SUPPER CLUB - Tuesday, Aug 4

[purrfect-lady]

Good early morning,

I've been awake since 12:30. I really hate sleepless nights. Yesterday I was able to get two bindings made before we left for Mineral. The day wasn't too bad, all things considered. We didn't get home until after 4pm. Later this morning - 7:30 - we both have dental appts and from there we're headed to Seattle for Bill's dermatology appt to have a mole on his temple checked out. We should be home again by 2-ish. Hopefully. I will have to sit and wait in the car during his appt so I'll take a book and a hand project.

LORI - You just explained it to yourself - like the soup but hate the peas whole - they taste different! I actually love peas, but then I like almost all veggies. Nice of your DH to make supper but I'm not much of a roast fan either. Leftovers are better, made into soup, hash, or pasties.

IRISH - congrats on finishing those blocks! I already mailed mine and I know a few others have finished, too. Should be a fun quilt to have for the holidays! Do you happen to know any of the authors of some of those books? What fun to have so many to choose from. For a long time I kept a big basket of unread books near our bed so I could just choose one. Handy for sleepless nights - like this one!

JANA - sorry your internet went down, but happy about the grout! Weeks without your kitchen would be a long time!

BECCA - Hope you are safe from the storm. You are inland but I know you can still have effects from it.
Sounds like your family is CA's best medicine! You're a reader, too. What are some of your favorite authors? I love Mary Daheim, JA Jance, Mary Higgins Clark, Joanne Fluke, Carol Mott Davidson, Janet Evanovich, Miranda James, Livia Washburn, Laura Childs, Monica Ferris. whew! And those are just a few of the authors I collect and read and re-read!

CAROL - sorry about the skipped stitches. I will ask Bill if he has any other ideas for a reason, but I would definitely try changing thread, too. Our LA doesn't like variegated threads.

TINA - you have been busy, busy, busy. You are getting rid of so much stuff that your house is going to lift up and float away in the next windstorm! I bet your jam is tasty. Do you process it in a canner? I always just ladle hot jam into hot sterile jars and top with hot, sterile lids, tighten, invert them on a towel, and leave them undisturbed for 24 hours. I've never processed my jams, but I know some people do.

I have a recipe for orange chicken in that overused latest issue of Taste of Home so I think I'll try that tonite over jasmine rice. and either a salad or green beans on the side.

[Becca]

Hello everyone sunny here now We had rain yesterday
Maryz We didn’t get anything from the storm We usually just get rain & wind I did see yesterday there were power outages but not at my house
CA loves being around the family It is good for him
Oh my I love so many Authors Lots the same as you I haven’t been to Library since Mid March I miss it but with Summer I don’t have much time for reading

Tina I have never processed jam
Or jelly or even tomatoes I put them in hot sterile jars with hot seals & I have never had any spoil
You are really purging

Carole Sorry about your stitches That’s so frustrating

Irish You are getting those blocks finished fast

I got laundry done beds stripped & dressed
Washed the car & now break time
We have leftovers so no cooking only heat it up
Jana I’m glad you don’t have to be without Kitchen so long That’s a pain after a while

[gershwin64]

Good morning!
Mary, I hope all is ok with Bill. I do process my jams in a hot water bath for 10 minutes like my recipes say I sterilize the jars and rings and heat the seals up too LOL
Frankie is about ready to install my shelves
Becca, I've been reading a little this summer, not because I have spare time but because it's been too hot to move very much.
Well I'm needed for help.
Not sure about supper yet.
Tina

[Irishgram]

Good early afternoon from a sunny, very pleasant, SW. Pa....So far it's not too warm, just right.....We did have some rain early this morning but now, it's just nice....Yesterday, I did get out and plant more lilies and even did 2 other flowering bushes...I'm sure when Sam comes back to remove the annuals, he'll probably be moving some of these but for now, they're all blooming and it looks pretty.....

Mary, I also hate those sleepless nights and thank goodness mine don't hit very often any more....Of course I don't turn off the light until after 2:00.....
Sure hope and pray Bill gets a good report from the dermatologist...Those moles are nothing to mess with...Years ago, about 60, I had a bunch removed by a very handsome French/Italian surgeon ...He kind of looked at me funny when I told him, they didn't need to put me under, I'd just lay there and look at him...Needless to say, they knocked me out and then kept me in the hospital for about 4 days!
Some of the authors are, Grisham, Joseph Delaley, Sparks, Steel, Robb, Evanovich, Joan Anderson, S. King, Reichs, Kellerman and Blume and that's only the 1st box I unloaded from the car, still have 3 to go....I'm really hoping, the girls will go through and take some and then go from there....
I did finish the blocks but now I have to get to the Post Office and that's not as easy as it used to be....But, with Kathy coming, she might want to visit her old "stomping grounds" and mail them for me...

Becca, you've been a busy gal already today....My car has gotten quite a few baths in the last couple of days...Now if I could just get the inside cleaned out, I'd be happy...When I've canned, I've done pretty much the same as you and Mary and never had a problem....I've given all my canning stuff away but I will admit, there's nothing better than canned summer stuff, especially in the middle of winter...With Kathy coming so many times, I'm sure she'll bring a few jars of something with her.....
Yep, company coming, starting on Friday and will be here until the following Sunday...Going to be a good busy.....
I just heard my old Library is open but with all the books I now have, I don't have to stop.....

Tina, you really are "purging".....After reading Mary's description, I now have this vision of you and the house just floating around.....But, getting rid of stuff, isn't it a good feeling??

Had a call from Kevin and he's going to be stopping over later...I did tell him not to come empty handed, bring his drill and wire snippers...I can always find something that needs a man's touch, lol.....

Not sure what dinner might be...If I can talk Kevin into staying, we might order a pizza...If not, who knows......

You all have a great rest of the day.....

Happy eating..............

[auntjana]

Good morning!

Happy day - I am back! Good for me, maybe not good for y'all. LOL!

Been watching a show on HGTV - called Hot Mess - about people and their very messy houses and their styles of disorganization. So what happened here - Michael and I went into the kitchen to fix my spices. I had earlier last week, moved them from a upper cabinet, waaaaay to many to quickly find what I wanted, so put them in a drawer - works great, but crowded something else in that drawer, so now, moved things around and rearranged where stuff was and voile! I have a empty drawer. So now, things are in a clean organized space. Moved my Ninja food processor and it is in a very accessible space, where I never have to move the motor base, just plug it in and use it right there and turn and put the mess right in the sink and or trash can! Even the bowl into the dishwasher. Why didn't I see that before! I detest things on my counters. I tolerate my stand mixer, toaster, and two cookie jars but that is it! Nothing on the island either. So nice to have space!

Dinner - I think we will get brave and get a hamburger from our favorite place - Five Guys.

Mary - hopefully you get a short power nap while waiting for Bill. I get to do the wait for M8chael, his follow up with the results, which we know already.

Becca - so happy to see you and you are safe! I worry with those pesky hurricanes near you.

Tina - see what you started! My closest were already clean, but went in and fixed them better and started a new donation pile. I have some clothes that are in great condition, but way too big, so off they go.

Been wiping the grout haze off the backsplash. You wipe it off with a damp big sponge and keep redoing until no more haze . Almost there - one or two more times. Tomorrow we will get the sealer and do that. Staying out of the kitchen cooking has helped with me losing a bit of weight. Down below what I was twenty years ago. Still a bunch more, but, hey, I will be happy with what I have done so far.

Waiting on my elastic to arrive and my fabric for my pie potholders. Then I will make masks for Matt's kids and more Christmas presents.

Stay Safe!
Hugs,
Jana

[auntjana]

Oh yes, Sarah my canning queen, who is a master preserver, says you should water bath your jams. Over the years, manufacturers have taken shortcuts in making the seals and it makes it just safer to water bath. To be a Master Preserver, you take classes from the Ag extension of the local university and pass several exams. Sarah also needs to be recertified every once in awhile.

[Quilter7]

I finished the quilting on my Bernina 1080. I guess the HandiQuilter didn't like the thread! Yes Mary it was variegated. The Binding is on and I just need to sew it down on the back. My favorite part. I really am glad it is finished. Sometimes when you finish You are happy to see the results, this time I am just glad to be done. It was a practice quilting piece. I used different designs in each diagonal row. The blocks are plain fabric and the thread variegated in blues. I started with a poly because I had it and had no problems. Then ran out of thread. I had to buy a cotton and the machine was not happy!
I use a water bath when making jam too. I have read that you shouldn't use the old recipes anymore, not quite sure why, but maybe it is what Jana said about the lids not having as secure of fitting. Interesting.

Tonight I have two back to back Zoom meetings, so dinner will be Lasagna Roll-ups. Should be easy.

[auntjana]

More canning Sarah taught me - old recipes did cause many illnesses - never attributed to home canning. There are many trusted Ag College Websites that give you very detailed information on what you can preserve and how to judge your old recipes by the newer standards.

Sarah learned the other day that she can preserve soups - like my tortilla soup, but certain ingredients do not can, they can cause spoilage. She does have a pressure canner for things like that. Sandee is so allegric to things - and gluten intolerate, that both of them have been studying what they can preserve so Sandee has food to eat in a shortage. At Thanksgiving time, Sarah, from friends that she trusts very well, gathers their turkey bones and makes our good broth so we have noodles all year long. any questions, jusr ask, I will check with Sarah.