Just Hanging Out

Pretty soon we'll be knee deep in cucumbers, shoulder deep in zucchini! I just can't get over how one little zucchini can grow about a gazillion inches -- overnight! I will have to make some really quick zucchini bread and freeze it into little loaves since I leave for a business trip on Monday, not returning until Thursday night. By that time I'm quite certain the refrigerator will be bulging!

Our refrigerator pickles turned out so good that they are about half eaten already. They are so quick to prepare, especially with the crinkle cutter I use. Perhaps my husband will get bored and decided to pickle up a bunch while I'm gone - (right, more like he'll be spending extra time on the river boating around!)

The weather is supposed to turn hot again by tomorrow- even hotter next week. I'll be in Las Vegas where temps are expected to be around 110, a dry heat they tell me. Well, I've seen those desert photos. Tell me dry heat is a good thing!

bones credit

Little Tads Growing Up

Some of you may remember that I spent a couple of days saving tadpoles from a temporary pond created in our culvert during a few really extended rains. There were hundreds of the little guys and eggs galore. Of course I waded in with two cups in hand- the capture cup and the keeper cup. You have to "strain" out the water and transfer the tadpole to the next cup- the keeper cup.

It has paid off. Some have matured in our little garden wall pond and some in our courtyard fountain, which has delighted the children to no end. Of course I can't say the tadpoles feel the same way.

On cool nights we are inundated with frogs: toads, leopard frogs, tree frogs, etc. all singing their froggy songs, which to me is a pleasing chorus. Most everyone else can't stand it, in fact it tends to set off my husband's migraines. I have to admit, it's loud. Really loud. You can't hear the music from our outdoor speakers that are set at a pretty good volume. (We're wooded and rural)

I keep telling them, "Embrace the frog experience!" They look at me as if I were crazy.

I guess I just like frogs.

Pretty Little Cloth

I was inspired by another blogger who made pretty baby cloths using the standard package of thin, inexpensive store bought baby washcloths. She cut out a pretty fabric and sewed right sides together, turned and stitched around the edges. I thought, why just for babies? I'll bet my six year old granddaughter would like this too! And she did!

I got the value pack plain cloths from our local big box store and away I went. Now I can get creative and perhaps make a pinwheel design or perhaps something patchy. What fun!

Kitchen Stove - by Coleman

Ummmm. . . it's our preparedness challenge this week . . yeah, that's right, we're just practicing! Just in case we run out of gas????

No! Of course we didn't forget to check the two small propane tanks (that fuel only our stove). Arrrrrgggghh!

So, this is why there is a Coleman camping stove sitting on top of our Jenn-Air downdraft cooktop. In the middle of the kitchen. My husband is calling the gas company tomorrow.

There is one good thing about this. Now that we have to fill up both tanks we'll be stocked up with gas for 2-3 years! Now that's what I call Preparedness!

Saving the Kitchen Sink

This is our "rescue" sink, saved from life in the landfill after a city renovation where the customer believed they were "upgrading" to a better model. This sink is a fine specimen, sturdy and indestructible. It's cast iron, between 200-300 lbs, porcelain glazed and holds heat like a sink should. It drains like a sink should too, double drainboards at that.

We modeled our kitchen around this sink, adding nice touches such as the copper tiles and faucet with retro handles. I'm not much for the new jazzy granite tiles, which are very beautiful but cast iron cookware plays havoc with it. Can you imagine the scratches after a couple of long cooking days? I like to be able to sit a hot skillet anywhere, and quickly if need be. That's why our counters are all tile. Affects resale value you say? Ha, in this market? I'd rather have convenience.

I can fit our large canning pots in this sink with plenty of room. And it was perfect for bathing a sitting baby. With such large drainboards she could splash her heart out and it was all good! Soap suds galore (and photos to embarrass her in front of her special someone, someday).

Catawissa Cucumber Dills - Missouri Delights

These will be the first, the best, the most tasty Catawissa Cucumber Dills this side of Calvey Creek. Refrigerator style this time.

All brined up and ready to go!

Add some goodies to the jars.

We ended up with four pints of crunchy dills on the way!

Stormy Sunday

I captured this wonderfully ominous cloud floating by the house yesterday just before the skies opened up with buckets of rain. Fortunately we had no damage in our immediate area and it took over the chore of watering our co-op garden that has been sweltering under almost 100 degree temps for several days. I also got a reprieve from washing all the blankets and sheets since they have to dry on the line. Sometimes you're just forced to relax!

Zucchini Relish Pressure Canned

Six pints of Zucchini Relish pressure canned using our first harvests.

My husband wondered why on earth I would plant so terribly many zucchini plants. You can only eat so many grilled and the bread would need to be frozen. He's a meat and potato guy, vegetables are a necessary evil and they had better have flavor. This has FLAVOR.

The relish started with 12 cups of zucchini adding some cucumber, green and red pepper, onion, and salt and let it sit overnight. Next drain, rinse and squeeze out extra liquid.

Place it in a saucepan with sugar, vinegar, nutmeg, turmeric, horseradish and chili pepper. Cook it up for about 45 minutes. It will begin to yellow, I assume from the turmeric.

Prepare jars and lids. Fill jars and place in the canner.

I was wondering if this would be too hot. It's not.
I was wondering if this would be too much like hot dog relish. It's not.

You can eat this before cooking it- as a wonderful salad, much like a shoepeg corn salad, sort of tangy like coleslaw. The aroma while cooking was wonderful. After cooking it thickened to a relish consistency.

I just don't know if I'll enjoy it as a side dish or top off a nice sausage. Either way, it'll be great.

What Squash is This?

I didn't expect this. I kept waiting for it to turn either green or yellow; however, here it is light green with some very light ridges. I either planted seed (no photo on the package) or the variety I may have purchased was mislabeled. Any ideas?

Who Lives Here?

I tried to find
the little door way,
or the quaint shuttered window
sporting flowers from May,

And the tiny frog, who inside must dwell,
Oh where did this come from, I simply can't tell.

I looked up and down,
I looked round and round,
but not even one single frog could be found.

No little mouse sporting a jacket so fine,
not even a dwarf, grumpy all the time.

Perhaps it isn't a fairy tale home,
Not a wild spore, carried off by a gnome

Maybe it's just one of those things,
That we don't plant, but nature brings.

(My goodness this is a large mushroom. I saw it from across the yard. It must be almost six inches tall. I had to take a photo and write a corny poem!)

mushroom house credit

re-linked 9/21/11