Operation "Garden" ~ Flower Seeds ~ Salsa Chicken

Last week, I told the kids it was "Operation Extreme Clean" and to not expect anything but cleaning the house.  This weekend?

"Operation Garden" if the weather cooperates.

I have officially started the gutting of the garden. The girls won't like me, but it needs to be worked on.  The barns may be next, so it's time to pull it all out.

 

It was very humid, and when I took my camera lens off yesterday, it immediately fogged up.  I have only gotten two hours out there, and much to do.  I only got 1/4 of the distance down the carrot row, beet row and green bean row.  I found many beets yet, and even carrots.  The carrots are no bigger than three inches in length (most are 2 inches or less), so I'm pulling them all out.  It will feed us a few meals, but won't be enough to freeze this year.  Some of the tops will go to Milo, our pet rabbit.

This is what all of the vegetable gardens look like.  Full of grass, thistle and various weeds.  Today the grass pulled easily, so I could find the dead plants to pull (or other surprises).  I am going to need to move my pea fence too, so that will determine where I plant my garlic next.  I can't move it to the south, because my asparagus is there.  I may move it completely to the new plot we are going to put in. 

 Lots and lots of weeds in those gardens.  Rain was due at 11am, so I stopped, but at noon, rain never arrived.  I should have worked another hour or two.

After I came in and showered off the yuck, I started to feel better, but this morning I feel worse.  Even though it rained again, I am opting to stay away from the garden.  If there is one thing I learned this year, it's patience.

This is a big pile of zinnia seeds. I've managed to save these year after year.  In between cleaning, I have managed to cut more peppermint and spearmint to dry too.

Next "new" recipe to try? 

Salsa Chicken.  I had a few jars of Fiesta Salsa from two years ago that needed to be used up.   Once again, I need to work better at reducing how much I bake (I forget I am cooking for 4 now).

The recipe  for the chicken dish is basically boneless organic chicken tossed in my homemade taco mix, then placed in a baking dish with some salsa on the bottom, and then topped with salsa.  I added some shredded mild cheddar cheese (honestly this could be left out of the recipe) at the end.   I made organic brown rice and corn for a side, so we could simply mix the salsa extras into it.  I won't need to write this recipe down, as it's pretty easy to remember as a back up.

The problem with saving all the good recipes I try, is space.  I am now loading them to my computer, but still want a printed back-up, so I'll be doing that too.  I may upgrade my wooden recipe box to a larger one too.  Not sure just yet.