I’m picking up pears tonight. I will be picking up and picking off the tree. The bad pears will be thrown over into the field for the horses and the good ones will go in a bucket for pear sauce. Friday will be a big day for us. Hubby and I both work on the pear sauce. I have a contraption that we hook up to the picnic table down by the shelter house. I quarter the pears, cook them up in a big pot and while I do that hubby sets it all up. We then, together, stuff the pears through, it grinds the pears into sauce, spits out the seeds and peel, and viola pear sauce!! We then take the sauce back up to the house and I can it up. While I do that Hubby goes back down to the shelter house, unscrews everything, dumps the peelings and takes it all to the water hydrant and sprays it off. He then brings it into the house where I wash it up with soap and water, dry it and tuck it away for next year. It’s a system that we have honed in the last few years and works really well for both of us. It’s so nice to work together instead of always doing stuff alone. That’s a lot of the reason I like to go out with hubby in the garden and work with him. There’s something about being alone that makes some things such a drag but together, snap your fingers and it’s done!
Yesterday I made a big pot of venison chili and it was some of the best I’ve made to date. That’s our lunch today and tonight I’ve decided to have a good old-fashioned meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, a small side salad and peaches. Mmmmm! That just sounds so good to me!! So tomorrow when we are in the midst of working pears up we’ll have leftover meatloaf sandwiches!
I spent a lot of time last night working on lists. I have a list for groceries I need to buy, groceries I want to hold back for emergencies, and essential oils and herbs that I cannot grow myself and need to order. I burnt myself this last week and have been very taken with how effective tea tree oil is so I’m going to make up my own burn salve this Winter. I have a few ounces of tea tree but it’s definitely going on my essential oil list.
I also have a list of "things-to-do." My lists just seem to help keep my head on straight!! Lists for me are like sweeping and vacuuming my mind. If I get them all in order and on paper then my house is cleaned and I can go merrily on my way. Right now I’m busy making lists of things I want to do, especially through the dreary Winter months, and also some for when I retire next year!! You know, like goals and plans. Goals and plans take time, effort, preparation and lastly money. I’m a crazy list person, I suppose, but a list keeps me in line!!