Accidental Gardener

Thanks to all the family for helping me with the garden this spring/summer. It took.....

Rick--tilling
Justin--planting, watering, gathering
Jerry--watering, gathering, spraying
Marilyn/Rickie--advising/watering

This was the first year I actually had a garden with a variety of veggies. Despite the spring rains, the summer drought, the grasshoppers, and other pests, we have had some good eating!!

With that said, however, we had to say goodbye to the garden a couple of weeks ago.

"To Everything A Season"......a season to plant, a season to harvest, and a season to die!

What a Haul!

Anticipating a very full day, I went to Marilyn's garden early this morning. (It wasn't 120 degrees yet!)
All I can say is I got a haul! Guess what we are going to have for dinner? I can't wait to eat a fresh peach. 

Thanks, M, for sharing!

Zucchini Cake Bread

This is a family favorite recipe. Naturally, when I got my first cute little zucchini yesterday out of the garden, I couldn't wait to make it. I'm taking it to a friend who just lost her mother.

For the recipe, go here!

Let's eat

My garden would be considered one with a "limited variety" of produce. As I have mentioned before, I have plenty of squash to eat. Now tomatoes....well, that's a different thing. This puny little one is about all I've gotten so far. Pretty sad, huh?

The other thing I am surprised I have gotten are these cute cantaloupes. Last year I got none. By the time I had some ripening, the coyotes from the woods around us also smelled them and "stole" them at night! Not nice.

Finally, this is the most exciting thing I have seen. Look at this precious little pumpkin!! I was amazed though. I thought it was too early too find an orange one already. I have some green ones still. So how in the world am I to keep this little thing until the fall when I wanted to decorate with it? 

Anybody else growing pumpkins? Seriously, what's the deal with this? 

Flags and a Bumper Crop

"It's A Grand Old Flag"

Days 2-3 fell into Memorial Weekend. It was so awesome seeing flags flying everywhere.

As we were driving through Massachusetts, we just happened on a small town's celebration---a real Norman Rockwell moment for me. We hopped out of the car right there on the street to join them. The high school band played the national anthem while proud local servicemen of days gone by assisted with the flags. 

"And Forever in Peace May You Wave."

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Anyone want to trade some squash for anything else? I'm feeling a bumper crop coming on!

A Chuckle and Some Chimes.....

A passenger in a taxi leaned over to ask the driver a question and gently tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention.

The driver screamed, lost control of the cab, nearly hit a bus, drove up over the curb and stopped just inches from a large plate glass window.

For a few moments everything was silent in the cab. Then, the still shaking driver said, 'Are you OK? I'm so sorry, but you scared the daylights out of me.'

The badly shaken passenger apologized to the driver and said he didn't realize that a mere tap on the shoulder would startle the driver so badly. The driver replied, 'No, no, I'm the one who is sorry, it’s entirely my fault. Today is my very first day driving a cab…..

I've been driving a hearse for the past 25 years.”

*************

Thanks to Keelie and Justin I'm hearing and seeing something very pretty from the back door.

Happy May Day....

From My Home to Yours!

A Dirty Job But Someone Had To Do It!

I am fired up! It finally dried up enough around here that the garden (or lack of) had really been on my mind. Our brother-in-law, Rickie, stopped off with a tractor and plowed it for us. Rick (not to be confused with Rickie) was elated that he did this because it was in such bad shape. Much rain throughout the past several weeks and no attention for months had made it one big mess.

This is the same garden area. Although it was a beautiful sunny day, there were a few clouds....thus the different shades.

After Rickie was finished, Rick then used the small tiller to make me some nice little rows. Now it's my turn! 

Where can I get one of these?

(It doesn't have to be this exact one by the way.)

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A Time to Plant Wade

No gardening around here yet. As you can see, we have one slight issue!

And we are due to get more rain.

Butternut Squash Soup

I got a new recipe this week from a friend. I made it for my ladies' bible study group tonight. It was great! And it even looks "fallish" if you can use that word to describe soup!

4 T. butter or margarine

1 pkg. Lipton onion soup mix

1 butternut squash (approx. 4 lbs), peeled, cubed

4 to 5 cups water

1 t. dried marjoram leaves

1/2 t. ground black pepper

1/4 t. ground red pepper  ( I omitted this.)

8 chicken bouillon cubes

2 pkg. (8 0z) cream cheese, cubed

Put all ingredients in a dutch oven and cook until the squash is tender. In blender or food processor, place approximately a third of it. Blend until smooth. Repeat. Return all this to the pan. Stir in cream cheese. Cover, cook on low heat setting until cheese is melted stirring with wire whisk until smooth.

Several notes:

*You can easily cut this in half. I wrote it out as I made it which was a double batch. 

*You could cook it in a slow cooker on low setting for 6-8 hours. Then use your food processor and continue.

*You can serve with real bacon bits, chives, or parsley. Bacon is yummy with it!

Hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Zucchini Brownies

With the abundance of zucchini in many gardens this time of the year, I decided to see what to do with it besides the typical casseroles. There are different versions of zucchini brownies; this is the one I chose. I was definitely pleased, and the frosting was yummy!


Ingredients

1/2 c. vegetable oil
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
2 t. vanilla extract
2 c. flour
1/2 c. cocoa
1 1/2 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
2 c. shredded zucchini
1/2 c. walnuts or pecans

Frosting

6 T. cocoa
1/4 c. margarine
2 c. confectioners' sugar
1/4 c. milk
1/2 t. vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 9x13 baking pan. In a large bowl, mix together the oil, sugar, eggs, and 2 t. vanilla until well blended. Combine the flour, 1/2 c. cocoa, baking soda, and salt; stir into the sugar mixture. Fold in the zucchini and nuts. Spread evenly into the pan. Bake for 25-30 mins.

To make the frosting, melt together the 6 T. cocoa and margarine; set aside to cool. In a medium bowl, blend together the confectioners' sugar. milk, and 1/2 t. vanilla. Stir in the cocoa mixture. Spread over cooled brownies. Cut into squares to serve.


Verse 1
Let the children sing a song of liberation
The God of our salvation set us free
Death, where is thy sting? The curse of sin is broken
The empty tomb stands open, come and see

CHORUS
He's alive, alive, alive. Hallelujah!
Alive! Praise and glory to the Lamb.
He's alive, alive, alive. Hallelujah!
Alive forever. Amen

Verse 2
Let my heart sing out, for Christ, the One and only
So powerful and holy rescued me
Death won't hurt me now because He has redeemed me
No grave will ever keep me from my King

Bridge
Worthy is the Lamb, worthy of our praise
Worthy is the One who has overcome the grave
Let the people dance, let the people sing
Worthy is the mighty King.

Tag
You are worthy. Amen!

Veggie Tales

Although the garden needs a little TLC, it did yield some pretty cabbage, okra, and squash this week. Still waiting on those cute little green tomatoes to ripen.

IN SEASON

I love the fresh summer fruits and vegetables we are able to enjoy. A few of my favorite fruits...