So here we are again with another week gone! It was busy but once again I didn’t feel that busy. I worked two days this week and had to take Corny to the vet. Our dear friend is a vet and we take all our animals to her which is 2 hours away. I worked and then drove Corn to the vet. So that was a long day but he had hurt his little foot and we wanted to make sure he didn’t break it. Turns out it’s just a bad sprain. The prescription–have him rest. Which he does off and on all day but when he plays, he plays! So keeping him resting has been, uh, challenging! And he’s 5 months old and weighs 5 pounds. He even got a bump up in his food, which he loves since he’s such a piggy! Such a cutie and a champ!
We had dinner at new-to-us friends this week too. I’m also helping a friend who is running for local office. We met some new neighbors who moved in recently and are restoring an old farm and farmhouse to it’s original glory. I’m excited to see the progress.
I also attended a marketing workshop that I mentioned here. I can’t believe that I didn’t take any pictures! But it’s a series of 3 workshops on marketing a product from start to finish. Our first session was on Friday. Our homework? Write a business plan. And who’s had that on her to-do list for months now? That’s right! So I’m really excited to have that on my plate and get it done. I’m also really excited to start looking at Chicken Librarian and see what’s working and what’s not working. And to add new products and take some away. Anyway, the class is about 40 minutes away and it’s a beautiful drive. I’ve been threatening to pull over and take pictures up around the Cannonsville Reservoir and I finally did! See how beautiful it is?
I’ve been asked to turn some of the pictures into prints or postcards. What do you think? Would you buy a print or a postcard? I thought the postcards would sell really well but they haven’t and I’m trying to figure out why. I love postcards so I’d buy one, or three, or ten!!
Anna and I have been out for some walks. The best one was when I got home on Friday. The weather was cold and crisp and the colors were just on point. If you follow me on IG you’ve seen most of these already (or at least if you look at my stories).
Speaking of Fall, we had a day (I think it was Thursday) where the high was 48 degrees and rainy all day. It was a good day to stay inside and snuggle with the kitties and pup. So that’s exactly what I did, other than go outside to move the plants in and to snap a couple of pictures. Again, if you follow me on IG you’ve seen these already, but I think they’re worth repeating.
I’ve been steadily working on the business. I’ve booked all my fall/winter classes now, although I do have room for one or two more. We shut the fishing lodge down soon and that means the commercial kitchen will be shutting down as well. I wish I could squeeze in one class here before we do that but I don’t think the timing will work (October is busy and pretty much filled up now).
I didn’t do a lot of cooking this past week until the weekend. Mostly I was busy at night so the Mister did the cooking when we were home together. But for the weekend, I made a version of the Whole30 Sausage, Potato, and Kale soup with homemade bread. I say a version because the recipe called for ground pork and sweet potatoes. We used sausage because we don’t have ground pork. And we used regular potatoes because we used all the sweet potatoes already this week. I’m trying to stick to our cash spending budget and also weekly menu prep with produce from the farm market (I’ll write a separate post on that very soon). We had a ton of produce left over this past week and didn’t actually go to the store (umm…hello not being at home 3 nights this week). Anyway, how cute is this chicken dish towel that I got for my birthday this past summer? It’s perfect for covering bread while it rises.
Oh. I made an apple skillet cake with rosemary crumble for our night at our friend’s house. I didn’t take a picture because I was running behind, but you can find the recipe in this cookbook. It’s my go-to cake recipe for the fall. I didn’t use a cast iron skillet because they are all packed up at my MIL’s house, but the cake turned out just fine anyway. I have a list of things I want to grab from storage at her house and the cast iron pans are on that list.
And I pulled all the garden plants but had a ton of green tomatoes that needed some extra time. Plus I had a back log of (mostly) grape tomatoes that I needed to do something with. So I have it in my head that I will cook down all those tomatoes into a chunky, rustic sauce and make homemade pasta for tonight’s dinner. I’ll let you know how it goes, but don’t these tomatoes and herbs just look yummy?
What else? I’ve had all my yearly check-ups and everything is coming back normal. It’s Breast Cancer Awareness month so please get your mammogram! It’s not that bad, I promise. Next week is just as busy but with different things (hello beekeeping class!). What do you have on your agenda for the week? Anything big and exciting coming your way? Or anything you’re checking off your to-do list?
PS in celebration of all the yummy food, colors, and weather I’m offering free shipping between now and 10.13.2019 using code ‘FALL19’. Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks for stopping by!
Daenel T.
I so miss fall colors. I wish I’d taken more pictures when I lived in Pennsylvania, but I thought I’d always be there, ya know?
Poor kitty. This has been quite the week for our fur babies, huh? I’m happy they’re all healthy and happy.
You are keeping so busy. I don’t know how you do it. I’m exhausted just reading your list, but I know it’s a labor of love so that makes it different in some ways.
chickenlibrarian
YES! I’m so glad that our fur babies are doing better. What a week with them indeed. I wish they could tell us when they aren’t feeling themselves and what’s going on with them. But alas, having a good vet is key too.
I wish you were still in PA too. We could meet up in Scranton for coffee. That would be so fun! But we always have our virtual coffee dates.
The funny thing about being busy right now vs my busyness over the summer? I don’t feel busy! It’s a lot more fun and I’m probably managing my time better. So don’t feel exhausted! Just know that I’m working on things one at a time and enjoying it all. I really want to make this homesteading business work. I love teaching classes and helping others learn how to do anything and everything homesteading. We all have it in us whether it’s making a pie or going full scale homesteading!!
Tracy
I think I saw on IG something about beeswax cloths coming soon? I’m curious to see those when they are available! I am interested in trying those out, but I need to figure out a place in my overcrowded kitchen to store them.
Sounds like a very busy week last week! So glad to learn that your kitty is okay(ish) and that it’s only a sprain. (My boys used to hate traveling in the car, so I was glad to find a visiting vet for the last years of Mystery’s life. Made it easier!)
We’ve done quite a few of “one pot” cast iron skillet meals – always end up being so good! We have a particularly good kielbasa one my husband makes. I haven’t made pasta sauce from cherry tomatoes, but a former colleague did it that way and said it was awesome. You’ll have to report in! 🙂 And green tomatoes? Try pickling them with celery and dill. I have 10 jars sitting on the counter this morning from Mr. Gordon’s weekend canning. And we still have more…
Hope your coming week is FABULOUS! Looking forward to your next posts and pics! 🙂
chickenlibrarian
Thanks Tracy! I’m making up some beeswax food cover kits to sell. People will be able to purchase the kit that contains everything you need, except fabric, and should have enough supplies to make 3 rounds of covers. We’re testing on 9×9 squares of fabric and that seems to be an average size for a bowl. You’ll get more or less depending on the size bowl that you need to cover. And I actually ended up with at least 5 squares of 9×9 fabric, plus some charm pack squares from just one batch!
We are having the sauce tonight. I had to delay a couple of days due to my busyness. But I just made the pasta and am waiting for the Mister to get finished fishing and we’ll see how it all turned out! I can’t wait! I’m drooling just thinking about it.
I’ll keep your pickled green tomatoes in mind. I saw your videos and am very intrigued!
Our friend who is also our vet usually makes house calls if she’s up this way but because of not knowing what was wrong with little Corny’s foot we were concerned he might have broken it. But a good vet is worth their weight in gold…especially those who have a good bedside manner AND makes house calls.
Bekah
Looks like a lovely, full week. I love that even with a full schedule, you found time to stop and enjoy your surroundings and had a snuggle day with your pets. That sounds perfect! If you have more cherry tomatoes, our family uses a Martha Stewart recipe that is a super simple, one pot pasta dish you might enjoy. Everything cooks all together at the same time (pasta too!)…https://www.marthastewart.com/978784/one-pan-pasta
Enjoy this week. Can’t wait to hear about your beekeeping class!
chickenlibrarian
I looked the recipe up! I totally have some cherry tomatoes that are still ripening and will definitely be using that recipe! Thanks Bekah!
Shugunna Alexander
Hi Kristin, I hope your little fur baby is better and good luck with keeping him settled down. I do like your kitchen towel, a lot. You’re so busy my lady, I love it, wish I could say I had that energy! Always enjoy your photos on here and IG.
chickenlibrarian
Thank you Shugunna! That means a lot! I don’t know where I get the energy either! LOL!!