My absolutely insane life

  I received my dehydrator and Friday and decided I would get going on dehydrating some stuff.  I decided to start with apples because I figured apples are easy, and it is what Genavieve requested. I decided to not go all the way to crisp because I knew she wouldn’t like that.  I think they turned out amazing, and the best part was I also tossed in a peach and nectarine that I wasn’t sure were going to be good for very much longer.  Here are some of them in a bowl, but most of them got gobbled up right away. I also decided to try making jerky.  I had a pork tenderloin, and found a recipe in the dehydrator book.  I followed the directions, and quite frankly it was gross when it was all done.  They were done, and they were the correct consistency, but I just didn’t like the flavor at all.  I decided that the only thing I am going to do from this point forward is beef because the pork was just so gross.  I did not toss them however, I am giving ...

   I was looking around online for tips for food dehydrating (this seems to be my new all day obsession/hobby), and I found out the air fryer I already own can be used as a dehydrator.  Only problem that I see is it is small, so would only be able to do a small batch (think one piece of fruit LOL).  That is okay…..while I wait for my dehydrator to arrive later today I might just pull this thing out and try to start the dehydration process of a peach I have here that will go bad if I don’t do something with it.  

   On Monday Brad started his new job placement in Ohio…..if you remember correctly I was not a fan of this placement as it was pretty far away which meant we wouldn’t see him as much.  He left Monday morning really early in the morning to drive to work, and once there he found out he only had to go pick up his ID badge and could then do that days worth of training remotely.   For the most part, I am getting used to him being gone a lot at this point and so I am doing much better than I did the first placement.  It was a little hard after being home with him (well on vacation with him) for 2 1/2 weeks, and then him being gone.  I think I got a little used to him being here whenever I wanted to see him or talk to him, but we both knew the time would come when he had to go back.   I have talked to him several times each day, and unfortunately he is missing me a lot.  Don’t get me wrong I am glad he is missing me, and I miss him too but this is just ...

  I spent a good portion of my day with a notebook, and taking notes on tips and tricks for freeze drying (and dehydrating).  I went to a bunch of facebook groups and just started to read through the questions and answers.  I also compiled a list of foods that I could try to freeze dry once the machine comes.  I also went on youtube and started watching some videos with more information and took notes from those as well.  I saw in one video that the person had dividers that they used when making things like spaghetti (or anything that would be portioned out). The dividers help to create portions versus trying to break it into pieces after it is freeze dried.  I love that idea, and so I went on a hunt and found some dividers and purchased them, so I will have them when the freeze drying machine comes. As luck would have it Brad was out shopping, and apparently he found a store in Ohio that has them in stock.  I am so bummed about that because I could ha...

   Yesterday I said I was going to go to menards and look into buying growing bags, and try to grow a late crop of vegetables that would still grow.  I found these black bags, and bought six of them.  In the four you see here I planted a potato that I found in my kitchen growing eyes.  From what I read online the potatoes need at least two eyes formed.  This potato had 8 so I was able to cut it into pieces and plant them.   In the other two blog bags I decided to give beets and onions a go.  Not sure if they will work out because I am starting from seeds, but all I can do is try.  If I don’t try, I won’t know.  I also have a pot that I transplanted some plants Brad had growing in the house.  Not really sure what they are and how much space they need, so again……we will see what happens.   Now is a funny that happened in the store.  I was shopping and had my earbuds in.  Suddenly I see out of the corner of my eye some g...

 After seeing a post in a PKU group about freeze drying it really got me thinking…..I have never been one of those doomsday people…..never ever, but that being said after everything shut down and food was hard to get at the beginning of COVID it isn’t something that I can simply say will never happen.  Now Monkey Pox is in the United States.  What if stuff shuts down due to that?  Will we be right where we were a few years ago?  Not to mention war……war is a real possibility, and what do you think will happen if we ever enter a war?  Yes….you got it……food shortage.  I never want to feel that vulnerable or terrified again.  I think I was most terrified for Genavieve (and my other girls with PKU) because they simply can’t eat anything.   So, I ordered my freeze drying machine and must wait 8-10 weeks for it to come.  Some people say they get it earlier, so I am hoping.  I also decided I am going to work on dehydrating food.  I loo...

  A few days ago we were on vacation and hubby received a phone call from his next job placement.  I was sitting next to him and could hear the woman talking to him about his job and expectations, etc.  Suddenly he asks her about his hours.  It was his understanding that his work schedule would be in blocks.  Meaning he would work four days and be off three.  The plan was that with this type of schedule it would be easier for him to come home especially with him being six hours away.  She told him that is not how it was going to work, and that he would work two days, be off one day, work two days and then he would work every other weekend.  This means there are no block days like he thought.  I was instantly upset because he told me he asked them.  He told me that it was written in his contract….I found out it wasn’t.  At this point I am heartbroken and so broken down.   With this new schedule it means I will be alone even more...

    Not long ago there was a mother in one of the PKU groups who was talking about how she bought a freeze drying machine and she freeze dries so many of her child’s foods.  She said on days she doesn’t want to cook she just pulls something from her shelf and adds water and instant healthy meal for her child.  It got me thinking, but when I looked at the cost I thought “no way!”  They are super expensive (close to $5000), so I put the thought aside.  I left it as a wish and a dream for maybe someday.   We went on vacation, and while on vacation we bought the kids freeze dried ice cream sandwiches.  They were so yummy, and it got me longing once again for a freeze drying machine.  The ice cream sandwiches were so good, but so expensive When I got home I kept rolling the thought over in my mind, and couldn’t let it go.  I went online to try and find a freeze drying machine, and found one.  Again…..super expensive so it gave me a pause...

 Who am I is a question I have asked myself over and over again for many years.  Why do I ask that?  Because my identity has always been linked to someone else.  If it wasn’t my children, it was my husband.  I went from being a teenager to being a wife and mom at 18 yrs old.  I never had time to figure out who I was or what I wanted in my life.  From the moment I peed on the stick and found out I was pregnant my life changed and I started to live for the tiny human being that was growing in my body.  Unlike my friends who were out enjoying life and figuring out who they were I wasn’t able to do that (or should I say didn’t choose to do that because I put that tiny human being first and all the tiny human beings that came after her).   Now, 34 yrs after becoming a mother to nine children I am finding that I don’t really know who I am or how to function without those titles.  Yes, I still have a pre-teen and a teen at home, but they do not...

It is hard to believe, but Brad only has two more days of his 13 week work contract! At times it has felt like the time is flying by, and at times it feels like it is an eternity.   What have I learned over these last 13 weeks?  That I can do it……I have overcome so many “obstacles” that would have sunk me in the past.   I learned I am strong.   I learned I can do anything if I put my mind to it. I learned I can do it on my own even though I don’t like it and don’t want to. I learned to clean a litter box. I know to some that is no big deal, but we have had cats our entire married life, and litter boxes have always made me gag.  I can now clean it without throwing up and often without gagging.   I learned how to clean up dog diarrhea……this one wasn’t as easy as cleaning the litter box especially since the dog making the five mounds of diarrhea poop is over 100 lbs!!! I learned how to cut the grass.  I am 53 yrs old, and never in my entire life have I ev...

 This morning my day started out with me being in a lot of pain due to a fall I took on Friday.  Thankfully Brad was home so he was able to help me a good deal. While I was getting ready this morning his brother called and asked if he wanted to go to breakfast.  He said he would call back with a time when he was ready.  He never called back so we went to drop Gena off at Erica’s house, and then we were going to go to the store to buy food I needed to pick up for the party at Barb’s house, and the party at Danielle’s house.  When we pulled into the Pick N Save parking lot we decided to go to Honey Butter Cafe for breakfast instead of waiting.  We had a nice breakfast and just when we were finishing Ben called and said he was ready.  We drove over there and sat and talked with Brad’s family before he had to go to work.  At a little after 11 am we rushed home so he could change and get to work.  I put together the cut little skewers with strawbe...