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Friday, September 30, 2011

A Week, in Review

Honestly, I thought when I retired I'd have more time to blog but the opposite is true. Now my days are so filled I never finish all the things I want to do. This week has been another busy one at our house--from dealing with garden produce, having visitors, cooking, getting the foundation finished, working on storytelling and keeping up with eBay, the days just zoom past. Yet when I try to look back to see what I did, I'm stumped! What did I do all week? Thank goodness for photos--they remind me.

First, the peppers finished drying. This is what's left of a half-bushel of sweet peppers--red, yellow, purple and green. I loved it that they kept their color when they dried. I did these in the dehydrator.

The herb garden took until August to take off, and now it's overflowing with good-smelling and good-tasting herbs. I harvested parsley this week, and dried it in the oven with the pilot light. I prefer not to use the dehydrator for herbs because it almost cooks them, I think. The oven temp is perfect.

Two trays full of parsley = one pint.
eBay has kept me hopping too. I keep adding to the things listed for sale and ship packages almost daily. Amazon book sales are not nearly so brisk! This week's challenge was a child's hanging horse swing. It sold to a lady in Nevada and I had a time figuring out how to pack it. We finally custom-crafted a box for it so the shipping was within reason and I sent it out today. Typically I have 3-5 packages going out and I have learned how to schedule a pick up by the mailman so we don't need to run to town to ship them. I do all postage online but a lot of packages are too big for the mailbox. Jack the Mailman doesn't mind coming down our driveway to pick them up and it save us time and money.

My storytelling friend Donna came to visit on Tuesday. We had a grand time! We talked storytelling and anything else that came up. I made corn chowder and sweet tea for lunch and we strung my hot peppers and shucked the Indian corn as we talked.

The table was so pretty by the time we were finished:

Meanwhile I've been working at adding things lie this neat made-in-Yugoslavia enamel kettle to my eBay listings and working on getting contracts and RFP's mailed out. I also picked a couple bushels of pears for the cellar, and Larry worked on this:


He finished up today--so the foundation for our new log room is done. Now to find the money for the subfloor so we can start stacking logs.

Today was paperwork: contracts and so forth. Then this weekend I'll be away at a meeting.

So that's how it goes: garden, eBay, storytelling, log room, cooking. Not a bad way to live, when I think about it.

12 comments:

  1. oh my, Sue, so many common interests. I love those glass jars. I am a "coffee jar", canning jar, collector and I like yours! I like the drying and the preserving. I like visitors and story telling. I like that black patio table; I think I have one just like it. lol And I absolutely love that you and Larry are laying the foundation for another log room. And yes, don't the days just whiz by.

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  2. You are so busy but it's a good busy! Not the type of busy that I have been lately. I can't wait to see more on your log addition! That is so exciting!

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  3. A good day. Capturing summer in glass jars, pepper garlands, friends, tasks completed.
    - Joy

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  4. Nance, we have got to get together some time! You're right--lots in common :)

    I bet you're busy too, Angela--with kids still at home, that accounts for most of your time!

    It has been good, Joy. I've been loving the photos of your work on your booth and the things you refurbish. You're so talented. Wish you were closer so I could see all that stuff in person. It would probably be damaging to my wallet, though :)

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  5. You sure are one busy lady but I bet when you lay down at night and reflect on the days activities you are very happy with your accomplishments.
    As for Ebay...it's getting harder to ship things it seems. It feel like I spend more time in packaging than anywhere else in the process.

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  6. Visiting your blog is like a mini-vacation for me, so very pretty! Thanks!

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  7. There never seem to be quite enough hours in the day do there? You look as though you've had a very productive week one way and another though. Have a good weekend.

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  8. Goodness Susie! What a busy woman you are! I love reading this and thinking that I can't wait to retire, but I think you made retirement a new profession! You're so busy, but sound so content! And that to me? Accomplishments! Love you, please don't work too hard. :)

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  9. I'd like to know of the temperature of your "pilot" light in your oven..the lowest I have is "warm". I don't want to use the dehydrator for my parsley either..thanks

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  10. "busy hands, happy heart", right Granny Sue?! Your heart must be filled to overflowing, as methinks you've been exceptionally busy! I can almost smell all those herbs and goodies drying in your kitchen! Happy October, and many blessings to you and yours!

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  11. Ginny, I sent you an email about drying in an electric or electronic ignition oven. Basically you can turn on the oven to heat it up, turn it off and put the herbs in, and then turn it on for a few minutes at a time several times throughout the day until your herbs are dry. It's a pain, but it works. Just don't walk off and leave it or you'll have crispy herbs. Not that I ever did that...

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  12. Rowan, you're right-but the choices are usually ones I like :)

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