How I Knew I Was on the Mend

I think I can safely say that  I am recovered from the flu.  Not because I feel so energetic or ravenously hungry or anything like that, but because I am feeling well, bored.  Bored with being sick.  Bored with just sitting in my house.

I'm not good at being bored.  It almost never happens to me.  There are too many things I want to do on any given day for me to ever be bored.  But, it happened.  That's the day I knew I was on the mend.  That's also the day I cleaned my house from top to bottom with the windows open (even though it was only 9 degrees outside and the wind was howling).

Now that I'm satisfied that all flu germs have been eradicated from the premises, I feel like I need to cook and stock the pantry back up again.  It has been a few months since I have done any canning or making ahead of anything.  I have a little list in my head of things I want to make up and get canned/frozen.

First on the list, beef stock.  I had a little bit frozen from a roast I made a while ago and I put it in the gravy for a pot pie and it was amazing.  Now I need to have more on hand.  I made some today and it is in the fridge while I debate whether to can or freeze it.

Tomorrow's project: grind up the venison and pork.  Some of the pork is to mix with ground venison.  The rest is for making sausage.  Just regular bulk sausage.  Maybe a little Italian sausage, but for sure breakfast sausage.

Our cookie jar is also empty.  So, some molasses cookies and zucchini bread are on the list too.

If time allows, I'd like to can some beans.  There are a few pounds of dry beans sitting in my pantry that should get jarred up if they will ever get used.  I'm trying to work up the nerve to make my own baked beans and can them.  It hasn't happened yet.  I'm still at the plain salted beans level.

Last on the list is to make up some pie crusts to freeze.  The Pioneer Woman has a great recipe for make ahead pie crust.  Its the only crust I have ever made that works.  Every. Single. Time.

Realistically, I will not get all of these things done tomorrow.  I'll probably freeze my stock and bake a batch of muffins.  This pantry stock up list will probably take a few days off to complete.

Hoping to have a post on the beef stock with pictures and recipe soon.

A Few of My Favorites

I was looking at pictures on the computer the other day and I picked out some of my favorites to share.  Its funny how seeing my kids as babies and toddlers seems like just yesterday and a lifetime ago at the same time.

Influenza is the Pits

It has been an interesting week around  here.  Mostly due to the fact that I have been sicker than I can ever remember.  Matt and the kids did their best to take care of themselves as I mostly was a lump for about 6 days while I muddled through Influenza A and H1N1.  

Yuck.

The kids were sweet to me and brought me warm packs when I was shivering with fever and drinks of water when I coughed.  Matt did extra running to get the kids to and fro and he held down the fort.  Truthfully I don't remember much else about the days.

I am very grateful to my wonderful neighbors who helped with getting Joey to school and checked in on me every day. 

 It is really surprising to me as I look back at the week and who took time out of their day to give a call, send a text, let me know that I was in their thoughts.   

Smile.

Please know that I am deeply grateful for each one of you.