Pulled Pork Dinner

This was a first at our house. Daddy bought me a new pressure cooker so I thought I would try a pork roast. I looked on line for a pulled pork recipe and found about a million. They all had in common brown sugar and paprika. Then I consulted my oldest daughter who had eaten the "real" southern pulled pork sandwiches and she confirmed the main ingredients for the rub. I used simply brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder and pepper. Rubbed down the roast well and seared it in a HOT frying pan with HOT olive oil on all sides. Then I popped it in the cooker, quatered a yellow onion and set it for 99 minutes and propped up my knees for a while.

About 30 minutes before it was done I whipped up these rolls. Shredded the meat into a serving dish, added some masterpiece BBQ sauce to the dripping water, not to much just a little bit.

And........ We ate almost the entire roast. Served with green salad and milk. Yummy.
I wish Carlye and Matt were here, but don't worry I'm going to write down this recipe and I'll make it again for you!!!!

Blessings, Sue

Pendulum Clock

Pendulum Clock: "Keep track of the time with this stylish pendulum clock. Edit the settings of the clock to change the color and to make it tick and play Westminster Chimes."

A canned story for sure!!!

I have had this book for just about ever. I have been helping and processing canned foods for just about ever. I grew up in a harbor town( Morro Bay) and my Dad was like almost every other man I knew growing up, an avid deep sea fisherman. He would come home on a weekend evening and our front yard would be littered with just about every kind of sea creature he could bring in. Shark, cod, abalone. Of course I grew up HATING the stuff. The only tuna I knew was albacore/ home canned in a jar. I remember being confused at seeing store bought tuna in an actual can. hahahha Now I covet the stuff. We canned all summer during my high school years. We would drive up to Salinas after the harvests and bring back car full of tomatoes and cucumbers and this is not to mention the enormous garden of vegis and fruit trees my mom cultivated. So I guess it's in my blood. I didn't have much time when my girls were little but now I do and sooooooo here goes.

Brining the cucumbers, you can't see that there is also a head of cauliflower underneath.

Sterilizing the jars!!!!

I LOVE GARLIC!!!!! My fingers still smell I believe. hahah

Packing the jars.

The extra cauliflower that I just couldn't cram into the jar. It was really good just like that!!!!

Soaking in the jacuzzi!!!! Waiting for the boil. Note: a watched pot does eventually boil, regardless of the rumors.

Ahhhhhhh and the finished product. Three quarts spicy dill pickles and....

One quart spicy cauliflower...

In the last week or so I have also put up some spicy okra pickles, spicy carrots and one of our all time favorites....

Pickled beets....

Pretty little jars of love. Even daddy,who hates beets, tasted them and said they had a "very good flavor" I love you, Seth. Always my encourager!!!!!!

So I found out that my surgery is not until November or December and even though I am on a waiting list for possible cancellations, and that is hopeful, it is still hard to be patient. I have decided that I WILL keep living my life, I have access to pain medication and a very supportive family. And I'm looking forward to next year and all the years after to keep on living my life...ONLY WITH NO PAIN.

PRAISE BE TO GOD!!!!!!!

Blessings, Sue

Past trip to Julian

I decided to go through the pictures that we have on "the family" computer and download them onto my computer. I found a real treasure trove. I found these from one of our family trips to Julian. It was in September about 2 years ago. We usually take a few day trips to Julian every year. October is "apple" month so we usually try to hit it in September before the "rush" We have our favorite shops and treats we like.

This is the old jail. I honestly can't imagine how horrible it would have been to have been incarcerated here. (or anywhere for that matter)

One of our favorite places for treats is The Cider Mill. They have candies and nuts and cider. Jams, jellies and the best pumpkin butter ever. Tastes just like pie. So good on toast with coffee. We usually get a caramel apple and some honey sticks as well.

I thought this was a cool shot. This is Carlye. Her hair is in a ponytail.

Julian is famous for it's apple pie. Thankfully my family is partial to mine.... at least that's the claim...hahaha

More jars in the Cider Mill.

The infamous...

Along the side of the road by the jail are the wild blackberries. Funny how the girls have gone from wanting to pick and eat them, when they were little, to photographing them now!!! They really are fairly inedible. Tart little buggers, but I could see them in a cobbler or pie.

This is just a cool plant that had these berries. The birds were enjoying them. I'm not sure if we will make the trek up this Fall. Maybe around Christmas. We'll have to see how things go.

Wow... not to change the subject or anything but I looked up from my computer just in time to see Sassy's pink tongue frantically lapping up the last of my milk. Silly Kitty.. She going to have to finish it now.
Blessings, Sue

Great Day!!!

Today I sat with an old, dear friend. She has been sitting alone for quite awhile, sharing her corner of the living room with the curio cabinet, fan and The Weens toy basket. She hasn't minded. She is very patient. She was placed lovingly on the kitchen counter, where she got a good dusting and a rub down with some furniture polish. She received oil to remove the kinks and get back in the groove of things and we spent a part of the afternoon together....

We've missed each other...

I caught myself humming.........

I felt so at peace and so content. Our time together was short. But we made an agreement to meet again tomorrow and the next day, and hopefully for quite a few more days.....

Teensy steps.... My new knee was WONDERFUL.... the knee that needs replacing didn't complain...too much!!!!!

Even buster and Bailey were content. They got into their favorite spots for the duration of our visit and didn't move a muscle.

Silly, happy, Weens. What a blessed day!!!!

I hope yours was the same!!! Blessing, Sue
Ok edited for Carlye and Jennifer... Better you silly heads?

Busy... just sitten' around!!!

My days are filled with many frustrations right now. I'm waiting.... Waiting for my next surgery date... My mind is filled with all the autumn-y things I love to do... Baking, canning, sewing... My mind is full and so my creative outlets consist of things I can do from the couch. Fortunately I have a million projects planned and in action as well!!!! This is my latest

. I don't want to reveal it until it's complete and so I will give you this tease. HAHAHAHAHAHAH I will tell you that I am having a blast with this. Not since my little girl coloring days have I enjoyed using color and pattern to improvise and make my thoughts visible. This is like coloring for me. (ok so I love watercolor, too and alot of other things) But this is great fun!!!

the pictures are a bit washed out, but thats ok with me. Ill show you the finished project as soon as I'm done!!
Blessings, Sue

Just Randomness...

I really don't have much to write about today, but don't want to much time to go by. hahah
I have finally been able to keep this darling little plant alive and well for quite some time now. It's called a Burro Tail. I had one when you girls were little but somehow all the little leaf buds where always "falling" off. I would find them littered all around the pot. I always figured it was that naughty "Nobody" but.... Well its thriving soooooooooooo. hahahah

It's still VERY hot here. Today around 3pm I checked the thermometer and it screamed.. Aghhhhhhhhhhh, its toooo hotttt!!!! 100 degrees. These are the thunder heads that form over the mountains in the East. I do love them, very dramatic. No rain, but cool none the less.Daddy put up the fan in the den and it makes a really big difference. I love it. It was a gift from Auntie Chris and Uncle Steve. Daddy added the light fixture. He also bought a webster for the cobwebs. Aghhhhh I hate those things. (cobwebs)

I used my empty Paula Dean candle that Carol gave me for my pretty jewels. Not the greatest picture, but you get the idea. They are on the fireplace.

And is this not adorable. The little girls down the street walk their chickens on leashes. Today it was "too hot" for them and so they put them in this little doll stroller. CUTE. When Jennifer ran out to ask if we could take a picture of them, they giggled and said " your the fourth person ".

Last weekend these same little girls were selling oranges. Now you have to understand that here in Southern California just about everyone has citrus trees in their yard. We have a blood orange, Meyer lemon, Mexican lime and a Washington orange. Our neighbors have lemons and oranges that line the other side of our fence........

Anyway back to the little sweetie pies. There they sat with sweat running down their faces and their cheeks so pink, selling oranges. 50 cents for a large and 25 cents for a small. We bought some, we had no change, they were VERY happy.

Enjoy this last bit of summer, soon it will be cool here.... right?

Blessings, Sue