From the Garden

The volunteer melon vine turned out to be a cantaloupe and we picked the first melon from it the other day as it had a spot that looked like it was going to go bad soon if we left it out in the garden any longer. This morning we decided to have some of it with our breakfast. As you can see it was quite large and half of it cut up filled our bowl so I covered the other half and put it in the refrigerator for later. There is still some left in the bowl in the frig as well and we have been nibbling on it all day. Yesterday we were able to make a much needed trip to the grocery store and we bought more fruit there as we seem to be craving it. We bought peaches, red plums, grapes and bananas. I love when the fruit is at sale prices like it was yesterday. 

I'll be picking figs next Saturday to make fig preserves from the tree in the abandon house next door. We've been keeping the yard mowed at our cost so this will be our payment for the gas we've burned and the time it's taken to do that task. I wish we knew the whole story behind the place. 

I went out to the garden this morning and decided to pick some of the Butternut squash (another volunteer in the garden).  The stems on these had started to turn brown and snapped free easily. I love how this year's garden feels like such a gift to us. 


Tonight I am working overnight - 9:30 PM to 7:30 AM tomorrow. Lots of plan-o-grams to get caught up on while the sprinkler system is totally updated. AH FUN!

I just call it BERRY PICKING!

Scott and I did what is now being called "Wild Crafting" this morning... I just call it "berry picking". We are planning to go back tomorrow after I get off work at 10 (yes; I'm having to work on a Sunday - INVENTORY STINKS). We just scoped out a berry patch along the 12th Street Extension; parked the car off the side of the road and started picking. People were slowing down; honking; staring; and one guy hollered, "HEY! Get outta dat berry patch!" - like his lazy butt was planning to come pick berries there in a road right of way. 

I don't know what got picked more - the berries or us as Scott was pretty bloody by the time we called it quits and I have several small scratches and I'm sure my clothing contains some thorns as I kept getting caught trying to bully my way through the patch. I was thankful to have on jeans and my steel toed boots (YES - I have a pair and wear them). We have one berry bucket full (5 pounds) and I'd like to get at least another full bucket - two if possible to make up a bunch of jam.