Leaves

Falling in the yard, and simmering on the stove.  Monday is Carole's 80th birthday and I'm having her over for stuffed cabbage. 

One of her favorites, but her son doesn't like it at all.  There's not much that he does like which makes our family dinners monotonous.  He'll be out of town so halupki it will be.  We'll have her favorite cake at the family celebration next weekend so maybe elderberry pie will be dessert.

 

Preparing the leaves tonight so I can just fill and roll, bake for hours tomorrow.  I turn bowls over and layer the leaves on to hold their shape.  This was a very large locally grown head.  Our church (which is now closed) made halupki for the picnics and sold them at holidays, their method was to freeze the heads.  Freezing made them soft and when thawed, ready to roll, no steaming required.  I did try it but was tearing the leaves while removing.   Maybe a light steaming in the micro first would have helped.  I wanted to try the Instant Pot pressure cooker but couldn't find info about time and result for a solid head.  Not a good idea to experiment when company is coming.

 

I'll need to burn candles in several rooms for days!

Half of October is over.  Can you believe it?  Christmas shows are starting!!  Since I have nowhere to browse in person, and my online browsing time is devoted to finding jeans in long length and big ass, are there any new Santa charts that are small and primitive?  Any suggestions?

 

Since there is a day devoted to almost everything including the inane, I am officially naming October 15 as Halupki day.  Have a good one.

 

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The golden eye

Greetings folks.  Yesterday I met with a new friend and was gifted white pumpkins.  We talked about stitching and she added to the spark I've been feeling, and told me she was sorry that she got rid of her stitching supplies when she thought she would never go back to it.  Making me reconsider that also.  She mentioned a needle (Pat's favorite needle) with a gold eye and she loves it.  I do have some that I like better than others but thought I should look them up and order a few.  Checking online was confusing since there are several gold plated needles, but few with only the eye plated.  Clover is one, but not in size 26.  I did find "Pat's favorite needle" on Etsy but I wonder who manufactures it.

 

 I bought a green, yellow, and apricot pumpkin from the "odd" group and do like the colors.  So along with the two whites, I'm pleased with the grouping.  I put the cedar bench Mark constructed on the newly stained front deck.  You don't realize how old your muscles and bones are until you kneel and stretch while applying with a brush.  The roller would have deposited too much of the very dark stain.

 

We've had wooden pieces leave marks on the wood decks and no matter how I seal the open end grain, the leg always draw in the rain and wetness and start rotting.  So I purchased several packs of these plastic chair glides, nail attached, and added them to all the deck sitting pieces to keep them up and dry.  The white can be seen at certain angles but that's OK.

 

 

Another gifted pumpkin from yesterday.  Its form and large size is striking and simple.

 

I have a Dairy Queen coupon so guess where I'm going for a peanut buster parfait or walnut sundae?  Decisions decisions. 

 

Have a good day!

Thanks for visiting.

 

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The beginning of less

Now where the hell do I put the rest?  So far, two rooms are packed with wall items, samplers, wood pieces, tables.  I would like to do some consignment at the only shop near here but she doesn't want primitive pieces.  It will be a long process to determine what stays and what goes.  I wonder how much will be stored in the attic or actually let go.

 

My view from the kitchen.  I am still surprised at the change in the room and don't even want to add wainscot now.  The trim will all be painted very light as the sample areas show.  Maybe that will be too boring.  Maybe some color is needed when the room has less, but I'm trying it anyway.  To me, this same room setting would look bare or unfinished without the beams.  Crown moulding would help a sparse room too but I didn't want that look for this room.  Not sure what will end up in the room, but right now it's half of what it was.  Our kitchen is open to the family room on the left, and this room is on the right.  They could easily be switched and I may do that for seasons.

Mike said he will come back to do other simple finishing work for us so I was relieved to hear that.  Dominic should have the cabinets next week and we'll take it from there.

 

I got my XL tops, a long way from the small I used to wear.  The downside to having the looser fit, is losing the incentive to diet.  I fight it, but when I am forced to move up a size and I have things to wear, the urgency is lessened.  But just because it fits, doesn't mean I'm any smaller.

 

Thanks for visiting!

 

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The last zucchini

Tried another bread, this time banana zucchini bread and it is very good.  I followed this recipe except for using only 2 tsp cinnamon instead of 1 Tbsp, left out cranberries, and changed nuts to 1 cup of pecans.  I love walnuts but like pecans with banana breads.  My husband's step-monster (mother) made the best I've ever had and she always used pecans.  Toward the end of her years, we decided to not indulge in her foods.  Just in case.

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/141933/banana-zucchini-bread/

I have a question for you.  Since my body is expanding like a rehydrating sponge, I ordered a few new tunics in XL.  Nothing that I have fits me.  The large fits, but the outline during a walk away is very noticeable.  The extra large is bigger everywhere and may look a little sloppy, but the walk away is just a lot of fabric without an outline.  Which would you choose?

 

Mike is here installing the last three beams with Mark's help.  He may consider the wainscot after I make up my mind, we won't know for a while but it would be an easy job for him.  I think doing the smaller jobs and work he enjoys now and then would be good for him. 

 

Thanks for the pumpkin suggestions!  I never thought of buying the fake ones nor did I think of spray painting them white.  My nephew's girlfriend lives in Ohio and has seen them at a market so she will check for me.  First on her list is getting the traps for Carole's feral family.  A long haired calico mom and two long haired yellow kittens with white paws.  She works with a group in Ohio that handles feral neutering and we're hoping to get them trapped.  Our locals never followed through, never sent the paperwork, never called with the info. 

 

Have a good day folks!

 

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Another example

of what schools are teaching today's youth.  There was a halftime show from Forest Hill high school that featured students with toy guns (which you get kicked out of school for) pretending to shoot cops.  They were the visiting team at Brookhaven, where two officers were shot and killed a week before.  A Facebook post asking parents/others to send an email to the superintendent of this school, was of course removed, according to Newsweek's site.

Claiming that this was based on the movie "John Q." is ludicrous.  There is no reason to act out an old movie on the field, and it's never OK for a school to put guns in kid's hands TOY OR NOT.  And then to pretend to use them!!  I thought schools and teachers rally for gun control, or maybe it's OK if used against someone you disagree with. 

 

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Minimal

I used to have corn stalks and pumpkins and gourds and mums and Indian corn.  Used to.  There is a fine line between having just enough, and looking like you started something and didn't finish.  It's not easy!  Too little is sometimes as bad as too much.  The white mum is loaded with buds and should be really nice when it fully opens.  I love the yellow, but couldn't pass these by for $4.

 

I do think corn stalks would be a nice addition in the corners.  Always afraid they are hiding a monster spider, waiting to get loose in my car.  I have huge bags so maybe I'll stick a few stalks in them tomorrow.  May take a ride to Amish country and see if I find any white pumpkins there.  The local farmers' market had none.

 

Jason is coming in a few weeks to work on the landscaping and we still have not found a concrete company willing to do a small job.  Sure, we could get an individual to lay some down but without proper foundation it is a waste of money.  We've had more than our share of shoddy work. 

 

Mark installed the strongbacks in the attic and when we removed the jacks, all held.  Not perfectly level but the beams will be able to meet the ceiling across the span now.  Mike decided to go on disability for his PTSD so he won't be doing the rest of the work.  I didn't know you could go on it at 72 after being on social security.  Regardless, we need to find someone else.  Again.
EDIT - has nothing to do with SS.  He will be getting a large check monthly from the VA and income or SS or age has nothing to do with it.  Did not know that.

 

I hope your weekend is going pretty damn good.

 

Thanks for visiting this boring site.

 

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