Dehydrating Frozen Vegetables

Another lovely sunny day today.  We got the net tent over the gazebo  this morning although not without some problems.  It took a bit to get the whole thing over the gazebo and, once we did, we realized it wasn't high enough.  The gazebo frame has a peak and the bug ten roof is flat  so it was about 18 inches from the floor.  After a number of discussions, we decided that taking the whole thing down and putting it inside the frame would work.  And it has.  There were enough ties to secure it to the frame and the net reaches to the deck.
The honey berry bushes we planted 3 years ago are covered in flowers so we hope this is the year we start getting returns on our investment.  If they bear fruit as I believe they will, I will have enough to make all our jam plus lots for baking and eating.
And speaking of eating:  a friend on my on line quilt group shared a link on dehydrating vegetables with a difference.  I have used mine for preserving excess fruit but this video shows how you can do the same thing with frozen vegetables.  It is quite interesting so I hope you take a moment to watch.



https://youtu.be/hafdtE5Wz_I

Blessings,

A New Gazebo

If you have been reading this blog for any length of time, you will know that we live in an area where spring brings not only flowers and birds but also flying bugs.  the latter make it very difficult to sit outside and enjoy the former.  I have been wanting to get a gazebo with screening for some time but hadn't been able to find what I want in a price range I could afford.  This spring we came up with a solution.  A friend gave us a bug tent that had never been used in the size I wanted.  I ordered a gazebo without the cover and today we put it up.  We don't have the tent over it yet but I think it will work really well.  It does take up most of the deck that we can live with that for this year.  Perhaps next spring we can enlarge the deck.
I also got another bird feeder this week as we have a plethora of birds.  I am going to have to put up another hummingbird feeder as well as we have at least two families and the males are not in a sharing mood.
I am still making masks although the orders have slowed down.  Both our Premier and Prime Minister have been promoting the wearing of them for when you can't social distance so that may pick things up again.
Blessings,

Gardening Time

Once you are retired, it is hard to keep track of what day you are on.  It is worse with the pandemic and not having the usual meetings and events to keep you on track.  This week it is even harder with the May 24th weekend held a week before May 24.  Not sure why that happened.  I know the holiday's official name is Victoria Day as we acknowledge the old Queen's birthday but it is supposed to be held on or close to May 24.  Not a biggy but disconcerting all the same.
I have finished the quilt that was on my frame as well as a number of additional face masks.  Have also been working on issues related to our local art group and it store.  I have been spending time  setting up an on line store through our web site (bfacc.org) as well as overseeing some other issues.  I enjoy doing that as it helps to remind me that this virus and it related problems are just temporary.
Apparently, nature has gone along with this being the Victoria Day weekend and has cooperated with the weather.  The 24th is traditional sign that we can plant our gardens but it is warm enough to get them done now.  I am still a bit hesitant about putting the tomato plants in the ground but everything else has been done.
We are going to try growing Brussel sprouts this year so will see how they do.  Have you planted your garden yet?
Blessing,

A Quick Trip

We took a quick trip to Huntsville today to replace hubby's laptop.  It has been acting up for some time now so we took the plunge and got a new one.  I feel agitated when going into the stores even though I am wearing a mask, most people are doing the social distancing and staff are always cleaning.  It is such a relief for me to be back home.
I loaded photos of my masks onto a couple of on-line sites today.  I have a couple more to do so that will be tomorrows project plus finishing a quilt top.
In addition to selling them, I make and donate masks to front line workers and their families.

Blessings,

Mother's Day

Despite the restrictions we are observing because of the pandemic, I had a good Mother's Day.  It wasn't what we planned but still good.  We originally were going to the farm where my mother in law lives with her daughter.  Our plans were to bring her something and visit  through the window.  However, it was too cold to do that so we did a video chat.   I had a nice surprise early Saturday morning.  Our church usually does brunch cooked by the men plus a little gift for each of the women on mothering Sunday.  I knew that, as we weren't meeting together, that it wouldn't happen this year.  Saturday, hubby was outside getting in some wood when I heard him talking to someone.  I wasn't feeling well so I just stayed on the couch.  Later when he came in, he retrieved the vase  in the photo above with the carnation flowers from the front porch where they had been left by one of the men.  All the women got one.  Such a lovely thought.

This bird house  was made by a friend and was my gift to me.   Bob has been doing a making and selling these houses so we are going to have a lot of happy birds in the area this year.

Isn't this little girl a little darling in her face mask?  Her grandmother who works in health care wanted some masks to protect the children and I was glad to make them for her.  I hadn't done one for anyone was young as this little princess so it was fun doing the little extras.  I put lace on the top edge and a tie to keep it on her head as I thought the ear elastic might be uncomfortable for her.
Blessings,

New Floor

Hubby and I were given quite a lot of laminate flooring that was taken from a neighbour's house that is being renovated.  I have been wanting to remove the carpet from the master bedroom and install laminate so this gift was very much appreciated.  As always with these projects, there is a lot of work.  First we had to find somewhere in the house to put the flooring.  We managed to stack the majority of it in the sunroom.  Next step will be to disassemble the bed in the guest room and stand it against the wall so we can use the space for the furniture from the master.
When it comes to the removal of the carpet and installing the new floor, we are hiring some friends.  Neither hubby nor I (definitely not I) are in any shape to do this.  I think we may just go away for a couple of days and come back to our new floor.  I think there may be enough of the laminate to do the second bedroom.  We will see how it goes.
I don't like carpeted floors.  I think they are dirty and anyone with breathing problems is not going to do well with them.  It has been great getting rid of the one in the living room and now the main bedroom is next.  The only room left with carpeting will be the guest room and we will probably leave that one.
I am hoping that the corvid 19 virus will have left by early June as we already have an overnight trip planned to our home town then.  If not, then whenever it gets done will be fine,
Blessings,