Independence Days, How To Make Tomato Powder, Chicken Summer Cooling Pans

Anya on bird patrol

Independence Days-
With my foot recuperation, things have been much slower for me. Dave's been great picking up the slack. Thanks for every one's good wishes!!! It's great to have a virtual cheering squad! I'm doing lots of little things around the house, and will get the stitches out next week. I'm looking forward to actually washing my foot normally, and not having it wrapped in plastic :(  I'm REALLY looking forward to being partial weight-bearing and just using one crutch and the "boot. While the wheelie cart has been amazing (hardly using crutches except in the small bathroom) I'm looking forward to losing it. I'll be re-designing my blog soon, and changing the format, so watch for some changes. I may even do a reader survey! You can tell me what you like or not. My goal is to have it easy to read, and find what you need. I also want to change some of the artistic aspects like the colors, etc.

1. Plant Something- Garden is pretty well planted. Watching for more tomato plants on sale. I always squeeze in more when they're 1/2 price or less.

2. Harvest Something- Eggs, compost, ready to harvest kale and collard greens.

3. Preserve/Store Something- Picked up a few things at Costco for the pantry and freezer.

4. Manage Reserves- Get a Good Deal/Barter/Stock Up/Prep- Did some thrifting, will do more when foot is better. 

5. Eat the Food- Try New Foods/Recipe- I heard about this on the radio today- 

Hot Sweet Tart Onion Relish I will make some, since it's supposed to be good on crackers, on top of cooked potatoes, etc. Easy and tasty sounding! Made a homemade angel food cake and buttermilk biscuits this week.

6. Build Community Food Systems- Need to get in touch with our neighbor for some rhubarb. Done selling eggs for now.

7. Recycle/Re-Use- Planting some leftover wildflower seeds I was gifted with. Dave planted last years leftover grass seed to fill in some dead spots. Our DVD/VHS machine dies, so I got rid of all the homemade tapes and donated the store bought ones. Sigh, it's an end of an era. Luckily I found several good, used DVDs on amazon!

8. Skill Up- Taking a digital SLR photography class to use my camera better, it's great! Hubby and I are taking it together. Dave took it a few years back, but he has a better camera now. I'm learning a lot about proper settings, things like ISOs, F-stops, etc. Love the instructor! He believes you should be able to take GOOD photos and not have to photo shop everything. 

9. Regenerate What is Lost/Salvage Something- Moving some plants/rocks around the backyard.

                                                       Some of last year's bounty

How To Make Tomato Powder-
Great idea here Baconandeggs/Scifichick While I  have no tomatoes yet, it's a great idea! I'd rather do that to some of my whole tomatoes, since I have to can outside. Too hot! I can set the dehydrator outside and do it that way. I love having paste on hand and that would fit the bill.

Photo From 5 Little Homesteaders

Chicken Summer Cooling Pans-
I ran across this yesterday at 5Littlehomesteaders.com  and I thought- great idea! You fill large plastic planter trays with water, then the chickens cool their feet in it. I'd never heard of this before. In Boise we get really hot and dry. While I've used a mister to create a damp area the girls won't actually stand under it. It does evaporate and gives them a cooler space though. I will try this, since it supposed to be pushing 100 in the next week, and report back.