Would you rather be short or tall? I like being 5'8".
35. Do you enjoy reading? Very much.
36. What book are you reading now? Gardening without Work and The Self Sufficient Gardener
37. Favorite books? Clive Cussler anything. I read The Shack three times. The first time, it helped me understand some things about my life. The second time it helped me understand others. The third time, I didn't need it any more.
38. What was the last movie you saw? Aliens in the Attic with Kristi.
39. Favorite movies? The Bridges of Madison County.
40. Do you sleep with a stuffed animal? No.
41. What is your sign? I left the bar scene 30 years ago.
42. What are your personality traits? I have attention deficit disorder, so they change all the time. I am relatively well organized, forgetful, easily distract....look, a butterfly !
43. What's your biggest fear? Making a mistake and being ridiculed for it.
44. Would you ever have cosmetic surgery? Maybe a tattoo on my chest that says "FRONT". There has been some confusion.
45. Future child's name? I am almost 60. My 30 year old daughter is Katrina Anne. Grandkids are Kristine MacKenzie and Zoe Ann.
46. Favorite foods? BBQ baby back ribs.
47. Chocolate or vanilla? Doesnt' matter.
48. Do you like to drive fast? NO ! I am teased about driving too slowly all the time.
49. Storms - cool or scary? Completely awesome.
50. Do you like to dance? I am a old fat woman. I do not rock, but frequently roll.
51. Do you do drugs? Just prescription ones.
52. Do you smoke? Blech. Nuff said.
53. What do you think of people who smoke? Love the person, be concerned about their health.
54. Do you drink? Not alcohol. Been sober for 26 years.
55. Favorite drink? Steaming coffee on a cold morning.
56. Do you think men and women could ever be just friends without wanting each other? Women could, not men. They would just consider it a challenge.
57. Do you eat the stems of broccoli? Sure.
58. If you could have any job you wanted, what would it be? Storm chaser.
59. What's your "type"? I had a very, very short, traumatic marriage. Can't even think about this.
60. Do you bite your nails? Nope.
61. Any siblings? Yes. A brother in Washington, retired Air Force. A mentally ill sister.
62. What movies have you cried in? Can't remember. Maybe the original An Affair to Remember.
63. Do you believe in God? Deeply.
64. Did you ever cry over a guy/girl? Not any more.
65. Have you ever stolen anything? Not as an adult.
66. Do you procrastinate? Tell you later.
67. Do you believe in fate? No, I believe in God's plan and a life of faith.
68. Who's your favorite Sesame Street character? Big Bird
69. Do you organize your CD's? Shh. Yes.
70. What is your favorite kind of music? Sacred
71. What are your favorite bands/artists? Sandy Patti
72. What was the last CD you got? A Christmas one
73. MTV or VH1? Neither
74. Whom do you admire the most? My son-in-law.
75. Internet Boyfriends and Girlfriends? Nope
76. Are you single? Divorced
77. Favorite TV show? NCIS
78. Blondes, Brunettes, or Redheads? I am a redhead, under the gray.
79. Glasses or contacts? Glasses, although haven't had new lenses since 1996.
80. What color are your eyes? Blue with flecks of gold.
81. What is your natural hair color? Red
82. But what color is it now? I guess it is pink, with all the gray.
83. Have you ever been in love? Probably not.
84. Any pets? Nope.
85. Good, decent, or poor grades? Very good.
86. Is the glass half empty or half full? Depends upon whether I am about to drink or just finished.
87. Do you type with your fingers on the right keys? Yes
88. What's under your bed? Suitcases, cookbooks, candles, photographs, pears.
89. What is your favorite number? 47
90. Favorite sport to watch? Football
 
Aww...I miss the little ones saying "i wanna hold you!" one of my favorite things :)

About that cob oven, I know I found pics somewhere at sometime although it was not a detailed plan or any thing....I just think it is so cute.
 
Went to the farmer's market this morning and got 5 dozen ears of corn. After work today (yes, just like farmers, I work seven days a week), am going to shuck it, cut it and can it ! (First time....)

I think the peaches will be ripe enough tomorrow to can. Am thinking about taking some of them and mixing with apples for a peach/apple sauce. Same with pears in a month or so when I go up to Apple Hill near Sacramento. Awesome place...a series of maybe 100 farms banded together to make the entire area a biking/motor tour of the farms in the hills between Sacto and Tahoe. Try to go every couple of years.

Found tons of ideas on the cob oven last night at 2 AM when i was too wired to sleep. This was the best one, as far as instructions: http://hubpages.com/hub/Make_a_backyard_mud_oven_Cheap__fun__and_makes_a_professional_qualtity_pizza Although they did leave out the "scrape sand from the inside" part.

Also found this: http://www.digginfood.com/2009/07/backyard-earthen-oven/
 
Wow, good prices on the blueberries! Here, a little 4x4x4 carton is over $2.00.

I haven't canned meat before, but I think I am going to try some beef stew. I found the recipe in Ball's Blue Book and it looks really easy. Plus, I'm running out of freezer room.
 
Our discount chain market (Winco) occasionally surprises us ! Earlier this year, bacon 99 cents, same with boneless skinless chicken breasts.

Got some killer Elberta peaches for a song (wish I had trees close by) and am doing spiced heavy syrup (I am bad), about 6 pints. Stalling on the corn !

A friedn just let me know that a the Grocery Outlet is having a birthday celebration and are giving away a lot of things free. She brought me 5# of potatoes. I am getting my keys and gunna boogie !

Job? What job?
 
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