A Pantry Idea

It might just be that I need visual reminders

but...

one of the things about gardening,

canning, and preserving the harvest in general

is knowing how much food we need 

to get through until next year's harvest season.

This is one of those ideas born out of necessity.

I was running out of room in the boxes

under the spare room bed.

That's when the lightbulb flashed above my head

just like in the old cartoons.

Every year, I have to rearrange the pantry shelves.

As we use up one thing,

it's easy to put something else in it's place.

Now, as we use a jar of something,

I have begun putting the empty jar back in it's place.

It's like a reservation for next year.

Also, my not so pretty at the moment - labels

tell me how many jars of given products we use.

I must have issues with rifling through pages to find

what we need during the long days of harvest/canning.

This last year, I feared we would run a little short on a couple things

so there are a couple of store bought cans still in the works.

Of course, the home grown veggies are better

so those foreign cans remain.

(I try to use them up in soups etc.)

Also, that can of 'No Salt Added' is awful.

I grabbed two of them by mistake.

As we narrow in on the actual number of pints and quarts

we use, I will make pretty little labels.

The number can change depending upon your situation

and stage of life:

new little family members,

becoming empty nesters,

an extra adult in the house for a period of time, etc.

I like knowing our consumption for planning reasons,

but I sure don't want more paperwork.

This was what I came up with.

I had the above written and couldn't handle it.
 I was off and playing with labels.
I printed them, cut them, then used clear mailing tape
rather than contact paper (which I didn't have) to cover them.
I can write the number of jars on the label.
If I discover it changes, I can wipe it off with a little alcohol or hair spray
and write the new number.

      

If you have a working system,

leave a comment to let us know.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution

so the more ideas the better.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

~*Garden Good Things*~

Like so many others over the past week or so,

we have been playing in the garden.

For the past several years,

I have collected old rail road spikes

with the intent of using them as garden markers.

(Even though I had no garden)

We had a garden last year,

but I guess I just forgot about them.

This year I remembered:)

I wiped off the top,

used craft paint with a very fine brush to write,

then sprayed a clear sealant over it so it won't wash away.

It simply pushes into the end of the row 

and

I don't have to try to read something that has washed or worn away,

or try to revive and make sense of a popsicle stick 

that is already decomposing. 

Mr. LB is having entirely too much fun.

After he had raked through one of the plots,

he went and got the wheel barrows and screen.

He said, "I want to see how many rocks are in here."

The soil is looking just beautiful.

There really weren't too many rocks in this plot.

I had amended it with bunny poo, 

and sending it through the screen breaks it all up,

smooths it all out, and sifts any weeds or roots.

And last but not least,

I FINALLY figured out something to organize my seeds.

I had them in a regular little recipe box that was way too small.

I have had this keeping box for some time, 

and just like the light bulb lighting in the cartoons,

it came to me.

I used the alphabetical cards from the little box

and glued them between two larger index cards

with the lined sides out so I can add notes.

I did have to trim the cards about 3/4 inch in width

so that they fit in the box.

 There is now plenty of room for seeds of all kinds.

So far it is working splendidly.

(never mind my red fingers from humming bird food:)

And the last bit of garden information I would like to share:

I hear different accounts and advise all the time as to when one should begin planting,

depending upon what zone and moon phase to specific dates.

It never makes 'real' sense to me.

What I recently read came from an old-timer who was interviewed back in the 70's.

The advise was:

Plant underground things like beets, radishes, carrots etc. when the daffodils bloom.

Plant squashes and legumes like cucumbers and beans when the apple blossoms fall.

Transplant tomatoes, melons, eggplants etc,

when the locust trees bloom.

These things make sense to me.

Nature knows when it is time far better than a calendar

that was made by man and has changed a number of times.

If you have any similar advise, 

I would love to hear it.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

*~*Springtime Closet Maintenance and a Little 'ol Computer Crash*~*

Spring in the closet...

First thing to do is pull out all the sweaters.

I keep mine on the shelf above the hanging bar.

Then go through the sweaters and either

wash or have cleaned the ones that require such.

I put all of the sweaters through the dryer on "air" setting

with a few drops of cedar oil on the wool dryer balls.

Also, when the sweaters are off the shelf,

I wipe it and the hanging bar with cedar oil as well.

I just got a little spritz bottle and keep the oil in it.

I use an old sock so if I feel like the oil won't wash out very well, I can just throw it away.

The other thing that happens during this time, is that I 'make a run'

through my clothes and pull what I haven't worn, what might not fit well, and what is so uncomfortable I cringe at the thought of wearing it.

I have pulled all of those items and

hung them on one end.  A couple of the items, I have decided to keep, but at least 95% of them have gone to the bargain counter.  I do still have a few things to try on.  I have come to the point that 'if I don't wear it, I don't want to store it.

My sweaters are now all organized and folded nicely awaiting next fall.

The closet smells fresh and clean when we enter - don't you love the smell of cedar?

I also have an abundance of hangers now; whereas before,

we were always searching for an empty one.

Doing this each spring keeps things in good repair 

and keeps me from 'acquiring' too many items I don't wear.

It's a reminder every time I consider bringing home more clothes.

I think, "Will I have to try it on and pass it on in the spring?"

My reply to myself is usually, "Ugh," so I pass.

I would also like to apologize for my absence.

My computer did a sorta crash.

I was able to back-up my information,

but it was taking about 30-45 minutes

just to turn it on.

I am now working with my little Acer that was not intended

for the work load of a 'real' computer.

It doesn't have the same programs or functions,

but until I save enough for a new computer,

I will attempt to limp along.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

~Tying Up Those Loose Ends.... & Some Super Glue~

I think I am ready for 2013

to be a page in the past.

The day after Christmas,

I was taking a plate from the shop fridge to the compost pile

which should have been done long ago.

Being careful not to get any of that compostable stuff on me,

I slipped on the ice, went splat & broke the plate to boot.

Not long after the slip,

I went to add a log to the fire & burnt a knuckle.

Yesterday, the all-star match between 

my paring knife and me ended with the paring knife

being named champion.

I still have my finger - it stopped at the bone.

Mr. LB grabbed the super glue he prefers
which is the liquid.  I prefer the gel.
By the way, you should keep this in your first aid kit.
It's the same thing as skin adhesive.
The glue ran down my finger and glued my wedding ring
to my finger as well as to my other fingers.
I immediately pulled my fingers apart,
and it took a little bit before I got my ring to spin,
but there will be no removing it to clean it
until my finger heals.

So, onward and upward...

The good news is that Mr. LB & I treated ourselves

to a wonderful day of skiing.

And you will be so proud of me.

I am no longer just a green circle; I am a blue square!

Not a good one, but one nonetheless.

(Mr. LB is a black diamond)

In case you don't ski, those are the levels of difficulty of the slopes.

Mr. LB was born with skis on~ my poor mother-in-law.

The other fun and yes, I do realize that I am the only one 

who would qualify this as fun, is that I have been doing 

more de-cluttering.

We have had or have been a part of 3 yard sales in the past 4-5 years,

and we will be having another this spring.

I cleaned out and am still sorting through a room full

of 'goodies' that have never really had a home.

You know...THAT room.

I also cleaned out (de-cluttered:) the refrigerator.

I know it doesn't sound like fun, but it is so nice when

I open the door, and it sparkles back at me.
Honestly, how many open jars of jelly does one fridge need?

One would think it should look like

"Sanford & Son" around here, but surprisingly,

it is the fact that I take a bag to the bargain counter

nearly every week & have the stack started

in the shop for the yard sale

that keeps it all under control.

If you have not been there yet,

there is an amazing blog in my sidebar

Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth.

Jes has a fabulous and seemingly endless

supply of both knowledge and resources on the topic

of home and home organization.

Every home has its own character, and

there are so many ways that folks make it all work.

She has a way of simplifying it and

making it beautiful all at the same time. 

I am hoping to start 2014
on a slightly more organized footing~
in order to keep it simpler and
enjoy the harmony that nature provides,
and we humans mess up.
I don't make new year resolutions,
but I do have ongoing goals.
One of my goals at the moment is
PRIORITIZE.
A few things to prioritize:
stuff vs. space
relationships (enriching vs. draining)
time vs. events/obligations
sanity vs. rushing
health vs. convenience
There are probably more.
Feel free to add your own to the list.

I am looking forward to closing the books on 2013.
So to each of you, I wish a very blessed and prosperous
2014

Until next time,
Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches