Canning Jar and Rack Chandelier

 

source

A project in mind. Great for an emergency.

I have an old canning rack that for some reason does not
fit my two water bath canners, both of which do have racks.
I was going to get rid of it until I saw this chandelier.
The lights look like led Christmas-type lights.
I have several sets of 12 that are battery operated. I suppose
if the lights went out, a person could use the only canning rack 
from the only water bath canner she owned.  I just happen to
 have an extra rack. The chains hooked to the rack should be easy.

 

When I put lights in my yard and the trees, I
never attempt to have uniform lights. It pleases
 me to have several unusual light sources or light holders.  

I cannot make the photo larger because it just gets
wider and flatter. I copied the photo, put it in Word
and could enlarge it there. Those are not rope lights, only led lights

 

There is a new line of Ball jars that are blue.
Clear jars and candles could be substituted.
It appears new blue Ball jars  is what is used in the photo.

Your turn
Have you seen one of these lights in use?
Do you light your yard for parties?
Or, your patio or balcony?
What is your favorite type of lighting for outdoors?
Anything funky and homemade? I am dying to hear.

 



Chicken Behavioral Analyst Needed

Thelma on left; Lucy on right

Blurry, I know!

 

Do I have to pay for expert advise? Here is the question with background. Why would a chicken approach another and peck the beak?

 

Background to this picture:

I put the two chicks out in the grass. They finally started cheeping and pecking. Lucy ran faster than Thelma to inspect them. Lucy got much closer than Thelma. Finally, Thelma just walked away with a few clucks. Lucy walked closer to the chicks. Finally, Lucy ran to Thelma who was standing and waiting. Finally, Thelma and Lucy ran toward each other. Then, Lucy stood very still while Thelma pecked the very end of her beak. Thelma pecked from different directions but was always pecking very gently on the tip of the beak.

 

You can see Thelma is stretching to reach Lucy. Lucy is submitting but pulling back.

 

Here's what I think was happening. I think Thelma is Alpha hen. Thelma was telling Lucy to come. When Lucy did not, Thelma admonished Lucy closely and made her submit to beak pecking.

 

Your turn

What do you think is happening?

 

 



Sure, I will get right back to you, Mr. Patrick Chan

From

• Mr Patrick Chan  

To

• info@chanprivacy.com  

 

My Name is Patrick Chan I work with the Hang Seng Bank. There is sum of
$22,500,000.00 in my bank"Hang Seng Bank",Hong kong.

I wish to make a transfer of the $22,500,000.00 .I do solicit for you assistance in effecting this transaction.I intend to give  you 30% of the total
funds as compensation for your assistance.

Should you be interested please send me an email on my private email(chanprivacy07@aol.com)

1. Full names
2. Private phone number
3. Current residential address

Regards,
chanprivacy07@aol.com
Patrick Chan

I just read this to exbf. He said I should give and African sounding name and an address in Nigeria.

These emails are annoying. Yesterday, a caller rushed through his script about a private matter and said very quickly, "Now, if you will just give me your social, we can take care of this."

Your turn
Are you fed up with the emails offering to "share" millions with you. Do you get callers who think you will turn over personal information. I am on the no call list.

Jamaican Banana-Pineapple Mango Rum Jam



five 4 ounce jars of jam

I just decided it was time to make Jamaican Banana Jam. Then, I read a comment on the site where I got the recipe. Someone had added pineapple. I didn't follow the recipe, and I lost the notes where I recorded my changes! I did not add as much sugar, and used part of a package of powdered. no sugar needed, Sure-Jell premium fruit pectin--pink box.

For this recipe, I specifically bought Mango Rum, a miniature. I used part of it and only had half left. I added the rest of the bottle, about two Tablespoons or less. The first half was added to something earlier. I don't drink, so a miniature lasts a long time.

 

bananas for jam

The bananas were very ripe. I mixed this up the jam  mixture and it sat four days in the refrigerator before I made jam. Every day, I would sample a little in a bowl. Otherwise, I would have had more jam.

stored waaay up high

The jars are stored in the laundry room over the dryer. Actually, if I stand facing the dryer, the view I see above place the cabinet to the left of me and not exactly over the dryer, just a bit of the side of the side of the dryer. When I was younger, I would stand in front of the dryer, put one hand on the dryer top,  and just jump up to sit on the dryer. Lately, I get exbf to spot for me as I stand on a stool and struggle to get on the dryer, pushing my fat behind up and onto the dryer and usually making myself hurt. Tonight, I was brave and got on the stool and then the dryer without someone spotting in case I tipped off or dropped something on my noggin. I survived.

These are the only canning jars stored in the laundry room. The packages are small, so it seems this is a good place to stuff them one at a time. I really don't think it is a good idea for me to try to get a box of 12 quarts over my head and into the shelf as I balance on the dryer.

The jam was based off this recipe. It was on Little House in the Big Woods, penned by Wendy. Her boys said it was too sweet, but I believe this jam would make a good filling or could be used over ice cream. A little does go a long way.

When I took the jars from the pot, I was rewarded with two pings of lids before I could get all five on the counter. There is leftover jam, a tad short of 4 oz. so when it cools or maybe tomorrow, I will taste test the finished product.

Taste test: I did open one jar today and test it for firmness and taste. It is great! Now, if I can just figure out what I did with the recipe I used, not the one on the internet, just based off the internet recipe.

Your turn
Have you ever made banana jam? Or, banana-pineapple jam? Does it sound delicious to you?

Faceoff: Fun with Chickens

hens are standing absolutely still

 

Hens provide lots of good, clean, cheap fun. I was cutting turnips from the bed at the right, the pink one, was uncovered. Since I had to go inside for my camera and did not want the hens playing in my turnips, I asked exbf to stay close and guard the bed as he worked. He decided to sit. When I came out, the hens were motionless as was he. He said they ran over and just stopped. He thought they wanted the turnips.

 

See the yellow rake on the far right? They are terrified of the yellow rake. One day, I was walking along, dragging the rake as I walked. I overcame the original four hens I had as they walked ahead of me and to the left. As the yellow rake came past them, the head of the rake swished past just behind them. Other than the Devil Dog and raccoon encounters, I have never seen them so frightened. Now, Thelma, one of the original four, has taught Lucy to be afraid of the yellow-handled rake.

 

I use a pink-painted broom handle to herd them. They will not come near it and go where I guide them.

 

Chickens are funny and afraid of everything. But, consider this: maybe one of these stiff, colored objects will fall to the ground and writhe toward them. They were afraid of long strings of banana peels when they were less than a week old. Chickens don't like snakes at all! So, any long thing must be dangerous. Makes sense to me.

 

Chickens are a money saver, a promoter of parsimony. You see, I could be spending money for entertainment. I don't because I have resident chickens for amusement. Some of these encounters with chickens are quite the philosophical exercise. I stand in no danger of becoming a cat lady. I will be the chicken lady, minus a house full of chickens.

 

This picture was taken about two months ago when the St. Augustine grass was still crunchy.

 

Your turn

Do you enjoy watching chickens as much as I? What do your chickens fear?

Green Plastic Knife

Why would I buy this?

It is cheap--$1.50--and very useful. It is green plastic. I had a shorter one, a curved one from Tupperware. No, I did not pay for the Tupperware knife. This one is 12.5 inches long. Plastic utensils are not my idea of a useful object, normally.

 

Have you guessed yet?

 

I am not a fan of smashing a head of lettuce to remove the core. Using a metal knife on lettuce causes it to turn brown. My little green Tupperware knife from the late 60s or early 70s was so handy to use on all lettuces and cabbage and any other produce that turned brown with  metal knife contact. This knife won't work to keep apples from turning brown! So, my new, cheap, Old El Paso knife for $1.50 works for me.

 



                                                   The lettuce knife above, not mine, but one like it

                                                                       about 8 inches long

 

But, you prefer the look of torn lettuce? I only stand for so long before I hurt, so cutting lettuce will work for me until I have a couple of surgeries. Or, maybe forever. Besides, some days I only cored the lettuce for ease of washing and tearing.

 

In a pinch, use a plastic knife, the disposable utensil kind if you have one.

 

Your turn

Did you ever have one of the Tupperware lettuce knives on lettuce? Or, one of the Old El Paso ones? Or any plastic knife?

 

 



The Bane of My Existence

Privet

Right now, I am suffering! This privet causes half the people I know much misery, pain, and cost. I have spent countless hours with itchy eyes, so horrid I could not see. I have spent too much money trying to defeat the symptoms which are disabling. My eyes, sinuses, nostrils (itching), and breathing is affected. In the last few years I have managed to destroy and beat back this problem in the some parts of the yard. I still battle baby privets. This may be the last year I put up with this beauty. Pollen from the privet causes asthma and eczema. I have symptoms of both! 

 

Two years ago, I sat in a chair and bent over to pull baby privets. I pulled one hundred 3" babies in an area that was about 18" x 18"! That must be redone week after week. Of course, I don't. Mowing only delays the problem and makes the roots deeper and stronger.

 

The hens love to stay under the tips that are bending toward the ground. So, I am a sucker for what they like. Plus, eight cardinals love the bush. Maybe it is the berries they like?

 



 

shady area

 

The privet originates far to the left of this picture above. As the branches reach the hickory tree, they bend. I like the area it forms underneath. It makes me too miserable to sit there even though others do sit in the chairs. Actually, even an open window exposes me to the pollen.

 

You can learn more about privet. 

 

Pretty and more pleasant

self seeded or regrew

Wave Petunias

 

Early in the spring, I noticed green in this hanging basket. It had such a thick stem that it appeared the plant was re growing after the winter. I knew the Wave Petunia would reseed. Last year, I bought some distressed Wave Petunias and they flourished after a little care. Now, I have another stressed petunia that I will plant here with the leftover ones you see here. It appears on each of the pink and white made it through the winter and the other reseeded.

 

I am sure I could have a better picture, but I was standing on a pile of rocks.

 

Your turn

Does anyone have these privets in your yard? Are you allergic? Do your or your children have asthma, problems with lungs, or eczema? Do you suspect your problems are caused or exacerbated by this invasive pest?