German Sauerkraut

 ...because there is a lot of German blood in this family.

It all began when I was researching a fermentation crock for the sourdough I am bringing out of hibernation. When I found the crock it was pictured with a vegetable fermentation tamper- cabbage sauerkraut pounder or as Mr. b calls it a husband persuader. The tamper looked like something he would enjoy making in his woodshop. When he brought it in I knew that we would be making sauerkraut for the first time.

2 lbs. cabbage, 1 tablespoon salt, massage for 10 minutes, not gently.

I would like a 10 minute massage, not gently.

Use that husband persuader to tamp down in quart jar.

In a few weeks after this ferments we will be enjoying American reuben sandwiches

 made with German ingredients.

Life is good.

~b

 I think spring may be here to stay finally.

There's signs of it everywhere at our house.

~b

secrets

 I am better at some things than others and when it comes to making chocolate chip cookies I am a pro.

I think making them for 50+ years helps. But I do have a couple of tricks up my sleeve too.

Can you keep a secret?  I can.

I've been machine quilting this farm quilt the last few days. It would make a cute wall hanging.

Tomorrow we  head to the city to stay with our oldest granddaughters. It's really more of a housesitting job. But we enjoy hanging with the grands and experiencing city life at it's finest...

grocery stores, restaurants and shopping.

~b

a hot decision

I cut into this vintage fruit basket inspired vintage tablecloth yesterday to make this hot mitt.  It features pears, apples, grapes, strawberries, cherries, raspberries and blackberries. I've been procrastinating cutting into it for abit.

This was after I looked up the prices of them on etsy. 

Had I known how expensive they are I would have procrastinated longer I'm sure.

But it makes a fun mitt that I will enjoy using in the kitchen. I have lots of the tablecloth left yet for other projects.

AND I have two more vintage tablecloths to procrastinate about.

~b

HOME SWEET HOME

 We are home again after an enjoyable winter in Texas.

It was three long days driving and I always question whether it's worth it or not to avoid South Dakota winters but I'm sure we will go back next year.

We always spend a month by Galveston near the beach. I like to think it's living healthy. I certainly sleep better... I'm sure it's all the fresh air we get.

My favorite coastal bird is the Roseate Spoonbill and I was determined to waterpaint it before we came home and I did...the very last day. I actually like the way it turned out.

We also enjoy the flyovers of the pelicans.

And now it's time to start unpacking the camper.

~b

surf and turf

 We first heard the phrase "Surf and Turf" the Christmas of 1974, the first Christmas for either of us not spent with our families. We made the best of it and dressed up and went out to a nice restaurant in Salinas, California where we ordered surf and turf...steak and seafood.

To this day I like a little surf with my turf and the memories that go with it.

Ice cream and building sand castles on the beach. It sounds like a song.

~b

alligators...of course

 I followed along with Mr. b and my brother golfing the other day...

you will see why soon.

Isn't that chicken golf club cover silly? There is definitely a chicken attraction in our family.

This course was more of a zoo.

And this was the main attraction...

gators! lots of them in lots of sizes!

And stranger than alligators on a golf course was that there were absolutely no warning signs of them.

NONE! ANYWHERE!

~b