August 9th., 2010.

Now that was a busy week. Here are the 2 pics of the garden in august. A lot of the butternut squashes are ripe now and I get pounds after pounds of tomatoes every day. Speaking of tomatoes, we have a black rat that seems very very fond of heirloom tomatoes. But that will be for another day. I have to go make dinner now and can tomato sauce. A lot of tomato sauce.

August 4th 2010.

What a difference a month makes! Here is the garden in the first week of July:

Beautiful Calendula :

At the Gate, looking Left :

Onion flower and Pickling Cucumbers :

Eggplants :

The Monster Plants, 4 different types of Squash on one Mound. Could be too much. Maybe :

Looking to the Chicken Coop in the Back :

Catnip and a Hard Working Bee :

My parsley, nicely going to Seed for Me :

The Peppers. Maybe next year I won't plant quite as many plants of it. I say that every year. Like with the Squash. I have, oh, 9 plants :

The Chamomile looking Tall and Pretty. Highly attractive to toddlers :

The Tomato Wall of Sacramento :

Sunflowers and Artichokes, both Tall and Yummy :

That was long. Tomorrow I'll show the garden as it looks now. In the mean time I have to be at 2 places at the same time today. Twice. With a toddler who will have to shorten her nap after a bad night. Fun, fun. And I have only 3 children. And school hasn't started yet. And I have no idea what's for dinner. And whatever it is I'll have only 20 mns to cook it. Help.                                                                                           

august 3rd 2010.

Whew, it's hot. Actually it's not, but it is. I'm becoming a wimp I guess. We are having incredibly mild weather for Sacramento and yet I'm still complaining about it being too hot. I want fall. Now.

And my second baby turned 11. She just couldn't wait even though I was not in a hurry. Doesn't she look happy?

And this one is not allowed. Nope. No way. She'll stay my baby forever. Hope springs eternal.

July 26, 2010.

Vacation.

We haven't had a vacation in so long, but we are making up for it this year. Our house is full...more than full. Different people from different countries. It's a blast, it's a party and it keeps on going. The garden is neglected a bit but we have eaten from it almost everyday even we 12 people sitting down morning, noon and night.

Bliss.

Friday, July 2nd 2010.

My two oldest children do not share my passion for gardening. I can usually bribe, coerce, order my children to help me set up the vegetable garden during their Easter vacation. Well, they help for ONE day. After that, well, maybe if I pay them. Maybe. My little one on the other hand is a future gardener and loves nature so there is hope yet.
But, but, when it is time to harvest fruit from our trees, suddenly everybody rushes outside and is eager to help.  They will even help make jams and pies and cakes. Wait a second.. .ah that must be it then: the sweet reward at the end.
And climbing the ladder.
Couldn't be that they want to spend time with their mother. Right.
But my baby girl... aaaah, you should have seen her face when she realized we were going to eat the many many pounds of plums.

June 18th.

Almost time for father's day and the Summer Solstice! I'm still very busy planting and planting some more. And I just received more seeds from Renee's garden. I hope it's not going to be to late. I'll plant them tomorrow. Well, I'll try anyway. We are celebrating father's day tomorrow and I have to get up early, go to the father's market, make roman bread, make a lunch (my father in law is coming too). then make Ricotta cheese for dinner to go on top of pasta. We also have a walk planned there.

We are getting a lot of herbs and zucchini from the garden. Mmmmm, so good.
I'll try to remember that feeling in September when I'll be trying to con people into taking oh just one more zucchini, just one.

And then there are all these preparations for the Summer Solstice and just after that my dad's birthday and just after that my birthday. I love Summer.

And on the menu tonight: 

A very very old french peasant recipe: la potee

Cut a cabbage in two, then each half in four. Boil for 5 mns, set aside and throw out the water. In a large cauldron, or soup pot :), put salt pork, a big rash of bacon, the sausages of your choice ( traditionally made with pork ), carrots, onions, leeks ( tied in a bunch ), turnips and cover with water. Get to a boil, skim and simmer for 1h15 mns at least then add potatoes and cook for 30 more minutes.

June 8th 2010.

We are finally getting a bit of warmth and sunshine after an unusually wet and cool month of May. I'm very happy with the vegetable garden... and particularly these peas...oh these peas...I'm so waiting for them. Yeah, it's awfully late for peas in these parts but I got them in the ground too late and with the weird weather the seeds took forever to sprout. They are almost knee high now and starting to get flowers. The stalks are very very vigorous looking. They are Oregon giant Snow peas. Love the name.

And I've been making herbal vinegars and oils too. This one is made with chives flowers and leaves. It's turning a lovely shade of pink after a week.

It's almost the end of Spring already, these are the last of the bells or Faery hats as I call them.

I guess we are on to tomatoes and zucchini. Anyone wants zucchini? My plants are huge, healthy and have a gazillion of flowers.

And tonight on the menu:

Roasted Chicken with steamed green beans, homemade herb butter and caramelized onions.
Well, I think the title sums it up pretty nicely.