It's been a long time since I updated and boy has a lot happened!! The COVID restrictions in my area haven't been too awful. Idaho tends to allow people to do what's right without a lot of mandates at this point. We did have some lockdowns at the beginning as a lot did. But they lifted the worst of the restrictions by June. We've been going to our church meetings on Sunday morning and Wednesday evening since late May (or early June?). We've split our fairly small meetings into smaller meetings just to be safe and have worn masks as well. Technology has been amazing since we can listen to our G.Meetings over the phone for those unable to be there physically. I've ended listening in a few times due to there being exposure from the office (two different times). I'll be very thankful when the worst of this pandemic is over! However for now the infections are on the rise again so it may be a long winter!
My yard kept me quite busy this year and made it very easy to stay home. The video I posted earlier this summer gives a pretty good idea of my yard. I added three more flower beds this Fall in areas that will make it easier to mow. It's hard to believe that just two years ago my place had no fence, no shed and was basically all grass!!! I'll post some pictures below. I got a lot of the produce canned/froze. Beans and peas got froze. Tomatoes got canned (salsa, tomato soup, diced tomatoes). The peppers and onions got added to the salsa and tomato soup and I also froze some of the bell peppers. Cucumbers got used for bread and butter pickles and summer squash got turned into squash relish (super yummy cooked with chicken!!). I also got some apricots from a friend and made some apricot jam for the first time. It's super yummy plus 'low sugar'; a perfect combination! It was interesting figuring out how to spice things up without garlic! I think there was success! This winter will tell the story as everything starts getting used. Carrots are just being used to cook with, I didn't plant my large planting of them soon enough in the Spring and didn't have very good germination. Lesson learned!!! Winter squash did pretty well all things considered. I brought in new dirt and there was some chemical in it and it caused things to get off to a VERY slow start. Once the chemical started dissipating some they started growing much better but it made fruit set happen way later then typical. However most of them got far enough along to cure properly when I picked them. I didn't realize that the skin would harden AFTER harvest. The butternut squashes did that luckily. I love butternut but there was only a couple out of 12 that were technically ready when I had to pick them. I've used a few, they're so good!! I got lots of herbs saved as well! Lots of basil, sage, rosemary, parsley and some thyme. I didn't get near as much thyme saved as I would have like. There's also some Agastache saved for tea. I have some liquorish flavored and more a citrus/mint type as well. I want to grow some Chamomile next year to dry and have over the winter. I also got some calendula petals dried. I've read that it can be used for tea. By tables and counters were covered this summer with everything laid out and drying/ripening. But they're finally empty (until next year!). I ended up tossing the last few tomatoes. I was so done with it! :) The first part of August I managed to break my little toe. So my flip flops got lots of use and the last part of the fence area I was going to dig up and prepare didn't get done. Was quite bummed! I do have a cold frame that has some radishes, greens, swiss chard, shallots, onion, carrots and lettuce planted in it. So far they're still living. I planted it about 3 weeks too late so if things manage to live through the winter I probably won't really get a harvest until mid-spring time.
Christina is on a different path now. She's working at Target in Portland now and will be headed to the Air Force boot camp in January or February! Although that could change! She's with her grandma (Dave's mom) in Vancouver. Things seem to be going okay for her.
Erika and her family are doing well. Jameson turned a year old last Sunday! Teagan is 8 and Scarlet is 7. Time sure does fly! And then there will be a fourth come May! I never dreamed I'd be grandma to 4!! I did get over to see everyone the end of September. Made the birthday party for Scarlet and birthday dinner for Bobbie. It sure was good to see everyone!!!!
Also got to see my dad this Fall! He is so done with being cooped up. Since he's in a foster care home in Oregon he's pretty locked down. I was only able to visit him outside for 1 hour each day. He's doing okay overall but it really seems like to me he's going down hill a little bit.
Per usual this time of year has been hard. For some reason it's been a bit harder then the last few years. But I am very thankful for the help the comes from my Father. The odd thing is to begin with it's totally subconscious. I've always found it so intriguing how the body just knows when special dates are near without me even thinking about it. I very much felt earlier this year the need to be strong spiritually. This year has proven why in every which way. It'll be good a Thanksgiving to go to some friends for dinner. I'll bring green beans and bacon. YUM!!!! I've an offer for Christmas but for now am getting a don't go signal. Not sure why though! It'd be seeing an old friend that I knew in Klamath. It would be good to see her and maybe some cousins. I'll see if I get a different signal a bit later! I've had to face results of not listening often enough to listen now!
I'm very curious where this next year will take us. Between COVID and politics it could be a very rocky/interesting year. Something tells me even mores so then this year. One thing that is a given is that whatever happens is what is supposed to happen. It'll be used the way it needs to be. Who would have thought we'd be living through a pandemic and everyone the world over would be wearing masks. Times are certainly crazy!
