Category: The Seasons

Hubby came in today and announced that the peaches are getting close to being ready to harvest! Get ready!!!

What this means is, that I must get in gear and ready to make my world famous “Heavenly Peach Jam” as well as can some peach halves for the winter.

My peach jam is probably our favorite jam to eat in the morning. It just tastes so very good. So, I try to make a lot of that. Hopefully 2 dozen jars this year.

I also like to can peach halves. Some in simple lite syrup, and some in brandy. Yeah, I do like brandied peaches on a cold winter’s night!

After that we will be canning Plum Jam. I love that too, although not as much as the Peach Jam. Still I think at least 12 jars will be good.

I also went out and looked today at our Concord Grape vines! Friends and Family, you lucky devils! Looks like another banner year for grapes and “Grape Jelly”! I will make as much juice as I can and freeze some if I have to. Grape Jelly is probably everyone’s favorite!

Apple time doesn’t come until the fall, and then we’ll be making applesauce and I would love to make apple jelly, but we will see. That would be a first. I’d love to make applesauce for Savannah, for when she starts eating “people food”.

Of course my cucumbers are down stairs resting in their dill/vinegar/salt bath. We’ll check on them in two weeks and see if they are ready. If not we’ll wait another week and then can them.

Yes, August tends to be a really busy month around here. So glad Hubby loves to help in the kitchen!

It was another VERY hot and VERY humid day here in New Hampshire. Hubby is not the one who usually puts the air conditioning on in the morning, but today when I got up at 8:15, the air conditioning was on all over the house!

Hubby had made the coffee, and as I sat sipping my first cup of the day, I wondered, just how hot will it get?

About 3 PM, we topped out at 100 degrees (f) on our patio. The worst part is, tomorrow is supposed to be hotter! Can you believe that? And still, no rain!!!

Hubby has been watering his fruit trees and I water the garden and the patio potted plants to keep them going, but this sure isn’t easy.

Meanwhile the dogs, including Fritz, have been staying inside with the cool air conditioning. Smart doggies!

I did not feel like using the oven to cook tonight, so we’re having spaghetti noodles with two different toppings. Hubby is having a chili spaghetti sauce and I am having pesto, which I love!

Tuesday we’re going to a retirement party for our friend, Peter. His wife Laurie is my good friend, and so it should be a lot of fun!

Have a great Tuesday everyone!

It was an odd day here today. Hubby was clearing out our vegetable storage area in the cellar and he found one last, perfect, butternut squash! I shall cook it tonight for dinner with a nice steak.

We also picked our very first zucchini out of this years garden, and best of all, we have more zucchini and summer squash on the way.

That is, if the little chipmunk leaves them all alone!

So, perhaps my garden is not a total loss after all.

Tomorrow I need to get out there early and spend about an hour or so weeding the garden. I completed weeding on Monday and already it has grown back in heavily around the cucumber plants! So out I will go, pulling weeds,and making the garden all pretty again.

One thing about weeds…they grow like…weeds!!!

The Garden Edition

1. On Saturday Hubby told me the time had come to do the planting of our garden.
2. Gah! That is hard, hot work!
3. My cousin, Janet saved me, by coming up to go to the local Craft Fair!
4. Upon my return from that I was tired. Or so I thought!
5. The next day Hubby dragged me outside and we planned what we were going to do.
6. We put up the fences, around the garden. And hung the lines for the pea plants.
7. We raked the dirt to get rid of the weeds. I planted the peas.
8. I then came into the house and soaked in a hot tub. (Despite a little sunburn on my shoulders!)
9. Monday we brought all of the plants out to the garden.
10. Hubby raked all the hills for me and I got down on my stool and planted them
11. My bottom started to ache like I’d been riding a bike.
12. But after 5 hours, the garden was done and I came back in and soaked once again.
13. The Garden 2012 is now planted! And my body is in one piece! If not a bit sore!

Okay, I promise not to mention my aching back, legs and shoulders for another year. One thing planting this garden has shown me is that I simply have to work out more!

I am happy to announce that the garden is completely planted! Yay for us. We are both sore and tired, but the garden is planted and looks great!

I couldn’t have done it without Hubby! He helped me to turn the soil and then rake the dirt into hills, and then set out the plants. Although, I must say I planted each and every one of those blasted plants!

After which, Hubby got out the hose and watered down the entire garden. He is my Prince! Fritz and Greta kept us company too, but I had to put the two pups inside as they are no help at all!

So this is the garden 2012. We will have to see how it does this year! I sure hope it is as prolific as it has been during previous years! By the way…one of our tomato plants already has two little tomatoes!

Let the growing begin!

Saturday was the Annual Memorial Day Fair. My cousin Janet came up, as she nearly always does, weather permitting, and we walked down town to the Fair, all around it and enjoyed the crafts, food and even the clothing displayed there.

During our walk to the town we came upon the most beautiful little garden filled with poppies. I simply had to get a picture, as it was so pretty.

Once we got to the Fair we went from stall to stall. Several stalls of food had samples! We tried various mustards and dips and sauces. One place had various jams and jellies, and even infused Balsamic Vinegars. I bought a 4 pack of different flavors.

Janet had a great time as well, and we even splurged and had our once a year hot-dog and Ben&Jerry ice cream cone!

There were a lot of dogs there. Most of them did will with the other dogs. Except the smallest of small. A mini Yorkie. That dog just barked and barked! I knew that if I had brought any of the dackels, they too would have barked up a storm.

This booth cracked me up with all of their funny signs. A few years ago, I got one that says “The Lake House” I love it for my screened porch.

Then as we got ready to walk home, we passed this waterfall. It takes the water from Lake Waukewan and dumps it into Lake Winnipesaukee. Some years, if it is dry, the falls slow to a mere trickle. Of course other years when we have a lot of rain, it comes through so fast that it literally sprays you!

The Craft Fair happens on Memorial Day Weekend and then again on Labor Day Weekend. Oh, what fun!