Trips

Front view

Back view

make their own root beer

part of veggie garden

Ended the summer with several trips.  Went to see Steve in Delaware and stopped at Monticello and at my cousin's (Frank) house overnight on the way. Monticello was very interesting. Hadn't been there since I was a kid. I was very envious of their vegetable garden - no bugs and lots of produce.  Not sure how they do it. Say there are no pesticides. Guess it's location, location, location.

Loved meeting Frank's wife, Caroline, and cannot believe I never took a picture. Their house is lovely as was their hospitality.

Then on to visit family in Delaware. Besides Stephen, Betsy's family, Margaret, and Dorothy's extended family all vacationing there too. And of course my good friends, Maureen and Charlie.

All went to at least one of Kelsey's performances. Major tennis event on Friday with Scheres. Lots of catching up with Margaret and learning about her new life in Akkra.
Fun was had by all. Apologies to those not pictured, I didn't take most of these, and kept forgetting my camera.

After this trip, back to Va for several days of canning/freezing before off on the next one - beans, squash, more beans, a couple of tomatoes, pickles, hot pepper jelly.



Sum, Sue, Betsy, Kate

Various Scheres and Morandis

Clark, Chloe, Me and Steve



Margaret, Maureen, Charlie, Steve before performance





Little Behind

Lower garden- limas, beans, cabbage

Well it's really Sept now, but I still have August pictures. So trying to catch up. At end of August, the garden is still producing lots of beans, cucumbers, yellow squash, lettuce, cabbage (one left unpicked), peppers, and a couple of lima beans. And of course, many weeds!

I did pick beans, cabbage, and squash before I left and gave some away and froze several servings. The cucumbers I put in a box with a free sign outside and they were gone quickly. Not everyone's came in this year, so hopefully someone is enjoying them.

The grapes are starting to turn and hopefully will be ready to pick when I get back to Va next weekend. There won't be many but enough I hope for a couple of recipes of jelly - we'll see!


There are still many flowers in bloom though some are what are considered weeds.. still quite colorful and beautiful.

The anemones (definitely not weeds) are just starting. Very pretty and have spread a little this year. The phlox are all over the place as are the goldenrod, a yellow daisy like flower who's name I cannot remember, Queen Anne's Lace, the ever present sweet pea, and chickory and other little flowers by the road.

Phlox

Queen Anne's Lace

Anemone

Goldenrod and some sweet pea at base

There are still a few others things where blooms are just fading. There were actually a few days of no rain before I left.. so got some of the herb garden weeded and cut back for the fall. Pulled out a lot more of the dead tomatoes too but still one section to go!

August 17 - it's getting chilly at night already

Well I did go back to the Highland Festival and went to Art Museum, rode through the Sinking Springs Cemetery (though missed the lecture/walk- which would have been interesting, I'm sure), and bought a few presents. But as I tried to take pictures, I realized the disk for the camera was not in my camera but still in my PC. Whoops.


beetles - yuk!

we have a few grapes

Not as many flowers as earlier this year, but there are still some things blooming!  The Japanese beetles are trying to eat as many leaves as possible, so a lot of things don't look very pretty.  The grape leaves are easy to see through because of all the nibbles; yet to be determined if the grapes will ripen in time for me to use them. Only two vines have any grapes this year.

Hostas

Touch-me-not

The Hostas are blooming and look very beautiful. The touch-me-nots, goldenrod, phlox, bittersweet nightshade, and the Hydrangeas all have blooms still. And then several of the common roadside weeds - Queen Anne's Lace, Chicory, Pokeweed, Sweet Pea, and others of which I don't know the names. 



Pokeweed



Sweetpea

Queen Anne's Lace

Peaches

Went to Charlotte with my sister-in-law and we had a fun time. Before I left, I started a new batch of sauerkraut. Had second thoughts about the piece of cabbage on the top, but it was cute so had to take a picture..  This still has some time to "mature", so will see how this comes out.  Also made a bunch of Zucchini Bread - some for UMW since I was hostess the night before we left (along with zucchini quiche)- and some as gifts for Nicole and Zoe.   Also canned some peaches.



Sauerkraut- version 2
 

 When we got back from Charlotte, I canned more green beans, made yellow squash relish, salsa (partly with my tomatoes of which we don't have many, and partly canned from last year), canned more peaches, and made green dill relish too. I've picked all the peaches, but a few aren't totally ripe so are sitting in a bag.. Hopefully will be ripe in next day or so and I can make a dessert with them.

One would never know it is August. We have very cool nights - mostly in the 60's but one night think it was in low 50's and the days are only 70ish. Pleasant to be outside for sure, though lots of little bugs everywhere from all the rain.

We got a new VOIP phone system; having some problems with it versus my cell phone, but hope to figure that out soon.

That's all for now.





August has arrived

I'm a little late getting to posting blogs, so two for different times period will be coming your way today.  While my sisters were here, a piece of metal came out of the old kitchen faucet and though we could still get water, as one of my brother-in-laws said, "this faucet works in a really unusual way."  Ha ha. We ordered a new one and with help of Nelson's brother-in-law, Butch, it is finally installed. I like it. It's higher than the last one so makes it easier to fill up the canning kettle and corn pot!

Nelson had a friend here and he showed us how to cook corn in the microwave and have the ear just slide out of it's casing - no silk or anything. Really cool and tasted great; we did 6 ears that way. Next day the microwave stopped working and hasn't worked since. Not sure it was really the corn, more likely a combination of things.   However, had to order a new one. We were very careful to make sure it was right size to fit onto our shelf - But of course, best laid plans! First, not really the size told to us by manufacturer and second, instructions say do not install over or near a range or other source of heat or steam. So much for all the canning and cooking veggies on the stove under the microwave..  But apparently all the new microwaves indicate the same thing.  Expect having it there really was the contributing factor to the microwave going bad. So we are again re-arranging the kitchen. Not yet done.. 

Made some Dixie Relish that uses cabbage- trying hard to figure out what to do with cabbage. Can only make so much coleslaw and Nelson won't eat any of anything made with cabbage (if he knows it's in there) other than sauerkraut. Will have to make some more of that.

The annual Abingdon Highland Festival started this week and so for all (especially you , Kathy T) who have missed it, here are some pictures from the wonderful quilt exhibit. All quilts made by people from Appalachia - some of them quite old and with interesting histories. Here are just a few:

very intricate; every flower and leaf is
individually stitched 

One of my favs- picture doesn't do
it justice; cannot figure out
 how it gets to look 3-D

Love the design and colors

Great kid quilt



Jelly beans with old-time pictures
Precious

 Garlic man

Walked from 10:15 until I left Abingdon at 4:00 - this quilt exhibit was less than an hour of that time, but forgot to take other pictures.

Started at the antique market (costs $5 to get in) but have great stuff and you can learn much even if not in the market for real antiques. They were beautiful.

Then went down to the juried art show and enjoyed that as well. Bought Garlic Man (isn't he cute?) to store my garlic in Florida, from a very talented artist who was working on creating tiles when I was in the Arts Depot.

Then went to the arts and crafts fair and bought two knobs for my new cabinet. I cannot get one of the old ones off yet, so can't show the updated knobs. Also a fan pull - haven't decided where that goes yet. And one matted, but not framed picture - from Nostalgic Art.  Was a fun but tiring day and didn't accomplish all I wanted. Have to decide if I am going back or not.

Tomorrow however, will not be the day. Getting my hair cut and neighbor coming for dinner.

End of July

In last post mentioned some info I found for Kathy, my neighbor, that might have related to the stones she was finding with names on her property! We think we solved the mystery. Based on info I gave her, she found GPS coordinates of the cemetery referenced and off Doug, Kathy and I went on a walk to find it.  On the way, we passed cattle, climbed some fences (no pictures of our inappropriate behavior), saw beautiful vistas, and then finally came upon the cemetery as described. Olive had concreted over the area and placed the tombstones on top of where each grave was. We believe the stones in Kathy and Doug's yard were brought home by Olive and we think they were footstones to the graves. The headstones had full names, and these stones have initials plus last name.  There are several graves in the site we went to that they have not found stones at their house for, but that could be there were no foot stones, or that they just haven't found them all.  It was an interesting find.. and we didn't get caught trespassing. Not sure owner would really care, but you never know and we aren't sure whose property this is at this point.

Then onto making a yellow squash relish. haven't made before, but tasted after I finished and really liked it. It will be good with chicken, port, or fish. Starts with cutting up yellow squash, onions, peppers, multiple colors, then adding spices, sugar, vinegar, etc.  Boil then into jars and a boiling water bath which seals the jars. Yum - yum.

cooking the relish

Final Product

Later it rained overnight. When I looked at the window on last day of the month, there were rain drops on the clothes line and just hanging off these can holders out by the garden. What a beautiful morning sight.










Harvest continues slowly

Shredded

3 lb cabbage

This weekend was pickle-making time. Made three kinds of pickles.

This is our first year growing cabbage. Much to Nelson's dismay, since not much of a cabbage lover, we were given a number of cabbage plants that got put in his part of the garden. The plants got big and then suddenly there were heads of cabbage. Harry Joe, our local go-to gardener, told us we could harvest in August when the heads became firm. I tested out a few this morning and decided to harvest two of them.  It's an art, I guess but hope to get better at it.  The first one I cut open probably was a little early to pick; it could have been denser, but was usable never-the-less. The other one was definitely ready.

So it was Sauerkraut Day. First, I made brine with salt, water and vinegar. Then I removed the outer leaves - they are quite tough. Then you shred the cabbage and pack in jars. You then pour the brine over the cabbage, put the tops on loosely and store them someplace where if they overflow, there is no problem. They are out in my fruit cellar. Made 5 quarts from the two cabbage heads.  Will check them periodically to see how they are doing and in 2-3 weeks they should be ready. Then they get processed to seal the jars.   Hope it comes out. HJ says it's delicious when done this way - his family recipe.



could have been denser


Also picked green beans and some peppers today, but not enough to bother canning yet.  We had some for dinner. Lots of little green beans forming, so will check again Wednesday for more.  Gave Luci a couple zucchinis, even those are growing slowly.

Brine added; now fermenting

Tomatoes are really not doing well. Get little tastes but won't be canning from my garden this year, until the romas get ripe, if ever. Lots of little romas out there, but green as can be. The early girls are not doing well - think they have blight.

I'm not sure we ever got into the 70's today. It's seemed chilly to me all day.  Yes I am a wimp.