Preserving the Harvest

I've tried to use everything in the garden when it was fresh. It is easy to do when you have a small garden. I was given produce from friends and family and had to find ways to save some of it for later. I froze tomatoes and zucchini, made pickles and pickled radish pods, we made ketchup, and we tried to make jelly out of wild grapes. I didn't have enough pectin so I tried to get more out of apple peels. It turned into syrup which developed this odd clove aroma, possibly from the peels which my nephew thought tasted like spices. I had given everything a quick rinse.

Preserving Produce

Yesterday I made two more jars of pickled radish seed pods before pulling up the plants. I want to make room for a fall garden. I have also started drying my Tabasco peppers. I had to move them as Max though it was a new toy. I will keep stringing on more peppers as they are ready.

Radish seed pods

My radish roots did not bulb up before they bolted. I started eating the greens and buds steamed and served over rice with butter and soy sauce. I was able to get to most of them before they created seed pods. I ate some fresh, pickled some, and may saute them as well.

Party Planning

Yesterday I started my party planning crunch. I bought punch mixers, chip and salsa, and the last of the party ware. The cake is ordered and I finally got a hold of Josue about ordering the carnitas. I still want balloons which I will try to get when I pick up the cake. I need to get the money for carnitas to Becky today as well as pick up tortillas and veggies to grill.

I started a project for a birthday gift and painted my nails. Today, I bug bomb again and shop. Tomorrow I start prepping food and Saturday is the party.

nails

While I was out yesterday I stopped at a plant sale with Mom. I picked up another tomato plant, a sweet and hot pepper plant, a sweet potato vine, and a catnip plant. I placed the catnip in Max's loft. He was chewing on my fingers after I came in from re-potting it. I placed it in a teapot.

While re-potting, I found that there still fleas outside. I will just have to keep spraying.

Craftsters Challenge

Craftster.org is having a Summer Nerd Games crafting challenge. I joined the challenge at the end of the month so I was only able to do three projects. I made a melon trellis for the "zombies ate my brain" challenge. Basically you make something that you don't have to think about too much. I cut 5/8" dowels into 6 and 12" lengths then put it together. There was a lot of tedious filing to get the dowel ends to fit easier.

For the battle royal: horror vs romance, I chose romance. I decided to embroider my rose garden gloves. When I bought them last year I thought they would look nice with a little embroidery. The pink rose embroidery really suits them.

Finally, I made a tardis light strand for the textbook:waves challenge. I need to add three more, but the store was out of the boxes I used. Now to find a place to hang them.

Herb Garden

I have perennial herbs in a half barrel and in the flower bed. The flower bed has both common chives and garlic chives. When I planted them four years ago I also tried planting other things but they are the only thing to survive and keep coming back. I have since planted chrysanthemums but only one of them have come back this year. The half barrel has thyme, mint, lemon balm, and strawberries. I also plant annuals there. A couple years ago I had nasturtium and a lovely anise flavored herb. I can't seem to remember what it was called.

This year I have added three potted herbs; rosemary, boxwood basil, and hot and spicy oregano. I'm really excited about the basil. I have basil and cilantro in with the tomatoes, but this one may actually be able to be brought in to last through the winter. It will be interesting to try. I set up a shelf in front of the window today, so I will have a better place to over winter my plants.

Fairy Gardens

I  have three fairy gardens on my patio. I like the whimsy they bring and two of them are great for shade. This one I started last year, the moss died mid winter and needs replaced.

It had a different handmade arbor that I replaced with one I got in a kit used to make this one. It is my gnome garden.

This last one started with some lovely clematis. I used the leftover moss and pebbles from my terrariums to mulch it. I decided it would make a perfect surface for another fairy garden. The chair came from the gnome garden kit and a couple days later my mother found the tray with pitcher and goblets at a garage sale. It reminds me of Rivendale for some reason. 

Busy Day

I decided to try another challenge polish look, your fav summer fruit. I chose strawberries. That is my second strawberry from the garden this year. Unfortunately, both of my hanging strawberry plant are dying from too much rain, etc. Luckily, I had two plant I started last year in my herb bed. They seem to be doing fine and are producing this year.

I went to my mom's house today.When I got there she showed me her raised bed and since I had been meaning to help her with it, we filled it with soil and started laying pavers around it. The front was a little sloped so I was using a tilling fork to break up and even the ground. I had layed the fork off to the side as I placed the stones and I stepped unto it. It went straight through my toe. I had my mom pull my toe free and take me to the hospital. Funny thing is I was worried about messing up my nails, not injuring myself.

My stepdad has always told us to wear proper shoes outside. I was wearing sandles when it happened.

Raised Bed Gardening

Before I discovered raised beds I had dismal luck with gardening. I had watched my grandparents garden, seemingly effortlessly and could not figure out what I was doing wrong. Partly, it was the climates, partly the soil, and I was not using a style that fit my commitment standards. The raised bed is more versatile and can take much less work. I've been using this raised bed for four years now and I learn something every year.

It has filled in and I also have several pots of plants. I will try to do an updated post soon.