Saturday, August 4, 2012

Garden update and scary Alida!

There will likely be fewer posts in the coming weeks. In short because August is upon us.  That normally means the convergence of several things:  Kali's birthday (and her never "normal" birthday parties), tomatoes ripening, and my work ramping up for the new school year.  Not much down time for blogging (or much else).  Kali just returned from a very fun visit with grandparents and one of her cousins in West Virginia. Not surprisingly, she is spending most of today introverting with her books. 

While she is reading and the baby is napping, I'll let the pile of dishes sit for just a bit longer as there are a few things worth noting, particularly one thing that to others may not seem all that noteworthy.  Jason has finally given in and used row cover!  He dislikes it, but also doesn't like that we haven't been able to grow certain things successfully - so there are some fall cole crops hiding away under the stuff (and I happen to think he was able to make it look quite tidy).

While those are growing, we are enjoying many other fruits of our labor (and some things not due to our labor).  The potatoes are mostly dug and drying in the garage, with the onions (Alida helped with both!).  The garlic is processed and being put to good use already.  The last of the beets have been pulled and the beet greens utilized and another round of beets has been planted.  Our first round of strings beans has been consumed or tucked away in canning jars or the freezer and the next round is just days from the first picking.  We continue to enjoy an abundant supply of lambs quarter, amaranth and chard - for whenever green dough or noodles are in the making (which will be later today).  The chickens are ramping up their egg production, with new ones starting in several weeks before Jason was expecting them to.  We get a cucumber every now and then from our garden, and many every now and then from friends who have an abundance.  The squash didn't survive long, but it seems that when one is looking for summer squash at this time of year there are usually folks just hoping they will find someone to take some off their hands - we've been happy to provide that service!  And, I haven't mentioned tomatoes.  We are eating them to our heart's content and the first batch of sauce is in the freezer with more to join it soon.  Peppers are ready to eat if you want green ones but we are holding out for truly ripe peppers.  Salsa making is just around the corner! 

Our basil plants are flourishing after a rough start due to slugs.  I'm enjoying making several batches of pesto here and there and have a helper cleaning out the blender.  No, she does not like anything with it (unless it is just a conduit for the pesto, which she licks off and then returns for replenishing):



Another favorite of Alida's right now is cucumbers IF they are in cucumber dill salad and if she can have all the leftover dressing.  I think she would drink the stuff if we allowed it:



Time to turn my attention to plans for "New Fool's Day" which will be celebrated at our home two weeks from today in honor of Kali's 9th birthday!  A report on those festivities very well may be the next update.  In the meantime, if you need a little scare, you can hang in there for one more video.  

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