I'm glad you were able to meet with your small group. I feel your pain, though, on it just not being the same. We are dealing with the same thing at our church - people withdrawing from community. I know some of it is COVID safety, but I worry people are turning inward instead of reaching out for love and support. I pray for all of us, this is such a hard time.
While I don't have a solution for that, I can help with your fruit fly problem! Take some empty mason jars and put in an inch or so of red wine vinegar and just a drop of dish soap. Whirl it together to mix. Then put in a white piece of paper formed into a cone - skinny end in the jar but not touching the vinegar. Place these wherever you have flies. I have a fruit fly invasion almost every year but this year was BAD. These traps will get most of them. Good luck!
I like your reflections on church and community. I'm definitely "at risk" for turning inward a bit. It's so hard to know exactly how best to proceed. My county continues to worsen with people close to us testing positive (and several hospitalized) daily. My honest wish is that the church would lead the charge in keeping each other safe. I'm grateful our church is open, because the people who attend from work release especially need to get out and worship in-person. For my family, we are back to watching from home again. I see it as providing a safer space for those who NEED to be in person. And I'm also really pleasantly surprised by the way this strange season has brought our family unit closer. But I SO look forward to the day we can gather freely again. And I can have people over for dinner again!
I see you have lots of suggestions already, but...if you haven't tried herbs, like lavender, peppermint, clove, eucalyptus, lemongrass, or basil (hang in tea bags or muslin bags in strategic places), or alternatively essential oils (putting 20 drops of essential oil - peppermint for instance - NOT aromatherapy, but true essential oil - in a spray bottle and fill with water, shake well) spraying in problem areas might do the trick. It will smell nice for you, and won't hurt you and yours at all even if some spray gets in the carmelized onions, though that might taste a bit, um, interesting. :D
We have SO many fruit flies too! Also no rotting fruit, just good pears right now, though the counter was overflowing with the best peaches and nectarines all summer, which is when the fruit flies showed up and have never left. My 14 year old daughter was just saying yesterday that there are two that have been in her bathroom for a week, driving her crazy. 😂 I’m going to need to make that apple cake, it looks amazing. I usually make honey butter for Easter dinner and thanksgiving dinner (reason: those are two of the only times in the year I make the effort to make yeasted rolls from scratch, and all that effort and the special occasion deserves honey butter), but I never would have thought to use it in place of a sort of glaze on a cake! But why not? Simple frosting is just butter and powdered sugar, so butter and honey makes just as much sense to go on top of a cake. Brilliant! And finally, I’m so curious if you liked the BHG Indonesian beef and rice bowls. I’ve made them a couple of times and my family really likes them!
Lovely to read your letter. I saved it for today, which was good. I read the newspaper which turned out to make me sad and I spent sometime lamenting and journaling about all throngs covid related in the news today. Our province has been said to have the highest case rate in Canada now, with alarming daily increases...
Anyway. I digress. Regarding your “fruit flies”. I didn’t read through all the comments so this may have been said. I too, had them this fall and they are actually not “fruit flies” and although they seem similar, they are coming from my houseplants. Could that be your source? I don’t know how they get there but overwatering contributes to the problem. Drying the plants out good and proper helps a lot, and sometimes you need to get a fungicide spray or something something. Honestly. I don’t even know how my plants are still alive... 🤦🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
I'm catching up on my emails on a Friday night and this was so good for my soul <3 Thank you for your persistent words and work.
As for the fruit flies - Jess' suggestion below looks good. I've done an even simpler version of this - small dish, apple cider vinegar, 2-3 drops Dawn dish soap. Set next to your fruit bowl and BAM. The bottom becomes littered with the drowned little buggers every. Single. Time. Replace every couple days until one day there are no more flies in the bottom (fruit fly season seems to have just ended here in Michigan but as we MidWesterners know, you never really know what the temperature will do tomorrow) :)
I would love to be put in the draw for the book please. I love reading your newsletters as they are food for the soul, laughter, and food for the stomach! Thank you!
Glad to be greeted by a warm, welcoming bowl of The Soup. Made me simultaneously full in my heart and hungry in my belly. Q about the pickled onions: How many onions do you slice with those measurements of lime and salt??
I have a designated jar I use for my pickled onions (recycled from another use...) Sometimes I only have one onion, sometimes I slice a couple. I add "some" lime juice and a "bit" of salt. Hahahaaa! I'm sorry! You really just need to have enough juice to coat the onions. It takes them a day or so to get good. While I wait, I shake the jar up when I see them in there. I even cheat sometimes and use bottled lime juice if I randomly have it on hand. You really can't mess them up!
I appreciate you so much coming as you are, for here I am plain and simple, trying to keep the faith, figure out what's for dinner, and battling fruit flies. I love the realness of your writing.
It’s always a pleasure to find you in my inbox. I was just thinking that I need a treat for our weekly visit with some beloved family (we’re in each other’s pods). These visits save my life. I always bring a sweet treat while my SIL provides the coffee and yummy creamer that I don’t get any other time. This week that apple cake will be my contribution.
Always love getting your emails - and recipes! :)
I'm glad you were able to meet with your small group. I feel your pain, though, on it just not being the same. We are dealing with the same thing at our church - people withdrawing from community. I know some of it is COVID safety, but I worry people are turning inward instead of reaching out for love and support. I pray for all of us, this is such a hard time.
While I don't have a solution for that, I can help with your fruit fly problem! Take some empty mason jars and put in an inch or so of red wine vinegar and just a drop of dish soap. Whirl it together to mix. Then put in a white piece of paper formed into a cone - skinny end in the jar but not touching the vinegar. Place these wherever you have flies. I have a fruit fly invasion almost every year but this year was BAD. These traps will get most of them. Good luck!
Thanks for the tips, Jess! It's working. Hallelu!
I like your reflections on church and community. I'm definitely "at risk" for turning inward a bit. It's so hard to know exactly how best to proceed. My county continues to worsen with people close to us testing positive (and several hospitalized) daily. My honest wish is that the church would lead the charge in keeping each other safe. I'm grateful our church is open, because the people who attend from work release especially need to get out and worship in-person. For my family, we are back to watching from home again. I see it as providing a safer space for those who NEED to be in person. And I'm also really pleasantly surprised by the way this strange season has brought our family unit closer. But I SO look forward to the day we can gather freely again. And I can have people over for dinner again!
I see you have lots of suggestions already, but...if you haven't tried herbs, like lavender, peppermint, clove, eucalyptus, lemongrass, or basil (hang in tea bags or muslin bags in strategic places), or alternatively essential oils (putting 20 drops of essential oil - peppermint for instance - NOT aromatherapy, but true essential oil - in a spray bottle and fill with water, shake well) spraying in problem areas might do the trick. It will smell nice for you, and won't hurt you and yours at all even if some spray gets in the carmelized onions, though that might taste a bit, um, interesting. :D
Ha! I like the way you think, Susan. Thanks for the idea! I'm ready for a kitchen that isn't scented by apple cider vinegar. 😬
We have SO many fruit flies too! Also no rotting fruit, just good pears right now, though the counter was overflowing with the best peaches and nectarines all summer, which is when the fruit flies showed up and have never left. My 14 year old daughter was just saying yesterday that there are two that have been in her bathroom for a week, driving her crazy. 😂 I’m going to need to make that apple cake, it looks amazing. I usually make honey butter for Easter dinner and thanksgiving dinner (reason: those are two of the only times in the year I make the effort to make yeasted rolls from scratch, and all that effort and the special occasion deserves honey butter), but I never would have thought to use it in place of a sort of glaze on a cake! But why not? Simple frosting is just butter and powdered sugar, so butter and honey makes just as much sense to go on top of a cake. Brilliant! And finally, I’m so curious if you liked the BHG Indonesian beef and rice bowls. I’ve made them a couple of times and my family really likes them!
The Indonesian beef and rice bowls are in regular rotation here. We are ALL about rice-based bowls, especially when they're Asian-influenced!
And I agree about the honey butter. I'd have never considered it. But it was the perfect addition!
Lovely to read your letter. I saved it for today, which was good. I read the newspaper which turned out to make me sad and I spent sometime lamenting and journaling about all throngs covid related in the news today. Our province has been said to have the highest case rate in Canada now, with alarming daily increases...
Anyway. I digress. Regarding your “fruit flies”. I didn’t read through all the comments so this may have been said. I too, had them this fall and they are actually not “fruit flies” and although they seem similar, they are coming from my houseplants. Could that be your source? I don’t know how they get there but overwatering contributes to the problem. Drying the plants out good and proper helps a lot, and sometimes you need to get a fungicide spray or something something. Honestly. I don’t even know how my plants are still alive... 🤦🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
Here’s a link if you’re curious.
https://getbusygardening.com/control-soil-gnats/
Oooh, this is an interesting idea! Thank you. The apple cider vinegar definitely seems to be helping, but they're still flying around. Sigh.
Praying for all of us as we continue to encounter bad news, polarization, and....snow. (It's honestly too much.)
I'm catching up on my emails on a Friday night and this was so good for my soul <3 Thank you for your persistent words and work.
As for the fruit flies - Jess' suggestion below looks good. I've done an even simpler version of this - small dish, apple cider vinegar, 2-3 drops Dawn dish soap. Set next to your fruit bowl and BAM. The bottom becomes littered with the drowned little buggers every. Single. Time. Replace every couple days until one day there are no more flies in the bottom (fruit fly season seems to have just ended here in Michigan but as we MidWesterners know, you never really know what the temperature will do tomorrow) :)
Thank you, Kayla! The apple cider seems to be working.
I would love to be put in the draw for the book please. I love reading your newsletters as they are food for the soul, laughter, and food for the stomach! Thank you!
Got it, sister!
Glad to be greeted by a warm, welcoming bowl of The Soup. Made me simultaneously full in my heart and hungry in my belly. Q about the pickled onions: How many onions do you slice with those measurements of lime and salt??
I have a designated jar I use for my pickled onions (recycled from another use...) Sometimes I only have one onion, sometimes I slice a couple. I add "some" lime juice and a "bit" of salt. Hahahaaa! I'm sorry! You really just need to have enough juice to coat the onions. It takes them a day or so to get good. While I wait, I shake the jar up when I see them in there. I even cheat sometimes and use bottled lime juice if I randomly have it on hand. You really can't mess them up!
Your writing and thoughts on life, especially the meaningful in the seemingly mundane, are such comforts to my soul. Thank you for sharing with us!
It's my favorite space on the internet! Thanks for being here with me.
I appreciate you so much coming as you are, for here I am plain and simple, trying to keep the faith, figure out what's for dinner, and battling fruit flies. I love the realness of your writing.
Trying to keep the faith. Yesssssss.
Thanks for a great first issue of the Soup. ❤️ I would love to be entered into the drawing for the book. 😀
I'm so glad you're here with us! Got you entered.
It’s always a pleasure to find you in my inbox. I was just thinking that I need a treat for our weekly visit with some beloved family (we’re in each other’s pods). These visits save my life. I always bring a sweet treat while my SIL provides the coffee and yummy creamer that I don’t get any other time. This week that apple cake will be my contribution.
Annette! How did the cake go over? I had it ever morning for breakfast and every night before bed for several days. Sorry/not sorry. :)
It was so good! Who knew we needed salted honey butter in our lives?