Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Weekend Jobs

Now that Fall is upon us and the nights are getting rather chilly, it's time to bring the houseplants back in. I've been re-potting the ones that have become cramped and topping off other pots, giving them a spray of a mild insecticide with canola oil in it (it kills the bugs, and the oil will smother any eggs, plus it gives the plants a nice shine). Of course my "helper boys" are there to assist.





Zack rode his bike to school last Monday and his chain broke on the way. During the week we went to Target & Meijers looking to see if they had a master link for the chain. Neither did. On Saturday we went to the bike shop thinking for sure they would have one, and they didn't have one that fits. Their master link was a couple of hundred's too big and they couldn't make it fit. They said Zack could buy a new chain, but he'd probably have to get new cogs because most likely the old chain and old cogs had worn evenly together and a new chain would probably slip off when he put lots of pressure on it. They also said he might want to try removing the bad link and reconnecting the chain with the next link in line(he didn't need a master link for this particular chain) and see if it was still long enough to work. Bob had a chain tool at home, so Zack decided to try this option first before getting a new chain and cogs. Zack says the chain is still long enough after removing the bad link to change through all the gears. He still needs to take it on a long test ride.



On Friday the door lock on the back door got stuck and we couldn't open the door. It was a three person job to get it removed. Me holding the flashlight and Bob and Zack on either side of the door working the handle. Since we were replacing one door lock, we decided to do all 3 outside handles and dead bolts so they could be keyed the same and Bob had his weekend project decided for him. It was not a simple replacement because he had to chip away at the wood to get the strike plates right. The new door handles feel very solid and look great. (I've locked myself out of the house twice so far though, because the inside will turn even though the door is locked and won't turn on the outside).


Sunday, September 16, 2007

Boomer & Joey

With Zack living with us, Joey & Boomer have been sorting out the new hierarchy in the house. Joey has established that he is still the Alpha dog. And Boomer feels that he is no longer the baby in the family and is taking up the life of leisure and style.

Saturday, September 08, 2007

$300 Chicken & other things

On Friday I roasted the $300 chicken that Sam raised for 4H this summer. I stuffed it and we really enjoyed it. Though I felt a lot of pressure cooking it; I didn't want to over-cook it and ruin it. (Thanks for sharing Sam). I cooked the liver from the chicken and shared it with Joey & Boomer and their dog friends on Saturday morning's dog walk. All the dogs who got some gave it a two paws up.




While the bird was cooking I decided to make a peach crisp for dessert.


I also made some sweet-sour cabbage out of one of the cabbages from our garden. We'll eat this either Saturday or Sunday with some smoked sausage.


I also started some Manhattan Clam Chowder that we'll have sometime this weekend. Tomato based foods always seem to taste better if they have a day or two in the refrigerator before you eat them.


And last, but definitely not least, I saw Zack refilling the Kool-Aide. John & Jenny always leave it empty on the counter and I thought you had to be over the age of 21 to make Kool-Aide. Now I know I was wrong.

Concord Grapes

On Tuesday I went to South Bend and picked concord grapes at Bud's house. They were juicy, tasty, and plentiful so I brought a bunch back home. Too many to eat, so I decided to try making grape jam and grape juice.

First you wash the grapes in bunches and then remove them from the stems and wash them again.



Next you put the grapes in a pot and smash them and simmer them for a while.




Next I put the mixture into our food mill, which lets the juice and pulp come out one end the the seeds and skins another.


To make the grape juice, I strained the juice from the pulp. (It is still kind of thick and not too sweet, I suppose I could add some sugar and give it a second straining to make it more like Welche's)


To make the jam, I put the mixture back into the pot and added sugar and pectin. I put the jam into containers and all but one ended up in the freezer.

Friday, September 07, 2007

St. John's High School Choir

In the evening of Aug. 23, the St. John's High School Choir gave a concert, showcasing some of the new music they plan on using this new season.


Here is a sample of the concert.


Afterwards I got Eric and Jody to pose with Jenny.

John's take-off to IU

On Sunday, Aug. 23 we fed John one of his favorite foods for lunch, "Coconut Shrimp" and said our good byes as he took the Sentra off to IU for the first time.