Living in the woods, one sure notices things like brightly colored fall leaves. The sun’s out today after a day of heavy rain. And boy, do we appreciate the beauty around us. I got my last sweet corn canned up, both in half-pints and pints, to use in a wide variety of recipes. Whew, I’m glad that’s done! But, no, I’m not nearly done canning as I have a bunch of tomatoes waiting for me to can up as diced tomatoes before they rot.
Then there’s onions and carrots in the garden to pull. The onions are small this year, due to all the terrible weeds and me not getting to pull them. You have to really fight to get in there and even look for onions among the giant pigweed! I’m talking about pigweed that was so big and tough that our hedge trimmer couldn’t cut it efficiently. No, we, unlike some YouTube influencers, don’t have a perfect garden! Lots of food, but far from perfect.
This morning, granddaughter, Delilah, ended up in the hospital. She had been running a fever and feeling bad but this morning, she was having trouble breathing. From Urgent Care, she went to the ER and admitted. I went to visit her this afternoon. Poor little girl looks so sick with oxygen on her nose and in that big hospital bed. She is feeling quite a bit better but still needs care. We’re praying she’ll come home soon.
Before going to the hospital, I helped Will split a big load of firewood, which he dumped in the woodshed. And, while I was gone, he unloaded the equipment trailer, half at grandson Drew’s house, and half at ours. Then he split another load and cut up some more firewood. We’re both pooped this evening!
Prayers for Delilah! What do you use your mincemeat for? I was thinking of making some.
Thank you so much for your prayers. She’s home now and feeling better. I use mincemeat for pies, obviously, along with filled cookies and tarts. Sometimes I fill one layer of a layer cake with it. Very good!
Sorry to hear about Delilah illness. She must be very sick to be admitted. I’m praying she is better. It must be frightening for her. Everything is of no greater importance than your health. Best wishes.
Thank you, Everett. Yes, she was pretty sick. Urgent care sent her right to the ER. She couldn’t breathe and had a nasty, barking cough. However, after antibiotics and oxygen, she got much better and they sent her home yesterday afternoon. I think we were more scared than she was!
Praying for Delilah.Healing and home soon. Pigweed a gardener s bane. Very few onions here either On a good note 2-4# Goathead tomatoes! On one plant 14# total Roasting now for tomato paste.
Wow, those are some big tomatoes. Were they Goat’s Bag? I had some really big ones too. Delilah is much better and is home now, resting while she recuperates.
Yeah! Thank The Lord she home! Yes GoatsBag I don’t know what I was thinking goathead?!
Prayers for a complete and speedy recovery for your granddaughter.
Thanks for the prayers. She is now home and feeling much better. Whew!
Saying prayers for Delilah! I love your blog and pictures. I have learned a lot of the good ways for canning and living from you over the years. I can’t remember when I started following you; but it has been an adventure. Keep on “keeping on”.
That’s what we do every day, keep on keeping on. Thank you for your prayers. She’s home and is much better now. It sure scared us!
Little Delilah is in our prayers.
You and Will are truly amazing to accomplish all the things you do around your homestead.
Thank you for the picture of the beautiful fall foliage along the road to your house. I still feel blessed to have had the cherished experience of being with you on that drive once.
And we loved having you visit us!! Come again. Thank you for your prayers. Delilah is much better and is now home.
Jackie, sending a prayer for Delilah to recover fully. Little ones in the hospital, so sad & scary! With all you have going on, thank you for writing and sending pictures of your beautiful place. We had a simple blessing here. After the broccoli was done I planted some old lima bean seeds. Even with the crazy weather, they produced enough for a delicious side dish of tender green butter beans!
Isn’t it amazing at some of the little blessings we receive? Like why our Who Gets Kissed sweet corn even survived, after I planted it late in July, among the weeds that nearly buried it, and yesterday, I harvested a bunch to save for seed that the cobs are over a foot long and have 18 rows!! It is the biggest sweet corn I’ve ever raised. Ever! Thank you for your prayer. She is home now and feeling much better.
Prayers for your granddaughter. it is heart breaking to see your child sick and in hospital.
Corn looks delicious and is one of my favorites. Mine would be full of silk, so hard to get out of corn.
What’s your secret? My mother took a small paring knife and it took her a long time to get silks out of corn.
Thanks for your prayers. Delilah is now home and feeling much better. It’s so scary when those littles get sick like that.
A lot of silk depends on the variety of corn. You might try another variety. I peel a few shuck leaves down then snap off the very tip of the corn, where much of the silk is attached. When I pull off the opposing shuck with the tip, much of the silk comes off with it. Then I rotate the cob, letting gravity help drop the silk off so I can pull it off.
Only the beginning signs of fall colors but after several good rains the peppers, beans and broccoli are starting to take off. We too had a rough growing year, even the weeds did not want to grow. Too hot and too dry. Did try something different this year. For what ever the reason the sweet potatoes the vines at least went crazy. Had heard about it and tried steaming the leaves. They turned out great. Same texture and appearance of spinach with just a hint of sweetness! Try it!
Isn’t it fun to try something new that works well? Unfortunately, I cannot grow sweet potatoes here, even in the hoop houses. It’s just too cool those summer evenings, I guess. Same with okra and eggplant.
Canned corn is my favorite….with butter. You are amazing. I’ll pray for your granddaughter.
Thanks for your prayers. She’s home and much better today. We love sweet corn too, especially with lots of butter.
Jackie,
Prayers for your granddaughter. Respiratory issues are scary! Hoping for a speedy recovery.
I would like to thank you and Backwoods home for providing this blog. I feel like I know you and your readers and over this time of my husband’s declining health, its been a bright spot in my day to log on and read the entries. He passed away this past weekend so I’m sure there will be changes ahead.
My food preservation efforts have mainly consisted of coking and freezing whatever grew in my puny ill managed garden. Its nice to know others have garden challenges too for whatever reason.
Thank you again.
My sympathy and prayers to you in the loss of your husband.
Will is ok, her grand daughter is in the hospital.
Edited to add, Dear Katherine
Prayers for comfort and peace in the loss of your husband. My husband passed almost 3 years ago. I remember how words were so inadequate, but the ones who said them did bring a sense of a beginning peace.
Katherine Prays for you God will heal and bless you Jackie s blog is a Blessing for us all
I’m so sorry to hear of your husband’s passing. From my own experience, I know how hard this time is for you. It will get better, down the road a bit. I’m so glad my blog has helped you out. I love all of you readers so much!