Greetings, All.
Corsaire: what are you going to use the tool boxes for? Tools? What are train makeup boxes?
We had a very heavy thunderstorm last night. Today, the old part of the basement is flooded. Hubby is now sucking up the water with our shop vac and hauling the water outside. The water is so dirty in that area that it killed the old sump pump a while ago. The water comes through the cracks in the original limestone wall. There is a concrete “door jamb” about three inches tall between the old and new sections that holds most of the water back. It is time to get it fixed – new chinking, new sump pump, and make the door sill higher in case the chinking is not the solution. Just another project when you live in the country.
I canned 18 jars of coleslaw! I posted it on the Prep Month challenge. I did some last year and it was nice to take it from the shelf for immediate use. Last year I canned a regular slaw and an Asian flavored one. So this year, more of the regular slaw and tried a couple fruity ones. I am looking forward to a hot and tangy pulled pork over a cold, creamy, fruity coleslaw on a toasty bun. Better get some pork to slow roast and can.
There are some smaller heads of cabbage in the garden that I hope will grow a bit more. Perhaps I did not get any cauliflower to grow this year. The large plants that are Brussel’s sprouts seem to be starting to sprout. It will be exciting to have our own. Since I cannot can the cole crops by themselves, people say the flavor gets too strong, I will need to freeze them. Since the freezer is full, I should pull out something I can can and do that to make room.
I have not spoken to Grandson #1 in the last week, but his mother reports that he is finding college a challenge. He is no longer the big fish in a little pond and no longer one of the smartest in the class. It is good to be humbled a bit. Now, he is just a number and finding Calculus 2 a challenge. When we spoke before I gave him hints about how to get personalized help, from when I was in a large University twenty years ago. I doubt he is at that point yet, though.
His 16 1/2 y.o. younger brother is now 6′ 41/2″ tall. I call him Shorty. Also Brat, because he likes to tease and do things to “get my goat.” Like dropping the sheets on my head from the second floor, or turning the decorated plates with Moose on them so the Moose’s feet are in the air and standing on its antlers. Comparing him to his mother yesterday, it was obvious how strong his bone structure is, not just tall and thin, he is solidly built. The youngest of the three, turns 14 in two weeks and is 5′ 10″. I told him I am going to call him “Little One” because he is not. Plus, he is supposed to be the tallest of the three. I am very lucky to have a good, strong, loving relationship with my daughter’s family. (They even like, love, and respect my husband, step-grandpa. Fortunately, my first and second husbands are friends and we are all able to be together to celebrate birthdays and even vacation together. I am very blessed.)
I should go help hubby with the flooded basement and search the freezer for something to eat and or can. Rubber boot time.
Enjoy your Autumn.