How Does Your Garden Grow

Better Late Than Never

We were very late in getting our garden planted this year. So we figured, whatever happens....happens.

I'm happy to report, some things are happening.

Tonight we will be enjoying some fresh beans from the garden.

Arent' they gorgeous?

The tomatoes are giving it their all. They just need a little more time for turning red. But if you're like Fried Green Tomatoes..........that we can do.

What I'm really excited about are these...........

acorn squash

and butternut

I'm not sure we've ever really had success with winter squash. I'm happy to report that there are multiple squash on all the plants. So cool.

Gray day here today. Seems to have been a little rain overnight which we can use.  I'm off to run errands then back to my desk to work on multiple projects.  No rest for the weary.

Tomorrow, the annual labor day cookout at Tom and Joan's across the street. I think I'll make my cheesey spinach dip because it was such a hit with Tom last weekend at fellow neighborhoodlum Gerry's birthday party.  It's easy peasy and there is never anything left. I'll have to get some pics so I can share the recipe with you. You'll love it.

Other than that, just enjoying the last weekend of August.

Enjoy the day.

Ciao for now,

A Sofa, Louis & Rachael

Etsy, for those of you who don't know, is an online marketplace for handmade/designed goods, vintage, and supplies for making handmade goods. Etsy is, quite frankly, chock full of inspiration.  I've designed note cards inspired by Pamela Angus' stained glass. I drew a sofa that my friend Susie had in her shop. I coveted that sofa. When Susie saw the drawing of the sofa she said "How on earth did you do that?" I said with a wink, "I drew it."  I know, very smarmy. Let's get more specific, though I do have  drawing pad and pencils, you will most often find me working on my computer. Illustrator is my program of choice. I drew her sofa in Illustrator, in part with my mouse and in part with my Bamboo computer pencil. 

I really liked the simple line drawing style that it embodies.  Susie liked it too. Which got me to thinking, maybe others would like it. I spring boarded from there. Perhaps a Louis XI chair?

Then I found some more inspiration on Decor8 in their feature on neon bright colors. I transformed the classic line drawing of the Louis XV chair with bright colors and and patterns (one of my paper designs to be exact).  This might be the piece my sister Di has been waiting for to go in her guest room with her 'happy' color comforter.

I had fun with inspiration and creation yesterday. I needed some 'just create' time big-time-a-rooney. It made my day.

Rachael Ray

Now, I like Rachael Ray, though her show and cutesy words can get a little much for me at times. I bought her magazine a couple years ago from the girl next door who was raising money for girl scouts. I wouldn't consider Rachael a 'chef' so to speak, but she doesn't consider herself one either.  That said, I could do without the sections that feature the products RR loves or can't live without. Doesn't mean that much to me. But I continue to get this magazine each year from the neighborhood girl scout because I like her recipes. She had a couple of grilled pizza recipes in this month and having not tried grilling pizza before, I thought it was about time.  I didn't stick to her recipe, just the general idea.

Got pizza dough from the store (shout out to my bil Niall who is shaking his head as he reads this.......he makes his own dough). Easy. Made two rounds. Grilled up some of the Lebanese squash we got at Farmers Market this weekend.  Grilled the pizza dough on a cookie sheet with some greased foil. Flipped it and grilled longer. Brought it all in to top it off. One we topped with sauce, the grilled squash, prosciutto and mozz. The second we topped with the rest of the grilled squash, baby bella shrooms, yes- more prosciutto (what can I say, we love the stuff and it still left me some for the cantaloupe this week), and mozz.  Brought back out to the grill, but cheese wasn't melting good so popped under the broiler. Mighty fine meal.

Now, it looks like there is more cheese on the pizza then there really was. What really shined was the squash and prosciutto. We will definitely do that again.

Another hot day here. Our friend Charlie just stopped by with his granddaughter Makennna. She needed some pool time. Pictures tomorrow.

Proof of the heat. One sprawled out, zonked dog. (yes, that's a fur ball behind him).

Forecast for tomorrow..........hotter. Good thing my parents have an air conditioner they're not using. Well, my father would be, but Mom isn't big on them. I'm not either to be honest, but the hot-dog above will be very happy and will breathe a bit easier the next few days.

Wow, Wednesday already! Hope it's great in your corner of the world.

Stuff It!

What To Do With All That Zucchini

We don't plant as much squash and zuch as we used to.  Our neighbors Tom and Joan always have prolific plants and can only eat so much. We are the lucky recipients of the extra.  Last night I stuffed one of their lovely zuchs. It's not hard to do and there are no rules. You get to use whatever you have on hand.

Last Night's Stuffed Zuch

1 big zucchini, cut lengthwise down the middle (yay! two sides to stuff!)
handful of baby bella mushrooms sliced thin
1/4 of a leftover onion, chopped
the 'guts' of the zucchini, chopped
cojito cheese- Mexican cheese similar to feta (maybe 1/4 cup), but again, use what cheese you've got
spices ( I used some sun dried tomato spice mix I had on the shelf and some lime pepper spice mix)
sea salt
breadcrumbs
butter about 3 - 4 tbs

Once you slice zucchini carve out around the softer middle and scoop out. Leave enough meat of zucchini around the edge so when it cooks it doesn't flop over and you lose all the stuffing.  Chop the veg, throw into sautee pan and cook for a few minutes. When translucent, add the bread crumbs, the cheese and the butter. Take stuffing and STUFF zucchini. We wrapped ours in a tin foil pouch and grilled for about 20-30 minutes.....one side of grill on med-high, other side on low. Gar started it up top for about 10-15, then moved down to the low temp side.

YUM.

Speaking of garden veg, our garden is coming along, though the weeds have taken over. Except where we were smart enough to lay down our 'always in good supply' leaves, around the tomatoes. The rest of the garden is fighting the proverbial battle. Probably time Gar and I took the garden weasel too it, but it's been so hot (good excuse, don't you think?).

We were late in getting things planted this year, but all is well- the lettuce, green beans, chard, potatoes and yes, squash (only four plants) are looking good. Here's the first tomato trying to make the grade with many more babies on the plants. Never did plant kale this year. It came back on it's own. It grew fast this spring which was a nice surprise, and then I cut it all the way back and have a second round. You gotta love a garden surprise like that. Easy peasy. That's the way we like it here.

Our flower gardens are still surprising us too. We could both see a yellow circle across the yard from the pool area last night, and said 'That must be the St. Patrick Rose'. It's most prolific year (and this damn thing is at least 7 years old) was three roses. That's it. But it is pretty despite it's low numbers. I will admit, it's not the same kind of rose as the pink one by the front door, if I had to guess I'd say this is a long stem variety, perhaps this is the reason for its low output.




It is so bright out, and this flower is right in the sun, and the setting I had the camera on was probably
not the best choice for those conditions. Ah well. You get the picture.

 I came around the side of the house and spied the honeysuckle, completely covered in its red berries. The birds will be quite happy come fall. I'm happy now because it's very pretty. I love plants that give you a two for one- blooms and then pretty berries that the birds are happy to consume.

It's another hot one here so it will be a challenge to stay cool. The will be a pool involved at some point. Probably at more than one point. The dog is sprawled on the floor in front of the fan. He's no dumb bunny.

If you have a zucchini recipe, please share. Everyone is always trying to find new ways to mix up the abundance of squash in the summer.

Have a great day Tuesday in your little corner of the world.