Bashful Bloggers and A Winner

My, aren't you all just bashful bloggers?  Or am I just too clever?

I love that word...clever. 

So after a crazy, busy holiday weekend that I will tell you about later this week, I can finally reveal the winner of the Giveaway!

To recap, I included the questions and will supply the answers:

1) Which Blog Buddy am I visiting soon?  I all but gave that one away ... :o) 
Jane from Hard Work Homestead

2) Which Blog Buddies did I refer to wanting to visit next year in the following sentence:

"I need bottled-boy energy, a hunt with a redneck girl, a belly-up to the bar with a fowl mom, to do anything and everything legume-ish, and should anyone decide to move their garden, now that would be great!"

Now this one was a bit more difficult for you to figure out seeing as how I didn't give many  hints.  I have to hand it to Jody at Spring Garden Acre, he not only supplied some very good answers, he also supported them with what could have been a very good fit based on fellow blog friends, himself and Belle included!  And I just realized they are in PA!  Hmmmm...  Will you guys happen to be at the MEN Fair?

So here is the breakdown:

Bottled-boy energy and a hunt with a redneck girl ...  none other than Mama Tea at A Farmish Kind of Life and her boys, Farmboy Iggy and Farmboy Ooky! 

I need to belly up to the bar with a fowl mom as in Chicken Mama from The Tales of Chicken Mama, Lady Homesteader, cuz we got girl stuff to talk about!  And girl stuff requires liquid.

Now, anything and everything legume-ish.  Is there any other favorite PEA family out there?  I think I could spend a month and never get enough of Mama (and Papa) Pea from A Home Grown Journal.

Do you see the geographical connection now?  I am beginning to think MN is the place to be! 

That said, the last one could have really thrown you for a loop.  She doesn't live in MN any more; however, she has expressed the desire to go back.  So when I said should anyone decide to move their garden, now would be a good time...that meant Erin at Garden Now-Think Later!

So who won?  Well it was a tight race!  Patty at Let's Get Real nearly had it with 3 correct answers...which comes as no surprise and at the time escaped me that she too is in MN!  I'll need to put that in the route!

But alas, Judy (sorry, no blog to link up with) piped back in with a second comment and nudged her out of the race with 4 correct answers!  So Ms. Judy, you are the winner!

The rest of "you" who left comments musta just been feeling bashful and didn't want to name yourselves, huh? 

There you have it - the inner workings of my, ummm...clever mind???  Yeah, not so much.

The Great Bean Debacle ~ Give Away

Green Beans are my veggie of choice.  You saw the size of the rows in my Garden Walk, probably gave it away.  Pig Pen is the carrot freak.

I love green beans fried with bacon, onion, butter and potatoes best, I love them steamed, I love them cold, I love them in soups, I love them in casseroles, fresh, frozen or canned.  I love green beans.

We always plant pole beans.  They are very productive and in my book, idiot proof.  We planted both bush and pole beans one year and quickly realized that the poles out produced the bush; however bush came on earlier.  So we stopped planting bush and stuck with poles.  We've had two rows of poles in most years past.  Last year we only planted one row -  I have a few jars of their buttery goodness left.

This year we went back to two rows.  I wanted green beans coming out my ears.  I'd rather give them away than run short.  (who am I kidding, we eat them all)

So imagine my horrific shock when the beans I planted turned up woody, stringy and beanie!  I've never met a green bean I didn't like...until this year.  And to make matters worse, I shared seed with two friends and they don't like them either!

We always plant Blue Lake.  This year my genius self planted something else.  The catalogs I ordered from didn't have Blue Lake so I just read all the flowery descriptions and picked one.  (at least that's how I recall it)

What kills me is that most of you plant the variety I used this year.  Either bush or pole, many of you rave about them!  Isn't that funny?

So my green beans this years will be left to dry. Either for soups etc. or seed. NOT seed for me.

Luckily we managed to find several seed packs in late July for Blue Lake Bush. If I don't get any green beans this year, it will be the first time in 4 years that I've had to buy them. Debacle, indeed.

Idiot

Ahhh...there it is!

So I have Kentucky Wonder Pole seeds.  Only one and a half packages (maybe 60 seeds), but they are no good to me.

Who wants'em?

Since yesterday's post was a real head scratcher and inquiring minds want to know -

Leave me a comment by Sunday, Sept. 4th at 9pm and tell me the following:

1)  Which Blog Buddy am I visiting soon?

2)  Which Blog Buddies did I refer to wanting to visit next year in the following sentence:

 

"I need bottled-boy energy, a hunt with a redneck girl, a belly-up to the bar with a fowl mom, to do anything and everything legume-ish, and should anyone decide to move their garden, now that would be great!"

I will give you a hint for item 2...the first two go together and in total, I referred to FOUR other Bloggers. 

So you need to give me FIVE names altogether.  Whoever gets ALL FIVE names right will win!  If more than one person gets it right, I will draw from the bowl!  If no one gets them right, I will pick who got closest and do the bowl again if necessary.  Clear as mud?

And because I realize bean seeds aren't the most exciting give away, I will sweeten the pot and throw in some honey! 

Ok...GO!

The Spelling Bee WINNERS!

First of all, thank you all for the wonderful gut laughs and insight with The Spelling Bee.  You all just crack me up and this was super fun! 

So I had to use the old fashioned method of names in a bowl.  Check the picture, make sure you see your name, and if not...cry foul and I will make it right!

17 Comedians and Philosophers entered!

 Not including Jan and Jen = family.

And here are the lucky winners:

Congratulations!!!!

Please email me with your mailing info when you get a second.  I am super excited to share with you and I hope you really enjoy your honey! 

Who knows...maybe someone will be wooed over to the dark side of Beekeeping!

Muahahahahaa!

The Spelling Bee

My Maternal Grandmother never graduated from High School.  She married my Grampa when she was 16 and raised 8 kids on the farm.  That wasn't all that uncommon back in the day.  Don't get me wrong, she was most certainly not uneducated or a dunce.  She had more "cents" than most 16 year olds of today combined.

When she was a young girl, she won The Spelling Bee at her school.  It was a very proud accomplishment for her.  My Aunt Bena still has her achievement certificate, I believe.  Until recently, I had completely forgotten this tale.

So in honor of my Grama and her wonderful spelling abilities, we are having a Spelling Bee...right here!  Right now! 

And here's your word:

Sharing.  S-H-A-R-I-N-G.  Sharing.

Sharing is defined as:  To allow someone to use or enjoy something that one possesses.

Well by golly-gosh, what could I possibly possess that I could share with you?  Something you might enjoy?

Honey, anyone?

All you have to do is leave a comment and brighten my day with your wit or wisdom.  That's it!

Pst!  Family members need not apply...you'll get yours! 

The drawing will close this Thursday at 9 p.m. and I will post the winners - yes - winners (plural) on Friday.

Three lucky people will receive one, 12 oz Honey Bear each!

How's that for sharing?  Coming from a big family, sharing is a lesson Grama would have taught very early on!

Drum Roll Please!

Folks, we have a winner!

In case you can't see it clearly, it goes to Comment #8!

All you need to do is email me at TheApplePieGal@gmail.com

CSN Stores will email your $40.00 certificate directly to you!

A Big HUGE "Thank You!" to Eileen at CSN Stores for sponsoring this Give Away!

AND

Thanks to all my Bloggin' Buddies old and new!

I didn't respond to any comments for that post because I didn't want to mess up the counts for the number generator, but now I can say a few things in response to the chuckles you guys gave me!  Your 'funnies' are something I look forward to everyday!

Jan... yes we know you are a Ho Bag Bag Ho...my bad!

Rachael...thanks for coming out of the closet and going public with me ;) Ha!

Kelly...Welcome Aboard!  Hope you find something useful from time to time or at least a little humor for your day!

The Tesdall's...I think I owe you a huge "Congrats!" on that gorgeous baby girl and welcome to you here too!

Amy...you are a girl after my own heart...Mmmmm Coffee!!!

Gina...Wham!  Pow!  Splat!...hope your son looooves that Batman Stuff!  Congrats Girl, You are the Winner!

Jan...you are like lightening!

Chelsi...I think we need to hang out, No?  Get your fanny on a plane!  Bring Jackson! Oh and the hubs! :)

Peakview...I thought it said Peekaboo at first!  Ha!  Maybe that's why I couldn't see your blog, it was playing peekaboo too?  Looking forward to getting to know you!

Granny...No, really...what would you need one of those for???  I don't get it... ;) 

Thyme...yeah, gardening and canning might cost ya some gadgets at start up, but you will love it!  And I want a dehydrator too, but first...you must get a canner!!!! 

J2...You have some amazing Farmer's Market and other awesome photos on your blog!  Loved them!  Can't wait to see what else is up your sleeve!

Ok, Gina...you know what to do! 

Thanks all for playing along!  I wish I could give one to each and every one of you, I really do!

Take THAT!!!!

Hmmm...???

...Three...Great Give Aways!

It only takes a second to enter any of these awesome give aways!

If you are looking to stay fit, check out A Daily Dose of Davis for the big bouncy ball, rubberband thingee and workout DVD.

If you want something super cute and crafty, check out Tiny Brown Wren's Baby Button Nests.

If you want whatever you want, check out my CSN Stores $40.00 one time gift certificate.

So here's the deal, when CSN approached me with this, I thought "Wow, that's pretty darn cool!"  They said I could either keep whatever I chose and do a review or I could give it away.  I was very tempted!  I really want a dehydrator!  I'd give the shirt off my back to anyone who needs it, but...I am giving it away instead.  No strings attached!

Don't be shy on any of these great give aways!  There are lots of folks out there who are just givers!  It gives us pleasure to give to others!

Check the deadlines and then...Take THAT!

CSN Store GIVEAWAY!

It's about time for another Give Away...wouldn't ya say?

I thought so too! 

So the generous folks at CSN Stores have graciously offered to sponsor a $40.00 one-time gift certificate for a shopping spree at any of their over 200+ stores!!  WooHoo!  Yes, you heard me...ANY THING you want!  From Gardening Tools and Canning Kits to Dehydrators and Food Mills or maybe you need some new Corelle Dinnerware or a super cute My Baby Sam clothes hamper...they pretty well have it all!

Who wants to go shopping???

Here are the Entry Rules:

1.  Check Out CSN Stores.com and tell me what you would choose and why = 1 Entry
2.  Follow Me = 1 Entry
3.  Mention this Give Away and Link to it on your Blog = 1 Entry

US and Canada Residents Only

You must Leave A Comment on my Blog for each entry item that you complete to make it count!  If you already Follow Me, simply comment that and move on to the next entry item!  Easy Peasy, right?

I will announce the Give Away Winner one week from today, on Friday, September 3rd. 

OK boys and girls...Shop till you drop and have some fun!!

Have an AWESOME weekend!

Death by Destruction!

What could cause this much destruction?

Here Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!  I made a big mess!

NEVER trust a clean cook...or a clean dog...

Missy

Why is it when you are up to elbows in goo...

...someone wants to go potty?  It would have to wait...

Emma

Chelsi...oh Chelsi!  Guess what time it is?!

Not only did my house pay dearly for this little excursion, but I have at least 30 skeeter bites to show for it.  They were man-sized eaters! 

I wish I were joking...but not so!  I feel like Phoebe from Friends...could some one please duct-tape some oven mitts to my hands??

If you haven't guessed it...It's time for Blueberries!

I got there early and picked about 10 pounds.  I am going back for more I think!
So I wanted to share with you, the fruits of the labor.

Fresh Blueberry Pie - Chelsi...I hope you do this one and report back!

1 C Sugar (Aunt Bev's recipe calls for 3/4 C brown sugar and 1/4 C white sugar, I like it best w/ all white)
3 T Tapioca
1 t Salt
2 T Lemon Juice
1 T Butter for 'dotting'
3 T Water
4 C Blueberries

Blend all ingredients except the butter and place in your pie shell.  (see link for pie dough how to)  Dot w/ Butter.  Place top crust, flute edges and slit the top.  You can do the egg white and 2 T cream wash if you want and sprinkle with Cinnamon and Sugar if you like.  Bake in 375 degree oven till golden and just starting to bubble.

This is my favorite Blueberry Pie!  I will be making one for my Brother-In-Law, Eric pretty soon here! 

He has a "thing" for squirrels...and hunting.

However today, I made Blueberry Pie Filling, compliments of the USDA guidelines and as follows:
Makes 7 Quarts

6 Qt Fresh Blueberries
6 C Sugar
2 1/4 C ClearJell
7 C Cold Water
1/2 C Lemon Juice

Wash and drain blueberries.  Blanch in large pot of boiling water and boil for exactly one minute.  Drain and return to pot and keep lid on to keep them warm.
Combine in large stock pot, your sugar and ClearJell.
Add water and place on Medium/High heat.  Stir till thick and bubbly.  It gets real hard to stir after a while!
Add Lemon Juice and boil exactly One Minute.
Fold in Blueberries.
Ladle into hot jars and seal with hot rims and lids.
Process in Hot Water Bath for 30 minutes.  Remove.
Let them rest for 12-24 hours.  Lightly check seals.

If you want to freeze your blueberries, you actually are not supposed to clean them.  All you do is place them single file on a cookie sheet and give them a 'flash freeze' then Bag.  You clean them as you use them.

So today I made a special trip to the POST OFFICE!  Yeah!!!!!  Congrats MamaTea!

And I wanted to share a picture of my bestest little girl with you...

This is my puppy-dogger, Ami.  The little gal is getting up there and I am heartbroken that her time is so close.  But today isn't that day!!!  She has puppy Alzheimer's.  I love her to death and am fighting the tears.  But not today...not today!!!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Winner! Winner!

We have a WINNER for the Environne Wash Give Away!!!  So I talked to my SIL, Jen, who is more experienced in "blog etiquette" and she advised that since I had 10 entries, just to use the unscientific method of "names in the hat".  Now you might wonder why Jan and Jen didn't get any little slips with their names on it...they have some of the goods already...so it upped the odds for the rest of you guys!

Here were the entries:

Angie - 2 entries
Isaac & Mommy - 2 entries
MamaTea - 2 entries
Diane Meyers - 1 entry
Chelsi - 3 entries

Here they are in the bowl:

And here is the clip of my Mom doin' the deed!!

Hope you can hear it and see it OK...

Please shoot me an email at theapplepiegal@gmail.com with delivery info and I will get the goods right out to you!  CONGRATS!!

Thank you all for playing along!  I love chatting with all of you!  If you had told me a month ago that I would enjoy the blog-world, I would have denied it!  But I really do love you guys and reading everyone's posts and seeing all the awesome pics!

Happy Got'a Buth-Day to You!

Today is my Dad's Birthday! 

No one is more proud of each and every year than my Dad!  It's definitely a man thing, cuz us gals don't usually like the Happy Got'a Buth-Day song!  That's how he sings it...  He always and intentionally changes the words to any song.  Birthday song is no exception.  He embraces everyday and  no one is a stranger to him.   My Dad is super COOL! 

He loooves the Zoo to this day.  But back in the day...he got us all kicked out.  Yup, three screaming kids and the BIG kid gets us kicked out...For harassing the Gorilla.  He mimicked everything that Gorilla did, right down to the Gorilla throwing his food at my Dad and Dad throwing it back!! 

He's a bit of a "Cryer".  We pride ourselves on making him cry even.  He's crying right now...I can feel it. 

This is when we gave him my Grampa's gun for Christmas.  He thought it had been 'sold'.  Well, it was actually...to us...for him.  C'mon Dad...wipe the tears!  :)

Here we made him think he won the Lotto.  That was Pig Pen's doing...but man was it funny! 

And here we are Twenty-One years ago!  YIKEE'S!  Don't we look alike?  Ah...the age-old question! 

In case you haven't figured it out, he has a great sense of humor too.  It keeps him happy and healthy.  He's my Tin-Man.  It's been years now, THANK GOD...he made it thru a heart attack.  That's why he's my Tin-Man.  He not only got his heart healthy, he lived to tell.  I love you, Dad!

Pig-Pen and I are going down this weekend to spend some time with him and my Step-Mom, Connie.  And we are really looking forward to it.

OK, enough of the crying...Hey!  Long & Lanky Loren...your Apricot Jam is ready!  Come N' Get It!

Y'all didn't think I wouldn't share did ya?

Here is the Apricot Jam Recipe made from Boy-Loren's tree.  All the jars sealed and it tastes pretty darn good if I do say so!

Apricot Jam Recipe

8 C Pitted, Diced Apricots

1/4 C Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice

6 C Sugar

Bring to a rolling boil and stir constantly for - ugh!- 30 Minutes ...then take a shower cuz you stink!

Ladle into your hot jars and seal and let sit for no less than overnight and preferably 24 hours.  If you need more info on jarring, please see my step-by-step here.

Enter Mom...to save the day (as always) and clean up the mess!  Thanks, Mom!  I think I should hire you out!  I love cheap labor, so all you get is Jam!!!  :)

Today is also the last day to enter a chance to win my Environne Wash Give-Away! 

Hurry, Hurry!

Give Away!

OK, so here is the deal!  Because I LOVE this product and use it regularly and want to encourage others as well, I am giving away a "package deal" of Environne's new Fruit and Vegetable Wipes and a 16 oz Bottle of their Fruit and Vegetable Wash. 

If you want sparkling clean and safe these...

...Ya gotta have these!!!

I think the wipes would be great for all the Momma's out there!  It is just like a resealable pouch of baby wipes and there are 12 in the pack.   You can keep the wipes on hand and don't need to worry about all the nastiness of lurking chemicals, pesticides or waxes!  Just wipe then rinse with water and you are good to go!

Of course I use the Wash all the time at home!  Even if your garden is organic, there are still animals and their little gifts left behind that need to be washed away.  And particularly if you are buying your produce from the grocery store, you really should be using a wash.  Buying organic?  That is super cool too, but consider that on average, nearly 20 sets of hands touch your produce before it makes it to you!  Use a wash!  If you haven't checked out Environne's website, please do so.  It's what you don't know that really can hurt you.

Here are  the rules for entry:

1. Leave a comment on my blog telling me what fruit or veggie you most look forward to in the summer time = One entry
2. Become a "Follower" = One entry.  Already a follower?...Gotcha!  Make sure your contact info is complete so that I can contact you if you win though!
3. Tell others about the giveaway on your blog = One entry

Be sure to leave one comment for each of the following "rules" you complete. Be sure to also link to your blog so I can check it out and count your entry. The Environne Give Away entry will close on July 7, 2010.  On July 8, 2010, I will count the entries per person and use an online random number generator and post the winner!  I will contact you via email for delivery info and post the big winner as well!

I know you guys will love this product!  It is safe, made from all natural cleansing agents such as grapefruit seed extract, berries and coconut oil and it is Non-Toxic!!!