WEEKLY CHALLENGE UPDATE: Counting down to Christmas

Now we shall see if the pop bottle bell cloches work

After good weather all fall and winter we got hit with a couple of inches of the white stuff. Here are some of the Bel Cloches and the brussel sprout and kale starts out in my squash box freezing! And my poor MG is sitting outside in the cold as well!

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My little MG out in the cold

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge Week 26

Plant something: Didn’t plant anything, but brought in one of my kale plants to protect it from the cold and put it on the windowsill.
Harvest something: nothing to harvest- except snow
Manage something: Bought 6 packages (about 18 rings) of potato sausage and put in the freezer

Cook Something New: Did cook some grits- never cooked before, ate them plenty of times. Also, cooked plenty of things that I have made before - mostly Christmas type items.
Work on Local Food Systems: Went to moms and made krumkake- I count this because she supplied the ingredients and I baked them on my krum kake iron- then we split them. Bought 6 packages of potato sausage from my butcher.
Re-Cycle, Re-Use, Re-Duce, Repair or Compost something: Re-used 5 quart mason jars to put some homemade beef jerky in. Put some Christmas greens in the compost.
Learn a skill: took a lesson in “Earth Friendly Holiday” wrapping.

MELINDA'S BUY SUSTAINABLY CHALLENGE: Didn’t do great this week, but didn’t do too bad either. I bought some potato sausage at the butchers. Bought some buttons to mend my work jacket. Did buy some things for gifts, but mostly gift cards so not too bad.

Beansprout's Make a Christmas Gift Challenge Filled 5 jars full of Homemade Beef Jerky that will become Christmas presents. Made batches of Sugar Free Peanut Brittle that I will give some to my Uncle whom is also diabetic, and my mom

Crunchy’s Freeze Yer Balls off Challenge: I love, LOVE, LOVE my programmable thermostat I added. It is so nice to not have to remember to lower the temp when I go to bed, even nicer that the heat is on when I wake up!

Sergeant Chile’s Operation Clean Out- Tried to start putting back the Christmas decorations I didn’t use, tried to start cleaning for Christmas

Weekly Challenge Update

Hot Cocoa Cone

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge Week 24

Plant something: Nope

Harvest something: Some carrots, some chives (I grow them on the windowsill)

Manage something: Managed to keep my nerves calm during Thanksgiving, Got a load of “canned heat” to stock up for winter; Installed programmable thermostat in Living and Dining room, Made a heap of Crunchy’s Cream cheese; Dried (dehydrated) chives and spring onions leftover from thanksgiving

Cook Something New: Came up with a recipe for Pumpkin Cre′me Broulee′, Made a sausage “McMuffin” using Morningstar Veggie "Sausage" Patties

Work on Local Food Systems: Went to Local Veggie and Fruit Monger this week, Bought Cheese from Beechers, a local cheese maker in the Pike Place Market

Re-Cycle, Re-Use, Re-Duce, Repair or Compost something: Got empty wine bottles from my Cousin Candi’s Thanksgiving dinner that I am going to save to make my bed border; reused some old Christmas stockings for "Cocoa in a jar" lids for gifts; made up some "Hot Cocoa Cones" for gifts for cousins' kids and some others

Learn a skill: Nope

MELINDA'S BUY SUSTAINABLY CHALLENGE: Didn't do bad at all here. Bought the food for thanksgiving locally; bought some craft supplies to make christmas presents- cocoa cones and cocoa in a jar, Bought a can of Silver Chrome spray paint to paint some Command hooks silver rather than pay $8 each for Metal command hooks (I already had the plastic ones)

Beansprout's Make a Christmas Gift Challenge: Had a simple week- Made up some "Hot Cocoa cones" and "cocoa in a jar" for cousins' kids

Crunchy’s Freeze Yer Balls off Challenge: Installed the programmable thermostat in the dining room/kitchen- I am now programmable in the main living areas of the house and set at 55/65.

Sergeant Chile’s Operation Clean Out- Didn't do much here. Was tired from Thanksgiving.

Weekly Challenge Update

My Matsu Apple tree


Sharon's Independence Days Challenge Week 23
Plant something: Planted the Matsu (or Crispin) Apple Tree in the backyard. Wasn’t planning on a regular apple tree, as I plan to plant a Columnar orchid


Prep something: Made stock for soup and froze


Harvest something: A few peas, carrots


Manage something: Chile made me clean out and organize my spice cabinet – well she didn’t make me- she “inspired me”


Cook Something New: Made some cheese dips using Crunchy’s Cream Cheese as the base- They turned out great!

Shrimp Dip
1 cup of Cream Cheese
about ½ lb of salad shrimp about 1 cup
Seafood Sauce- about ½ cup
Stir all ingredients well, chill. Serve with Crackers or melba toast

Onion and Chive dip
1 cup of Cream Cheese
½ cup of chopped chives
One bunch of green onion tops
Mix all together. Re-Chill in Frigidaire. Serve with Crackers or melba toast

Melba Toast
SERVES 4 -8 (change servings and units)
Ingredients- 8 slices white bread (I suggest Italian Bread or Brioche) Or you can use a Baggette slice the bagette thinly and toast untoasted sides uppermost, until golden and the edges curl.

Preheat the broiler to high and toast the bread lightly on both sides.

Cut off the crusts and then, holding the toast flat, slide a sharp knife between the toasted edges to split the bread so that you now have 8 slices that are toasted only on one side.

Cut each piece into 4 triangles, and then toast under the broiler, untoasted sides uppermost, until golden and the edges curl.

Alternatively, make Melba toast earlier in the day, and warm for a short time in the oven at 325ºF
Work on Local Food Systems: Went all over looking for local foods for Thanksgiving, found local cheeses and dairy, got local beef roast


Re-Cycle, Re-Use, Re-Duce, Repair or Compost something: Made some more Bel Cloches out of 1 and 2 liter pop bottles; Put garden waste in composter


Learn a skill: Nope


MELINDA'S BUY SUSTAINABLY CHALLENGE: A much better week. Bought cheese from Beechers, a local cheese shop and veggies from Duane’s Garden spot. And The roast beast from B&E Meats here in Burien. All of my holiday food falls in the 100 mile diet. And it is tasty. And I made my cream cheese following Crunchy’s Cream Cheese recipe. Didn’t buy any Christmas presents this week. Or hardware, but I did receive the Programmable thermostat, which I need to install tonight

Beansprout's Make a Christmas Gift Challenge: Coming along on this one. Doing the finishing touches on the gift tag ornaments, made some progress re-upholstering the head board.

Crunchy’s Freeze Yer Balls off Challenge: Still at 55/65. Got my new programmable thermostat for the Dining room/Kitchen and plan on installing it tonight, since I am cooking stock on the stove and baking pumpkin bread.

Sergeant Chile’s Operation Clean Out- Chile inspired me to clean out and organize the spice cabinet. I did that and spent about an hour in the garage, trying to clean that out as well.

Weekly Challenge Update

Kinda of a blah week as you can tell!
Sharon's Independence Days Challenge Week 22

Plant something: Nope
Prep something: Nope
Harvest something: A few peas that’s it
Manage something: Got the Christmas junk down in the garage; put away Halloween stuff
Cook Something New: Didn’t cook at all this week
Work on Local Food Systems: Nope
Re-Cycle, Re-Use, Re-Duce, Repair or Compost something: Well the one place I did something, I put pizza boxes and such in the yard waste bin, read about making a decorative fence out of wine bottles- You bury them upside down! I saw it at Debbie's Artful Inspirations blog- Sounds cool so I am thinking about it. Re-Used some glass bottles for water storage.
Learn a skill: Went and took the fourth class in the WSU Extension program- How to make a Raingarden- have been deciding if I should attempt this or not- About the only place it would make any sense is the front yard- maybe one around the garage area!

MELINDA'S BUY SUSTAINABLY CHALLENGE: Boy was I ever bad at this during the week: I bought a new pair of jeans (When I see my size and inseam and on sale for $8 I usually jump on it) Bought some Christmas presents this week as well- None of them used or pre-owned. But I am pretty much done Christmas shopping. Am getting over the If I buy one for someone else I should buy one for myself!

Beansprout's Make a Christmas Gift Challenge: As I said last Sunday, I decided not to make mom a Murphy bed- But I did buy her an air bed that makes its own box spring- has it’s own air pump, and is small enough to fit in one her dresser drawers with all the linens – just as good as making a big Murphy bed. Get about halfway done on her head board, need to get started on her clock- got the clock works for it now so need to get busy!

Crunchy’s Freeze Yer Balls off Challenge: Still at 65 when awake or here, 55 when gone or asleep. Still waiting on new programmable thermostat- suppose to be here on Tuesday!

Sergeant Chile’s Operation Clean Out- Didn’t accomplish much here either- except got the Christmas stuff down in the garage and the Halloween stuff back up.

Weekly Challenge Update

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge Week 21
Plant something: Did buy a Matsu Apple Tree at Lowes that went on close out for $5
Prep something: Put up the Roasted Pumpkin Seeds into mason jars, made some peanut butter and made Leek and potato soup for this week and froze the soup to warm it up
Harvest something- Some lettuce, some beans, some peas
Manage something: Made some Bell Cloches out of plastic pop bottles, hoping they kick start the kale plants; Ordered another programmable thermostat for the Dining room/ Kitchen
Cook Something New: Made some of Crunchy’s Cream Cheese Was still doing it's thing in the fridge- can't wait to taste it! UPDATE 11/09 Ate some of the cream cheese this morning on a bagel- Crunchy you are a geniuos!!!
Work on Local Food Systems: Just shopping at green grocers
Re-Cycle, Re-Use, Re-Duce, Repair or Compost something: Made bell Cloche’s out of 2 liter pop bottles, threw dead sunflower stalks into yard waste bin
Learn a skill: Learned that Pioneer Week should be done with out me!

MELINDA'S BUY SUSTAINABLY CHALLENGE: Went dumpster diving and found two plastic Jack O’ Lanterns- going to use them for decoration next Halloween- ordered two programmable thermostats suitable for baseboard heaters (I have fan forced wall heaters- they use the same thermostats) One for my house and one for a gift. Bought some items to make Rudolph ornament gift tags with; Did buy a Matsu Apple Tree at Lowes that went on close out for $5

Beansprout's Make a Christmas Gift Challenge: Getting busy on the headboard for mom. Decided not to make her a Murphy bed- She doesn’t have the room for it. So I guess it is take the roll-away over there when she needs a spare bed for guests. Started making ornaments to use as gift tags!

Crunchy’s Freeze Yer Balls off Challenge: Got the thermostats set at 65 when we are there and awake, 55 when we are asleep or gone. Ordered two more programmable thermostats, One for the dining room/kitchen and one for a gift.

Sergeant Chile’s Operation Clean Out- Private Rob is reporting for duty Ma'am Yes Ma'am! Starting again in the garage- seems the enemy took over the garage and I must liberate it!

Crunchy’s Pioneer Week Update: Not so “pioneery” to end the week- Went to work on Saturday and bought Chinese food, And forgot about being a pioneer last night and got busy watching TV (You know I love The Nanny!) Fell asleep on the couch woke up burning to death- here was Topaz (aka “Stu”) the 75 pound Chocolate Lab sleeping on my legs. And Sammy Cat sleeping on my chest! Nothing like a big old stupid dog and a wily little kitty to warm you up! Certainly makes me appreciate the concept of a three dog night!
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