Monday? How can it be Monday?

After a week of wrestling with the small, fat eel, AKA Pepperoni, trying to get his nails trimmed and give him a much needed haircut and bath, I gave up and took him to the groomer on Friday.  There is one on the way to work (big box store) that charges WAY too much.  But it was convenient and I can drop him off early and then pick him up at lunch time.  He got to spend the afternoon in the office with me.  It was sooo exhausting.

What do you mean you don't have treats here?

Wake me when you come to your senses,
woman.



My officemate - whom Pepper adores, as he shares his lunch with him - was on vacation.  Pepper was greatly disappointed and went back to his nap.

Now that processing time has arrived - rather in fits and starts, which works just fine with my little windows of processing opportunity - I've made blueberry jam with the leftover berry mash from my steamer - and it JAMMED, people!  I also made a half-gallon jar of new half dill pickles.  I love pickles but have never been able to can a crunchy dill.  I will get to taste test on Wednesday - fingers and toes crossed, as I have tons of cukes in the garden.  Speaking of tons...

This bad-boy was lurking under some cuke leaves....insert music from Jaws...it was the size of a quart canning jar!  The chickens loved it - and I'm glad I got a photo because I love the colors and patterns.  I may be painting it this winter in all my free time (snort, choke.)

The best thing I can say about it, is that
it's still standing.

Another job almost completed was staining the run-in shed.  I painted as far as I could reach without a ladder - next weekend I will finish it.  I am now forcing myself to finish projects before I start new ones.  It is tough to rein in this frenetic mind.

I had a nice visit and lunch with my parents on Saturday, followed by locking my keys in my car, having a birthday shopping foray flummoxed by a streetwide tag sale and finally locating new tires for my big Bertha wheel barrow.  I had been very remiss over the winter and did not store it wheels-up as I normally do.  The tires were shot and there was a valve problem which rendered it useless.  I am now learning how to remount a tire.  Tricky.

I also had a new friend over for dinner on Sunday - the meal was resplendent (if I do say so myself) with food mostly from the farm.  We spent a very convivial hour or so on the deck with black bean tortilla chips and whipped feta dip.  For the main course, I boned out one of the Nuggets and marinated it in olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper and fresh herbs, then grilled it.  Wax beans were steamed and tossed with bacon and shallots.  The salad was cubed tomatoes with homemade mozzarella (thanks to Jasmine...) and basil.  The whole thing was topped off with homemade peach ice cream.  Yowser!

Kramer was exhausted by the entire process and from all the attention he received.  He is a tall, skinny drink of water.