Finding the " Good "

An intensely foggy morning that offered this gorgeous - tranquil moment at the perfect moment during the rising of a - sometimes brutal - sun.

I haven’t blogged in quite a while.  I hope you can bear with me as I attempt catching up!

 

Letting go of the vegetable garden has allowed me to give attention to color …

 

And other things…

around the outside of our home.

 

I was absolutely stunned as I - finally - made my way through cleaning out this flowerbed.

I knew I had two Bellpepper plants in there - somewhere.

 

I had no idea there were so many Bellpeppers that had grown - and already so large.

We need only wait for the peppers to turn yellow on one - red on the other.

 

We have many friends visiting all the blooms coming now since the day I cleaned the bed.

 

I love watching the Hummingbird Moths.

They balance in the air - stationary - fluttering their wings - just as Hummingbirds do!

Besides the flowers - there are the Fruit Trees and our Grapevine.

 

Two volunteer “ Amish Paste “ Tomato vines sprouted and are now producing - compliments of The Girls.

 

You always gain surprises when you multi-purpose the shavings after cleaning the chicken coop!

I decided to multi-purpose the grapevine arbor as well - by planting Sunflowers underneath.

They appreciate the support.

 

Right now - they appear as a “ sunflower necklace “ for the Grapevines from the back porch in the mornings.

 

More fun to be found when you walk out and begin searching through the vines!

 

Our newest member in our Fruit Tree Family - an absolutely gorgeous “ Celeste “ Fig tree!

I love Fig trees!  I love canning Fig Preserves - even in many flavors!

Finally - one that can sustain itself in our region!

I received my email newsletter last week - from Out of Eden Garden Center in Maryville - announcing they had a shipment of these trees coming in within days.

I was elated when I listened to my voicemail message of Dana’s - greatly appreciated - phone call letting me know they had arrived!

 

Dwayne picked up our tree on his way home from work that evening.

 

And it now resides close to the house - and near the other fruit trees.

Well…

 

With the exception of our “ Pink Lady “ Apple tree.

She’s looking gorgeous and should be ready to produce a few fruit next year - same as our “ Georgia Belle “ White Peach tree.

 

Our “ Granny Smith “ Apple tree resides closest to our new Fig tree.

She’s expected to begin producing a few apples in 2013.

So our inventory of fruit trees has grown to this point:

“ Pink Lady “ Apple
“ Granny Smith “ Apple
“ Georgia Belle “ Peach
“ Celeste “ Fig
“ Burbank Elephant Heart “ Plum
“ Redheart “ Plum
Stark’s “ Honeysweet “ Pear

All things that happen on their own - happen for a reason.

That reason is always for the best - though it may not be according to our own disappointed expectations.

Sometimes - you get lucky.

Yet - sometimes - you don’t dig deep enough.

But when you do - there will always be the best of something good…

In even the worst of any circumstances.

You've just witnessed " The Good " in what I dug down deep enough to find - past anger and disappointment in my soul - caused by having to walk away from my vegetable garden.

I think it's been worth the effort.

Deb told me that the earth even needs time to rest.

I hope rest will help my passion as much.

The Ying and Yang That Creates The List

The rain finally came.  And Mother Nature painted our pallet green - once again.

That’s a nice way for saying that we’re back to wearing out the tractor-mower.

 

Color is showing up.

 

But with that blessing comes that never-ending list.

 

There’s never enough time to take care of everything.

 

But when you see the color show up - somehow - it just feels like the dose of vitamins ya’ need for smiling.

 

And then you walk back inside the kitchen and realize…

You’re outta jars.

 

Guess that’s one more stop for my list in town.

Gotta Start Somewhere!

This is called “ Making Lemonade outta Lemons. “

The last storm we had here took out this beauty.  So I chopped off the stock and brought this girl into the house!

We have been absolutely swamped around here with that list.

We finished up canning all the green beans we’re gonna put away this year.

Actually - the fact that we had to scrounge for the very last jar to fit inside the canner helped with that decsion.  ;)

We’ll be canning up more potatoes next.

Cleaning out the garden has been the most time consuming challenge - so far.   I think Dwayne’s decided he’s in favor of using the black plastic next year.

Even after using the net on the Navaho Thornless Blackberries - the huge Tennessee June bugs managed to win. 

But it really doesn’t matter.  I’m just not the least bit impressed with this blackberry bush.

They put out as if they’re going to be absolutely huge.  However - their ripening is downright inconsistent to the point of being annoying.  Not only that - but - their taste is more of a “ Ya’ never know what yer’ gonna get “ surprise that I don’t think many people would find appealing.  One berry can be out of this world.  The next can taste like water.

We’ll try again with a different variety - later down the road.

Take a gander at this while you can.  Come Friday - Gone!

It’s time to start on the house - before we both go crazy.

Hubby and I made a trip to Home Depot this morning.  Click here to see what will be delivered on Friday!

At the same time - we found a great deal on the Gas Stovetop that we chose for our island that Dwayne’s going to build.

So click here to see what they’ll be bringing with the new Fridge!

It’s gonna be such a great help when it comes to all my canning.

I can hardly wait!

Tail Spinning Season!

Wow.  It’s been a while since my last post.  There’s been a lot going on - to say the very least.

Including Father’s Day.  And somehow - I managed to make Dwayne his favorite Cheesecake without him having a clue!  It was under his nose every time he opened the fridge on Saturday evening - and he never even knew it!

What can I say?  I’m just that good!

I just finished a week of one of those Steroid kits that my Doctor had to prescribe for me.  I don’t know what happened to me.  But something decided to crawl into my system and try kicking me into next year.

It was horrible.  And now I’m having to suck up all the supplements I can - trying to rebuild my energy.

But I like those Steroids.  I got a LOT done during last week!  I am really gonna miss ‘em.  LOL

This growing season is bringing some challenges.

We’ve had to replant corn twice more.

And now I’ve got 4 new “ Beefsteak “ Tomato plants to replace the ones we’re about to rip out.

I don’t know what happened - but - it looks like the growing farm tagged the plants incorrectly.

Whatever is planted in our garden right now is not “ Beefsteak “ Tomato plants.

And I don’t like the behavior I’m seeing in these rogues.

But I am getting a chance to can some Bread 'n Butter Pickles!

We have already pulled all the Lettuce and Mustard Greens.  We pulled one small mess of Carrots and got those set up in the freezer.  A bunch more continue growing.

The Green Beans have started coming in.  I planted just enough this year.  Thank God!  And we’ll be canning this year’s crop - rather than freezing.

We continue freezing florets from the Broccoli.  The Brussel Sprouts are just now thinking about giving up a few.

I’m pulling up Onions as they fall over.  Our Vidalia Onions did not do worth a flip last year.  But they’re absolutely huge and gorgeous this year!

However - the kicker came yesterday.

Dwayne and I pulled all these Potatoes.  Half are Red Pontiacs - the other half Yukon Gold.  All in all - there’s at least 100 pounds of Potatoes.  Talk about Monsters.  And we’ll be canning these this year.

I wasn’t impressed with freezing the Yukon Golds last year.  They came out mushy.

We barely finished pulling the potatoes - getting The Girls tucked into their coop safe and sound - getting the wheel barrow into the basement and getting ourselves inside the house before Hell unleashed around here yesterday evening.

Instantly - the power went out as soon as we both made it inside the house and closed the back door.

It never came back on until 4:54am this morning.  And we were one of the lucky ones.

The winds were the worst we’ve seen here - yet.

Once again - the wind sent the Chicken Tractor flying towards the house.

But THIS - has never happened - until yesterday.

And THESE - just came out of the pressure canner!

I start on Potatoes in the morning.

I just wonder if my butt will catch up with me by then.

The Babies Are Here!

( Not just a big egg - More like A Happy Chicken ! )

Wow - where do I begin?

Oh, wait.  First - a message for Deb!

Thanks for that great idea about sharing tips and recipes for the herbs that I grow!  Definitely - I will begin doing that as I get busy using them in the kitchen.

Unfortunately - I read your note the morning after making my stuffed mushrooms.  Of course - never donned on me to take photos.  And we - totally - devoured those!  So - I will next time - for sure!

The weather is tossing red flags here and keeping us walking on eggshells.  But we have very brave Babies sprouting from the ground!

 

Our “ Borlotto Solista “ Pole Beans have popped!

It’s always so much fun when you see them just barely crack the soil - only to find them standing up an inch tall - or more - the next morning!

And then there are the ones that don’t show their face - at all.

Plan B comes to fruit - open the extra seed you bought.

In our case - I’m having to go back and re-seed some of our corn.

 

Hard to believe this tiny half-inch sprout will grow taller than me to have as many as 5 stalks - each stalk having a few ears of the sweet - tender - delicious corn that drives us nuts!

" Mirai " Corn seed is a bit picky.  To begin with - the kernal is very delicate.  Dried - just a bit more testy.

Consistent watering and careful attention to depth during planting are vital.

Pretty sure I may have planted some too deeply.

 

Our “ Festina “ Bush Beans have come up!  We only planted 2 short rows this year.  Still have plenty of green beans in the freezer and canned.

 

The spinach is coming along - slowly.  Not so sure I’m all that impressed with using the Garden-in-a-Bag thingy for our spinach.  Seems stunted.

And it’s bringing on a constant discussion about a table garden.

 

The “ Southern Giant Curled “ Mustard Greens seem to be hanging in there.

 

However - the “ Savannah “ Mustard Greens are about to push me to cleaning the row for something else.

Same goes for the Organic “ Boro “ Beets.

As luck always runs around here during early spring planting - the first planting of carrot seeds was washed off the hills by a storm.

 

Babies from the second planting have sat up and yawned!

 

Leaving survivors to grow “ rogue “ in the alleys of my rows is just - Me.

Kind of a “ Live or Die, Turd ! “ thing to mimic sticking my tongue back at Mother Nature.

Meadowview Nursery introduced me to “ Amish Paste “ Tomatoes last year - which turned out some absolutely wonderful tomato sauce!

But they didn’t set any plants up at the farm this year.

Lucky for me - I neglected the plants after harvest last year!

 

Look carefully - between the rogue carrots!

Hey!  This just seasons the “ Volunteer “ in the motto of our great state of Tennessee!

As for “ canned “ veggies on our property….  literally - I mean.

Our Tomatillo plant is doing just wonderful!  Even has a few blooms!

 

And it looks like we’re gonna have plenty of Cherry Tomatoes for salads, too!

 

The “ Malabar “ Spinach has sprouted.  And we’ll be constructing the trellis as soon as needed.

I went outside the box with my old wheel barrow this year.

It’s a “ Fragoo “ Strawberry plant!  And I can hardly wait!

Well - David ( our neighbor ) has his two girls this weekend!  Time for me to get in gear.  The girls and I are gonna get busy planting flower seeds in their Daddy’s yard!

And I’ve got a few pickling cucumber plants left over for them to grow on Red’s fence!  Red is their Golden Retriever.

I guess we’ll see how much fun comes out of that venture!