Make Your Own Custom Piping

Yesterday, I mentioned all the gardening projects I worked on in the morning. But. In the afternoon, when it got to hot to be working outside (unfortunately, lately it doesn't take much heat to be too hot for me). I turned on the air conditioner and went inside to work on my current sewing project.

Pickled Peppers

It's that time of year.....canning season! Okay, okay....if you've read some of my posts, you probably know I do some canning all year long. I guess I should re-phrase that by saying NOW is the perfect time to take advantage of the abundance of fresh produce available (either from your garden or local growers).

Preserving the Herb Harvest

If you grow your own herbs (and if you don't......you NEED to start!), here's a list of some fabulous ways I've found to preserve your herb harvest. They're easy. The aroma of working with fresh herbs is amazing. And. When you're done you will have some fabulous products to use in your own cooking or to give away as gifts. What's better than that?!?!?

Preserving the Herb Harvest - Freezing Herbs

Another easy way to preserve your fresh-grown herbs is to freeze them. This is a great method to keep your herbs like fresh (rather than dried) herbs. There are three methods I'm going to show you.

Preserving the Herb Harvest - Drying Herbs

Another easy way to preserve herbs is to dry them. There are several methods you can use to dry herbs. Choose your favorite and get those herbs drying. You won't regret it this winter when you have home-grown herbs to cook with (or use in tea)!

Preserving the Herb Harvest - Herbed Vinegar

Another super easy way to preserve your herb harvest is by making Herbed vinegars. I've been making herbed vinegars off and on for years now. They're simple to make and fun to use.

Preserving the Herb Harvest - Herbed Salt

 I enjoy growing herbs. Due to their strong fragrance, most are deer/critter resistant (well, except basil....deer LOVE it). The best part about herbs is the MANY ways you can use them.

One Wool Vest Down

Well, there it is. The wool vest I started at the beginning of the year. Other than buttons and buttonholes. It looks pretty good here (well, other than a bit wrinkly). There's just one little thing. It doesn't even come CLOSE to fitting hubby!

ZickZacking Along

In case you read yesterday's post, I should mention.

1. I kind of panicked looking at the photo. It looked like I might have to start over on the fronts. And.
2. I've been sick, so I might have been delirious.

That said, I checked and everything seems fine on the vest. The pockets are a little higher than hubby's other vest, but not EXTREMELY high like the photo makes them look. Anyway, enough about the vest. Let's talk about ZickZack scarves!

Super Quick Stocking Ornament

I've been working away on lots of little ornaments to decorate small (1 gallon) live potted trees as gifts for some friends and neighbors. I've already completed (and given away) one tree and I have to tell you, I was pretty happy with it (and it was really well received by the recipient, too).

Calico and Felt Ornaments

 

I've been working on some quick little ornaments that I thought I should share with you. In case you need a fun quick ornament for your tree or gifting.

Make Your Own Pumpkin Puree

 

We got pumpkins in at my work Friday. SO, I thought, I should make up some pumpkin puree to freeze. I could have canned it, but, it has to be pressure canned and I really didn't have the "thyme" to do that this weekend. I haven't made pumpkin puree in awhile, but I LOVE pumpkin recipes (well, except pumpkin pie, for some reason, can't stand pumpkin pie) and wanted to have some on hand for fall recipes.

Dividing Iris

It's the last day of summer and one of the things on my to do list today was to divide my irises. I decided that might need to become a blog post because I constantly talk to customers (I work in the garden center of our local hardware store) about why their irises aren't blooming. They always confirm the irises get at least 6-8 hours of sunlight. Sometimes it's a matter of not getting enough fertilizer (or not the right type). Most times though, when I ask when the last time they divided their irises and I get a blank stare that says "What's she talking about?" it's time for iris education.

The BEST Way I Know to Freeze Sweet Corn!

 

 

If you LOVE corn smothered in butter......you're going to LOVE this method for freezing sweet corn! When I first heard of this method (because it's not really a "recipe"), my husband and I would get together with one of our neighbors and some mutual friends for a "corn freezing party". We would set up a "corn assembly line". The guys would husk the corn. Us gals would do the prep work. Then everyone would pitch in and do the packaging and clean-up. At some point during the day, there was always potluck food involved. It made for a fun, productive day!

 

Canning Tomatoes

I've spent the last couple of days canning tomatoes. I so enjoy the whole process of taking fresh picked tomatoes and turning them into canned goods that we will enjoy all winter long. There's just something very satisfying about this.

How to Freeze Zucchini

It's that time of year.....zucchini season! I have found a lot zucchini recipes that I want to try. It's getting close to fall (and our first frost). Fall and winter are my favorite time to cook and bake. Not to say I don't cook and bake during summer, but I hate to heat the house up and do my baking in the bbq.

Very Berry Vinegar (and vinagrette, too)

In case you're not a food label reader, you may not realize that a lot of processed foods have added sugar. When I started the no flour no sugar diet, I had read that there were LOTS of products that have added sugar.

Seed Starting 101

Spring is officially here and I'm ready to plant something! Anything really. BUT. We're still having pretty cold nighttime temperatures. I could probably plant my cool weather veggie seeds right into the garden. They'll do better if I wait a few more weeks and let the soil warm up a bit more.

A "Scant 1/4-inch"

HOW do I not know these things? I'm about to share with you my most recent discovery. It's called a "scant 1/4-inch". Of course, I had HEARD of a "scant 1/4-inch". It wasn't until recently that I truly understood it though!

Lined Gift (or Project?) Bags

As I was making the (pink ribbon) project bag for the contest prize, I decided the bag would also make a cute gift bag. Unfortunately, Christmas is NOT that far away! EEK! Time to get crafting!