The Garden, Weather and Sun

Sunrises have been murky with smoke this summer.  Definitely not as beautiful as last year.  It has taken a toll on our eyes here at the homestead, not to mention throats.  Like I say, "I have a tea for that."

The garden is growing, thanks to more rain here, as well as somewhat warm days.  There is a bad storm forecasted later today.  Just about everything is coming up now, and I may even plant a few more borage seeds.  My feverfew seeds are not sprouting very well, and I am concerned there will be no harvest.  I will look into other seed sources just in case.

The seeds that sprouted the quickest were the mashed potato squash seeds I saved from last year's garden (originally from Territorial Seeds).  There is one new winter squash, that was planted, that has not sprouted anything yet (and I bought a very small amount to try).  

I will be doing a lot more seed saving, but not from anything I grew from High Mowing Seeds.  Last year, and this year, I've had to replant most of any seeds we bought from there.  We had a bad garden year last year, so not many seeds could be saved.  I have also learned to save enough seeds for two garden years.  You never know when you might need to re-plant something (for any reason, including weather).

With that said about the quality of High Mowing seeds, we are looking into a new resource to buy new seeds next garden season for a few garden goodies, like green beans/wax beans, zucchini and yellow squash.  Also, marketmore 76 cucumbers, and maybe pickling cucumbers.

Garden is being hand hoed for now.  The tomato patch looks better than I thought it would by now.  As presumed, a few smallish tomato plants did not make it.  If I read it correctly, you can burn up to 200-400+ calories an hour hand hoeing an hour.  I am pretty sure I burned up some calories this week.  A lot of calories.  

Planted. . .

-Sorrel (not sure the seeds will sprout this late)

Harvested . . .

-oregano

-more garlic scapes

-chickweed

-more wood sorrel if the dehydrator is done early today

We are done trying to grow blueberries at the homestead.  We planted two in very large pots (last year, and we got blueberries) due to the lime stone in our ground.  Both have died this year sadly.  We will yank the plants and re-purpose the pots, but not until next spring.  It's too late to be planting annual flowers (many greenhouses close after planting season here).

AC is not on yet.  Not really a big deal yet, but we could hit the 90's in 3 or 4 days.  Our electric bill is $97, but normally this time of year going from heat off and air on, is around $50 (doubled in cost now).

Not much reading is happening, but that is hand in hand with gardening.  It was way too humid outside to read on the porch in the evening.  Handiwork has been very minimal.  I'm just too exhausted by evening to pick up a hook or needle.

We are still enjoying meals from our efforts to store up last year's garden (and a few produce purchases).

Green bean and ground beef baked casserole with last year's garden green/wax beans, some frozen jalapenos, jalapeno salt, garlic and some powdered green bell pepper (this is made with a bit of milk and cream cheese, and so good).

The last of the corn we froze on the cob last year (produce stand purchase).  We have planted sweet corn this year in the garden.  Most have sprouted.  The only thing that will be in issue is raccoons.  They can climb fences.  I have planted some squash in the corn to deter the critters, but not one has sprouted in there either (at this point anyway).  I do have noise makers, but crossing our fingers the buggers find food elsewhere.  

The Garden, Weather, and Sun  ©  June 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

28 Weeks Until Christmas

 

Restocked.  Our grocery stores used to carry this, but with vanilla in it.  All area stores stopped selling it.  I have now prepared for the Christmas season, by re-stocking the organic/non-gmo corn syrup for any holiday treats.

If I don't make holiday treats, it will not be a wasted purchase.  I use it to make homemade Teriyaki sauce and also for a sweet treat (maybe once a year, and I typically share) of Whiskey Butterscotch Sauce (that is a true delicious sweet treat worth gifting, but will need refrigerated).

Tried a new recipe for baked and flavored pretzels.  I had about a half of a bag that was leftover from another occasion, and I decided to bake garlic-ranch pretzels.

First, the recipe stated to put it all in a ziploc bag and shake it.  I found that most of the seasoning stuck to the inside of the bag.  I will coat the pretzels in the bag with oil first next time, then sprinkling the season on the tray and mix right on the tray to retain the seasoning.

I used homemade garlic powder, and homemade ranch dry dressing mix for ours.  Very good too.  I only had the stick pretzels, but obviously, you could use any pretzel.  Most non-gmo pretzels we can find are in the "stick" form.

Recipe is very simple, and pretzels bake in 20 minutes.  It is a very quick recipe to add to your snack tray, or take to a gathering. Or simply to enjoy yourself.  Eating on a Dime (Recipe online).

Read this Christmas themed book, and crocheted a matching granny square for my book blanket.  The book also contains a recipe.

The recipe seems pretty bland or basic, but I may give it a try (to amuse myself), before handing the book off to another person.  Then again, I may not try it.  

I have not made any purchases for the advent gifts.  I, honestly, have not had the time to even think about them. 

I have finally found a store that still offers brown paper bags.  I have plans to use them to wrap the advent gifts with.  I have also ordered a roll of brown paper (pretty inexpensive), because I don't shop that often with a garden.  

I do need to get the wrapping of the gifts started, so I'm not wrapping them all at once.

28 Weeks Until Christmas  ©  June 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart