Now - let's talk about gardening, canning, and construction stuff!
Since the freezer was bulging outward from all the produce within, it was time to put some of the bounty to good use - by doing a little bit of canning. Instead of the "Annie's Salsa" that most people are making these days, I chose to use my BIL's recipe that has a southwest kick to it. Afterall, it is hands-down, the best salsa that I've ever eaten. Thanks, Lin!
I ended up with 9 pints for the pantry, and it sure will be good on football Saturdays.
I also made some sweet pickle relish, even though it looks like some kinda freaky dark jelly! Ha! As it was reducing a little bit, I forgot about it, while watching the Auburn game. Yeah.....kinda messed that one up, and don't know if it will be any good or not. If it isn't, i'll likely not make it again, because it was ALOT of work! Whew! Granny, this is the recipe I got from you, and I'm sure that I was supposed to end up with more than 4 half-pints. I really blew it this time. Ha!
While out playing with Jude yesterday, I decided to photograph a few things that you haven't seen in a few weeks/months. Here's the current condition of the shed construction, that hasn't been touched in over a week. Other things are occupying all of my time right now, and I hope to start on the roof within a couple of weeks. Canning the items in the first picture, and juicing 4 gallons of muscadine grapes took up most of my Saturday, and thankfully I have a little breathing room again. If it weren't for my handy little clamps to hold things for me while nailing, there's no way i'd be able to construct this by myself. Hmm...I wonder how much a plane ticket from Washington to Alabama would be.......
Photo below - here's some cuttings from my "October Glory" red maple tree that I hope to propagate into new plants. This propagation thing is really interesting, and will give me something to do during the winter months. I can't watch tv as most people do, because very few things interest me - unless it's football, weather, or something educational. A total of 48 square feet of greenhouse will be constructed sometime in October, and will be used to get the cuttings through the winter, hopefully. As insurance, I rooted 5 more of these cuttings today - as i'd sure like to sell these things next year. Stratification of japanese maple seeds will begin around the middle of January, as I have probably 200 free seeds on hand. Yay! I bet Momma_S will be watching that propagation session, for sure! (She loves Japanese Maple trees)
Photo below - here's one of my deck rail planters with lettuce in it, and it's about ready for the first harvest. Some BT will be in order sometime this week, because the last time they were sprayed was before our trip to the beach. Thankfully, no bugs have found them yet.
In other news, the garden is still producing like crazy, and my friends will receive most harvests in the future. Never in a million years, did I think this little garden would produce like it has. One lonely pumpkin remains on all of the vines, and as soon as it's mature - pumpkin season will be over for me. BUT....let me tell ya - the melons are a whole different story! Oh god...I have little melons everywhere! With 5 weeks left before the possibility of a frost, several should reach maturity. WooHoo!Next weekend will be all about making muscadine grape jelly, and I'm really looking forward to that little canning session. It is a beautiful color when finished, and tastes really good, too! Family in Kentucky will definitely get a jar of that, on our next visit.
Take care, and happy gardening!
EG
13 comments:
Hi EG! I have so much reading to catch up on over here on your blog! I am so glad to see how well your garden is growing. And, a trip down to the beach too? Wow, you drove by very close to where I live :-) Don't you just love Orange Beach? It is my favorite place to go!
EG, I'm officially tagging you for another Meme but don't worry, you don't have to do it again... :-)
I dream of melons in my yard. I succeeded in growing them only once here in our cool summers. That one time was heavenly. Sigh. Supermarket melons just don't make it. Sometimes we get good melons that are actually ripe in season, but usually not.
OMG, EG. That recipe should have made at least 8 half-pints. You'll probably be able to glue your shed together with that sweet relish! You're only supposed to simmer it for 10 minutes...I see a timer on that stove, why didn't you use it? Jeez....you men and your sports.
Shed's looking good, though.
Good luck on the propagating... I am attempting a little myself. We'll see what happens. I would like to propagate my crape myrtle too! I hear those are easy!
Judy - Orange Beach is definitely a beautiful place, and sometimes I forget that it's actually in Alabama. I figured it was pretty close to your house....
AMY - thanks, the last one was a doozy!
Daphne - I'm sorry you don't have the climate for them, they love the heat down here.
Granny - Well, I learned something from it. It's probably not edible, but i'll try it anyway. Is it supposed to be watery when you put it in the jars?
ShawnAnn - i'll try some crapemyrtle someday, and other things as well.
It is pretty syrupy, but thickens up a bit after being in the jars for a bit. If it seems too runny, I use a slotted spoon to fill the jars, then add enough of the liquid to make it look "just right". Leftover syrup can be used for sweet refrigerator pickles.
I don't post very often, but I have to say a couple of things. First, no more shame, buddy. Not one of us have perfection down. Accepting my flaws made me a real person and made it easier for me to love others. I think we all have to live with the cards we are dealt and forgiving ourselves is a priority, even when the forgetting is hard. That energy is a blessing to someone who is depressed all the time, or someone with low self esteem. You handle your self in a way that just keeps us all blessed.
Granny - thanks, as I certainly learned from this experience. I may try it again later!
L.D. - thanks for the kind words. The anxiety from the condition is really what makes it a challenge, because even the smallest decision possesses unbelievable importance. Failure for me is never an option, as in my mind - it's a sign of not being prepared for the situation. It's pretty weird stuff! Ha!
Woow! Seeing my name in a post by EG! I feel like someone famous mentioned my name during their award acceptance speech! Thanks, EG.
Propagation is indeed fun, and interesting. Pre-coast to coast move and pre-garden, I used to do it *too* often with houseplants and succulents (I knew I'd gone overboard when DH asked me to stop). I'm sure that's a cinch compared to trees though...
That's funny.....nobody here famous yet!
Agreed, propagation is very fun. The small greenhouse will make it easier, hopefully.
EG, I remember when I lived in TN and VA and propagation was easy-peasy. Just stick cuttings in soil, and roses, etc. I'm not doing it so much now, though. Trying to finish what's on my plate.
And I'll second the shame stuff -- I know it's part of the OCPD, but you are not your anxiety, and even though it doesn't help to hear that no one is perfect and you can't be (although you do a lot of AMAZING stuff there!), it's true.
Your dog and garden are the better reflection of you than your inner picture, I bet, and they both think you're terrific. Well, not the squash bugs, I bet.
The shed is looking excellent EG! It will certainly come in handy. The canning looks good too.
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