What is the first thing you think of, when you think of the month of August?
Are you headed “back to school”, either in the classroom or online courses?
Are you a gardener? The crops are ready to harvest.
Do you bring fruits and vegetables home from the Farmers’ Markets, or grow your own? Can, freeze and preserve the fresh food for later this year?
Lately, I’ve been preserving a few vegetables from a friend’s garden, with their permission of course!
But I’m most excited about two trips I’ll be taking this month, one is family-related, and one trip is for work. I expect the airports to be busy with families taking last-minute trips to finish off their summer, before the school year begins.
How about you, do you travel in August or avoid it?
There are benefits to traveling this month, such as reduced rates, and increased availability for hotel rooms, car rentals and flights. Less traffic on the highways as well.
I have a few chores to finish here at home, before I fly off anywhere.
A half-bushel of red beets wrapped in a perforated bag is waiting for me, as they sit in my refrigerator. The beets are waiting for new jars, cute ribbons, artistic tags and a chance to get pickled! Putting them unwashed, with stems trimmed into the bag and refrigerator bought me a little time to find an easy recipe that I’d like to try.
Last week, I had a chance to pick some green beans from a local neighboring farmstead. As it turns out, the beets were in the next row over, and I was told they needed to be “thinned”, which meant picked. With permission, I got sidetracked and pulled and plucked more beets than beans.
My bucket of beets was so heavy, with a bit of beans on the bottom, I had to hoist the bucket into the back of my SUV to take them home. On arrival, I quickly washed, dried, snapped and packed the beans into freezer bags for this winter’s soups or stews. This was followed by taking two extra strength Tylenol for my burning back!
A sad but true story!
Apparently, I am no longer “spry” or nimble, I lasted less than one hour bent over with my head in the beans. Did I enjoy it? You bet I did, I just wish I could’ve lasted longer, and had a bigger bucket!
This is last years’ German Pickles recipe, that my honey wants me to make. Maybe later.
I’ll be back next week, and until then, soak up every summer’s moment you can.
If you’re on the road, in the air, be careful and safe travels.
Back to school?
That’s exciting too! Let me know how those first days are going!
As much as I’d like summer to linger, I know it won’t.
Looking forward, I have a few Halloween and Autumn crafts to share, both are easy, quick and fun.
Fall recipes, stews and soups to warm us as the weather starts to cool.
I’d also like to share a bit of my travel expeditions and what I’m up to lately.
As always, I so appreciate you, thank you for sharing your day with me.
xx,
