Rationale For A Pretty Bathroom Window

Said rationale went something like this:

Let's keep this project simple. The kitchen remodel was detailed, time consuming, and intense, so let's keep the bathroom remodel simple.

That includes time as well as expense.

Let's replace the window though, from an old energy leaky one, to a new energy efficient one.

Window still needs to be small to maintain bathroom privacy.

Old window measures 29 by 32 inches.

Hmm, no one around here carries windows that size.

Special order? Way too expensive.

Oh look, Lowes sells octagonal windows closer to the right size. Hmmm.

Plain octagonal windows reasonable, fancy octagonal windows expensive. One of those plain ones is a definite possibility.

A couple days later....

I'm bored. Let's look online for octagonal windows.

Wow. Look at these pretty stained glass ones on Ebay. They're less than half the price for something similar at Lowes. And they don't cost too much more than Lowes' plain octagonal windows.

Let's see, 24x24 inches. Same size as the ones at Lowes and perfect for a bathroom.

Being stained glass, they let in light be can't be seen through from outside. Good for privacy.

That means I won't have to worry about a curtain or window blind. I need to subtract that from the cost.

Plus, Dan loves stained glass.

"Dan, what do you think?"

"Get it."

And there you have it.

Next: Installing That Pretty Bathroom Window

Rationale For A Pretty Bathroom Window © December 

2012 by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

1st Peek at the New Pasture

Our new pasture is finally beginning to grow!

Pasture grasses, legumes, & herbs just beginning to sprout.
The goat & chicken shed is in the background.

I planted it on October 22nd, right after we finished remineralizing our soil. Then it was three weeks before we got any rain, and that was less than an inch. I admit I was concerned about the seed during that time. Even though I've been able to keep the chickens out, we had a flock of mourning doves visiting regularly, helping themselves! In anticipation of losing some to birds, I sowed heavily. We were supposed to use 25 pounds for our half acre, but I scattered two, 50 pound bags of grass and clover pasture seed mix, plus a few extras: wheat, oats, annual rye, orchard grass, chicory, radishes, Swiss chard, thyme, yarrow, hairy vetch, buckwheat, Austrian winter peas, and a handful of old alfalfa seeds meant for sprouting. Finally it's beginning to grow.

We haven't gotten any more rain since then, which is a concern. Delayed rain in the beginning didn't worry me as much as the birds, because I knew the seed would hold tight until conditions were good for sprouting. Now that tiny root systems are being established, they need continued moisture or they'll dry up. Cooler weather helps though. During summer, even after a good rain our soil can dry quickly because sun and heat evaporate the moisture right out of it. That was one reason we postponed planting until fall. Like so many other things in the homesteading life however, this is something that is not within our control. Still, when I look across the field and see it frosted with fresh green, I can't help but be thankful. Very thankful indeed.

Related Posts:
Pasture Improvement Phase 1
Pasture Improvement Phase 2: Remineralizing Our Soil

1st Peek at the New Pasture © December 2012 

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

Sweet Potatoes & Green Tomatoes

A couple years ago, I had a problem with my sweet potatoes, black rot. Well, it's a problem again this year. So many of my pretty looking sweets developed those same ugly spots as they cured. Rats.

Photo from October 2010, but this year's look the same. :(

This is a virus, correction, a fungus, which will spread during storage. It is said to impart a bitter taste, though my goats don't seem to care. But I care.

At that time, I decided to can as many as sweet potatoes as I could.

Freshly canned sweet potatoes, October 2010.
Canned with light sugar syrup, 90 mins @ 10 lbs pressure

As a way to preserve sweet potatoes, I'd say this method is so-so. Handy in a pinch, but not as flavorful as freshly baked sweet potatoes. Best use, baked goods such as quick breads or muffins.

To salvage this year's harvest, I looked at two different methods. Freezing is one. I want to try partially baking, wrapping in foil, and freezing to finish baking before serving. I'd also like to freeze some puree. Back in the day I used to puree and can something similar, pumpkin. Now the USDA has added purees to the list of things not safe for home canning. I suspect eventually everything will not be safe for home canning.

The second was to dehydrate. This is a bit more time consuming, requiring peeling, slicing, and steam blanching for 3 minutes, but, what better excuse for hanging around the wood cookstove on a chilly day. :)

I rigged that up a steamer with a large pot and my colander, using the preheated water from the cookstove water reservoir to give me a head start.

I wouldn't use that water for cooking, but for steaming, I didn't have a problem with it.

These went into the dehydrator at 125° F until hard.

Dehydrated sweet potatoes

I'll have to let you know how well these work. For some, even though I cut off all the dark spots, I discovered that some perfectly good looking pieces blackened with drying. I separated these out. They'll eventually soften somewhat in our humidity, and I'll see what the goats think of these. A good source of vitamin A when fresh forage is scarce.

For previous years' green tomatoes, I've made green tomato jam, which is yummy, and canned slices for fried green tomatoes, which is a real treat.

Photo from Nov. 2011.
How well do they fry? Click here.

Both of these recipes are keepers. I still had some jam in the pantry however, and after letting the largest of my green tomatoes ripen on the window sill, the rest were too small to slice for frying. I decided to try a couple of new recipes.

Pickled green tomatoes on left, Green tomato conserve on right

The green tomato conserve is from The Art of Preserving by Jacqueline Wejman and Charles St. Peter. The book was a gift from Benita (Basically Benita) and has quite a variety of good looking recipes. It called for tart apples, and I even had enough of our homegrowns to make it. The lemons I had to buy, because my Meyers lemons aren't ready.

The second experiment was a green tomato pickle for which I used Mrs. Wage's prepackaged Bread & Butter pickle mix. Dan likes pickles made from it and I can usually pick up a package or two on summer clearance every year.

Samples leftover from canning were pretty tasty, but I don't think Dan is convinced, simply because the tomatoes are green instead of red. I'll allow that the color isn't as attractive as products made from ripe toms, especially if any of the them are starting to turn red, of if apple cider vinegar is used like I did. Green + orange or amber = a muddy color. Hopefully, taste will win out in the end.

Sweet Potatoes & Green Tomatoes © November 2012 

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/