Lost! Lost! Lost!

 However, I am quite sure we will find it again. When Tommy and I want to give something to each other, we often toss whatever it is. He tossed me the remote and it bounced high on the arm of my chair, going to the back. We searched for two hours. How far can it go? 

Tommy had to army crawl behind a table and my chair, chancing unplugging lamps and computer and power to chair. He never systematically searches. He cannot see under the other chair in corner so just crawled on top of everything, randomly picking up things. Yes, it is a mess. Of course, we sorted as he went about. 

I called a friend who lives in Cullman who is going to come and clean next Monday. However, we do not want to wait until then to find the remote. She already comes to clean two houses down here. I knew she came down here, so was hoping she could find the remote and asked her about cleaning. She called a friend who was on her way back to Birmingham.

Okay, three females came by on their way from a baby shower in Cullman back to Birmingham, friends of woman who I am friends with in Cullman.

The mother and two teen girls were so nice. The mother has back problems but wanted to look on table where it could not be. She also looked around on the floor. The older teen crawled around behind me, searching everywhere as I told her and how I told her. Then, they wanted to look under the quilt I keep on my chair. So, I let her. 

I have a tall nylon clothes hamper that I keep throw, jacket, little pillow and other stuff corralled. Tommy had looked in their twice last night. I saw him looking once again today as he had it on his walker by the door.  I was baffled as to why the remote disappeared. After we all said our goodbyes, he asked them to look in there one more time. The older teen did. And...

SHE FOUND IT.

The mother had her hand on the door, ready to push it open. I already knew Tommy was not thorough. He knew it must be there, he said. So, this was over 12 hour ordeal--two hours last night and thirty minutes of searching today. 

They refused money. She said, "Don't take our blessing away." 

I am so stressed about all of this. 

AND

Harry spent thirty minutes with King Charles! 

People talk about Biden being too old. 

Orange Idiot is still at it, denigrating everyone. 

However, my friend from Cullman will come here Monday to at least do two hours of work, like changing my bed, maybe emptying the freezer and helping to sort and replace. The living room needs dusting desperately.  She is bringing someone back to Birmingham that has been visiting a relative in Birmingham, so she is bringing her to help clean. So, 2 people for 2 hours for $75. 

AACK! When I finished the last sentence, I was desperate to go to bathroom. I had finished that paragraph, so time to go.

But, it was not to be. The chair would not work. The teen obviously had unplugged the battery pack. Tommy called firemen to get me out of the chair. As they got me up, they were turning the chair to front and tipping chair over. I thought I would be on the floor. Well, they heaved me up from floor and I rushed off to bathroom. Tommy said I was screeching and so were they, warning each other to not let me fall. I would have been so disgusted if I pooped in my pants. I was that close. 

When I came back frm the bathroom, I easily plugged the power pack back in and they left. If my feet are down, I have the power pack where I can plug or unplug it myself. With the footrest up like it was, I cannot bend to get to the powerpack nor can Tommy. I doubt I ever could have bent to floor sitting like that. 

This is so stressful. Of course, I have not bought more 9 volt batteries. We need a powerpack that plugs to wall for power but will switch to powerpack when electricity is off. Or, something like that. 

Before the news comes on, I will get bscb in bag to cook. Tommy has plenty of meat for dinner. I don't. 

Before anyone tells me not to watch the news to relieve stressors, that won't work. I need to know what is happening. I need to make up my mind about the facts. 

I will need to shop for colonoscopy prep. I was given specific foods to eat and not to eat. The paper says, "NO Substitutions." Okay, I will follow it to the letter. It is several weeks away, but I don't want to wait until the last minute or even the last week. 

Somehow, I thought we would get more rain today. We have had none, so I suppose it will come in later than expected. At 5 pm, it is 63F and bone dry here. By 6 pm, the temperature is now 64F. 

As Friday ended, I thought things were going fine and the weekend would be quiet. Maybe the last half of the weekend will be more peaceful here. Keep your fingers crossed. 

Okay, dinner of bscb, carrots, and red potatoes will be done at 6:30. I will open green beans and next week will buy more coleslaw mix. 

Two weeks ago, I was looking at pork loins that are factory sealed in heavy plastic. They were 2 for $9. As I was looking at different spices on them. All of a sudden there were turkey tenders, huge ones. So, I bought two of those. I will bake them and slice to use for sandwiches on the go. 

What are your plans this weekend? 

Next week?

Any Valentine's Day celebrations? 

Do you or anyone you know have a lift chair? Ever get stuck in one? 

New Recipe with Edit

 Monday, about 1 pm, I went out for the first time in two or three days. I needed bananas, OxyClean, celery, and pork chops. Tommy went in and found OxyClean was bogo. Good deal as that made it $3 each. I had him shop for pork chops since I wanted to cook a new-to-me dish.

I went to bed at 3:30 with him having potatoes peeled by 5:30. He woke me at the time I asked and I wondered why he was bothering me since I had not slept a wink all  night. I sliced the potatoes into rounds, put into casserole, seared the center cut, boneless pork chops. He mixed two cans of salt-free mushroom soup with half a can of water. 

He added the garlic and onion powder I told him to add. Well, that was very bland, so we sprinkled other spices. The potatoes went into the bottom of a 9x13 casserole and into a rectangular Snapware smaller casserole. After I seared the pork chops, I put four in the large casserole and two into the smaller. 

I plan to cook the smaller, cool, and put the snap top onto it ad freeze. That will be two meals to eat and once to freeze. Actually, the pork chops could be used for two meals. It depends. I saw this casserole in one of the recipe sites I perused yesterday. I hope this is as good as it sounds. We have not had pork chops in ages. 

Edit: We ate. I asked Tommy how he liked it. He said it lacked something. Well, that is sodium. If I had an onion, that would have helped. I was afraid I would over spice it, so held off with spices. Plus, we can share a pork chop. 

Sunday, I spent two hours trying to get McAfee protection on my laptop. If I had written this yesterday when I finally finished, I would be ranting. However, let's just say this woman sounded about three and timid. She had to repeat things six times, with me urging her to speak up. Finally, I had Tommy take the phone and see if he could understand. He could not. Now, it tells me something is infected and may cause the hard drive to crash. So, I need to call back and have them take over the computer. The messages pop up to the point I can do nothing. I am not sure why I can type this in peace. 

Today was sunny, cold breeze, mid 40s, and a relief from sub freezing temps. So, now we get up to almost 70 and rainy. 

Has the grip of freezing weather eased for you?

I have never had a computer crash. Have you?

Have you ever had the potato, pork chop, soup recipe? 

Invasive Plants and Potatoes

At a church lunch, a couple in their late 80s related their adventures in yard work. They were clearing out wisteria and a plant that was also invasive. They did not know what the plant was, but it had many sharp thorns. They complained how bad the thorns hurt! Their daughter had dug it up for them to take home several years ago.

My ears perked up. "Is it a vine with glossy leaves" "Yes" Are the leaves dark green?" "Yes." "Are the leaves longish and sort of heart-shaped?" "Yes."

I informed them their daughter had dug up thorns and they introduced them to their yard! They were a little shocked.

Rule of thumb--when anyone offers you a plant and guarantees it will be hardy and not die on you, beware because you are being given an invasive plant that will be almost impossible to eradicate.

When thorns invaded my yard, they could not be eradicated by cutting or pulling. Just before I quit battling the thorns, I dug and pulled them from underground. Eventually, I pulled a very tough root exposing a giant root about 10 inches long and 3 inches in diameter, shaped sort of like a sweet potato. The huge root was ten or more inches below the surface. The vine I was pulling on was half an inch in diameter and strong as a any rope. I was much stronger then!

Thursday, I meant to plant potatoes in pots in order to take advantage of the afternoon rains predicted. But, I was too cold and tired. In order to avoid watering with a hose, the rain would have been perfect. I am not worried about the amount of water I use raising my bills, since I use about half the minimum anyway. I just think rainwater is better for plants than water treated with chlorine and whatever else is in the hose water.

Have you ever transplanted an invasive plant or have grown them from seed? Has anyone ever given you a plant for your garden and assured you it will thrive without much help?

Second Day of Birthday Week and Potato Soup

Well, fun is thin today. I was really tired from the lunch day. I did get lots of sleep and rest, so that is a gift in and of itself. Thanks to Gordon, we have overcast skies, but, thankfully, no rain.

In a few hours, I am going to get a small cup of chocolate ice cream from Dairy Queen. I love their ice cream. Plus, it does not make me ill like soft serve from Burger King.

This afternoon was a salad with the fresh tomatoes from the Farmer's Market. I gave exbf two yesterday. This evening, I will boil eggs, saute the zucchini and squash. A boiled egg can keep me from eating junk some days.

All my life, I have absolutely hated potato soup. But, I tasted some from the deli at Publix and think I can make soup like they do.  I cannot go wrong putting bacon and cheese in diced and boiled potatoes. Right? Bacon and cheese can make anything delicious. Right? Yes, I do know to partially drain potatoes and mash some of them.

Daddy made horrible potato soup. But, I doubt that during the Great Depression they had the luxury of putting cheese and bacon in boiled potatoes. They were probably lucky if they had enough potatoes to feed 12 children.

I was going to use a coupon for free-ish fast food, but I nixed that.

So, that is it for day 2. Not much. But, I am not so tired.

Busy and Frugal and Tired

The crockpot ran for a long time to cook four times.

Cooked hen in crockpot
Cooked ten chicken drumsticks in crockpot
Cooked potatoes in crockpot
Cooked more potatoes in crockpot

It was a long day of cooking, but once each cooking session started, I only had to take cooked food out and put more food in the crockpot. There were hours of wait time so it was not labor intensive. I took the breasts off the hen and froze the rest for him to take home and pick out the meat. Half the potatoes go home with him. The potatoes were cooked in chicken broth.

Washed hair and bathed.

Prepared mail for PO. I managed to take longer than necessary for this tiny chore.

Took clothes from dryer, put wet clothes in dryer or hung them up, loaded up machine, put in dryer  2 times more. Folded and folded and folded!!!

Hung panties on clothesline. Plus, all the clothes in the dryer were not many. Hung more clothes in the house.

I took garbage out twice and went to mailbox. The day is very warm (85F or so) with low humidity and a slight breeze. The walk to trash cans and to mailbox is in the shade, so it was not a warm walk. On high humidity days the walk is suffocating.

Washing dishes is excruciating for my back, so even though I tried, I got few done.

All this involved frugal methods. I love the fact the crockpot makes it possible to avoid the heat and expense of using the oven. Plus, the ac is more successful at keeping the house comfortable with less cost when I use the crockpot.

Not using the dryer and hanging clothes saves money, too.

I can call the trip to mailbox and to garbage exercise.

Nothing exciting here, just frugal wins.

How about at your house? What frugal happenings?

Better Thursday, Maybe

Last night, I slept soundly, a long refreshing sleep. Today, I am not dizzy and not so exhausted with each step. My throat does not hurt as much as yesterday. I am not well, just less ill. Is there any such thing?

My potatoes died, but today, new green is appearing. Hope springs eternal or something like that. It is 52 F. The sun is brilliant and the wind is minimal. The pots are still covered with the sheet. Before it gets dark, I will put the cardboard back over the sheet and anchor it.

The case of the disappearing Christmas cards is being investigated. How could I misplace them? Well, a fter searching for the three Christmas cards, I looked over, and there they were!

My computer is beeping and a voice is threatening to disable my computer so it will not damage the Microsoft system. they are sending me credit card info. I must not close the page before calling. nope, not falling for it. Let me take care of this.

I kept closing the page and the site kept asking me if I wanted to leave this page. Pop ups that were serious and threatening to me and my computer. I called the number and yelled at the guy. He said he did not do anything and YES he was Microsoft and I needed to give him information, personal information! I slammed the phone downas I was yelling! Everything calmed down with my computer, and my computer was not disabled.

Cards are stamped and mailed. While I was out doing a few things, I used my last CFA card for a chicken sandwich. At 2 pm, the roads were packed and so were shopping center parking lots. Christmas shopping is going strong.

Washing my hair, packing a box for TX, buying one more gift, and attending a Christmas dinner are on the agenda for the rest of the day. 4: pm--hair washed. Now to get ready for the dinner at 6 pm.

Later

Your turn
Are you in the throes of getting better and worse this season? This has been going on since mid-October. I feel awful some days and just fine others. Have you gotten messages from your computer with a siren going off, telling you to call and give them info?

Potatoes Are Hardy

My little potato plants are surviving below freezing winds and snow. I didn't cover up the potatoes until all the snow was gone. The pots are sitting on a pallet which only facilitates cold wind going up their little skirts...lol. Really, the pots should sit on something that does not allow the wind under the pots.

Late yesterday, I put cardboard over both and after dark put a sheet over that. There were places where the wind could get through places by and in the cardboard. I have the white cloth that allows the sun and water in for plants. Now, I just need to get all together and assembled.

If I plant tomatoes, peppers, and other plants in my other huge pots next year, I will start potatoes in the pots as soon as everything is done. I feel successful at this point. Of course, I have not seen a potato yet. Even if this effort produces minimal potatoes, I will continue to plant potatoes, trying each year to improve my techniques. Why not? This will keep me out of trouble. lol I could turn out to be the Grandma Moses of planting, late but successful.

So far, the ground squirrels have not been in the two pots I now have planted with potatoes. They are probably waiting until I have invested time and my heart into these. When they are larger potatoes, I fear the little devils will come and eat my potatoes.

I did not get the trap set up yet. I either forget or I am getting sick and do not want to get into dirt. Plus, I fear even with a glove on that I will infect my finger that is still not healed.

At least with above ground crops like tomatoes, a person can see and judge progress. This is such a mystery. I can only judge by the fact the leaves are growing that there might be potatoes hidden in the soil.

I feel like such a farmer!

Your turn
Who plants potatoes? Can you give me advice or warm me of any pitfalls? I have read and watched you tube for advice. But, I am not sure what all I need to know. And, vaguely tell me where you live so I can judge what might apply to me for now or later.

The Bearer of Butter and The Comrade to Catsup

The sinister, secret history of a food that everybody loves.

This is long, but oh so interesting. It could also be titled "The sociological implications of growing tubers or grains."

Thoughts

More Bulbs: Food and Flowers

Today, I had to return something to Lowe's and got a store credit. Red onions were reduced 75% to $1, so I purchased one bag, 120 of those. Garlic was reduced also, so I have a bag of those. Plus, I will have tulips again this spring since they were reduced, too. .

I really need to find someone and sell about half these 240 onions I now have. Maybe a trade? Or, maybe I will share just a few and try to plant all the rest.

While I was at Lowe's I was talking about the hosta that just disappeared and wondered if the chipmunk ate them. The person told me everything loves hosta. I had about a half dozen hosta that were almost three feet across. Some were smaller. That bed was very bare in the end! I only have one hosta left, and it is in a pot. However, two others in pots just disappeared as the roots were eaten. The person assured me only daffodils were safe from everything.

From now on, all citrus peels go around my potatoes, garlic, onions, and flower bulbs. I may have to bury/plant all these in deep pots and cover the tops with hardware cloth. There is orange spray for the yard that will drive them out! Moles and voles hate orange, so maybe chipmunks do, too.

If anyone knows of a way you have used to fend off these chipmunks or kill them, let me know. If you just read it on the internet, I probably have read that, too.

Keep your fingers crossed that I will have onions, potatoes, and garlic for spring. I would hope for tulips, but that will not kill me to have those eaten.

Your turn
Do you have things eaten by chipmunks? What do you do to deter them or how do you kill them?

Potatoes and Onions and Garlic

For the first time, exbf saw my little potato plants. He was duly impressed. I keep my watering can by the pot and water them every other day if it does not rain. At night I cover the pot and uncover it every morning. I told him I traded chickens for potatoes to tend.

He was not coming right behind me, so I asked him what he was doing, sort of muddling around on his two canes. He was searching for a safe place to pee. Unless someone looks through the knot hole in the fence, he is safe. I need to get him a bucket so I can spread the urine, either for fertilizer or for scaring raccoons away.

Right now, I have a flattened cardboard box to cover the potato plant with a pipe to hold it down against wind. Soon, I will take one of the oven racks and attach white material to it so I will not have to remove the cover every day. Sun and rain can reach the plants. The setup will be like a row cover, only a pot cover. Tomorrow, I need to add more dirt to cover the potato plants.

Someone told me potatoes can stand almost anything except frost. I suppose that is true. The cloth will keep the freezing winds from their tender leaves. It is the freezing wind that kills.

While I was peeling Russets last night, I noticed minute sprouts forming. So, I cut three and put them in a dark cabinet to sprout more. Maybe I can plant these if things go right.

Today, he took me to Lowe's to return something. That was a fail. However, I always sneak away to the plants. Since it was warm enough even with no socks and just a thin sweater, I was in no hurry to come back to him. He puts the seat back and sleeps, anyway.

Flower bulbs were 75% off. As I continued to the other side of the display, I found that food bulbs were also 75% off. I purchased a bag of yellow onions, 120 plants for only $1, including tax, originally $3.75.

At that price, if I get three big yellow onions, I will break even. So, now I need to find a place in full sun to plant 120 plants or give some away.

I may buy garlic to plant tomorrow. I would love to have some tulips this spring. Remember the year I posted tulip pictures in every other post?

Your turn
Does anyone plant potatoes, onion or garlic this time of year? Remember, I live in north central Alabama. Any hints? Do yellow or white onions grow best?

Eating Well

Or, maybe I just ate too much. Before 10 am I ate too much watermelon.

Today, I went to the Farmer's Market and bought potatoes and made potato salad. The rest: bbq chicken on bun with slaw, broccoli, apple/banana/grape/Miracle Whip salad, potato salad, Fordhook butter beans, tomatoes sliced, iced tea.
Tomatoes were bought at market, too.

This week at the grocery store, WM, I price-matched many things I bought.
white grapes--$0.99/lb
quart of strawberries---$0.99
bananas--$0.44/lb
iceberg lettuce--$0.98/head

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts were $1.99/lb. I bought a package for $11 and got 4 chicken breasts. this will work for me today and rest of week and when exbf comes on Friday. These were not price-matched as this was the price everywhere, so I went with the regular price.

Pasture-raised eggs (do I really believe that?) were $3.99 for 18 eggs at Publix. In the paper was a coupon for the eggs, Nellie's, I believe. So, I paid $2.99 for the 18 eggs. That is $2/doz.

Publix had a bogo for little bowls of cut watermelon. Sooo, I got two. I cannot carry or cut a watermelon safely, so I buy it cut. I can say with certainty that I have never had a watermelon as sweet as the one today.

There were no good prices on celery! At WM, celery was $1.78 or something close to that price. But, I had to have it for the potato salad...sigh.

Suddenly Salad was on sale for $0.98 and I had a coupon that made the boxes $0.75 rather than the regular price of $1.98. I love these but limit myself to eating one every six weeks or so. I bought four boxes of the Ranch and Bacon variety, the only one I will eat.

My buns for the bbq and slaw are potato hotdog buns from the freezer. Oh, I bought Oscar Meyer wieners for $1/package. That and slaw is lunch.

There may have been other things, but I started buying last Wednesday when the paper came out. I buy when the ads start and then just before they go off. That way, I can have grapes for several weeks from the last buy. Make sense?

These are my favorite things. Yes, there will be leftovers, a good thing for me.

I am staying home and inside today. So, my holiday is defined by food!

How was your Fourth of July?

Farmer's Market Breakfast

When I got up Thursday morning about 8:30, I did not eat until 11 am.  These are the best peaches, so I had one for breakfast. One of the cooked potatoes, microwaved, with Greek yogurt was next. Then, I broke a piece of bread off a bun and ate that. I was stuffed. I drank 16 oz of water.

Before I went to my weekly doctor appointment, I hit the Farmer's Market. There was nothing I wanted. I suppose that Saturday is the day to go for the best produce. Only a half dozen vendors show up during the week.

The fried pies were tempting looking and huge, so I had a peach fried pie on the way to the doctor visit. It was quite large compared to the fried pies most people sell for the same price--$2.

On Wednesday, I took a potato out to have for breakfast, and just ate it as it was--cold and unadorned. There are still about two dozen potatoes waiting, uncooked. Today, I am going to put the chicken broth back into the crockpot and put another batch of potatoes in to cook.

At Walmart I price-matched sixteen ounces of grape tomatoes for $.88 instead of paying $2.78 Walmart asked. Blueberries were $1.48 for sixteen ounces.

A frail, elderly woman was studying the grapes, priced $1.98/lb. She took a long time and finally apologized to me for blocking me. I told her not to worry. I got a bag of green grapes and told her I was going to pay $0.88/lb for them. When she asked how, I told her about price-matching. She said she did not know how to do it. So, I told her to follow me. I paid for my grapes and moved forward. She said to the clerk, "I want to get these like she did." He smiled and rang up her $1.50 worth of green grapes.

It really makes me feel great to help people save money. I go around pointing out deals to people all the time if they have it in their cart or  they are looking at it and I know it is cheaper elsewhere  and eligible for a price-match. I suppose I look like a nut.

I will wash, dry and freeze some of these grapes, and then go back next Tuesday before the Sprouts ad expires and get more.  Dinner will be salad with chicken and grape tomatoes on it. Tonight, grapes  will be my snack along with pistachios.

Including the $2 fried pie, I will have eaten today for $5. Well, since the potato and peach were paid for with the produce coupons, I suppose I am out about $3.50.

Breakfast tomorrow will be a potato and a peach! I am looking forward to the meal.

Your turn
Have you ever eaten a cold potato out of hand as though it were an apple?  Is anyone finding green grapes for $.88/lb? What are your best deals this week or lately? Does it seem a little weird for me to be going around and telling people how they can price match?

Market Day and Free Food

Tuesday morning, I went to pick pears again. I could only stand to pick a little over a gallon! I am still aching and exhausted from the last picking adventure! I still hurt. Score!

Today, I left about 1 pm to go to the market that closes at 2 pm. Very few people were there. Thinking they left early, I was sad. However, only a third of the booths were ever manned today.

One guy peeled a slice of pear and handed it to me. Since I hate fresh pears, it was all I could do to swallow it with the texture.....yuck. He had a pile of cores where he had given samples, so I asked him if I could have it for my chicken. He loaded up about ten pounds of bruised apples that he could not sell because of little rotten spots. Ha! I will take care of those tonight and give the chickens the rest. Score!

Last week, I bought new potatoes from him. They are the best potatoes ever. Today a basket was $5. I had a $6 coupon and asked him to give me a dollars' worth of apples. He dumped a whole basket of apples into the potatoes! Score!

A woman had the most beautiful large peaches, so I got a $6 basket of those. I do believe there were only six peaches. Well, there will be no more fresh local peaches after a few weeks. Yes, only six peaches, $1 each.

The only way I can afford all this good produce is the coupons given to people over 60 who are low income. I signed up for exbf, too, but he barely qualified. He gave me his to spend. I felt bad about his giving them to me. But, I do give him things, including produce, to eat. He gives me much more than I give him! This is $30 for each person for the season.  Score!

This is not $30 each month! It is just once each year. If you live in Alabama, you can find out about the program at a senior center.

That is free pears, free bruised apples, free apples, plus the potatoes and peaches I bought.

Lots of the summer crops are done and the farmers are waiting for other crops to come in. I really wanted tomatoes, but will have to get there earlier, I suppose.

Your turn
What have you gotten this week or lately at your market? Any free fruit or vegetables in your life?

Potato Harvest

2.5 lbs

One of several potato plants died. They came up in the compost area. The hens ruined about six plants until I had exbf fence it off. Today, while I slept, he did lots for me. He ate part of these for his dinner.

"peataters"

He laughed and called some of the potatoes "peataters." Now, since neither of us have ever called a potato a "tater," I was confused. He said they were potatoes the size of a pea. Oh, my feverish brain got it. He wanted me to take this picture to show how tiny they were. He said he had never seen a potato that size. We found one in the basket even smaller than the one pictured.

I am not sure why some potato plants died and others did not. One plant has a top that is about 18" high. Per my instructions, he bent it and buried it with more of the dirt from the other side of the box. Actually, it is not dirt; it's leaves and pine straw that covered them in the compost receptacle. .

So, I slept through potato harvest. I called the gynecologist and got meds for bladder infection and yeast infection, so you can imagine how horrid I feel. I have never just gone to bed when exbf has come here and gone to sleep for hours! He knew I was really feeling ill, so he carried on. Yes, he made a peanut butter sandwich when he needed it! For lunch we had had the rest of Tuesday's Mexican dish. He declared it "okay" and finished off another helping.

Since we spent 1.5 hours in Walmart getting two prescriptions, I did not have time or energy to cook. Walmart only got/filled one prescription, so I had to call the doctor's office again and wait all over. Plus, a drawer had to be counted down because I did not get the extra for which I wrote the check.....grrr.

Dinner was bagged salad with additions: red and green bell peppers, green onion tops, lots of shredded carrots, shredded cheese, and the only meat thawed--bacon. Plus, he had a small bowl of new potatoes.  I looked in the refrigerator and butter did not present itself, so I told him to eat them without butter. I just did not feel like bending over. He said the potatoes were so delicious that they needed nothing for seasoning. AND, he peeled the tiniest of the potatoes. He peeled all of them because he does not like new potato peelings. Ack! That is the best part!

This is the first time since I met him that he did not take dinner home for the next day. Usually, he gets even more than that. He understood.

Now, I have to feed the hens and lock them up. We saw no raccoon today and no snake. At least I got one egg!  So, maybe the snake left along with the raccoon. Keep your fingers crossed! Because we spent so long in Walmart, we did not get the snake trap built.

Your turn

Are you getting volunteer potatoes in your yard? Volunteer anything? Do you peel new potatoes? Does anyone peel new potatoes? How did your garden grow today?

Roses and Potatoes and Scurvy

my old-fashioned roses in bloom today*

What do roses and potatoes have to do with scurvy? What do roses and potatoes have to do with each other? Roses and potatoes both supply vitamin C, a nutrient we all need in order not to develop scurvy. You may remember that sailors developed scurvy when they were on long sea voyages with only hardtack to eat.

the back fence today

In the 1700s a British Naval doctor discovered that lemons and limes prevented scurvy. Potatoes and fermented cabbage were used by some sea captains to keep the crew from developing scurvy.

Today, we have a whole range of foods (even meat) that provide us with vitamin C and is available to most of us year round. Most of us get enough C from foods and do not have to worry about scurvy. Preppers might do well to figure out food that will supply Vitamin C and store well.

Some preppers and survivalists recommend storing years of vitamins of all sorts. This bothers me that their resources are being squandered. They could use the money to better purposes, in my opinion. Vitamins don't have a long shelf life. Even then, vitamins must be stored under the right temperature and humidity conditions. Besides, storing or being able to find foods with vitamin C seems more important than storing it.

In no way is this meant as a criticism of what people are storing. Food storage and survivalism is all about present peace of mind as well as future security. If everyone of us would step back and find a better way to live a healthy life eating healthful foods, we might be more healthy right now and more healthy with our food preps. (whew, lots of healths)

A few years ago,. a friend of mine told me about rose hips. She did not live to show me rose hips. I have yet to see any except in pictures. However, they are full of vitamin C. I am no help in extracting it, but maybe someone can guide us in that direction.

People disparage the lowly potato and blame it for weight gain and diabetes. Okay, some of this is true. We all know that the variety of potato, cooking method and serving method have lots to do with potato problems. Remember, cooking destroys the vitamin C. Okay, I don't eat potatoes raw, but I could. Sailors did and saved their lives.  Potatoes with the peel are a rich source of Vitamin C.

Here  is some discouraging news for all that take Vitamin C. I am going to trust Wikipedia to have a true list of some of the foods with Vitamin C.

This post was going to be about rose hips. If anyone is afraid some force might take your stored supplies from you to redistribute, you might consider growing roses with hips. Probably no one will take your roses. Mine don't have hips. Get the right kind!

*About the first rose picture--I did nothing to enhance, lighten, or fix the color in that picture, just published it as it came from the camera. Yes, the blooms are brilliant. I don't know the name, but everyone tells me they are "old-fashioned roses," and no one knows any other name. Do you?

Your turn
Do you grow roses that have hips? Have you ever taken the hips apart to obtain the part with vitamins C?