poached eggs on toast and fresh, from-scratch salsa for breakfast is my favourite breakfast! well, except for trouts and sprouts and trout season will soon be upon us - woohoo!
homemade bean and beef burritos with homemade salsa and homemade guacamole! yummeh!
we got a box in the mail full of odd, but awesome preps!
2 ryobi shop lanterns, a ton of different-sized carabiners and 200 8-inch wicks with metal bottoms!
awesome additional preps! we have several oil lamps and 2 big giant flashlights that tilt this way and that - but having 2 ryobi lanterns will also be additional backup for light. jambaloney has a ton of battery-powered ryobi handtools and swears by them. we also have a ton of different-sized batteries for the various tools, and in case of a power failure, can charge them by running the generator.
these lanterns are liftetime LEDs.
the carabiners have way too many uses to list here! as for the wicks....have you ever burned your candles only for them to turn into this mess?
that's a lot of wasted candle wax on that plate! i broke off only a few chunks...
i save the chunks from all of the candles and when you have enough saved, you melt those chunks of wax over low heat, find any tin can or glass container or a fancy mold if you prefer, you put a candle wick with metal stand in the container and pour the melted wax into the container...and voila - you'll have a new candle from what was just garbage. waste not, want not, kids, and remember - reduce, re-use, recycle.
here's some delicious bass that jambaloney caught in the ocean. once he got it home we vacuum-sealed it and into the freezer it went. it's been in the freezer several months, but because it came home in a bucket of ocean water and we prepped it right away - it tastes like it was just caught! deelishous!
one of jam's favourites - from scratch sweet and sour pork with onions and 4 different peppers with grapes on the side:
i don't mind sweet and sour pork but it just not my favourite thing in the world.
here's a pretty sunset from the other night.
if i haven't been leaving comments on your blogs, it's because jam needs both of our computers to do contract work for a local business. he's been working his butt off! i have been checking in on your blogs when he isn't using my computer, just to make sure that you are all well, but i haven't been leaving comments because i just didn't have the time.
i'll be checking in and leaving comments for you all this afternoon!
Hey My Gurlie!!!
ReplyDeleteHope you and Jam are well..looks like yall are. We won't show Senior those burritos, cuz he will want me to make them and I don't do beans...
I love those Ryobi lanterns, tell me how they work out for ya. I feel ya on the comments thing, since Senior has started his new job, I have not had much time, or when I do get some time, I get pulled away by the kids. Now Baseball season is about to start..and well ya know how that goes! Love to you both and stay warm!
hey Diplomatic Angel - bahahahah! we are doing really well - thanks Gurlie! i don't do frozen bean and beef burritos so these are to die for! just hide the pics from the Senior Chief!
Deletethe lanterns are wicked awesome cool! we got 2 of the lanterns from the US, shipping included, but without any batteries for about $80 bucks. they have a low light for walking around in the dark, and then a brighter light which you can read with. a very good investment seeing as how we have a bunch of batteries for our hand tools to begin with. we love them.
congrats to Senior on the new job - woohoo! oh and baseball season - i know that you got your hands full Gurlie! much love to you and yours always, my Angel! xoxox
Glad you posted, I had started to wonder 'bout yas!
ReplyDeleteno need to worry JW but thanks for your concern! xox
DeleteI have to buy really large wicks for my beeswax candles or they do what your candles did. As you know I melt mine in the solar melter during the Summer months though so I have to make a little brace to hold the wicks straight while the wax melts.
ReplyDeleteTell Jamby to catch me lots of fish and to ignore any claims Sandy makes. All ur fishes R belongs to Me.
PP - you are lucky to be able to make your own beeswax candles and i really appreciate the fact that you do! no worries about the fish...my Sweet Sandy is always willing to share...unlike some others that i will not mention - bahahahah! much love bro! xoxo
DeleteI am a huge Ryobi fan. I have their hand held flood light, a Ryobi chain saw, and also a power screw driver/ drill set by Ryobi. All very high quality stuff, works great and never breaks.
ReplyDeleteI sure do like that picture of the sunset. So tranquil.
Harry - glad that you like the ryobis too as jam just loves them! jam has about a dozen different ones and about the same in batteries - there is always a few batteries being charged every day around here.
Deletei am glad that you like the sunset - can you believe that we look at that gorgeous landscape all day long, every single day of the year? it's amazing and something that we do not take lightly! we appreciate it every single day, no matter what time of the day it is! much love my friend, to you and yours always! xoxo
Hey Sweet Kymber (aka: Angel),
ReplyDeleteJam has to work, we totally understand. Life comes first!!!!
You've made some really delicious looking meals as usual and every time I read your posts with the food I get hungry. This time I didn't have lunch yet, so your post reminded me it's time to eat......Bahahahahahah, I had to go to the refrigerator and grab a chopped salad (I made earlier) for lunch and a nice cup of hot coffee, then I could continue to read your post......and stop drooling.
Those Ryobi lights are great lights to have stashed in your survival gear, and for using daily around the homestead. Wonderful purchases my friend :-)
Like you, we love to burn candles, and have melted wax on the holders.....and on the table. I save the wax and remelt it to create more candles. Having a nice stash of wicks and saved containers are great tools to create more candles out of your extra wax. You can also use old crayons in your extra wax to help with changing the colors of your candles.
Stay warm, don't work to hard......sending hugs and love to you both. Love ya!!!
Sandy (aka: brat angel)
hey there Brat...i mean Brat Angel...i mean Sweet Brat - bahahahah! i actually like calling you Trouble-Making Angel but if you prefer Brat, i can live with that! jam has been working his butt off and he is delivering some excellent stuff! but he left the city a very highly-skilled, trained and professional Senior Business Systems IT Analyst - so he knows his stuff! he makes me very proud! i am glad that you got yourself some salad - good on ya Gurl!
Deletewe love these new ryobi lanterns - as i really don't like the oil lamps - i don't like the smell or the black smoke but if i had to - i could live with it. i much prefer the ryobi lanterns!
i find that when we have power outages that i prefer the candles - but then there is all of the wasted candle wax all over the holders - and like you say - the table and wherever you put them. i have been saving candle wax for a few years always thinking "one day i will make new candles". well that day came and now i can finally use up all of that wax!
i am sending love right back at you, Gurlie! it was freezing out today but i swear i smelled spring in the air - it's right around the corner! i just know it!
much love always, to you and yours, my brave Brat Angel - bahahahah! i love you! xoxox
There you go, making me hungry again! lol
ReplyDelete*hanging head sheepishly*
Deletesorry Mr. Smythe. xox
Delicious food! It looks really good! Thanks for posting - I was beginning to worry (mind you, I'd send Preppy. I am not so good in the cold...)
ReplyDeleteoh dear TB...don't make the trip up into this cold...send PP for sure! much love, my friend! xoxo
DeleteYou'll love those LED lights. I had to make my own LED light for my DeWalt batteries because DeWalt doesn't make them, only makes incandescent. Quick to recharge and do last 20-24 hours of run time.
ReplyDeleteMike buddy - we do love them - the are awesome! and good on you making your own! but i expect nothing less of you! much love buddy! xox
DeleteI have been going through all the things in our house. and seeing I have a lot of duplicate items. But you can never have too many candles or torches as far as I am concerned.
ReplyDeleteyou always plate all of your food so nicely and have a very nice plates to compliment the food. once we move house I am hoping to be more adventurous with my foods! I am making notes!
Sol - when it comes to duplicate items - i always ask myself if the duplicate is something that is necessary. if it is a necessary item then i apply the "one is none, two is one and three is two" philosophy. do i need 14 gravy boats? probably not. in a SHTF situation, i can probably just spoon the gravy onto my precious food. but do i want back-up back-ups for lanterns and candles? yer darn tootins'!
Deleteand thank you so much for such a sweet compliment...i always try to make jam's food look as delicious as possible for him so that he is not only physically fortified...but visually stimulated. i appreciate your sentiments. thanks a bunch. and much love to you and yours! xox
I bought a roll of wick material and metal wick bottoms along with the wick centering tool many years ago. For so little money, it has been a really great investment.
ReplyDeleteEd - we seem to be on the same page in regards to a bunch of things. that makes me happy! much love to you and yours! xoxo
DeleteEating your way through winter....yum! And we just got proper metal openers for our pails. We use the pails Ralph gets at the bakery but the lids, even used and cut to open, are near impossible to get off. We store things in them to keep them dry and contained! We have missed you but its sure good Your Hero is so busy!
ReplyDeleteFiona - great minds think alike...you KNOW that we are eating our way happily through winter! and yes, our pails in our major pantry are free from anybody nibbling through the tops but if we plan to store long term food in the basement we will need to get proper metal lids. thank you for missing us and yes - the man has been very busy! but loving it and brushing up on all of his excellent IT skills! all my best to you and Ralph! and can't wait to hear of your new homesteading adventures! xoxox
DeleteYes, I've had a few cheap candles that I burn that do exactly what your's did. As usual your food pics make me hungry!
ReplyDeleteDFW - we have tons of cheap candles that we got from here or there or were given to us...and by golly - i will not see that used candle wax go to waste!!! i hope that you have a wonderful time at your quilting get away and can't wait to see what wonderful projects that you worked on! much love as always! xoxoxo
DeleteI was wondering where all our snow went to. Lovely pictures, even if you do have my snow. :-)
ReplyDeleteGlad you & Jambaloney are well and are just busy. We've missed you both. Now I have to go get a snack.... you made me hungry, again!
hey you - get back up here and take back your snow - bahahahah! we are very well and thank you for your concern - now git yer butt in the kitchen, cook up something fantastic and share it with all of us on your blog! much love hobo! xoxo
DeleteWhat a great idea with the candles, I must give it a go. although i really light a candle but you never know!
ReplyDeleteSo you still have snow? Oh boy, we haven't had any so far here in the UK, and I hope it stays that way.
ya Joey - it is a really great way to re-use all of the wasted candle-wax.
Deleteand do you really think it appropriate to brag about no snow??? hmmmmmm....
i am glad that you guys haven't been belted too hard this winter. spring is right around the corner buddy - and i know that we both are looking forward to it.
much love - ya limey! xoxox
(oh bahahahahahah! i just had to say that! my father was from Pinner, London, and he hated people calling him a limey!)
checking in
ReplyDeleteRoger R-O-B-1-2-3. please continue scheduled check-ins. over and Out.
Deleterolls eyes.....
DeleteGreat pictures, your place looks so good in the snow, although I bet it doesn't feel so good! good idea with the candles, I wonder what they used to do when they were burning them all the time or would tallow candles be different? Love the food but can't do grapes with a savoury dish. that's all sorts of wrong!
ReplyDelete