Food and Fiber Friday - Doing Both!

Well, I have a new 'rabbit hole' I have fallen down. 

Four boxes and one large trash bag of drapery and upholstery samples. Luckily, my local Extension office, where I am currently a Master Gardener, has a quilting group. They got two of the boxes. The plan is to make book shelves and pencil pouches for kids.

I have the same plans. I'm adding planner covers and a little pencil case you can wrap around your book. Can you say 'Christmas presents'?

Of course, all this fabric has me looking at 'up cycling' clothes. There are fabric samples of lightweight wool. These are destined to become at least one patchwork long skirt. And I want to make a patchwork coat. 

This means I've had to get off my duff and get the closet set up for my sewing. And then set up a table for 'batch sewing'. I ordered zippers and elastic and am getting ready to watch the Tour de France and sew. 

On the other hand...

And as I watch my own garden slowly get fried in this heat and zero rain at my house, I have taken advantage of my local farm stands. 

I have 14 pints and 8 quarts of tomato sauce and 4 pints and 13 freezer bags of corn made. Some of it will go to Foxy, so I will probably do some more of each. It is an investment of time and money now, but later in the year I will be very happy to open a jar and use it in soups, sauces and other things. 

Right now I am concentrating on canning some peaches. Last year was the first time I canned peach halves. They were very popular and even picky Foxy chowed down on them. More peaches will be canned for use over the winter. 

Jams and jellies are on a back burner as I have enough of both to supply a grocery store. I will be canning or freezing green beans and field peas. These are the things I like and will make a bunch of for use over the winter. But I did make a small batch of Blackberry-Sage jelly and Carrot Cake Jam. Yummy on both!

So I am staying busy and out of the sun and heat. I decided sacrificing my garden is better than finding me laid out on the ground in a heap from overdoing it in the heat and humidity. The dogs stay in the shade on the front porch and would be zero help in dialing 911.