As a subtitle, I might add something along these lines: "And Pepper Relish"...
Anyway, I'll get around to the pepper relish when I get around to it. I'd like to first start with yesterday's storm. Of course, as I write, it's getting on towards suppertime and I'm kind of hungry, so if things just seem to come out of nowhere, or go nowhere, blame that.
When I got up yesterday (Sunday) morning, Mom was already looking at the weather trying to determine if she should stay home from church. (I was already planning on it since I've been sick with something since Friday [I'm practically better today].) She decided to stay home, so we all were home for the wind and rain and tornado threat which thankfully never materialized for us, although the town seven miles to the west of us got some damage (probably when we were in the basement).
Right before the weather actually hit us, we brought the grandparents up from their snug little apartment in the barn. I wheeled Grandpa up backwards (and later took him out the same way) because it's much easier to pull a wheelchair through river rock than it is to push it. We couldn't get Grandpa into the basement, so we eventually put him in the little hall nitch area outside of my parent's bedroom. Not, of course, that that would have really been safe if we'd had a direct hit to the house.
Some of us spent a large portion of the afternoon watching the live feed weather report on the television. I tell you, those folks do an outstanding job covering their viewing area with up-to-date information. They have non-stop coverage during any serious (tornado threatening) storm. There were up to four tornado warning going at any given time through the central part of the state.
I am very thankful we didn't get hit with anything more than some awesome wind and rain. The rain itself wasn't overly impressive (not if you compare it to the multiple downpours we had several times this past summer in Florida with a tropcial storm coming over us), but it was blowing practially straight off (90* angle ) from the house as soon as it hit. Some dead branches fell out of the trees, but that didn't hurt anything.
After it was over, we got a little "camera happy" as Savannah put it. Here are only some of the pictures:
Anyway, I'll get around to the pepper relish when I get around to it. I'd like to first start with yesterday's storm. Of course, as I write, it's getting on towards suppertime and I'm kind of hungry, so if things just seem to come out of nowhere, or go nowhere, blame that.
When I got up yesterday (Sunday) morning, Mom was already looking at the weather trying to determine if she should stay home from church. (I was already planning on it since I've been sick with something since Friday [I'm practically better today].) She decided to stay home, so we all were home for the wind and rain and tornado threat which thankfully never materialized for us, although the town seven miles to the west of us got some damage (probably when we were in the basement).
Right before the weather actually hit us, we brought the grandparents up from their snug little apartment in the barn. I wheeled Grandpa up backwards (and later took him out the same way) because it's much easier to pull a wheelchair through river rock than it is to push it. We couldn't get Grandpa into the basement, so we eventually put him in the little hall nitch area outside of my parent's bedroom. Not, of course, that that would have really been safe if we'd had a direct hit to the house.
Some of us spent a large portion of the afternoon watching the live feed weather report on the television. I tell you, those folks do an outstanding job covering their viewing area with up-to-date information. They have non-stop coverage during any serious (tornado threatening) storm. There were up to four tornado warning going at any given time through the central part of the state.
I am very thankful we didn't get hit with anything more than some awesome wind and rain. The rain itself wasn't overly impressive (not if you compare it to the multiple downpours we had several times this past summer in Florida with a tropcial storm coming over us), but it was blowing practially straight off (90* angle ) from the house as soon as it hit. Some dead branches fell out of the trees, but that didn't hurt anything.
After it was over, we got a little "camera happy" as Savannah put it. Here are only some of the pictures:
The West...aren't those clouds amazing??
These were the trees that lost most of the dead wood...for the most part, it was just little piddly branches.
Don't you just love the red roof?
The clouds were continuing to hurry away to the north-east...
"I'm tryin' not to blow away here!!"
By the time we came in, my hair was in a worse state than that...
Sunset over the old corn-crib barn that my uncle pulled down with his Dodge diesel several years ago...
Katherine had just finished tying the coops down again...apparently the big one blew over during the storm. I guess she didn't have any problem rounding up the chickens...
Dunno what she was laughing at...me probably.
Savannah!
She said she tied the scarf on more to keep her hair down than because of the temperature. She's prone to what we affectionally call "Minny Mouse ears" when the wind blows. I think it's kinda cute myself. (No wonder, I get horns!!!)
"Grrr...ye olde wind...ye cain't knock me down!" (Heh...it nearly did.)
I just like this one...
Some said when they saw this picture: "You look so short!" (I guess my ears were getting a little cold?)
Um...what?? (I guess someplace along the line, I finally learned how to ham it up for the camera....)
I see this one and I think: "Come listen my children and you shall hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revere..."
Aren't they just too cute???
Guess who's boot is who's... :)
Is this what you call an "Advanced Selfie"? :D
The chimney...duh, right?
Today, I tackled my first ever batch of pickle relish. Mom had made some earlier in the year and we all decided we liked it--so, Mum being busy with other things today, she asked me to take care of the box full of peppers that has been sitting in the garage for weeks. So I did.
First I washed them (I hate washing stuff up here because the water is so cold...so I turned on some hot with the cold and that kept my fingers from becoming ice-blocks). Then I cut them open and cleaned the seeds out and trimmed any rotten or moldy stuff away. I got done with this part just in time for lunch.
After lunch (dishes), I pulled down the food processor and chopped up the two dishpans full of peppers. When I got started I was thinking, "That pan [the big stock pot] is going to be way too big..." HA! My naivete was showing big time. I filled that large pot half-way up; but if I'd gone with the smaller pan (which I would have done if it hadn't had chicken stock in it), I would have had peppers spilling over by the time I got done with the first dishpan!
I put them on to cook and turned my attention to the onions. I peeled them, cut them into quarters, and pitched them into the food processor. I had tears running down my face and my nose was running by the time I got done with them. I decided that if anybody wanted to stop by all of a sudden, "now wouldn't be the most opportune time." Vain females...
Next I drained the pepper "mash" as it practically was by that point, then I added in the onions, and Mom measured (by eye) the vinegar and I dumped it in. Once that cooked for a little while, I poked it into jars, put the lids on and loaded the Conservo. They are still there, being processed.
First I washed them (I hate washing stuff up here because the water is so cold...so I turned on some hot with the cold and that kept my fingers from becoming ice-blocks). Then I cut them open and cleaned the seeds out and trimmed any rotten or moldy stuff away. I got done with this part just in time for lunch.
After lunch (dishes), I pulled down the food processor and chopped up the two dishpans full of peppers. When I got started I was thinking, "That pan [the big stock pot] is going to be way too big..." HA! My naivete was showing big time. I filled that large pot half-way up; but if I'd gone with the smaller pan (which I would have done if it hadn't had chicken stock in it), I would have had peppers spilling over by the time I got done with the first dishpan!
I put them on to cook and turned my attention to the onions. I peeled them, cut them into quarters, and pitched them into the food processor. I had tears running down my face and my nose was running by the time I got done with them. I decided that if anybody wanted to stop by all of a sudden, "now wouldn't be the most opportune time." Vain females...
Next I drained the pepper "mash" as it practically was by that point, then I added in the onions, and Mom measured (by eye) the vinegar and I dumped it in. Once that cooked for a little while, I poked it into jars, put the lids on and loaded the Conservo. They are still there, being processed.
Some of the peppers....
I declare, that pot is as big as I am!
I wasn't standing on my toes here, but if there had been more stuff in the pan, I would have to to get enough leverage to stir. :D (It's that a great spoon, by the way?)
Pepper Relish
See the small pan on the stove? That is what I would have used if it hadn't been full of chicken broth!
Isn't it pretty?
Busy day...
Racheal
P.S. By the time I got done with this post, we had eaten supper. :)
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