Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: August 6~12, 2023

[ReneeT]

Just getting the thread started for the week

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Today is Memorial Sunday at the church and cemetery where Cary's parents are buried. We are getting ready to leave for that. We want to get there early to put memorial flowers on their gravesite, before it gets scalding hot outside. We're not staying for the service.

Heat index hit 121, yesterday, and it looks like another hot one, today. No rain. Cary mowed, but he drank a bottle of Gatorade while doing so. I don't think we'll be outdoors, once we get back from the cemetery. It's only about 1/4 mile from our house.

Being Sunday, we have nothing else planned to do, today.

 

[John Deere Girl]

Our area is supposed to have severe storms today, but I'm not sure when since the weather pages keep changing the time. I really wish I could find a book or meet an older person who could accurately predict the weather, because I'd really like to learn that skill. So frustrated with all the incorrect forecasting when it affects where we move our livestock on a day to day basis.

This week should be busy. Homeschooling starts this week, and I have lots of canning to do. I'm so thankful our garden has done so well this year!

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Our area is supposed to have severe storms today, but I'm not sure when since the weather pages keep changing the time. I really wish I could find a book or meet an older person who could accurately predict the weather, because I'd really like to learn that skill. So frustrated with all the incorrect forecasting when it affects where we move our livestock on a day to day basis.

Both sets of my grandparents and Mom and Dad always went by the signs to forecast the weather. Most are old wive's tales, but they were pretty accurate compared to what we have for weather forecasting today. I can remember only a few of them. I wish now that I had written them all down. Mom still knows them, but it's been a long time, since I ask her about them. That needs to be on my "to do" list.

eta. Mom and her best friend have told me that the reason my green beans aren't producing is, because I planted them on a "no planting day". I'll have to ask Mom how I would know what days those are. One of the old wive's tales I mentioned.

 

[paxsim2]

Our storms were over night and we got almost an inch of blessed rain.
Not much wind thankfully.
Got a few more bags of breaded okra put in the freeze and next up I'm pickling banana peppers.
Dh shredded small limbs yesterday and pulled up tomatoes. We've replanted corn, squash and beans for the fall.

 

[John Deere Girl]

Both sets of my grandparents and Mom and Dad always went by the signs to forecast the weather. Most are old wive's tales, but they were pretty accurate compared to what we have for weather forecasting today. I can remember only a few of them. I wish now that I had written them all down. Mom still knows them, but it's been a long time, since I ask her about them. That needs to be on my "to do" list.

eta. Mom and her best friend have told me that the reason my green beans aren't producing is, because I planted them on a "no planting day". I'll have to ask Mom how I would know what days those are. One of the old wive's tales I mentioned.

I bought a book so I can figure out what days to plant on. I need to pull it out again. I try to follow the days, but sometimes I don't if the weather doesn't cooperate. I also do companion planting too.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I bought a book so I can figure out what days to plant on. I need to pull it out again. I try to follow the days, but sometimes I don't if the weather doesn't cooperate. I also do companion planting too.

Until Mom told me, I had no idea such a thing existed. We've always just planted when it was convenient, and the weather was good. If there is a book about it, then it might not be a wives' tale after all.

 

[sssarawolf]

Pax I'm glad someone can replant something. If we tried that it would have to grow through the snow lol.

This week we need to dig the potato's and pick more beans. The cabbage and broccoli aren't doing well at all. The corn is still growing and no ears as yet. The bean row we planted 2 weeks after the others is just starting to get little beans. We might end p with some green tomatoes but that may be it. Last time that happened I made green tomato relish with them. Been a weird summer. Dh left the garden fence open and a deer got in there but it didnt do to much damage as far as he could see.

 

[ReneeT]

It's been a busy few days with grandkids - plus a few extra kids When you are retired, people get used to you being available - pick up this kid, drop off that one, go get a zillion chicken nuggets to feed them - plus a few more kids that appear out of the woodwork, grab the middle grandson, then pick up a couple more kids and take them to the school for JFL (junior football league) photos, birthday pool party at daughter's for one of middle grandson's friends (I prepped for it, than ran - I might be silly, but I'm not THAT silly!) and doing it while running on about 2 hours sleep a day. Don't know what's up with the not being able to sleep thing - and it's not because of napping because I haven't been - but I'll drag out the Benadryl tonight if I have to.

I had an insane moment yesterday morning when I found a loaf of cinnamon raisin bread in the bread drawer - I cut it in to cubes, then let it dry on a flour sack towel while I ran a couple of errands. I grabbed a half gallon jar and made up enough custard to use up the bread; then added the dried bread cubes to the custard and tucked it in the fridge. So while the coffee was dripping this morning, I found a square cassarole dish and 4 wide mouth half pint jars to put the bread pudding in to bake - just shut off the oven a few minutes ago. The temp is still in the mid 60's and there is a nice breeze coming in the side porch door so the house will cool down from the oven heat before it gets warm enough outside to be uncomfortable inside. The overnight temps are supposed to be in the high 50's/low 60's for the next several days; day time temps are supposed to be in the mid 70's one day, then the low 80's - not bad for August.

I still need to take middle grandson to get his school supplies - he's been busy with other things, but school starts on the 17th, so I need to drag him to the store and get it done. I may need to get school supplies for one of his friends as well - and it will be easier to drag grandson to the store if his friend is along.

Well, I've had three phone calls, 4 texts, a trip to the car and one to the garden since I started typing this, so I think I'm just going to go ahead and post it - then go back out to the garden to get those beans and tomatoes picked.

Take care all; hope you all have a good week!

 

[John Deere Girl]

Until Mom told me, I had no idea such a thing existed. We've always just planted when it was convenient, and the weather was good. If there is a book about it, then it might not be a wives' tale after all.

Farmer's Almanac has a list of the best days to plant, set eggs, breed animals, cut hair, clear weeds/brush. The Bible even talks about the signs in the stars.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Farmer's Almanac has a list of the best days to plant, set eggs, breed animals, cut hair, clear weeds/brush. The Bible even talks about the signs in the stars.

I guess I need to start buying one of those each year.

Speaking of stars.....This is a wives' tale, so don't have a clue if it works. I'm usually not out after dark. Dad thought it does. If there is a ring around the moon, count how many stars are on the inside of that ring. That will tell you how many days until it rains.

One of our favorites is sorta biblical based. If you get up in the morning, and everything outside has a red/orange hue to it based on the sky, it will rain that day. If the same thing happens late in the afternoon, there will be no rain for at least 24 hours. There are others, but I can't remember them. One is based on the positions of sun dogs from the sun, and another one based on whether the sun goes down behind a bank of clouds.

 

[John Deere Girl]

I guess I need to start buying one of those each year.

Speaking of stars.....This is a wives' tale, so don't have a clue if it works. I'm usually not out after dark. Dad thought it does. If there is a ring around the moon, count how many stars are on the inside of that ring. That will tell you how many days until it rains.

One of our favorites is sorta biblical based. If you get up in the morning, and everything outside has a red/orange hue to it based on the sky, it will rain that day. If the same thing happens late in the afternoon, there will be no rain for at least 24 hours. There are others, but I can't remember them. One is based on the positions of sun dogs from the sun, and another one based on whether the sun goes down behind a bank of clouds.

That is Bible based. I think it's a scripture in the Old Testament.

Thank you for sharing that about the moon! I'll keep an eye on that! I find this all fascinating!

You don't have to buy the Farmer's Almanac, PW posts each month the best days in the gardening section here, or you can do an internet search for those days.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

That is Bible based. I think it's a scripture in the Old Testament.

Thank you for sharing that about the moon! I'll keep an eye on that! I find this all fascinating!

You don't have to buy the Farmer's Almanac, PW posts each month the best days in the gardening section here, or you can do an internet search for those days.

Thanks for letting me know that about PW's thread. I don't go to that section very often.

There are other signs that we watch for. Some have to do with animals, birds, and insect's behavior. As an example...The other day, all day long, houseflies were accumulating on the outside of my doors. That is a sure sign that it will be stormy or rain before nightfall. It happened, too. If any of those flies happen to get inside, they will be very sluggish like they're sick or something.

 

[John Deere Girl]

Thanks for letting me know that about PW's thread. I don't go to that section very often.

There are other signs that we watch for. Some have to do with animals, birds, and insect's behavior. As an example...The other day, all day long, houseflies were accumulating on the outside of my doors. That is a sure sign that it will be stormy or rain before nightfall. It happened, too. If any of those flies happen to get inside, they will be very sluggish like they're sick or something.

I've noticed that about flies too, and they bite too before it rains. If I hear a mourning dove, we usually get rain in the next 24 hours.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I've noticed that about flies too, and they bite too before it rains. If I hear a mourning dove, we usually get rain in the next 24 hours.

I haven't heard that about the mourning doves, but I'll pay attention. We don't have a lot of those around here anymore, though. They've all been pretty much hunted out.

 

[kyrsyan]

Today is clean up/finish canning/etc day. I am running the last batch of cherry jam now. After lunch, I'll pull tomatoes and start ketchup.

Friend arrived with groceries last night and we discovered they sent the wrong soda. So I called today to see if we needed to print off the order to get them exchanged, and if we had to go back to the same store.

Instead I get told that they won't return/exchange them at the store. They will issue and online return for wrong item. And I should just dispose of what I received. I'm flabbergasted. What a waste of money. It makes absolutely no sense.

Anyways, off to pull the last two jars of jam and make lunch. And get a laundry load started.

 

[ReneeT]

I use LLewellyn's Moon Sign Book for planting, harvesting, etc... times. If you are a strong Christian, you may not want to use it. I ignore the astrology, etc... stuff and use the portions of it that are useful for my purposes.

My concern for Christians is related to some of the other books that they publish.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I wasn't going to say anything unless it came to pass. This morning, there were two houseflies and one bee in the kitchen. All three were sluggish. I thought to myself that no rain is predicted for today. Well, we just past having a severe thunderstorm warning. A really bad one. Tree limbs down all over our yard and a deluge of rain blowing sideways. Point being, the flies and bee forecasted the weather better than our local weatherman did for today's weather.

 

[Barb]

I had an uncle that was a small town barber and quite a few men got their hair cut by the sign of the moon.

 

[ReneeT]

It wasn't supposed to rain until later this evening but it started in about an hour ago - thank goodness! I'm not sure I'd have been able to stand up straight if I'd spent more time out in the garden And I've decided that I'm going to have to call the neighbor to install a bar I can grab on to so that I can get in and out of the shower even when my body is telling me "You want me to do what now?" I think there is a shower chair somewhere around here - I know we had one for my father, but we may have passed it on to someone else who needed it

 

[WanderLore]

Little Levi and i pulled all the beets we'd planted in spring. God a big pot full. have to find time to pickle them.
I use a good many signs.
Ring around the moon/rain and snow soon (12 hours or less).
Leaves turn up on trees. Flies buzzing you like mad. Rain.
Silly stuff like that but almost always true.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Little Levi and i pulled all the beets we'd planted in spring. God a big pot full. have to find time to pickle them.
I use a good many signs.
Ring around the moon/rain and snow soon (12 hours or less).
Leaves turn up on trees. Flies buzzing you like mad. Rain.
Silly stuff like that but almost always true.

Yeah, some of this stuff sounds too silly to be true, but it is more often true compared to what today's weather forecasters pump out.

 

[hd5574]

Maple trees flip their leaves over and the undersides reach for the sky before a rain...

 

[kyrsyan]

Ow. My whole body now hurts.

I pulled tomatoes to start ketchup. I was just starting to run them through the blender when friend showed up. So I stopped and we ran the van to the shop. One the way there the skies opened up and the rain just poured down. I hate driving in white-outs. And then the road was starting to flood from the rain sheeting off of the driveways. When we got there, it was an adventure to get out, drop the keys, then get back to friend's car. I was trying to not end up completely soaked to the bone. I didn't but I wasn't far from it.

Stopped for salads at Subway on the way home because the cold from the rain started to hit my body. Son was happy with that. He knows the stop means that there will something different for dinner.

Got home. Finished getting the ketchup ingredients into the maslin pan on the stove. I love that pan. Flipped laundry. Served dinner. And now the body is shutting down from the cold soaking. Because that rain is cooold. I think I'm going to go and try to warm up some. The body seems reluctant to do that. And it's too early for bed.

 

[connie]

Out here ou predominant winds are from the west. An old timer told us long ago that if the wind blows 2 days from the East we will get rain. We have found that to be pretty reliable.

 

[kyrsyan]

Half nap. The body demanded it. I took some aspirin and crashed. But not so deep that I didn't hear the timer for the ketchup. And I'm still heading to bed early.

Ketchup cooked down in record time. I love that maslin pan. The ketchup is in the cool down cycle now. Then I taste it to see how much sweetener is needed. Normally it's just enough to balance the acidity, which is nowhere near the levels in the recipes.

After that, it's another run through the blender. And then another cook down cycle. I think I may put it in the crockpot for the second one. It's less likely to burn.

Then it's on to onions. I was debating waiting until after I do salsa. But I think it's going to be another 2 weeks before there are enough tomatoes to do a salsa batch. Maybe longer. They are flowering again. But there are only a few actual tomatoes on the vine right now.

So 3 bags of sweet onions and one bag of red onions. As crazy as it sounds, I burn through those amazingly quickly. They are so incredibly useful.

And then next up is Cowboy Candy. I have a batch of peppers that we don't know what they are. They are long. They look like a small version of Hatch. Skinnier. They have about the heat of a jalapeno. So those are becoming Cowboy candy.

I'm letting the jalapeños go red. Then I'm canning chipolte.

It seems that more than jalapeno peppers got mismarked this year. It seems that very few of my peppers are what they were marked as. Fortunately my brother likes hot peppers, so he's willing to test them.

I made a habanero version of the hot cherry jam. And the heat disappeared again. Just a bit of bite at the end. Not sure what is going on there.

Anyways, going to do some cleanup and then head to bed.

 

[patriotgal]

Heading to Amish farm today for produce and jam. Working on finishing up painting part of remodel this week. Toying with idea of sending my little flock of chickens to winter with a friend. Would like to enjoy a winter without outdoor chores. Also learning to appreciate the ability to drop everything and go out of state to spend time with kids and grands.

One set of kids are starting to enjoy leaving us to watch their kids while they spend time together. After no vacations for 20 years we are making up for lost time. Filled last real holes in preps. Will be doing some canning in order to get rid of one of the freezers. Still learning the new job but loving the work from home part of it.

 

[briches]

Morning all! I hope everyone is doing great.
School has started for me, and most if my time and energy has been devoted to that this past week. If you are so inclined, please send prayers to us for a safe, successful school year.

“Preps“ this past week included a shopping trip to thrift where I was able to get some clothes for work. I have put on some weight, and didn’t want to pay full price for clothes that (hopefully) I won’t be wearing long. My GOAL is to continue to try to eat better and move more. I really need to.

Hubby’s garden is doing great. I am thankful he works so hard on it.

Anyway ….. thought I would post a quick checkin. Will post more as I am able.

 

[etdeb]

I guess I need to start buying one of those each year.

Speaking of stars.....This is a wives' tale, so don't have a clue if it works. I'm usually not out after dark. Dad thought it does. If there is a ring around the moon, count how many stars are on the inside of that ring. That will tell you how many days until it rains.

One of our favorites is sorta biblical based. If you get up in the morning, and everything outside has a red/orange hue to it based on the sky, it will rain that day. If the same thing happens late in the afternoon, there will be no rain for at least 24 hours. There are others, but I can't remember them. One is based on the positions of sun dogs from the sun, and another one based on whether the sun goes down behind a bank of clouds.

I always heard "red sky in morning,sailors take warning. Red sky at night sailors delite."

 

[kyrsyan]

I always heard "red sky in morning,sailors take warning. Red sky at night sailors delite."

Yup. I heard that all through my childhood. I didn't pay enough attention to know if it was correct.

 

[etdeb]

Yup. I heard that all through my childhood. I didn't pay enough attention to know if it was correct.

I have watch the sky many times and find it pretty accurate.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

What a mess we have to clean up in the yard, today. That storm, yesterday, brought down a dang lot of tree branches and twigs. All my patio furniture pillows got blown all over the yard, and I had to take the water hose to them to get all the mud off, before putting them back in place. 2 chairs were blown out into the yard, so those also had to be sprayed down. One huge banana pepper pot got blown over and one of my fern pots. Cary just hooked the garden wagon up to the lawn tractor and got started. I've got to get out there and help him. I've been doing laundry, changing bed sheets, and cleaning the bedroom. I thought I would check in here, first.

 

[ReneeT]

Two and a half inches of rain - it started in around 4pm and continued off and on throughout most of the night. I'd sink up to my ankles or more if I tried to go out to the garden to pick anything. I didn't get all the tomatoes picked yesterday - my back wore out before the rest of me did; I looked like Igor from Young Frankenstein when I came out of the garden

Hubby carried the storage tub of beans that I'd gotten picked and washed to the living room; he and I got most of them snapped for canning - I got to watch truck racing, oh joy Lucky him, he's off work today so will be able to snap the rest of them so that I can get them canned tomorrow either before or after I take middle grandson and his buddy to get school supplies.

We have more rain in the forecast but I should be able to get the rest of the ripe tomatoes and beans out of the garden Tuesday and early Wednesday - at least the ones that the raccoons haven't taken a bite or two out of.

I've determined that the yellow and red cherry tomatoes are going to sprawl in a raised bed next year for my ease of picking - I caged them this year in 6' tall x 1' diameter cages but they grew right out of them.

Well, I've been up and down from the computer a dozen times doing chores, so I'd better get ready to head out - I'm having lunch with a cousin, then visiting with an aunt and uncle, followed by a trip to the Amish bulk food store. Pretty sure there will be a nap in store after I get home - people-ing wears me out!!

 

[moldy]

Renee..you sound like you are feeling so much better after retirement!

 

[SouthernBreeze]

We just had another severe thunderstorm roll over the top of us. Lots and lots of rain, hail, and some awful thunder and lightning. We had to unplug for a while. Thankfully, we didn't get any really strong winds like yesterday. Just a couple of hours ago, we got the yard cleaned up from yesterday's storm. When this warning was given, I went out and gathered all my patio pillows and put them away this time. We've got a huge burn pile from all the tree limbs.

I got all my household chores done for today. Making spaghetti for supper using the tomatoes from the garden this morning. I was surprised to find a few that were ripe enough to use in the sauce.

I could use some prayers for my upcoming macular degeneration specialist visit tomorrow if any of you are so inclined. I have no idea what kind of news she will give me, and I'm a bit nervous about the whole thing. Cary, too. I've heard that those eye injections are quite painful!

 

[ReneeT]

Prayers offered for your specialist visit for your macular degeneration tomorrow, SB.

 

[packyderms_wife]

I guess I need to start buying one of those each year.

Speaking of stars.....This is a wives' tale, so don't have a clue if it works. I'm usually not out after dark. Dad thought it does. If there is a ring around the moon, count how many stars are on the inside of that ring. That will tell you how many days until it rains.

One of our favorites is sorta biblical based. If you get up in the morning, and everything outside has a red/orange hue to it based on the sky, it will rain that day. If the same thing happens late in the afternoon, there will be no rain for at least 24 hours. There are others, but I can't remember them. One is based on the positions of sun dogs from the sun, and another one based on whether the sun goes down behind a bank of clouds.

I post a monthly planting guide in the Garden sub forum here at TB. It seems to be pretty accurate.

Demand the oral medications for your macular degeneration instead. The eye docs don't like prescribing them because there's no money to be made by doing so. Those eye injections count as "surgery".

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I post a monthly planting guide in the Garden sub forum here at TB. It seems to be pretty accurate.

Demand the oral medications for your macular degeneration instead. The eye docs don't like prescribing them because there's no money to be made by doing so. Those eye injections count as "surgery".

Yeah, I can imagine they are pretty expensive, too. I have no idea if I'll have to have them. Some do and some don't depends on what type of MD one has, I think.

I've checked out those threads, PW, and they might be a big help next year. We don't plan to have a fall garden.

 

[Digger]

After the storm with the lightning strike, I found a piece of shingle in the yard. The insurance company sent up an adjuster and we need a new roof. We have hail damage from some earlier storms. So now we need to figure out what we want for an addition. We need to do it now before the new roof. We need a handicap bathroom. We intend for this to be our forever home, so we need to think ahead. There are days now that a shower seat would be nice. I just can't picture what we need to build.

We have been getting rain off and on for several days, over an inch so far. It's raining again now and will for several more hours. The yard has seed pods knee high. I can't keep up with the garden weeds or the mowing. I did can 7 qts of green beans and froze more tomatoes. I saw where the sweet potatoes are cracking the ground. They have been blooming a couple of weeks.

I have am eye check up today. Then tomorrow I see my chiropractor and my dr. My dr is a check up. I am hoping that the chiropractor will help with this upper back and arm pain. We will see what he thinks. I would like to get things straightened out before we do hay again. My arms feel weak when it is bothering me. I won't go back to the rheumatoid dr till next month to see what my blood work says. I don't really think that is it. But I am not a dr and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn last night.

Have a good day and stay safe everyone

 

[ReneeT]

Good Morning, All!!

The 'Holiday Inn' got a grin from me, Digger - hope the chiro helps!

Hummingbird feeders are filled, porch kitties have been fed, and the coffee pot has finished dripping so I should be fairly coherent - at least as much as I ever am

Yesterday, I had a lovely lunch with my cousin, then made a stop at the Amish bulk food store. I called my Aunt to let her know I was in her town - she was out running errands so swooped by and picked me up. Another Amish bulk food store, a peach orchard, and two other shops later, she dropped me off at my van and I followed her home. I stayed 3 hours, it was so good to see them again. I need to do better at staying in touch. I started out with 22 bio aunts and uncles but have only 2 biological aunts and uncles left - and 4 that married in. I had 49 cousins in my generation; we have lost 8.

Hubby is off work today, so once he is up and has finished his breakfast, we're going to start canning green beans. Once they are in the canner, I'll head out to the garden and pick the rest of the beans and the tomatoes while he babysits the canner. I've never frozen green beans (never had enough freezer room) but plan to try at least a few bags this year.

Who here has frozen tomatoes and would like to give me some tips? I would use them in cassaroles and soups. I can them by blanching to peel the skins off, scooping out seeds, and quartering before I put them in the jars.

Well, I need to get going on my regular chores so I can get those beans taken care of...

Take care all; stay safe out there!