Barbs Blurbs

Pirates!

2012-01-31T12:20:00.000-05:00

The Gasparilla invasion in Tampa was the last 2 weeks and the whole family got involved.

We had a blast.

ALL of us. Even the teenager. :-D

We had so many beads when we left that we couldn't even walk with them. Too heavy. We donated enough to make several families happy. We gave them to the Sheriff officers that were hanging out at our 'private party.' What? I didn't mention I was a celebrity? Well - now you know. OK OK - not REALLY a celebrity but I work for one of the biggest companies in the area. It makes me in like Flynn - baby.

They live here

They have the PERFECT view of the parade and opened their home to us. It helps that he's my Uncle. :-D

It also helps that we had this type of service:

Throughout the day the Sheriff's officers made sure that there were several of them around. Not only that but the Chief of Police and the actual Sheriff as well. It was pretty cool. No one messed with us. We got our picture taken by the news crew and check this out.... NO CROWDS....

It was a FANTASTIC day. Now- I know my Uncle doesn't read my blog... but a great big old THANK YOU to them for letting us hang out and showing our whole family a great time. Cousins everywhere that day and we all had a good day.

I just hope the kids don't remember next year and ask to go back, because unless they have a private party again I don't know if I'd want to spend the whole day in that crowd. It was CRAZY busy down there. COOL, fun- but WOW it was busy. HEHE_ My Hubby is still laughing that out itty bitty non crowd made it on the news. Teehee... I said it's cause we are too cool. *snort* (NOT!)

Couldn't have asked for better weather or nicer company. Pirates. Gotta love 'em!

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Harvest Monday 1.30.12

2012-01-30T15:24:00.002-05:00

The end of January is upon us!
It's hard to believe, but it's true and our normal 'last frost date' is only 5 weeks away! Our forecast has nothing below 50 degrees and if I had space I think I would be jumping the gun. But - I don't happen to have many places that are open for planting right now so while I might want to jump the proverbial gun I can't. There will be no direct seeding beans any times soon even though every bone in my body is aching to do so. The bright sun shiny sky is glistening and calling me out to it's warmth. If my lettuce gets any more bitter though - I may be tempted to yank it out and plant the beans instead! HA!

OK onto the harvest. That is after all what this post is for. This weeks harvest is all about the Daikon!

Just look at those roots! The carrots are normal sized carrots! I mean the bowl isn't small - not by any means. It's actually a rather large serving bowl. Shoulda seen them babies all cleaned up and gleaming like a shiny new car. :-) Made Ma all kinda proud. I also got some broccoli, a few snap peas, carrots, spinach, strawberries, and just enough lettuce for a couple side salads. I've really got to take better pictures.

Linking in with Daphne. Sorry it's late. Had to take one of the kiddos BACK to the ENT today (YEP, I did take them ALL on Friday) Seems we will also be going back on the 9th and we are looking at a third (final???) surgery for her sometime soon. Details forthcoming when I get them.

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Shaping up the main bed for spring.

2012-01-24T16:07:00.000-05:00

The main garden is beginning to shape up. At least on paper. It's still a little shabby in real life. The seedlings are still tiny in part of the garden. But other parts are thriving and most of it (again, on paper) is filling in nicely. See!

Only problem is that in real life everything shaded in light green is 'Reserved' space for tomatoes. Empty spots. Of course they've only been empty since the frost that hit us about 3 weeks back but it seems that it's been bare for eternity. LOL. That is where I grew legumes last season and where the determinate tomatoes will go for spring.

Space for 12 plants. Should I mention how many seedlings are growing right now as I speak for these 12 spots? Well, I started a total of 50 tomato seeds...

I have had a few no shows (stupice again...) I'll get to the list in another post - but meanwhile these babies are off to a good start and will be fighting for their chance at those prized spots. :-D

So, let's go on a little tour of the main bed as see what it really looks like. Shall we?

Snow peas are growing well and recently needed a fence to support them. They will soon be climbing the poles for support. Looks like I'll have the first flowers this week!

In between the two little rows of the snow peas I planted Kuroda carrots. They are happy in the shade provided by the peas. Hopefully soon they will take off in response to the peas nitrogen fixation. A bonus for them both, indeed.

Next is the space reserved for the 6 spring determinate tomatoes. This area held my Eastland Lima beans from May through frost. <3. These little workhorses will be coming back this year for sure and for certain! But for now it is in need of turning and adding a fresh layer of mulch. I'm also planting ground control marigolds when I get it turned and mulched. (Thanks Daphne for the seed!) So far I haven't had a problem with nematodes in the raised bed but I'm not inviting trouble and just a few feet away in the new bed I had a horrible infestation on a tomato just a few weeks ago. :-(

Ah, The poor Pink grapefruit tree, and then the sport reserved for 3 more tomatoes, and wow this is where the garden is really looking rough. Tiny seedlings and the winters frost make it seem bare but if you look close the seedlings are there, just are just lagging behind. They were planted a few weeks before the frost and were badly injured from it. Some were replanted and others have regenerated but it's taken time. It's doubtful that any more lettuce, or spinach will have time to mature this year with the temperatures that we're experiencing. I've not had good luck in the past but this year is the worst yet for bitterness and as the days get longer they will certainly go to seed. Only good thing to come of that is my herbs are fairing very well. Except basil. Cilantro is growing, Parsley, Rosemary of course. That makes me happy. This is the earliest I've harvest these favorites.

After the Citrus and the bare area is the salad bar. ;-D Carrots and lettuce and radish fillin as fast as I harvest them here.

Then the cabbage, broccoli, and leeks (sorry it needs rotated!) a planting of baby carrots and onions finish off the bed.

At the end of the bed between the onions is this little dity of parsley that is a leftover from summer. :-) and some radishes that are a couple weeks old.

After you go around the end and come back it's peas! English shelling peas. Guess I'll try to harvest some of the onions that are closest as scallions or green onions to get a little space before they get close to bloom time. I wouldn't want the crop to be compromised because of my frivolity of not wanting to give up a few onion sets.

The earlier planted brassicas are here in the shade, where autumns heat wasn't as harsh on them. They are starting to perform well now, but I'm worried that such a warm winter won't allow the younger plants to mature.

That wraps up the main garden. But I wanted to show you whats going on over around the pool pump - 'cause its really pretty cool. :-D I planted out my 'extra' strawberries and they are enjoying the place pretty well. The kiwi vine has officially pronounced spring to be sprung. It shouldn't hurt this vine. It's not going to set fruit any time soon and frost wouldn't really hurt it anyway. It's kinda nice seeing the life come back. In just the few days time since I tool this picture the vine has put on 100 leaves!

While I was out taking pictures I went around to see what other signs of spring I saw. (Besides the thermometer!) Here are a few:

Now hopefully that bud on my peach tree is just a single blossom and the rest of the tree doesn't follow. I really would cry if I lost the fruit to a frost/freeze. It's been a long time coming and this is the first year we expect a real harvest. At least this is the first year we are holding out HOPE for a real harvest. *fingers crossed*

Now that the bed is sorted out for Spring - I'm just ITCHING to get the seeds out and get things in the ground. The weather is teasing me and it seems too perfect to wait another 4-6 weeks to plant. Maybe I can find some pots on sale somewhere? LOL I guess it's good that the cool weather plantings are not mature yet. Otherwise, I'd have no excuse not to start some of those bean seeds, zucchini and other warm weather friends!

'Till next time

Barbie~

Harvest Monday 1.23.12

2012-01-23T09:08:00.002-05:00

It's Monday again. I'm linking in to Daphne's Dandelions. Make sure you stop by her place to check out what people are harvesting and how they are using stored harvests all over the world!

Today I have a lot to share. I finished the garden clean up and it feels GREAT! Of course staying out of the carrot patch is tough for me and the little bits don't make that easy for me. These little tasty treats are just that. A great little treat in the garden.
Most of my harvest were simple handfuls of heaven. Bits of broccoli and berries as they ripened.But I also managed to gather a large salad and a few other good things, 2 pounds and change of radish a pound of greens....

oh my - it really was a productive week!

The garden seemed happy to be giving it's bounty to me. The weather was perfect and I'm pretty sure that had something to do with it. That scares me though, because a lot of my fruit is showing signs of an early spring. I sure hope we don't see any more freezes now. :-(. Anyway. Here are the rest of the pictures!

So, Yes my dehydrator was running a bit this weekend. I dried 8 ounces of rosemary. :-) It smelled rather Christmas like in my home. I have to remember to do that at Christmas instead of after next year. LOL.
Honeybell tangelos stole the show for breakfast, and the grapefruit got pushed to the side for a change (pink grapefruit) the key limes are HUGE this go 'round. and the Meyer lemons are showing a LOT of damage from whatever disease they have (I still think it's greening and need to find out more SOON!)

Tomatoes are turning very fast and it looks like sauce will be made by Wednesday, (forgot to get weight on those I think about 4 pounds right now) 6 ounces of Spinach, 1 pound of lettuce total for the week, GAH didn't weight the carrots again... they get eaten right away. By volume I'll say they weighed 9 ounces because that is approximately what the daikon weighs and about the same volume once cut up. Considering how many we ate. Green onions 5oz Broccoli 6.2oz, Snap/snow peas 4oz, Strawberries 8oz. Forgot to weight the citrus. I'll measure the remaining and add 6 tangelos 2 lemon and 2 grapefruit worth.

On top of all that we had a very busy weekend so expect a few posts this week if I can get to them. LOTS of doctors appointments, and audiology appointments this week coming as well so hopefully I'll get to put everything down.

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Instant Oatmeal - and more 'tater talk

2012-01-19T10:19:00.002-05:00

*GAG*
I haven't eaten instant oatmeal in so long I forgot how it tasted! I will on occasion mix a bag in with my steel cut oats or in with the mix that I usually eat (it's oats, barley, rye, and flax)
Here is what it looks like:

When I add a bag of the instant oatmeal with a large serving of this I usually use a simple flavoring. Blueberry for instance or banana, cinnamon maybe. I'm not much of one for say the dinosaur eggs or any of the flavors I keep on hand for quick servings for the kids. I like to mix up 2-3 servings at a time and feed both my husband and myself and fruit on top keeps us both full until a late lunch time easily.

However, this morning I was running behind and grabbed a little bag of the instant stuff on the way out the door and decided it would do. I added it to a bag of plain instant so at least it wouldn't be too sweet. Apparently I was wrong. VERY wrong! Someone please remind me not to do that again. My goodness I can't believe my children eat that stuff. Wait, let me change that I can't believe I ever let them eat that stuff without having tried it myself. Shame on me. I don't think they will like it when I stop buying the sugary stuff, but I know I will feel better about serving it to them when they eat what I've been eating for years. *shudder* GAH - Bad Mommy award to me today! Not only was it terribly sweet (with the package of plain added) but it was nothing but mush! Ewww, who would enjoy that? OK, I shouldn't criticize that part I suppose. I mean I eat hummus like it's going out of style.

Now, as for the potatoes. Rich didn't like it when I mentioned the buckets, just like I knew he wouldn't. So, here is what I've come up with. Thanks to a comment by sb158 I got pointed to THIS LINK about growing potatoes under straw mulch. This is a fantastic idea and a way I could actually grow the potatoes out in the front beds (Teehee, you see why this is such a great idea, right?!) in the new planter area that I was looking for something low growing to fill in anyway! So, I'm officially on the lookout for some clean straw. Around these parts it's hard to find. Usually it's Coastal hay so I will be doing some research to see if the same is applicable to hay as well or if the structure would become too dense and rot out prematurely. Meanwhile feed stores beware - I'm a callin'! I will still have a couple buckets as well I think I can put a few of them behind the pomegranate trees without him freaking out on me. Maybe I can put something decorative in front of them and then plant a pumpkin vine there as soon as the strawberry's finish their thing in 2 more months or so.

For the sweet potatoes though I might have to get creative and build a box. I could put it in the playground area against the fence. There are no sprinklers there, but plenty of sun. Watering would only get done Friday and Sunday so they might not grow as well...Maybe I could go soil on the bottom and straw mulch the rest to conserve the moisture.... *sigh* Well - for now anyway it's just dreaming because if the first set of potatoes doesn't get started and under the radar then the sweets won't be growing either. Truth be told He prefers the regular potatoes that can be eaten early and young, but I prefer the sweets and those are much better taken when mature and left to get large and sweet in the Florida heat. He fairs a much better chance at getting what he wants than I do.

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Impulse buys...

2012-01-17T16:40:00.001-05:00

An impulse buy led me to seed potatoes.

I ran across them at the local feed store. I thought I was smart when I 'only' bought 3 pounds of them. I have been wanting to grow potatoes and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to grow them myself, organically. :-D

There are a few things that most people don't know. Things I didn't know until yesterday when I did a little more research into growing my own 'taters. The #1 thing I learned is this:

3 pounds of seed potatoes = 50 ft row of garden space.

I only have aprox. 125 ft.

That won't quite work. LOL. Not by a long shot. So I started thinking. Hmmm....

(photo taken from Deb's blog)

Deb over at Paradise Cove grew potatoes in 5 gallon buckets... but I would need 10 buckets for that many eyes...

So I'm guessing that I'm going to be sprouting these eyes and looking for buckets all the while. I'll also be trying to think of a secondary game plan because I don't think I can talk my ever patient honey bear into letting me set 10 buckets around the porch. Especially when I happen to like sweet potatoes even more, and I already told them to put me down for 3 more pounds of another variety. OOPS!

The cost was less than the catalogs, and there was no shipping. Think this goes against my seed purchase? Nope. Rich happens to like the idea of taters. That is until I tell him about those buckets....guess it's a good thing we'll be eating some of them (as long as they aren't green) so now we can add it to the food bill instead of against the garden tally!

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Harvest Monday 1.16.12

2012-01-17T09:23:00.001-05:00

This post was started Monday. It was even intended Monday, but my Fire was giving me a hassle for some reason when it came to typing in the appropriate space to post here. I have no idea what that is about so I'm going to have to play a little before I attempt to remote post again.

This weekend was a long weekend for a lot of people. Me included. That meant I actually had daylight hours above and beyond normal to get some gardening done. YIPEE! Unfortunately though my hubby was in bed most of the weekend and that meant I had the littles with me when I was in the yard so there are not any pictures to show you. At least not yet. Hopefully those will come this weekend, along with a whole lot more pictures!

More carrots were sown, and some more 'little gem' lettuce (Thanks Daphne!) the tatsoi was transplanted (8) and some of the spinach was moved around. It's doing worlds better now. We did harvest 6 carrots for a snack, a handful of snap peas, about 10 globe radish, 3 daikons, a turnip (accident he was in with the radish whoops!) a grapefruit, lemon, 2 limes and an orange and a few of the green tomatoes from last weeks frost had turned and were consumed with a smile. :-) Weights will have to be added tomorrow because I left the sheet on the counter on my way out the door this morning.

I do have these few pictures for you. We also harvested this oh so yummy jewel. I ~~think~~ KNOW this was every ones favorite harvest this week. I do remember the weight of this harvest. 9 ounces. It was quite a bit smaller than the Pomegranates from the grocery store but considering it's winter AND it's only the second one from the bush I think it's a success. It was wonderful... No pun intended! We are all anticipating the next fruit that will come, but the sill tree is in flower now and the second tree is dormant so I think we will have a long wait!

Here is the final haul of just pecan halves. The rest are 'pieces' and are not as valuable for cooking. (supposedly) I use pieces for things like pancakes and waffles, but these halves are what is needed for pies, cookies, candies, chocolates, dipping, and sugaring.

There is 21 pounds of pecan halves. Market value is $230. YIKES! The pieces are already in the freezer and are an additional 15 pounds their value is another $120. We have already consumed 8 pounds!

Someone had asked about the packaging. I use the upright foodsaver like this one:

It has a few options the older foodsavers don't have that I simply can't live without. A wet or dry option, an option to seal without suction (the bottoms of the bags for instance) the option to seal containers, and a few other ditties, like holding the bag roll, and having a cutter and a slicer on board! LOVE this machine. HATED my first one. The upgrade was very much worth the money. I still need to freeze the wet ingredients and things like green beans before trying to seal them from the best performance, but for the safety of the food that is what is best for it anyway.

This type of seal allows me to keep those pecans in my pantry for 18 months, or in my freezer for 2 years... not that we would be able to keep them that long, but if we needed to we could. Staples like rice that does normally last a year can last up to 5 years. It's amazing how much it can extend the life of you food - not to mention that bugs simply can't find you food. That is a major bonus when you are talking about pantry staples. Being able to open only a pound or two or an item instead of being forced to open a larger container and letting some of the product going to waste is a great benefit as well.

OK- I'm off to get caught up at work. (And get caught up on my planting diagrams!)

'Till next time!

Barbie~

OCD.

2012-01-12T11:05:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I can't turn off my brain. Like today.

I can't help but think in circles, and it stinks.

This is the circle right now:

Everything is brown from the freeze. It rained yesterday. That means the ground is ready for seeds again. I need to order seeds. I can't order seeds, I need to plant the seeds I have. I WANT to plant the seeds I have. I want to protect the seedlings I have and the seeds I plant. So I want to install a couple pieces of PVC and a little fabric dome to help keep frost off those precious babies, but I can't do that because I'm stuck at work - where everything is brown... from the freeze.

OYE>

And each circle I seem to pick up something new. A new thought or idea that sneaks in and weasels it's way into my mind. A list to make (supplies I need! Seeds I have! Space to put those seeds!) or a task to compete. It's such a viscous cycle. Never so viscous as right now though. It's almost 'Spring' here. It's only a few short weeks away from our last frost and there is manure to purchase and top off my beds, and a cattle panel to get for my tomatoes (grrr...the new fining committee for my HOA has set $100 A DAY FINES this year!) there is that whole row cover thing I want to do. Then there are the new plant markers I made yesterday...they aren't helping anything just begging to be put into place. I've also been staring at my planting diagrams spending time dreaming, and for that matter scheming as well. I am nearing a physical ache to get into my garden and DO.

Plant diagrams are nearly empty right now They will be full again soon!

And to make matters worse my poor hubby will be laid up this weekend so I'll have to be away from the house with the kids so he can rest alone. It's been planned for a long time but that doesn't make it any easier. It makes my brain worse I can tell you because now I've got household things that need done on top of all the outdoor things I would enjoy getting done. Laundry, vacuuming, bathrooms that don't clean themselves, dishes that are piling up, and the kitchen to FINALLY reclaim from the pecan fest of late. (YEAH!)

I think I'm going mental.

Maybe I've already gone.

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Havest Monday 1.9.2012

2012-01-09T09:24:00.002-05:00

The first Harvest Monday of 2012. Linking in with Daphne's Dandelions of course! Well, not for everyone - but like every other year I tend to start hings out kind of slow. I'm usually in the deep woods of Alabama - just like this past year. I kinda like it there so it is a good place to be. :-D

I don't have a lot of pictures to show you for all that I got in because it was a massive undertaking and I was running around all crazy like. but these two pictures sum things up pretty well. Here are the green tomatoes, radishes, limas, hot peppers, and bell peppers!

Tally is: 7.5 ounce lettuce, 9 oz radish, 6lb 8oz tomato, 5oz greens, 9oz bell pepper, 6.75 oz hot peppers, 1lb lima, 4oz english peas, 2oz snow peas, 2.5 oz green beans, 4oz herbs asst

This is only half the pecans on my counter right now. AND I still have another gallon bucket to finish off. I was truly hoping to finish them this weekend but other more pressing issues seemed to find themselves being taken care of.

Like this! WOOHOOO! (I may have been jealous of someones)

Now, it's only a el'Cheapo visquean over pvc and I'll be lucky if it last the rest of the winter and is able to be put back together next year , but for $69 it was a gamble I was willing to take. I'll gladly take that chance so that I don't spend 2 hours not steam cleaning my carpets again like I had to do yesterday after hauling out the coconut trees again. YIKES! Realistically all I need it to do it to hold an extra 5-6 degrees in for about 7 hours over night and that should easily be accomplished with a single strand of C-9's on the floor of the greenhouse. It's inside the pool screen enclosure which will make it convenient for pulling the larger pots into and out of as well. Not to mention now my seedlings can go out there on the shelves with the lights under them... ;-)

So needless to say that the tomatoes that were pulled out of the garden this weekend have replacements that have been started and will be occupying the greenhouse by next weekend. Actually I started an entire flat. I figured why wait the extra 2 weeks to start my Spring seedlings they may take a little longer to grow out there after all. But not having them in my kitchen is a serious bonus!

In addition to this project the beans were all pulled along with the tomatoes. Well. I didn't have the heart to pull 2 of the tomato plants. The stems were still green so I cute them back just to see. I don't have much hope but I'm willing to try.

I lost a lot of my lettuce in the freeze as well so I really want to replant that but I'm afraid to do so right now. Trying to nurse so many itty bitty plants at once seems like I'm asking for trouble. If they all make it I get the feeling I'll be scrambling for space and then that is a whole other trouble.

Guess you won't hear a whole lot of harvest from me for a while. Everything is either small or dead or dormant at the moment. Strawberries are the only thing even trying to produce. Hopefully I"ll have them by the buckets soon!

'Till next time!

Barbie~

'The Property'

2012-01-05T11:25:00.000-05:00

Over the past year I've had a few questions about 'The Property' in Alabama. Who owns it and why we are there so much. Why we work so hard there and why we call it 'ours'. So this post is all about the property. I have some aerials (luck you!) taken about 2 or 3 years ago - courtesy of Google!

This is the property:
It is located in Barbour county. Southeast Alabama. It's over 100 acres and it's an old peanut farm. I wish the picture could show the real terrain. It's hilly and craggy and just beautiful... but I do have some old pictures I can dig up somewhere to show you those. Of course it would help if some maniacal beast hadn't broken my external hard drive (TWICE!) but, I digress. I'm sure I can find SOME photos. ;-)

Anyway. the outline in orange is what our family owns. That doesn't mean me. That means my parents. I don't stand a chance at inheriting a dime, but this - this is worth far more than money to me. AND - this year (OK -2011) my parents and I made sure that was taken care of. The property is now entirely mortgage free and in the will to myself and my children, and their children. THAT means no one can turn key it. No one can turn around and sell it in 300 individual plots to the highest bidders and make it some development. Not in my lifetime, and not in my children's lifetime.

You know what that makes me? HAPPY! :-D SOOOO HAPPY! *Doing the happy dance* 'Cause I just hit the frikkin lifetime Lotto. The Lotto for my kids- and their kids!

OK back to the property. The swirly patterns are the areas that have been planted (6 or 7 years ago now) in trees. This has been turned into a tree farm. The easiest type of farm for my parents to take care of going into their retirement. A wise decision if you ask me. Not only for them, but for us as well. It allows us to continue to be able to care for the land and the fields on a nearly quarterly basis when we can get there. They just need to do a few things here and there and hire someone monthly to run out the tractor and either till or spray. (fields only, not the trees) Low cost and low upkeep.

LOVE IT!

There are several key features here I'd like to point out so I'll do some close ups...

This is the homestead. The silver building with the brown stripe is the barn... hmmm - Let me pull this into photoshop. I'll be right back.............................................................

Bet you didn't even miss me, did ya?
OK - so This picture might explain things a little better. The Barn, the Main House is my parents place. It was built in the late 1800's. They revamped it about 2 years ago. I posted some pictures about it. They did a great job on the place and literally went board by board so they could keep the majority of the same wood original. They did replace the glass but kept a lot of the old doors and locks (they don't REALLY lock but you can see by the aerials it's not like there are many people around to worry with. LOL. Our place is a trailer that we've put a real roof on and siding over the front so it looks, well - more like a house. But, lets get real it still looks like a trailer. Our intentions are to keep it for as long as it last being shut up all summer the way it is. We'll then build a small cabin with a loft for the kids to sleep in. Meanwhile we'll be doing some repairs to the trailer as the first signs of deterioration are fast approaching from the heat. The cheapo particle board cabinets that came with it are warping and will need replaced soon, and that is only the first of the repairs that will start.

Anyway- The purple circles are the main pecan trees. There are several more- but those are not harvested regularly as they are too far towards the woods or in a gully, etc. These trees are the ones we get our pecans from. We only get our pecans AFTER the harvest. We don't take from the main harvest as it isn't our property and there are usually plenty that come down after the main harvest. This year we got 72 pounds!!! There is still 2 of the trees that are usually our late trees that have nuts on them that will continue to provide for the them if they want to get out there and make a few more dollars. ;-)

The blue fluerdelies? (Oh, WOW I butchered the spelling)They are the areas for open foraging. Blackberries, plums, persimmons, and a few other things like may haw and huckleberries. We used to hay in here but with no livestock any more it just doesn't make sense. Besides I really enjoy the berries there and now that we go and package for the freezer when we are up in the summer my parents are glad to have them too.

Other points of interest that help manage our herd and our/our parents lifestyle:

Of course when the picture was taken the fields weren't fully in. Right now the corn is all down and the wheat is all bent. The rye is brilliant colored and the brassicas are just happy to be cool.

Adjacent to our property is 300 acres that belong to a generous man who also believes in managing land for wildlife and replanting when possible. We lease his property from him for a minimal amount each year and in return he allows us to use some of his trails and streams and to hunt during season. Its a win-win situation as he needs access to his landlocked property and the easiest access is from our entrance.

So the areas you see shaded in pink are the areas that we 'lease' from him. Once a year we have a meeting sign a paper and shake hands. he hands 'us' money for use of the road, 'we' hand him money for use of his fields and all is right with the world. I love neighbors like that. Additionally, he doesn't even live there. Gotta really like that! So, in the entire picture you see is my place, my parents and one other home that belongs to a military guy. He's quiet and rarely seen, if he's ever home. He's got 3 horses.

The cows that resided across the way on the old Peel farm recently moved. I miss them. When I'm there that is. I loved hearing them and seeing them. It's kinda lonely with no 'neighbors' mooing from the front door or while I'm making dinner. (across the street)

Random pictures:

As for those 72 pounds of pecans? (massive subject change because I ran into the pictures) They have completely and thoroughly taken over my life and my kitchen... UGH. I'm about SICK of them. Not sick of eating them (yet) but sick of seeing them and of cleaning up after them. Sick of cracking them, picking them, roasting them and picking up after them....

My husband is completely obsessed and won't stop. I see his point. I do. I mean, I don't want to waste them either but - REALLY - there isn't even room to eat dinner on the table any more. And my counters are covered, too. I'll save that picture for Harvest Monday since it's been so long. Off to try to make a birthday cake for my honey - Guess I'll sprinkle some pecans on top!

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Herd Management (Or HUNTING)

2012-01-04T12:00:00.000-05:00

There are pictures - be warned.

We processed 4 more deer. My freezer is officially stuffed. It's a great feeling to have so much food waiting for us. Oh, and a brand new freezer so we should have no problems with losing anything this time!

Ode to the deer that shall feed us - and OH DUDE to Mr Snuffy himself. The man that is so awesome at making so many of these cuts taste more like food found in fine meat markets all over the world. That man knows his stuff. Summer sausage, Italian sausage, Savory sausage, smoked sausage not to mention the regular cuts of cubed steaks, back straps.... Our family will be well fed.

First a nice strapping young buck - I believe this is the deer that we erroneously thought was a barren doe. We do get barren does and they need culled from the herd. I took one last year - but this year it turned out to be a strapping buck with a bad temperament for fighting. He broke one antler off entirely and the second antler was shattered and only had about 2" left. This is my son's second deer - and the first deer that he took by himself. It's a pretty big step, and a VERY big responsibility. One that I know he's a bit young for, but so far he has done well.

This very small doe was taken late on a warm morning.

And this older doe has served our herd well.

While it was a bit of a shame to see that buck didn't get to fully mature, it was a good lesson for my son. Mistakes are easy to make. He'll be more cautious in the future when he takes an animal. One thing that he sees during the management of the land and herd(s) is the continuous cycle and how difficult it can be. It's taken us a full 8 years of hard work not only putting out food for them, but plowing the fields and maintaining water sources and protecting them from predators (as much as possible) as well. Our initial herd was a minimal 2-3 does and whatever buck would wander onto the property. Holding them was near to impossible, especially the bucks. Now we see them (20-30) every trip and know without fail that they are raising their young here. Our fields now also hold fowl, and with good game management we've also come up with a system to feed the pigs - AND keep them away from the deers main food source as well. Very important. Turkey have moved in as well and provided us yet another food source for the Spring. It's been a rough road but one worth traveling and we are so glad that we've been able to share our management skills with our son and now our daughters as well.

The people that owned the property just 10 years ago over hunted it, over farmed it and nearly decimated the land entirely. They left it with trash piled everywhere. It took a full year to remove the trash alone. We still find odds and ends of trash here and there (in the deep woods) each trip. We have reclaimed the land for the wildlife and for ourselves! I am so glad for this. Our entire family is now benefiting. I'm able to give meat to my brother and to neighbors who are in need. To my parents who purchased the land but are unable to keep up with it, and for friends who say 'Eww, I wouldn't eat deer' and then gobble it down. :-D (I really love that part!)

Top off great hunting with good farming and WOAH NELLY! I'm in love. So my resolution for 2012? To set my goal for retirement and get some plans in place for the land. Nothing more. Nothing less. Live cleaner - Live towards my goals. :-D

'Till next time!

Barbie~

BRRRRR.....

2012-01-04T09:22:00.000-05:00

Well, THAT just really sucked. (Pardon me, but it did!)

I spent an hour and a half last night twining lights around plants and trees. Trying desperately to save my beautiful Barbados and Brazilian Cherry trees, Strawberry guavas, Pineapple guavas, tomatoes, the yearling avocados, mango..... and sometime between 1am and 6 am (the only hours I slept) the breaker popped. Yup. No joke.

Not only that, but we went from 'Frost' to -get this - SEVEN to ELEVEN hours of HARD FREEZE. Say WTH? The temperature plummeted even 3 counties SOUTH of me. That never happens. OK, well it rarely happens. That is about as rare as snow in Miami.

*GROAN* I may as well kiss it all goodbye. Hundreds of dollars of tropicals are giving up the ghost as I type. The sickest part is that I kept these plants alive last year and now they are out there with BUDS on them. It made me sick to my stomach to see all the buds on the cherry trees and the orchids last night as I was preparing them for what was surely going to knock most of the buds off. Now I'll be more than lucky, I'll be a Lotto winner if they live.

As for tomatoes, and peppers and such that I expect to be gone. I'll pout when I have to pull them up knowing how much life they had in them just yesterday but it's expected when you garden in January that you'll lose those things some times. I'll simply restart my tomatoes and peppers and start preparing for the first Spring planting this weekend.

Off to sulk away the rest of the day. If you need me I'll be curled in a ball until Spring. Someone wake me when it's time for the next tropical plant show and I can go spend more money trying to grow things that don't make it past 2 years around here. *sigh*

'Till next time.

Barbie~

HARVEST TOTAL FOR 2011

2012-01-03T16:54:00.002-05:00

Just a side note- my Harvest Total for the year of 2011 is complete at 315 pounds.

I'll be taking down all the stats to start over next week with the next Harvest Monday post. (I WILL post, I promise!)

Garden Tally 2011

Basil 1lb 5oz
Bell Peppers 3lb 15oz
Blackberries 2lb 6oz
Blueberries 6lb 3oz
Brocoli 4lb 1oz
Cabbage 19lb 2oz (5 heads)
Carrots 8lb 7.2oz
cilantro 4oz
Citrus 36lb 10oz
Corn 4ea
Cow Peas 1lb 5oz
Cucumber 15lb 8oz
Dry Beans 2lb 3oz
English Peas 3lb 10oz
Figs 4ea
Grapes 1lb 2oz
Green Beans 19lb 11oz
Greens 7oz
Herbs asst 1oz
Hot Peppers 5lb 15oz
Lettuce 4lb 14oz (6 heads +baby greens)
Lima Beans 4lb 8oz
Mulberries 2lb 6oz
Okinawan Spinach 5oz
Onion 6lb 13oz
Onions green 2lb 1oz
Peaches 6lb 3oz
Pecans 72lbs
Radish 2lb 6oz
Rosemary 9oz
Snow peas 9.9oz
Spinach 2lb 4oz
Strawberries 2lb 14oz
Sunflower Seeds 14oz
Tomatillos 7lb 13oz
Tomatoes 25lb 12oz
Watermelon 3lb
Winter Squash 15lb 14oz
Zucchini 20lb 14.4oz
ZZGRAND TOTAL FOR 2011 ** 315lb 12oz

No meat is included in this- only veggies and fruits!

Oh- and the nursery in Alabama also supplied a few new trees for the property up there as well - incuding 2 Granny Smith trees for my girlies. They are my favorite apples, and well - we just hope to get a few off the tree each year. I can't wait to watch the trees grow and mature with the kids. I know we have apple trees here, but we don't have the intention of keeping this property long term so it's a pipe dream that we'll see any REAL crops from these trees. Besides apples just grow better up there.

Barbie~

Decembers Garden state...

2012-01-03T16:46:00.000-05:00

Seeing that the first Frost is upon us I thought I'd show you what the garden looked like - in December. These pictures are now fully 2 weeks old and it's time for new pictures only now i"ll need to wait for the poor plants to recoup from the aggressive pruning. :-)
So here is where we stand with what is (or was directly before going on vacation) going on:
The basil has gone insane (but was pulled last night after the final cut.)

Carrots are up and romaine is looking nice! the Anunue lettuce is looking good as well, albeit crowded.

Strawberries have fruit setting now! Early but Oh so delicious. These are some of the best I've had yet. They seem to really like the slightly acidic soil with the blueberries. :-D *BONUS*

Cabbage are absolutely beautiful, if a bit cramped.

Alliums are wet, but looking good still for both the garlic

And the onions as well.

Daikons are coming along nicely. Rich says they taste like waterchestnuts, kinda. LOL

Spotty germination on the snowpeas, don't know why - and the spinach is a little light. I think it's time for some fish emulsion. The babies look a little hungry!

The garden peas are coming in droves. This is good because they are our evening snack. We eat these like popcorn while watching TV at night. Also in our salads. I don't think they've ever made it into a side dish. Teehee.

Since the freeze warnings are up- we are officially loaded with - TOMATOES>..... Wahhhh... I'm all but crying at the thought of losing these sweet gems. I did pull in about 10 pounds of ready to turn maters. I'll weigh them and put them up on Harvest Monday soon. I feel like a slacker, but on this Monday I spent the whole day IN the garden getting ready for the freeze and taking out anything I could to save in the kitchen. *sigh* The tomatoes with size where one of my main goals. I also dug up 2 plants and potted them to bring inside as well. Young plants that just bloomed. I don't expect to keep the fruit, but will be happy if they bloom again in a couple weeks and hold their own long enough to get me some new fruits by spring!

Pomegranate tree is in full bloom right now. Not sure what it will do to the tree- but this single fruit was taken in for consumption prior to the freeze degrading it as well. I was a busy gal yesterday I'll tell ya!

Found these little critters in my garden, too!

Oh, since I was taking out so many things from my garden - I finally did take out the hot pepper plants I felt the need to put something back into the garden as well. I found a fantastic nursery in Alabama while we were gone and I wasn't brave enough to bring back much, but blackberries are so strong I just knew they'd make the week long trip and be OK. They are dormant now and are bare root anyway, so I am hoping for the best. 3 thornless canes are being planted and I'm digging up my existing 3 thorned canes. Wish me luck! I'm thinking about putting them OUTSIDE the fence! (shhhh) Oh, they are Ouichita and Triple Crown. I'm suddenly looking forward to Summer, and that is not something I do very often!

On to the next set...

'Till next time!

Barbie~

A few quick post for catching up.

2012-01-03T09:56:00.002-05:00

A citrus problem.

I think I have a major problem and I think it's 'Greening'. At this point I believe only part of my tree has it and that I might solve the problem by getting rid of the infected part of the tree. It is after all a "cocktail" or grafted tree and only one type of the citrus has the infection. At least that's what I think. I could be completely wrong, but it's doubtful.
Here's the evidence:
Mottled/Yellowing leaves

Lopsided fruit:

Fruit not ripening entirely: *sniff*

This just completely and thoroughly breaks my little bitty heart. I love citrus, and my kids adore the stuff. It's taken 9 months for these beauties to turn orange and in that time we've waited with anticipation for the day we'd taste their sweet nectar. Now it seems we'll be lucky if they even taste like oranges, mush less if we'll ever get any more fruit off the tree.

So, if there are any experts out there - Please weigh in. I need more info. What are the chances if I take these few limbs off this tree of saving the rest of it from nearly certain demise? So far the rest of the fruit is unaffected. Limes and lemons are growing with no problems. Only the oranges are affected. Unfortunately this is the ONLY oranges we have, so I'll need to do something about replacing them in the spring. I sure wish we could plant citrus in the front. Guess I might have to plant a tiny one just to see what happens. LOL. Might be worth it if I can get away with it long enough it would get grandfathered in. ;-D

Anyway... more posts to come this week as I catch up. There's much to post about. Our first frost is here for the winter and the last harvest oft he year... not to mention some hunting and gathering....

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Meat

2011-12-20T12:22:00.000-05:00

Just a simple post dedicated to the meat in my freezer.
Thank you deer and pig. You make my family satisfied and my freezer full.
You make me happy and well, you are yummy.

:-)

I realize that we are very lucky that we can harvest these animals the way that we do. We give to the hungry most of the meat, but these two we kept for our family. The hog meat we kept and gave most of it to my brother. He's on disability and this will help his dollar go a lot farther for the next few months. Don't get me wrong, we still have quite a few packages of sausage in our freezer as well. There is still more biscuits and gravy in my future yet!
We'll try to harvest another doe (hopefully a barren, older doe) out of the herd that needs to be taken and with any luck we'll be able to also take another boar as well. It's possible but not as likely as when it's warmer.

So - here's my post for thanking the harvest.

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Harvest Monday 12.19.11

2011-12-19T10:07:00.000-05:00

With so much going on right now, it's hard to believe I haven't posted since last weeks harvest!
We've gone to parties, and thrown our own. We've baked cookies, and eaten quite a few as well. We've shopped and decorated, and gone for walks. We've watched it 'SNOW' in Florida, and we saw Christmas trees dance to music as well. This week has been active to say the least!

The harvest came, but the camera was shy. The nights were busy so the seat of our pants, we did fly -
(Ever get the feeling you've told the Christmas story one too many times?)

Anyway here are the few pictures I DID get of our harvests this week!

There were probably a half dozen tomatoes. but the counter isn't full. Oh no! We had lettuce and radishes and peas and a few green onions to make a nice complete salad for a change! This doesn't happen often here so we are taking full advantage while we still can!

On Sunday morning we decided to take some of the 55 pounds of meat we just put in the freezer and make one of my favorite treats! MMMMmmmmm...... Biscuits and sausage gravy, with 2 runny eggs right in the middle.

That's the kind of breakfast that means I WONT be fitting into my Holiday gown again any time soon! Guess I'll have to slow down on that.Teehee.

Well, Linking in with Daphne's Dandelions for our weekly Harvest Monday PARTY! This week addition is sure to be full of Christmas and other assorted Holiday Cheer!

I hope that you are staying warm and cozy with your loved ones. See you soon!

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Harvest Monday 12.12.11

2011-12-12T09:17:00.003-05:00

Linking in once again to Daphne's place for Harvest Monday!

This Monday features our normal December fare of citrus! We got lots of citrus this week, and some tomatoes (red, orange and yellow, too!) Bell pepper, broccoli and hot peppers of course. Not pictured are the peas and radish and a salads worth of lettuce as well.

Also harvested was one sow. We split the meat with our parents so 55 pounds of pork to the freezer. Yippee! :-)

Sown this week: Oregon Snow peas, Kuroda carrots, Little Gem lettuce (thanks Daphne for the lettuce seeds!)

Till next time!

Barbie~

Such a Card

2011-12-09T13:46:00.001-05:00

Sending best wishes to each and every person who stops by this time of year. Tonight begins the festive cooking with the late night/all night cookie fest! Bring it on!!!

Barbie~

Turtle Time!

2011-12-06T16:27:00.001-05:00

It's time for a Creature Feature. This encounter happened at a friends house a few weeks ago directly before our first cold snap of the season. The poor critter was upside down and lifeless, left to die by some careless driver. He was cold and lonely and well... stuck between a road and a hard place.

I shouted for my friend to pull the car over, jumped out and ran to his rescue. Yes, I assure you it is a he. See those white spots on his plastern down where his Little back legs would stick out? That is where the shell has been rubbing on the ground when he walks. This tells me that the middle of his shell is sunken in. And, after all if you were a gal that wanted to lay eggs that would make things rather uncomfortable - wouldn't it?

Anyway, I flipped him over to see this cute little face stick out to say 'THANK YOU!'

He didn't even so much as hiss at me. Good thing, too. I had to put him on the floor board of the car and if he was both stinky and hissing at me she might not have agreed to such things. Pam drove us to the nearest (larger) pond where we patted him on the back and told him goodbye!

Hopefully he'll avoid the road from now on, because next time I've got a big old fish tank with his name on it just a waiting for him! ;-) Mud turtles - this is a Three Striped Mud Turtle by the way make excellent captive turtles due to their size and their relative easy keeping requirements. Once a week a little vitamin D (sunshine) a decent sized fish tank, a heater, some worms, crickets and fishes with an occasional piece of greenery and you've got a healthy pet.

Just thought I'd introduce you to a little more of my insanity. Hope you enjoyed meeting this little guy.

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Bento Tuesday

2011-12-06T10:55:00.001-05:00

It's the first Tuesday of December and once again I haven't been all that great at taking pictures of my bento boxes.

But, if I don't try to make the post I won't actually do it and so I am here to show you what I do have!

This month I got a brand new bento box, and got it home, washed it up, tested it out, and promptly - threw it away. It wouldn't stay shit and it didn't seal at all. The concept of it was fantastic. It had 3 divided areas on one side and a flap that divided the container in half so that when shut you could have one side open for either a sandwich or a meal (pasta, meat, etc)a clip was supposed to hold the entire thing shut. Not only did the clip not function to hold the container closed, but the divider didn't seal properly so it simply wasn't worth my time trying to find a way to keep it closed. It wasn't entirely a waste. I knew it was an off brand when I bought it. It was a charity sale. (School fund raiser) Brilliant concept - poor execution. Next time I'll take the $12 I spent on that container and double it so I can get one that will work correctly!

So without any more drama here are the lunches:

Breakfast for lunch one day Corn nuggets, carrots, yogurt, and an apple

Chicken strips cut up with cheese, apples, and carrots a goldfish sandwich (turkey and cream cheese) and goldfish pretzel mix

This one was interesting linberger jam and turkey on rye with a fruit salad. Go figure!

Since I'm not great at pictures - this wraps up the bento Tuesday!

See you next time!

Barbie~

Harvest Monday 12.05.11

2011-12-05T08:25:00.001-05:00

December's first Harvest Monday report!

Linking into Daphne's for the party over there. Make sure you stop by to say hi and tell her thanks for hosting!

Well- after I said that I checked the link and she hasn't posted yet so if she doesn't post still pop on by and wish her well. She normally posts before the sun rises and keeps us gardeners straight!
This weeks harvests looked like this most nights:

I don't have a lot to share as the garden clean up from my week long hiatus hasn't even been completed yet. The peppers suffered from both my absence and a brief dip into the upper thirties. The marigolds that had spread 4' tall and 5' wide are both history. Wow what a sorry sight they are! The purple beans are nearly all gone. What is left is a tangled mess with a couple of live vines intertwined. It breaks my heart to rip them all out because there are a few left that are producing of course and this time of year there is no hope of starting any new plants and harvesting anything from them. The bush beans are nearly all done as well so a tiny handful this week is my pitiful bounty for green beans... but this is December - so I'm NOT complaining!

The cucumber vines also all shriveled up from the cold, and the tomatillos as well... I have one that is still alive but with only one alive it is doubtful that it could set fruit again this year so I will see tonight what is left to mature and bring in anything promising to finish the harvest for the tomatillos for the year. Time to start next years plants indoors! :-D They don't get nearly as tall as tomatoes so I'm seriously thinking about doing this. Besides the purple ones are kinda pretty.

The 'english' peas are doing well and Richard and I enjoy eating them as a snack fresh without cooking them. We eat them rather the way most people eat popcorn- in front of the TV. :-D

Some more Daikons and greens came in - and the first of the lettuce provided a nice salad this week, but silly me got to eatin' before taking a picture.

The Holiday season has officially set in full force as the sitter is officially on the schedule for the remainder of the month and every single week is jam packed with activities and I am scrambling to figure out when to do my baking already! I suppose this is a good thing, but the tree is only up and somehow we need to find time to string lights, and garland and ornaments, and decorate outside and sheesh! I'm tired just THINKING about all that. *teehee* When, exactly did I get O~L~D?

'Till next time!
Barbie~

Well, Heck!

2011-11-30T09:36:00.001-05:00

I came home to a garden that did suffer some loss. I expected that. I did. I mean I was gone for over a week. How could it have taken complete care of itself and fended of predators of all shapes sizes and sliminess?

Every year I have some sort of major problem. Garden, illness, home, car....

But, what I was not quite expecting? Was my freezer. Once again my freezer has struck another massive blow to my heart. And so I spent hours upon hours gagging and cleaning, and throwing away pounds and pounds... and pounds of food. MY food. ARGH! Not only the monetary value of this food. But what hurts (emotionally) the most is the amount of harvested and prepared garden produce. The squash, peas, beans, corn, spinach, seeds, okra, tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, not to mention all the stuff that was ready for the holidays.... :-( Oh my heart sunk when I smelled the devastation.
This isn't the first time the freezer has done this. Two years ago I threatened to get a new one. I tried to, but my frugality kept me tending my old box. Defrosting it when needed and dealing with it's quirks. It had some sentimental value. It was nearly as old as my marriage.

But last night I welcomed into my life a new friend. He's sexy, and sweet. He whispers to me. He's handsome and broad chested. He's got good bones and a decent work ethic, too. Best of all I can lock him up and he doesn't mind. ;-)

Meet Renaldo.

He's a little bit smaller than my old guy - but I'm not complaining, he at least has the decency not to get cold feet. No more defrosting for me! We bought some containers for categorizing the food stuffs inside and that makes keeping the vacuum sealed packages neat and tidy. That has been a long time coming. They used to either freeze together in the ice or fall out all over me. LOL.
So here is to hoping that this years harvest is safe to be tucked away in the freezer and won't rot when I'm off gallivanting around for a week.

For what it's worth - that cat peed on my husband's (NEW! WHITE!) shirts while we were gone, and as for the garden - that will be another post! I was just glad I still had some lettuce and most of my seedlings when I got back!!!

'Till next time!
Barbie~

Harvest Monday 11.28.11

2011-11-28T08:05:00.001-05:00

Blogging from the road as we travel home from the property in Alabama.
What a trip. Our week went fast. Lots of chores were done and a bit of harvesting, too.
12 gallons of pecans will grace our table and freezer this year, not including the ones that were gathered and brought to the processor. Never know- the ones you use for your Christmas pies might be ours! Check the bag to see if they came from Alabama. ;-)
We also harvested a doe. Her picture will be posted later. It was my sons first deer. As a proud parent I shall gloat a little for him. He did well and handled. Himself like a champ. He is accordingly still on cloud 9, so be sure to give him a pat on the back. He's going for a hog in 3 weeks. Hopefully he'll do just as well.
Hopefully the garden held up OK without me, I will find out in a few more hours.
'Till next time!
Barbie

Harvest Monday 11.21.11

2011-11-17T13:52:00.001-05:00

Harvest Monday is here again and I'm back with yet another first for my garden.

Daikon radish, greens and broccoli. OK only the Daikon is a first of the year but it still counts!

These two beauties featured in my garden update came to lunch one day as well. :-)

The citrus is doing well. Since we had a cold snap it's really sweetened up and the trees will be bare shortly with all 5 of us enjoying the fruit now! Typically I enjoy the slightly bitter fruit before it's fully ripe but the kids don't touch it. That just means more for me, but as soon as that first cold snap hits it's like a light bulb clicks and the fruit just knows it's time. Tangelos, Grapefruit, lemon and key limes were on the menu this week...

The last harvest of the week was a bountiful one. Green beans, hot peppers, tomatillos, more citrus, Sweet peas, chilies, greens, and a few small bell peppers to boot. I'll be away for a week and anything that could be taken needed to be. When I return I know that a lot of clean up will be necessary and I'm sure that plenty of food will have gone to waste. Unfortunately no one that lives near me can be left in trust of my plants.

So I leave my poor garden to fend for itself. It's only a week and this is after all not the high season so things shouldn't be too terrible when I get back - but I do expect some devastation. There always is. The weather should be nice and that will help keep things from going too badly - but I have so many young seedlings it's hard to walk away right now. The growth should be pretty amazing when I get back though!

Don't forget to stop by Daphne's Dandelions to see what everyone has up their sleeves this weeks - harvest reports from all over the world are there and reports on the usage of stored harvests, too!

'Till next time!

Barbie~

State of the garden address...

2011-11-15T16:36:00.001-05:00

Since i now have itty bitty babies starting to sprout I thought I would share with you what is going on in the garden these days. Through pictures, of course. :-) There will be many more of these updates I will assure you of that because there are varieties I have never grown before and well... in my haste to get things planted before dark and having to wait a full 2 weeks I planted out things without marking them. That means I'll be second guessing not only what they are and when to harvest them but just which veggie it is that I had planted in what spot and so forth.

Now I realize this is a rookie mistake but on that same token I also know that given time I'll recognize 95% of these veggies. Patience may not be my virtue but I'm certainly not new to this game and it won't be the first time I've planted an entire garden without any markers. *snort* I mean I know what I planted, I just don't know in which order or in some instances which variety. (4 types of spinach to chose from after all!)

But for now I give to you in all their glory - my infants!

These were all planted a week ago,

and are doing well.

The onions are already sprouting - that is pretty amazing. The last sets I planted took 10 days for most of them to peek out! Seems I'll have the peas up within a day - the earth looks disturbed but the first leaves have not broken the surface yet. Best guesses besides the onion is radish, some sort of green - tatsoi probably, carrot, leek and spinach.

The berry planter is looking good. The Festival strawberries have been planted out for 2 weeks and are going strong. Another 2 weeks and there will be tremendous growth.

The other young and tender seedlings that have emerged in the last few weeks include mostly salad accompaniments:

Different radishes, several lettuce and carrot varieties....

The older plants that are still going strong include the hot peppers, citrus, tomatoes, marigolds that have flushed with fall colors, and limas (but they are ugly these days so no picture!)

The peas are filing out nicely now and will be ready for harvest this week!!!!

This little beauty is giving me some scrumdiliumptious chocolate cherry tomatoes. Well - at least that is the word the kids used. I am yet to taste them. But there are plenty of green ones left. Hopefully they will ripen and I will get some sooner or later.

The last of my warm weather veggies to still be going strong are my remaining peanut crop, a few green beans, and the tomatillos. They seem ever present in my garden from spring until frost and I like it that way. If they didn't attract the darn lined beetle I'd have them all over!

I hope you enjoyed a look at what's growing in the garden. Next month things will surely change as the cooler weather has already come for a short visit and the nights are staying rather chilly (for us) now. The peanuts will be harvested to make space for more cool weather friends. Shortly after will come our first frost and the rest of the warm weather things will be laid to rest until spring.

I hope that the seedlings hold their own for a week while we travel for Thanksgiving. We set the new irrigation system for a short watering pattern and are testing it out this week to make sure all is well. So far it all looks great! The neighbors must think I'm entirely insane out with a flashlight at night - but they also have asked me to help them build a bed this spring so I guess they don't think I'm too crazy! :-D (That or the crazies are catching....)

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Harvest Monday 11.14.11

2011-11-14T09:25:00.001-05:00

Guess what time it is!? Time to join in to Daphne's Dandelions for this weeks edition of HARVEST MONDAY! So don't forget to stop by her place and see what everyone is harvesting - or how they are using their harvests!

This weeks harvest brought three first for our garden.

Our first (and only apple) Dorset. Please do not ask the size. It's embarrassingly small and not even enough for a snack. :-(

Our first pomegranate - There is still one more on the tree. Ah - well not bad for it's first year considering it was one of my 50% off bin recoveries. So far I've had a 75% success rate with those I have chosen. :-) I understand that next year I should have a bucketful. That would be nice!

Another first - a pound and a half of peanuts! YUMYUMYUYMYUMYUM.

There were loads of baby peanuts that didn't quite make it back to the ground. The space was restricted a little more than I wanted it to be but better a crop than no crop at all! I still have another small set of peanuts to harvest in the upcoming weeks, but I like to sow and harvest them in small sections so no nuts are wasted. Next year, though I may plant enough for some butter! The kids really enjoy fresh nut butters and I can't say as I mind making it or eating it myself. :-) But I may still be a little too restricted space wise to dedicate enough for that many plants. Time will tell!

We also had just over a pound of tomatillos, 6 ounces of green beans, 5oz of hot peppers and chilies, some key limes, basil, and a chocolate cherry tomato.

Soon to come pictures of my babies in the new garden patch. The radishes are at the party and some of the other seedlings are beginning to emerge as well. So come on back later this week to check out the progress. Now that i have my camera again I can actually show you the pretty little things!

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Catching up...

2011-11-09T14:27:00.000-05:00

Well I think it's time to catch up!

The expansion is done!

The wood is obviously not matching but other than that it fits right in. :-)

Permanent beds (10' each) on either end are my berry beds and have 5 blueberry plants and aprox. 30 strawberry plants in each section. One section has Festival strawberries and the other Sweet Charlie. I'm REALLY looking forward to harvesting the berries this spring. We have always grown them, but never this many. Usually only 10-15 plants a year. Most of those strawberries never see the table barring the initially extreme output when I tend to make strawberry syrup for the kids each year.

Between the 2 permanent sections is 24' that will be my secondary garden. Construction was finalized this past weekend, only 1 week past the 'absolute latest date' I wanted it completed. Not bad really. All things considered.

The new planter is just over 2' wide - making access to the entire surface area fairly easy for weeding and harvesting. This gave me 24' (48'sq) of new garden and planting area. Do I really need to tell you that it's been finished now for 3 days and I've already got it all sown? What? I can't help myself! I had plans to let it sit and amend it once more before spring, but... but.... OK lets face it. I need more space. I WANT more space. I LOVE more space!

So, I planted one 8' section of alliums. 3' of yellow onion, 3' of purple hamburger & 2' of garlic. That makes a total of 16'sq of dedicated space until May. Seems like a lot. I hope I didn't go overboard.

I also planted a few things I have never tried to eat much less grow. These things include turnips, beets, and tatsoi.

But knowing my own tastes I was not entirely foolish and I did plant the remaining portion (aprox 20'sq) with lettuce, carrots, sugar snap peas, broccoli, and spinach.

I still find myself doing a jig every once and a while. But it hurts. A lot. The jigging that it. It was hard work. My husband - he wasn't a lot of help. He did at least pound the nails into the wood.And he was a good cheerleader. But beyond that, it was ALL me, baby! And I'm paying for it. But I'm happy now. Because in a few days those little green shoots will be peeking up at me, and that? That rocks my world!

One of the reasons I was a little late getting the expansion finished was my little girls 5th birthday party. We also had a trip to Seaworld and that was fun. Our camera went a missing so my cell phone is all I have had since that time. *pout*

The pink party? Was over the top pin it's pinkidness. Yes I made up a new word. I made little butter mints by hand. These are my new favorite things! The cupcakes looked like flowers though not intentionally it was a nice touch. I made them chocolate chocolate chip and that is Kate's favorite. But she didn't like that I chose a whipped topping so back to butter cream with flavorings added next time!

The inside of the perfectly poodle pink cake? Was a rainbow of pink. I think I enjoyed this surprise the most. The girls didn't expect it at all and while I was completely disappointed in the flavor of the cake (a constant reminder to check the recipes you use prior to serving them to friends and family!) the servings were truly eye candy. Just wish I'd had a real camera so I could show you how beautiful it really was.

I also served dog bone shaped cookies, and mini corn dogs, pink applesauce, pink lemonade. A wonderland in pink. We STILL have some of the decorations around the house. :-D Oh, and for the adults I made ham an cheese crossandwiches. This is a standby for the kids that I started making about a year ago form the Pillsbury website when I was looking for ideas for their lunches. It's SO easy and they are good at room temp - but really pretty great when they are warm from the oven. They were completely devoured with no leftovers so I think that every liked them. LOL. The hit of the party? Glad you asked. We bought balloons to blow up to make pink poodles out of. I know how to make them...

uh... but I have a slight problem...with balloons...specifically with latex balloons...that might squeak, or pop...or Get around my face, or touch me..... ARGH!!!!!

HA! OK so some may call this a 'phobia'. So my husband stayed and tried to make balloon dogs but he wasn't so talented. Did you know that kids this age don't really care what it looks like? They absolutely LOVED this part and it was the B~E~S~T thing ever! He entertained them for over an hour making 'snakes' or bracelets or hats, or whatever their imaginations turned the balloons into. It was fantastic. Um, I was in another room for this hour. That may have made it even better. :-D *snicker*

So that is what I've been up to and why I've not blogged much in the last few weeks. Well those things PLUS the whole odd illness thing. But believe it or not, I missed you!

This time of year is super busy for us as everyone in the immediate family has a birthday in October, November, December or January. 8 of us. Eight IS enough. Heh, whatdayaknow?! There is also a few other celebrations thrown in you know those things on all of our calendars plus a few extras for our family.

I hope that your family is enjoying November as much as our family is!

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Harvest Monday 11.7.11

2011-11-07T10:57:00.000-05:00

Ahhhh... November, my Love. How I have missed you. How I have longed to be held in your cool embrace. :-)
Now - don't let that go to your head my lover. One of my favorite things about you is the warm days that come along with your cool nights. Decembers chilly winds are too cool for my Floridian body to enjoy so don't go off getting too cold on me just yet!

Linking in for Harvest Monday with Daphne's Dandelions. Thanks Daphne for allowing us to crash your pad and hang out each week!

My garden gave to me this fine November week -

Tomatillos and a bell pepper. There are many more of both of these waiting for me in the garden!

Hot peppers, green (and yellow & purple) beans. This variety of purple bean doesn't do as well as some of the others I have trialed and once my seed stock of these are gone they won't be replaced. They are good but the plants are not nearly as sturdy as this springs planting of purple beans.

Another pound of lima beans for side dishes and mostly these are mine because I adore them!

Some greens and more green beans and a pepper that needed saved.

In honor of the berry patches (2) being completed I celebrated by baking up a bag of my spring berries:

Muffins, mini loaves and pancakes will make breakfasts easy for the beginning of the week.

I'm looking forward to sharing the final expansion of the garden during the week - but now that daylight savings has "fallen behind" I don't know that I will be home during daylight hours to take any good photos. The project is complete and 24' x2' of space has been added (and already planted out!) to my garden. I love knowing the space is there and this spring I won't have to juggle which veggies I want. I should have enough room for just a little of everything. :-D WOOHOO!!!!

If all else fails I'll share the cell phone pics that were taken at the end of the project so I can at least show off my hard work. My back is still yelling at me for trying to do so much so fast but my brain is happy and in the end that makes it all better.

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Harvest Monday 10.31.11

2011-10-31T10:10:00.003-04:00

Linking in with Daphne for Harvest Monday. Don't forget to check out her blog and see what people are harvesting this HALLOWEEN!!!!

HOT PEPPERS

They are still ruling the garden. There are also a few green (purple and yellow) beans coming in but not too many. The french beans have blossomed out and are beginning to set nicely as well so those will be int he tally shortly. Not much in the way of pictures this week. This momma was super tied up with pink poodles and newly FIVE year old twins. (YIKES! When did that happen)

The best part is the second berry patch was completed. The blueberries that have been long suffering in their nursery pots after being rescued in the 50% off bin are finally getting what they deserve. A good peat mossing and their roots are stretching as we speak. They instantly looked happier. In with them are the Sweet Charlie strawberry plants that were sent to me via trade for some onion sets from Darcy. The other blueberry bed has the Festival strawberry plants and they are only about 2 weeks ahead so this will be an interesting spring! I have easily tripled the number of berry plants. :-) I can't wait!

The rest of the garden expansion isn't going quite as planned. This weekend was the deadline for having the grass turned under and next weekend there is a delivery of compost and topsoil scheduled. Guess we might have to rethink that.

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Pink

2011-10-29T17:56:00.001-04:00

One pink poodle party successfully completed. Oh so sweet!

Pink party

2011-10-27T10:39:00.000-04:00

As pink parties go this one is... well.... PINK!

Last night I spent some time fiddling in the kitchen.
I made these:

Pink chocolate covered Oreos - with pink and lavender sparkle sugar.

WOW do they pop. This picture just doesn't do them justice. It was late and I snapped it with my cell phone. Even so they are so sweet and cute and...PINK. I cannot wait to see my girls faces as I start putting together this party. It's not all that much of any one thing - a dozen of these cookies a dozen chocolate cupcakes that I baked and are now frozen waiting for their *PINK* frosting on the night before. The pink decorations, the little touches.

Oh my I feel bad for the one little boy that is coming. :-D Poor kid. I'll have to think of something special for him.

I'll also have to get out my camera before anyone get there so I can take pictures of all the pinkness. More updates soon to come- My home is going to the dogs on Saturday morning so it should be interesting. I'm excited to see it all together.

'Till next time!

Barbie~

HARVEST MONDAY 10.24.11 !!!

2011-10-24T09:42:00.000-04:00

It's Harvest Monday and I am FINALLY BACK! Linking in to Daphne's our most gracious hostessat Daphne's Dandelions. Don't forget to check her site out and see what everyone is harvesting and maybe even what they are doing with their harvest!

Scarlet fever is a real bear at 30 something (OK more towards forty but still thirty something darn it!) It's something that doctors don't normally see any more and when they do they see it in kids - not adults. HA! Well leave it to me to throw a wrench in that. I've been gone a couple week so I do have quite a bit to share. LOADS of Limas, a few bells, tomatillos are back on the menu, too! Hot peppers of course, and also back on the menu are green beans. Unfortunately there aren't very many of them just a handful - but enough to appreciate. A couple little deformed but yummy cucumbers and some Okinawan spinach while I am waiting for the real deal to germinate.

Basil made a come back and PESTO has been eaten - a LOT of it I might add. :-)

The rice peas are done for the year. In an experiment I cut back the bushes (REALLY LONG VINES) to see if they would start again but hope is dwindling and I'll be pulling them next week if no growth has been spotted by then. The night time temps have been dipping into the 50's each night and they don't like that at all.

Since I've been laid up the last few weeks there has been lots of soup- and I declared one day GUMBO DAY! Okra, bells, hot peppers and onions from the garden safron rice and meat from the grocers - and yummo!

Lots of seeds have been sown. Carrots and radish, spinach, cabbage and onions are all beginning to sprout. S~L~O~W~L~Y.... but hopefully surely. Oh, and I have tomatoes on the vine again. YIPPEE! It's almost time to finish clearing out the beans and put in the rest of the winter veggies. I'll have to update with pics soon.

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Absent.

2011-10-19T13:03:00.000-04:00

I may have been absent but I've been thinking about blogging.

I wanted to post Monday for Harvest Monday.
I wanted to post about a family trip to Seaworld and such - but I got whapped upside the head with some nasty little bacteria. It got in my ears and down in my throat. It made me all feverish and funky feeling. I'll be back soon to share pictures and posts of harvest.
I've done a bit to the garden and new seeds have been sown, too.
I'll be back soon.

B~

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day

2011-10-12T10:12:00.000-04:00

October 15th is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day.

It's a day to remember babies that have been lost either during pregnancy, or in the first year of life. If you, or someone you know has been touched by this, PLEASE join in lighting a single candle at 7pm on Oct 15th. Let this candle shine for one hour (or longer) in remembrance for all children who have been lost. Join me in this 'Wave of Light' movement.

If you are reading this - then you DO know someone who's been touched by this tragedy.

My blog has been and will remain silent (other than this post) in memorandum for my own losses and for the losses of other 'Mothers of Angels' around the world for the remainder of this week.

In Memory of my Angels.

Bento Tuesday!

2011-10-04T12:41:00.000-04:00

It's the first Tuesday of the month, and that means it's time for sharing Bentos!

Nothing incredibly exciting but still nice to post to continue to encourage myself and others to pack healthy and cute lunches for our kids. I actually got stopped when I was out with the kids this week. An assistant at the school recognized the kids and commented on how wonderful the bento boxes are and how much healthier they eat because of it. That made me feel GREAT about choosing this style of eating for them. It also reinforced what I don't see and that is because of the choices I make when I put their lunches together they are eating better. I know that I would like more variety and even better things for them to eat but even what they are getting is good. :-)

This lunch is a PB/banana roll up with goldfish and 2 raspberry swirl cookies. I couldn't help the treat. I found myself addicted to these cookies and I was eating more of them than the kids. So I sent them for their lunches. :-) That very quickly kept me from having to eat them!

Here we have turkey on a hamburger bun (the bun is a recurring theme as we always have left over buns after cookouts) with goldfish and grapes. This box came back completely empty so it got sent back the next day but it didn't go over so well the next time. OOps! I guess you live and learn. What works one day doesn't necessarily work the next.

Here is an almond butter and honey sandwich with pretzels and a yogurt box with a candy corn on top. After all it's getting close to Halloween and that dreaded candy has found it's way into my home. I did find out after doing this that you can't let it sit overnight or the candy will melt... and THAT is not a pretty sight. Plopping the candy on that morning works out but not the night before. Yet another lesson learned. :-)

This is the kids favorite bento box, and mine as well. It's harder to pack the right sizes but the way that the box stacks and the size that it makes is a whole lot easier to fit into just about any lunch bag or box. Of course my son won't be caught dead with this box because it's bunny themed but when no one is looking he'll eat out of it and stack it up, too. This is a veggie sandwich with cream cheese, chives, cucumber and lettuce. Yogurt covered raisins accompany it and the snack for the day is well - scooby doo! fruit snacks and goldfish of course. After all that healthy sandwich must be counteracted in some way. At least they think so. They don't know the goldfish are whole grain and that Betty Crocker is one of the few mass marketers that use real fruit juice as one of the main ingredients.

The next bento is the perfect size for my littlest one. This is chicken strips and grapes. Simple, yet perfect. I added some applesauce and a fruitable and she was in hog heaven.

The next day was rice ball and PB/Jelly

Here is my favorite lunch from the last few weeks. The heart sammie. Inside is ham, a side of carrots, half an apple and a round of cheese finishes off that meal. The other box is pate with lettuce (go figure) and grapes, carrots and a cheese wheel.

One of the lunches got sent with a side of fresh mulberries from our tree. The girls love to eat them straight off the tree but that makes me cringe. I much prefer washing them and sending them this way.

I'm always looking for new (very) inexpensive containers for bento boxes and so far the biggest trouble seems to be fitting into the lunch boxes! I have found that the sandwich containers are perfect for one type of lunch box but have to go sideways into another. So I am still on the hunt. The best fit overall seems to be the tri stack skinny bunny. The kids enjoy the design, I enjoy the size and the ease of fitting into any size lunch bag/box.

I love the lock box littles for things like yogurt and applesauce but I would prefer to keep as many of the parts of the meal together as possible.... but then again that may not be possible. I mean how feasible is it for the partially liquid ingredients to stay in their 'section' of the box? Probably not all that likely.

Thanks for catching up with bento Tuesday - or tolerating it as the case may be. :-D

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Harvest Monday 10.3.11

2011-10-03T10:39:00.000-04:00

Oh My! It's OCTOBER! Happy Harvest Monday Y'all! Don't forget to stop by our host over at Daphne's Dandelions to check out everyone's harvest! It's crispity out this morning and the kids had to wear jackets to school. Very odd for us. Typically this chillness isn't here until late November at the earliest but never the less it was in the 50's for the last 2 nights. It has made for some amazing days though. A high of 80 is as near to perfect as I can imagine. Windows open and yard work getting accomplished. Who could ask for more?

Apparently the stinking aphids! UGH and the leaf footed bugs. They have learned to stay out of my reach. When they see me coming they fly to the top of the citrus trees. I think I'm going to have to break my own organic rules. I think there is MALATHION in my future! I can't stand it any more and I've recently seen a large clutch of young teenager leaf footed bugs being taught first hand how to avoid me. :-( Me not happy! I hate to spray away the good bugs, but some of the bad ones need controlled. The beans are suffering now and my hot peppers have finally gotten some sort of bacterial spot. I wanna cry. I have got to start thinking seriously about my no spray methods. There must be a balance out there somewhere.

This week the garden has blessed us with a pound and a half of limas, 9.5 oz shelled rice peas, 2lb5oz hot peppers, 2 lonely tiny figs, and a single gherkin.

I only took one picture, but I got one of these pretty much each day this week. and two of the lima beans below.

A nice bowl of hot peppers. Serrano, Jalapeno, and uh - well I thought they were cubanelle but they won't go yellow. If I leave them on the plant they just get limp and then start turning brown, not yellow. Go figure. I'm happy with my take. I've cleaned off the plant and I'm taking the peppers young now instead of letting some of them go red because of the bacterial spot. I don't want the fruit damaged and so far only one single fruit has had any signs of it at all. Now I have to decide if I want to fight the disease or rip out and start something else. I've got about 2 more months frost free. Not enough to do too much, but enough for something, just maybe not from seed.

'Till next time!

Barbie~

HEY THERE!

2011-09-29T16:21:00.001-04:00

I found it!

I did... I found it! All on my own! I found it after all. And it only took until October!

I FOUND FALL!!!!! WHOOHOOO!!!!

Of course in a week this weather will be gone and it will be back to 97 and 77 and rain but - I'm taking what I'm given and I'm a running! This weekend is about mulching my newly planted pentas. :-)

Unfortunately Mother Natures is one week too late. :-( My hot pepper plants turned up the production and.... the rain kicked their butts finally. They have some sort of disease. Spot disease. Make me cry disease. I mean up until now I put away a half cup here or there but this month - this marked the turning point in the harvest when the freezer would finally be seeing the majority of what was coming in. We've been using most of what we had until now. I sure hope they can hold on for another month. I think I'll defoliate the worst, spray and pray. I won't be infecting any other crops for winter so there is no rush to yank out the plants. It's not contagious to what will be there later. Just annoying. Figures they'd finally succumb now that the weather has turned. HUMPH!

In other news.... my life has been taken over by PINK POODLES.

We are in full preparation for the twins 5th birthday party and it's going to be OOOOOOOOooooo so PINK and, well.... poodley. Hopefully not puddley it would be nice if the kids could play outdoors for a while! :-D

So far there are Pink Lemonade cupcakes in the works and I'm thinking about some pink oreos.... I'm on the hunt for pink foods and puffy things. Wish me luck!

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Harvest Monday 9.26.11

2011-09-26T09:27:00.001-04:00

Joining in again at Daphne's for Harvest Monday. Don't forget to stop by and see what everyone is harvesting, or what they've done with they're harvests!

This weeks harvest was a flop of pictures and weights. I still have a lot of the harvest. What wasn't brought in for use directly to the pot that is. That never tends to be weighed or photographed so there is no difference there. Typically that is fresh herbs, but this week also included a cucumber. And on a side note something got in my garden and ate every SINGLE curcurbit. Yes, every single one out of each and every bed, go figure! Front beds, side beds, Trellis vines, etc. Only 3 vines remain and they are badly damaged. I have no idea what int he world did this. I have never heard of such a thing and whatever it was didn't touch anything thing else. Seriously, WEIRD>

Anyway. New to harvest this week are black eye peas! Whoot! Way later than usual for me but I couldn't resist putting them in at the end of the season to see how they would fair in the fall. I only planted a small 2' area but so far the little bushes are doing well and I figure the immature beans will cook well with the rice peas. I didn't take a picture so they will be represented by pink eye purple hulls. gotta have something to show, right? They look a lot like the immature beans, less like the mature ones. The purple is only really on the ends of the beans. Ill try to remember to get pictures this upcoming week. With no daylight when I get home now most nights it's getting harder to come by photos. :-(

Still in harvest are hot peppers, lima beans, mulberries, and also back in harvest is Okinawan Spinach. My fig bush is producing, but I am thinking these figs won't be more than a snack. They are tiny and not sizing up. I guess next year will be my year for figs. I'm patient. This year would have been nice but I guess I'll settle for a taste test instead.

In other news my remaining bells are blooming again. Of course they look like twigs with a bush at the top in bloom but eh- I'll take it. The summer planted bells are beginning to bud so I expect blooms in the next 2-3 weeks as well. OH! And the tomatoes are setting. YAHOOO!!!! I'll be back in business with tomatoes again soon. Not soon enough and certainly not long enough but we all know I will take what I can get. I've experimented with putting one of the hybrids down in the blueberry patch. I realize that the acidic soil may be too much for it, but the extra light and attention would be good and it's worth a shot. I'm still working on the second bed and trying to finalize something there in the next few weeks. I'd like to have a section ready for winter so I can have a row cover and try to extend a crop. I still have plenty of time but it's nice to have a game plan.

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Autumn Equinox

2011-09-23T12:19:00.003-04:00

It's September 23 and today, this very morning - the day is equal. Twelve hours of night gave way to twelve equal hours of day. But, from this point on we will lose daylight. Each day will give up it's light to the darkness. Inch by inch, minute by minute. Not only will time be given but intensity. The direction from which the daylight is flodding changes as well. My vines are already showing this effect. They have noticed the sun is not shining as harshly.

But today is a celebration. The Pagan and Wiccan celebration of Mabon, Christians usually call it the harvest. Even the original settlers in America celebrated this with not only harvesting but replanting winter crops as well. Cover crops of rye harvesting and storing of goods for winter begins.

Of course in this modern day and age it's barely acknowledged. But for me this is about the time when I notice the largest change. A week ago as a matter of fact. A week ago I got home and it was starting to get dark already. I'm running out of time before i can tend to the garden. It means for me that I have to choose what I want to do, rather than being able to tend to what needs done as it needs it. It also means reacting to the gardens needs rather than being proactive. The good news is that it also comes at a time when the bugs start to slow down and the watering needs decrease as well.

While I may not be celebrating, after all my system CRAVES sunlight an long days, I yearn for vegetables that are easier to take care of and for the rebirth of Spring. After all I can't have Spring unless I have Fall and Winter with it.

Now don't take me wrong. I know that it may seem slightly crass coming from me way down here in the deep South of Florida where our temperatures rarely drop much below freezing. But trust me, I do mark the seasonal changes. They may be slight here but every tiny bit counts and I can tell you one thing. Summer certainly didn't give up easily. She did not go out like a lamb. Summer sank her teeth in and decidedly went out like a lion. Here is the picture i took on my cell on the way home last night:

Monsoons are still here and there. This one dumped over 3 inches in under 2 hours. We passed plenty of cars that did not make it home that night. Flooded cars are not uncommon here. We'll still fluctuate for a few more weeks but as the nights get longer they also get cooler. Once they stay under 75 degrees these torrential rains usually die off. That change will be coming soon! Within weeks the relief will be felt and my peppers will rejoice, my carrots and lettuce will finally set and cruciferous veggies shall UNITE! (All right that is a little over the top, but darn it I can't wait for nice weather again!)

May your streets drain well, your rains be steady and not too harsh, your nights cool and....

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Harvest Monday 9.19.11

2011-09-19T09:52:00.000-04:00

It's Harvest Monday again. Autumn edition! Linking in once again to Daphne's Dandelions to join in the fun and see what people are harvesting all over the world.

This Monday we are featuring HOT PEPPERS galore.

Nearly a pound of these hot little beauties were harvested. They'll be chopped and frozen flat to be used in soups and stews and chilis and stir fries for the rest of the year. We should have enough pickled peppers to see us through until spring now and I certainly have enough dry cayenne.

I harvested another 2 cups of basil that I made pesto out of. This one was a pesto cheese sauce that was astronomically delish on pasta.

The beans finished off the majority of the harvest. The final Holstein beans were harvested. Any more that I might find would be seed only if they weren't molded. Most of what I harvested were mildewed or moldy. The rains finally stopped but it was too late. Most of my garden has succumbed to either mold, mildew or bugs now.

The itty bitty rice peas are still hanging on but they are looking a little rusty. The limas are too, but considering their age that is not one little bit surprising. The beans are still good and I got about another pound this week so they are not at risk of losing any territory yet. :-) A copper spray will hopefully help them hang on a while longer. It's one of the few sprays non organic that I seem to always turn to in times like this.

The garden is suffering. We've gone from massive monsoons straight into drought. Tides will change a few more times before the dry weather stays for the winter but right now the pepper plants are defoliating in answer so some of the hot peppers are getting sun scald and the leaves are getting spotty but I'm pretty sure the plants will be fine over all. The bells I'm not so sure of. It seems the fungal/spots have set into the stems and while the hot peppers are setting like crazy they are not even blooming. This is a major disappointment. I've saved 3 bell plants through our horrible summer and that is no easy task. I thought I made it but maybe not after all. It's a wait and see game for them now. 2 other bell plants I wasn't sure about have shown that they indeed have lost their battle. They are too diseased and stressed and need to come out before spreading their ickyness.

The corn is down to only 7 stalks. That is worrisome but there is nothing I can do at this point.

Oh I nearly forgot. I also harvest a pint of grapes. I FINALLY brought the grapes into the house. :-) Rather than eating them as they ripened I actually got enough at once to bring in. Of course that is the final grape count but I actually got a bowl of them!

The final tally to add is a half cup of mulberries. I have to constantly try to remember to get out there in the morning to get them. Otherwise they are gone before I get there. The trees all need pruned but the weather is so good I am afraid to prune what really needs to be done. If I do what is necessary I'm worried they will all start regrowth and then get burned in an early frost. It would hurt my heart to see such tender young growth get hurt so I'll try to hold off another month or two before I prune. It's so hard to wait when everything NEEDS pruning now! All the trees are in need, not just this one. *sigh*

'Till next time!

Barbie~

A little research

2011-09-16T14:09:00.003-04:00

It goes a LONG way....

I was JUST getting ready to hit the send button on an order that I was so excited about. But something in the back of my mind told me to double check that order one more time. I sure am glad I did!

This wasn't just any old seed order, no - this is an order of perennial things. Plants that will either replace themselves by multiplication or plants that can either tolerate freezes or die back and regenerate in the spring.

One of the plants I was so happy about getting was this one:

This is the Jerusalem Artichoke. It's actually a sunflower relative. Not related to an artichoke at all. This plant is grown by tuber multiplication. Tubers that are slightly sweet and nutty and can be used in so many ways...raw, fried, seared, boiled, etc. But after a little more research it turns out this particular vegetable while easy to grow and care for has a severe side effect for some people. Let's just say that Chicago wouldn't be the only 'Windy City' if I fed my whole family this veggie as a side dish, Ok? 'Severe Gastronomic Distress" is known to be caused from eating it.

Now, Can I have a moment to talk to you about a serious situation? My stomach and I? We don't get along most days in general. I can't see adding something that is a known culprit for digestive upset. My husband and I? We have daily disagrements on what is deemed 'Appropriate Bathroom Behavior' in front of the little ones. So I'm thinking it's really a *very* VERY* good thing I looked into this little beauty a little more. I am still tempted to grow this gorgeous plant. But, I know if I do I'll also be tempted to try to eat it and I just don't think I should risk that. It could be hazardous to both mine and my husbands health. LOL.

Back to the drawing board. On a good note I found out that Okinawan spinach is *supposed* to grow as a perennial here as well as Cassava, so I may try these over the winter to see. :-)

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Labor Day's labor

2011-09-14T13:38:00.000-04:00

I meant to post this last week but I've been busy this week willing my little bits lungs to work better, breathe deeper and running them here and there for appointments.
Labor Day weekend was spent with an extra day off of work on Holiday and here is how we decided to spend that time:

The old bed by the front door was taken out and a new retaining wall was erected along the entire length of the fence and house. Now I'm starting to feel better about the house and the yard. It's starting to look like something that I would create. The HOA team was diligent to say the least. We were stared at and taken pictures of but so far no notices have been received. It seems to have past inspection. Darn well better have! We took the old outdated bricks and made new rings around the baby oak trees (foreground) and the date palm in the middle of the yard. Although the date palm will become a MUCH larger planter by winter with the same matching retaining wall in a kidney shape. We are trying to fly under the radar as much as possible AND trying not to kill my back entirely while doing the work ourselves.

Once the work on the wall was finished I set to work to fill in the gaps you can see in that picture. So, while we upgraded the wall I decided to sneak in a few new edibles to the front yard. Some of my bigger bull cane blueberries....

I think they fit in extremely well with the existing landscaping and don't call attention to themselves at all. Heck no one will even realize what they are until the berries blush that light blue hue the day or two when they are the best. I think the best part about it is that they will be in bloom in the early spring before the hibiscus and ixora behind them are in bloom so the yard will have more color for it. These bull canes are located about 20' from 2 other bulls that are near my front window and are the same size and age(about 3-4 years of age)

I also added a permisson tree and a few of the little baby yearling blueberry plants. They look so sweet and innocent here.

No one dare suspect a thing. They will grow right in with the landscaping come spring and the persimmon next year will be well over the fence line. If all goes well come September it will be providing us a small first crop of wonderful orange fruit. Just don't tell the neighbors. Hopefully they will try them when they first turn ripe and see that they are OH so sour and bitter. SHHH.... don't tell them to wait until the fruit softens a little. My girls are most excited about this tree, they love the fruit.

And, since my poor heart can't take seeing saplings all alone in a pot withering in the heat at the nursery marked down and on sale this apple tree came home as well. Don't worry this is not an orphan it will be pollinated, just the other side of the fence is the play yard and it is surrounded with (3) apple tree saplings. Anna and Dorset- too bad I didn't get those trees on clearance! I may not get a lot of apples the first year but I don't think we are moving any time soon and I can see many jars of applesauce in my future.

There is a tray of purple cabbages awaiting transplant to these beds, as well as some chard seeds to be sown and perhaps some broccoli as well. In the spring there are some pretty big plans for a large section of Okinawan Spinach the kids eat it like crazy and Amaranth as well as some new trials for a couple seeds I've been putting off until I did this work, Rat tail radishes for one this interests me a lot and a few other things, too.

Ah, but I digress. I must shut up at some point. Off for nebulizer treatments and rocking of small children. I love that they will still let me rock them and hold them, at least when they are sick anyway.

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Harvest Monday

2011-09-12T10:31:00.001-04:00

Oh yum this Harvest Monday centers around a saltwater harvest, straight from the Gulf of Mexico. Delicious nutricious enough to share and sure to make you drool. Well, once cooked anyway!
We harvested 20 pounds of Spanish Makerel, a nice sized Redfish, a few mangrove snapper and I can't remember what else. More pictures will follow. This post brought to you via Crackberry.

Don't forget to link into the party at Daphne's Dandelions each Monday to see what is being harvested all over the world!
Till next time!
Barbie-

Horrible end to the week

2011-09-09T17:26:00.001-04:00

Well, I think this is one of the fastest ways to bring tears to a mothers eyes.

:-(

And she is so darn happy.

(Not Quite) Harvest Monday

2011-09-06T10:39:00.000-04:00

Well Harvest Monday fell on Labor Day and I'll be darned if I didn't slack off on my day off!
We swam, and had a cook out. We relaxed and yes I did do some gardening too- but NOT MUCH!

I did harvest this week though. Broccoli as a matter of fact. 1.2 stinking ounces of wonderful yummy *tiny* goodness. 1 lb of limas, a couple limes, a lemon, a pound of dry beans, a cup and a half of mulberries, 2 cups of basil which was about 3 ounces maybe.... and some hot peppers for our burgers, an onion... when you are cooking out sometimes things just jump out of the garden at you (like those limes, for the beers)
I also made the yummiest, moistest, most delicious cake with one of my packets of pumpkin. One of my neighbors who swore up and down that she didn't like squash or pumpkin was there to give it a try, boy did I show her.... She liked it! :-D Her kids all gobbled it up and they don't eat any veggies so we definitely have a winner! (We didn't tell the kids. teehee)
There will be no pictures of this cake because, well it was devoured while still warm. While it was cooking all of us were drooling over the smell of it. Once it came out it was game over!
See you next Monday!

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Bento Tuesday 9.6.11

2011-09-06T10:27:00.000-04:00

I realized that I don't know if I'll have enough material to do this as a weekly post so I'll have to see how it plays out. Maybe it will be bi-weekly instead. But, since I had announced my intentions to try to post it weekly I thought I'd at least try to get the first three weeks in a row. :-)
This weeks bentos featured:

Turkey and cheese, and lettuce with a pickle side (deconstructed sandwich) and goldfish

carrots with critters on the top.

This bento featured a star ham and lettuce with grapes, carrots and my personal favorite nutter butter sandwiches. :-)

Now, part of the problem with this Bento Tuesday is that I simply forgot to take pictures. The other part is that I have a camera and a cell phone that I take pictures with and sometimes neither of these are convenient.

This of course is somewhat ironic being that I also try to keep track of my harvest and have a hard time doing that. You'd think I was unorganized... You'd be wrong. I simply have three children and no brain cells. I'll take the camera upstairs to take pictures of the garden from aerial view and forget to bring it down, and when I make the kids lunches it is almost always after they are tucked safely away at night. This means I've already been upstairs and chances are my phones is also tucked away snoozing with it's belly getting full of juices at my bedside table. If I don't tuck it in when I tuck my children in I may very well forget to plug it in and then of course everything thereafter gets thrown off. So it is much the opposite. A case of extreme organization. A rule that is not thrown out the window for the sake of having a picture for the blog.

Another reason for not having the post as often is that I only have 2 bento containers. I'm not into boring you all to pieces with the same look over and over again. Don't get me wrong. I'm not giving this up! I'm doing this to try to keep it fresh for me and for the kids. To remind myself that I have to keep trying and that the diversity is the fun!

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Interesting weekend.

2011-08-30T11:10:00.000-04:00

Or also known as 'Yet another trip to the Urgent Care.'

There is my B girl on Friday, all knocked out (not really, just sleepy.) She was awake the whole time. As a matter of fact, she didn't so much as whimper. Only when she couldn't open her eyes and look around at what was going on was she upset. Luckily that didn't last long. We really lucked out that they could use glue here instead of stitches. The stitching process would have taken a lot longer and been much scarier for her. Annah took it all in stride. Afterward she asked for what else, Pancakes for dinner! So we obliged.

You might wonder just how this laceration occurred in such an odd place. You'd be right to wonder. I watched the entire event unfold and I'm still shaking my head wondering right along with ya. The cut was from a slide. There were no other children on the slide and it was not a metal slide. It was not even an outdoor slide. This was a special slide. It is covered every single inch of it, in FOAM. YUP. Go figure.

If there is any one single thing that my children have taught me it is this fact:

Confucius say - There is no rhyme or reason to the odd things that children can do.

or maybe it is this....

Just when you think the toy is safe the kids will prove you wrong!

Ah, Mark Twain got it right - 'My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.'

And here is Annah a few days later sporting the now less swollen black eye, with purple glue and a great big smile.

She's healing well and happy. She says she looks weird but other than a little bruising it'll be gone by this weekend most likely. I may have a few new gray hairs, but you can add that to the tally.

Because we got to play with glue stitches we didn't get to play outside much this weekend, so we hung out inside and rented a few movies and had popcorn. Speaking of popcorn, tomorrow Troy gets his braces back on. His hearing aids are on the back burner unless the spectrum falls farther for now as they won't do too much good in the classroom setting for him. It looks like we'll talk more about Annah's hearing aids in January when she goes back to the Otolaryngologist and the Audiologist. She will probably have them before school next year but I don't know if they will have them fitted before that. It seems a waste to fit them over the summer only to have them refitted just at school time again. Then again if she needs them, she needs them I will find a way to pay one way or the other. Surely they take payment plans for that. It's not like it's elective, right? Ah well. Wait and see I suppose.

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Harvest Monday 8.29.11

2011-08-29T09:41:00.001-04:00

Welcome back to Harvest Monday! I'm joining in at Daphne's once again to see what everyone is harvesting and how people are using their harvest all over the world. Be sure to stop by and check it out!

This weeks harvest again focuses on dry beans:

As well as a few hot peppers and lima beans.

I also managed to get a single Brazilian cherry. It was sweet, and juicy and.... all alone. The other 3 fell off the tree while still green. I wish my tree was bigger but for now it is a tiny little bush, and I'm almost positive the fallen fruit had something to do with a soccer ball and 2 rambunctious little boys. LOL. I didn't stop to take a picture as I popped that sucker into my mouth, but I did think to split it into thirds for each of the kids to taste. EVERYONE loved it. So now it is up to me to save this tree over the winter and protect it with blankets and Christmas lights. :-)

This week I also processed the last Lakota squash:

10 cups of beautiful sweet puree ready for pies, muffins and assorted fall baking goodies, and a cup and a half of seeds cleaned and ready to go! The seed cavity was relatively small, and this puree was without a doubt the least watery, while not the sweetest it was the least stringy of all the winter pumpkins I have ever grown. This squash will have a place in my garden from now on! Those seeds are big and meaty, too. Now I have more than enough to save, trade and eat! :-D

We are still getting rain daily so yesterday I ventured out to plant some Kurdora carrots. Between the heat and rain the only kind I thought might hold up. Thanks Dianne for the seeds! My broccoli is beginning to head up just as anticipated but it looks like tiny heads for me. I guess pushing boundaries heat wise will leave me wanting something. In this case perhaps size. But the fact that the plants are producing at all makes me happy. I'll keep you posted on flavor in the coming weeks.

The excessive rains killed back my cucumbers once again. I may have to start growing them indoors. As for 'Diva' I am completely unimpressed. 3 cucumbers on 2 vines does not a happy gardener make. So much for 'large fruit set' I'd rather take a paint brush to my picklers and get a better harvest. HUMPH! On to another trial for me. If only I had a sun room.

'Till next time!

Barbie~

The expansion and the expansion of the beans.

2011-08-25T14:55:00.000-04:00

As titles go that certainly isn't the shortest. But it explains it well!

Here is the first picture of what will be the new garden bed. There is 3.5' of space between the rows, plenty for the mower.

The foreground is the main(original) garden bed and behind it is the 28" wide bed along the fence. So the wood is in place to mark the length but the sod still needs ripped up inside. Well, for now there is a 9.5' bed on one end. The other end will have another bed that will mirror this one with 1 avocado tree and 5 or 6 blueberry plants. The avocados are a year old now and roughly 5' tall. Next year we may or may not get a harvest but we don't expect one yet not until the third year. We have 4 other avocado trees and 2 of them are older and blossom out well. These blueberry bushes are two years old but this year really was harsh on them in the pots. They didn't leaf out very well and I expect that my harvest next year will not be wonderful - but considering that I have 15 total and some of my larger berry plants have been in the ground for several years, I'm sure I'll get enough to be happy!
After the 2 berry beds are finished off it will leave me with approximately 3 8' sections of raised bed gardening space. So I'll be adding around 50 feet of garden. It seems like so much more, but then again I'm devoting nearly half the bed to the berries. I'm also hopeful that my strawberry plants will like the conditions the blueberries do well enough to produce. If so I'll leave them there year round and stop digging them up in the fall. Permanent beds sound wonderful!

Now for the ever expanding beans...

I would like you to notice the arrow I put in points to beans that have grown up and out of my grapefruit tree. These are the 'rice pea cowpeas' that I planted. They were planted in an area 18" x 24" directly in front of the little white picket fence. Any yellow you see are the 'holstein' beans. They don't seem to like all the extra rain we've gotten. They held up well for a while be I think every single day rain is just too much for them. They were planted in the same area directly behind the rice peas and you can see the yellowing plants have stayed approximately where they were planted. They aren't trying for world domination. LOL. So far they are producing, but not nearly as well as they are growing. I'm concerned if I don't start getting more beans and less foliage soon I'll be forced to rip them out. What a shame that would be, but I am so limited with space I can't see growing something that will take over a bed and not give enough in return. :-( even if it is so healthy.

And in overview of the rest of my beds you may have heard me talk about how I have squeezed in edibles everywhere I can... I don't lie! They are around the pool pump...

(Kiwi vines, rosemary and cukes here)

The kids play house....

Pomegranate, apple trees, surinam cherry and grapes that grow over the play house. (and my composters tucked in at the corner they are a no-no too, shhhhh!) This is where my Lakota squash grew earlier this year.

I also hide edibles around the sand box....

And I won't tell you what is edible in the front lest someone from the HOA be lurking. Thats about the last thing I need right now. But they are there! Trust me. I'm considering a pindo palm for jelly just because. Teehee. Of course in the back I've got the 'grove' that has cause me so much trouble. 2 peach trees, 2 avocados, a plum, and my citrus that can be seen from the street as well in the main garden. Shame on me for loving food and enjoying growing it. Tisk tisk and shaking finger, all that good stuff.

And since I'm putting up a bunch of pictures my Eastland limas are still looking wonderful - and check out the broccoli's I started in May or June.... they should be heading up in a couple weeks! I'm excited as it will be the earliest I will have ever had broccoli from the garden if it works. :-)

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Bento Tuesday

2011-08-23T11:57:00.000-04:00

Trying to keep to the program here are the bentos for this past week:

Crasins, gummies, teddy grahams, and a yogurt snack bar went with a milk container and Ham and cheese.

Cherries, ham roll ups, and goldfish make up the bottom and in the top I pack a string of cheese and carrots with a container of ranch.

This snack size container of carrots and a fresh cucumber from the garden with ranch went with PIZZA day at school! My kids don't actually care much for pizza, but like the crust and pepperoni. Go figure. This completes their meal.

This bento was all about dipping!

Sorry for the phone shot but in the butterfly cup is peanut butter for dipping with graham cracker animals and grapes on the other side. The white things are yogurt raisins. the bottom layer had Frito's and cheese in the shape of butterflies. My girls like dipping their Frito's in applesauce (pictured to the side) I'm on the lookout for the single serve (pudding cup size) screw top reusable containers so I can stop buying these individual packs but until I find them...thank goodness for Sam's club! The regular pop top ones won't work because they are just too young to make sure they are sealed correctly much less to keep them upright in their backpacks! ;-)

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Harvest Monday 8.22.11

2011-08-22T12:03:00.002-04:00

Make sure to stop by as we join in at Daphne's Dandelion's each week for Harvest Monday. She is a most gracious host and showcases harvests from all over the world!
As we near the end of August the cool weather veggies are sprouting and the hot weather ones are coming to an end.
This weeks harvest?

Dried beans (rice peas and Holstein) Hot peppers, Bell peppers and Lima beans.

Here is a closer look at the Holstein. Have I posted this before? Hmmm... sorry if I have but they are really beautiful beans.

Also this week a sweet potato. Oh yes only one. Go me. HA! It met it's destiny as Cinnamon sweet oven baked fries - YUMMO! Too bad that is my entire harvest. (plus a store bought one!) Guess we'll have to see about what happened next year.

But in abundance around town and in homes near my work (an hour+ South) are loads of mangoes... I absolutely ADORE these fruits and if I had the gall to beg for more I would. But I did get busy with the ones I was given...

a pineapple and mango upside down cake... and pineapple mango chutney for my fish - no picture cause it disappeared too quickly. Not to mention we had mango slices a few meals and after a week of mango I love them all the more!

*insert sappy love song here*

Let's say the cake didn't last long. Oh my. I need more.... I MUST HAVE MORE!!!! LOL.

The expansion of the garden is finally under way. It took long enough. I won't be ready to plant anything but the blue berry bushes until spring though. Going from grass to garden is a rough transition and I think I'll solarize for the winter. I know patience isn't my strong suit but it would be best. Unless others have better (quicker) ideas.... :-D teehee... The frame is nearly complete but the grass still must be finished off and the dirt dressed and pressed and readied for the ball. We'll need to borrow a truck and trailer to get a few loads of compost. The inside width ended up at 28" and the outside is 35. I hope the weeds and grass stays back from between the fence, but I know better...I'll just have to formulate a plan I suppose. Hopefully next week I'll have some pictures of the initial lay out.

'Till next time! (and I hope I'll be tilling soon!)

Barbie~

Pearls of Wisdom?

2011-08-19T14:47:00.001-04:00

This is a post I have been thinking about for a long time. Something I've been wanting to put into writing but don't. I don't want to forget these things, but at the same time I don't want to forget to put something here and remember later that I didn't. I'm still not sure how to handle that part, but maybe just a Part 2 later. So for now I'll invite everyone to join in and add their 2 cents. I'll add those in on part 2 later. But for now - these are just some of the things I wish someone would have told me about sooner than they did, or that I didn't have to learnt he hard way.

Pearls Of Wisdom.

1.) Always plant more than you need. You'll need more later if you don't.
2.) If you think its a weed, pull it. See number 1. If you plant more than you needed you'll be just fine if you are wrong. If you are right you have just prevent that little bitty ragweed from turning into a 6 foot monster. ;-)
3.) When in doubt ask. Most gardeners are more than willing to share their knowledge with you. Just be aware that they may not always know what they are talking about so take it with a grain of salt and try it out on something small first.
4.) Learn by trial and error. You will retain more of what you do learn this way, I guarantee!
5.) If you think it's ripe, it might be. It might not, but what's the worst that can happen? If you leave it past it prime will it be any good? Refer to #4 and to #6.
6.) There is always next time. Next harvest, next season, next year. Another opportunity awaits you. The endless cycle of life. That's the best news there is. So you screwed up and put broad spectrum plant killer on everything? *ahem* wait a while and replant - you get a do over!
7.) Fertilizer is good, but there is too much of a good thing. Try organic and often.
8.) Compost (when cold) is the bomb. This stuff rocks.
9.) When the plant has tiny little fruits or veggies that drop to the ground - PUT IT IN A POT! All those fruits that fall and don't get found will make baby plants. This may seem desirable at the time but trust me no on needs 1,000+ pepper plants or cherry tomato plants or....
10.) Speaking of tomato plants spray early, spray often but don't spray during the day.
11.) While we are talking tomatoes, go ahead and drop some ground egg shells into the hole when you plant them to help with calcium deficiencies most plants get as they age, and plant those babies DEEP. Don't be scared to take off the branches at the bottom as new roots will form and make your plant stronger. Only leave the top 1/3 above ground.
12.) We are still on tomatoes, right? If you think there might be a frost coming it's better to get the green ones in than to leave them outside. If they freeze out there they serve no purpose, but if you bring them in there is a good chance in a few weeks they will ripen enough to eat.
13.) Harvesting peppers - this is a trick I wish someone would have told me years ago. It took me 3 years to figure out if you go right to the base of the attachment (where the pepper stem attaches to the plant) and twist and lift simultaneously the pepper will pop right off the plant like it wants to be with you! And it will leave a clean break 90% of the time to boot. I can't tell you how many times I cursed the shape of the pepper for making it hard to get in there with the clippers to harvest them. UGH... to think! Oh and pepper plants like egg shells in their hole when you plant them, too.
14.) Peppers are a perennial. Did ya know that? Now you know. Most pepper plants will live 2-3 years before dying off, if brought inside during a freeze.
15.) Mulch is wonderful especially when it comes to water conservations, but make sure you pay attention to what you are using it for. If you reuse it too much you could be spreading spores or like #9 reseeding nuisance plants. If you use straw or shredded paper it can be added into the copost pile or turned in for next year.
16.) If you think you want to start your seed on February 15th you'd better put in on your calendar for February 10th. Inevitably something will be missing or you will get busy. Better to try to get them in ahead of schedule than to be behind by 2 weeks.
17.) Think reusable. As each thing runs it's time in the garden it's going to free something up in the garden. The same tomato trellis can be used for cucumbers, squash, cowpeas, or any other vining plant. Nearly everything in your garden has more than one use.
18.) For small gardens remember that spacing is paramount. The lettuce you plant can be used as thinnings when young for baby green salads then as cuttings as it matures. This eliminates the need for exact spacing and allows for more food in less space. The same can be said for under stories. There is no reason that low growers can't be planted under tall trees!
19.) Plants need fed in lots of ways. Not only do they need their roots fed, but their leaves need fed, too. Foliar feeding does more to perk up a plant than many people give it credit for.
20.) Bugs are bugs. Yup. I said it and it's true. They are bugs. We don't want to hurt our pollinators and while we would LOVE to have a great good/bad ratio it's not always that easy. Sometimes it's better to squish first, ask later. Get friendly with your local good bugs and learn to like them but when in doubt it's often better to get rid of them rather than risk an infestation.
21.) If you don't eat it, don't plant it. I mean really. Why care for a plant for 2 months only to end up throwing away the food it has provided for you?
22.) Objects in mirror are larger than they appear. When you plant out those seedlings it's so hard to imagine that little cabbage plant is really going to need 24" of space, but trust me - it will! By spacing wisely when you plant you'll avoid potential disasters later. If you really MUST FILL THAT SPACE, find something that grows quickly like radish to fill it in until your larger plants take shape.
23.) Yes, indeed there is a thing as TOO MANY types of seeds. Too much selection leads to too many decisions and then to a memory loss. 'Did I like that bean, or this bean. Which bean was fuzzy and which one was squeaky when I bit it?', etc... I am notorious for this so just take my advice. I try only to trial 4 or less of any one thing a year. If it is something that will cross like corn I stick to one variety at a time. It's a waste if I can't remember which ones I like and don't like!
24.) If you don't get out there and do it no one will. Better titled. If you don't weed they will take over your garden. You have to care for your garden. If you don't it won't do it for ya. Plants can't take care of themselves. They need us to feed and water them, to pat the on their little heads and tell them they are good and to pick eye boogers off. Along those lines if you don't get out into your garden you won't know until it's too late when something is wrong. You have to listen to your plants you know.
25.) Watermelon usually are ripe about a week after the tendril closest to the melon has turned brown and shriveled.
26.) Oil your hand shovel after using it to keep it from rusting. I happen to be partial to lemon and orange oil but only cause it smells so good. Only problem with that is the ants like it too. I keep mine under the kitchen sink but if I kept it outside I'd use something like WD-40 or other all purpose oil. Keeps it looking nice, too. By wiping it down the oil inhibits oxidation and lengthens the life of your tool. Also good for your pruning shears, etc. Any metal cutting surface. You don't want oil beading on it, use it like furniture polish.

Tell me your pearls of wisdom so I can add them to the list. Have a tip or trick about garlic or onions? How about the best time to plant? I have no idea how to organize these but wouldn't it be neat to add in every ones hints and get a great big collection of these?

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Back to School

2011-08-16T13:24:00.002-04:00

It's official. The kids are waking up early. But their excitement is a little much. 3am is NOT the time to get ready for school. Each taking turns. Well, the little ones. The nearly teenaged one doesn't care to wake up any early than he does but the girls are taking turns on who is excited in the middle of the night. Last night was Annah's turn to wake me at 3am and ask if she could go to school now. I tucked her back in, and again every 10 minutes until 4am just as I did her sister the night before. This wouldn't be nearly so bad if I didn't need to get up before 6am to get my own day going.
But they are cute. So excited I can't even get them both to look at the camera and smile at the same time. Guess I'll have to try again in a couple weeks once this is all just routine.

Ah, well. It's not perfection. But I assure you it's worse when I pick them up! I guess we should have given poor Annah's bangs longer to grow out. They fall out of her pony just as fast as I can pull them back. We switched to pigtails today. Trial and error. All I know is that down won't work either. Too messy and in her face for all day school. It would drive the teacher nuts. Drives me nuts after a few hours!

Lunches so far are coming along nicely. We prefer bento style. Lots of little bits of things. The same way they eat when they are home. Tiny nibbles of things, loads of variety. Here was lunch the first day. Don't get me wrong. I don't expect that I'll always be able to have time to bento but hopefully 3 days a week I will. The better variety allows a healthier diet and of course more nutrition and the kids are more likely to eat it when it's cute after all.

Carrots, cherries, grapes, cheese stick, PB&J some goldfish and a half a banana on the side.

This also makes it easy for me to use little bites of leftovers and when I get tiny harvests... currants anyone? Mulberries? Perfect!

Today's lunch is easy. I made Salsa verde with the tomatillos and onion so lunch centers around that....

Salsa verde, chips, cherries, carrots, cheese stick, animal crackers and applesauce.

I've decided to start packing the same bento for myself. I'm jealous of what they are eating and wish I had the same variety! I did think to bring the salsa verde for myself but I left the chips at home. Good thing it will last until tomorrow. I'll end up snacking on junk around the office and if I"m lucky I'll remember I've got soup and oatmeal in my drawer for moments like this. Boring but it will work.

On the garden front the second season of green bush beans were planted, and yellow wax will be new for me. I hope I like them. I didn't care for the fuzzies too much this spring on my green beans so thought I'd try something new. I only planted a few of each to start. I'll have to make room before I can plant much more. I was hoping to make seed tapes tonight, but the way my sleep has been interrupted this week I'm doubting that I'll have the momentum after the kids get in bed.

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Harvest Monday 8.15.11

2011-08-15T10:13:00.000-04:00

Somehow Monday always manages to sneak up on me. It seems to roll around right after I scramble back into routine again.

Joining in at Daphne's Dandelions once again to celebrate the harvest and see what is being harvested all over!

This week as with most weeks this month the pickings are slim -but the peppers are abundant!

11oz of Hot peppers (looks like more, huh!?)

13 oz of red onion

9oz Bell peppers

I'm not counting the dried beans until I have something to count. I took in more than what you see here but it all amounted to a handful and that was just 1.5 oz. Hardly worth mentioning and not going in the tally yet.

I've lost my card reader somewhere... otherwise I would have some more pictures for you. Guess I'll have to get another one. I swear if my head wasn't attached I wouldn't have one. *sigh*

Well my kids are all back in school and I am glad for it, though it certainly make me feel old. Rather bittersweet. It marks the change of seasons for the garden as well. Soon I'll be sowing the tender veggies again and the nights will bring cool relief. The days of swimming are drawing to and end and the days of picnics and long hours of yard work and getting closer.

'Till next time!

Barbie~

The big K

2011-08-15T08:44:00.001-04:00

My they are getting big. Its somewhat mindboggling to think these are the same 3 pound some ounce babies I brought home about 5 years ago.
Today they begin a new adventure!

A little stressful planning

2011-08-11T15:07:00.000-04:00

I'm feeling overwhelmed with the pressure form the HOA to change what I'm gardening and where but I know I can figure something out. I've already managed to put so many edibles right under their noses without them noticing. I just have to keep moving forward. The physical work may be daunting but the emotional toll is worse. If I manage all the labor only to be punished by removing the plants and fines I know that my psyche will suffer terribly.

My front yard is looking a mess.

Keeping up with it is insane. Of course it doesn't look as bad as so many of the foreclosures that dot the landscape in our neighborhood but I feel embarrassed to admit that it is mine. Giant expanse of green grass, tiny oaks, a few hibiscus, a couple palms, iris', lilies but mostly unloved when it could be so much more.

The side yard where I've expanded the edibles the most is looking better. Here is a small section:

People have stopped to say how nice it looks yet not a single person has mentioned the fact that they have noticed these plants have edible functions. Berries, guavas, seagrapes, orchid, grumichama, Jamaican cherries.... All small (tiny really) now in comparison to what they can and will be. I can't wait to watch this area fill in. The way that it is spaced in time will allow the foliage to come together so that only annual trimming of the plants will be necessary. The mature plants will also offer us privacy as they will inevitably breech the height of the fence. From the road our back yard is on stage for now. When I shower after swimming I may as well be on my roof with a spotlight on me. The added privacy will be very welcome. Not to mention that maybe then my fruit won't disappear off my backyard trees so fast. If they aren't seen from the road...

And if this side plot works through the spring next year after the first fruit has set and we don't get flack from the HOA it will be early fall's chore list to rip up the hibiscus on the front fence and replant in the same way. Perennial edibles. Trees and bushes that are easy to take care of and remain evergreen here, or at least mostly evergreen. The initial outlay would be a bit expensive, but so worth it in the end. For this area more berries, gingers and larger bushes would be more appropriate.

My front bed with the ginger grew kidney beans and melon this spring with the ornamentals but the ground is full of lava rocks and nothing but sand for soil.

It's a huge undertaking but the entire thing needs taken out. It will take me weeks to complete the project and in doing so I'll also have to consider not only going under the guidelines of the HOA (initially for approval at least) but the size and shape is so suburban and I had already expanded it once from the tiny box planter it was when we bought the home. I don't know what the limits are and in all honesty if I could keep up with it if it was too large of an area. Not like they would let me put my raised bed boxes here! So the plants would have to play very nicely together (larger plants that needed less from me) and the design would certainly be a big issue as well. But meanwhile I feel like it suffocates me to be in the front of my house. As if it's someone else's life/house, but to know that what is here was raised from root cuttings or seeds by my hands - at least there is that. The recent onslaught of wetness and downturn of sunshine has brought black mildew to massive proportions. YUCK! *hanging head in shame* It is certainly time for a change. The infantile trees were certainly easier to handle putting in ourselves but now I can't seem to get them to grow fast enough. Patience is a lesson I must relearn often. But to make myself remember just how far i have come already this is what my home looked like 3 years ago when we put the fence in during the reconstruction of the first planter...

And when I see that photo I realize just how much I've already done and how much better the home looks. So my plants are small at least I have some - and not the barren lot that it once was. Yes, I have done well. There is simply more to be done!

'Till next time!

Barbie~

A few No Shows...

2011-08-10T09:22:00.000-04:00

On the tomato front that is. My baby mater plants now have their first set of true leaves and are looking good! But there were a few no shows. Stupice, Matina and Black were all no shows. I have 2 more seeds of each to try. If these are no shows then I'll chalk it up to 'not meant to be' and move on.
As I type a crazy storm is brewing and a weather alert is beeping on my screen. Yesterday we received 6 inches of rain. Today it isn't going to let up either they are forecasting another 2-4 at minimum. These storms are stronger but shouldn't last all day like yesterday. That's not good for the seedlings that are emerging. The sun is changing angle drastically already and my Pomegranate/Grape planter is not getting enough sun each day now. Production has slacked off of the spring and summer veggies so it is definitely time to start worrying about the changes for fall and winter.

Till next time!

Barbie~

Harvest Monday 8.8.11

2011-08-08T09:34:00.000-04:00

Welcome back to the August addition of Harvest Monday!

This Monday we are featuring tomatillos....

watermelon......

cucumbers and hot peppers, too.

Oh and a few more cowpeas/ricebeans.

Not much else this week. Tonight I have plans to pull out the original 2 tomatillo plants. So the last of that harvest for a while next week. I'll replant the corn and see about some of my fall seeds soon. My 'loupes are up and have their second leaves so hopefully by October I'll have a few of those around the house to savor.

Right now a pot of coffee is calling my name. I have a headache and it has a need for some caffeine.

Till next time!

Barbie~

Replaced?

2011-08-05T10:15:00.001-04:00

I feel like maybe they found my replacement at work. What do you think? She' awful cute at least. And somewhat helpful to boot. Besides she's doing a good job decorating the place.
Maybe if I hired her as a secretary then they couldn't hire her to take over my position. :-D

Barbie

The schedule (Chores)

2011-08-03T13:01:00.000-04:00

It's a start. It gives each of us about a fair shake. 20 minutes or so roughly each day.
This is of course not including the routine things like making dinner each night,or the garden chores but since the girls still need supervised during bath time I have included that - and made it productive. May as well clean the bathroom I use to bathe them in! :-D
I know I'm forgetting simple things but they'll get added on as I remember them. Here is what I have so far:

Guess I should title that DAILY chores, huh? I think the most helpful thing I managed to come up with is the whole moving their bath around. By using each of our bathrooms once a week they each will get cleaned! I mean I have to be in there anyway, I may as well take advantage, right?

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Harvest Monday 8.1.11

2011-08-01T08:18:00.000-04:00

Well, I am hoping to link in to Daphne's Dandelions for her weekly Harvest Monday party. Make sure you stop on by to check out what everyone is harvesting from all over the world!

This week the garden was generous!
1lb 6oz bell peppers
9oz hot peppers

1lb 9 oz tomatillos

The peppers were abundant as were the tomatillos once again. The Everglades keeps pumping out tiny currant tomatoes, too. I gathered about a pint worth this week! So i promptly ripped out one of the plants. Actually I'm not nearly so cruel. It had gone yellow and while it was still productive it was definitely suffering, and I needed the pot. A note for future reference or anyone thinking about planting these - pots are a REALLY good way to grow them! The drop a ton of fruit.

I realized when I typed the title that this is AUGUST now, not July. So there are a few things different about this years garden. I haven't planted the winter squash out yet. Usually it's already planted out. WHAT? That's right I already harvested a few Lakota squash. I meant for my fall garden. I'm holding back. I'm trying to wait it out and see what happens. The shadows are much longer already and I know that is part of the reason I have problems getting my pumpkins in by Halloween. Our heat is completely ridiculous. The sunlight is super intense, but it is short. I need to rethink my squash and a trellis may be the best answer in order to give the plant maximum exposure to the light. I'm just afraid to put it against the fence. What if one of those beauties grows between the trellis and the fence? It will be all deformed and how exactly would I harvest it?

This week also brought one other harvest. Something new for me. Rice Peas. They are a type of Cowpea.

I did not weigh them because as you can see they are tiny and this was just a harvest of a couple beans. Just to see what was hiding in there. They look a lot like miniature Black Eyed Peas, don't seem to be a crowder type and the bushes themselves? Healthy as horses. Supposed to be a bush type with some 4-6' vines, but uh I got news for the people that wrote that... I think these could easily reach 8'+ and next year I'll need to be better prepared for giving them something to climb on. They do indeed make a beautiful bush but the vines are aggressive and well, I am definitely adding them into my 'I want to grow again' list. It looks like production is just getting ramped up, and as tiny as the beans are it will take a lot to make a dish. The stupid stink bugs are extremely attracted to the pods so I'm still searching for was to ward them off.

Oh! And my little cucumber I got. I'll be taking the next out of the garden tonight or tomorrow for my salad. I'm so happy. The pickle jars are starting to get empty, too. So we are certainly in need and these are right on time!

'Till next time!
Barbie~

IMG00633-20110730-2020.jpg

2011-07-30T20:22:00.001-04:00

My Herd

2011-07-29T12:46:00.000-04:00

I may not have a herd of cattle. Nor do I have a herd of goats, or a gaggle of geese, I do however have a cat. Don't ask me what that has to do with this post. It doesn't.
I have a herd in miniature. I herd of beneficial insects. I am Oh so grateful for them. It seems they keep some of the other insects in check, but the mature insects that are the same size as they are or larger tend to go either unnoticed or simply cannot be overpowered. Then again, even though I can overpower an adult stink bug I sure as heck wouldn't eat it. So maybe it's a choice thing.
I just wanted to share a few pictures of different assassin bug babies in my lima patch yesterday. They are everywhere I look. Some are shy and ditch under the leaves as soon as they see me like this:

Others are more interested in seeking out playmates.

Some are carefree and just enjoy basking in the sun....

In this particular patch of beans the only sign of damage from any other insects is rather obvious. Grasshoppers have been in here. That is far too large an insect for these adolescents to take on. Otherwise this section is pretty clean of bad insects and since it is such I have no intention of disturbing this herd and losing ground to aphids, thrips, beetles, moths, and other not so nice bugs.

Beyond the occasional leaf miner my limas are obviously very happy with the care they are providing. I was so happy to see all those blooms I baked them a plate of cookies....

And then because they don't eat cookies I ate SIX of them myself. :-D

And brought the rest to work where they were devoured before lunch by the herd here. LOL.

I do need to lodge a complaint however.

Are you ready?

Really ready?

You sure?

OK here goes....

They eat ladybugs, too. :-(

I almost cried.

Apparently they are indiscriminate feeders. Any insect small enough to catch will do. I've noticed a decline in lady bugs in the garden. I mean it's really hot and about time for them to move on, but I'm pretty sure these critters aren't helping anything. *pout*

Think they make non-ladybug collars for them? Perhaps training methods to get them TO eat stink bugs and moth caterpillars? Humph. Too bad.

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Well, CHIT!

2011-07-29T11:02:00.000-04:00

Didn't really think that you had heard enough did you?

I know Jody had asked about chitting and I'm sure there are others out there that may come across my blog, or some other blogs and want to know more. Chitting was originally the word used for pre-sprouting or green sprouted potatoes. Like this:

It helps to ensure that if you are planting in wet or colder climates the potato won't rot before the plant itself has a good start. The roots tap into the potato for food, and the little tiny buds will eventually become the bushy foliage we all know and love. Without chitting most potatoes would rot long before the plant has the opportunity to get large enough to grow on it's own. The potato is a bit of an anomaly as most root vegetable do NOT like to be transplanted after they have started to grow. Things like carrots, parsnips, turnips they will grow forked and deformed if not handled extremely carefully once the radicle or main tap root has been formed.

It's a practice that can be extended into most of the non-root vegetables. And here in the Deep South where the humidity and monsoonal rains can easily take out most seedlings, chitting helps immensely. You'll also see your young seedlings much stronger because they grow slightly differently when started this way.

Here is a picture of one of my tomato seeds after a few days in a moist and warm environment.

Now let's talk SCIENCE!

The radicle is clearly visible and if you look closely you can see the end of it is getting slightly hairy. Each of those hairs will become a (lateral) root to feed the growing plant. The embryo remains inside the seed coat still at 3 days old but after only another day it will begin to push out. In less than a week the Cotyledon leaves will emerge at which point this little baby will need to have already been put into it's first pot for the best start.

Seedlings grow both up and down when in the ground, but by forcing the seedling in this way or 'chitting' the root emerges prior to the plumule or what will be the stem. In effect making the root stronger. It also means that the embryo gets an extra couple of days before it has to truly begin putting forth effort to produce the energy that is required to get out of the seed coat.

Did I lose you? OK - it means that the seed can use less energy to get going - thereby hopefully making a stronger seedling in the long run.

What seeds are best to do this with? Well here in lovely super duper buggy and moldy Florida beans, corn, peppers and tomatoes are absolutes for me. Sure they can be planted without this step but fewer of the plants make it to maturity then.

For peppers and tomatoes I do what you can see in this picture and what I see most people across the good old US of web do - put them in a moist paper towel, in an open ziploc and stick them somewhere warm.

For corn and beans? Aw, now that's too easy. A nice warm bath in a bowl of water for a day will do. Amazingly after only one or two days I can usually already see the little radicles peeking out! It's helpful with the larger seeds like this not to wait too long because they are far more fragile and those little bitty roots will pop right off if you aren't careful. So soaking for just overnight or 24 hour is usually plenty for these types.

What's that? You do this? You just didn't realize it was called that? Ah, well - No Chit!?

*snicker*

Aw, C'mon don't think any less of me now. I have 3 kids at home, remember? They think (especially the twelve year old) this type of humor is just OH so punny...

Stay tuned - I'll be back in a little bit with bug pics!

Oh and something back in the garden after a slight reprieve...

My how I've missed my little cuke friends. Enough that I already ate half this before I took the picture. LOL Welcome back, friend!

'Till next time!

Barbie~

I chit too much.

2011-07-27T16:37:00.000-04:00

*Snicker*
No, seriously. There should be a program for this.

Right now I have chitting:
Rutgers 5ea
Tomande 2ea
Cherokee Purple 3ea
Homestead 2ea
Mountain Magic 2ea
Roma 4ea
Better Bush 2ea
Stupice 2ea
Matina 2ea
Black 2ea

And that is just the FIRST set of tomatoes for the fall. Me thinks me has an addiction. If any of the determinants that I planted 2 of don't grow well I'll be starting 2 more each. They are the trials for this fall. 24 tomato plants just to start? There must surely be something wrong with me! I only have room for that many. Guess I'll be looking for some more pots soon for the second set of plants. :-) So far the tomatoes in the pots are doing the best out of all so this could be good.

The bad news is that now that I've chitted, I'm in a chittin' mood.... (I like the word what can I say) I have a hankering to put in some more beans or some corn. I'll have to rip something out in order to put something in so it's time to start thinking about what I want where because whatever I plant now will affect my cold crops latter. Believe it or not I'm only about 6 weeks away from starting some of my wonderful winter veggies! That's odd considering I can still start melons and beans, and mater, too - but SOOOO nice. I can't wait to get some broccoli and carrots and lettuce in again. Don't even get me started on the spinach. MMMMmmmmm....

'Till next time!

Barbie~

19 Days and counting...

2011-07-26T16:43:00.000-04:00

Only 19 days...
YIKES! There are still school supplies to be bought, and a whole lot of organizing to do. Mostly with my schedule. I have to figure something out so that being gone form the house for 12 hours a day and still getting dinner/bath/homework/cleaning done each day is manageable. I just don't know how I CAN.
I know that now it seems insurmountable, but in a few short weeks it will all fall in to place. Right? S~U~R~E...
So I'm obsessing just a tad bit and trying to rearrange my mind. In doing so I've come to the conclusion that the only way to start the school year is to CLEAN and organize the house first. I mean, after all a clean and organized schedule can only go so far, huh? :-) So first to be tackled will be well, school uniforms but after that will be the playroom. Then the loft, then the office, right down the list of places that collect clutter like magnets.
My goal for this? Is to make the toys disappear. Or seemingly at least. No more dollhouses downs stairs, no more barns. All the little stuff needs to be upstairs so if Heaven forbid someone rings my doorbell I can let them in without gasping and hiding my head in shame at the junk all over the floor that is inevitably, toys. They can keep coloring books, and chalkboard and such downstairs, but the other stuff needs to go. We won't be spending enough time down there during to week to warrant having them down there, and it's time to do a purge of the outgrown toys anyway.
Not only is it time to organize for back to school, but it's only a few short months until some little twinkers turn 5, and I am quite sure that my little purging of their outgrown toys will not yield the same amount of things that will be put into the playroom between birthday and Christmas time. ;-)

So, I have lots of projects filling up my head for the next few weeks and one friend who decided to swoop in and scoop me away for a nice sunset on the beach this Saturday night.

I'm looking forward to one of these crisp Florida sunsets and the night off sans kiddos even though I think I have too much to do to leave even for an hour I know I need the break. Hopefully I'll come back refreshed, renewed and ready to tackle those last things on my organize for school list!

I'm always ears for great ways to run a household schedule during this hectic time.

Till next time!

Barbie~

Harvest Monday?

2011-07-25T10:22:00.000-04:00

Nah! Not today. The only thing we harvested this weekend was 6 quarters, some sunshine, and a new weed whacker!

That isn't to say I didn't bring in a handful of basil for my pizza and some Evergalde's tomatoes for salads but for the most part the garden was not producing this week. We put in some peanuts, and pulled some strawberries, yanked out the old yin/yang beans and put in some black eyed peas, but for the most part the garden was satus quo. I didn't go out much and it didn't really warrant it, either. It will be a few more weeks before it needs much attention from me again.

Here is my newest toy. Since Rich can no longer do the lawn work and I need to make things easier for ME to take care of this little toy is just for me it weighs in at 7lbs miraculously and the hardest part about using it? Is keeping the trigger squeezed. LOL. I guess that hand strength will come with time. It's battery operated so for now at least until we get caught back up with the yard work the battery is only good enough for the front yard before needing recharged to complete the back. I'm OK with that - my hand and arms can only hold it for that long, and that make me feel like a real WIMP.

Then again Rich complains about harvesting beans after 5 minutes and I could do it for an hour or two before I'm uncomfortable. I suppose we teach our bodies to get used to those things we do often.

Here is a picture of her, I think I'll call her Sally. (Ride, Sally Ride)

photo courtesy of Sears. :-) This Jobey is awesome. Plain and simple, and for someone with a smaller sized yard the battery would probably be a fine size. I just wish more of my front yard was in my back yard! Then I could turn it into more garden. Of course at this rate I'll need to turn it all into rocks and pay for ROUND UP to come treat my yard just to try to keep up. I really don't know how I can do it by myself much longer. So far my only help has been that the garden is mostly in hibernation. Oh, and school is out - but it's only 20 days until the kids go back. YIKES! Then schedules will get even crazier again. Not to mention me. HAHAH! (I'll get even crazier then!) Somewhere between being gone from the house from 7am-7pm and coming home, dealing with dinner, homework, baths, lunches for the next day, laundry, and getting kids to bed I'll still need to find time to get out to do basic things like weeding, bug patrol, normal upkeep, watering and lets not forget cleaning the house........ Oh my - I'm feeling overwhelmed suddenly. Maybe I should look into more fruit trees, and less needy types of fruits and veggies. Is there such a thing? Something that will do well enough only tended to a couple times a week? I may also have to consider going non-organic in order to control things better less frequently. I suppose with things like dry beans and such it is one thing, but tomatoes, green beans and the like I don't know if I can compromise. (Not that I have a choice if I have to buy from a farmers market or grocers here)
Much to think about.

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Crop failure!

2011-07-19T09:59:00.000-04:00

Well, the one thing I think I was the most excited for this summer turned out to be - a crop failure!

Left in it's wake is a slightly weedy, very much nonproductive almost nonliving practically just stems

piece of garden. LOL. This was supposed to be Yin Yang. I was SOOOOOOO looking forward to it beans. I couldn't wait to show them to my little girls. To hear the giggles as they talked about how they looked like little Shamu's. And, to top it off we had plans to back up the bean harvest with a trip to Seaworld. I guess that is just not gonna happen now. The irony here is that right beside these beans, only separated by about 6" (to the left) are THESE BEANS:

A little different, No? Yes. Indubitably so. The beans were all planted at the same time. Treated the same way. Have the same soil. In the same part of the garden. Now, this could be as simple as the Yin Yang is not as well cut out for our Florida summers - that could be the case, true. I hate to go off ordering another $5 packet of seeds to find out though. I'd like to try them again in the fall though. Just look how robust these rice beans are... and they are flowering already, too.

While I'm doing an update of sorts. Remember that I said the assassin bugs love my tomatillo plant? Well apparently they've been throwing some pretty good parties in there...

The great big all red one is a new one for me. Never had one like that before. Don't know if it is just a new morph or a different type of bug altogether. There are several life stages here so - Any entomologists out there? There are a lot of firsts for my garden this year. Not only is it a first for assassins, but this red bug is new, the cucumber beetle (certainly not happy about that) is new and so is a white 'eyed' bug as well. That thing was wild. It made me run around squealing like... well, like a GIRL when it flew up at me. I may be of the female persuasion, but 'girl' is not exactly what most people refer to me as. After all. When the man of the house next door had a snake in his closet it wasn't my husband that ran to save him.

The Yin Yang was replaced with Black Eyed Peas, and the crew of assassins were left to be - though I'm thinking there IS to much of a good thing going on there.

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Harvest Monday 7.18.11

2011-07-18T08:12:00.000-04:00

Did ya miss me?
NAH!
I forgot to bring my totals with me but I didn't want to miss another week. So I'm linking into the party over at Daphne's Dandelions to show off harvest from all over the world.
This weeks harvest is really to celebrate the end of the 'Spring' tomato harvest. The fall tomato plants are chitting and I'm sure that their harvest will be abundant as well. I have a few green tomatoes still out on the vine but not many.

*sigh* It's bittersweet. I still have tomatillos coming in so it's not the end of the world, but it's going to be a rough 2 months until I get another round of slicers like this one. Thank goodness I still have Tom's Everglades and 2 other vines still hanging in to try to get me by.

Hot peppers are still coming in and this coming week I should a have a couple of bells to show off as well. Nothing huge, but heck - bells in this heat are something worth talking about! I just have to keep she-devil away from them!

Also in this week was the worlds smallest cantalope, butternut squash and watermelon. I think the 6+ inches of rain we got just set them to ripen much sooner than anyone had anticipated. I didn't take pictures of any of them because they were down right embarrassing. The butternut squash was the size of - a business card! Yes, about 3" long...and YES it was fully mature. and yummy, just TINY. The watermelon weighed a whopping .75 pound and the cantaloupe fragrant as can be, sweet beyond my wildest dreams - was the size of a tennis ball. Yup. seriously. And the vine died from the excessive rain combined with 'the incident' so there will be no more of them. Well, no more for now. I'll start more vines. Maybe in the fall I'll get a few more to share. I've got another teeny watermelon growing on the vine and it hasn't taken on any more size in the last 10 days so I think it's time I said good by to it. If the next melon does the same I'm going to rip out all the vines, get some manure to dig in and start over. I don't know what gives, but something went wrong in the vine patch!

Till next time!

Barbie~

Puppy Chow make over (chex mix PButter/Chocolate snack!)

2011-07-15T14:24:00.000-04:00

Came across this and I can't wait to try this recipe. This is always a stand by for the kickoff of fall around our house -but now that the recipe is not only lightened up, but also added fiber maybe we'll try this sooner. After all - this might make an OK side of grab it ang go snack for back to school - All three of mine go back in less than a month now!

So much better for you than Puppy chow!

Calories- 100 Total Carbs- 18 Fat -2g Fiber-5g Protein- 2
Makes 4 Servings
Ingredients:

2 Cups Fiber one Honey Squares
4 Tablespoons “I can’t believe it’s not butter”
2 Tablespoons Creamy All Natural Peanut Butter
2 Servings Truvia all Natural Sweetener.
1 Package of Fat Free Sugar Free Vanilla Pudding Mix
2 Squares of Reduced Fat Chocolate Almond Bark

Directions

In a large mixing bowl melt butter, chocolate almond bark and peanut butter. (I used the microwave)
After melted pour cereal into mixture. Stir gently
Let the mixture cool for a good 20 minutes.
After mixture has hardened pour the mix into a large zip lock bag, add the box of pudding mix and shake gently until coated

Stiches, and little bits.

2011-07-14T09:16:00.001-04:00

Right now everything is in little bits.

Like this:

Little bits of handfuls. Little handfuls of grapes. YUMMM

Little handfuls of Everglades tomatoes...Usually in my little bits hands. The girls eat these like candy. They are technically a wild tomato possibly more closely related to a currant. And, I like them so much better than most other cherry tomatoes. Those and Grannies Sungolds - the rest of the cherries will be pulled from the garden this week I just don't like the others flavors.

Little handfuls of parsley, basil for daily doses of cooking, dill, and green onions, and mulberries, too.

But what is coming in by the bushel? Rosemary! I wish I'd have taken a picture. AFTER taking off the wood I harvested 9 OUNCES of the stuff. Some people at work asked for some and I really wanted to get some back in my cupboard as well. This is one thing that grows with a vengeance in my garden and NO BUGS care to even look twice at it. I should have planted it at the end of the row rather than the middle - but that being the worst of my sins it could be moved if I really wanted to.

I haven't abandoned my blog, nor my garden. I've just been busy. Hubby went to the Spinal Institute of Florida this week and Thank GOD - no surgery. At least not yet. There are other options to explore first and so far he seems to be recuperating fairly well. THat is to say beyond the emotional scars that competitive tennis may not be in his future quite the way it has been in the past, and he may have to come up with a new hobby, sport and stress reliever. Tennis will have to be only for fun now. Poor guy. It's like taking oxygen out of the air for him. But, in time he'll adjust I'm sure.

The other thing I'm experiencing a little bit of is whiskers. It seems my son has grown some -

3 stitches. *sigh* When it rains it pours. And speaking of pouring - we've gotten over 6 inches of rain the last weak. It was great for some things in the garden, and not so great for others. It did finish wiping out what was week - and strengthened the things that needed that so all in all it was a good thing. I just don't have the heart to rip out some of my favorite things when there is a chance they could turn the corner and come back. This helped make my decisions easier. And with that another 30 gallon trash bag full of the suffering plants from 'the incident' have gone out of the garden. The turn around is nearly complete now and hopefully by the weekend the garden will be completely back to planted again.

Meanwhile I have no cucumbers producing which is a major shock to my system. It's very odd for us not to have some cukes in the garden at any given time that there hasn't been a frost. I'm trying to console myself with barely dilled pickles, but it's not working well. I may have to resort to the box store just for faster turn around. The rain dampened off all my seedlings I had started a couple weeks ago.

And, it's time for starting my fall tomatoes! My list for this seasons plants are (3 each):

Stupice, Mountain Magic, Black, Matina, Tomande, and Chocolate cherry to trial

and my stand bys: Roma, Cherokee Purple

I'm running into problems with my HOA so I'm trialing the semi-determinate and determinates (and the cherry) to see if I can deal with the flavor/texture/maturation rates and sizes this fall. In the spring if all goes well I'll have a few of these determinates as well as some of my favorites again. So this weekend I will be planting up my first set of tomatoes for fall. I'm starting to worry about space for all of them, but I'm sure that my schedule will hold and they will go in the ground just like planned. Some day the second part of the garden will get done. At least part of it anyway.

'Till next time!

Barbie~

Cutting back.

2011-07-08T11:25:00.000-04:00

Since it seems my big strong husband has been somewhat incapacitated recently with his back I've taken to really cutting back in the garden. Literally. I'm trying to keep the summer mess from getting out of control. Not to forget the mess that I am still cleaning up from the unauthorized use of my sprayer. *AHEM* but we won't talk about who was responsible for that.

We've also had a really nasty wind storm recently that knocked out my tomatoes, again. All but the ones in the orange trees suffered some damage. I lost around 30 immature fruit that would never ripen and are too small to make fried green tomatoes out of. My poor Key Lime tree (potted) got knocked all over the yard and even the pepper plants were banged up and are missing a few limbs and fruit now too. So the 'cutting back' theme is really being taken to heart right now.

The last 2 days I have spent limbing up any tomato branches that had snapped and while I was doing that I decided to go ahead and take any non producing ones out, too. It's much tidier in the garden now. In Florida most tomatoes will not set during our summers and so it is prudent to restart our plants for fall to get the best harvests. I did find that I still have 3 plants that are still setting fruit nicely. So now it is decision time and I must decide what would be best for the garden and for my family. We of course would LIKE to continue to have the tomatoes out there growing. However, they all have septoria and since the typical summer rains (monsoons each afternoon) and extreme humidity have now set in, it's likely they will all succumb to one type of disease or another given enough time. There is also the idea that while the new baby 'mater plants are growing inside the house and the patio that space in the garden will be open for other uses. A quick maturing crop obviously - but something could go there.

I also trimmed up the tomatillo plant. I say plant. It's really plants. I plant 2 together. Otherwise I would have to wait FAR longer than my patience can hold out for mature fruit. I whacked at that sucker until I got 2 trash bags filled with trimmings. It's still a good 3' tall and 3' in each direction. But it isn't 6 feet in each direction any more. And unlike the tomato plants I didn't lose very much unripe fruit. I cut loads of blossoms off - potential fruit, but not set fruit. This should allow the fruit that has set to mature faster, and the beans that the tomatillo was encroaching on to grow a little better as well. It will also hopefully discourage the stupid stink bugs from having a feast in there. BLECH!

This weekend it is supposed to keep to the monsoon pattern so not very likely that much will get done out there, but I am hoping to get the strawberry bed cleared, get in a late patch of peanuts and continue to work on the blueberry shrub area. If I can manage just those things I'd be a happy camper, but my list of "TO DO" is getting much longer these days and my time is getting shorter. I think it might be time to bribe the children.

'Till next time!

Barbie~