Homemaking Mondays: Preserving and Keeping our Home

Hello! 

It's been a really nice day 

of preserving food for winter here. 

The fall colours are all a glow and the ducks are 

starting to congregate on our lake in larger numbers. 

One other getting ready for winter activity 

that our family did this past week 

was to join our community centre in some tasks. 

There were door prizes this year for people that came out

and our family won a mix for chocolate chip cookies

from a local company. 

I don't buy mixes, but this one was a real treat!

It was made with barley flour.

As the days are growing darker I have decided

to take on a habit that I've seen others do.

Lighting a candle in the dark of the morning as 

I prepare for the day.

It really is a gentle comfort 

that is added to the kitchen.

I had found this pottery at the free store

and bought a nice small pillar candle that 

fits in it perfectly. 

I got an unscented candle as I didn't want anything

mixing with the smells of what I was cooking.

This week we also picked all of our carrots.

Well what was left after snitching for the past month. 

Most were very small I realize

but that doesn't stem our excitement

as they taste so much better then what the store provides.

The flavour of food keeps me gardening.

Each year I try new things and I'm always learning.

These will stay in the fridge until they're eaten.

One thing I did for decorating in the home recently 

was this basket that is hanging in the bathroom. 

There has been this empty space for the past couple years

that has been needing something. 

I wanted something practical and pretty.

At a garage sale this summer I found this lovely basket

and it hung there empty for a bit. 

Then I started adding soaps to it for it's usefulness.

Then came some silk flowers...yes something I don't usually go for

but in truth I've not been able to keep plants alive in the bathroom.

Then came the doily

and finally some eucalyptus that I dried.

So a bit old fashioned in style...but it suits the space 

and the peach roses compliment the roses 

that are on the shower curtain. 

I do love flowers and the geraniums on the heater

are in all their glory this fall.

It seems as soon as some flower heads fade

that new ones spring up to take their place.

For me it's special to have these plants as they are 

all taken from slips that my dear friend now gone had given me.

Today was a busy day of canning. 

It was actually our homeschool activity.

The boys helped me peel, chop, and fill jars.

We talked about the math of how many pounds of 

potatoes it takes to fill just a single jar. 

We talked about preservation and the blessing 

of having extra food to set aside for those times 

when it's not as plenty. 

Even if they never in their adult lives use this skill 

I want them to know the value of it.

The next step will be to use the canned 

potatoes in a recipe.

There is just some kale left in the garden and a few 

springs of broccoli.

Then the garden will be put to bed.

We will add compost to the top of the garden space 

to help protect the microbes and to

add fertilizer to the soil for the next season.

This week I made some 

sausage kale soup

and it was delicious!

It was a great way to use up 

some of those little bitty leaves

that are left at this time of year.

A new recipe to store away 

in my homemaking binder.

Time to start turning to other things 

to occupy our time. 

More exploring and last of the season canoeing.

It's fun to see the birds that come to our little lake 

preparing to head south. 

There are those two otters that we saw 

while cranberry picking 

that swim by as well.

Thank you so much for dropping by 

to visit me! 

Praying you have a beautiful day 

keeping your home! 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer