Weeds, Ticks, Mosquitoes! Oh my....

Now that we are getting a load of rain, there has been no time to keep up with the weeds in the gardens.  They are full of ticks now, so repairing the weed whacker is on top of the to-do list.  I went out to check tomatoes and got attacked by ticks.  Literally.  I forgot to put my tick oil on.  

Anyway, the tomatoes are just now starting to turn in color.  Nothing ready to harvest, but turning red anyway.

(Hot peppers are so far doing the best)

Green beans and zucchini are a joke this year.  I don't know if I planted too late or it's just this darn weather.  So frustrating.  The rain could change that, but....

The rabbits tore my greens to shreds, so fencing is the only way if I plant next year.  I have no idea if the potatoes have made it, due to the massive weeds in that bed as well.

Well shoot, I thought the year started great this year, but now I need to find zucchini and green beans to stock up.  Sheesh.

Also, I planted 6 cherry bomb pepper plants ( that I started from seed) and was devastated to see one eaten to the quick.  What eats hot pepper plants?   I have no idea, other than grasshoppers.  So sad and so frustrating.

I planted one single grow bag of carrots this year and the buggers are leaving it alone for some reason.  I guess that is good news, other than I didn't plant enough to freeze.

My husband brought home one lonely yellow squash.  Co-workers often bring in extra veggies.   I sliced it and it's now blanched and in the freezer.

I am writing out another list for the next trip out.  I plan on stopping at some produce stands as well.  Gosh, I am way behind on winter stock up, but gaining.

I totally forgot I had this photo on my camera. I saw this crawling up the side of the house when I was taking laundry out to the clothesline.  According to my research, it's not something you want to touch.  I have never seen this here before.  Crazy.

Kitchen-ness and other ramblings

I ran out of time in the kitchen, so I finally finished up with what I brought home from the grocery store.

Put a head of cauliflower in the freezer, 

...as well as some broccoli (all organic of course).

Froze a bit of diced celery as well, and....

Last year I hosted an online pampered chef party to help out a friend.  I got these for free.  The rubber white tubing is used to shell the garlic clove (works great), and the other slices it.  These made my life so much easier when making garlic powder.  Note:  I didn't know until I had the party, but all of their stuff is made in China, so you may want to check for USA products online.  Anyway, it was so much easier filling a 9 tray dehydrator of sliced garlic.

...filled the dehydrator with garlic to grind into garlic powder.

I boiled more eggs for egg salad.  It's a great meal for our very hot days here.  My husband works outside and next to very hot equipment and doesn't want to eat "hot" food when he gets home.

There are items I am still not able to find in stores, but I'm constantly checking other resources.