Early signs of Spring are starting in my yard. This morning in my front yard, I have daffodils starting to pop up.
My tomato plant never died out - and there are still some green tomatoes - but they are not very tasty. The texture is off. But my husband will still eat them. He's like Mikey. He'll eat anything.
Nasturtium WATCH
I guess I needed to post something on here - even though I haven't done any major decorating or planting. Spring Cleaning is what I have on my mind right now - especially since I have received boxes of stuff from my 29 yr old niece that passed away on Nov 18. Then my FIL passed away on Dec 13 and we just received all his stuff; most of which we either donated or gave to family members. If that is not enough stuff, I will be finally receiving my sister's stuff (she died in 2015) that my brother-in-law was saving for my niece, and now that she died, it's all mine. I'm trying to hold him off till February since we have a memorial we are trying to be scheduled soon for my FIL.
Oy Vey!
Our office is a mess. Our garage is a mess and that is even with getting rid of most of it. It is overwhelming.
So yeah, Spring Cleaning is going to get started a lot earlier than the Spring around here. Heck, I want to enjoy the spring, by planting and enjoying the outdoors - not CLEAN!
How about you? When do you do your spring cleaning? Or major seasonal cleaning?
I bet you didn't know that today is National Puff Pastry Day. I kid you not. I happen to love puff pastry - love the light flaky layers of goodness. I probably won't be making any puff pastry delights but if I was I'd make:
Strawberry Chocolate Puff Pastry
This counts for Christmas decorating, doesn't it?
I've not yet decorated except for the tree but I have been baking and making up some old family recipes and meals that bring me comfort. I'm missing my mom's country-fried pork chops so I made some the other night, with some mashed potatoes and homemade pan gravy. It was so good. Not something I should eat all the time though. I also made a peach cobbler from canned peaches. I was craving it so I made it. It was so good.
Right now my energetic husband is blowing the leaves in the yards and then will mulch them. It's a never-ending job until the leaves have all fallen and ours have just started. He wants to put up our nativity, so he is getting the yard ready.
I think I mentioned he finished the patio. I am pleased it is done.
Now, this just pleases the heck out of me. My Roma tomatoes are still coming in. I have about 10 of them. The weather has been sunny and mild but I do have to keep watch if the nighttime temperatures drop.
These are the tomatoes I planted in a big barrel under my front window. It was an experiment. The summer heat usually burns my tomatoes so I don't yield many. This summer, I decided to put some in the front yard where there is dappled shade from the trees. I also believe it is helping them withstand the nighttime cold temps as it is sheltered. Next spring, I will plant more veggies in the front yard.
Silly, but they give me HOPE...these little tomatoes still struggling to grow in December. Maybe there is a lesson in that for me.
Thanks to my husband, our little artificial tree is up. I haven't done anything else. I don't know if I will. I'm just not in the mood.
We'll give the kids gift cards this year and no secret Santa. Pops, my 94 yr old FIL won't be here due to covid and I really don't know who will be able to come.
I hope my mood picks up. I'm really on a downer and just going through the motion, for my husband.
I made a German Chocolate bundt cake (from a mix) last night. No, I didn't frost it with coconut pecan frosting because I can't stand things THAT sweet anymore. I also don't like coconut. When I was a kid, my mom made it all the time - the german chocolate layer cake with that frosting in between. I would take a slice and then proceed to scrape off that yucky frosting. Anyway, I sprinkled it with some powdered sugar. My husband cut a big piece and got out the Guittard chocolate ice cream topping and drizzled some of that on top. Ice cream would have been nice but we don't have any. I was happy with just a touch of powdered sugar. It was a light dessert.
Yesterday I cleaned out and rearranged my pantry.
I remember back in my younger days, with 3 little boys underfoot, and I could clean my whole house. These days I am lucky to get 1/4 of a room done in a day. I really hate to admit this, but I think I might be lazy and all this covid-crap doesn't make it easier. It's just one more excuse. "why clean and decorate the house, when no one comes over anymore?
One thing I am doing is cleaning out my computer files of all my SAVED recipes I will be sharing these.
ACORN COOKIES
It's been rainy. Not a big storm but it's been wet. After our 6-mos dry season, those first rains smell so sweet. Formerly yellow grasses turn green almost before your eyes.
Good News, the husband finally is done with the patio pavers - so the patio is completed. He still has some finishing touches to complete - it may have to wait till the Spring. Unless it is going to be wetter than the wet rainy season, we most likely will have some dry days with sunshine and spring-like weather in between storms. We have a chance to get it all done.
My section of the garden - on the other side of the fence, I didn't get a chance to lay down the weed barrier. So I took some cardboard boxes and laid them out flat until I get to it. I want to lay some rocks down as well. The morning glories are starting to die off, which surprises me. When I lived in the bay area, I had them year-round. It did get down to 29 degrees one night so that must have nailed it.
I was able to clean out my pantry. Slowly I am getting things done but not as fast as I would have done a year ago. I also made some homemade chili last night for dinner. I wanted it to last 2 nights but it was so good, we only have enough for lunch today. I normally make 2 batches.
THANKSGIVING
So what is everyone doing for Thanksgiving this year? Next week I will go out to "gather" my meal. We will have a small, low key meal. Weather permitting, I hope we can have a small bonfire.
The husband is making some good progress.
Still have some pretty flowers blooming. I plan to pull out the morning glories for the winter. They usually grow all year, but I planted too many and they are too thick - I want just a small vine of morning glories rather than a WALL of Morning Glories on my picket fence.
I will plant some seeds by the back fence - to cover up the different sections we have replaced.
I pulled out the remaining sunflowers.
I really need to lay down a weed barrier before the rains that are forecasted for later this week.
I plan to do a deep cleaning of my kitchen before the heavy-duty holiday cooking as well as clean and organize my cupboards and pantry. I have this one drawer, I use for my silverware and it needs a wooden stabilizer underneath because it keeps getting jammed. I'm thinking of just changing everything around. Perhaps the flatware is too heavy and I should instead use it for kitchen towels instead.
At our age, changing the placement of dishes and glasses can really mess with us. I did it a couple of years ago, with our glasses and cups. I also did it with our pots and pans. They use to be placed in a bottom cabinet - but was hard for me to find them. I had to sit on the floor to find something. I moved them over to my pantry. Works great but every now and then, when my husband cleans out the dishwasher and puts away the dishes, I will find a pot or two, in the old place. We are creatures of habit.
Yeah, it's time to do some deep cleaning before I start in with all the Christmas clutter which I really want to minimize this year. We'll see.
