This Week in the Garden- June 11

Baby peaches

Okra is up.

Squash plants are flowering.

Potatoes are looking great.  I've been spraying with Neem Oil and so far, no beetles in sight.

Three rows of green beans are up and I planted two more this week.

Cherry tomatoes

I went to the store to buy Neem Oil and was asking advice on how to fight blight with my tomatoes.  Another customer overheard my whining and told me that all I needed to do was spray my tomatoes with compost tea and I wouldn't have a problem.  He promised.      So, this week I mixed up my compost tea and have been faithfully spraying my tomatoes.  I sure hope it works.  It almost seems too good to be true.  To make the tea- take a two handed bunch of compost and add water in a bucket.  Stir.  Let it sit for three to five days, stirring each day.  Strain and spray leaves of plants.

I cut my garlic scapes this week, but not before taking lots of pictures.  I think they are one of the prettiest plants in the garden.  I guess it's time to make this pizza.  Yum!

Basil plants are off and running.

Strawberries

Butter lettuce

And about those sweet potatoes...  Last week I told you how I planted my sweet potatoes and a few days later, every plant was gone.  I had no idea what ate them, although I suspected turkeys.  I bought new plants and replanted.  They looked beautiful. And this time I placed deterrents around the perimeter of the garden and between the rows.  The nice man at Fletcher Hardware sold me all the things he thought I might need and told me to come back if they didn't work and he would sell me bullets.  Smiling, I left the store with high hopes.  I'm sure that while I was on my hands and knees putting these new plants in the ground, some critter was watching from nearby saying to himself, "Look how nice that lady is.  She's planting more sweet potatoes for us to eat."  

Because sure enough the next day, most of them were gone.  The deterrents did not deter.  I am defeated.  I guess it's just not meant to be for me to grow sweet potatoes this year.  I'm frustrated, but trying to focus on all the other plants that are doing so well.  Such is the gardening life.  Some things work, some things don't.

Summer Reading Bingo

When I was a child I loved the reading programs at the library.  One of my sweetest memories is spending time with my grandmother during the summer and having her take me to the local library and sign me up.  I would take home as many books as I could carry, and then curl up on the bed in the "front bedroom" and read.   Of course there were cheap prizes involved with reading a certain number of books, but I don't remember any of those.  She was probably just trying to find things to keep me busy, but I think my love of reading may have begun that summer in that little library in Elkin.  I've been in much larger libraries since, but I can still easily evoke the feelings of being in that particular one.  For starters, it was situated beside a waterfall with large windows for viewing, so when you got tired of picking out books, you could sit by the windows and look out over the water.  How cool is that?  

I still love libraries and feel a sense of awe and almost reverence when I walk in the door.  They are special places.  And even though I'm very grown up, I still get excited about summer reading.  One of the podcasts I enjoy listening to is Books on the Nightstand and they are doing a summer reading bingo game.  Sign me up!  All I had to do is go to the website and click the link for the bingo game.  A different board comes up each time you refresh.  I wanted to play fairly, so I closed my eyes and went with the third click and this is the board I came up with.  The printing isn't perfect, but you can get the idea.

 I just have to decide which direction I'm trying to complete my Bingo and start reading.  I'm going to use the free square as an opportunity to watch a movie that's based on a book.  

 Here's another card, so you can see other possible categories.

Now, don't you want to play with me?  Come on, it'll be fun!  Just go to this link and get your board,

Summer Reading Bingo

then pick out a book and start reading.  We have until Labor Day to try and get Bingo and yes, there will be prizes involved for all who participate.  Happy Reading!

Dropping the "To Do" List

There are days when I just need to drop my "to do" list and get out in the woods.  Days when there's too much negativity and "junk" taking up space in my head.  I've learned that walking in the woods, inhaling that earthy smell, listening to bird songs and squirrels scampering around me, taking the time to look at beauty along the way, those things quiet my spirit.  The pressures of life start to fade and I can begin to feel peace.  In the quiet forest, interrupted only by the crunch of my feet on the path and a hello to an occasional hiker, I begin to hear the whisperings of truth return to my mind.  The One who knows me best reassuring me that all is well.  I am loved.

This week I had one of those days.  And I know myself well enough not to try and fight that need to escape for a few hours.  So, I put away that "list", grabbed a picnic lunch and headed to one of my favorite places ever, the Carl Sandburg home.  As I sat by the lake and enjoyed my sandwich, I began to breathe...

A hike in the woods is great, but for me, it's even better when there's a mountain to climb. 

Standing on the top of a mountain that you've just climbed and taking in the views, 

with the breeze blowing your sweaty hair off your face and the back of your neck, 

is just about a perfect experience.  So empowering!

This is the best therapy I know.  As I head back down the mountain to my car, 

I'm ready to go home and face that "list" with a much clearer perspective. 

Life is good.

Celebrating Family and Spring Garden Delights

   The kitchen is my favorite hangout.  It's where my creative juices flow best and where I gather others around me and share love.    I like to keep my camera close at hand so I can snap a shot to capture that moment, the one when the recipe works or doesn't, when I've just brought in fresh produce from the garden, or the counter is in a state of chaos because there's something wonderful cooling in the background.  These things make my heart sing.  I believe good, real food is a gift from God and is meant to be enjoyed and celebrated.   This month's photo collection shows how we've celebrated a birthday, Mother's Day and wonderful things from my spring garden. 

Offerings from a May Kitchen

   Jantzen's Birthday cake- German Chocolate, the often requested family favorite

Asparagus growing in the garden.

The first thing I make with my asparagus is an omelet with fresh eggs and parmesan cheese.

At least once during asparagus season, I make this wonderful appetizer with roasted asparagus wrapped in buttery prosciutto.  Oh man, is it good.   We had it for my Mother's Day lunch.

Quiche made with asparagus, fresh dill and parmesan cheese.

Kale from the garden, chopped and added to this farro salad

Chocolate chip cookies for Mother's Day gifts.

I planned and cooked my own Mother's Day lunch, because I knew exactly what I wanted and was  happy to make it.  Having some of my children here to enjoy this huge dish of lasagna and then clean up afterwards was a wonderful gift.  

Then we had homemade strawberry ice-cream made in my new machine.  Yum!

Monday is baking day.

This avocado toast made with my wheat bread is divine.

Oh, how I love strawberry season!  

Strawberry Crepes

Strawberry Rhubarb jam

Strawberry Rhubarb muffins

Pizza night with fresh basil, tomato sauce and mozzarella.  Pizza margherita!

A tasty and healthy way to use my kale.  Thanks to Sandy for the recipe.

"Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; 

all these are to be used with prudence and thanksgiving."   

Doctrine and Covenants 89:11 

Gratitude as an Act of Faith

First Monday counting... 
                            when I share entries from my gratitude journal.

"Being grateful in our circumstances is an act of faith in God."

President Uchtdorf

221- a carful of beautiful flowers

222- strawberries

223- cute dresses purchased from a thrift store

224- meeting my exercise goals

225- an evening visit with two special ladies

226- a night when Mark washes the dishes

227- dinner with friends

228- strawberry crepes

229- rain

230- a cozy fire to knock off the chill

231- a clean car

232- the smell of oatmeal cooking on the stove

233- hummingbirds at the feeder

234- afternoon church

235- pussy willows

236- Monday mornings

237- rows of leafy greens

238- having the tractor repaired

239- peonies and iris

240- a "stay at home" day

241- a lovely day at the temple

242- pink peonies in grandma's pitcher

243- the air, heavy with the promise of rain

244- playing with the children in Nursery

245- strawberry rhubarb muffins

246- pink skin from outside work

247-  9 1/2 hours of sleep

248- planting sweet potatoes with Mark

249- cookout "smells"

250- potato salad

251- working with Dillon and Jantzen in the kitchen

252- sharing the love of Christ around a table

253- being surrounded by green

254- strawberry shortcake

255- receiving a gardening tip from a man at the hardware store

256- a room full of napping children

257- that "post workout" feeling

258- visiting with Christine and her sweet family

259- brothers willing to help their sister

260- Ben's testimony

"When thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks to God."

Alma 37:37