Yummy!

As you may have guessed, the pickles I made a couple weeks ago are kind of vinegary. I didn’t dilute it enough. The flavor is otherwise pretty good!

Veggie Haul

I got to the Farmer’s Market, and some friends shared their bounty, so I’m covered up with produce right now. I’ve frozen some strawberries.  I got some Muscadine grapes.

I have three kinds of apples from my friends: Fuji, Red Delicious, and Yellow Delicious. I’ll cut the apples up for dried apple rings, and maybe make a pint of pie filling. I ate one of the Fuji, and they are tasty. We have “Cedar Rust” around here, so the apples don’t look so good, while they are otherwise unaffected by it. My friends included a few pears, which are for immediate eating. (YUM!)

I got a “Sugar Baby” watermelon from the Market. I’m unimpressed. It’s another seedless watermelon, and I like the seeded kind better. Also, the skin is pretty thick to cut into.

I have tomatoes and peppers in abundance. I even picked up some fresh chilis. I have both sweet and hot banana peppers, bell peppers and a couple of another type pepper that I’m not sure what it is. I have Roma-style tomatoes, slicing tomatoes, and cherry tomatoes. Those are all for my salads and tacos. I’ll pickle the banana peppers, freeze the bell peppers, and dry the chilis.

Then, there are two kinds of zucchini. I plan on making lasagna and spaghetti with those. I may make a loaf of bread or freeze some of it since I’m not eating wheat.

I got a dozen farm-raised eggs, and I’ve been eating them. I have 2 dozen from Walmart, but farm-raised is always better. The Walmart eggs will keep a week or so while I eat these.

I picked up four cloves of garlic. I got one head of Cos lettuce, some cucumbers for more pickles, honey mushrooms from a certified mushroom forager, and a nodding onion from the garden. Yep, the garden!

I Got a Garden Plot!

I finally got a garden plot over at Carver Community Gardens! It took 3 years, but I got it. It’s HUGE!! Fifteen by twenty! At least it seems huge right now. I’ll have it cleared and then start planting a fall garden. The plot comes with a composting bin, and I’ll start saving kitchen scraps when I get that figured out.

The heat is still oppressive for me. I’ve had some bad reactions and some dehydration. Too hot for gardening during the day, so, I’m working my way into a sunup-sundown schedule. I set the clock for an hour earlier all around – including Kitty’s feeding schedule. To make it up in the morning, bedtime is now at least an hour earlier, too.

I’m not where I want to be, but I’m closer to my goal. I want to hit the garden before 7am.

 

Gardener’s Supply Company has an online garden planner. While they don’t have a dedicated fall garden already made up for you, it’s easy to find a list of plants (this one is from Eden Brothers) you should think about planting for fall or winter. I’ll be planting one of the garlic heads (not as a head, mind you) in my garden so that I have garlic next summer and fall.

Life Is What You Make of It

At this stage in my life, I want fresh, cheap food, a healthy lifestyle, and serenity. I want to write my stories in peace, maybe publishing a few as I go along. I want a healthy, happy cat. I want no drama imposed on me by other people, no matter who they are, and I want an income that supports my way of life. Most of the time, I have most of this. I can always “do better” in some area. We all can.

While I included some links in this post, I do not have a relationship with any of the vendors other than as a customer. The links do not pay me, nor do I receive compensation in any form from them. These are unsolicited recommendations and are to be treated that way.