Rain or Not? 09/14/2011
 It has been trying to rain around here for about five days now. We really need it to rain, but I think we live in this little pocket where we get missed by most storms. Farmer J and I went into town Saturday and got caught in some real stormy weather. We had to pull over. I said that before. Anyway...there was hail and the water was running real fast in the ditches. Exciting. It was a fun day out. We even went out for Sushi. What a happy girl I am. The cloud cover is low right now. I wonder if it will rain. Farmer J would be so pleased if it does. I worry if it does rain, will it cool off or get humid...yuk. Humidity is hard on me. That is the main reason I had to leave Illinois. Couldn't stand the weather. I knew I belonged out here. Still do. Hope you all have a great day. Write more later. Blessings. ******************************************************************************* Add Comment More Updates 09/12/2011
 As you can see here, this is what my garden looks like after the dead and dying are gone. As usual...it is now goat food.  This shows the corn being gone. I need to get this ready to plant again. Farmer J and I want a lot of golden beets. They are just so delicious. We love them roasted or pickled. If you have trouble with the red ones, you may really enjoy the golden beets. We also want to plant a bunch of lemon cucumbers next year, too. They were a big hit this year. Thanks for the suggestion, BFF.  In our back yard we have an old Christmas tree, all grown up. When Farmer J and I were trimming trees, we trimmed up all the dead branches out from under the tree. It now looks like a cave.  This is what it looks like from inside 'the cave'. The branches on the ground are what has been cut out. Now all we need is a bench or SWING to sit on inside the tree cave.  This is the view looking up. It is what it looked like before we cut out the dead stuff. It really is quite a shelter inside. We used to call them 'forts' when we were kids. It could even be a playhouse. I wonder if I will ever grow up. Probably not much point in it now. ******************************************************************************* Back In Action 09/11/2011
 My sedem is blooming. I would say about half of these have bloomed in this picture. I would also like to bring to your attention that I am finally posting again. I was having camera and computer problems. I think we are all better now. Yeah! Actually, I tried to post yesterday three times. It was raining and then got stormy. Farmer J and I even got caught out in some hail and some flooding. We had to pull over for a little while. I loved it.  This is where I had some squash plants. They turned into goat food.  I pulled up some corn, too. It is all gone now, though. Goat food.  This says my potatoes are ready to dig up. Or past time...maybe. I am waiting for someone who can kick a shovel or a pitch fork.  Plus...being the lucky woman that I am, I now have another swing. This one fits three. The Lad gave it to me. It is deluxe! Thanks, Buddy! I think EVERYONE should have a swing. I think it should be mandatory in the construction of the house, like a bathroom toilet. Fifteen minutes in a swing will make a cranky person better. At least fifteen. The more time swinging, the better. It is just the best therapy for ails you. Sometimes, we sit out at night with all the lights out and look at the stars. Time just slips away. Like now. I am so behind. Be back soon. ******************************************************************************* Promise 09/08/2011
For about four or five days this last week, I did some heavy soul searching. I was trying to decide...should I keep up this web-site. I have till the first of October to pay for my site on Weebly and to pay for my domain name. Two years is about $170. Not bad...but still a chunk of change. It isn't only the money. writing this is still a commitment. A job. It doesn't matter...I would write most days, anyway. Weather it was on here or not. What amazes me, is the amount of people that read this each day. To those who are, thank you. It means so much to me. So...if you are wondering...I have chosen to keep writing on here. Farmer J is going to help with cost, so that isn't an issue anymore. What a Lucky Gal I am. I have this ever increasing amount of help and love supporting me from my 'new' family. That's on top of my 'old faithfuls'. The ones who have always been here...you know who you are. You know I love you more than my luggage. Name that movie. I have also been having technical difficulties with my camera, or my computer. I was hoping to show you what I have been doing in the garden. Some plants have been pulled. Others are a little worse for wear. I want to get my winter garden in. We have plans for a much bigger, more organized, garden for next year. Farmer J and I want to have a roadside stand. So, there is lots of work to do. I will never run out of things to do. Hope you all stick around to see where this goes. I will be back. Promise. ***************************************************************************** Something Better 08/31/2011
This morning, I went to a site to 'pull a card' to see what the day may hold. I pulled The Diamond Dreamer, reversed. The last paragraph says, 'Be compassionate with yourself and others at this time. Let the Diamond Dreamer lead you to the highest dreams for your perfect purpose and true prosperity. He may be here to tell you, that when you don't get what you want, it is being withheld from you because something better is in store.' Well, I can live with that. Later. ****************************************************************************** Pictures and Complaining 08/30/2011
 This is a picture of SOME of the hopefuls wanting their own show. Some were working in restaurants, some were Chefs, some were housewives, some were firemen. This picture was taken later in the day. So most of these people were after my number which was 98. We each got about 2-3 minutes to impress the interviewers. Looks like another epic 'FAIL' for me. This last week was hard on me for the 'fails'. Whaaaa....I'm almost done now.  Here is my garden...the corn is past ready to pick. See how the stalks are drying up?  This shows my dying squash. Bugs or something.  My tomato plants have something wrong, too. Not all the plants, but a good portion of them do. The plant next to this sick one has a beauty tomato or two on it. In the next day or two I hope to be canning some of these tomatoes. Maybe make some tomato jam for BFF.  Here is my Swiss chard. It is alive and doing well. I will be having some for dinner tonight. I may even roast some beets. They are so delicious.  These are my potato plants. Looks like they are ready to dig up.  This is my tarragon plant. It has grown so much since I trimmed it back. It is even starting to flower out again. Guess I need to trim it back once more this year.  This is my guide for the seasons. It has flowered now, which means Fall is coming. It shows an ever so pale shade of lavender right now. The flowers will turn a darker color, then turn brown all the way to the dirt, and die off. I will cut off all the green you see now and then it will come back in the Spring. AND...I don't even know this plant's name. It is one of my favorite plants, though. A few words on the fair...it wasn't really fair. When I went in yesterday to pick up my jars, scorecards, ribbons and winnings (a total of 20 dollars), I noticed that the scorecard for the hot pepper relish had NO scoring at all. What is up with that? Did they forget? Did they accidentally pass it up? Was there something wrong with one of the jars? Another thing...my apple pie took second place. When I got the scorecard back the 'notes' said...Presentation perfect. Great flavor. Flaky crust. GREAT job! As my friend says..."Second place is the first loser". I guess I am NOW done complaining. I wonder what is in store for me? Where am I going? Should I renew my web-site and keep writing? I am in too deep to give up now. "Suck it up Girl! If you quit now...you will never know what is supposed to be yours." And..off I go again. Blessings! ******************************************************************************* Bad Attitude 08/29/2011
I have pictures...but my camera is elsewhere this morning. I did well at the Fair...but not as good as I had hoped. Oh well. Also...I went Friday to try out for the Next Food Network Star...but they haven't called either. So...I would guess that I am not supposed to get a chance to be on TV. It makes me a little cranky. Anyway...I guess I just need to 'see' what it is I am supposed to be doing. I will be back this afternoon with pictures and a better attitude...hopefully. Blessings. ****************************************************************************** Pictures 08/25/2011
 At the beginning of this year I had a new "do". Here is the proof. The reason I am bringing this up, is because I needed a couple of pictures to take with me on my interview for the Next Food Network Star! This is when I had some color put in it...to get rid of the white. It looked good. Well...I have to say...my hair just wants to be white.  As you can see here...it is white...again! That is OK...I guess. For now. What I am really trying to show is the raw potential I have for a good makeup person. Or hairdresser. Also...I want to show some better pictures of me. Have them here for Food Network people to see, because my printer is giving me fits. Not high quality. It will have to do for now. I want to do a little more tweeking on my application. Maybe copy it over a little neater. Say some prayers. Maybe take a few more pictures. Pray some more...hoping for a chance to show them I am a good risk. If they don't want to give me a show...maybe they would like some of my ideas about opening up a canning shed to give lessons. Show how to do organic gardening. Have a place for people to "put up" some food for their family. Maybe buy the organic produce from me. I would love to give some cooking classes, also. When I was at the Fair last Friday, the lady that was the MC said that there used to be at least 800 entries for the canning. This year they had 200. How sad. There aren't many of us left. A dying art. With all the kids with allergies and ADHD and Autism, diet makes all the difference. Especially when cooking with organic veggies. It is a lot of work. But...you can always taste the Love! Anyway, wish me luck. I am putting myself "out there" again. My payer is...'This or something better. For the highest good for all concerned.' I'll let you know how it goes. ******************************************************************************* How I Did 08/22/2011
 These are my Mom's date cookies. She used to make them for us at Christmas. I took these cookies in to the Fair for a special baking contest. I did not place...out of fifteen entries. Boo hoo. Be we ate the leftovers with glee! Out of the regular judging, my zucchini bread did not place, either.  My corn relish took a blue. Yea!  My apple pie took a second place.  Orange marmalade took third place.  So did my banana nut bread butter. I couldn't find my hot pepper relish. So all in all...I did pretty good. Out of six regular entries, I placed with four. I still have one more chance to get a blue for my apple pie...on the 27th. But that is after the open call for NFNS 8. It proves to be another big week. ****************************************************************************** Out Of Control 08/18/2011
 This picture shows a few squash I picked this morning. Relatively normal in size. I pick twice a day. Usually.  As you can see...this one got away from me...so to speak. I don't know how I missed it.  From the tip of my little finger to the tip of my thumb is 7 1/2 inches. This is a VERY big squash. Guess it is goat food now. ******************************************************************************* |  ArchivesFebruary 2012 CategoriesAll |
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