Market

Our farmers market is still bustling with all the fall produce and autumn smells --like doughnuts. Apples-apples-apples!!! Nothing like our local Midwest apples! We had stopped at a farmers market in Michigan this week for apples and stopped and turned around when we saw the crates stacked up that said Washington Apples. Not that Washington doesn't have good apples but when they are in season here---? Anyway--we bought a LOT of apples and pears for jam. And spaghetti squash, Osage oranges for the color and mums!

Preserving Summers Beauty

I accidentally planted a zinnia plant that I ended up loving-more so than any zinnia I have bought. So when my mother in law mentioned she saves her zinnia seeds with great success-I decided to try it too. It's a simple process-just plucking the dried petals and the arrow shaped seed is visible . Then store in a paper bag----marked with the date and flower and next summer we are good to go. Because next year I am planting a raised bed just for cutting flowers. I've always loved fresh flowers in the house but lately I have enjoyed seeing them in the flower beds too. So a bed just for cutting hopefully will eliminate the guilt of cutting them for the house!

Bees

Last year we had one beehive--our very first venture into beekeeping. It was fun-an adventure! Next year, we told each other, we will have more---lots more! Our bee club laughed and said "one hive is fun, 2 hives is a hobby, 3 hives are a lot of work". We didn't listen. We told each other 5 hives would be 5 times the fun. Well----we lost 2 hives and now we are harvesting the honey from 3 hives. We are both tired and medicated with lots of Motrin for our sore backs. Dan is laying on the couch with ice on his swollen bee stung ankles. Our garage, floor, door knobs and clothes are dripping with honey. And we still have more frames to remove from a hive. Are we having fun? You betcha! Will we do it next year? Yes. Will we add more hives----definately!!!

The Good Doctor!

I still have my original Dr Scholl sandals. Do they still make these? They have a bump under the toe and the premise was by gripping the bump when you walked, it toned your calves. So we-those of us in the 70's-walked around all day exercising our calves. And now that I think about it--they are called Dr Scholl's excercise sandals. And they do feel pretty comfortable to wear. Why do I still have them? Because they are virtually indestructible-wood base and leather strap. So retro--still chic. The skirt is new but the tie-dye is the right look with the shoes!

Red Gold!

My Mom used to tell me her mother would cry late in summer when she saw another bushel of tomatoes brought into the house. I am beginning to understand---and I don't have to get up at the crack of dawn like she did to light the stove or cook 3 heavy meals for a large family and farmhands at the same time like she did!

Jammin'

I read that canning is addictive and it is true! But it is so nice to open the pantry door and have my own "convenience food"! Every weekend another batch of our own tomatoes gets a "hot water bath" and yesterday I bought some local berries for raspberry jam. I remember when I was first married, my Mom would offer to give me some canned tomatoes and-I can't believe I said this---I would refuse them!!! What was I thinking--but I had limited storage space then.. My stubborn Mother wouldn't listen to me though and showed up with cans of tomatoes!!! I always used them too. I wish I had told her how much I loved that!

A sad tale

Once upon a time-in Michigan-we were walking along the beach and saw this Proud Tiger. Completely out of place in the relatively tame wilderness of Up North. We tip-toed around him and hoped his trainer/owner would claim him after his nap. But the next day---again we were walking along the beach and again we saw the proud Tiger---atop a sand castle bluff. Later that afternoon a storm came up and I ran back to the beach to rescue the Tiger--but he was gone! But---horrors---there in the sand was the dress of a fair maiden--probably eaten by the Tiger.

Zinnias

I did not plant these zinnias. They just appeared in a shrub border. And it is just one beautiful plant. And what is even crazier is that I love zinnias and have planted them in the past with no success. They have been short and get some dusty looking diseases. But not this one. It was probably from a seed dropped by a bird but it is exactly the right kind of plant I want. So I am going to do what my mother in law does---save the seeds and replant next year.

Peaches

Peach season is way too short. And once a juicy, drippy, sugary local Peach is eaten, nothing from the grocery store can compare. And then there is the decision to cobble them, crisp them, shortcake them, put them over vanilla ice cream, jam them, jelly them, layer them on rice crispies or just eat them out of hand with a towel tucked into your shirt to collect the juice.

Baseball Sunday

Huzzah! Or so they say at Vintage baseball games. And today we traveled to Columbus and saw 3 of them. I watched and Matt and Dan played. It was more of a festival rather than a tournament with teams from as far away as Missouri and Minnesota. It was interesting seeing the different authentic uniforms and accessories--such as wooden canteens. And to add to the intrigue---and back to the modern world---while we were eating lunch at the restaurant across the street, the police were searching every inch of the restaurant. We figured it was for drugs---later in the afternoon we could see them make arrests. Strange indeed.

The pantry is growing

It is very satisfying to see my pantry getting full with jars of veggies from my garden. And those tomato plants keep producing so we keep canning!!