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This And That

I could get used to only writing a column every other week. The Courier hasn't had room for my drivel a couple of times lately, so I've enjoyed those "free" Mondays. The problem is remembering which Monday is the one I need to sit down and put pen to paper. (The polishing occurs when I rewrite this using my iPad - if you can call my finished work polished.)

The heat has arrived, along with less rain. This means I have been putting the drip system to work, watering half the garden at a time. I'll leave the water on overnight so I can run a sprinkler on the lawn and flowerbeds during the day. I almost need to set a timer so I remember to move the sprinkler occasionally. I try to hand water the flowerpots in the cool of the evening. When it's really hot, they appreciate a drink daily.

The garden isn't thrilling me as much as in years past. It seems to me its slower to produce what I want. The cucumbers are stunted. The pumpkins are non-existent. The tomatoes are slow to blossom and set fruit, as are the squash. There's a half a row where nothing grew. The eggplants and okra are pitiful, just bare, puny stems really. (I'll not try either of those again.) The radishes all bolted immediately. The onions all got too big too fast, and the seed onions didn't sprout. Even the flowers are way behind.

The beets, however, are flourishing. Twelve jars were canned one afternoon last week. There could have been an unlucky 13 jars, but I ate some and kept enough for another meal. (The stained fingernails are fading back to normal. I swear I'll wear gloves next time.) The turnips are also thriving. I should blanch and freeze some of those before they get too big.

The birds are feasting on the regular peas. The pods are pecked open and emptied out. There's a large commotion and flocks of mourning doves flutter away when I approach. I have managed to get enough snow peas and Chinese pea pods to freeze some packages. I've also enjoyed them stir-fried, with chopped shallot, onion, broccoli, red pepper (purchased), using olive oil, salt substitute, and goat cheese melted in. Heavenly. The birds are just discovering those peas. Guess I'll have to use the netting again next summer.

It's raspberry picking season again. I'll be out in that patch of garden daily for the next few weeks. I do have eight packages frozen already, and we are eating our fill. I enjoyed some on my French toast this morning, and another helping with my double-chocolate gelato this evening. Of course I eat them sun-warmed whilst picking also. Somehow I never tire of consuming raspberries. (Picking, yes, consuming, no.)

Dennis bought a wood chipper at my request for our anniversary. Don't scoff at my wants, please. I've finally put it to work. I'm planning a new flowerbed under the big tree out front. Its roots are bumping up all over the place, making mowing under and around it difficult. The grass that's there needs to be gone first, so I weed-whacked the tar out of it, then layered the bare space with newspaper and cardboard. Those layers were anchored in place with large rocks, and then a lot of wood chips. All those downed tree branches I've picked up over the years are finally coming in handy. (This will be an ongoing project, so be prepared to read more about it in the future.)

 

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