7 random facts about right now

1.

I.Heart.Pinterest. 

I’m happily ‘pinning’ all kinds of fun things.

Like this print…

that I decided to purchase for my bathroom.

2.

I’ve discovered the joys of cleaning with baking soda. 

It’s amazing.

Scrubs the tub even better than that smelly stuff in a green tube.

Takes random spray paint off a mirror that may or may not have been taped well.

Cleans the front of the fridge to a shiny white.

3.

I’ve started using CleanMomma’s Printables.

I’m hoping her checklists, forms and lists will help me get my act together. 

This is my household notebook (and blogging and etsy and kids’ school info…)

4.

Ashley and I’ve teamed up to do lots of freezer cooking. 

We are loving this book.

Basically, she makes two dishes and I make two dishes and we share!

5.

Canning. 

Why do things need to be preserved when it’s 212 99 degrees outside? 

I’ve put up tomatoes, pickles and grape jelly.

6.

I’m stalking her website.

Yep.  After 2 widely successful Lisette patterns, Lisel is my new hero!

I can’t wait until she tells us about her new fabrics and fall patterns.
(edited 1:20pm, July 13:  She just blogged about new fabrics.  They are awesome!)

7.

Christmas is 166 days away.

Seriously.

Adriane and I are going to try to tackle it in pieces this year with the help of Organized Christmas,

We’re doing Holiday Grand Plan that starts in August.  We’ll see how it goes.

That’s it.  That’s 7.

I’ll tell you about my garden next time.

Another use for those stinkin’ pears

In my desperation to use up more of those pears, I modified a carrot cake recipe and came up with this yummy breakfasty-type cake.  

 

Pear Cake

3 cups chopped, peeled pears (about 10 pears in my case)

2 cups sugar

2/3 cup veggie oil

3 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

2 14 cup all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/2 cup walnut pieces

NOTE:  Since I had it out anyway and since it was already dirty from chopping/shredding pears, I used my food processor to mix my batter.

Combine the sugar, oil, eggs, vanilla and pears.  Mix until the sugar dissolves (30ish seconds).  Add the flour, soda, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg and stir until blended.  Stir in nuts.  Pour the batter into a 9 x 13 x 2 baking pan and bake at 250degrees for 40 to 50 minutes.

‘Da Pears

It’s that time of year again. 

Pear Picking Time

 

But, I’m done…

Almost…

 

(18 qts canned pears, about 1 1/2 gallons pear butter and currently 3 pints of dried pears.)

 

Did you hear the one about the pears...

Look what my sweet babies brought in for me Tuesday night. They "were just lying on the ground Mommy".

You can stop laughing now. Really.

What did I do last week?

Sunday...we picked pears ...and more pears

Monday... I taught sewing and thought about the pears.

Tuesday... I taught swimming and dreaded the pears.

Wednesday...we played with the Hortons and bought jars and sugar for the pears.

Thursday... I looked at the pears, weighed the pears (75 pounds) and began my assault on the pears.

Friday...I tackled a few more pears.

Saturday...we played with Charlie and I ignored the pears.

Sunday...I quit!!!! Yes, you do still see pears in the background (another 15 pounds or so).

75 Pounds of Pears = 12 quarts canned pears + 8 pints canned pears + 5 pints pear butter + 4 half-pints pear preserves + 1 pint pear preserves + 15 pounds left over pears