Summer

  This time of year things get a little nuts for many of us who garden.  And this being the first year for us here, I'm going just a little nuts too.  I haven't had the time to stop and visit my friends on other blogs, much less sit down and "put pen to paper" here.  What with the feeding, weeding, picking, prepping, canning and drying I find myself plumb wore out come sunset!  Oh, toss the animals in the mix while you're at it!  LOL!
What a great life though!  The only clock I'm having to punch is natures own right now. What an awesome feeling.  Who would have thought that one year ago this didn't even seem possible.  


I experimented with a new recipe for making dill relish. I don't really use the stuff much but its great to have on hand for things like tuna, chicken or egg salad.  In the past I've always just bought a jar occasionally.  So I started searching recipes and 
found one I could try with all fresh ingredients grown right here.  I found one this past week and gave it a shot.  I'm not real pleased with the "look" of the final outcome but it is still pretty good.  Just not exactly what I was hoping to see.  It called for using cornstarch to thicken it up and I think that is where the weirdish color comes from.  

That being said, I put up 6 pints so I won't be needing any soon.  Next time around I'll try a different recipe.  Part of the fun of all this is being able to try new things.  Since I had the pot going I also put up a couple of pints of sweet banana pepper rings.  It looks and smells good but I'll know more after it sits a couple of weeks.  The reviews on the recipe were pretty great though.  Supposed to be like those pepper rings you get on a good sub sandwich.  `
 

I've been able to put up several quarts of purple hull peas, Cherokee Beans (yum!) two types of green beans, dragon beans and a couple of jars of of "magic beans" as well. Since it seems to take me forever to shell enough beans for a full run on the canner I've been trying something new to me.  I've been putting the beans (or peas or green beans) into the jars as I finish prepping them and then vacuum sealing them to keep them fresher until I get enough to can a whole batch.  So far it seems to be working well.  


 I'm already getting ready to save seed from the magic beans as they really weren't all that prolific. Next year I'll be sure to get them staked sooner. I'm pretty sure that's why I didn't get good yields from them. 

 Just a reminder if you are just starting out with a garden you really should consider making a garden journal.  I can't remember how many times in the past I've said "Oh, I'll remember this or that next year".  Trust me you won't remember! These carrots are a great reminder of that. 
 I know I planted them pretty early in the season but I don't exactly remember when.  Which makes for a hard time in knowing what time they should be ready. That being said.... they sure are tasty!

 Now for the confession..... I'm real behind in keeping up with my journal this year.  I sure do need to sit a spell with my notebook.  
 I've also been remiss in recording just what is producing and what isn't.  What bugs ate what, what we tried to kill them with, all that interesting stuff that folks always thing they will remember next time around.  

These days though if I'm sitting somewhere I've usually got a bucket of beans or peas or whatever beside me and a bowl in my lap.  I've had to lay down the knitting for now in deference to the snapping, peeling, shucking and other preparations to get ready to put food by.  

Why is it that in all the blogs I read ( when I get a chance) no one ever talks about the prep time involved?  It still amazes me that things like a  five gallon bucket of something like beans or peas only nets you about 4-5 quarts of goodness.  


                        ~~~  Hey... I'm Just Sayin' ... ~~~