Errands, Chores and Projects on Saturday

I woke up at 6:30 AM. Taking it slow today. Library doesn't open until 10:00 AM, so no big rush. Posted yesterday's blog and made coffee. I started a load of clothes in the washer. I printed off the To Do list, the library wish list and a short grocery list (6 items).

Next, I put together the beef roast in the crock pot. I did my normal (but always a bit different) construction. First went those beautiful carrots from Westborn (the ones with the tops still on - I took a photo, BTW. They look so fake!), peeled and cut on the bias. Next came four large russet potatoes (peeled and cut into bite size pieces). Then came two small yellow onions, peeled and put in whole along with two whole peeled cloves of garlic. I sprinkled a little Lowry's seasoned salt on the veggies and added a dried bay leaf.

Then I seasoned the sirloin tip roast (rolled and tied by the butcher) with Montreal Steak seasoning and put it in the middle. Around it went a whole tray of cleaned white button mushrooms. I added a couple of splashes of Worcestershire sauce on top of the roast, then about a cup of Pinot Noir wine (left over from Luanne) poured on the side of the roast. Finally, came the fresh herbs: a handful of parsley and thyme, a single stalk of Rosemary and two stalks of tarragon (after the chicken noodle soup, I fear the tarragon!). I cut up a large sweet onion and placed the rings on top of everything, took a photo and then turned it on low.

I was just about to pitch the content of my garbage bowl when I really looked at it. It looks so inviting, I took a photo of it, lol!

Sidebar: It's common today among us foodies to diss Rachel Ray (I do it myself) but I must confess. She taught me to use a garbage bowl (duh, now) and how to wash and store fresh herbs so they will keep a week or so. And, I have made many of her dishes over the years since we first started watching her, back in the day, and most were good to great. Sorry, Rach! I do owe ya!

Anyway, I was looking at the potato peelings, carrot peelings and tops, and so on and thought: Wait a minute! I know how to make chicken or beef stock, so why can't I turn these into vegetable stock? I do have to cater to vegetarians every now and then and vegetable stock is also called for in some of my recipes. So, I got out my small stock pot (the one with the pasta strainer) and threw the leavings into it. I figured I'd need more veggie taste to make it robust, so I added a can of sliced beets, a can of green beans, and from my freezer, some frozen sweet corn, broccoli and peas. I added half a head of garlic, smashed, one sliced parsnip and one half of that big onion I cut into for my roast. I put the two leftover baked potatoes and a LOT of big chunks of fresh celery. I threw in three bay leaves and about the same ratio of fresh herbs that went into the crock pot. Last, I added 12 cups of cold water, brought it to a boil, stirred it and put it on simmer for the day. I'll taste and season it later on if it's worth keeping. We'll see...

I went to wash up the dishes from my two morning projects and got a shock when I turned on the hot water! Why? It was HOT!!! Well, duh! Isn't it supposed to be? No, it's about 30 feet from the hot water heater and you usually have to let it run a while until it warms up. At first I went, "Wow, that's odd." Then I thought, "Hey, wait a minute!" So I went into the main bathroom and found a steady trickle of water coming from the hot water tap in the tub. Somebody hadn't turned it off tight. Now, I can only hope I used this when doing Newt's tank (and, I might have, although I cleaned everything down in the laundry tub) because otherwise it's been running since Lu left on Tuesday!

I eschewed shaving and took my shower at 11:00 AM (its 18 degrees F., BTW). I threw the bedding in the wash machine (after kicking both cats off the bed, lol!), got dressed and headed out to do my errands.

I was back home and in the warmth by 1:30 PM. Damn, that wind is wicked and the cold seems to take your breath away! My library trip was mostly successful. Years ago (back in the St, Clair house, I believe) my daughter Melissa turned me on to the John Sandford "Prey" novels. I got them from the library and bought paperback ones when I found them. I think I have six or seven. Well, if you have been paying attention, I haven't been to the library in while so, when Lu was here and I had insomnia, but didn't feel comfortable turning the TV on while she was sleeping, I grabbed one to read. But, my first one is like, eighth or ninth in the series. So, I thought it would be interesting to revisit them. The first one and the fourth ones weren't there, but I took four others in the series. So, now I have some reading material again!

I folded a load of laundry (towels and whatnot) I found in the dryer and put in the bedding. Next I moved to another item on the To Do list. As anyone who has come here and hung their coat in the front hall closet knows, I have always kept my potatoes in there (knowing its cool in there, but not freezing). However, they still tend to sprout before being used (although I remembered a trick from back in my Mother Earth News days and put some apples in there with them. The apples give off a gas that retards the sprouting urge). Anyway, I've been testing the temperature on the shelf in the garage (bordered on two sides by the concrete house wall, which gives off warmth). It seems to stay a consistent 40 degrees F. So, I cleaned up a plastic bin and moved my winter squash, rutabagas, turnips and a milk crate of russet potatoes (with a couple apples) out there. However, to store root veggies properly, they need to be in a cool, DARK place. So, I am going to sacrifice three of my old bath towels to give them just what they need.

First I need to add a board on the side to staple into. So, I cut that off, and then used the table saw to cut it down. Since the air compressor is right there (for inflating my car tires) I used the brad nailer, and some glue to attach the board, then used the staple gun to attach the towels. And, by 4:00 PM, my mini root cellar is complete!!! See photos.

So, I take a break and eat my breakfast/lunch/dinner. I topped the roast beef with just simple horseradish and put butter, salt and pepper on the potatoes and carrots. Very, very good! With a full belly, I decide to take a nap on the couch (my couch is very nice to nap on).

I woke up a little before 7:00 PM. I got the bedding out of the dryer and made up my bed. Then, I FINALLY watched the end of "No Reservations!" I shut off the stock pot and let it cool. Then I watched the horror movie White Noise 2. That, along with my nap, ensured that I would be staying up a while, lol! I made a good dent in my taped show backlog. Finally, I got tired of watching TV, so I grabbed a library book and read until I was sleepy, then turned out the light.