Preserving and New Recipes - Preparing for a Harsh Winter...

I think that it's going to be a rough winter. All the signs are there. We need it! We woke up one morning to find our windows covered in snow. I love it! Has the slowdown begun? No, not yet. It is time to prepare for a harsh winter.

This is just a prequel to what I believe is coming. 

Number One Husband on snow removal duty.

I was looking for cilantro at the store recently. I tried three stores to no avail. I was making jalapeño hot sauce and needed it for my recipe. I had two pounds of jalapeños just waiting. I finally found some a week later and a friend also picked some up for me while at another store. Fortunately, my jalapeños were still in great shape.  

You can find the recipe here: Jalapeño Hot Sauce    FYI: I remove the seeds and pith for the less hot version. 

I ended up with a little less than three bunches of cilantro after I made the hot sauce, but I had a plan to try and preserve the rest of the cilantro. I chose the freezing in a little oil method which worked out perfectly.

I just added a little olive oil to a blender along with the cilantro. I coarsely chopped the mixture making sure that I didn't liquify it. I placed the mixture into ice cube trays, covered it with plastic wrap and froze it solid. Then I placed the cubes into a storage bag and back into the freezer they went. Now I have enough preserved cilantro in the freezer for the whole winter. 

  

I also solved my expensive new-found love for pumpkin ice cream. At $9 for 16 oz, I had to come up with a better option and I found one. This stuff is really good! 

I found a new recipe for a healthy and tasty salad dressing. The stuff in the store was just not cutting it anymore. I was given this little book and the first recipe out of the gate was a winner. The best part was that I had everything on hand. Most of these dressings are made from everyday pantry items. Another win! I am on a roll... 

 

Enjoy!

Lady Smith

Just in Time Without a Minute to Spare...

I am so glad that we finished up most of our winter preps inside, but now it's time to step up and finish up with our outside preps, because ice formed on the chicken's water overnight. It is all a downhill race to get things buttoned up and ready for winter now. 

This is where Number One Husband shines. The natural plant life and grasses must be cut down to prevent drifts around the solar panels, house, driveway and cistern. We had a good year as far as rain, so the natural plant life grew abundantly without interference from drought. Hoses and implements must be put away or they will be lost until the spring thaw. The access pipe to the cistern must be protected from drifts to make sure we have water all winter. Vehicles and trailers can also cause drifts, or they can be drifted in if not parked in the proper areas. The septic access points need to be covered in case our septic freezes. 

• Saturday

  

  High: 60 °F

  Slight Chance
  Showers then
  Showers and
  Breezy

• Saturday Night

  

  Low: 35 °F

  Showers

• Sunday

  

  High: 50 °F

  Chance
  Rain/Snow
  then Slight
  Chance
  T-storms

• Sunday Night

  

  Low: 29 °F

  Partly Cloudy

• 
  
  

It is just a hurried time of pulling out winter gear and putting away spring, summer and maybe fall gear. We have late rains and early snow arriving tomorrow. It looks like we may jump right into winter. Nothing will stick around until the ground gets cold, but in one month the ice will start forming on the edges of the nearby lakes. Overnight the forecast changed from rain to rain/snow. 

I hope to see snow with the fall colors on our upcoming viewing trip. We mapped out the first leg of our trip, but we haven't decided on the route to take back home. I finished up our emergency car kit for winter and it is in place in our vehicle where it will stay until I change it out for the summer months. Depending on the brutality of winter, I may add our extreme cold weather sleeping bags, plus emergency clothing. 

We will see how it all plays out. We usually hunker down in the winter months and only travel when the weather permits us to do safely or when we absolutely have to. This is probably why I enjoy wintertime so much, because I can do it safely from my warm home. 

I have a short window to make meals before the Sabbath begins and I am so ready for a rest after this week of busyness. So, until next time be safe and blessed.

Shalom,

Mrs. Smith

Preparing for Winter and More

I have been on a roll lately. Not only did I change the bedding from summer to winter, but I also changed the duvet cover and accent pillows and replaced old pillows with new pillows. I washed and hung out to dry all of the sheets, blankets and a load of regular laundry on a very windy day. Everything dried in record time, but I had sheets and blankets wrapped around my head and body, so I had to recruit Number One Husband to help hang them up. I always get tickled as I try to find my way out when this happens.

I also organized the storage room and put away some summer clothes, hats and shoes to make room for cold weather items. I cleaned out my closet too. I still have to put my summer clothes into storage. (✔✔✓ All finished!) Now it's time to help Number One Husband get his closet all buttoned up. It looks like a nearby peak will get 21 inches of snow this weekend. We will get rain most likely, but late rains usually mean frozen pipes and septic systems. Ugh!

The blankets and sheets are now stored correctly according to seasons. Searching for stuff irritates me and is such a waste of time in my opinion. I lost our Dremel after we hung our blinds last fall. I still search for it whenever I am in the building where I (put it away) lost it.

I baked French bread, but we no longer want to use plastic bread bags to store our bread loaves in, so I searched online for alternatives to no avail. I needed an extra-large, preferably glass or ceramic, container with a lid. I temporarily stored the bread in two large Dutch ovens, but I had to rearrange my entire baking rack in order to use them.

I finally figured out that I actually had what I needed on hand after giving it some more thought. The reason I was not satisfied with what I found online was because replacing one toxin for another was not a solution.

I can easily store two large loaves of sandwich bread or
three loaves of French bread along with rolls or buns.

I organized and cleaned out the contents of my purse and I changed purses and wallets. This was my last chore for the evening that I accomplished before I crawled into bed for a good night's rest. I woke up cold around 5 am. I had taken off one of the blankets because it was still too warm inside the house. Big mistake. It was 30* outside and 57* inside. I wrapped up in my robe and crawled back into bed and slept in late. Aah! Just what I needed. 

We ran into town to fill up with gas for our upcoming trip to view the fall leaves in the high country. I also needed to use a raincheck for two 15-pound bags of potatoes for $5 bucks each that would expire before we go grocery shopping sometime next month. I was shocked to see rotten leaking bags of potatoes. I managed to dig out two bags that were not leaking and full of rotten potato stench. Two potatoes in the whole 30 pounds that I purchased just need to be washed where they had been damaged during the harvest. I separated them and I will use them first. I store our potatoes in a cardboard box in a dark cool closet. I do the same with onions. They will last for months using this method even longer during cooler months. 

I started buying produce from this super nice store because they have better quality fruits and vegetables for just pennies more. This is why I was so shocked. I've been hearing and seeing videos about grocery stores trying to sell rotten produce. The rest of the store's produce was just beautiful. Maybe the condition just got overlooked. I saved $9 on potatoes. They also had Honeycrisp apples for $1.27 a pound. I couldn't pass them up, so I grabbed a few for our trip. 

I was able to catch up with other household chores that needed attention that did not get done while we were sick. It's amazing how much better we feel. Our appetites are increasing along with our stamina. I didn't eat until 5 pm and Number One Husband only had a bowl of oatmeal until then. We have both lost around 10 pounds. There is much more to accomplish, but it will have to wait for another day. 

Shalom,

Mrs. Smith

 

Preparing For A Long Winter...

Preparing for winter isn't just about getting ready to be exposed to the elements. We must also prepare ourselves to have less interaction with other people. During the winter months, people tend to hibernate inside their homes. We are no different, however, living remotely in the Rockies can make a trip to the Post office or grocery store dangerous. We plan ahead using weather forecasts as our guide, but it is inevitable that we will get stuck traveling in a rogue storm. So, we stay home as much as possible in hostile weather conditions.

Winter is my favorite time of the year. I enjoy passing the time during those long winter days with a good book. Reading helps with the stir craziness that can come with being stuck inside with very little interaction with the outside world. Reading also keeps the mind fresh and alert. Adventures and travels can be experienced without leaving the house with a little imagination. Skills can be learned and honed; education and self-improvement can be had by all. The possibilities are endless.

Here are some books that I gathered from the thrift store over the last few months for next to nothing. $.75 to $1.50 a piece. Most of them have never been opened and others had some slight wear. 

Books contain a lot of information and hours and hours of entertainment. For a small amount of money, a used book can be purchased, however, utilizing the free services that a library provides is even better for those who have access to one. We have a small library that we use mostly during the nicer parts of year. We can request certain books that we would like to read or movies that we would like to watch at no charge, however, some books need to be owned. Libraries usually have a yearly book sale to raise money. I am in heaven at these events. I purchase stacks of books. Our little library has a storage shed out back where books can be purchased year around. I check it every time I visit.

So, pour a cup of hot tea, pull up a chair and break out a book this winter when the weather is unkind outside. Untold adventures await those who read books. 

Mrs. Smith

Preparing For Winter

Cooler weather is on the way. It will be a welcome relief from the extreme heat that we have been experiencing for months now. It looks like we will be skipping the 70's and going straight into the 60's. Winter is not far behind. The temperatures drop into the 30's at night later next week Snow on some of the peaks will return too. Pikes Peaks is forecasted to receive 11 inches of snow next week.  

• Monday
  
  

  

  Showers and
  Breezy

  High: 61 °F

• Monday
  Night

  

  Chance
  T-storms and
  Breezy

  Low: 42 °F

• Tuesday
  
  

  

  Slight Chance
  T-storms then
  Chance
  T-storms

  High: 63 °F

• Tuesday
  Night

  

  Chance
  T-storms then
  Chance
  Showers

  Low: 42 °F

• Wednesday
  
  

  

  Showers
  Likely

  High: 62 °F

The changing of the season is always exciting and refreshing. There is always work to do beforehand to get ready for the change. Our new efficient heater has been installed and is ready to use, the propane tank is full, we are in the process of securing new insulating window treatments, we also had new tires put on the car. All of these preparations will help us save money and stay warm and safe in the upcoming season.

Now, we need to make sure that our larder is full in case we are unable to get off the ranch due to blizzard conditions, large amounts of snow or other hazardous conditions. It is sound advice to be prepared for winter when living remotely. Extra canned goods and other pantry items are on our list for upcoming shopping trips. It doesn't take much to ensure that we don't run out during a long-lasting storm. 

I will start putting together our emergency car kit. The kit will include ready to eat foods that can be frozen like granola bars and dried snacks. Tea and powdered drinks will help keep us hydrated. Candles, canned Heat and a portable stove, matches, hand warmers, gloves, wool socks, hats, blankets, flashlights and a snow shovel will help us stay healthy and safe in case we are stranded. I will store all of this in a large basket in the vehicle. 

Along with freezing temperatures comes other inconveniences like a frozen water main or frozen septic line. We really never know what we may encounter, but having a back-up for every system is necessary. We have learned a lot while living remotely off-grid in different climates. We still have more to experience and learn about this lifestyle. 

• 
  

Mrs. Smith

Just Another Day On The Ranch...

We watered the buffalo herd and the cows yesterday. This guy was kind enough to pose for pictures. He is a really awesome bull...

He was very chatty...

Check out his name on his tag...

The buffalo herd was not far off...

These are Born to Boogie's pen mates...

This female buffalo is injured and has to live away from the other buffalo for her own safety... 

We are getting ready for winter around here. We had new tires put on our vehicle, ordered a more efficient heater for our home and are in the process of ordering insulating window shades. I just ordered color samples. I have always loved not having to have window coverings until this year. With the heat and the cost of propane I am willing to cover up the windows and our beautiful views of the mountains.

Mrs. Smith

Emergency Winter Car Kit And Quilts...

• • Saturday
    Night

    

    Chance
    Rain/Snow and
    Breezy

    Low: 30 °F

  • Sunday
    
    

    

    Breezy.
    Rain/Snow
    Likely then
    Chance Snow
    Showers

    High: 46 °F

  • Sunday
    Night

    

    Chance Snow
    Showers and
    Breezy

    Low: 22 °F

  • Monday
    
    

    

    Chance Snow
    Showers and
    Breezy

    High: 40 °F

Trying to make it to November1st before turning on the heat was just a pipe dream. The heat has been coming on every morning for a little over a week now. It was 20 degrees one morning last week. The chicken water freezes over every night. The daytime temperatures are still warm. It was 71 degrees today. That's a 50 degree swing in temperatures within a few hours. 

I spent most of the day washing blankets and afghans. We already have our heavy comforter and Winter blankets on the bed. We put our flannel sheets on the bed yesterday. A couple of the blankets I washed today will be going into the Emergency Winter Cart Kit. We have extreme sleeping bags, but since we wear our Winter gear whenever we go out I decided to use fleece blankets instead. I hope that I don't regret that decision. 

This is the first quilt that I had a hand in making. My Grandma Ruby and I made it together. I'm pretty sure that I have seen her in most of the polyester pantsuits that she made the quilt squares out of. 

The backing is a wonderfully soft flannel material that I chose from her scrap box. I decided to add this quilt to our Winter Car Kit also.

Freshly washed quilts, blankets and afghans. I still have a few more items to wash.

One year, my "Secret Sister" gave me a number 10 can decorated with fabric on the outside and a car kit on the inside. It was such a cool idea that I decided to continue using it in our car. The fabric faded long ago, so I re-decorated the can with a black and white print out of a truck.

Everything fits nicely inside.

So far I have crackers, peanuts, a candle and matches inside the can. I will purchase and add hand warmers and some candy from the Dollar Tree the next time I go by there. 

We both have a small reusable bag that we keep our gloves, hats, neck gators and scarves in. We carry these to the car whenever we leave the house, because we also use them everyday during the Winter months. The blankets that I am using are king sized fleece blankets. We have sleeping bags made out of the same material, but they are stowed away somewhere. The size of the blankets offers us several layers of protection. I wear fleece pajamas under my ski pants when I'm outside for added warmth. Fleece really keeps the body warm.

I added two pairs of heavy duty Winter gloves to the Kit. I put the contents of the kit into this sturdy basket and placed it in the car. Other items like a shovel and other Winter tools are placed in the back of the car too. 

Grandma Ruby made this quilt when she was a young girl with her mother.

It has warmed many bodies over the years. It is faded, thin and well worn in places.

I need to make some repairs to the quilt. I probably will not use it anymore. I will just display it in our home somewhere.

Things To Be Happy About:

Fresh sun dried blankets

Old memorable quilts

Grilled split chicken breasts seasoned with salt and pepper

Loving God and loving each other

Writing notes on scraps of paper

Bubbles in boiling water

Watching a front loading washer wash clothes

Nail polish colors

Pottery

Mrs. Smith