Broccoli-in-the-Snow

Yesterday afternoon, it snowed.  Big, wet, HEAVY white flakes.  And it piled up FAST.  I was in the midst of setting up my Snow Village collection in the family room bookcase...amused that the weather outside coordinated beautifully with the little vignettes I was assembling.  I like things like that.

Suddenly, I remembered the broccoli I had intended to pick several days ago.  Since the forecast is calling for some frigid temps, I thought I'd better hightail it out there.  So...I grabbed my old coat and The Mailman's ball cap and out I went. As you can see...my raised broccoli bed is "floating" from the heavy rain a few days ago... 

...and the plants were being quickly covered with snow. 

So...I brushed away the slush...and there they were...green and succulent.  Does anyone else find this miraculous?  These same plants have been producing steadily for six months! 

I managed to gather a nice little amount...and TM and I will enjoy one last helping of home-grown broccoli...steamed...with plenty of butter and salt. 







I'm going to miss my little broccoli bed this Winter...but I'm consoled by the fact that the 2012 seed catalogs are already arriving.  Hmmm...time to start dreaming...what to plant...what to plant...

Magic Beans

I have a confession to make.  In spite of what I may have led you to believe, I have been...for most of my life, anyway...a disinterested vegetable gardener.  Oh, I've always grown tomatoes...even when I was single...because my Dad always grew them and it just wouldn't be Summer without fresh tomatoes from the garden.  And I always had a row or two of lettuce...and a few green beans.  But...I HATE the heat of high Summer...and so by this time of the year, any veggies I had managed to grow had usually succumbed to the lack of attention.  I would look after my flowers...but the veggies...meh.

However, in the past couple of years I've jumped on the home-grown bandwagon.  And this year...since we've been following the Atkins eating plan, with it's HUGE emphasis on fresh vegetables...I decided to make a special effort to coddle the kitchen garden.  I was especially pleased with my green beans...which kept me busy blanching and freezing through most of July.  A couple of weeks ago, I noticed they were waning...the plants withering...and although they were still producing a few beans, they were quite small.  My plan was to pull up the plants and replace them with a Fall crop of broccoli.  Then we got slammed by the heat again...and since my broccoli seedlings were nowhere near ready for the garden, I procrastinated.  Every time I went out to water the tomatoes and peppers, I would water the beans as well...because I felt sorry for them. 

Well...a few days ago, I went out to the garden and was greeted by this:

The bean plants had come to life...with fresh new leaves... 

...and loads of blossoms and tender young beans underneath!  I'll just bet you experienced gardeners out there are LOLing right now...but I had no idea green beans did this!  We're having a Bean-O-Rama this year...TWICE!!

Here's the haul from this morning...cherry tomatoes, "Soldacki" Polish heirloom tomato, a big handful of broccoli shoots...and a whole bunch of green beans.

My camera-shy assistant, Sammy...leading the way back to the house.  She had been posing adorably in the grass until she saw the camera in my hand.  (Stinker!)  She's the litter-mate to Bonnie and Clyde...and is my In-law's pupper.  She spent the night here with her brother and sister...who chose to stay in bed while she and I made the rounds in the garden. 

And here's my breakfast!  Atkins advocates the incorporation of veggies into all meals...and encourages thinking outside the box...which can make for some unusual combinations.  This morning, I had a lemon-butter Cod fillet (left over from last night)...topped with egg salad...with a side of freshly-picked green beans.  And it was yummy! 







Thank you for visiting with me today.  I've been away from blogland for a bit and I've missed you!  I hope you'll stop by again next week...as I hope to have some sewing projects to show you...and a post about my latest weekend getaway with The Mailman...as well as the continuation of our 2010 Scotland trip.  We're going to Skye!

HOTPOCALYPSE

This is what The Mailman is calling our insufferable heat wave.  Hotpocalypse.  And since he's out walking in it every day...who am I to argue?  So...Hotpocalypse it is.  

It's HOT!  These are the kinds of Summers I remember from my childhood...days in the nineties...no respite at night...and no rain.  When I began composing this post, I thought about showing you the fried lawn...the singed Hostas...the flower beds in desperate need of weeding and dead-heading and trimming and watering.  But then I realized that you probably have plenty of that in your own yards.  So instead, I thought I would show you what's right in my world.  Believe it or not...there ARE some positives to a heatwave!  So...grab a glass of lemonade...sit back...and enjoy!

Apparently, Japanese Beetles don't like hot, dry weather either!  These are the same Hydrangeas I showed you here.  The blossoms have aged to a beautiful, soft chartreuse green...and most Summers, the beetles would have devoured them by now.  Along with the roses.  This year, I've seen only a handful of the nasty things...and I hope they continue to stay away!

Not ALL the flowers are languishing.  The little Prairie garden around our goldfish pond is actually doing quite well.  Here, Purple Cone-flower, Black-Eyed-Susan and Butterfly Weed flourish happily in the heat. 

And I have NEVER been able to grow eggplant, bell pepper and tomato plants like these.  Granted, it has taken some diligent watering on my part...but these heat-lovers are rewarding my efforts with...

...crisp, green peppers... 

...sweet, juicy tomatoes... 

...and beautiful baby eggplant.  Tonight, I'm trying a new recipe...roasted baby eggplant with tomato and Parmesan cheese.  Kinda makes me wish I hadn't whacked down all the basil...some Pesto would probably taste good with this. 

Our freezer is stocked with sweet corn...

...and blueberries.

Since the heat has me holed up inside, I've managed to complete a few things for my Etsy Shop... 

...and last, but not least...I'm trying to remember that not everyone is a heat-hater.










This morning, it rained.  And...as I sat out in the shelter of our garage with my thunderstorm-loving dog, Bonnie...I was thankful.  Thankful for the rain...for my little companion beside me...for the sturdy roof over our heads...and for the egg and sausage breakfast we shared.  Life is good...and a little bit of heat doesn't change that!

Thank you for visiting me today!  And remember...leave out a glass of iced tea for the mailman!

Kitchen Garden

Our little kitchen garden seems to be enjoying the weather...nice and warm with lots of rain...and, I must admit the current conditions have made the gardener's life (mine) much easier, too.  Aside from some weeding and general tidying, I haven't had to do much with the vegetables.

This view shows our four large raised veggie beds and smaller rhubarb bed.  My asparagus and strawberries bit the dust during last summer's drought.  I'm planning to amend the soil and replant them in the Spring...and so those beds are nothin' but weeds right now!

The bed in the foreground has lettuce, spinach, turnips and kholrabi.  I planted beets and parsnips, as well...but they didn't come up.  I'd never grown turnips before...and decided to try them because they're highly touted as a low-carb alternative to potatoes.  All I can say is this...a turnip ain't a potato...in other words, YUCK!  Don't think I'll be planting any more of those!

This bed has eggplant, sweet bell pepper, tomatoes...and two rows of snow peas at the very back (which are just about done for the season).  I LOVE homegrown tomatoes...and I planted "Early Girl," "Soldacki" (a Polish heirloom variety) and "Mr. Stripey" (my favorite)...along with a cherry tomato.  My Dad taught me how to stake and tie tomato plants...and every year I think of him and miss him at tomato time. 

I found two ripe cherry tomatoes this morning...but my hand shot out and popped them into my mouth before I could take a picture.  You'll have to trust me...they were delicious!

You may remember my Broccoli bed...I blogged about it here.  These are the same plants...all grown up.  I've been disappointed in the Broccoli this year...beautiful, huge and healthy plants...but no Broccoli.  Just a couple of very small heads and a few random shoots here and there.  Phooey!  So...imagine my surprise when I checked on it this morning...

...and found this!  And several more! 

I guess I can quit complaining about the Broccoli!  Now...where did I put that Shrimp Alfredo recipe?  

Pickin' Patch

Monday was a simply PERFECT June day...and since I'd received notice that the strawberries were ready at my favorite pickin' patch, I decided to head out that way.  It's a pretty drive through the Indiana countryside...and it's easy to find...just follow the signs!

This is it!  I discovered this place two years ago.  They have the BEST strawberries...and asparagus, too...in April. 

You can buy pre-picked berries...but I prefer to pick my own...even though my back complains a little.  OK...a LOT!!!

I told you it was a perfect day...just look at that blue sky!

I arrived around 9 AM...after the early-morning rush...but I still had some company.  Our next-door neighbor was there...and we had a nice chat.

Two hours later...I had picked just over fourteen pounds of strawberries!  I am a MACHINE!


This lovely lady is one of the growers...and she's always smiling and helpful.  I don't know if her nickname is "Sunshine," but it should be!

Time to head home with my haul!

I froze the majority of these berries...because there's nothing like strawberry pie in December...and I saved the remainder for fresh eating.  And last night, I made a yummy low-carb cheesecake with strawberry-rhubarb sauce!





I've mentioned before that The Mailman and I like to obtain our food locally as much as possible.  It's fresher...and we want to support small businesses in our community.  And here's another reason...it's much easier to know what goes ON and IN your food when you know the producer.  I recently learned that strawberries are the most heavily contaminated produce item in the United States!  Conventionally-grown strawberries are available year-round in this country and should be avoided at all costs.  And beside that...they taste terrible!

So...find yourself a pickin' patch...wear some comfy clothes and sunscreen...and get out there and enjoy the sunshine!  

Wednesday Morning in the Garden

This morning...I braved the heat, humidity and mosquitoes...fashionably attired in The Mailman's heaviest sweatpants...my down-filled snow-shoveling jacket zipped up to my ears...a fleece hat pulled down to my eyebrows...and reeking of "eau d'Off."  A stunning sight for the neighbors, I'm sure.  The past few 90+ degree days have been hard on my container plants and raised-bed veggie garden...so I wanted to water them before the heat of the day set in.  Dedicated blogger that I am, I also managed to snap a few pics between swats.

The perennial Foxglove is blooming against the garage wall.  I love this pale, lemon-y yellow color.  It's first year in this location...and it seems to be pretty happy...so I'm thinking of planting the taller, biennial variety behind it, as a companion.  

These purple spikes are Salvia...growing along the gravel path.   They've been in this spot for at least ten years...and are one of my most reliable bloomers.

I LOVE salad...and could eat it morning, noon and night.  This mix of lettuces has provided us with several good meals already.  Tonight...it's Chicken-Bacon Ranch Salad...with chicken breast, bacon, cherry tomatoes, avocado and Ranch dressing.  Perfect for a light supper on a hot day. 

The Mailman and I try to obtain our food from local sources...as much as possible, anyway.  So...I thought I would show off my locally-sourced breakfast!  Fresh brown eggs (from Brick House Eggs, just down the road)...homemade pork sausage (from a fellow on the mail route)...and blueberries (me-picked last July at Berry Hill Farms).


The iced vanilla coffee is not local...but it is homemade...and since I drink one every morning, I thought I should include it.  Truth in blogging, and all.

Isn't this the fattest chipmunk you've ever seen?  He's discovered The Mailman's stash of squirrel corn in the garage and has been helping himself.  After he's eaten his fill, he stretches out on the back of this bistro chair.  This morning...after several days of trying...I managed to snap his pic through the glass. 

Yesterday, I found these Georgia peaches at the grocery for 98 cents a pound.  OK...not locally sourced...but so, so good...and The Mailman DOES have an Aunt who lives in Marietta.


Last night, I ate TWO of these.  So much for the "fruit-as-garnish" low-carb-way-of-eating I'm trying to follow.  Oh well, better than a pint of Ben and Jerry's, I guess.

Broccoli!

                         "If you don't like the weather in Indiana, wait awhile."
                                                                                                                                  Hoosier Wisdom


A typical Spring here in Hoosierland, boys and girls.  In the past couple of weeks I've carried the pansies in at night to protect them from temps in the 20's...basked in 80+ degree sunshine and contemplated turning on the air conditioning...attempted to rake out flower beds in a brisk wind and 20% humidity (and actually became quite proficient at dry-leaf-wrangling).  

Today, it's raining.  Which is good news for the garden.  For The Mailman, not so much.  But, I'm making his favorite Parmesan-Baked Catfish for supper tonight...with an Italian vegetable saute...and that should make him smile.

Last Tuesday was a beautiful day...sunny, breezy and dry...and so I planted broccoli.  Now, I like to grow veggies from seed...not out of any deep-seated organic philosophy...but just because I enjoy it.  And I usually have pretty good luck...except with broccoli.  Every year, I start the seeds indoors...hug and kiss them through their pampered infancy...and they reward me by withering away when I attempt to move them into the outdoors.  Which necessitates a trip to WalMart to buy broccoli plants.  Not this year!  I actually managed to grow some healthy seedlings...and although they're small, I think they're gonna make it!  

Here's their new home.  Last year, my gardening season ended with a whimper after a record-breaking drought and a bout with what (I think) was H1N1.  So...I have a lot of cleaning up to do.

My assistants.

All turned over and raked smooth.  I've been gardening in these raised beds since the early eighties, and I love them.  We have heavy clay soil...and lots of shade...not so good for veggies.  So, I had these beds built in a sunny corner...and filled them with good soil...which I amend each season with lots of organic matter.

I used Jiffy Pellets to start the seed...you know, those little brown wafers that swell up when you add water.  I like the fact that I don't have to dig the seedlings out of a common flat...less transplant shock.  He looks pretty happy, don't you think?

And here they are in their new digs...thirty-six of them!  Shrimp and Broccoli Alfredo, anyone?

"Hey," you say, "I thought this was a sewing blog!"  Well, it is.  At least I mean it to be.  And after the Spring gardening rush is over, I plan to get down to it.  In the meantime...I made these pretty things the other day.  They're available in my Etsy shop...and they're perfect for Mothers' Day!