On Friday it was supposed to rain in the afternoon. We expected that. But when it came, it was like a typhoon. Will said the only harder rain he’d ever seen was in an actual typhoon, when he was in the Marines, in Okinawa during the Vietnam War. I mean it poured so hard it looked like a waterfall coming off our house roof. Then it really poured. So hard, you couldn’t see out the window! Yes, we needed rain, but holy cow!
I’ve been canning up a storm. I did more apple slices, then plum juice (to make jelly later), plum jam and more salsa from the Bill Bean tomatoes I collected seeds from. Let me tell you, those were (and are) huge tomatoes! One of the biggest weighed very close to 3 pounds. And there were dozens more on the same vine too. And the Goat’s Bag tomatoes? I guess they didn’t want to get ignored, as our biggest, so far, weighed over 2 pounds.
We had a frost advisory for our area last night and boy was I scared. After canning in the morning, Will and I went out and picked more than 2 heaping full crates of ripe tomatoes. I sure wanted to pick more as I think there are 10 more crates out there. But both of our backs were really aching bad, and we decided enough was enough. You’d better believe I spent the night praying we wouldn’t get frost, even though my phone weather app said it was supposed to drop to 33 degrees F early this morning. The prayers worked, as it didn’t frost, even in our lowest garden, the North Garden.
As I was cruising around this morning, checking everything, I saw the pair of Sandhill Cranes lift off from our sweet corn patch in the North Garden, where they’ve been busy taste-testing the sweet corn. They’ve eaten one small patch, but it didn’t amount to much anyway, so I wasn’t too sad. But boy, do we ever have a bunch of hybrid (so I don’t get tempted to save seed instead of eating it) sweet corn for us to can up that is just getting ripe. After I get done with the plums I think I’ll go out and pick a bucket full and get at least that much more done before tackling the tomatoes again. I want to can up some chili and spaghetti sauce of a couple of flavors plus some tomato chunks to add to various recipes later on. Such a busy, yet fulfilling time of the year! — Jackie
WOW That was aRAIN! Huge tomatoes!! I got one ripe Goat bag so far several large green keeping my fingers crossed no frost Mid 40’ in the draws but never can tell. GLAD you escaped the frost 6” of mud. Hopefully you can get some harvested before a frost. Prices are HORRENDOUS everywhere on everything.80 certainly isn’t slowing you down! Keep careful with your knees! So glad to hear you getting so much processed! Take care
We got just shy of 2″ out of that front! It was so heavy and so fast. Large hail just east of us. I did get a nip of frost on the tips of some Dahlia’s that I had covered lightly and lost my scarlet runner beans since I didn’t even think of covering them since I have them for the flowers. Sent my 2027 seed order into Jesse & Lynn today. It was bittersweet. I still love reading your catalog descriptions and growing information. I’m proud that you were smart enough to quit before you had no choice.
Yep, that’s what we thought. We didn’t want to business to become less, just because we couldn’t do more. I’m so happy you’re supporting Lynn and Jesse! We had a little frost last night. It only singed the pumpkin and squash leaves and a few Suyo Long cucumber leaves on the ground. Those up higher were fine, as was everything else.
The price is definitely going up on everything with cost of diesel. Not that is really a homestead thing but I do like to camp and was looking a new trailer a couple of days ago. The price was already really high and on top of that the delivery fee from Indiana to Utah was $3000.
That doesn’t surprise me. It seems like everything we buy has doubled in price or is packed in a smaller container to make us think the price is the same. Will’s hydraulic oil for the tractors used to be $52 for a five gallon bucket. He just saw the same brand, in the same store for $82.95, three weeks later. I’m sorry your camping trailer prices are also going up. My son, Bill, works at Oak Lake RV in Moose Lake, Mn, and he told me about that.
Oh my that is a lot of rain. We had a storm about 2 weeks ago that had sheets of rain like that. Never seen anything like that before. Your produce is so pretty to look at! All those tomatoes! How are your peppers? I just love looking at all those jars you can up. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, that was a lot of rain. Then we got more Monday evening. I can’t hardly walk in the North Garden as my feet sink in six inches at every step. I love looking at the tomatoes. There are so many possibilities in them, from chili, which I’m canning today, to catsup, barbecue sauces, spaghetti sauces, salsas…. Whew! I love it!
💜
I saw two T-Bone steaks $38.00- not even cooked. Ouch. Not good for consumers good for beef producers I guess. But as the old saying goes “The rising tide affects all boats” or something like that. The weird thing is that, now adays anyway, people that raise food don’t even process it for themselves. They have to keep the cash coming in to pay the debts. They go to the store like the rest of us.
The high beef prices help beef ranchers, like us, survive after two drought years, where we had to sell half our herd as hay was in such short supply. Nope, we didn’t get those high prices as most beef ranchers were in the same boat and a lot of cattle hit the market then. We’re barely recovering now, after 3 years and a lot have gone bankrupt or just quit as they couldn’t take it anymore. So sad.
Nope, we can’t process our beef, both due to laws and because we just don’t have the expensive facilities needed to sell beef. Besides, I’m 80 and Will’s not far behind. Our bodies say no more processing large meat animals.
Frost warning? Are you joking? 101 today here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finally got almost an inch of rain last week…….. After over a month of no rain and triple digit days. Did help with the nearby Ross fire (2nd largest in N. TX — over 90,000 acres!).
I was unable to get a garden really in. Was getting going, had some summer squash but that is gone. Thankfully, we have a deep pantry. Strolling the aisles of Walmart is getting very scary…… Everything that contains wheat is going sky high. Store brand pasta that was 92 cents a pound not long ago is now $1.24/#. And the rice and bean area is slim pickings. If folks have empty spots in their personal pantry, I pray they can get them filled. Between weather and diesel prices I fear things are going to get worse.
I’m right with you Tami, in thinking things are going to get worse. I’m canning right now and noticed brown sugar in the store is now over $3 a bag. Mine, down in those 5 gallon buckets, in the basement, cost less than .99 each. Oh those crazy preppers, right??? A friend who is an independent trucker, just filled his semi and it cost $1,200 plus change. Holy cow!! Hang on to your pants guys!
Rain here for me SW Wisconsin but nothing like you had. I got my garlic and potato onions planted yesterday .I’ll be buying apples from a local orchard Thursday and work on them. I needed a “rain day” to catch up on indoor projects. What a torrential rain storm you had!
I get you, Everett. We had a rainy day yesterday and I got tomatoes run through the Victorio tomato strainer so I could make chili today. We had a frost advisory last night, but didn’t get frost. Thank you, God!!
Just by-the-way, Jackie: My husband’s getting ready to build us a large garage with living quarters on top, AND a new “larder” for me underneath as a basement. It will be earthen on one side, one long wall. Yeah, for me!
Wow, that’s great! My pantry’s just about full, even with the new double shelving unit Will built for me last winter. But I can always find more room to put stuff somewhere.
My gosh, Jackie! The rain! I bet you anything it’s the el nino I’ve heard predicted. Evidently, since it hasn’t arrived here in far north California, in our state it is expected to be extra heavy precipitation. “They” are telling everybody to get ready with your survival skills for an emergency here. I’ve never given a thought to plum juice. And, have you ever made what is like V-8 juice, but my recipe calls it V-4 juice? It’s one more thing you can use tomatoes for. God bless.
Yep, I’ve made V-8 juice and it’s very good. My plum juice is wonderful. I can either use it as a drink base, mixing it with apple or other fruit juices, or save it to can up more plum jelly.
I agree it’s a time to hone up your survival skills, making sure you have shelter, heat, water and food. Plus, a way to maintain, should the power go off for an extended period of time.
Thank you! God does, indeed, bless us strongly.
We have rain in the forecast starting tomorrow all the way through Tuesday next week. Some flood warnings already so we’ll see. Out of state kiddo had 6 inches of rain Wednesday last week. So to quote the movie, “fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride” weather wise from here on out. I’m actually starting to see more reporting on how climate is changing.
Had a couple of the big does at the feeder tonight – one is already winter color dark. The other was in midst of changing fur color.
Both tomato varieties are producing quite nicely. I may try my hand at making some pizza sauce from the San Marzano tomatoes.
Better half did a stock up run on items we can’t grow ourselves. Wow – while the prices are NOT what we prefer to pay, our budget has room to do so. I am not sure how some people are making ends meet. If our kids were still at home, a $200 trip would have been $400 – and this is with *no* meat purchases!
Yep, it’s gotten so when you go to the store, only buying a few things, the bill is $100 or more. And it goes in one or two bags!! We don’t buy meat (0bviously) and buy no processed foods. I’m like you, wondering how folks, especially those with children or on a fixed income can do it. It’s so sad. Today, I saw diesel at $5.89 a gallon and was so glad we got our farm fuel weeks ago. Hang on, the prices are going up on everything as the costs of even delivering them to the stores is getting unbelievable!
Things are a little concerning here in far north California, as our governor and his board raised out fuel tax a few years ago by quite a bit, so our state could be closer to UN type policies. My husband who uses diesel pays over $7/gal and my car’s unleaded costs $6.39/gal. Yes, sad, Jackie!
We must all be getting stronger!!!!!! Many of us can remember when we could not carry $100 worth of groceries. We can now! Here in N. Central TX diesel is $5.99-6.24/gallon! This is going to be a wil ride, I am afraid. Tighten your seat belts!
@Jackie the diesel you saw was cheap given your location – my area is in the “middle” of the country and diesel is $5.99/gallon. We all need to face it – if our domicile state pumps and refines oil, we aren’t going to see cheap prices. The gas and diesel will be sold to the highest bidder.
And I have to note with the exception of a package of napkins, the $200 was food – no processed foods. A jar of Jif Natural peanut butter was $10!! Yes there are some cheaper options but not all that cheaper. Better half did buy some tuna packets so technically we did buy some meat.
Yes @Tami/TX it is going to be a wild ride and I fear a very long ride.
Correction – two pack of Jif was $9.99