good boy

This boy is making tremendous strides. He just needed to go to school.

getting funky

I bought ten pounds of organic cabbage last week, and I turned four of them into kraut. Hard to believe that four whole cabbages fit in this crock, but now it has wilted down to about half. I hadn't had a chance to open it until today, but it looks good and smells, um. fermented.

I tasted some kimchi this week from Gnomestead Hollow Farm and Forage, but I haven't made any since early spring. I want to make the white pear summer kimchi from Edward Lee's Smoke and Pickles.

green

grapefruit, apple, peach, spinach

midsummer

pink grapefruit, beet, black grapes, and kale

Imagine how you would feel if you had this for breakfast. I've lost seven pounds and fit into some clothes I bought years ago and never fit into. It is the perfect time of year for this kind of eating.

back porch breakfasts

I've had Vitamix envy for a year now. After my birthday I finally splurged on a refurbished one offered by Groupon. It has the same five year warranty as a new one, and I think the whole family is enjoying that we are whirling around in there every day. Sweet, fruity, and icy are no big deal, but I've been reading some recipes and making some green drinks (and burgundy drinks) for breakfast every day. I love the crazy healthy ones, so I pretty much drink an amazing salad every morning. The red one up top is beet, blueberry, dandelion, and cucumber, and the green one is pink grapefruit with spinach and mint. I throw in four or five ice cubes and it is a cold treat after my morning dog walk. I'm going to say something crazy. I could give up coffee.

good boy arlo

We had a dog professional come over to meet Arlo and talk about dog training.  He is going to dog school next week, and I think he's going to be just fine. He has a good soul, but he is just scared of everything.

fresh cut

The first corn of season. I went to the farmer's market yesterday and came home with a dozen ears of corn, beets, cabbage, zucchini, basil, and freshly dug potatoes. I grilled some chicken thighs and legs and make a batch of pesto to drizzle over the grilled corn.  We ate outside and set off some fifth of July fireworks.

4th of july :: frontier culture museum in staunton

We aren't going on a big vacation this summer, so we are taking several "family field trips." I've been wanting to come to the Frontier Culture Museum since the first time I saw the sign from I-81, and we finally went on the 4th of July. We missed the pie eating contest, but the kids did the sack race, a seed spitting contest, and played games.  I wish we lived closer so that the children could do one of their camps.

longest day

fist day of summer

just keep planting

I keep thinking that I need to get my garden completely weeded before I can plant more things, but now I know that I just need to plant something every day or summer will soon be over.  Ruby and I planted basil and dill, and it is so hot that the basil should be "pesto sized" very soon.  Dill tastes like summer to me, and everyone loves Grandmarie's potato salad. I need one big thunderstorm.

june

 I did an unintentional experiment with the chickens this week by running out of the organic feed I usually buy. I picked up a bag of feed at Tractor Supply, the kind they would consider to be their premium brand, but the ladies would not eat it. Egg production went way down, and we even had an egg without a solid shell. They made it through on fruit and veggie scraps, purslane that I pulled from teh garden, and whatever they could forage. They were very happy to get their regular food back yesterday.

One of the Wyandottes is broody and quite mean, so that has added to their angst. She hasn't wanted the other hens in "her" henhouse.

the cherry harvest

Yes, one cherry.

Today is Ruby's sixth birthday, and her brother was up to watch her wake up and give her a gift.

greens

My raised beds are crowded with greens now. Tonight we ate all the broccoli rabe, but there are three kinds of kale, collards, spinach, arugula, lettuce, onions, and cilantro in here. My big garden is weedy, but I have little green tomatoes. Today I'm planting basil and sunflowers.

may {how did that happen}

I'm realizing that everything seems to go better for me if I stay at home. I do like people and enjoy spending time with them, but I need huge amounts of down time to go along with that. Ruby is outside planting dandelions (I know!!!!), and John is playing Legos in his room. Ella and her friend think I don't know they are watching Dr Who in her room, but I'm just letting that slide.

authors' tea time again

more arlo

arlo

spring break in smalltown

This is one of John's pictures, the front of a small train, and the chili peppers are to ward off evil spirits.