While Will is busy flat-siding the heavy support beams for the barn on our new Hud-Son sawmill, I’m busy making strawberry jam and syrup from our strawberries we planted two years ago. Last year, we had a late freeze and only got a few berries, but this year, they are great. I canned 11 pints of jam yesterday and will pick more berries tomorrow. (Plus, I canned up 3 pints of strawberry syrup for pancakes, cheesecake, and ice cream! This is basically strawberry jam with a little less sugar and no pectin.)
I finally got all the tomatoes staked and caged and am now going back and pulling weeds from all 75 plants. I got the potatoes and corn tilled yesterday, but have a lot of hilling and hoeing to do yet…when it cools down some. Pant! Pant!
Our peppers in the hoop house are terrific. They love their home and are madly producing peppers. I have Hungarian wax peppers that are nearly ready to pickle, at the first week in July! Usually that happens about the last week in August up north here. Wow, are we happy! I can’t wait to begin canning all those great pepper recipes, even stuffed peppers, which we love canned.
Last week, Will saw a suspicious round rash on the back of my right arm. (White in the center, red, then a ring, then red, about the size of a nickel.) Although we don’t have many deer ticks around here, there are some, and the deer tick carries Lyme disease…evidencing as a “bull’s-eye” rash. Yep, you got it. Deer tick bite. The doctor put me on antibiotics for three weeks. But at least I’m not sick; Lyme can get pretty bad, untreated, even leading to death. I’ve got too much I want to do to become sick! Downside of the antibiotics is that it made me sun-sensitive and I’ve got a sunburned nose! Even with sunscreen! I don’t burn, so that was a surprise!
Oh well, I just stay indoors more during the heat of the day; there’s plenty to do. Enjoy summer!
A SPECIAL THANKS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WHO SENT US CARDS AND GIFTS FOR OUR WEDDING. WE KEPT EVERY ONE OF THEM! I FEEL BAD THAT I CAN’T SEND THANK YOU’S TO YOU ALL, BUT I JUST DON’T HAVE THE TIME. SO PLEASE KNOW HOW MUCH IT MEANT TO US AND ACCEPT OUR SINCERE THANKS! — Jackie
Jackie,
You were so right to go to the doctor right away when Will spotted your spot! I went to school with a woman whose Lyme went undetected for several years, and she has severe arthritis and a host of other problems as a result, in addition to being on meds too numerous to count, now with a port in her chest for one of them — all of this while only in her 40’s! And no hope of things being any better. I am so glad you were able to avoid that fate — keep an eye on those elbows; they seem to be a trouble spot for you! Take care, and enjoy your summer.
Beverly,
Yes, I do use powdered butter; chiefly right now in baking. But it can be reconstituted. It is a powder, not little pieces, like Butter Buds. It’s not a good idea to use pool salt for human (or animal) consumption, as many times it contains other chemicals that you don’t want to eat.
Jackie
To all,
Would you believe it? I sunburned THROUGH my light blue chambray shirt??? I’ll be glad to GET OFF antibiotics. With something this potentially dangerous, I’m following doctor’s orders; the possibilities are not lightly taken (death and severe arthritis that doesn’t go away). So I’m staying out of the sun as much as possible.
Jackie
So sorry to hear about the tick bite. I hope you are feeling alright.
Last year my dogs got ticks and I soon saw my dog starting to sieze up in her joints. I began giving her GSE (Grapefruit Seed Extract), 25 drops in her meals 2X daily. After about a month I noted that she had stopped walking like a robot, much more fluid in her movement. GSE is an amazing product that I use for myself, my husband, animals….I have even used it on my little Beta fish when he got sick.
I am one that does not like antibiotics and so turn to the natural remedies as often as possible before turning to a doctor. I’m still alive…LOL.
Whenever I get a little achy, or sniffly or feeling the slightest bit off I head for my bottle of GSE and take it every hour in a shot glass with some sweet apple juice or make fresh, strong lemonade to mix it with. It is NOT something you can take by itself. I tell everyone about this stuff. Love it.
I’ve taken to wearing a long-sleeved linen shirt when working outside. If you study the fashions of hot, sunny regions, they usually trend toward loose-fitting clothing that covers the skin. After some experimenting I found that when in the sun this type of clothing really does feel cooler than tighter clothing with the skin exposed. It blocks the radiant heat from the sun, but still lets breezes through.
I’ve been trying to send you the picture of us at the energy fair, but for some reason my email won’t let it attach, so here’s a link to it at Photobucket: http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp135/Ellendra/MREA004.jpg
I wish our strawberries had done good. I love strawberry jam!!! But I accidentally made peach syrup last year and it was really, really good!!
Glad you saw the doctor re: tick bite. Prayers for NO problems!!
Jam looking good. I am NEW to your site, and am up reading way
into the night……You are worth staying up for! Do you use powdered butter….is that like (brand) Butter Buds?
AND…today, at local Wal-mart, Pool salt, 40# bag for $6…..Should I go back and get some? (Maine)
I have a master gardner helping me in my perennial garden as I hurt my back last fall and still can’t to the heavy stuff yet. Anyway, he wears a long sleeved, heavy cotton shirt and a wide brimmed hat too just like you describe. Says it is just as cool and keeps his arms from getting scratched up. I didn’t wear anything on my arms Saturday and they were all scratched up and itchy. Guess there is something to it.
Ouch on the tick bite!
As someone who is naturally photosensitive, this might help. I wear a broad brimmed hat (The brim is about as wide as my shoulders.) and a long-sleeve woven cotton shirt. I learned to do this from my mother who told stories about her dad doing this so he could be out in the field working behind his team of horses.
Sorry to hear about the tick bite. Glad you caught it and are taking the time to do some things inside. Blessings on your wedding.
Comments are closed.