A Walk In The Garden

I just came in from walking in the garden and there is nothing like pulling up a carrot and washing it off and eating it straight away. So very different from the carrots purchased at the store and so much better .

Wind Storm, Rain and Power Outages

We had a 60 mile an hour severe wind storm yesterday, that was followed by pouring down rain. We ended up with about a 1/2 inch of rainfall and really needed that. However, Ohio has now been declared an emergency because power is out all over the state. We are fortunate because we did not loose electricity like we did a few years ago when it took about 5 days before it was restored. But it sounds as if it could take days to restore it in this 100 degree weather.

Cucumbers Fail

My cucumbers will need to be pulled because the cucumber beetle has wreaked havoc.

 So I have replanted in a spot far away and will keep a row cover on it when it pops up. Plus I will keep my neem spray close by. What a disappointment.

Tuesdays With Dorie: Baking With Julia-Blueberry-Nectarine Pie

I will be baking a Blueberry-Nectarine Pie for the month of July as a TWDBWJ member. I found the actual recipe at the Baking With Julia TV website. Stay tuned for my creation and photos. The plan is to have this for dessert on the 4th of July!! BLUEBERRY-NECTARINE PIE    Leslie Mackie

The Filling 3 cups fresh blueberries 2 cups sliced nectarines 3/4 cup sugar 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour Large pinch of grated lemon zest 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice The Crust 1/2 recipe Flaky Pie Dough 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into bits 1 large egg beaten with 1 tablespoon cold water, for egg wash Crystal or turbinado sugar, for sprinkling

Makes 6 - 8 servings Put half of the fruit in a medium saucepan, add sugar, flour, and lemon zest. Stir to mix. Bring to a soft boil, stirring constantly, and simmer until liquid thickens. Remove from heat, transfer into a bowl and stir in the uncooked fruit. Taste liquid, and adjust flavoring by adding lemon juice. Let cool. Cut dough in half and on a lightly floured work surface roll one half into an 11-inch circle. Fit crust into a 9-inch cake pan with 1-inch-high sides. Allow excess dough to hang over sides. Roll remaining piece of dough into a 10-inch circle. Spoon the cooled filling into the pie shell and dot with butter. Trim the overhanging dough to 1/2 inch. Lift the 10-inch circle of dough onto the pie, aligning edges of top crust with bottom crust. Fold both layers of overhanging dough under to create a thick edge around the rim of the pan. Crimp with fingers, creating scallops every 2 inches around the rim. Press the tines of a fork against the flat scallops to decorate. Paint with egg wash and sprinkle with crystal sugar. Cut 4 to 6 slits in the crust and chill for minutes. Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Place pie on a parchment lined pan and bake 50 minutes or until crust is golden. Let cool 30 minutes before cutting.

Harvest Monday

The garden is starting to come into a full swing for harvesting.

Cabbage (3 pounds), carrots( 2 oz.) and lettuce ( 3oz)

Yellow wax beans which we will have for dinner tonight, along with cole slaw made with the cabbage.
 ( 4.45oz)

Bumpus Dogs

Click the above because this is how I  feel about squirrels eating my tomatoes. It is a lot like the Bumpus dogs and their turkey adventure.

1. A Christmas Story- Bumpus Hounds

Squirrels

If anyone has a sure fire way to keep squirrels out of the tomato beds I would love to know your solutions.I had one Black Krim ripening, and this morning I found it on the ground next to the plant. Although I had heavy plastic fencing around my tomatoes to keep the deer out, it did nothing for the squirrels. I now have plastic fencing on top of the entire bed and the bottom portion of the fencing is weighed down by bricks around the perimeter.