I’ve probably told you this before, but her books about her life are absolutely hilarious, too!
Yes, I have used many of her recipes to rave reviews. She knows what she’s doing. :)
Mom showed up yesterday with all of the leftovers from a luncheon she hosted over the weekend. My fridge is packed - and we’ve already eaten a meal from it once. Looks like we could make three more!
We are taking a Road Trip today to some of our favorite spots. ‘Avoca Merchantile,’ a trip across a newly constructed bridge that spans the Wisconsin River, Lone Rock (famous for both the warmest and the coldest spot in Wisconsin for some odd fluke of the location, the bluffs and the Wisconsin River) then on to Peck’s Farm Stand and Petting Zoo (Yay! Baby Goats!). Somewhere for lunch - probably Culvers, she LOVES that place - and a stop for milk because Beau is still home from camp awaiting vehicle repairs and seemingly drinks a gallon a day.
We got the Bread and Butter Pickles canned, but we will not be asked to join, ‘Pickle Packers Union 101’ based upon our sloppy work, LOL! It was the first time either of us did B&B’s other than refrigerator style, so there may be some re-packing of jars and re-sealing. Meh. Live and learn - and everything sealed properly, so we won’t be food poisoning ourselves or anyone else, there’s that!
Yesterday we fertilized tomatoes and anything in pots, and did a MAJOR weeding in the walkway all around the greenhouse, then I raked the gravel/sand and it looks like it was just installed - except for two dead roses that need to go. I’m giving up on roses in that spot. You’d think it would be perfect with lots of warmth off the greenhouse, full sun and good drainage, but it’s not proving to be. :(
The HEAT is on! Nothing but 90’s, humidity and ‘chances’ for rain for the next few weeks. I may get to know my garden hose once again. It’s currently buried in weeds, so that’s another area that needs a weed whackin’!
It never ends this season...Yeesh! ;)
Today is a GEM of a day! Nice breeze blowing, very low humidity - not as ‘crisp’ as Fall, but could be a pre-fall day. Of course, we’ll be back to 95 with humidity by Friday (ugh).
Tell Beau that when my dad (who made it to 100) was asked what was the secret to his long life, the reply was immediate: “MILK!” Dad drank about a half gallon a day. I would have to crush the jugs to keep our recycle bin from filling up in one week. Dad’s love of milk came from having cows when he grew up (his sister milked the cows) & the milk was kept cold in the spring house in glass jars. I’m sure the worn path to the spring house was primarily from dad’s trips to get milk! BTW, that spring house is still standing & some folks wanted to buy it a while back & move it to a ‘heritage farm’ where they have moved other historical buildings. They said it was one of the best examples of a spring house in the valley. Dad said ‘no’. The farm has been sold & my brother told the buyer (a developer) about the offer on the spring house, just in case he was thinking of tearing it down - the guy is always looking for that last nickel, so there’s a good chance he might sell it.
I wish I could work on projects today or get a load of dirt. The company is someone I don’t know, but I’m sure mom expects me to ‘hang around’. I might be able to sneak off to the shop while they are ‘chatting’. The macaroni salad was very good - I had some for breakfast! :-) I love black olives, roasted peppers & green onions & sweet pickles. The dressing is good - you could substitute in pretty much anything you like if you don’t like the veggies she’s using ... not everyone likes black olives, for instance.
Have a great Road Trip - always nice to have a break from the farm/chores/garden, etc.
I just had to put shallow bowls under some of my eggplants’ pots (said plants are in shade!) because it’s either that or water them every 4 hours because their big leaves (biggest I’ve ever seen on Ichiban Eggplants) are “evapotranspiring” so much this afternoon! I guess they got used to all that rain the last couple months, and not many really hot days.
Bigger pots, or modified 5 gallon buckets instead of roughly 2 gallon pots would likely help, but I’ve way more than blown my budget for soil to fill them with, already...
Transplanting in hot weather doesn’t seem too wise, either.
There is a blooming bush around here that I like and I have been wracking my brain for the name & it finally came to me: Rose of Sharon. Quite a few folks on the road have them and they are in full bloom ... lots of colors like pink, white, purples. I looked them up & they are deer resistant (yay!). I want one ... or two. I’m taking down some redbuds along the driveway which will leave space for something else & I don’t want more trees. Rose of Sharon bushes would be pretty .... will have to consult with the homeowner (mom!) and see what she thinks.
Agghh! I slept past 8 am & and failed to optimally “beat the heat”. Taking a quick break now, will likely run to town this afternoon to pick up an order from Menards. Those $15 for 2, 50 ft. extension cords being blown out online, will come in handy.
Lotsa cheap solar powered lights are being blown out too,
but I already have some (mostly smaller) from an earlier sale.
It looks like our spigot has turned OFF. There seem to be some showers in your region, Diana, and up in Minn. there appears to be a MCV around Ely and Babbitt. That might not be fun, but so far I see no warnings associated with it.