Garden was skunked, ever so mildly, but enough to notice. FIT really worked, took all of the added aroma away from my hard work. Now on to the cooking and freezing.

1. This is my first experience with blueberry picking. For those of you who live in areas where you cant and WOULDN'T blueberry pick, this is how it is done. We drove out to some farm in the middle of somewhere, New York. My friend, who is an experienced picker, assured me this was the best place, for the quality and price.  Plus, we'd get home in time for lunch.
I was instructed on  how to prepare for this quest, by donning a two belted construction strung through the handle of a pail, and slung over my shoulder, and across my chest.
They grow on bushes that stand between 3 and 5ft. tall.
I was then told, to massage the clumps of berries. And it works! They fall into your hands.

2. Rinse and remove twigs, spiders, and grass hoppers that land on your refrigerator.

3. Frozen blueberries placed in a two cup freezer bag, for yummy pancakes this winter.

This has been one of the nicest plants I have acquired this summer. It thrives in hot sun and has bloomed all summer. Very pretty show.

Cucumber Frame Project

This is not a ladder. This is what my husband made for my cucumbers to climb on, because I borrowed his ladder last year, and he was not happy about it.



Some New friends

Hello all,
Life has been a bit unsettling, but maybe I am back on track. My garden is a place of peace for me, and I am sure for all of you. One of the many  wonderful things about gardening is, we can always go back or start over.
When we started building this house, almost 3 years ago, we had no idea what was in store for us. Well, I can't say it was an enjoyable adventure, but we have come up on the up side, and it has become our home, but I would never do it again.
I love all your blogs, and  have followed you from time to time while I was away from my own. You are humours, inspiring, educational, and compassionate. Thank you one and all for being here.

MAKING MY WAY BACK

December Bits

It has been a very good year, in the new house. I actually feel like we are at home now. This will be our second Christmas here.
Finding and getting that star up there was no small feat. Blown up Santas and other assorted lawn ornaments were easy to find. I'm glad we persevered. I think it looks good.
Merry Christmas to all and best wishes to all in the coming Year!

Just wanted to share with you, a new friend I spotted early one November morning. He had a few females with him.

Adventures with Leeks

I pushed the harvesting until November. My reading said October for leeks. Our weather has been mild, so I gave it a try. I planted a four foot row. I didn't know what I was doing, and didn't thin them. You are suppose to build sand up around the bottom, to keep them white. I didn't do that either, since I am a lazy gardener.
This defiantly was a labor of love. I love leek soup, but I don't think I will be growing or harvesting leeks again. There's the twice trimming while growing, the picking, more trimming, washing and more washing. Then I laid them on trays to be placed into the freezer, so they wouldn't stick together. When they were frozen, I tucked small bunches into freezer bags, and refroze.
If anyone has a good potato and leek soup recipe, they'd like to pass along, please let me know.

Your Opinion Greatly Appreciated

Here is the current problem, a tree may fall. This tree is on my new neighbor's property. The root base is exposed on my side of the property line. The stick in the back round marks the line. Beyond the stick is a water run off drain. When we had our house built last year, we requested some trees be left on our property. I am satisfied with those. When they leveled our land for water run off, that is when I realized the current problem.

Well I thought when the new neighbors bought the land they would see the problem with this tree and have their builder remove it. Nope!

So fellow bloggers, what would be a good band aide for my side of the stick. I thought a stone retaining wall as high as the roots, on my side of the line, might help. We could shovel in some dirt to protect the roots, for awhile anyway. I don't know how that would work in the future.

What do you think? Have at it people!

And by the way, yes I have been a negligent blogger, and I am sorry. I must confess, I have an a addiction, and it is a game called Wizard101. Just can't stop playing. Don't go there, you will get sucked in, your family will never be able to shop or check their email again.