Dee

I sat down to breakfast at 7:00 this morning and this is what I saw as I looked out my west window. I thought it was so pretty that I took this picture. How about it, what's your world look like this time of year? I know there have to be other lovely places, please post a picture so we can what you see.

I don't know what white pizza is, sounds interesting. We had made from scratch pizza tonight too. Must be the night for pizza!

Good newsletter, as always, Snowie.....thanks!!!!

I decided it was time to get a real book from the library. I wanted to know if I could find a book I simply couldn't put down. I did!!! The Witness by Nora Roberts. Anyone read it? IT IS GOOD!

I think as a younger person I was more of a dumper. THEN I started growing and canning my own food. Made a big difference!!! I now know how much time and work it involves so I scrape and scrape! Hey, it may be "free" out of the garden but I put in a lot of long hard hours to get that "free" food!

Are you reading about the Bjorklund's first coming to the US? Oh my but I loved that series!!!

Hi VickiG and a big welcome to Mrs. S. I found this place before Y2K and liked it so much and have learned so much I'm still here. Our lives have changed since those days too. We only have 3 children BUT 2 of them are married with children and one of those even has 2 children. DD isn't marrying until fall but she has her boyfriend so, like you, who knows how many to plan for. It is a dilema but I just keep plugging along.

Welcome to Mrs. S. Catwrangla. I'm glad you dove right in instead of tip toeing.

Welcome to Mrs. S. Philbe. It's a nice place.

Maybe another way to look at it is it'll keep some of the desperately hungry out of our neighborhoods for awhile. I CANNOT imagine what life will be like when people realize there is NO food out there, for themselves or familes. Scares the bejeebies out of me to think of the anger and desperation coming our way. Guess I've read too many "end of the world" books!

Dear foster daughter called yesterday asking if I'd help her can chicken again. I, of course, said yes so she bought 30 lbs. of chicken breasts and was over by 9:30 this morning. We got 19 pints of chicken and 13 quarts of broth. I taught her last year but she wanted one more lesson to make sure she had it down pat and then was going to teach her sisters and a nephew how to do it. She laughed about how she's going to teach the others using my canner, my kettles, etc. but who cares. I am just sooooooooo exicted some of these younger women are learning how to can.

Have you tried making grape juice with the grapes? Much easier than grape jelly if you're in a hurry. I use AH's recipe.

Kind of a cute story but could have been a disaster! Glad your son caught it and got it outside w/o getting bit. Our dog would have lost his mind and climbed the walls to get it. Maybe you better be glad your's was calmer!

Here's the chicken I did yesterday. One didn't seal so we'll have it for dinner today

I finally figured out to freeze things flat. I used to just pour it in and make bundles of this and that. Now, I lay things flat to freeze. Here's some chicken broth I put in the freezer last night. Yes, I do it with corn, frozen slaw, pretty much everything I freeze. They stack or stand so neatly and take up lots less room.

One Fareway store had them for $.59 lb, in another town they were $.69. Of course, I played bridge in the $.69 lb. town today so I got them there instead of driving an additional 20 miles to get the cheaper ones. So, for $20 and 9 hours time I got 16 pints of chicken and 4 pints of broth canned. Then another 4 bags with 2 quarts broth in each bag to the freezer. I guess it's actually about 9 1/2 hours as I'm waiting for the pressure to go down. It's so worth it ladies if you have the time to do it. It's not hard, just takes lots of time. BTW, I want to do beef and pork too so I asked the butcher today about beef going on sale. He said in the next couple of weeks there should be some pretty good sales that will last 2-4 weeks before the prices go UP. He also said the amount of cattle out there is the lowest it's been since 1958 and beef producers are still liquidating some what. Guess we never got around to when/if porks going on sale.

I have 30 lbs. of chicken hindquarters cooked. I'm taking a break letting them cool enough to handle before canning them up. I'm anxious to see how many pints I end up.

5 1/2 pints pickled beets. 5 pints plain beets in the pressure canner now.

5 more quarts of beets. I keep telling myself that these little amounts will add up in time but it sure is a slow process with this droughty weather.

You've just taught yourself a marvelous possibly life saving craft. Great work girlfriend!!!!

I've never planted Chioggia Beets. They sound pretty. I may just try some next year. I have 4 quarts of greenbeans in the canner.

With the drought I'm very lucky to have 3 quarts of beets in the canner.

DH has been moving snow all morning and I've got a jar of corn chowder warming up that I canned last summer. We're also having pumpkin bread that I made last fall and has been in the freezer. A pie I made this morning from my next to the last squash of the summer and voila lunch is ready when he comes in. I love these meals I make from my own garden all winter long!

My brother sent this to me today. Any of the names look familiar to you other Jones'? Edgar Fred Jones Plano, IAB. 21 Sep 1914D. 3 Oct 1988Buried in Whittier, CA Lars Jones B. 29 Sep 1917 in Wayne Co.D. 13 Jan 1994Buried-Temple, TX Fred Milton Jones in Appanoose County, IowaB. 10 Jan 1888D. 19 Jul 1971Buried in Jones Cemetery in Wayne Co. , Iowa Newton JasperB. 26 Nov 1847 in Putnam County, IndianaD. 10 Oct 1888Buried-unknown William R. Jones in Putnam County, IndianaB. 27 Mar 1826D. ?Buried-? William Jones B. 13 Aug 1796D. 9 Aug 1872Buried-Jones Cemetery in Wayne Co. William JonesB. 14 Apr 1748 in KentuckyD. 19 Jul 1821 Sylvia Jones B. 7 Apr 1878 in Wayne Co.D. 4 Mar 1970 Guy E. JonesB. 26 Apr 1882 in Wayne Co.D. ? Ida M. JonesB. 20 Jan 1867 Matilda JonesB. 5 May 1868 in Wayne Co. William R. Jones (twin to George)B. 15 Apr 1870D. 12 Jun 1924 George B. Jones (twin to William R)B. 15 Apr 1870 in Wayne Co. John Walter JonesB. 25 Feb 1873D. 11 Jun 1948 Newton Jasper Jones Jr.B. 20 Apr 1876D. 31 Jul 1921 Belinda Caroline JonesB. 28 Oct 1818 in KentuckyD. 2 Feb 1901 Milton Green Jones in KentuckyB. 26 Mar 1822D. 11 Oct 1906Buried in Jones Cemetery Wayne Co. Louise Jane JonesB. 26 Feb 1824 in KentuckyD. 8 Jan 1904Buried in Jones Cemetery

Tried cooking au gratin potatoes and ham in the crockpot. Delicious. Put them on about 9 this morning and ate them about 5. Also Jell-O with peaches, fresh cooked squash and pumpkin bread.