tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85217435323971668702024-03-05T05:33:33.564-06:00Twenty Foot GardenGardening in Zone 8B in 20 feet of raised square foot beds and whatever I can squeeze into the front yardCristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885394458317264217noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521743532397166870.post-57512446080645508452015-05-30T07:02:00.001-05:002015-05-30T07:02:21.910-05:00Pondering the Peach Tree<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT5OuhNqXo34Exg263IhI98qdM3mY-I4yehMLA-arIWCIhff6Ywcsjaq4wJfLDHfMHrfGE9eNWcEz9PbAU3Jbz16A6DSkIVncGUscIabdxgC5GIAqyMogfCqOAksuplVaiA9zGudIrGSie/s1600/IMG_8690+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT5OuhNqXo34Exg263IhI98qdM3mY-I4yehMLA-arIWCIhff6Ywcsjaq4wJfLDHfMHrfGE9eNWcEz9PbAU3Jbz16A6DSkIVncGUscIabdxgC5GIAqyMogfCqOAksuplVaiA9zGudIrGSie/s320/IMG_8690+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the peach tree</td></tr>
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In <a href="http://twentyfootgarden.blogspot.com/2015/05/peaches-this-year.html">this post,</a> I was pondering what to do about my peach tree since we are moving. Dave, from <a href="http://www.ourhappyacres.com/">Our Happy Acres Blog</a>, had given me the wise advise that moving a large tree would probably kill it. I contacted David The Good from <a href="http://www.floridasurvivalgardening.com/">Florida Survival Gardening</a> about the possibility of grafting (since he is a grafting guru) and he said it could only be done when the tree was dormant. That is not good for me, since our house is currently on the market and we hope to sell it before summer ends and certainly before the tree goes dormant again.<br />
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So I kept pondering. What to do? What to do? Was there <i>no</i> way to keep a tree that has been so good to me? And finally I came up with a couple of solutions. They are amazing to me in their simplicity.<br />
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The first thing I decided to do was to save several of the seeds and plant them. I had a few drops I had missed, so the seeds were available. Even though it would have been smarter and easier to just carry the seeds and plant them at the new place, I didn't think that far ahead. I planted them in some good garden soil. Impatiently, I dug up one of them to see what was going on. It had tiny rootlets. So <i>maybe. </i><br />
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The other thing I decided to do was to take cuttings from the tree and try to root them. My grandmother used to root anything and everything. So it seemed worth a try. I bought rooting compound and set out to try.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJHxQ6ugJztom0ORdyQOTvPjxpG8aoVMen3YC7I3h9TSxQ7fSCCqSlyCTtlWOBLTz8S-sSUdr3xIdIHdWBk0d8dJkCy8zo1LD0V-O1AN2uhzDeSYGDsH7d9bpHYpWK3Rekkkt01OQZJTA/s1600/IMG_8691+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJHxQ6ugJztom0ORdyQOTvPjxpG8aoVMen3YC7I3h9TSxQ7fSCCqSlyCTtlWOBLTz8S-sSUdr3xIdIHdWBk0d8dJkCy8zo1LD0V-O1AN2uhzDeSYGDsH7d9bpHYpWK3Rekkkt01OQZJTA/s320/IMG_8691+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rooting peach tree cuttings</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9w16WjDUd8-6bQAw0EEOVy20ctaTLry4-0uhpPFrNQ94JuaZuzwYUWqCZWCPX1YBnAAxivNmnArdfuWv6wtD-JX1MzdXTfEqy2xJMhCfcYCAT72ZwZI1FRy0riF6X9W4vST00VqHc7pf8/s1600/IMG_8692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9w16WjDUd8-6bQAw0EEOVy20ctaTLry4-0uhpPFrNQ94JuaZuzwYUWqCZWCPX1YBnAAxivNmnArdfuWv6wtD-JX1MzdXTfEqy2xJMhCfcYCAT72ZwZI1FRy0riF6X9W4vST00VqHc7pf8/s320/IMG_8692.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rooting peach tree cuttings</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSHjfeYYlz3kWrgkQZP3bdMCt23oNCauuXPAv5djR2IC1iuhjEjQtKx314MEVwnT224bzJ45ktvNu2anTobO5nRZ-oQg0-yU3kmnOxoTiNr_QWkhqCagYCuDZ34D1GW1KVp1MAKIyebiV/s1600/IMG_8694+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSHjfeYYlz3kWrgkQZP3bdMCt23oNCauuXPAv5djR2IC1iuhjEjQtKx314MEVwnT224bzJ45ktvNu2anTobO5nRZ-oQg0-yU3kmnOxoTiNr_QWkhqCagYCuDZ34D1GW1KVp1MAKIyebiV/s320/IMG_8694+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">adding the rooting compound (I tend to be generous with the compound.)<br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvTXM7SeKDIJ61gWfEUr_ffWaBQBx8yqJ0KcV8EBWHopZBBCDR4ftpbtRMrfnGZD1oW8tFzWNovDIfvdXeXLNmAXzrj0WtVZ82vgmwrGP7BT_0EWET11xz1sx5_gk4ec1AQIyTe1XjRcA/s1600/IMG_8695+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvTXM7SeKDIJ61gWfEUr_ffWaBQBx8yqJ0KcV8EBWHopZBBCDR4ftpbtRMrfnGZD1oW8tFzWNovDIfvdXeXLNmAXzrj0WtVZ82vgmwrGP7BT_0EWET11xz1sx5_gk4ec1AQIyTe1XjRcA/s320/IMG_8695+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the finished project.</td></tr>
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In case you have never done any rooting before, I will go through the easy steps. Cut a small piece from your plant of choice, going down to the place it forks from the other branch.<br />
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Then remove the outer layer of bark, exposing the cambium wood. I use my fingernail so that I won't go too deep. Remove all the lower leaves, leaving just a few (one or two is enough) at the very top.<br />
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Dip it in the rooting compound.<br />
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Put it in a prepared pot and keep damp.<br />
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Maybe I'll be able to get peaches at the new place now.<br />
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<br />Cristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885394458317264217noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521743532397166870.post-12488951144328998542015-05-04T06:34:00.002-05:002015-05-04T06:34:51.393-05:00Peaches This YearI don't have time for a long post. I took almost the entire week off from my work preparing for our move to deal with our peaches. This week I have to get back on track with the stuff for the move.<br />
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Despite that, I did want to update you on the peaches this year. We harvested 57 pounds! What a great tree!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvhW_P-9-8VgoQ8dPKdeWCHRXKyT-GZiPdZVeB44sYfA3PIATepn69V0CF6c7kLDaP9d_lFUCHK8YKXHakTifEe0oEQ7OqJ7b220ccb-UBWqYuFgOSpBK-S1ss20s7IyAwqPmubCYPfmK/s1600/IMG_8507+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvhW_P-9-8VgoQ8dPKdeWCHRXKyT-GZiPdZVeB44sYfA3PIATepn69V0CF6c7kLDaP9d_lFUCHK8YKXHakTifEe0oEQ7OqJ7b220ccb-UBWqYuFgOSpBK-S1ss20s7IyAwqPmubCYPfmK/s320/IMG_8507+(640x480).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peach jam cooling on the counter</td></tr>
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Since this will be the last home grown peaches I have for awhile, I wanted to make sure I got as much jam as possible. I ended up with 23 pints. I found a recipe for peach peeling and pit jelly and made that with a gallon of the peelings and pits. That gave me 5 pints of jelly. So I feel pretty happy about the harvest.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Linking with <a href="http://daphnesdandelions.blogspot.com/">Daphne's Dandelions</a> for Harvest Mondays. </span>Cristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885394458317264217noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521743532397166870.post-81899206399244218802015-04-27T06:53:00.002-05:002015-04-27T06:53:43.110-05:00Fruitfulness!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwOdo3GDbIFM66W0q_cS-DUKcEGs8juMJAiChYTc8bWm2sCWkt2-6e5cK4JfWIuZT39PVpy1YITSBO4U4tPGBYvc-QDZnlT0YpZoKtj8fu6NbrIB5kWUs0osZkIPdh490TbDFPZXQWZ7o/s1600/IMG_8443+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwOdo3GDbIFM66W0q_cS-DUKcEGs8juMJAiChYTc8bWm2sCWkt2-6e5cK4JfWIuZT39PVpy1YITSBO4U4tPGBYvc-QDZnlT0YpZoKtj8fu6NbrIB5kWUs0osZkIPdh490TbDFPZXQWZ7o/s1600/IMG_8443+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First harvest of peaches</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLAIJxV_BaBR1-rD-QQRsbX-F04jQU21iGiKIYLeDKtY0r0XuhMVEGlYgUF02GvRA4twMlqa9nk8HevvwKbuzSi81Lud4YFmBp9EuERRGcZMEsigqZL8eDbO1vIgCYWVCbUU-UAvzZjGD/s1600/IMG_8444+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLAIJxV_BaBR1-rD-QQRsbX-F04jQU21iGiKIYLeDKtY0r0XuhMVEGlYgUF02GvRA4twMlqa9nk8HevvwKbuzSi81Lud4YFmBp9EuERRGcZMEsigqZL8eDbO1vIgCYWVCbUU-UAvzZjGD/s1600/IMG_8444+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second harvest of peaches</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7O2EHD_sTFaQaGGHjzdIaFD6nwrQOpSw5OhyhVmaMVSxCk4jCmwAkeIyNpixuHvOmzWkxmXcInu473cc6LJFDv5M3l3iSs6Eaw0rSMwYN1hZ63oZ7G8qtYnJE-eBFibKlxwHVQ7wV4op/s1600/IMG_8448+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7O2EHD_sTFaQaGGHjzdIaFD6nwrQOpSw5OhyhVmaMVSxCk4jCmwAkeIyNpixuHvOmzWkxmXcInu473cc6LJFDv5M3l3iSs6Eaw0rSMwYN1hZ63oZ7G8qtYnJE-eBFibKlxwHVQ7wV4op/s1600/IMG_8448+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More on the tree</td></tr>
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I always love peach season! I have a Feliciano peach tree. This is a very early peach tree that produces well with low chill hours. Last year, I harvested<a href="http://twentyfootgarden.blogspot.com/2014/05/71-pounds-of-peaches.html"> 71 pounds of peaches </a>from this wonderful tree. Last year was much colder and I began harvesting on May 2, 2014.<br />
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This year, I began harvesting Friday, April 24, 2015, but those first peaches were eaten immediately by my children and me, so there is no record of those.<br />
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I am very excited about the fruitfulness of this tree. The only bittersweet part of this is that my family has decided to sell our home. We are hoping to move to land. That's our goal. It's great to get more land, but leaving this tree is hard for me. It's a huge tree and would need a crane to remove it from the land.<br />
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I have a friend who is keeping many of my other plants until we can get settled into our land. She would be willing to plant it and keep it for me, if anyone knew of a way to save the tree for our future use. Thank you in advance for any advice.<br />
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I am happily linking with <a href="http://daphnesdandelions.blogspot.com/">Daphne's Dandelions </a>for Harvest Monday. I really appreciate her long-standing devotion to the community of bloggers on Harvest Mondays through out the years. It has been great to read about gardens, even when I am too busy to do much gardening.<br />
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<br />Cristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885394458317264217noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521743532397166870.post-30708211444319779532015-02-06T06:23:00.001-06:002015-02-06T06:23:34.358-06:00Easy Homemade DIY Flavored Coffee CreamerI love flavored coffee creamer, but lately I have been on a kick to save money. And I don't like all the unpronounceable things in the flavored coffee creamers you can buy. I went on the Internet and looked up recipes for flavored coffee creamer, but all the ones I could find required that I buy something ELSE.<br />
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I wanted a recipe that used items I already have in my cupboards.<br />
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I decided to make use of the years of cooking in my history to come up with something that would work for me, with the ingredients I have on hand.<br />
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Here's what I came up with.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKlffpSkcogBY1F1fXfJ92lEjplJnqaSGy47o2H_0fmIBKmhPzhKmaL5UZmrqDsZNf63XTZevu6TmI9qCGNzUGm6ccvTRoC8zwlvZMYajf935DvMVxqWZmNjyiHaW5sD87TDvy_NCF7DF/s1600/IMG_8054+(640x479).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKlffpSkcogBY1F1fXfJ92lEjplJnqaSGy47o2H_0fmIBKmhPzhKmaL5UZmrqDsZNf63XTZevu6TmI9qCGNzUGm6ccvTRoC8zwlvZMYajf935DvMVxqWZmNjyiHaW5sD87TDvy_NCF7DF/s1600/IMG_8054+(640x479).jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Homemade Flavored Coffee Creamer</b><br />
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1/2 cup cold water<br />
1 1/3 cups nonfat dry milk powder<br />
3/4 cup sugar<br />
1 pat of butter/margarine/coconut oil (about the size you would put on a piece of toast) This is for that creamy mouthfeel store bought creamers have.<br />
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Use any of the following (or any extract that you fancy)<br />
1 t vanilla extract<br />
1 t almond extract<br />
1 t maple extract<br />
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In a saucepan, mix the top 4 ingredients and cook until it steams. (If you cook it too long, it will get really thick. It still tastes good, but has to be spooned into the coffee, instead of poured.) Then add the flavoring of choice. It helps to use an immersion blender to really mix up those powdered milk solids so they will be smooth. Pour into a jar and keep refrigerated for your morning coffee.<br />
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I also added a pinch of nutmeg one time. I like that little more complex flavor, as well.<br />
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It's a really cheap recipe, so try it out. Mix it up to your tastes.<br />
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<br />Cristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885394458317264217noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521743532397166870.post-27751860138760278052015-01-19T09:45:00.000-06:002015-01-19T09:45:38.636-06:00Free MulchFor 20 years, our municipality has collected Christmas trees and then mulched them, giving out the mulch for free to residents.<br />
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This is the first year that we made a point to participate in this windfall. My son and I went down to the fairgrounds. The nice people loaded it, and smoothed it. We didn't even have to get out of the truck. We were only responsible for the unloading.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZjHxS7eW7T0P4mm7WEvEscIEN_gBUCcdpVWw6HxhdBAcXbxGiS8Z8ZvmgK2xppgQj-5XdM8drEpLFurx8scejF1ZY9-kJADhFII67U8AQZlSN12IDh6Ax83PrQY-uHU0kylLOqSanxNK/s1600/IMG_7986+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZjHxS7eW7T0P4mm7WEvEscIEN_gBUCcdpVWw6HxhdBAcXbxGiS8Z8ZvmgK2xppgQj-5XdM8drEpLFurx8scejF1ZY9-kJADhFII67U8AQZlSN12IDh6Ax83PrQY-uHU0kylLOqSanxNK/s1600/IMG_7986+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It started with more than this, but I forgot to photograph it until we reached this point in the process. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkEww3PvKVuNTefl2xBeW-nt4jTHdh7sd8UHTI5f-kGcMh19uv1ypjFFcEGlxOZLjbw6m_Hswg1pTzN9dIlYxJZYCHYp7GFPBadak_NKtxTXk7latBjzfJNAXRNWnLsQYrEDBgm7EGYV-/s1600/IMG_7987+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkEww3PvKVuNTefl2xBeW-nt4jTHdh7sd8UHTI5f-kGcMh19uv1ypjFFcEGlxOZLjbw6m_Hswg1pTzN9dIlYxJZYCHYp7GFPBadak_NKtxTXk7latBjzfJNAXRNWnLsQYrEDBgm7EGYV-/s1600/IMG_7987+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Filling the wheelbarrow, to put the mulch in our back yard gardens. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qh93m9sf8TSxlt8jR0vSoG1W9uYrM0y1c7bkqXjeuCB7K6TlsJHQfiuYnJEzSmM0Pl8Sz1hF6Qs1EzzNhNks5CfISJXej1K1x-2y_JJgHgnACW9jUibVfaKV6UT8ziY-GzwhDNAOHMpA/s1600/WP_20150117_10_59_01_Pro+1+(640x361).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qh93m9sf8TSxlt8jR0vSoG1W9uYrM0y1c7bkqXjeuCB7K6TlsJHQfiuYnJEzSmM0Pl8Sz1hF6Qs1EzzNhNks5CfISJXej1K1x-2y_JJgHgnACW9jUibVfaKV6UT8ziY-GzwhDNAOHMpA/s1600/WP_20150117_10_59_01_Pro+1+(640x361).jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My son and I posing as we put the mulch in the back yard. </td></tr>
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We ended up with enough to go around every tree that lines my property line. Next year, we might come home and drop the load and go back for a second load. The people said that it was fine to do this. We didn't know how much we would need or how long it would take us. We also didn't know how much energy we had to devote to the project. We know for next year!<br />
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It was a wonderful blessing to us, saving us somewhere in the area of $400, had we used purchased pine bark mulch for the same area. And it is so good for the environment, re-using what would otherwise go to the landfill, and avoiding all those plastic bags that would have been on the pine bark mulch. Win! Win!<br />
<br />Cristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885394458317264217noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521743532397166870.post-11772073368417738512014-12-29T06:30:00.000-06:002014-12-29T06:30:02.348-06:00Winter Harvests<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOW2oRqhi1GWQg-8VbCCb_mKlvI63uehpyIMkGtmVsRc26oz4yK4LZZFMMAMBTfGR0fZy42O_0oJtaLfJsffW0pGpSmeVNwbfjTgSv5u4ATX6Z3u0LoSaAevezsA0LRA-4hFIdlKb_chez/s1600/IMG_7840+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOW2oRqhi1GWQg-8VbCCb_mKlvI63uehpyIMkGtmVsRc26oz4yK4LZZFMMAMBTfGR0fZy42O_0oJtaLfJsffW0pGpSmeVNwbfjTgSv5u4ATX6Z3u0LoSaAevezsA0LRA-4hFIdlKb_chez/s1600/IMG_7840+(640x480).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
I don't always plant a fall/winter garden, but when I do I am always reminded of how nice it is to have a winter garden. The crops are so much easier maintenance than a summer garden. And the flavor of fresh picked broccoli and English peas is divine!<br />
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This year I have broccoli, which we are harvesting at least 3 times a week now. We have English peas, which are just starting to produce pods, Then there is Swiss chard, which I love, and am so glad to have in the garden again. I had really missed eating Swiss chard.<br />
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I also have 3 cabbages, which look really good.<br />
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I tried to grow 2 types of onions from seed. The seeds all sprouted and looked good until I transferred them into the garden. Now I have 2 little sections of about 10 onions in each. I don't know what happened. There were probably 100 of each variety before I transferred them to the garden. Maybe I didn't water enough. I don't know.<br />
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I also planted some garlic, which looks great.<br />
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I hope to plant some bok choi and Red Flowered Fava beans next week. I may plant more Swiss chard, too.<br />
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That's it for me. See what others are harvesting on <a href="http://daphnesdandelions.blogspot.com/">Daphne's Dandelions</a>. Happy New Year!Cristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885394458317264217noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521743532397166870.post-11629355083937803242014-09-01T06:00:00.000-05:002014-09-01T06:00:03.190-05:00Harvest Monday Labor Day Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This week, I harvested the last of my tomatoes and pulled the plants. They had wilt in a bad way and I found a tomato hornworm on the plant when I pulled it. (yuck.)<br />
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I am starting to harvest more okra than I was. I guess it is coming into its own. The plants look really good and healthy. The okra makes me so happy!<br />
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Every day I harvested some okra. Every day I also harvested Lima beans, Mississippi Cream peas, and Ruth Bible beans.<br />
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This week, the local news was talking about sweet potato harvests in town, so I harvested my sweet potatoes. They looked really good. I don't know how many I <i>should</i> have gotten out of the number of slips I planted, but I feel pretty happy with the harvest. That bucket was pretty heavy and the sweet potatoes in the photo with the tomatoes are not the same sweet potatoes. I put them on the picnic table to start curing them. And then I brought them into the garage to finish curing. It was about 24 big sweet potatoes and quite a few more little bitty ones.<br />
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I am linking up with<a href="http://daphnesdandelions.blogspot.com/"> Daphne's Dandelion</a>s for Harvest Mondays. Go on over and see what everybody else is harvesting!Cristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885394458317264217noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521743532397166870.post-75272969569106353642014-08-18T15:01:00.001-05:002014-08-18T15:50:45.086-05:00Harvest Monday August 18, 2014I have only been gardening for 3 years. Here is a picture of my first garden.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVikR_NDGJCfFMdaghwbGoPF9mTY1rq-Zcoa-ua-qvudOQCnf-jxmoEPiWP8onP07nsyrS0OMo19J4_WdTBROYE5zDJjRP1aHvNpBHqKGYo8AuotxRsyJ_6Hb2t_zsnT74hZEKPt0Hm24i/s1600/IMG_4810+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVikR_NDGJCfFMdaghwbGoPF9mTY1rq-Zcoa-ua-qvudOQCnf-jxmoEPiWP8onP07nsyrS0OMo19J4_WdTBROYE5zDJjRP1aHvNpBHqKGYo8AuotxRsyJ_6Hb2t_zsnT74hZEKPt0Hm24i/s1600/IMG_4810+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Yep. That was it. 3 four by four squares of soil. Wow, how times have changed. Here are a couple of pictures of it now.<br />
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I am grateful for all the posts people write for Harvest Mondays. I kept trying because of all those posts. Thank you to every person who has posted a <a href="http://daphnesdandelions.blogspot.com/2014/08/harvest-monday-18-august-2014.htmlhttp://daphnesdandelions.blogspot.com/2014/08/harvest-monday-18-august-2014.html">Harvest Monday</a> post. I read your posts and they have inspired me. And to Daphne, thank you for hosting it all these years.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strawberries on the vine</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMXy5i_2LI3Xrfb8P2_Oa1P1s-Rd65aFXGVzZK1nHAyvofU0W_2z4YDINRZhdBjBylllezhV1ncCo6jP_Q0h9s72FZ_ug49HA2XJkRjtWhAHo9FwNJLtX5xq-N6EcuC4ttmZDY3pnLlZV/s1600/IMG_7040+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMXy5i_2LI3Xrfb8P2_Oa1P1s-Rd65aFXGVzZK1nHAyvofU0W_2z4YDINRZhdBjBylllezhV1ncCo6jP_Q0h9s72FZ_ug49HA2XJkRjtWhAHo9FwNJLtX5xq-N6EcuC4ttmZDY3pnLlZV/s1600/IMG_7040+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A representative harvest basket from this week.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">okra, green beans, strawberries, and lima beans in the harvest<br />
basket<br />
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Linking with Daphne's Dandelions <a href="http://daphnesdandelions.blogspot.com/2014/08/harvest-monday-18-august-2014.html">Harvest Monday.</a><br />
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<br />Cristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885394458317264217noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521743532397166870.post-16583206930034795202014-07-14T06:00:00.000-05:002014-07-14T06:00:05.623-05:00Harvest Monday July 14, 2014A big thank you to Daphne from <a href="http://daphnesdandelions.blogspot.com/">Daphne's Dandelions</a> for hosting Harvest Mondays!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqSR7ktdpcDsX-pfJynss4FuuMaxUFMQlxkGo2PjfyrAGoltGx-00PID7uszlVLWmHZ6S0ch3AEuzozbAzrFxZGXraj-_EKO8Sl-VprhdMZe_x2ncytLAnKvHXqATGKJwPZfkc-rJDlO9/s1600/IMG_6911+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqSR7ktdpcDsX-pfJynss4FuuMaxUFMQlxkGo2PjfyrAGoltGx-00PID7uszlVLWmHZ6S0ch3AEuzozbAzrFxZGXraj-_EKO8Sl-VprhdMZe_x2ncytLAnKvHXqATGKJwPZfkc-rJDlO9/s1600/IMG_6911+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okra, cherry tomatoes, pears, and cucumbers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisS7yAAcGpwOQtROkWKIIQyOet_p4lUyfUnE80fXAL1kEJ1iSX1B9Hxel590r5jGrveJcNSZdiJWsQvgN9IW7Qpcp2kqGr_cj5u9cdbPfKL8Nx5FfAvaH87FDRqsRTBP1i4WcFOsgLOwJ3/s1600/IMG_6912+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisS7yAAcGpwOQtROkWKIIQyOet_p4lUyfUnE80fXAL1kEJ1iSX1B9Hxel590r5jGrveJcNSZdiJWsQvgN9IW7Qpcp2kqGr_cj5u9cdbPfKL8Nx5FfAvaH87FDRqsRTBP1i4WcFOsgLOwJ3/s1600/IMG_6912+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">crushed tomatoes in their own juices</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrSo6HSPCTK_BRA_FYHAHX0DSLuZ1C22-Im-NsXW9RfXadepxbBrL-_AvDcfrEtS-UWegvQzNQ8DvLCw4aHBCunmoEjTFuT9kbhv55cXCExGjcnY6dIBg_Y7UEk8Z9fSWrHh0JS8EXYbL/s1600/IMG_6916+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrSo6HSPCTK_BRA_FYHAHX0DSLuZ1C22-Im-NsXW9RfXadepxbBrL-_AvDcfrEtS-UWegvQzNQ8DvLCw4aHBCunmoEjTFuT9kbhv55cXCExGjcnY6dIBg_Y7UEk8Z9fSWrHh0JS8EXYbL/s1600/IMG_6916+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">okra, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9EnZceNEn9gbrrlo5x-SouxRoDhKXq3tpX0qe1dLVf_Wb5wkXO3tMfEIYEnrBdImh9YXjakclVjVylqPKaW5EvtuLPZc7A58Vl05zo93Eurdwwq34zQEnRC5hMMaV9E5Qy842kzaKdNK9/s1600/IMG_6920+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9EnZceNEn9gbrrlo5x-SouxRoDhKXq3tpX0qe1dLVf_Wb5wkXO3tMfEIYEnrBdImh9YXjakclVjVylqPKaW5EvtuLPZc7A58Vl05zo93Eurdwwq34zQEnRC5hMMaV9E5Qy842kzaKdNK9/s1600/IMG_6920+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pears</td></tr>
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Here are some pictures from this week's harvests. The tomatoes are not from my garden. I went to a you pick place and bought enough to can some crushed tomatoes in their own juices.<br />
<br />Cristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885394458317264217noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521743532397166870.post-9616088162271397702014-07-12T08:36:00.001-05:002014-07-12T08:37:43.138-05:00Blueberry Crunch RecipeIf you have an abundance of blueberries and are looking for a good recipe in which to use them, you might try this recipe. I changed the amount of blueberries to 3 cups and, therefore, used 3 T corn starch and 3 T lemon juice.<br />
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<a href="http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/blueberry-oat-bars">Blueberry Crunch</a><br />
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I love it.<br />
<br />Cristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885394458317264217noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521743532397166870.post-21162532734874808512014-07-09T09:45:00.000-05:002014-07-09T09:45:21.448-05:00A Few Life Hacks for Canning JarsI was talking to my husband this morning, wondering why anybody would buy these
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when there are things we regularly purchase that are the size of regular mouth canning jars. He said that he thought most people did not know these things would fit. Well, I thought I would tell you so that you will know from now on.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHC8_UbjrbWXgCAZfTqjAtfHPj2d0tDsPlGL_lBdDIxqO7ELI7v8XnKzq5o8CrxuMVtcKRQepzzq021kyLvbRsOAVYW_0WdtgaW2weYuSuovBszmFrORlpvVnPy3IiyHUgb7aedWM8NkZn/s1600/IMG_6901+(640x508).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHC8_UbjrbWXgCAZfTqjAtfHPj2d0tDsPlGL_lBdDIxqO7ELI7v8XnKzq5o8CrxuMVtcKRQepzzq021kyLvbRsOAVYW_0WdtgaW2weYuSuovBszmFrORlpvVnPy3IiyHUgb7aedWM8NkZn/s1600/IMG_6901+(640x508).jpg" height="253" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">examples of regularly purchased products that fit canning jars</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4ov_sU-ZsqGISjbXZgshq7D3uq-8uuhhNcL920EJhj9f6DQOq0LgOK27rWuJ_Rl8QVi6mdmNnq7gCK0rLQ-xJBwq47BXigWxkZNcHdX3rVPloUt4AK_kH3w81VwGIL1WMCV1kYx7Y1AB/s1600/IMG_6902+%2528640x520%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4ov_sU-ZsqGISjbXZgshq7D3uq-8uuhhNcL920EJhj9f6DQOq0LgOK27rWuJ_Rl8QVi6mdmNnq7gCK0rLQ-xJBwq47BXigWxkZNcHdX3rVPloUt4AK_kH3w81VwGIL1WMCV1kYx7Y1AB/s1600/IMG_6902+%2528640x520%2529.jpg" height="260" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Canning jars with these lids on them. I am currently storing<br />dried basil in the one on the left and the 2 on the right contain<br />my pepper sauce.</span></td></tr>
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The smaller size peanut butter jars fit perfectly on regular mouth canning jars. Most mayonnaise lids do, too, but Bama Mayonnaise does not for some reason.<br />
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I haven't yet found a lid that fits perfectly on wide mouth canning jars, but I have something that works really well. I will try to explain it to you.<br />
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That jar on the left in the picture is the type of coconut oil I regularly buy. Its lid is just <i>slightly </i>too large for the large mouth canning jars.<br />
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Here is what I did to fix that.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNya-zUVGEieUKiA6o4BkNUUgwH_lVdJ4Olcdw9YmUse3BotsiHMywFmCHgExxAKDHcwKqGHTIib4bA3RLSzAmOxwS5fQD13EhXgi9tvjEmXgHSWJ5l9_XGpZsUMtHHc5eqoOuLF2VYMoM/s1600/IMG_6903+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNya-zUVGEieUKiA6o4BkNUUgwH_lVdJ4Olcdw9YmUse3BotsiHMywFmCHgExxAKDHcwKqGHTIib4bA3RLSzAmOxwS5fQD13EhXgi9tvjEmXgHSWJ5l9_XGpZsUMtHHc5eqoOuLF2VYMoM/s1600/IMG_6903+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Take a large mouth canning ring and the lid you want to use. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwiFq7zd9wHEXkFsmIqoSHfZQ8pEi0q8fE-6CmRYkc2NsOvkB7zDZJZN21JnbuXQ7kmGk6gZlv24JP8AaClAgl_cK5yDj7QVBaBuEyArmBYwEcl0ZzKV5MxfcJX8-ks3SY2PGpk4T_RMB/s1600/IMG_6904+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwiFq7zd9wHEXkFsmIqoSHfZQ8pEi0q8fE-6CmRYkc2NsOvkB7zDZJZN21JnbuXQ7kmGk6gZlv24JP8AaClAgl_cK5yDj7QVBaBuEyArmBYwEcl0ZzKV5MxfcJX8-ks3SY2PGpk4T_RMB/s1600/IMG_6904+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Snap the lid over the top of the canning ring.</span> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5HuY41pjbzEMBqHBUu3A-Qe6zB7nQUR0AlOfftkRyPLjfVHqddN_nLe5te_KzBmjSgWOaOvGJAGNj8EOiYCOMtIBGeQCGtOdj5b2odg-49UiKnREM-b0EOT_q6CcvPztJrboIYHahlyx/s1600/IMG_6905+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5HuY41pjbzEMBqHBUu3A-Qe6zB7nQUR0AlOfftkRyPLjfVHqddN_nLe5te_KzBmjSgWOaOvGJAGNj8EOiYCOMtIBGeQCGtOdj5b2odg-49UiKnREM-b0EOT_q6CcvPztJrboIYHahlyx/s1600/IMG_6905+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Press hard. It's tight, but the fit is good. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcZXCahM_7vjhYI44rWP4KsgXQ6nXp-kjo56L0dgTeC-DwNxa9Foux0pfgk-xl5dNlF0RfDYyrszhdfswLLZh_ZMhndsdERi-f8XG_4cbHBgjx3i0sK55MxncbncF5XoKN1rXSpcK_I4x/s1600/IMG_6906+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcZXCahM_7vjhYI44rWP4KsgXQ6nXp-kjo56L0dgTeC-DwNxa9Foux0pfgk-xl5dNlF0RfDYyrszhdfswLLZh_ZMhndsdERi-f8XG_4cbHBgjx3i0sK55MxncbncF5XoKN1rXSpcK_I4x/s1600/IMG_6906+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here's what it looks like when you have them connected. </span></td></tr>
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Then you just use it as you would any lid. It fits perfectly! I love finding ways to use everyday things!<br />
It is better for the environment. And it's better for my pocket book.<br />
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<br />Cristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885394458317264217noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521743532397166870.post-60215187773682093122014-07-07T06:00:00.000-05:002014-07-07T06:00:06.413-05:00Harvest Monday July 7, 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am joining <a href="http://daphnesdandelions.blogspot.com/">Daphne's Dandelions</a> for Harvest Monday today. I want to send a big "thank you" to Daphne for hosting this event. It's fun. You can see what others are harvesting by going to the link.<br />
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It has been a pretty good harvest week for me. First up, I will talk about my pears. I gathered 2 baskets full. That's wonderful! I have had trouble with Japanese rust on that tree for the past few years, so it hasn't had fruit on it. There was a little Japanese rust this year, but someone told me that if I put Epsom salts under the tree to the drip line of the leaves every time it was getting ready to rain, it would help. I tried it, and it helped more than this expensive and hard-to-apply organic stuff I bought.<br />
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My mother-in-law really <i>loves</i> <a href="http://twentyfootgarden.blogspot.com/2012/07/pear-relish-recipe.html">pear relish</a>, so I made her nine pint jars from the first basket of pears. I have to dole it to her one jar at a time or she will eat so much of it she makes herself sick. I didn't grow up with it and it isn't my favorite, but it makes her happy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTC7448CMhqoaL6YquTa54qcgGLSUM78d7h85xUXgTm4j-ssIV0-TuIgcIJq5U3vJGXhgl5QkyKUrql4Cx3bE_r-EXq8B_gmX07fzPzgsnQbA5fc_K1Gtvtc72DNHYuvz8pxlD6zHY58n1/s1600/IMG_6849+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTC7448CMhqoaL6YquTa54qcgGLSUM78d7h85xUXgTm4j-ssIV0-TuIgcIJq5U3vJGXhgl5QkyKUrql4Cx3bE_r-EXq8B_gmX07fzPzgsnQbA5fc_K1Gtvtc72DNHYuvz8pxlD6zHY58n1/s1600/IMG_6849+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://twentyfootgarden.blogspot.com/2012/07/pear-relish-recipe.html">Pear relish</a> to the left and a basket of pears to the right. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMnn9Gjn-uCo7pT4t5j6k4Ov9KsjCgcNOeBMhdtw3LvgiYz8fhGwgs1xHvKKxJsqVBDSSLNfJVGPQU3a2es_2sLv4sb1KbHejJ8_1oCRAIWURYQVrZcfHnI2BVlL_pwBs_3hXyMzPMbU_/s1600/IMG_6850+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMnn9Gjn-uCo7pT4t5j6k4Ov9KsjCgcNOeBMhdtw3LvgiYz8fhGwgs1xHvKKxJsqVBDSSLNfJVGPQU3a2es_2sLv4sb1KbHejJ8_1oCRAIWURYQVrZcfHnI2BVlL_pwBs_3hXyMzPMbU_/s1600/IMG_6850+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pears. You can see a little of the Japanese rust on the very top<br />pear.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUoxdhIs7ff1G-eVeM60XhkASjjTp4tGhUHKcpRUJyc9l_m_9_Xoh4ZQqWJ5H7lj1bO_2l54PzUSWALjbJ-Z-xLAhvpTQEqU_-gosK-s78MyAEOgK4_irwPzixOb_rnLDJuAZEiGVVrO5z/s1600/IMG_6851+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUoxdhIs7ff1G-eVeM60XhkASjjTp4tGhUHKcpRUJyc9l_m_9_Xoh4ZQqWJ5H7lj1bO_2l54PzUSWALjbJ-Z-xLAhvpTQEqU_-gosK-s78MyAEOgK4_irwPzixOb_rnLDJuAZEiGVVrO5z/s1600/IMG_6851+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pear relish</td></tr>
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Then, I made 2 quarts of spiced pear sauce. <span style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;">I added </span><span style="text-align: center;">1 1/2 cups of brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and a ground cloves. YUM! I think it is good enough to eat as a dessert. :)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4EuJkyrZMva5U5codSSnyMV-LvTZhq-pNwkJLb7sx2BMim8bg9oZDBYuyOjY2i4VwzRjo8ZRpwEsCHfCWrs2lIxdz6z8tSv-_yIaOJub3j_Jife4mFCp2KTdmiwfHAhVskHrMzBJqu7H/s1600/IMG_6856+(640x562).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4EuJkyrZMva5U5codSSnyMV-LvTZhq-pNwkJLb7sx2BMim8bg9oZDBYuyOjY2i4VwzRjo8ZRpwEsCHfCWrs2lIxdz6z8tSv-_yIaOJub3j_Jife4mFCp2KTdmiwfHAhVskHrMzBJqu7H/s1600/IMG_6856+(640x562).jpg" height="281" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spiced pear sauce (like apple sauce, but with pears)</td></tr>
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<br />I don't have the best luck with corn, but this is better than the first time I grew it. We got four edible sized ears today and have about 8 more in the garden.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5rh3yQ3kZQ-_f1yoj07GvTmjgGnJ-UAVPonHNHtLGWaQcdOH5pycAyVB-k5K3gF4x92ScT_lM-uzqV-zOXbHM-2j2j7WviM6BHT5mCOnodInxMUBKvmqvMWO2SM36WTfVEYaKqJrApTx/s1600/IMG_6852+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5rh3yQ3kZQ-_f1yoj07GvTmjgGnJ-UAVPonHNHtLGWaQcdOH5pycAyVB-k5K3gF4x92ScT_lM-uzqV-zOXbHM-2j2j7WviM6BHT5mCOnodInxMUBKvmqvMWO2SM36WTfVEYaKqJrApTx/s1600/IMG_6852+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">corn</td></tr>
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The okra is coming in pretty well. It's just getting started, so it should hit its stride pretty soon. We all love it and are happy to be eating it again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2INwcUhJRxaipH-rcQ3kBj28nzgqOZHjAWV2dm4CsgYyzFXBe6ZrzCbVY6lLZWbHnAvgPE1WiQVk3UJfLKbwRHV-Ym3gw6vUU1AMcwK1sVOpld0BH08TZazMB_vbd5T5A0LNHNSu04cSm/s1600/IMG_6853+(540x640).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2INwcUhJRxaipH-rcQ3kBj28nzgqOZHjAWV2dm4CsgYyzFXBe6ZrzCbVY6lLZWbHnAvgPE1WiQVk3UJfLKbwRHV-Ym3gw6vUU1AMcwK1sVOpld0BH08TZazMB_vbd5T5A0LNHNSu04cSm/s1600/IMG_6853+(540x640).jpg" height="320" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stewart's Zeebest okra</td></tr>
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My son is in a 4-H Junior Master Gardener program. It's been a great experience for him. He planted 9 hot peppers in the garden, because of the class. We weren't sure that we would get anything off of them, because they looked very poorly for a long time, but they are bouncing back and we got our first hot pepper this week. He has several different types of hot peppers, so I hope he can at least taste all the different ones. Maybe he will become a chili head! He's only nine and really loves spicy, so we will see.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVzx60SQpkQ1FeCiirNdHtyl2UZ0yO5DGMsntvybcaGdS5mGOeWWc7hmxzVTW3GBN3R0S8PxboR0UKPT_I4GEa4FrrrRzY4xQ13lDfHSNvmBVORTyybxKSykpSHXAYPBDBtS_cuC6VJ-s/s1600/IMG_6854+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVzx60SQpkQ1FeCiirNdHtyl2UZ0yO5DGMsntvybcaGdS5mGOeWWc7hmxzVTW3GBN3R0S8PxboR0UKPT_I4GEa4FrrrRzY4xQ13lDfHSNvmBVORTyybxKSykpSHXAYPBDBtS_cuC6VJ-s/s1600/IMG_6854+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot banana pepper</td></tr>
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The cucumbers are providing us with tasty cucumbers every day. I have squash vine borers on the cucumber plant (argh!), so I don't know how long we will be able to get them, but I am going to enjoy every one that we can get. They taste so wonderful!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7Snb4JWpA7mCFcLGy_7JXkFERcyzBsVwSMf4Vt9h79pvu980lmWE5KEw5zvqEynk4KZtEXDyVUwMdPyglHPXnO3_oUGZ9tSlVuwFnhdve4ZS9I5wHX6lAZf2tV1M0_SnCEu1IgB0OH32/s1600/IMG_6855+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7Snb4JWpA7mCFcLGy_7JXkFERcyzBsVwSMf4Vt9h79pvu980lmWE5KEw5zvqEynk4KZtEXDyVUwMdPyglHPXnO3_oUGZ9tSlVuwFnhdve4ZS9I5wHX6lAZf2tV1M0_SnCEu1IgB0OH32/s1600/IMG_6855+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cucumbers<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And last, but not least, the swallow tailed kites are back in town! Out whole family just loves these birds! They are relatively rare birds in much of the country and several states have them listed as endangered and/or threatened. We love to watch them swoop, soar and dive. And as a bonus, they eat a lot of snakes. It is so neat to see them carrying a snake through the sky, holding it by the middle, both ends of the snake flying behind them like a banner. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UKV1H0JNM7OKQKw5B62OOd1KIwocAop81HGt8SOn9pAqpSQajKbC_HUemxtKhBjwiILXZAImj70cIPiko1-l-n7LN4K4NEeH7nrw-SzCtkSq3PNJ6tn7tcSj3pv8U6xSh3j6L4WF82lY/s1600/IMG_6848+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UKV1H0JNM7OKQKw5B62OOd1KIwocAop81HGt8SOn9pAqpSQajKbC_HUemxtKhBjwiILXZAImj70cIPiko1-l-n7LN4K4NEeH7nrw-SzCtkSq3PNJ6tn7tcSj3pv8U6xSh3j6L4WF82lY/s1600/IMG_6848+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">swallow tailed kite behind our home</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /><br /><br /></div>
Cristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885394458317264217noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521743532397166870.post-33821717271888453472014-06-28T06:57:00.004-05:002014-06-30T06:43:18.189-05:00Why I Put Up My Own SalsaThis week I took my kids to the you pick place and bought 2 five gallon buckets of tomatoes, and a bucket of hot and bell peppers. We bought a few onions, but most were spoiled, so we didn't buy many.<br />
<br />
I went to the local grocery to supply the rest of the onions and the fresh cilantro.<br />
<br />
And I have been chopping, slicing, dicing, peeling and processing ever since.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6ss0zyIctFndv3XbIDITmMsS3XXGw7emXBMMjaNhenYSwQ5GWRjjku3-2Fy7zVcJywqV8rDlZ8jsXorS4RDEKnsE7fv4sJqTbZP4v9lDagvgdePVUQf7lraBue2UKmjB41odOXr5PJ3Q/s1600/IMG_6800+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6ss0zyIctFndv3XbIDITmMsS3XXGw7emXBMMjaNhenYSwQ5GWRjjku3-2Fy7zVcJywqV8rDlZ8jsXorS4RDEKnsE7fv4sJqTbZP4v9lDagvgdePVUQf7lraBue2UKmjB41odOXr5PJ3Q/s1600/IMG_6800+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tomatoes I have left after canning 12 quarts of salsa.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So, after standing on my feet for three days, chopping and canning, I was beginning to wonder....<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvwZD5dbLbtw93-Q238FAkz0MML6Oee6LLhI1YBojnA384EBaUiNVaPZLSyk86bQYpfMzDLjPpK6ujoSe5kOu4GGUOt9XBVkL8671T_9k7r5U2MXAi2kX4ATb1_CDL1t2G6sSl46gy13i/s1600/IMG_6799+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvwZD5dbLbtw93-Q238FAkz0MML6Oee6LLhI1YBojnA384EBaUiNVaPZLSyk86bQYpfMzDLjPpK6ujoSe5kOu4GGUOt9XBVkL8671T_9k7r5U2MXAi2kX4ATb1_CDL1t2G6sSl46gy13i/s1600/IMG_6799+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quarts of salsa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Why am I doing all this?<br />
<br />
Here are my answers.<br />
<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>I have control over the ingredients.</li>
<li>I can use local ingredients in season.</li>
<li>My salsa requires less packaging than store bought.</li>
<li>I have less waste than stores would, because I <a href="http://baconandeggs-scifichick.blogspot.com/2013/07/tomato-skins-to-tomato-powder-easy.html">dry the tomato skins.</a></li>
<li>Dried tomato skins equal free tomato paste, so there is even less packaging/shipping waste.</li>
<li>I don't have to worry about the BPA found in store bought packages.</li>
<li>My packaging (canning jars) are mostly re-usable. </li>
<li>There is less transportation and therefore less gas is used to gather and process them. I did drive an hour to the you pick place, but in a regular processing situation for the stores, the farmer would have had to drive the produce to the processing plant, the processing plant would have to deal with it, then it would be taken to a regional store, then a local store and then I would have to drive to get it.</li>
<li>I am sure there are no fake ingredients in my salsa.</li>
</ol>
<div>
And the last on the list, but probably the most important reason:<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> <b> 10. It tastes better!!</b></span></div>
Cristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885394458317264217noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521743532397166870.post-38650044021796544022014-06-16T06:00:00.000-05:002014-06-16T06:00:06.180-05:00Potatoes in Grow Bags<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0CQOz1k8MsxI-4JdU0E-HqHGU6C0XfQkuQ-NUwSY-NKEuBuIHKptekq8SQtOXGqLdVGrvDKFXDTQPe79szEYELLpLsszvvMLNJxrvlObhkcpmtWlBGqlK8kvnNQmgPkuIkS9LD_odyAQ/s1600/IMG_6525+(623x602).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0CQOz1k8MsxI-4JdU0E-HqHGU6C0XfQkuQ-NUwSY-NKEuBuIHKptekq8SQtOXGqLdVGrvDKFXDTQPe79szEYELLpLsszvvMLNJxrvlObhkcpmtWlBGqlK8kvnNQmgPkuIkS9LD_odyAQ/s1600/IMG_6525+(623x602).jpg" height="308" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The potatoes in grow bags, looking great and healthy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was really hopeful about the potatoes. I bought the best seed potatoes I could afford.<br />
<br />
I added 4 bags of soil into the grow bags.<br />
<br />
I read up on growing potatoes in grow bags through the Kenosha Potato Project.<br />
<br />
So, all signs pointed to a nice potato harvest.<br />
<br />
I harvested them June 10, 2014, and well....<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7a2Ctuc2egq61Bq_MwjpMJt0bzxUS6MKt132nXLz24jTvIq1nHRC0EvUT82GCVzS9vj91IbJ-5APTicw6EGka_nSFh57pbdCyh_ZTQUg50zE-ivoUngxvw5lUusrSuu4cjZEkrgfZdZf/s1600/IMG_6609+(549x640).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7a2Ctuc2egq61Bq_MwjpMJt0bzxUS6MKt132nXLz24jTvIq1nHRC0EvUT82GCVzS9vj91IbJ-5APTicw6EGka_nSFh57pbdCyh_ZTQUg50zE-ivoUngxvw5lUusrSuu4cjZEkrgfZdZf/s1600/IMG_6609+(549x640).jpg" height="320" width="274" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We harvested 36 potatoes, including the ones smaller<br />than Dum Dum lollipops.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Yeah, um, 36 <i>potatoes.</i> Not 36 pounds. Fail.<br />
<br />
I guess I don't know how to grow potatoes. Sigh.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Cristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885394458317264217noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521743532397166870.post-1479598628996553592014-06-08T06:44:00.002-05:002014-06-08T06:44:20.974-05:00A Scrap of a Poem <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Where</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">by Wendell Berry</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The mind still hungers</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">for its earth, its bounded</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">and open space, the term</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">of its final assent. It keeps</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">the vision of an independent</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">modest abundance. It dreams</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">of cellar and pantry filled,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">the source well husbanded.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And yet it learns care</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">reluctantly, and late.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It suffers plaintively from</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">its obligations. Long </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">attention to detail</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">is a cross it bears only </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">by congratulating itself.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It would like to hurry up </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">and get more than it needs</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">of several pleasant things.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It dreads all the labors</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">of common decency.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It recalls, with disquieting</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">sympathy, the motto</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">of a locally renowned</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">and long dead kinsman: "Never</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">set up when you can lay down."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
You can read most of the rest of the poem <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=EWHF7UiYtvEC&pg=PA205&lpg=PA205&dq=%22the+mind+still+hungers+for+its+earth%22+by+wendell+berry&source=bl&ots=i3P9XFmizY&sig=QZzPDBDuFn2uVAkyDbQdrSDUvF8&hl=en&sa=X&ei=XkuUU47vGuyl8gHr3YGoBw&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=%22the%20mind%20still%20hungers%20for%20its%20earth%22%20by%20wendell%20berry&f=false">here.</a></div>
Cristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885394458317264217noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521743532397166870.post-30116445050433416592014-06-07T13:14:00.001-05:002014-06-07T13:14:15.374-05:00Blueberry Picking -- Some Numbers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLh1eFFkmKlzNE4gFvoEyB_577GjxzL3UsE3Txe44YFeAmafCH8LWkYDzOjm4MdkArwBeb8HnVokaXUnGSeNEErwCHi1IvJtHFzuji1qKIkFn5WxfgGNCbYgs3YQVw4L8OgtvNDYS2klb/s1600/IMG_6573+(640x486).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLh1eFFkmKlzNE4gFvoEyB_577GjxzL3UsE3Txe44YFeAmafCH8LWkYDzOjm4MdkArwBeb8HnVokaXUnGSeNEErwCHi1IvJtHFzuji1qKIkFn5WxfgGNCbYgs3YQVw4L8OgtvNDYS2klb/s1600/IMG_6573+(640x486).jpg" height="242" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vvEx6tSeLhwAlJPGUR8jrAhoZq5pY2-PkvzVkyBtwLyugMm2e6F4Ko-dn5dEqQRUdfQZvTWzqbM2eSk5X7an7rrQx3cS4NVAlRdED_v1RO8XvKuTTBhAQL2_BoK-yN9ACqxsfHYr35n0/s1600/IMG_6575+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vvEx6tSeLhwAlJPGUR8jrAhoZq5pY2-PkvzVkyBtwLyugMm2e6F4Ko-dn5dEqQRUdfQZvTWzqbM2eSk5X7an7rrQx3cS4NVAlRdED_v1RO8XvKuTTBhAQL2_BoK-yN9ACqxsfHYr35n0/s1600/IMG_6575+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Temperature: 93 degrees F. (34 degrees C)<br />
<br />
37 minute drive to the u-pick farm.<br />
<br />
One picker. (me)<br />
<br />
Three hours picking.<br />
<br />
Price paid: $41.<br />
<br />
Total picked: 14 gallons.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Cristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885394458317264217noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521743532397166870.post-3774233008087280252014-05-26T12:40:00.002-05:002014-05-26T12:40:57.639-05:00Swiss ChardI really love my Swiss chard.<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>I love the way it grows so happily in mostly-shady situations. Some of mine grows where it only gets about 3 hours of sunlight a day. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-f-Ts2YlcEcFrGWtmOFXbp1I-j1fvUXNOfeWq1CkwlneqI-PD83sToSECrmmlDlp-yrSYR4mqQPDnXCMSeEF5S1aSj5UyiRebuTpGO6JgBnt-KXi_b790Zttq884F56WI17Fr68clPSw0/s1600/IMG_6524+%2528543x640%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-f-Ts2YlcEcFrGWtmOFXbp1I-j1fvUXNOfeWq1CkwlneqI-PD83sToSECrmmlDlp-yrSYR4mqQPDnXCMSeEF5S1aSj5UyiRebuTpGO6JgBnt-KXi_b790Zttq884F56WI17Fr68clPSw0/s1600/IMG_6524+%2528543x640%2529.jpg" height="320" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swiss chard growing beside my house. It only gets<br />about 3 hours of sunlight, and that in the afternoon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</li>
<li>I love the taste of it.</li>
<li>I love that in my Southern garden, I can grow it most of the year.</li>
<li>I love that Swiss chard is pretty enough to grow in the front yard garden. </li>
</ol>
<div>
The only time I can't grow Swiss chard is when it is going to seed. Luckily, this year, my son's Junior Master Gardeners group took the Swiss chard they had growing out and I was able to plant this plant to tide me over until the seeds come in and my baby Swiss chard plants are big enough to harvest.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwQkFvQcwvF37WxHjleUkU3m1lVqrI7BcOtudAgdrH1fvCc8fFoTE3CA4GkmznL30X73ckZ7PQCrcw0Xby0hanOC-ZKHBKVOnle0TJLmhmJQD1Wxfv_mvrlSw-YpoZUPu5FWkpCZk_pOu/s1600/IMG_6526+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwQkFvQcwvF37WxHjleUkU3m1lVqrI7BcOtudAgdrH1fvCc8fFoTE3CA4GkmznL30X73ckZ7PQCrcw0Xby0hanOC-ZKHBKVOnle0TJLmhmJQD1Wxfv_mvrlSw-YpoZUPu5FWkpCZk_pOu/s1600/IMG_6526+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swiss chard given to our family by the leaders of the Junior Master Gardeners</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41Hw4mcT3ryhpaEWOo-QDfZs72W-ifE6tnz7inBRfZu2kMFhpZOfjJPFSZdoH0XYjJ7jRQB1_o-Xr9YTDRtFSqd3SAJATab0TErD9qpqQGLy0i05vyS-dLrbNP2obrd5eZY4zBOJoGp_V/s1600/IMG_6525+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41Hw4mcT3ryhpaEWOo-QDfZs72W-ifE6tnz7inBRfZu2kMFhpZOfjJPFSZdoH0XYjJ7jRQB1_o-Xr9YTDRtFSqd3SAJATab0TErD9qpqQGLy0i05vyS-dLrbNP2obrd5eZY4zBOJoGp_V/s1600/IMG_6525+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swiss chard going to seed. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKIpKVDZxDWjgEBrbhPEnZhScv6LRa8Z1CDkpcOqBBAZGDKpGAAy-JAu8tLPVa1lp3RDiNre0Xl3h3v2vHq0l6VrDcQgVoGdkAZ_nZUq4z1WCaz9zsi1A97zZDJvzTT42f83uvGqmnmU0H/s1600/IMG_6527+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKIpKVDZxDWjgEBrbhPEnZhScv6LRa8Z1CDkpcOqBBAZGDKpGAAy-JAu8tLPVa1lp3RDiNre0Xl3h3v2vHq0l6VrDcQgVoGdkAZ_nZUq4z1WCaz9zsi1A97zZDJvzTT42f83uvGqmnmU0H/s1600/IMG_6527+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Swiss chard in the garden. </td></tr>
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Cristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885394458317264217noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521743532397166870.post-90585727954088949702014-05-19T04:41:00.000-05:002014-05-19T04:41:00.066-05:0071 Pounds of Peaches!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoGmC73jqMc8pMw0n0h3wMDyd8W5PJHQIi6tTLQ34bzFBWh50Ca228bVM1IY-4t3zdQfB2lyulzgD5egp9htKWIc-jV7Qx0LXctGi9GCZVrplIL91GSli2Wj-rspuER3UDlda57PD4e2s/s1600/IMG_5898+(480x640).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoGmC73jqMc8pMw0n0h3wMDyd8W5PJHQIi6tTLQ34bzFBWh50Ca228bVM1IY-4t3zdQfB2lyulzgD5egp9htKWIc-jV7Qx0LXctGi9GCZVrplIL91GSli2Wj-rspuER3UDlda57PD4e2s/s1600/IMG_5898+(480x640).jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I stored the peaches in the garage to finish ripening,<br />
to lay them flat and to keep them out of the way<br />
while I worked on other peaches.</td></tr>
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The picture above is the only one I took of the wonderful, amazing beautiful harvest of peaches my 3 year old tree gave me. Before it was over, that 8 foot table was covered with peaches, even though<br />
I was peeling, cutting, removing seeds and processing about a basket-full a day.<br />
<br />
All told, it took me almost 2 weeks to completely process 71 pounds of peaches. I would work on them at the table every day for as long as I could stand it. My hands got sore and crampy from peeling and cutting that many small peaches. My shoulders cramped from sitting in basically the same position for hours at a time. Thank goodness I had <a href="http://www.youngliving.com/en_US/products/essential-oils/blends/panaway-essential-oil">Young Living P<u>anaway</u></a> and <a href="http://www.youngliving.com/en_US/products/essential-oils/blends/stress-away-essential-oil">Young Living Stress Away</a>. I used Young Living Panaway on my hands to relieve the cramping and I used the Young Living Stress Away to get rid of a massive headache I got from sitting in that one position for hours on end. (And I do mean massive. The headache was one that 2 Aleve normally wouldn't touch. Stress Away relieved it in less than an hour.)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBw5OKF4GR-7COiFIkuPDJ9fPyEE4ocigz0mNuB6shpMas8Oc-NCdU3hdn1Tg7s5_grnUIryjjxTYU-M3h5LUYeGb5pspKk-f4vmwo7xhBT-yS3NQcVuAF981hqk7NnA6xIrtLvvnjwa-d/s1600/IMG_5896+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBw5OKF4GR-7COiFIkuPDJ9fPyEE4ocigz0mNuB6shpMas8Oc-NCdU3hdn1Tg7s5_grnUIryjjxTYU-M3h5LUYeGb5pspKk-f4vmwo7xhBT-yS3NQcVuAF981hqk7NnA6xIrtLvvnjwa-d/s1600/IMG_5896+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">peach jam</td></tr>
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<br />
I ended up with 3 pints of peach-pineapple jam with almond extract (totally yum!), and 13 pints of peach jam, and 5 really full gallon bags of frozen peaches. And the whole family ate peaches all day long for the last two weeks.<br />
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I am really happy about this, because this is the first harvest for me that really <i>feels </i>abundant. I have been grateful for every harvest I have ever gotten, but I would read other blogs and think, "That isn't how it happens here." So I am really glad for something that feels abundant.<br />
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You can see what others are harvesting at <a href="http://daphnesdandelions.blogspot.com/">Daphne's Dandelions Harvest Mondays. </a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">**I do distribute Young Living Essential oils. If you are interested, you can sign up through <a href="https://www.youngliving.com/signup/?site=US&sponsorid=1812057&enrollerid=1812057">this link.</a></span><br />
<br />Cristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885394458317264217noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521743532397166870.post-50932461072505935172014-04-03T09:33:00.000-05:002014-04-03T09:33:06.786-05:00Close Up Views of the Spring Garden<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2wdPycmOF59InU32v9YhGvgU8DNlHsB5BevegQcgMINYFdjCUXJrcWVWL9oox4tIlsHzRc2rZ-8lkZFzsVyuaPeOI8ABZYwhP0T4bE9hl0ioyKPeiZohDxXnyt032afHnIC5ZjDnpbQK/s1600/IMG_5582+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2wdPycmOF59InU32v9YhGvgU8DNlHsB5BevegQcgMINYFdjCUXJrcWVWL9oox4tIlsHzRc2rZ-8lkZFzsVyuaPeOI8ABZYwhP0T4bE9hl0ioyKPeiZohDxXnyt032afHnIC5ZjDnpbQK/s1600/IMG_5582+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By the front door. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hg1v9PGd79sos6uzlU6GtzlqN-AtJXq38E6LIt_GgMVeJXKhiMSRXC99ts4OViPIYKps8gNh71KjlOe2qwYbI6hbZ4Rsl0pjVm-p8Bo6hLX0x8KEz-RHII1Hn6TzXlz2lPZvfGQfrdeD/s1600/IMG_5587+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hg1v9PGd79sos6uzlU6GtzlqN-AtJXq38E6LIt_GgMVeJXKhiMSRXC99ts4OViPIYKps8gNh71KjlOe2qwYbI6hbZ4Rsl0pjVm-p8Bo6hLX0x8KEz-RHII1Hn6TzXlz2lPZvfGQfrdeD/s1600/IMG_5587+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crimson Flowered Fava beans. I just <i>love</i> this plant! It is stunningly<br />beautiful, has the most heavenly scent and (if I am lucky) gives me<br />seeds to save for next year. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYo_Xep0NmaEQMWPejiL39QPt-ttn-womwYSz7hpZ2nL97vDZkxQ0qBaE8Xb5Pke0HX04f5wBxUWKCpmq-3DnqizwQrt89j48tcCfmadrFGO_ddQ4pl-BnKx9qKf9gp-YcJDICwqlM8zPK/s1600/IMG_5588+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYo_Xep0NmaEQMWPejiL39QPt-ttn-womwYSz7hpZ2nL97vDZkxQ0qBaE8Xb5Pke0HX04f5wBxUWKCpmq-3DnqizwQrt89j48tcCfmadrFGO_ddQ4pl-BnKx9qKf9gp-YcJDICwqlM8zPK/s1600/IMG_5588+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pipevine plant. I added this plant to the butterfly garden because<br />Pipevine Swallowtails use this plant exclusively to host their caterpillars. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9eafzLQtqNu-604PmaOQRMKMyOhSNLLthKiIdw4B-bmg5NTXfA0dL34lux2PxjiETNlEjX3iMmJ_LFodtYjA3BNkzwy8-Ko_89XRp4FqAzTIrLaXQm8UkzT0o0lMl_ObxYSK70tEn0dd/s1600/IMG_5592+%2528640x345%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9eafzLQtqNu-604PmaOQRMKMyOhSNLLthKiIdw4B-bmg5NTXfA0dL34lux2PxjiETNlEjX3iMmJ_LFodtYjA3BNkzwy8-Ko_89XRp4FqAzTIrLaXQm8UkzT0o0lMl_ObxYSK70tEn0dd/s1600/IMG_5592+%2528640x345%2529.jpg" height="172" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overloaded peaches on the tree. I need to thin. I have been working<br />on it, but all the limbs are covered that completely, and it is<br />taking awhile to get it done. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRMQ6J-OZOKowxS9y2WrVOqTK0vR4S_IRqd77uNrc2USENMKEXISeIP4q5nGJnAoy5HlNt3VttoqzqzMFWhRvLzBwHXf7s5iSm4Ud7talCss1EPqwK5i-UPl68L7tsulV81dJ8OShNBZG/s1600/IMG_5600+%2528640x320%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRMQ6J-OZOKowxS9y2WrVOqTK0vR4S_IRqd77uNrc2USENMKEXISeIP4q5nGJnAoy5HlNt3VttoqzqzMFWhRvLzBwHXf7s5iSm4Ud7talCss1EPqwK5i-UPl68L7tsulV81dJ8OShNBZG/s1600/IMG_5600+%2528640x320%2529.jpg" height="160" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overwintered Swiss Chard with garlic in the center. I covered<br />the Chard over and over during the winter, and am hoping to<br />save seed. </td></tr>
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<br />Cristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885394458317264217noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521743532397166870.post-78691543290332587812014-04-03T09:27:00.000-05:002014-04-03T09:27:13.403-05:00In the Garden Now April 2014Occasionally, I post pictures of the way the garden looks right now. The last time I did this was <a href="http://twentyfootgarden.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-garden-right-now.html">May 1, 2013</a>.<br />
<br />
It was a hard winter, and many of my garden plants died. I also added many things to our little property. I think it's time for another one.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7CzziOEmjVWodjBRESsmIhm3jVSTsxSUCB9FPaWxkyigoPu4IBQCx-EfwoLMT3L5dBnds2wk7vfwsJNwrkIALJSAuFpf3vVOfqFMoRFj3krXIC4BMprStTmTNt86kHhE5JpaYs3y4SMj/s1600/IMG_5585+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7CzziOEmjVWodjBRESsmIhm3jVSTsxSUCB9FPaWxkyigoPu4IBQCx-EfwoLMT3L5dBnds2wk7vfwsJNwrkIALJSAuFpf3vVOfqFMoRFj3krXIC4BMprStTmTNt86kHhE5JpaYs3y4SMj/s1600/IMG_5585+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Butterfly Garden by the front door. Notice the butterfly stepping stones<br />my kids painted and the old bird bath at the back of the picture. That<br />old bird bath has been painted and contains two types of mint.<br />The green in the front left is all Easter lilies. The green in the badk<br />left is lemon balm. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tyicqDCucRHTwTMIiPT3F_hmmsvs_e2k21Jrl9E3ivkqUAy8X1Tj4n60FM3xOZVH-bW6tRKLkynswjrpP2oMgkks_MI_dlOQkjfZLGs_ONrCrgihTRN-p0BtGBWscJOAO961CUX-4oP8/s1600/IMG_5589+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tyicqDCucRHTwTMIiPT3F_hmmsvs_e2k21Jrl9E3ivkqUAy8X1Tj4n60FM3xOZVH-bW6tRKLkynswjrpP2oMgkks_MI_dlOQkjfZLGs_ONrCrgihTRN-p0BtGBWscJOAO961CUX-4oP8/s1600/IMG_5589+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I added the border to this bed a couple weeks ago. The green at the top<br />is oregano (with dianthus in the middle). The rest of the bed had<br />to be completely replanted. I lost everything that was here. It has<br />daffodils, renunculus, freesias, echinacea from Melissa at <a href="http://evergrowingfarm.com/">Ever Growing Farm</a>, and some<br />baby zinnias.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZVSUhugMs7RuduD5OfaY4QFj3qRkGPXCDuW4mMKlkK_xaok1Asd0mhz293W7Qv7mluoDq5REfE1WtwioFsYBqVlbRLlLgwYyORXqV6vlbMMwbfYQMNN1cvS3N9yA-enaqIlryyhXB_j-r/s1600/IMG_5590+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZVSUhugMs7RuduD5OfaY4QFj3qRkGPXCDuW4mMKlkK_xaok1Asd0mhz293W7Qv7mluoDq5REfE1WtwioFsYBqVlbRLlLgwYyORXqV6vlbMMwbfYQMNN1cvS3N9yA-enaqIlryyhXB_j-r/s1600/IMG_5590+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The most up-to-date view of the peach tree with the new strawberry bed. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKZlfj9yZs-JzNAZg4_5JSVpm7h2IcqTT1MzTk2A4uiPkQZ3CcnkaWOe5ZS5KvJu8JODhqEU6WXXy9kNhr9wObWlo4RKFEmJIp1cbuX40NZL_G5w5qdhiG5A3c7UyxpSQKkLf0ehOsgYK/s1600/IMG_5593+(569x640).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKZlfj9yZs-JzNAZg4_5JSVpm7h2IcqTT1MzTk2A4uiPkQZ3CcnkaWOe5ZS5KvJu8JODhqEU6WXXy9kNhr9wObWlo4RKFEmJIp1cbuX40NZL_G5w5qdhiG5A3c7UyxpSQKkLf0ehOsgYK/s1600/IMG_5593+(569x640).jpg" height="320" width="284" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Braeburn apple. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijydTxJAmp_zi7QOU0nbYQf2Nt46ixeHgX6vgGFMhwOJxMO2TOCuGGbSgjtSUIkIJN_3_8EwlvycRwCr6M6sepmek4mT-itFLA3bpyPBQlWxnTMNhPiqR1LO7LrzpcgWOum4eXsunibYQS/s1600/IMG_5595+(385x640).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijydTxJAmp_zi7QOU0nbYQf2Nt46ixeHgX6vgGFMhwOJxMO2TOCuGGbSgjtSUIkIJN_3_8EwlvycRwCr6M6sepmek4mT-itFLA3bpyPBQlWxnTMNhPiqR1LO7LrzpcgWOum4eXsunibYQS/s1600/IMG_5595+(385x640).jpg" height="320" width="192" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paw Paw tree. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVjAa-QuETxvk169mWPW6dp5YER0uIUzYIKy9sXRmog9aD6S_auLTZj_LxHvoubyCWCPajH54puOK7aOyXuVYBPbtZ8ZWbuUiTpSxrqs0SW5U28yIZT10zb0Mbupr1q9dv-nvb84O6TwS/s1600/IMG_5597+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVjAa-QuETxvk169mWPW6dp5YER0uIUzYIKy9sXRmog9aD6S_auLTZj_LxHvoubyCWCPajH54puOK7aOyXuVYBPbtZ8ZWbuUiTpSxrqs0SW5U28yIZT10zb0Mbupr1q9dv-nvb84O6TwS/s1600/IMG_5597+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pineapple guava.</td></tr>
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Do you think this pineapple guava will live? It's hard to tell from the picture, but there is a lot of brown on the older leaves. I covered it every time it got even moderately cold, but it still looks very burned and weak.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipddnZT1lIo1bldxicuJDMCk16iXUH_SNNTeksXsxtRzDRAuQ-igtj3Xv9trlvKYM9ksz2HWcNjdcZDPNdw_Cfj3LphsMGLOPLm2F6d1GjQbzN7vn2yA9kixO7ioXWQrD3WyUKsI7JSGpg/s1600/IMG_5598+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipddnZT1lIo1bldxicuJDMCk16iXUH_SNNTeksXsxtRzDRAuQ-igtj3Xv9trlvKYM9ksz2HWcNjdcZDPNdw_Cfj3LphsMGLOPLm2F6d1GjQbzN7vn2yA9kixO7ioXWQrD3WyUKsI7JSGpg/s1600/IMG_5598+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hazelnut tree. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-V24zsgKEoSP0iCbLtKATDcoiCPsyWnblDVLT01Eqk2lFRd-N-kgBPdKZCGXtem_GN-w-Td96r0qPzVuyJ4RMAtaUyNUwBuvM5HEAYm3I7zwkuF2B-MONI0VtRR6I0L92O2Yyg884-aD/s1600/IMG_5599+(640x415).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-V24zsgKEoSP0iCbLtKATDcoiCPsyWnblDVLT01Eqk2lFRd-N-kgBPdKZCGXtem_GN-w-Td96r0qPzVuyJ4RMAtaUyNUwBuvM5HEAYm3I7zwkuF2B-MONI0VtRR6I0L92O2Yyg884-aD/s1600/IMG_5599+(640x415).jpg" height="206" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The newly added garden beds. The orange you can see<br />is potato grow bags. </td></tr>
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The hazelnuts, pawpaw trees and the pineapple guavas are all really small. I have the tomato trellises around them to keep the kids and their friends from stepping on them.<br />
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<br />Cristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885394458317264217noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521743532397166870.post-50759851791355160132014-03-26T13:12:00.003-05:002014-03-26T13:12:55.206-05:00Before and After: The New Strawberry Patch<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYN8kloH31HKgjF6wy_Xs2xPHzFIQIdF9AHJC-XErSEXI09IE-oWHuWYcqo2PPGl4KDAkPSeG5URkOXsqk1FhzKcHNgbFWTpnxuOCZWSNuyMFSb3ECoGknppmiQXAhe6kHgu47MxLh1-2/s1600/IMG_5303+(640x599).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYN8kloH31HKgjF6wy_Xs2xPHzFIQIdF9AHJC-XErSEXI09IE-oWHuWYcqo2PPGl4KDAkPSeG5URkOXsqk1FhzKcHNgbFWTpnxuOCZWSNuyMFSb3ECoGknppmiQXAhe6kHgu47MxLh1-2/s1600/IMG_5303+(640x599).jpg" height="298" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peach tree in my front yard before the addition of the strawberry<br />bed underneath it.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTo0DaI1p4C1eMbSsWSlnekKzwtB9KUsgzDbg4fixtu93xReWI2amV_X1EP4J8-L_FRi5acEOd4RS8_k6np4NTjjjOKMB4IBH2jbxfoqTj8KK187sDBC04jVVHbVBBPIYWn5xdEh3cDn6/s1600/IMG_5427+(640x479).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTo0DaI1p4C1eMbSsWSlnekKzwtB9KUsgzDbg4fixtu93xReWI2amV_X1EP4J8-L_FRi5acEOd4RS8_k6np4NTjjjOKMB4IBH2jbxfoqTj8KK187sDBC04jVVHbVBBPIYWn5xdEh3cDn6/s1600/IMG_5427+(640x479).jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peach tree in my front yard after the addition of the strawberry bed<br />underneath it. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9RXx3h-iLyxjPNVdRLLTylValQvHX7s5INTBpK6nV69FJszSfQI5jjrdyTC0QLp7HRM1WmSotM4IQhvTQBS-kRNxpmDrAQKZAgh3bPEgsUHmLeAqetlFt_OLV3T74G8X-_lo5Sb2Uvjg/s1600/IMG_5428+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9RXx3h-iLyxjPNVdRLLTylValQvHX7s5INTBpK6nV69FJszSfQI5jjrdyTC0QLp7HRM1WmSotM4IQhvTQBS-kRNxpmDrAQKZAgh3bPEgsUHmLeAqetlFt_OLV3T74G8X-_lo5Sb2Uvjg/s1600/IMG_5428+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A close up on one of the strawberry plants</td></tr>
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My husband asked me to plant something under the peach tree so that he would not have to mow under the low-hanging limbs. I pondered it since last year and asked some other gardeners. I finally decided that a strawberry bed would be a nice addition.<br />
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I bought fifty strawberry plants from <a href="https://www.superseeds.com/">Pinetree Seeds</a>.* They came last week, so I worked (and worked and worked) on the weeds in order to create a bed for them. I am not the greatest at circular math, so I cut 2 strings, one eight inches long and the other eighteen inches long. The eight inch long one was used to measure between plants and the 18 inch long one was used to measure between rows. I did one row at a time, planting the plants in that row, because I couldn't figure out on paper the exact amount of weeds I would have to pull. I would lay the 18 inch piece on the last row and the put the 8 inch piece to the side of the last plant I had planted. Then I would know where to plant the next one. It ended up looking circular, with 3 circular rows, so I guess it worked.<br />
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In case you weren't aware, planting under a tree is harder than planting in open soil. First, you can't stand up. Second, you can't just use a shovel or you will damage the tree. Third, you can't just dump a pile of dirt over the top and create a raised bed or you will damage the tree by burying it too deep.<br />
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So, I crawled around on my hands and knees for hours at a time, digging with a trowel to prepare the bed. (Oh, my back!)<br />
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The plants came looking like dead little thing with long roots. But after one watering they greened up like you see in the above photo.<br />
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It <i>was</i> a lot of work, more than I actually anticipated, but I am really happy with the result.<br />
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I am going to mulch with pine bark, add some round pavers to be able to reach the peaches, and edge it with some nice concrete edging. It is in the front yard, so I want it to look as nice as possible.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>*(The link to<a href="https://www.superseeds.com/"> Pinetree Seeds</a> is not affiliate. I just liked their products and have been very happy with them as a company. I plan to shop with them again.)</i></span>Cristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885394458317264217noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521743532397166870.post-76609836323183958142014-03-13T16:28:00.001-05:002014-03-13T16:28:16.179-05:00Happy International Pi Day! <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNsnTtiBR04e80rHTJZi1yUy8Stt4zW7-EdE4KyATp35L-VanPK8qczmW0h0KGzN3dDG7zt1PGzij08Hf2b5T283Yiv8RwivPmvGAIP9ZBcWc-Th1QajsblqvSarlcfTD5cpJqhaqNyqX/s1600/IMG_5424+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNsnTtiBR04e80rHTJZi1yUy8Stt4zW7-EdE4KyATp35L-VanPK8qczmW0h0KGzN3dDG7zt1PGzij08Hf2b5T283Yiv8RwivPmvGAIP9ZBcWc-Th1QajsblqvSarlcfTD5cpJqhaqNyqX/s1600/IMG_5424+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pi(e) are square!</td></tr>
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March 14 is International Pi Day (3.14, get it?)<br />
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This year, I taught the kids about circle math terms (circumference, diameter, radius and area). I taught them the symbol of pi. I showed them how to measure around any circular object, then cut the yarn into approximate thirds. Then I showed them how this always makes the diameter.<br />
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We talked about how the number of pi is a constant in mathematical problems, and talked a little about "Area equals pi r squared."<br />
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And I made my grandmother's secret homemade caramel pie recipe.<br />
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Pie. It makes anything a good day. :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0CKfJoMtD4UW67OHeMrRb5B5-U17loUYcXY1u1j76LQcDwuqPuQkXQ4xCjnJVsv-zzqXfIGcfiU2QbTwRvtaZIGmTL2eqZsO90JwX2QQYH7_YsuBUQe0YygBll3NHbxc91p7qJRD5LNi/s1600/IMG_5426+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0CKfJoMtD4UW67OHeMrRb5B5-U17loUYcXY1u1j76LQcDwuqPuQkXQ4xCjnJVsv-zzqXfIGcfiU2QbTwRvtaZIGmTL2eqZsO90JwX2QQYH7_YsuBUQe0YygBll3NHbxc91p7qJRD5LNi/s1600/IMG_5426+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And you have to have a round one, since pi is about circles, right?</td></tr>
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<br />Cristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885394458317264217noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521743532397166870.post-75878535557593858282014-02-25T13:40:00.001-06:002014-02-25T13:40:34.234-06:00Peach Tree My peach tree thinks it is spring.<br />
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I just <i>love</i> that tree. It is so beautiful in bloom.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvuFKeQr7oUmF7KK7fk5iM42P_S0byLTKjLeLOovmr2Bsjp3KV456xsqGb0LOHf2xZow8qOP5ucxGlbyDUI7f5HiBZ0_2Bd8jjVIFn8RG5dgNrLFB1xfrPotrM756oiOYx-8WdAqlob5j/s1600/IMG_5306+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvuFKeQr7oUmF7KK7fk5iM42P_S0byLTKjLeLOovmr2Bsjp3KV456xsqGb0LOHf2xZow8qOP5ucxGlbyDUI7f5HiBZ0_2Bd8jjVIFn8RG5dgNrLFB1xfrPotrM756oiOYx-8WdAqlob5j/s1600/IMG_5306+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFu6Ek3QXok8S4AjmTl7eJStL9x4L0P3pR5NdPjxjMGuXBnjO-_AfTu73_peDoEzLnK0fGuHF6FCc8dhPo7qNhxfEZgiTqPCy2unxN4UAgh0YRo8feLdjJCw9t29al0Y14YL_YabxpsO8/s1600/IMG_5307+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFu6Ek3QXok8S4AjmTl7eJStL9x4L0P3pR5NdPjxjMGuXBnjO-_AfTu73_peDoEzLnK0fGuHF6FCc8dhPo7qNhxfEZgiTqPCy2unxN4UAgh0YRo8feLdjJCw9t29al0Y14YL_YabxpsO8/s1600/IMG_5307+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Cristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885394458317264217noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521743532397166870.post-13736659438674188772014-02-24T07:19:00.001-06:002014-02-24T07:19:19.777-06:00Getting Ready<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJFqB0KcYAZX67RSxQBDCwDQggbaj8Pw4ZhbslmVV1HewoYo7JmCcqLBaqBVNwUvQnEwXySBFuw6gWYi4WQ9x3USzvGjqDCyhF_EALow_9rlxN-e9K-SDgl3ZtJUeehP3RPUeXO4akxwJV/s1600/IMG_5301+(480x640).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJFqB0KcYAZX67RSxQBDCwDQggbaj8Pw4ZhbslmVV1HewoYo7JmCcqLBaqBVNwUvQnEwXySBFuw6gWYi4WQ9x3USzvGjqDCyhF_EALow_9rlxN-e9K-SDgl3ZtJUeehP3RPUeXO4akxwJV/s1600/IMG_5301+(480x640).jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The newly cleaned out canning area. (This is where<br />I store my supplies when they are not in use.)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBNQoc_RG0ScfxXK8PPqhAUXDE3_Z1_xsvQQuCRsaks3NYjmVttWRFs1rGBmaHhmTZZ865CRiiIrvAW50pIK7apUOn3WZWlfEbngPdR-oHyufPKtfGpUm0obNeJmKtUBiIr7kiE7sG_CyS/s1600/IMG_5302+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBNQoc_RG0ScfxXK8PPqhAUXDE3_Z1_xsvQQuCRsaks3NYjmVttWRFs1rGBmaHhmTZZ865CRiiIrvAW50pIK7apUOn3WZWlfEbngPdR-oHyufPKtfGpUm0obNeJmKtUBiIr7kiE7sG_CyS/s1600/IMG_5302+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top to bottom, left to right: The canning pot, canning lids and bands,<br />half pints with pints underneath, pints. Bottom shelf: hummingbird<br />feeders, and quart jars. </td></tr>
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<br />
On Saturday, I woke up with the desire to <i>clean.</i> This is not a common feeling for me, so I went with it. (I would <i>much </i>rather be in the garden.)<br />
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I organized my canning jar area, cleaned out the oven, microwave, and fridge. I topped off my staples (in my grab-and-go containers).<br />
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Now I am ready for canning season. My goal is to be able to use all the canning jars <a href="http://twentyfootgarden.blogspot.com/2013/11/being-in-right-place-at-right-time.html">I received</a> to can things this year. That's a big goal. I received 126 jars. And I have about 48 pint jars. I only have one 12 pack of half pints, and might need to buy more to make my goal work.<br />
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I am going to expand the garden. I plan to make use of my local farmer's market, and you pick places to try to make this goal a reality. And now I won't have to scrounge around in a mess to try to find what I need.Cristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885394458317264217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521743532397166870.post-54870686564695471032014-02-01T13:09:00.002-06:002014-02-01T13:09:40.439-06:00I Survived Ice in South AlabamaTalking with people who have lived here all their lives, I learned that there has never been this much ice at one time in any of their lifetimes. (The oldest one I talked with was almost 80, and she has lived here since the 1950's.)<br />
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We had over one inch of ice in our backyard. Because our local weather people predicted the storm, schools were closed, and many businesses closed. We didn't have the terrible problems seen on TV in Atlanta and Birmingham, where people were snowed into their cars, and had to abandon cars and walk home, students stuck in schools, etc.<br />
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For 3 full days the ice lay on the ground. Today the weather is shirt sleeve weather, but even today there are many places still with white on them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ142-GOQcwDhNo-FwF0q4SCx3PMf_mHEwp15KeUfzc_LIMuO2oqGQ6KbcPHIXR7fR2PBOjjYYPj7j7RzqhyphenhyphenmW_DdkJlmNXtHfVXTzRNVR9X058Ji4wa3AcBI5r11yzZn8c64TGYglBJmJ/s1600/IMG_4971+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xhfICfKkhZX2MGKt3aUNugLMS_oMTsmtB3LAnBwE8ij7EHqoagV2OGwL6DsYd4TQHcgnmaIStcNmdQhQcJiwr-fDgKe7k3EBgcibJ6B9TnA6A-C2vv7Ia5K37nYYi5OsgRajdAfqorKM/s1600/IMG_4961+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xhfICfKkhZX2MGKt3aUNugLMS_oMTsmtB3LAnBwE8ij7EHqoagV2OGwL6DsYd4TQHcgnmaIStcNmdQhQcJiwr-fDgKe7k3EBgcibJ6B9TnA6A-C2vv7Ia5K37nYYi5OsgRajdAfqorKM/s1600/IMG_4961+(640x480).jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ142-GOQcwDhNo-FwF0q4SCx3PMf_mHEwp15KeUfzc_LIMuO2oqGQ6KbcPHIXR7fR2PBOjjYYPj7j7RzqhyphenhyphenmW_DdkJlmNXtHfVXTzRNVR9X058Ji4wa3AcBI5r11yzZn8c64TGYglBJmJ/s1600/IMG_4971+(640x480).jpg" height="150" width="200" /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8sSLVCx8qMsRXz6oBW80ICW5ovKOcVmpORdUMXGXuBImpU2sX-h5WI2SahE2d-d8vsXF4lgZWy54jQOt7uovst5HZQoBXmZSvkUEVcLq7a3-_aFADBfWM4jA_vx2VFO0rwBq6ZsHHfWr/s1600/IMG_4981+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8sSLVCx8qMsRXz6oBW80ICW5ovKOcVmpORdUMXGXuBImpU2sX-h5WI2SahE2d-d8vsXF4lgZWy54jQOt7uovst5HZQoBXmZSvkUEVcLq7a3-_aFADBfWM4jA_vx2VFO0rwBq6ZsHHfWr/s1600/IMG_4981+(640x480).jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><br />
These pictures show the progression from sleet to freezing rain to over an inch accumulation<br />
of freezing rain.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAvFQaiB53NoUpWsIVkY3KhJfnTiPZIrEqAEOjSDeletEUv_7I_ZM6MURyxE6OThhtvriGxvprrSpvK3y34x_G8kv3TpLA_6CzCVSA53wZIh1Khc1Ub84S9FGBuPsPNHoE9q8EclN7f0u/s1600/IMG_4985+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAvFQaiB53NoUpWsIVkY3KhJfnTiPZIrEqAEOjSDeletEUv_7I_ZM6MURyxE6OThhtvriGxvprrSpvK3y34x_G8kv3TpLA_6CzCVSA53wZIh1Khc1Ub84S9FGBuPsPNHoE9q8EclN7f0u/s1600/IMG_4985+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The birds stayed at the feeder. (You have to remember that this is the<br />winter migration point for many birds.) This was the first day. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Y5KsCHOw8fv1aRSQUfz6ueG71O0Ikrd1cfyWdEbvvc2qGZdb_IRtCNPkHz28y0IHIpVqthaR4c-l984h_PDaL3iDtv-a660axnLWqYCXblyvH0EPs8J__eZdQGsg6x10DloB9GDyjSzz/s1600/IMG_5010+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Y5KsCHOw8fv1aRSQUfz6ueG71O0Ikrd1cfyWdEbvvc2qGZdb_IRtCNPkHz28y0IHIpVqthaR4c-l984h_PDaL3iDtv-a660axnLWqYCXblyvH0EPs8J__eZdQGsg6x10DloB9GDyjSzz/s1600/IMG_5010+(640x480).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the second day. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwvZG6yAK3I2MObdeiXeM66E1CIJJ8C4kvtl8H_jXPVX12jGFlIcenNnWLiJ8lV-SQ2Pe9PfwIZaaDioiakv0Ir1gJy4nLM947WAH-koWfeO6iebGjps1da9TCMlILpbIUzWr6wI5AqIq/s1600/IMG_5029+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwvZG6yAK3I2MObdeiXeM66E1CIJJ8C4kvtl8H_jXPVX12jGFlIcenNnWLiJ8lV-SQ2Pe9PfwIZaaDioiakv0Ir1gJy4nLM947WAH-koWfeO6iebGjps1da9TCMlILpbIUzWr6wI5AqIq/s1600/IMG_5029+(640x480).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my poor garden. I broke through the ice to try to show you how<br />thick it was everywhere. It is over an inch thick. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRGp0Z5UCC87pvPSxPQkrM8u5k_ddZ73VfsI22yHgGGAJBg4MTv1q1gSyBZVq9VbbnWBOsVU4l_jNIrxvorund68ic6JX4P-7DzX5d36uNzpkcmQiqn4VOaXC12gfsiBuzlkQP0FOMHb_/s1600/IMG_5064+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRGp0Z5UCC87pvPSxPQkrM8u5k_ddZ73VfsI22yHgGGAJBg4MTv1q1gSyBZVq9VbbnWBOsVU4l_jNIrxvorund68ic6JX4P-7DzX5d36uNzpkcmQiqn4VOaXC12gfsiBuzlkQP0FOMHb_/s1600/IMG_5064+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My kids had a good time in the ice. It wasn't good for snowmen, but worked great<br />for sliding down hills. (Getting up them was another story.)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjekj-zmzN8NMSxCACBQnegyYe6Pe0haH9zGExW495DfCreOpXDycQZX-x9vKCGq9eETEsJn2HY5a1qUacAhV46UhuZpuYDDIivrhHuNy1d7TR7WkUoNWUB45JJHYDuN4YMrYPFmyO5yv6h/s1600/IMG_5067+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjekj-zmzN8NMSxCACBQnegyYe6Pe0haH9zGExW495DfCreOpXDycQZX-x9vKCGq9eETEsJn2HY5a1qUacAhV46UhuZpuYDDIivrhHuNy1d7TR7WkUoNWUB45JJHYDuN4YMrYPFmyO5yv6h/s1600/IMG_5067+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's another picture of my kids in the ice. </td></tr>
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I have 3 kids, so I wanted all of the kids in at least one picture.<br />
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We have only had five snow storms recorded since 1973, the weather man said before the storm came in. Well, they have <i>never</i> had one with this much ice (or one with only ice). This would explain the use of laundry baskets and kickboards to slide down the hills. :)<br />
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The pictures look white like this was snow, but it wasn't snow at all.<br />
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I am glad it is gone.Cristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885394458317264217noreply@blogger.com8