Summer 2014 Wrap-up

Summer is long over, but never posted the last of the pictures and activities. This has been sitting in draft and I just discovered it so is posted out of order.

After going home for a few weeks and lots of Dr appointments, I went back to Va toward end of the month.

Anemones

Wood Asters

End of summer bouquet

Phlox

Lots of fall flowers, including some that are really weeds: Anemones, Wood Asters, Phlox, Goldenrod, Hellenium, Bittersweet Nightshade, some little orange lantern looking things (locals call them ground tomatoes - but don't believe they are edible), sweet peas, and other unknown little purple sprays of flowers.

Corn

Still some vegetables were growing - peppers, a very few tomatoes, lettuce and the last of corn- found as we ripped up the plants.






Packed up then and went to see our daughter and grandsons on the way to my nephew's Delaware wedding. 

Peppers

 

September 2, 2014

Wow Labor Day has come and gone and I am going to FL in 6 days. So much to do....

Potter Beans

Working on finishing canning things and deciding what to pull out what to leave.. Coming back in a couple weeks so will leave things still growing until then. Except for the Potter's beans. Not sure what I was thinking when I planted those so late.

closeup of little green pepper

They are just now starting to flower and I really only like those when they have gotten way past being ready to pick and can eat the beans (hullies as they call them around here). They look really pretty but I have no intention of canning any of those this year. Think I need to pull them out before I leave so there's not temptation when I return; am done with the pressure cooker for this year!. Also, they are overshadowing one of my green peppers which are finally beginning to look like they might actually have more than the one pepper I've gotten off each plant so far.  

Habenero, will turn orange some day

Serrano

Speaking of peppers, Nelson dutifully planted everything our brother-in-law gave us, which included about 10 hot pepper plants. One of each would provided 10 times more than we need of either of these two beauties. I've dried some and Nelson has eaten some. Anyone need any hot peppers? These are the only two varieties we have; my brother-in-law however, also planted Jalapenos (which is really the hot pepper I wanted) and cayenne and has given me some of those to dry as well.

A few weeks ago, I mistakenly thought that my first planted bush beans were about done. Not sure why but they have decided to flower again and just keep on giving me beans.   If they keep going, I will still have green beans when i get back and can take with me to the family reunion.  I've already canned 30 jars, frozen some and dehydrated some and am not getting the pressure canner out again. Been eating a lot beans.I've getting this many everyday and could pick more, just don't know what to do with them

My squash got powdery mildew and I just ignored until yesterday. I found  a home remedy that is supposed to help .. cut off all the affected leaves is first step and then spray with water, milk, baking soda, and  a dash of dish detergent! Sounds crazy but on the internet everyone commented on how quickly it worked.  Didn't think to take a before picture, but can assure you the squash looks 100% better today. Some of those "keep on producing beans" and some limas are right behind the squash.  The limas are little slow as always filling out but picked a few yesterday and am sure there are more out there I could pick.

Tomatoes

Lettuce

Still have a few tomatoes (but those at Luci's are so much better)  in multiple locations around the property but I keep getting Luci's for eating. Using ours to mix in when I make sauce or juice. In fact yesterday, made salsa, canned a few tomatoes, and made some tomato juice. Also canned the mixed

pickles that have fermenting for several weeks.  It was a busy day. 

 My last crop of lettuce is slowly growing and hoping will be usable when John and Barb are here in a three weeks. Found one baby yellow beet hidden under my tomatoes; I had pulled and cooked all the others. I also still have some baby carrots.

Pulled out all but two of the tomatoes on the orchard garden as they were all done. Still need to put all those sticks (aka tomato stakes) away.

Last but not least, the grapes are turning. Only one vine is really ready to pick though I have picked a few grapes from the other vines too.  I've made two batches of jelly and still have many more grapes on the vines. May just juice them and then worry about jelly later, not sure how much time I can spend with them before Sunday and am running out of jars!


Guess that's all for now!

August 22, 2014

Been a while so just thought I'd post a few things. We had three of Nelson's golfing buddies here for several days. They were wonderful guests and we had a good time. They played golf everyday.  I just heated up some frozen appetizers the first night they were here, made dinner the 2nd night. Then they took us out to dinner and the last night two of the guys made a seafood past dinner so there was little work except clean up for me to do. 

I have been feeling tied to the kitchen lately. Once the garden comes in, I can hardly keep up with all that needs to be taken care of and it's also time to dry some herbs to take home. So far have dried oregano, parsley, and tarragon.  Waiting for the most recent dill to get a little bigger. And older dill I will harvest seeds from soon.  I've also dried many vegetables to use in soup - cabbage, yellow squash, zucchini, some small tomatoes (red and yellow) and dragon beans. We'll see how that works.

As you can see from picture on right, I've canned a lot of stuff.

The dry conditions of several weeks ago have been replaced by rain almost everyday though we've only had one stretch of all-day rains. Mostly it rains late afternoon or evening, so it's not so bad. Picked the last of my cabbage yesterday, still have a one head in the refrigerator. Made coleslaw today with the one that was there before. And I have some mixed pickles fermenting that includes cabbage.  Cucumbers are still coming in slowly, but still lots of flowers too.

L & B brought me a lot of tomatoes all at one time so have been able to can quite a few. Ours were coming in, but we never seemed to have enough to can a whole load, so mostly we've just been eating or making sauce with. They have so many, L said she never wants to can another, but now she is making tomato juice.  They also gave me beets, so I canned some of those as well.  I've supplied them with squash and bush beans - though they aren't taking enough of those.

We are starting to have more tomatoes turn ripe though so have picked quite a few in last few days.  We've had a lot of little pear shaped yellow tomatoes. There was a mix up with plants at the school where HJ and Butch start the seeds and things were mis-labeled. Would never had planted all these yellow tomatoes if they have been labeled correctly. But as a result have tried two new Tomato jam recipes - yellow tomato-ginger jam  (okay- but won't make again) and tomato-basil jam (used some red and some yellow) which I like much better. Second time I made that, I added some jalapenos to give it a little more kick. It's good with cream cheese on crackers.  And made a little tomato juice today and used all the yellow tomatoes I had, plus red ones- peculiar color,  but tastes okay. Not sure I will do that again though.

Started to rip out some plants that are finished and cleaned up the herb garden which was very weedy.

Grandma Chloe's childhood home, Brookdale, was sold a few weeks ago and a very nice family (The Brackens) has moved in from California. Philip (he's Irish - love his accent) and Linda and two daughters both recently out of college. They are raising chickens but are trying to decide what else to do on the "farm."    Just got the baby chicks and the girls are enjoying how cute they are.  The previous owners had started a garden, so they are reaping the benefits of that.  All are lovely folks.  I've been invited to stop by and plan to do that soon. 

August 5

Garden looks like it is very healthy, but we sure could use some rain; the ground is very dry.  

The first-planted bush green beans are just about done. Next ones still have some beans and third planting are just starting to produce. Froze some today - canned many two days ago. We also ate some tonight - they were yummy. Also made Salsa yesterday and canned the first batch of sauerkraut.

Yellow squash, zucchini and cucumbers are starting to multiply.   The green peppers are still lagging behind. Think they are looking for some warm weather. Since we are still getting nights in the 50's and 60's they don't seem ready to produce;. They are flowering however, so there is hope!  Corn is getting ready but ears aren't very large - guess who's not happy?

Hibiscus

Lots of interesting flowers weeds around right now.  The Hibiscus are covered with japanese beetles but also bees and humming birds so don't want to spray them. Still can see a few really pretty flowers. 

There are also daisy like weeds, hellenium, goldenrod, butterfly bush, Queen's Anne Lace, orange weed (sure it has another name), Love-in-the-mist, Hostas, etc.

Orange Weed

Queen Anne's Lace

No idea what this is- it's kinda cute though

Peaches are getting ripe! We've had a few on cereal, made a dessert, and tomorrow will start with peach jelly. Soon they will all be ripe and I'll be busy canning them.  We don't have many blackberries, but what we have are ripening a little at a time. Had some in a dessert and have frozen a few. 

Ripe peaches

Blackberries - ripening

Day Three - Asheville and Home again

Last day at the B and B. Beautiful place and lovely breakfasts.

Front of Main house - Cedar Crest Inn

Sweet statue out front

Very elegant setting for breakfast in the main house. They gave us a late check-out so Jon and I took advantage of that to go play tennis before we left. Gave us time to come back and take showers before the drive for the ride home.

Breakfast room at Inn

Side porch where  (2nd story) we entered for Breakfast

Once we left the B and B we drove for a few miles on the Blue Ridge Parkway and stopped at the NC Craft Guild Shop. Several hours later and with a few lighter pocketbooks, we left for home.

It was afternoon before we arrived home and Nelson was at work, trying to finish installing a timer on the switch of the outdoor lights. Still not working correctly, but he's continuing to work on it. Not a happy camper, so we're not discussing and I don't know if any progress is being made.

However he stopped long enough for us to go out for a last dinner with our guests. Good dinner at the Log Cabin Inn. Steaks all around and everyone said they were good.

My sister dug up a lot of Iris and replanted many of them.   They were crowding each other and some growing in the wrong direction.  Still some lying there, waiting for me to replant (as of Sat).  And I picked a few things from garden - cucumbers, squash, and tomatoes. Sent some of them to Tim's with my sister. Friday, once company left, I spent the day in the garden. Picked many beans, tomatoes, cabbage, cucumbers, and squash and trimmed leaves off tomato plants and re-staking.    Once you pick then you also have to do something with all that stuff. Afternoon and evening spent cutting cabbage - another batch of sauerkraut is fermenting and I put about 1/2 head in the dehydrator to see how it would do.. Dried fine, now just have to figure out how to use it so I know if I want to dry any more..  Shredded several zucchini in preparation for making zucchini-oatmeal cookies and of course zucchini bread.  Then cleaned and prepared green beans for canning. Finished that about 11:30PM and then off to bed. Canning tomorrow.

These are just samples - picked much more!

beans

various tomatoes and peppers

Crookneck squash

Trip to Asheville- Day one and two

Took a little vacation from the garden and went to Asheville with my sister and her husband. Beautiful place - great weather. Spent first half day getting to know our Bed & Breakfast and eating.  Did I mention wonderful restaurants too?

We stayed at the Cedar Crest Inn B&B. This B&B has three houses. The main house is victorian and where we have Breakfast every morning. They keep coffee, tea, lemonade, water and wine along with some muffins, cookies and cakes available most of the day. All free- and we've partaken of all.  

We stayed in the Carriage House, just a short walk across this stone parking lot from the main house. There are two bedrooms downstairs (one is a suite) and one 2-bedroom suite upstairs. That is where we are staying. It's the least expensive option at this B&B and we are quite comfortable. We have two bedrooms and one full bath.  There is no one else staying here so we have the living room, kitchen, a powder room (which has a shower and washer and dryer), and the porches all to ourselves too.

Carriage House where we stayed

Carriage House living room

Creperie

The first day we had lunch at the Creperie Bouchon. Wonderful outdoor seating and a very nice lunch.  Jon had a wonderful watermelon gazpacho that I'd love to try and reproduce. Dorothy said her French onion soup was the best she's ever had. I had just read an article about French Fries in Asheville and who had the best; Bouchon was one of those listed, so I had to try. They put Herbs de Provence on them - very tasty..  Walked around Asheville downtown a little and spent some time in an antique store. I bought nothing - what restraint!

Then we went to the B&B and checked in. Had our first cookie and first glass of wine too. Read some on the porch and then some in our house.  Then off to eat again.

The Grove Park Inn (recently became an Omni Hotel) is an historic hotel in Asheville. It is enormous and is built of rocks - some of the newer additions are not, but it is quite a place.

Entrance to Grove Park Inn

View from the restaurant

Sunset Terrace where we ate

Dorothy and Jon at Sunset

High on a hill overlooking both a valley and some of the Blue Ridge Mountains. A beautiful setting and very good dinner.

Back to the house and more reading time - heavenly.


The next morning over to the B&B for breakfast: Fruit, muffin, some scrambled eggs with a nice piece of bacon and a piece of thick french toast. Lost of coffee.  Roll me out....

Then on to the Biltmore House and Gardens. We spent most of our time in the Gardens.  Did I mention I was with Dorothy? Gardens are beautiful.

Yellow fsection

Orange and Red garden

Annuals in high baskets
in the rose garden

White Garden

On Biltmore Porch

Eventually we got to the house. You cannot take pictures inside but can on a back porch. It's an enormous porch though you only see two chairs here. There must be 12 groups like this of chairs, tables, all 3-4 feet apart. The room just before this was a used during WW2 to store famous works of art by the Masters  taken from Washington Art gallery for protection. It had been reinforced and hidden from the house but is now open and wooden panels put on the walls.  The library is really an impressive room as well. Massive size and beautifully decorated; could have stayed there and read all day, if only he had invited me to visit.

Cut our visit short though to get to our reservation for High Tea at the Biltmore Inn.  After our "Amuse Bouche" of peppered watermelon, we smelled all the concoctions of tea and made our choices for which tea to have. Mine has the aromas of herb de provence.

Sandwiches at Tea

Then there were sandwiches - all yummy. This was followed by cheese with crackers and honey and four raspberries to share. Then followed the desserts - I forgot to take a picture of those - three tiers of plates.. we at some of each.  Waddled back to the car.  Then to the garden store at the Biltmore. Lots of pretty things, but only Dorothy bought anything,

Then Jon and I did a wine tasting. Might have been all that sweet stuff earlier but neither of us liked the wine enough to buy any.
Back to the B&B. Reading time.

Eventually we went out for a late bite, but instead ended up at a CVS buying cereal and milk and had that at the B&B about 10:30 at night. Why- not quite sure but it was good cereal.

Dry weather

chicory and some daisy like weeds

delicate white weed

We have only had one day of rain in a long time, so things are pretty dry. The weeds sure like it though and have been throwing up some beautiful flowers. Here are some of them.

Sweet pea and Queen's Anne Lace

yellow flowers in lawn

There are a few non-weed plants that are blooming too and are very pretty. There are Blue Hydrangeas, Hostas, Daylilies, and Rose of Sharon. The Japanese Beetles, Bees, and Humming Birds are fighting over these. Speaking of Japanese Beetles, they are everywhere. They love the grape leaves but so far don't seem to be totally ruining the grapes. We are trying to keep them under control but loosing the battle.

Grapes among beetle eaten leaves

Hostas

Rose of Sharon



Yellow Day Lilies

hydrangeas

The garden is doing pretty well but of course we've had to water it pretty often. But it's beginning to produce finally - yeah!

We've got beans starting to come in (string beans and dragon beans); the peppers are starting to show up - green, jalapeno and banana (these are the most prolific so far.)  I've picked a few small zucchini and see some yellow squash starting. I even see my miniature eggplant seems to have 2 eggplant on the plant - be interested to see if it ever gets big enough to eat.

Green pepper

Bolting Lettuce- pretty white flowers



Slim pickings but pickings- tomatoes, dragon beans, one jalapeno

Beans emerging

The new rows of beans that were planted after the onions were harvested have broken through. Those that were soaked first did come up earlier. So will have to remember that for next year.

My brother and a friend were here and we  (and guests) feasted Thursday night with some veggies he brought from his garden and some things I made and pies by Anna Ray (the best pie maker ever)! They have gone off camping for a few days but plan to return sometime.

That's all for this week. Hope all these pictures made up for last weeks :)