A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Banter Hall Coffeehouse 2381... Growing stuff is lots of fun!

Happy Monday!

It is a good Monday. Happy Columbus Day. I don't think mail is delivered today. Schools are in session here today and I know at least one state government office is open because we called it this morning. Not sure about banks and such.
I stopped to shop on my way home from taking Ted to school. I forgot his bananas and they were even on my list. I will pick some up tomorrow. He can have applesauce and blueberries in his lunch instead.
I am stockpiling booze for holiday gift giving. I am just glad most of my neighbors drink. It makes gifting easier for me. And my local grocery store has some really wicked good sales. I am making a bunch of homemade vanilla extract too. I may purchase fun dark bottles and share some. Planning ahead.

Tina is making her list and checking it twice....LOL!

I have the baby here today... she is so cute... went down to the basement toys and she picked out a bin of stuff to bring upstairs... action figures and dinosaurs... don't have very many girl toys here... LOL! she is just as happy playing with anything... her mother actually remembered to bring the pack and play so she went down for a nap fairly easily... she is used to sleeping in one so that is a plus for me.. now need to get the booster chair for my kitchen table for her... forgot it at Carrrie's.. we made do with a big phone book...

I am going to start my dinner in the crock pot- it's a 4 hour receipe so fairly fast ... chinese chicken and soba noodles... will share if we like it- first time for this one.

Happy Columbus Day!
Nana

OMG...I have lost my "Cindyism".

My cousin Leslie was here today....I had Jim Beam in the fridge (been in there for a long time) and she drank the entire time she was here....and I drank WATER.
I can't even stand the smell of bourbon at this point.....

I must be dying.........

The world will never be the same!
I went online and bought two doz four ounce bottles for my home made vanilla. Half are dark amber and half are cobalt blue. I will make labels up for them. One will be rum based vanilla and the other vodka based. Those vanilla beans are pricy. It is fun to mess with them though.

how do you make homemade vanilla ??? (Inquiring minds wanna know)

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It's 11:25pm here--I am heading to bed now--nite nite sweet dreams everyone

Vanilla beans cut up into 2 inch pieces and soaked in either vodka, rum or bourbon (over 100 proof is best). Ratio is 2 oz of beans per pint for at least 1 month up to 3 months. Strain through cheese cloth and keep bottled tightly covered in dark glass in a dark, cool location. I will do it until time for bottling and gifting.
My original vanilla beans cost me about $7 an ounce. I just ordered a half pound more because it is a little savings that way. I am also making vanilla sugar and a few other things. I will keep some for myself as well.
Sweet dreams all. I am tired. Too much of the fumes maybe?

Thanks for the Thanksgiving wishes

We can't get vanilla beans here, can they be ordered online?

I am finally off all my meds, two weeks now. Thinking I'll treat myself to a glass of wine this weekend..haven't had a drop to drink in two years. Tina has me craving.

Extremely heavy frost this a.m., can't even see the ground...calling for light snow this weekend as well.

Tina thanks for the "recipe". I see vanilla beans used all the time on the cooking shows but I cannot say I have used them much. But I will say I use real vanilla extract not the imitation.

Take care Sunny--and enjoy the wine--

I must go and begin to get ready to go to my Drs. appointment--it is just a check-up-

I wish everyone a good day

Good morning. I haven't had a drink in a few years, I think. Just no interest. I guess because I feel I have to be aware in order to care for my younger son properly.
I had my older son pour himself a drink from the top of the 101 vodka so I had room to add those beans. It kicked his bottom to bed for the rest of the day. Funny! I didn't tell him to put it in his morning OJ. It would have waited a couple of days. Or I could have saved it to a jar for later like I did the rum. It was very funny.
I only use real extract also. I have never found vanilla beans around here either. I ordered them from Mountain rose Herbs.
I am ready for Tuesday. And for possible rain here this week.

I haven't had a drink since the last time I had one! I think I'll have another!
I had to drive down to the Home Depot today (20 miles each way) to get the lumber to rebuild my shed roof. It is much more involved than I had hoped.... it is a total replacement.
The fog on the highway was as thick as pea soup, and I had a state trooper in a hot rod Camaro following me the entire way...
I am home and safe, but not inclined to start climbing around my non-existent roof this afternoon I think I'll have a Hornito's and ponder this dilemma until later...

Good thinking, Bill.

Tina, is this what the Barefoot Contessa is talking about when she says "use a good vanilla extract"

Nana, how did the dinner turn out?

This made me laugh...for 2 reasons.
One was thinking about the time me and Bill went to Home Depot and bought so much stuff we had it sticking out the back of the SUV and tied on top...and I rode all the way home with my arm out the window holding plywood down so it wouldn't flap while Bill was driving.

And laugh #2...we always had to ponder the situation with Hornito's...guess that is a Cedar Hill tradition.
It's like "Are you hungry, Bill?"
"Are you?"
"Let's have a margarita and think about it!"

Oh Cindy, you make me smile....

well I was hoping to go to sleep--I was tired but my medical insurance made me mad--so now I am not sleepy.

until next time my friends....

Good morning.

Bill, please tell me that you have help with your roof. Don't be climbing up there alone.

Cold and frosty here again, but it is so calm out there...good day to go partridge hunting.

No... unfortunately I will be doing it all by myself.

Keep safe, Bill. We old folks don't heal as quickly as we did in our younger years.
Good morning. Wednesdays are always harder for me to motivate. But I am getting there.

That's for sure!!!

Wish I lived close..I've done a few roofs over the years.

I really need to start doing 'woman' things

Roof repair is women's work. So is plumbing and cleaning chimneys and anything else you can lay your hand to. For most of my life, if I couldn't get it done, it didn't get done. I am frailer these days with age related stuff, though.

yea Tina, you are likley right--but I was raised where my dad did most of the "man" stuff & so I thought if a man was supposed to do it, then I could not---I so wish I had the ability now a days---

tonight I am washing yet 2 more baptismal gowns for Luke to possibly wear--these are from my father-in-laws era---one of the 2 was his--gee I wish I knew which was which....My MIL just said she does not think she could tell me which was which.

oh well...

I was raised in a house where we all did equal amounts of housework, cooking and yard work no matter the gender. My mother taught us all basic plumbing and car care and things. I think all of us turned out to be better cooks than she ever was. The lessons have served me well over the years.
I think the cooler weather is making me sleepy. I am having a hard time staying awake today.

I was raised in a house where my father did everything..and when he died my mother was at a loss on how to do anything for herself. I swore I'd never be in that position.

Cold and windy out today..chance of light snow for tomorrow. Brrr....

Good morning... my bones ache.
I didn't get nearly as far along with my roof rebuild as I had hoped yesterday but I made some progress. Tomorrow it is going to start raining for several days so I guess I will get as much done as I can today and then put a big tarp up and wait for the next stretch of dry weather to work on it again.
I should have started months ago!

Good morning. I am up before my alarm. My bones ache and I did not work on a roof. But we are getting some chilly drizzle outside. The ache is pretty normal for me.
I have been looking forward to this rainy day. Every drop means less chance of wildfires devastating the surrounding mountains. Lots to be grateful for.

Good Morning !! Drinking my coffee NOW Tina..
Thank God for Microwaves...

I have the next 2 days to finish my house cleaning.
I wish I were a faster worker.
Poor Emily called me to complain about her dirty house, If I had of been on the ball & had my work done, I could go there & help her clean. I told her to clean her extra bedroom & it's bath & then not to worry about the rest. (She has company coming for this weekend.

Soon I will make a list of all that I want to get done & then get to marking it off.

Bill, sorry about the roof---be safe today...

See, I have long said we should all live in the same town, or at least in the same area, so we could help each other & visit & such...

Be careful Bill.

Send me some hot coffee Tina.

It is extremely windy here, I keep losing power. I had just got out the flour to make a batch of bread and the lights flickered...think I'll wait until tomorrow to bake just to be safe.

Carol, maybe Em should ask her best friend to go help her for the day

You cannot bake without electricity, Sunny? My oven has alectric ignotion and will not run w/o power. I hate it. My stovetop works just fine with or without power though.
I have ribs and onions steaming in the crockpot. I will put those in to finish in the broiler later. And serve with rice, carrots and peas. Strawberries to finish it off.
Our expected rain has not really hit yet. I guess it will later. Hopefully after I get Teddy home from school today.

I have half of the roof replaced now and the tarp is in place. I still have to remove the rest of the old roof before starting to replace it, but the forecast is for 5-10 inches of rain over the next few days, with high winds.
At least the drought will finally be over in my area!

Tonight is margarita night... (medicinal purposes only)

Sounds good t o me Bill, you deserve a "rest" after all the hard work.

Sunny--yep, I wish I had of thought to tell Emily to ask the friend to help--"she" knows so much about babies after all, I bet she is an expert on cleaning as well...

I took a good nap again. I love sleeping in the rain.

I'm watching reruns of Mary Tyler Moore and she and Lou are drinking beer at lunch on a workday. What's up with that?

I took a nap too and it wasn't evening raining.

Naps, how wonderful girls...I do not see a nap in my future for many a day

Sheri, about the MTM show--I guess it was the era of the show---probably meant to make them look like common everyday people (drinking beer ya know)

No rain here yet--"they" say we will get storms saturday night. I don't mind rain, but I do not care for storms.

nite nite everyone---
I am off to sleep so I can do a repeat tomorrow...

Tina, we don't have natural gas here...everyone has to use electricity. I do have a wood stove I can cook on but baking needs my oven.

Sounds like the roof is coming along Bill

I am watching the snow falling down, it looked pretty at first but now that my lawn is covered I am having second thoughts already

Grandbaby and DD arrive later, having my birthday celebration today. Thinking I got the short end of the deal though..someone else should be cooking the supper.

Yea I hate that about having the girls over for my Birthday---Poor Rod, he thinks he is doing me a favor by cooking the meat out on the grill--

LOL lets see, I go buy the meat--I bring it home get it ready for him--I get out the rub or the S & P & the BBQ sauce & brush ..put the meat & such on a tray. Then I prepare the rest of the food for the meal--not to mention my own cake. THEN guess who cleans up?? you know the answer to that one.

Yep, "Happy Birthday to us" for sure...(well we do get to spend time with our kids)
Hey !! I know--when the DH & DD are there, say well, what are you guys having for supper??? OR after the meal get up from the table & say---I hope you guys have a nice time cleaning up--& thanks ahead of time..

oh my Sunny--no natural gas?? I hate electric stoves--but then I have not ever learned to cook on them...

ok--I am off to begin my day---

Good late morning. I listened to the rain coming down and turned off my alarm and went back to sleep this morning. My exit road gets pretty flooded in heavy rain.
I don't have natural gas here. I do have a 285 gal. propane tank (LPG). I have cooked electric before but do not care for it. Here, propane or natural gas is much cheaper than electric.
I think the rain is done but the chill is still on. I like to cook and cook for others. So cooking on my birthday was never a problem for me. Today I'm going to do something with ground beef. Just not sure yet what. A homemade skillet meal, I guess. I have fruits and veggies to use up. Baked sweet taters and muffins for my oven today.

Carol. At least i get a store bought cake..poor you.

Tina, propane is hard to get here in Winter..not to mention they want people to empty tanks because of the extreme cold. Not sure how one would arrange to run propane equipment in Winter here.

Spent the day cooking and baking..smells good in here.

OH Sunny--I bet your house does smell good---I love warm bread--with real butter--yum !!!!


I have just finished lunch & I am back to doing housecleaning again...oh my...

Good morning. I sent my storms off to the east and I guess they are making messes. This morning I am going to take a quick run to Walmart before it gets crowded. Pretty much as it opens. I'm thinking the rest of the day will be some cleaning and cooking. Mostly to keep warm until the sunshine kicks in. I don't want to turn on any heat yet. And we are to have a warm week ahead.