Common Sense Home Good News Letter 10/22/22
“A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows.” – Francis of Assisi
This week started so dreary – gale force winds, temps well below average, clouds, rain, snow, freezing drizzle -ugh. I wanted to settle into hibernation mode for the winter.
Low and behold, the end of the week ushered in above average temperatures, and we were able to get in some much more pleasant time outside.
It was such a blessing to be working outside in shirt sleeves after having to bundle up. I hope we get enough moderate weather to be able to finish up the winter preps without it feeling like winter already.
In the garden, trellises and fences are coming out and being stashed under cover. Coop bedding and cover crops are going in. There are still a few cold hearty crops that need picking, like root veggies and cabbage, kale and kohlrabi.
We made one big batch of sauerkraut earlier, but I think we’ll do a little more this fall since the first batch was shared with the neighbors.
Our remodeling project is moving along again. My sons got the flooring in this week, so next comes the trim and door. Then the closets, heating, and some window coverings, and we’ll be ready to move everything back in. More new skills learned, so that’s not a bad thing.
An old friend called this week and said she’d been waiting for me to call to let her know the remodeling was finished so she has a place to stay for a visit. I told her it’s still a mess, but as long as she didn’t mind sleeping in a construction zone, we can make it work. Never did I think the project would take this long, but 2022 has been a challenging year.
Thank you to all the sunbeams who have reached out to share your stories and successes and words of kindness. I am way behind on answering emails, but I do read and appreciate them all.
All our best to you and yours,
Laurie (and August IV, August V, and Duncan)
This week’s featured articles…
Do probiotics for colds and flu really work? We’ll share five ways probiotics help, what they are, how they work to boost your immune system, and which ones are best.
This apple cake with caramel topping is a fall favorite at our house. If you like a less sweet dessert, you can skip the caramel. Either way, it’s moist and yummy.
We’ll share the science behind proper canning headspace, basic guidelines, and troubleshooting tips to avoid losing all your liquid.
Popular on Instagram this week: making ketchup and laying flooring.