Runamuck Ranch

65 Pints of Green Tomato Salsa & 21 Half Pints of Green Chili

What started out as just seeing how many green tomatoes were left on my last lone tomato plant turned into 65 Cups of green tomatoes ....

This was a cool season tomato variety planted in July.  It did not start to produce until just lately, but I was afraid a freeze would ruin the fruit before it ripened.

There were even more chilies.....

All this made a very giant pot of Green Tomato Salsa ...

Tired and neglected children who finally curled up to sleep under a tree while their mother canned until midnight....

The Farmer took pity on me and helped me process all the jars.  Here is some of the fruit of our labor...

Because I had to purchase some onions, cilantro, cumin, and lemon juice the salsa cost 53 cents per jar.  Still a good value compared to store bought especially considering how much better it tastes.  The cost of the green chilies was free.  The chilies came up from saved seed and only required my garden labor.  Definitely a savings on something I use a lot in my cooking.

Hawk

A beautiful hawk sitting and waiting for prey on our old shed.  Please catch a squirrel and not one of our cats.  I really have a love/fear relationship with these amazing birds.

Canning Green Tomatos

I have an abundance of green tomatoes and found this salsa recipe from New Mexico State University.  We are not relish eaters so this looks like a good solution to try.   Note:  I only use tested recipes from a reliable source especially with water bath canning.

Tomatillo Green Salsa

Yield: 5 pints

5 cups chopped tomatillos
1 1/2 cups seeded, chopped long green chiles
1/2 cup seeded finely chopped jalapeños
4 cups chopped onions
1 cup bottled lemon juice
6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 Tbsp ground cumin*
3 Tbsp oregano leaves *
1 Tbsp salt
1 tsp black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan and stir frequently over high heat until mixture begins to boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Ladle hot salsa into pint jars, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Adjust lids and process in a boiling water canner 15 minutes at 0-1,000 feet altitude; 20 minutes at 1,001-6,000 feet; 25 minutes above 6,000 feet.

You may use green tomatoes in this recipe instead of tomatillos.

*Optional

Birthday Sweater

My first knitted sweater given to Memaw on her birthday.  Since she is over 55 she actually gets cold enough to wear a mohair/wool sweater.  Maybe she will let me borrow it in another 15 years.

Now, to cast on a cap for my poor neglected son whose ears get so cold when feeding the calves in the morning.  I guess being pitiful puts you ahead in the knitting queue.

Too Wet

No work today with yesterday's rain.  The Farmer and Papa went shopping on black Friday.  I stayed home to knit and decorate.   The world really is upside down.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving.  I am so thankful all I have to make is mashed potatoes.  I woke up to a clean house, fresh cool air thanks to the little bit of rain yesterday, and the anticipation of eating yummy food I did not cook.

Tomorrow, we have our annual tradition of decorating the house and putting up the trees.  We have one that has our mish mash of ancient ornaments and one that only has handmade things, or things from nature on it.

Happy

"How To Be Happy"

1. Make up your mind to be happy. Learn to find pleasure in simple things.

2. Make the best of your circumstances. No one has everything, and everyone has something of sorrow intermingled with gladness of life. The trick is to make the laughter outweigh the tears.
3. Don't take yourself too seriously. Don't think that somehow you should be protected from misfortune that befalls other people.
4. You can't please everybody. Don't let criticism worry you.

5. Don't let your neighbor set your standards. Be yourself.
6. Do the things you enjoy doing but stay out of debt.
7. Never borrow trouble. Imaginary things are harder to bear than real ones.
8. Since hate poisons the soul, do not cherish jealousy, enmity, grudges. Avoid people who make you unhappy.
9. Have many interests. If you can't travel, read about new places.
10. Don't hold post-mortems. Don't spend your time brooding over sorrows or mistakes. Don't be one who never gets over things.
11. Do what you can for those less fortunate than yourself.
12. Keep busy at something. A busy person never has time to be unhappy.
- Robert Louis Stevenson -

Don't Play With Jaguars

We live on the main CAP canal that snakes its way through Arizona.  As a consistent water source it attracts a lot of wildlife.

Yesterday,  TT and Boo were playing Star Wars in the Enchanted Forest (mesquite tree forest around a cattle pond)  and came running into the house with their hair on fire.  Apparently, from the description and tracks, a black Mexican jaguar was laying in the shade of one of the trees watching them.  He seems to be gone and will probably decide to go elsewhere with more harvest crews moving in.  Just in case, Daisy will be their constant companion when out playing for awhile.

Caboodle and Diabetes

Boo was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes 2 weeks before Caboodle was born.  Caboodle worships and copies her older sister and has only lived in a diabetic home.  She has definitely been effected....

• Caboodle has a fit if we do not put one of those little round bandages on her when we do Boo's infusion sets. 
• She holds Boo's hand while we put in an infusion set, pats her and says "it's OK."  She also requires Boo to hold her hand while she gets her fake infusion.  She does seem to think Boo is a wimp because that band aid doesn't hurt at all but she is still supportive.
• Caboodle requires us to look at her food and count out loud so she knows how many carbs to bolus.
• Her favorite teddy bear is Rover the diabetes bear.
• She uses a thermometer from a play doctors kit to take her blood sugar and also her baby's blood sugar.
• She is continually trying to steal Boo's insulin pump as she thinks it is a very cool fashion accessory.

We figure she will become an endocrinologist or a nurse.  The blessing is that she supports her sister's struggle with diabetes by making it cool and makes it OK for Boo in ways we never could.

A Great Song to Memorize

This is an old song I have memorized and love to sing to the children.  Caboodle now sings it with me although much of it she translates to Caboodle language.  For some reason it always reminds me of the Farmer's grandmother who I miss very much.

	Keep On The Sunny Side
	There's a dark and a troubled side of life There's a bright and a sunny side too Though we meet with the darkness and strife The sunny side we also may view    Keep on the sunny side   always on the sunny side    Keep on the sunny side of life    It will help us every day it will brighten all our way    If we keep on the sunny side of life Oh the storm and its fury broke today Crushing hopes that we cherish so dear The clouds and storm will in time pass away The sun again will shine bright and clear Let us greet with a song of hope each day Though the moment be cloudy or fair Let us trust in our Savior always To keep us every one in His care

Copyright 1899 - Words by Ada Blenkhorn
Music by J. Howard Entwisle