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Wednesday, July 22, 2015

There was a naked pie, even more to love about zucchini and a blindingly clean refrigerator.

I am still on a high from a four-day weekend.  My youngest sister (AKA Auntie Baby) drove up for an extended stay and spent two whole days with me.  This is something of a rarity.  In thinking back, it's amazing that so much got done and I was all relaxed about it.

A Naked Pie was made and consumed (made from a recipe in this wonderful cookbook).  We discovered that zucchini noodles are FABulous tossed with a spicy peanut sauce.  Zucchini is also FABulous as the basis for a raw salad with olives, chopped lettuce, and other bits and bobs from my..... AMAZINGLY CLEAN REFRIGERATOR.

Honestly, Auntie Baby actually gets a thrill from cleaning the inside of refrigerators.  And she is thorough - every shelf, drawer and cubby got cleaned.  It is so wonderful that I just open it and admire it twice a day.  And, no, you cannot have her.

I couldn't find my potholders.
Clever Auntie Baby came up with a
temporary fix.
The dogs got lots of attention.  Scrappy, who has been shedding like a maple tree in spring, got six brushings and is sleek and shed-free (almost).  Pepperoni is still rather depressed at her leaving. 

We did lots of cooking, cleaning, weeding, and squeezed in a trip to the local Peace Pagoda.  I have been meaning to visit for more than five years.  It was beautiful and peaceful - you cannot enter the pagoda, but there is a temple where you can sit and meditate and think peaceful thoughts, while the breezes waft through.  There is even a Pagoda dog - a large, sweet black lab.

We also went on my annual Peach Pilgrimage and picked up four pecks of Georgia peaches - some for friends and family. 

Besides lots of family visiting, I took Scrappy to the vet, as I had discovered a lump on his leg.  The decision was benign, as it was small, localized and not attached.  Thank you, Universe.  I then went through McDonald's drive-thru and bought my boy a breakfast biscuit sandwich.  He was in Heaven - riding shotgun, nibbling on his bacon cheese biscuit. 

I got things ticked off my list - the run in shed is finished, except for finishing staining the outside.  I am hoping that the weekend weather cooperates, but it's been pretty wild.  Saturday was HOT and humid.  Sunday was HOT and humid with a violent thunderstorm in the late afternoon - a bolt of lightning hit across the street, sending us all in the air and Pepper running for his Auntie Baby.

First tomatoes!

Pole beans, wax beans, potted
squash

Sad, sad garlic.
The garden is so-so this year.  Most of it is due to the fact that I was just not on the ball this spring.  Seeds got in late, the weather was/is crappy, yadda, yadda.  My garlic is the worst that it's ever been.  I have to pull it very early this year.  I ended up sticking a couple of squash plants in a pot, instead of building up a nice hill.  I've harvested one - with gnaw-marks from the dreaded chipmunks.  But the pole beans finally took off and I have a lot of blossoms.  I've just started picking wax beans and cukes, and there have been a few tomatoes and one purple jalapeno.  Everything needs to be weeded - I'm not holding out much hope for the onions this year.  The potatoes are in fine greenery with flowers, but one never knows until you get in there and dig. 

I did not get to the herb bed this year.  It needs to be re-framed and amended, but that will be a job for next year.  Instead, I potted all my herbs and have them on the deck.  It has worked out well, so far.  At least the rabbits haven't figured out how to get on the deck and chew down my parsley!

25 comments:

Charade said...

Lucky you - I just love a sparkling clean refrigerator. In fact, I'm right in the middle of writing a humor piece wondering where all that dirt comes from.
Now, I don't mean to be a smart-mouth, but exactly how does one lose their pot holders? :-0

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Fun, fun, fun, and a clean fridge too! I'm about to head out and see if it's dried up after 2 days. Yesterday it was very wet yet. I am hoping to get a few more potatoes. I think my zucchini plants are dying off too. Not a one in this heat this week.

Mama Pea said...

I've been looking at the innards of my refrigerator for a couple of weeks now thinking it really NEEDS to be amazingly clean. (Or amazingly cleaned. Or something.) However, I have no sister to come do the job. It's up to me and I know there are some things in there that will be downright scary. I must gather up my courage.

Your garden is ahead of mine. Heck, I think EVERYBODY'S garden is ahead of mine.

You cannot claim to have the saddest looking garlic. Mine looks worse than that. Should I post a picture to prove it? I can do that.

Lastly, I'm with Charade. How DO you lose your potholders?

Susan said...

Charade - I have no idea how I lost my potholder. I swear it was right there! I did find ONE. I must have a kitchen imp in residence.

Susan said...

Kristina - It has been even more challenging to have a garden this year than last. And last year I thought it was the worst! I think we are all due for a good growing season!

Susan said...

Mama Pea - Your garlic is worster than mine? Egads! You know, I am completely flummoxed about the potholder gone missing. I haven't gotten up the nerve to look under furniture yet....the inside of the fridge was scary enough. Especially when AB said, "You have a scraper?"

Carolyn said...

Wow. A relative that cleans the fridge AND helps with the weeding, cooking, etc?? A definite keeper :)
PS - I'll trade you your hot & humid for our Hot & humid any day. I render whilst outside wading through the jungle of weeds.

jaz@octoberfarm said...

my sister is an asshole...i am glad yours isn't! my pepper plants are like 4 feet tall and just started making peppers, very weird!

Lynda said...

Love your sister's hot pad redo...awesome. I love folks that can quickly think outside the box.

Fiona said...

Surprisingly I have packed my potholders.....but not my winter boots?
Your garden might not be perfect but it looks tasty!

Sue said...

My garlic turned yellow but wasn't done either. I don't know about this year. Most things are doing terrific, but the garlic was really disappointing.

Buttons Thoughts said...

Time with "Auntie Baby" is just what you needed. Oh I am distracted as I am laughing at Jaz comment. Sad but her wording, it could be just that I am tired. Looks good and tasty your garden does. HUG B

Sandy Livesay said...

Susan,

I want to borrow Auntie Baby!!!! She a life saver, glad you and your sister get along so well. Your garden beds look pretty nice girl, I don't know what you're talking about. And those tomatoes, a very nice first harvest :-)
I think you're too hard on yourself when it comes to your garden.
Soon you'll be harvesting some really nice potatoes!!! My second planting of potatoes have popped out of the ground, I can't wait to harvest those babies and set them beside my 1st harvest for eating later.

Hugs,
Sandy

Casa Mariposa said...

My garlic comes from the grocery store so yours is the best ever. :) Sounds like a wonderful and much needed break for you. :o)

Susan said...

Carolyn - Oh, no. YOU keep your hot & humid! It's quite enough humid-y here for me. I would melt into a grease spot down there!

Susan said...

Jaz - Well, then. I'm glad, too. I looked at your photos - those are ginormous pepper plants! Mine are the opposite - teeny little plants with peppers. Weird is right.

Susan said...

Lynda - She's very creative. Plus her brain cells are younger than mine.

Susan said...

Fiona - That gave me a good laugh! I would bet everything is at sixes and sevens right now. Packing and moving are right up there on my fun list with cleaning the bathroom and the oven!

Susan said...

Sue - I feel a bit better now. I was taking my garlic fail very personally. My wax beans are going gangbusters, while the beets, chard and mustard are piddling along.

Susan said...

Buttons - Are you right in the middle of haying season? No wonder you're tired! I am getting lots of some things and none of others. A very perplexing gardening year.

Susan said...

Sandy - I'll put your name on the list! :) Yes, the three of us have a ball when we are together. Given what you've gone through this year with your garden, I should quit my whining and just enjoy what I have. I am excited about my potato crop - I hope it's a bumper!

Susan said...

CM - There are times when I would love to just be-bop around the market and not have to wring my hands over my garden fails. But, then.... :)

Kelly said...

Your garden looks amazing! Most of mine has perished due to the heavy rains and my darn chickens! This is the 2nd year of no garlic for me thanks to the dust bathing maniacs and I replanted my strawberry patch only to have it demolished AGAIN. I need fence, lots and lots of fence!!!!

Susan said...

Kelly - My chickens are firmly placed behind a six foot wooden fence. Otherwise, it would look like bomb craters in my garden. They are incredibly destructive!

Unknown said...

A dog eating drive thru at McD's! Funny. We've gotten more rain 2 days ago, love it! 80's today, clear and sunny :)