Late August

 Good Morning.

I hope you have had a lovely summer. August has been busy for me. I got this bright idea to join a Challenge. The challenge was to do something like drying, or canning or freezing or preparing food for each day for the month of August. It was harder than I thought it would be. I made basil vinegar, granola and mixes for brownies and cookies. I made 25 quarts of pinto and black beans. I haven't used my pressure cooker in so long, it was like having to learn a new skill over again. I still have plans to make soup and stew. Of course, I had to straighten up and clean my pantries. I also tried to use what I had on hand so that was interesting to figure out things to cook by what I had in my pantry. It was very interesting and I realized how rusty I have got since I had kids at home. 

I have been working on this when I am not in the kitchen. I still like it and it will look better after it gets steamed. I am hoping by the time I finish it it will not be over 100 degrees. I think we will finish August with every day being over 100. At least its kind of cool in the mornings. 

I am still trying to decide if I want a winter garden. Ron is going to try his hand at growing lettuce using hydroponic kit our daughter gave to him. He has always wanted to grow food like that. He has been getting it all ready. It should be fun to see if we can grow giant lettuce and bell peppers.  I have some giant pots that I might plant some potatoes in and see what happens, maybe some beets. My tiny garden has done okay. Trying to get the soil conditioned and healthy has been interesting. Such bad soil and so sad, it didn't even grow weeds. In the front flowerbeds, we dug out so much construction mess. They just dug holes and filled it with broken roof tiles, broken cement, broken plaster, and other trash. 

My back garden was just as bad, but it has never had anything in it so we have started from scratch. Its so much better from when we moved in and to see it get healthy is really rewarding. To see bugs return.

I am sure I will be able to think of other things I have been doing once I quit writing, but nothing is coming to me. I wish you all of the best. 

Have a nice rest of August, and then my goodness, I can't wait until September. 

Bye for now,

Kim

"Being a mother is learning about the strengths you didn't know you had...and dealing with

fears you didn't know existed." (I really hate when I dwell in the land of what ifs.) (When trials never stop and I am afraid that light at the end of the tunnel is really freight train.)

" God is under no obligation to explain Himself to Me...Imagine that. (My mind blowing thought this last week.) Patsy Clarmont.