Wednesday, July 25, 2012

What I'm Canning Right Now

Pickles and Wine The good and bad news about making long-term canning projects is you have plenty of time to decide when you want to deal with what you’ve made and it never seems to happen at a convenient time.

I currently have a 5 gallon batch (from left) of Skeeter Pee (Hard Lemonade), Peach Wine, and Spicy Garlic Dills happily fermenting in the basement, which is fine and great except for that whole moving thing going on right now. It just so happens that I need to do something with all of these babies before the big moving day comes and that takes time to coordinate.

skeeter pee, peach wine, and pickles

Both the Skeeter Pee and Peach Wine were started about 3 months ago. I’ve never made Hard Lemonade and wasn’t completely bowled over from my initial tastes of this batch, so it might not make it. The Peach Wine is a Jack Keller recipe and I know it’ll take a little time to age before drinking. I used all those frozen peaches I had stored in my deep freezer from last summer.

The Spicy Garlic Dills are a traditional fermented pickle recipe from The Joy of Pickling. I started those about 4 or 6 weeks ago. How do you know when they’re ready? When they taste ready! As a matter of fact, I gave one big cuke a try tonight and they’re perfect. Not as spicy as last year’s batch, but I can add more pepper flakes to the jars when I process them.

Pickle crock filled with yummy pickles!

The green, flappy looking thing on the top is a raft of fresh grape leaves; those help keep these babies nice and crisp. No one likes a limp pickle! I use a glass pie plate with two full quart jars on top to keep everything weighted down.

Looks like I’ll be canning this weekend whether I like it or not!

Friday, July 20, 2012

We Did It!

We did it!  We are officially homeowners and have been for 9 whole days.  We've been super busy getting things prepped, coordinating with contractors, and trying to get ready for the big move.  So far, we've had radon mitigation in the basement, the AC ducts cleaned, the painting started, the back 40 bush-hogged, and have had about a gazillion carpet estimates.  Tomorrow we get the gutters cleaned and the house power washed. 

What is it with carpet companies?  We've had estimates that have been all over the charts...from $5k to $10k for approximately 170 square yards.  Some of these people are on drugs if they think we are going to pay $10k for friggin carpet!  We bit the bullet and are trying Lowes.  I know, I know, but they have the Mowhawk Smartstrand carpet and cushion I want.  The installers are legit (from what I've researched).  We'll see...

Meanwhile, the areaway drain outside the basement is backing up and flooding into the basement when it rains really hard.  So that means, the basement finish is on hold...plus there's the whole financing thing.  'Nuther time.

AND! Hubby got his first tick.  Welcome to the country!

Monday, July 09, 2012

Close-us Interruptus

So, umm, yeah,  about that closing thing.  Our closing has been delayed due to the seller having to remove some fallen trees that damaged the neighbor's property. 

So, get this...the seller initially wanted US to take responsibility for taking care of this and to reimburse the neighbor for damage!!!!  Can you believe that shit boys and girls???  Um, hello WE DON'T OWN THE HOUSE!!!  I may have been born in the morning, but not THIS morning.

Sheesh.

So, needless to say, we are in a holding pattern until Coldblood Banker gets their crap together.

Thursday, July 05, 2012

And So It Begins

Can you believe it?  I am closing today or tomorrow, or next week…depending on if the seller is going to be a complete ass about the tree that fell over on the neighbor’s shed.  Apparently, they seem to think that even though we don’t even OWN the house, we should pay for it.  Ummm, yeah, riiii-ght.
I have paint picked out, contractors on stand-by and I’m ready to get this REAL party started.
 

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