What A Wild Ride This Is!

     Spent most of the week with Clarabelle (she really refused to change her pound name - so Clarabelle it is...), she is recovering from her spay surgery (Sun), and has been doing everything possible to show she is not happy about something. Sigh. Beginning the training has at least helped to pear down the destructive behavior.

This really is my bone...

Unfortunately, she works quickly. This is what the place looked like after a quick bathroom break for me!

Yep, a dirt trail all through the kitchen and dining space. The rubber tree isn't faring well either. Sigh.

     Just have to remember plenty of patience. She is growing and will grow out of it soon. Thank the gods!

     Also made some time today to get back to organizing and getting things accomplished. I spent the morning oven canning some extras I had. Keeps them wonderfully fresh, never have issues with bugs or mice, and can hold for up to 20 years or more! Granted I usually get around to it much quicker than that! Love the look of the jars all stacked throughout the pantry too! Today, I was able to process 35 jars - a mix of oats, dry beans, instant pancake mix, instant spiced oatmeal - set up for single servings, white rice, and all purpose flour. Absolutely adore my new oven, as this was all processed in one go! Woot! Little tight, but worked beautifully! 

This is what 35 jars in a 6 cu foot oven looks like! 

     I always purchase my flour in 25 pound bags, as they cost under $10, while a 5 pound bag ranges $3-$5! Save a ton of money (even cheaper if you have a Costco or Sams' account), and find that I use it pretty quick. Usually pick one up every month or two depending on how much baking I am working on. Also, I like to keep baking mixes and batches of instant pancake mix to keep in the pantry.

     Next week I have plans to make up biscuit dough - enough for four or five dozen - and freeze them after cutting out, for quick dinner compliments. I love hearty soups in the Autumn and Winter, and usually make them a couple of times a week. Great too if company comes, as just pop out of the freezer and onto a baking sheet, then into the oven! As company here is often unannounced, I also make sure to keep a few frozen loaves of artisan bread handy too! Just a few minutes in the oven for a home made masterpiece!

     Thursday will bring the crafting of a pumpkin cheesecake - a cheesecake social is scheduled with friends on Friday, and Friday afternoon I will be working on coffee cakes, scones and biscotti for an event with the VW group on Saturday morning. I know the guys always appreciate that not only can I work on engines, I can whip up one hell of a coffee cake too! 

      For more information on oven canning, check out The Prepper Project - Long Term Oven Canning for Dry Goods. Although I have no plans for preparing for a zombie apocalypse, it is a great site with some great information and I do like having food storage available for emergencies. Not to mention the instant oatmeal is often great to pack along for camping trips!

A New Family Member!

     I wish I could say I have been overly productive this week, getting things done and such, but no luck. I have been taking down time to try and dump some of the stress that has been piling up over the past couple of weeks and working on getting a few spaces reorganized. With the news of the kidney issues, and the problems with the engine, I just needed a break - just a small one! Actually got to closing up the engine case, and had the first stud pop out with just 10lbs of torque. So back to square one with that project. All torn down and getting reworked. I am blessed to have a very talented friend helping out with this, truly a hero to me, as I would have had to scrap the project were it not for his metal working skills. So heads are getting resurfaced so as to be salvageable, the studs are getting helicoiled into the case, and he is now working on creating a flywheel cutter that will level out the cylinder seats. I have been so amazed at what he has been able to accomplish! What I would give to know more about how things like that work! So now just waiting to see if it will all work out. Just have to have faith that it will at this point~!
     We also just adopted a rescue puppy from one of the no kill shelters here in KC, this evening. She is a beautiful 5 month old Pharaoh Hound we are naming Eshe (E's pronounced as "eh") which in Egyptian means "life". Our little girl is a parvo survivor, and has such a wonderful disposition. Settling in well and is already a great source of joy for my son and myself. Looking forward to the years passing and watching her grow!

Eshe with her piggy ears - first night in her new home!