Fluff and Stuff

This weekend flew by!

We started bright and early Saturday morning and began insulating the ceiling in the shop. It wasn't a difficult job... well, for me it wasn't. I just had to load the machine with bags of insulation. Art had to work in the heat, blowing insulation about one foot deep over the entire ceiling (or the two-thirds that are up). We didn't finish it on Saturday because we had family over and then headed to Iowa City for my grandma's 90th birthday party. We woke up bright and early again Sunday morning to finish it and they should come this week sometime to put of the rest of the ceiling, minus a panel so that Art is able to get up and insulate the rest of it.

The insulation is really dusty so we had to wear goggles and masks.

I was also able to make ketchup this weekend! The tomatos aren't great, a lot of them are splitting because of all the rain we've had and the bugs are getting to them before I can. But I was able to get enough to make eight pints of ketchup (about 65 Romas). I'm hoping to make at least another eight or twelve pints and still have enough to give Emily her share. I decided to forgoe the salsa this year because I would have to buy too many of the ingredients (namely the green peppers and they can be expensive considering how many I would need). There is always next year, though! I think I can do it without hating my garden- it will just be a much smaller and more manageable space. As of right now I am going to limit myself to tomatos, onions, green peppers and potatoes. I was also considering black beans because I feel really guilty for mowing over them. Who cares if I have to simmer them for an hour and a half? I should get away from instant or time-saving food considering the amount of salt and preservatives they put in canned food. And I don't wouldn't pick them until they're dried on the plant- that's pretty low maintenence. Also, if anyone has any idea how to keep strawberries at bay, let me know. They keep spreading- they over took the black beans and I'm wondering if anyone has had any luck putting up a barrier of some sort to block their growth.