Weekend Links

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In which I share my favorite posts from this blog's Facebook page.

"In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."

Psalm 4:8

* I got my tomatoes in at least a month late, due to our move. (Most gardeners in our area experienced a bad year for tomatoes, anyway.) So I was thrilled when my mom- and dad-in-law brought me a couple of flats of huge tomatoes from a farm stand they visit yearly. But I've been so exhausted (you know, homeschool, preserving, trying to unpack, autoimmune disease), so instead of canning them right away, I froze them. This is totally the lazy way to do things because it's lightening quick - but it also makes canning the tomatoes later better, too, because the skins come off much more easily than if they weren't frozen. To learn more, click here.

* Recall on certain BlueBell ice creams due to possible Listeria contamination.

* Eggo Waffles recalled due to possible Listeria contamination. (Make your own instead! They are so easy to whip up and freeze beautifully, too.)

* I'd never heard of turning Apple's into "sugar." Gonna have to try this next year!

* Delaying the feeding of certain foods to your baby is increasingly seen as a bad idea. 

* Just Plain Living shares her homesteading mistakes and how you can avoid them. 

* Are you lazy? Or truly tired? Here are some excellent thoughts on how to tell the difference.

* Announcing The Proverbs 31 Woman Christmas Countdown! I'm not a big believer in giving people gifts that will burden them. "Here, little Johnny, have another stuffed animal!" is not my style. But when I find items I find wonderfully practical and helpful in my life, or I run across something I believe will add a little joy to the receiver's day, I'm all over it. Since Christmas will soon be upon us (91 days left!), I'm going to share some of the gifts - some homemade, some not - that I'd most love to give. I'm running these gift ideas most days on Facebook, but I'll also share them here on the blog once a week.

Christmas Countdown Gift #1: Boot tray. Sure, you can make one from wood (but it will leak water on the floor) or from a rimmed baking tray, but I love, love, love this jumbo boot tray. It's plenty big for a whole family's shoes (plus small umbrellas, if needed), is super easy to wash off with a garden hose, and is even made from recycled plastic. Imagine this by the door, capturing all the water, snow, mud, and muck, which the recipient will no longer have to vacuum and mop up! As the photo indicates, the tray has other uses, too - like keeping the back of your car clean when you bring home plants, or keeping a house pet's water and food off the floor, or preventing kitty liter from spewing all over the place.

Christmas Countdown Gift #2: A Waterhog door entrance mat. This is not just any door mat. The Waterhog is designed to removing water and dirt from shoes, yet it also dries quickly. The mat has a heavy duty rubber backing to protect floors, and all Waterhogs hold 1.5 GALLONS of water per square yard. (!) To top it off, Waterhogs are 20% recycled content and are made in the U.S.A. 

Christmas Countdown Gift #3: Chef's Knife. Until I finally bought myself decent chef's knife, I had no idea how much easier it would make my life. One example: Now I can dice food with ease! Unfortunately, chef knives are often over $100, but mine - the Victorinox Swiss Classic 8" Chef's Knife - is way under that price, making it an affordable gift! In fact, right now the price is so good, you might be leery. Don't be. I've had this knife for years and I can't recommend it enough. (To make the gift even better, consider adding on the plastic Blade Safe that goes with it.)

Christmas Countdown Gift #4: Sleeping Mask. But this is not your typical sleeping mask! It has a special design that prevents light seeping in where the mask naturally rises around your nose. I would probably be a insane, sleepless woman without this mask; it's the perfect gift for any tired mama in your life!


Christmas Countdown Gift #5: Food Mandoline. If you cook from scratch or preserve food at all, this little tool saves a ton of time. Decent mandolines that don't cost a bundle are hard to find, but I've really found this one to last well and be affordable. I fact, it's currently much cheaper than when I purchase it! (A great add on to this gift is a pair of cut resistant gloves. Here are the ones I use.)
 
Christmas Gift Countdown #6: Owl Nesting Set. I got these for my son last Christmas, and he absolutely loves them. They are well made, from wood, and come with a tiny booklet telling a bit about each owl that's realistically represented on each nesting doll.

Oldies But Goodies:

* The holidays are coming! Be prepared with a delish, easy, and healthier pie crust!
* Why I Don't Watch HGTV (And Maybe You Shouldn't Either) 
* Apple Skillet Cake Recipe