First Frost

Back to the CSA next summer! I just have to face it.... my little garden spot does not get enough hours of sunshine to grow veggies. Most herbs do well and semi-shade loving flowers do well.
Between the chipmunks, squirrels, shade and insects..... not much to harvest. I did pick a half quart of green beans. The green peppers were there one day and vanished the next! Here is a photo of the full tomato and potato harvest at frost time!

Summer's Bounty

Other people's gardens are bountiful. Not mine!! We had a cool, rainy summer and I have to face it.... I don't get enough sun for veggies. My two rows of green beans yielded 1/2 qt. I have yet to harvest a tomato. The nice fence my husband put up to keep out the deer and bunnies worked just fine. However, the squirrels and chipmunks are stealing the green tomatoes like crazy. They leave them half-eaten all over the yard. The bonus? the flowers are doing very well.... best ever! So, I learned something. I will return to my CSA next summer.

In the meantime, our "honor system" fruit and vegetable stands thrive throughout the region. Most allow you to make your own change! I have included pics of my favorite nearby stand. Also pics of a tart cherry cobbler and early apple pie I made recently.

Ooops! It's August already!

Where does the time go? Summer has been a whirlwind. My sweet little granddaughter, Emily, visited with her parents for a whole month. I was in heaven. So was my little girl corgi whose mothering instincts took over. What a joy to watch little Emi grow and change day by day. Cannot wait to see her again, but when families are spread out across the country one must be patient.

We have had a cool summer in the 70's mostly and plentiful rain. Not much heat to make the garden grow. The fence, however, has kept most of the critters out and there may be a small veggie harvest if frost does not come early.

June Garden.... Ooops! It's July already!

Time flies! Will post the photos of my June garden planting following the late frosts even though the beans are now up.... one row anyway. The second variety didn't take. Planted a nice amount of marigolds to ward off insects, but the marigolds have been eaten!! Who eats marigolds???

In the meantime, sweet cherries are ripe just in time for the National Cherry Festival all this week!
My sweet granddaughter is visiting with her parents. What joy!! So we are busy, busy, busy!

Lilacs and Rhubarb Pie

End of May.... Already!

The month of May went so quickly. My intentions to blog more frequently just aren't coming to fruition... but I will keep trying. It is lilac time here, and time to bake anything with rhubarb. Our annual neighborhood Memorial Day picnic is traditionally held at our house and this year was no different.... great fun with a group of long-time friends on a beautiful day ... not too hot, no rain and just enough breeze to keep the mosquitoes at bay! I will post some photos today of strawberry rhubarb pie-baking and lilacs, of course.... they are so fragrant!

My Granddaughter, Emily

Here we are, Emi and Nonna! Three weeks old and already she is growing out of her
0-3 mo. onesies and sleepers! What a thrill to spend a few days with her in Arizona.
Parents are doing well and baby is sleeping in good long stretches. What a precious
blessing she is!

I am back home thinking Holy Jet Lag! and preparing for Emi's visit later in the summer
when it is way too hot in the desert.