Monday

I've been busy the past few days.  I've had some quality time in the sewing room.  I really need to finally finish Justine's quilt and I've got a secret project for K12 in the works as well.
I did finally finish up all the stuff for my ancient Handmade Pay it Forward challenge of January.  And it's not even December yet!  Must be success!  Of course, I'm having trouble with addresses.  I have three addresses and I've sent a message to a 4th (but haven't heard back).  However, I'm missing an email or way to contact Patty.  Your blogger profile isn't public.  So, Patty, send me an email with your address to fullfreezer (at) gmail (dot) com  so I can get your stuff in the mail.

Hope you are all having a good start to your week.

Thankful

Yesterday was such a full day that I didn't have much computer time so I'm a day late with my Thankfulness.  But, since I try to find something everyday that I can be thankful I guess it doesn't matter too much.
We have so much to be thankful for here.  I have a happy, healthy family. We have a warm home, enough to eat and enough money left over to allow a few luxuries every now and then.
I'm thankful that my dear hubby and sons pitched in to clean the house on Wednesday while I was at work.  I15 did a grand job vacuuming!
I'm thankful that my baby girl, even though far away, was able to spend the holiday weekend with family out east.
I'm thankful that my parents are still with us and were able to come for dinner yesterday.  Mom baked the bread for the meal and brought pumpkin bars for dessert.
I'm thankful that my brother and sister-in-law came over for dinner- in spite of her pet allergies.  And they brought a fabulous butternut squash soup for the first course of dinner.
I'm thankful for good friends who consented to share the day with us.  Roger and Sharon (and Sharon's absolutely wonderful sweet potato pie) and Fred (who brought wine to share).
I'm thankful for lively conversation and many laughs.
I'm thankful that the cats decided that yesterday was NOT the day to decide to sleep on the dining room table!  And I'm thankful that the weather was nice enough yesterday (mid 60's!) that we could leave the dog outside during dinner and that he was well behaved!
I'm thankful that we have the means to provide a meal for our loved ones.
I'm thankful that I have a job that I love and wonderful co-workers.
I'm thankful that I am NOT shopping today!
And I'm thankful for all of you who come here to share our sometimes chaotic journey.


There is so much more,  but this is a good start.

Preparing for the feast

We're hosting Thanksgiving this year.  V and I and the two boys will be joined by my parents, my brother and sister-in-law and three of our friends. We will have 11 around the table tomorrow.  Justine is staying in Pennsylvania with V's sister.  Evidently she baked a pecan pie today for her contribution to the feast out there (I must have trained her well...)
I'm feeling good. The turkey is thawed in the fridge, the pumpkin spice bundt cake is baked, vegetables are chopped... even the good china has been pulled from the boxes in the hall closet!
I've got my plan of action for tomorrow morning. V and the boys spent the day cleaning today while I was at work so just a few more things need to be finished.

But before I go to make apple tarts for tomorrow I have one wish for all of you here in the US who celebrate with us:

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  In the midst of all the preparations, be sure to think of all we have to be thankful for.

Rustic Apple Tart with Lavender Glaze

Sometime this weekend, while picking up magazines, I saw a recipe for a lavender glazed apple tart.  Thinking that it may be something fun to try for Thanksgiving I went back to look for the recipe.  Of course, I couldn't find it anywhere.  I began to think I had imagined it.  So I looked online.  Even my friend Google disappointed me.  I did manage to find a recipe for an apple pie with lavender glaze so I let my imagination loose and got inventive.
The result was definitely a success!

I didn't feel like crawling up on the step stool to get the tart pan from the waaaay high up cabinets so I made a rustic tart.  Ok, I'll admit, I used a premade, roll-out pie crust (I had picked up a couple to make Thanksgiving prep a little less hectic) but you could use your favorite. I put it on a baking sheet and layered apple slices around it- only a thin layer- it only took 2 apples.  This I sprinkled with sugar (sorry, didn't measure) and a couple tiny bits of butter.  I popped the whole thing into the oven and baked it at 400*F until it was golden and the apples were just beginning to caramelize.  Out of the oven I brushed the whole thing down with lavender syrup that I had made earlier.  THAT was what I wanted the recipe for... and it was SO easy.

Lavender glaze/syrup:

2 cups sugar

1 cup water

1/4 cup dried lavender blossoms (PLEASE be sure to use organic blossoms!!)

Put all these things into a small sauce pan and heat until the sugar is all dissolved.  I let mine come to a boil for a couple of minutes, then strain.  The syrup should last indefinitely in the fridge.  It only took a few tablespoons for the tart.

I do believe this will be making an appearance on the Thanksgiving table this year.  It was DELISH!  In fact, there isn't any left!

Things

How's that for an attention getting title, LOL!
I've been off for a few days and don't really feel like I've accomplished much of anything.  I keep flitting from one thing to another and never seem to finish anything.
We are hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year.  My parents are coming, my brother and SIL are coming as are 3 of our friends.  A grand total of 11 at the dinner table.  So, I've been plotting, planning and cleaning, as well as all the usual stuff I do.
I did manage to get a little sewing done but seriously need to finish my 'pay if forward' gifts and get them in the mail.
I also realize that I have been remiss in posting an Independence Days update.  Not as much going on this time of year but here goes a quickie:
Plant something-  hmm, it's been a while since I updated and I can't remember exactly when, but I planted another round of radishes in the greenhouse that are sprouting happily out there.
Harvest something- Lettuce, chard, kale, radishes and spinach from the greenhouse and a few eggs.  We've only got one hen laying now and she is only averaging about every other day.  sigh.  How I long for the egg glut of summer!  V has decided to have eggs for lunch and we will now have NO eggs in the house.  ACK!
Preserve something- Nothing really.
Waste not- The usual: composting, recycling, scraps to chickens.  Reusing some old 5 gallon buckets in the greenhouse- more about that later ;)
Want not- Only some cheap pasta for stocking up.  I'm counting my 'passive solar' project in the greenhouse in here.  I took two 5 gallon buckets (salvaged from drywall joint compound) wrapped them in black garbage bags, filled them with water and put them in the greenhouse.  I'm hoping that the water will heat up with the sun and then radiate heat at night.  Hopefully it will be enough to keep some of the tenderer things in the greenhouse going for a bit longer once it decides to get really cold.  It's all an experiment and the only sacrifice was a garbage bag so even if it doesn't work- not much lost.
Eat the food- broccoli from the freezer since the cold finally took its toll on the plants in the garden.  I'm  glad that we haven't spent that much at the grocery store in the last month or two.  We've been eating well out of pantry and freezers.  Not sure where to put this so I'll put it here.  The remodel on the pantry is nearly complete.  I painted yesterday.  And it looks so nice with everything sorted and organized.
Build Community- Nope.  I've been a homebody recently.  Although someone asked me about 'hosting' a chicken for them.  They would buy the chick and supply funds for feed if I supply them with eggs.
Skill up- Nothing. I really need to re-read sections of my 4 season gardening books....

So, you see, nothing much on the farmstead.  The Meyer Hatchery catalog arrived yesterday so I can dream of chicks for spring.

Gasp!

What?!!??  No more Twinkies??  Now what will we do during the zombie apocalypse??

Oh, wait, they aren't really food anyway.  Never mind....

I guess I'll be eating my usual fare.  Off to set up the heated base for the chicken waterer....

Too lovely to not share

For all of you who work with your hands and 'put by' food.  Something new for you.  And quite lovely.

Carrie Newcomer- The Work of Our Hands