Hello hello hello... Can you hear me?

 Hello there world. 

How about this insane weather? Texas, Missouri, tons of other states. Snow everywhere, but not here, in Florida. Sad face inserted here. Can you imagine the rolling blackouts. I'm sure plenty of you are living it. As for me and mine, we are just being buys  with crazy life. Cleaning, sorting, feeding animals, planning food, workouts gardens, adventures, oh my! 

I've been going through a lot mentally. Emotionally. So I'm writing, taking photos more and more, attempting to re-learn the guitar. In retrospect, it's a huge task on its own. Work is slow just because of the current world pandemic. Realestate is not where you want to be. I've applied to college courses again. Eek. Not sure how excited or not excited I am about that. We will see what happens. Send good vibes!

Learning New Skills

 So... Life...

I've been in a funk for a while now. I'm trying to pull myself out so I've been trying new things. Tonight, if I dare, I'll be trying out a jiu jitsu place local to me. I'm hoping something will click that just makes me feel complete.
Work has been a struggle in it's own right just because of the fluctuating of the housing market during Covid. Praying for just some normalcy soon.
So new things so far, rock climbing, new workout area, new recipes, new farm animals. I think my life just needs some major overhauling.
I've been writing a lot more and decided it's time for a new guitar. I've been playing the lotto in hope of winning some extra cash, haha! I've restarted my Spanish lessons, my college aspirations, doordashing. Just need some peace and to get out of my head.

Send me some things on what's new or changing for you! I'd love to hear it.

Until another day...

Into the Heart of Things

 Diving into the writing part of things because emotionally, I'm drained.

I thought I saw you there

things are now becoming clear

I don't need you here

Now you'll be missing me

Funny how that was my fear for years

Maybe we're all the better for 

The mishap that happened

but how do I live with the death of love

how do I celebrate and ask for more 

Sunday Funday Biscuits

 This morning I made fresh biscuits and served them with my homemade persimmon and datil pepper jam. They were amazing! So because I'm a huge fan of both, I'm going to share them with you! 

Datil Pepper Jam

    12 oz datil peppers (about 60) finely chopped

• 2 cups cider vinegar, divided

• 10 persimmons, peeled & pureed

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 cup honey

• 2 3-oz pouches of liquid pectin

• 5 (8 oz) half pint glass preserving jars with lids and bands

• 
  

• DIRECTIONS:

• PREPARE boiling water canner. Heat jars and lids in simmering water until ready for use. Do not boil. Set bands aside.

• COMBINE purée with 1 cup cider vinegar and sugar. Bring to a boil over high heat. Add in remaining apple cider and chopped peppers. Boil 10 minutes, stirring frequently.

• ADD liquid pectin, immediately squeezing entire contents from pouches. Continue to boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim foam if necessary.

• LADLE hot datil & persimmon jam into hot jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe rim. Center lid on jar. Apply band until fit is fingertip tight.

• PROCESS in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Remove jars and cool. Check lids for seal after 24 hours. Lid should not flex up and down when center is pressed.
  
• 
  

• Biscuits

• 4 C of all purpose flour
  2 T Baking powder
  2 T Sugar
  2 tsp Salt
  12 T unsalted butter
  1.5 C ice cold milk
  
  

• Directions

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
  In a large mixing bowl sift together flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Cut in shortening with fork or pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  Pour milk into flour mixture while stirring with a fork. Mix in milk until dough is soft, moist and pulls away from the side of the bowl.
  Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and toss with flour until no longer sticky. Roll dough out into a 1/2 inch thick sheet and cut with a floured biscuit or cookie cutter. Press together unused dough and repeat rolling and cutting procedure.
  Place biscuits on ungreased baking sheets and bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 10 minutes.
  
  
  
  There ya have it folks! Happy Sunday! 

Life as we know it

    My life has had so many ups and downs. I really can not count how many to be honest. Season change us. Life takes so many unexpected twists and turns. We change. We learn. We grow. We take the best parts and move forward and try to forget the bad parts. 

    My wine is going to be ready to filter one more time on October 11th. School has been trying for everyone in the family. Striving toward a more independent self is HARD. I can tell you, I will push my children to be independent before they ever get into a relationship. Find your space in education, and a career before deciding to be with someone. I'm about to start some datil pepper jam. We have processed a third of our meat chickens. 

    On with TODAY! In midst of conversation with a friend, we talked about a time I made carne asada fries. Wow. I have not had those in so long. What do I have in my fridge? A pork butt. I'm 100% making carnita fries! Carnita flavors, fries, guacamole???? Who could resist??

Recipe:

CARNITAS
9 lb pork butt
1 cup of orange juice
1 orange zested
1 12 oz beer, I prefer Corona
10 cloves of garlic minced
2 onions chopped (Optional*plus some finely chopped for topping)
2 1/2 tsp of crushed red pepper flakes
2 cinnamon sticks
4 bay leaves
3 tsp salt (more or less to taste)
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp cumin

Preheat oven to 300 degrees
Mix all dry ingredient and rub all over pork butt. Place in roasting pan, poor in juice and beer. 

Place onions, garlic, bay leaves, cinnamon sticks and orange zest in liquid. 

Cover with lid or foil. Use a ladle to pour liquid over meat every 1.5 hours. Cook for 6-8, or until internal temperature reaches 145 degrees.

 Let rest for 20-30 minutes, then shred with two forks.

FRENCH FRIES
4 russet potatoes cut into even strips
4 cups of vegetable oil for frying
Pinch of Salt to taste

Soak potatoes in a large bowl of water for about 30 minutes. Pat dry thoroughly with paper towels.

Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 275 degrees. Gently add the potatoes in the hot oil for about 5 minutes, stirring and flipping the potatoes occasionally. Remove potatoes from oil with a slotted spoon to drain on paper towel and to cool completely.

Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees. Fry the potatoes again until golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Blot with a paper towel. Sprinkle with salt.

GUACAMOLE

6 avocados - peeled, pitted, and mashed 

2 limes, juiced

2 teaspoons salt

1/2 cup diced onion 

1/3 cup finely chopped cilantro

2 roma (plum) tomatoes, diced

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 Jalapeno finely diced

In a medium bowl, mash together the avocados, lime juice, and salt. Mix in onion, cilantro, tomatoes, and garlic. Stir in jalapeno. Refrigerate 1 hour for best flavor, or serve immediately.

OPTIONAL TOPPINGS

Sour Cream
Guacamole
Cilantro
Cotija Cheese
Cheese of your choosing, I prefer pepper jack


INSTRUCTIONS FOR CARNITAS FRIES

Place freshly made french fries in a cast iron or just a cookie sheet. Top with cheese of your choosing. Then place carnita meat on top. Broil until cheese is melted. Top with the topping you prefer!! ENJOY!


Will be posting a picture when completed!

A little bit of life

 Hey, hey, hey there!

So I've got this crazy goal to be making $6k a month by the end of the year. Seeing as I'm in the last quarter of the year, I'm thinking this may or may not happen. That's 6x what I'm currently making. Well, before corona hit us. 

Here's what I'm doing! I'm pushing on all of my social medias(tiktok, instagram, blogger, youtube) to gain followers; trying to remember to promote my Mary Kay stuff, however, I'm not a salesperson, so I just kind of let friends and family come to me when they need something; being a brand ambassador for a few different brands; debating on making something to sell on etsy like tie-dyed everything; application in for audible to be a narrator; finishing applications for Amazon flex, doordash, etc.; selling photos for stock photos.

If you have any ideas to add on here, please do!

Anywho, updates on life right now. School is back in session.We have some sprouts coming in from the fall starts! We sowed cucumbers, roma tomatos, grape tomatoes, mini bell peppers, regular green bells, chamomile, marjoram, chives, carrots, lavendar, and I'm sure I've forgotten some. We started some Scuppernong Muscadine wine from our grape harvest. The Persimmon tree is blessing us with fruit for some awesome jams coming up. Datil peppers are going to be made into something, but I haven't quiet figured out what I want to make yet. Maybe hot sauce? Our laying hens slowed laying because they had some raccoon issues. Makes me want to cry! We thankfully only lost one hen.  

Comment below and let me know what you're up to with side gigs, or just around the home. Of course, any recipes you have, SHARE PLEASE!! I can always use more in my repertoire!

Enjoy some photos the littlest ones and I capture today, and have an amazing day!

10 years later...

Looking back over the last 10 years, so many things have changed from where they began. I've changed, my life has changed, my family dynamics have changed. I know that it's been for the better, and as for life, well, that's just the way it goes. I was a baby it seems now. It's a very somber thing to just breathe in, and realize that every choice has lead you down a different path. Some things you envisioned, and others, you could never imagine them happening. For the better or for the worse.


Today, I am a proud mother of five beautiful children. I have my eyes set on school... AGAIN. I've decided that this phoenix of a woman that I am, will rise up again to build myself into a new version. I have made mistakes, I have made amazing choices, overall, I am me. I am woman. I am strong. I am beautiful just as I am. 

Stay tuned, as this new chapter is just starting. 
xoxo