10-20-08

I am finally getting all the produce sorted in the root cellar. It's full and that's a real good thing. We have so much because we grow for the market and for ourselves. Us first though, I have to eat and feed my aging parents now as well. Takes a lot of produce in the winter months. We are going real slow on the house building, but it is working. There is a lot of work to do yet and 'old man winter' is moving in fast. Was 27 degrees here last night and the night before. Putting away all the garden pretties and tightening up the barn and checking the hay supply, etc. We are now the recyclers of billboard tarps here in Central NY. Its a wonderful thing to keep them out of the dump and they have so many uses. Planting the fall mums in the garden for pretties next fall. Have to replant my bee balm in the Spring. Had a new batch of seed given to me by a friend who got their plants from me a few years ago.

I had planted the bee balm out by the road and evidently someone else decided that they needed it worse than me, it has just been dug up constantly and is now almost gone. Oh well, start over. I will be making more soap and hand cream this afternoon. First up is the green tomato relish. Have to use up the green tomatoes before they go bad and my Dad and husband love the relish. I like the green tomato mincemeat. It's just a mix of apples, green tomatoes, suet, honey and spices but its mighty tasty in the wintertime. I use it as a base for crisps as well as in pies. Tried a new squash this year. An Amber buttercup, really beautiful deep orange color and already mealy, so you don't have to blend it like pumpkin. I'm going to try it in a pie. Oh well, time to get to work. You can use any of my writings anytime you want in your newsletter.