Thursday, September 29, 2011

Fertilizer Friday - Flaunt your Flowers Sept 29

I'm not going to deny it folks, it's getting harder and harder to find good blooms!
Here's the best I could do today
A late blooming Phlox
A couple of Roses after the rain

Another one of my Mother's Dahlia's 
And finally, the fruit from one of my compost vines that I didn't plant

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Happy Birthday Boots!

Boots, our cat, turned 7 today.
She has been a part of our family since she was a kitten.
She's quite a social cat and likes to play with the kids
She's very curious
She gets herself into all kinds of predicaments
It's a tough life!
Happy Birthday Boots!

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Apple Picking - Apples today - pie tomorrow!

 Autumn is here, and so it is apple picking time!
We have 3 very old apple trees in the back yard. I'm not too sure what kind they are but I think they are comparable to MacIntosh apples. 
They seem to bear in 3 year cycles - we have a great year, followed by a terrible year, and then a good year. Last year was a great year so I wasn't expecting too many apples this year.
I went out today hoping to get enough apples to make a pie, so I was pleasantly surprised when I easily picked a basket full!
The gadget in front of the basket is my apple picker.
It saves me from having to drag the ladder out every time I want to pick a few apples.
.You simply attach it to a pole, raise it up underneath the apple, and then use the hooks on the edge to pull the apple off the stem. The apple then falls into the cloth sack - preventing it from bruising.
The sack holds quite a few apples so you don't have to bring the pole down each time.
It's quite a handy little gadget and available from Lee Valley Tools
So tomorrow I will sort, peel, and cut apples for a pie-or, with any luck a FEW pies.
I know someone who will be more than happy to take the apple leftovers

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Fertilizer Friday- Flaunt your Flowers Sept 22

Today is the last day of summer.
The weather has been cool, but there are still a few things blooming.
I'm going to share these blooms for Fertilizer Friday with Tootsie!
There are a few Glad's still opening


Chinese Lanterns peeking out of almost everywhere!
'The President' 
The cheerful blooms of the Branched Coneflower

Saturday, September 17, 2011

A drive in the country


Today I was feeling bored. The 2 older kids were out for the day so Ivy and I decided to go out for a little adventure. I wanted to find a farmers market for some red cabbage and apples and had always wanted to go to the Woodville Sales Barn. I heard it was THE place to get anything from livestock, chickens, rabbits, and puppies to cheese, produce, and meat. There are also auctions every weekend.
So we jumped in the car (without a map - part of the adventure) and I threw my co-pilot the camera.
All the photo's from this adventure are taken through the eyes of an 8 year old ( I think she did a pretty good job - way to go Ivy!)
So we set off down the country road
The deeper we got into farm country, the more we noticed the solar panels.
There were many farms with giant panels catching the suns rays.

Fields and fields of cabbage! You could smell it as you drove past.

It was nice looking cabbage, but I was looking for RED cabbage.( I wanted to make a big batch of Red Cabbage with Apples so I could freeze some.) We kept driving and soon realized we must be heading the wrong way and soon I was looking for anyone so I could ask directions. We found a lovely little antique shop and pulled over.
Theses signs made me think of Frank and Mike on American Pickers !
Back on track

There were a few small auctions going on outside, as well as some livestock auctions indoors.
I spotted something that intrigued me in one of the buildings.
This corner full of stuff was marked 'for future auction'.
After this we put away the camera...people were giving us funny looks LOL
We strolled thru the entire place. We did see ducks, geese, turkey's, sheep, cows, and puppies.
There were venders selling corn, tomato's, cheese, salami and other meats.
Candies and baked goods.
Clothing and movies.
But not one stinkin' cabbage!
We did end up buying some gardening gloves and a small bag of candy.
  Someone was very happy about that small bag of candy!


Friday, September 16, 2011

Fertilizer Friday - Flaunt your Flowers Sept 16th

Another week has flown by.
The feeling of Autumn is definitely in the air this week, with this mornings temperature sitting at only 3°C .... brrrrr!! Fall colors are starting to show.

A surprise color when this Gladiolus bloomed
Sweet Autumn Clematis - I didn't plant this! I guess it was a blow in or the birds did it :)
However it got here, I'm glad it did! I like it!!
A pompom Zinnia
A lonely 'Carefree Beauty'
A mix of annuals - I wonder how much longer until Jack Frost gets everything?
Now I'm heading over to see what's going on with Tootsie for Fertilizer Friday !
Have a great weekend everyone, and stay warm
:)

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Mint anyone?

Once upon a time, I planted a sprig of mint.
It didn't grow so I planted another sprig of mint.
It didn't do that well and I didn't use it for anything so that fall I roto-tilled it in.
The next spring I had mint popping up all over the garden!
I really didn't know what to do with all this mint. I do like to drink Mint Tea in the cooler months so I decided to dry some. I hung it in the kitchen where it would get good air circulation.
Once it was dry it was easy to pull the leaves off the stems.
I bought one of these things from the local dollar store
(anyone know what these are called??)
Added some boiling water and VOILA!
So easy! So cheap! So delicious!
Thinking of all the mint and other great tea herbs I have been wasting all these years, I once again ask myself....
What took me so long?

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Fertilizer Friday already?

I just LOVE short weeks!
This weeks cold weather is a reminder of what is ahead ... fall, and even worse, WINTER!
I'm really cherishing the blooms that appear now for I know they will be gone soon.
I'm joining Tootsie for Fertilizer Friday once again.
I've never really had much luck with Lantana, but this bloom appeared the other day and I am very pleased! (even if I can seem to get the right color!)
Salvia 'Black and Blue' - I love this stuff
The first 2 Gladioli blooms this year

                        Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon' looking great since the cooler weather                    
Dipladenia