tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58551624400228759772012-02-14T16:07:35.556-05:00"Can I get some quiet, please? I'm trying to garden here!" --- military wife, mom to boys, gardener, produce preserver, cook, chronic organizer, family manager, urban homesteader, knitter, hiker, camper, backyard bbq'er and neophyte threadbanger... follow me in the madness as I do it all in a 950 sq ft home and make it work...Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.comBlogger5781100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-19673020025854735232012-02-13T14:30:00.000-05:002012-02-13T14:30:28.222-05:00

I have been saying how I haven't gotten any of the sewing and quilting I wanted to accomplish done this winter, but I did make one quilt ...  I had forgotten to post it!  I made it for my new nephew in Minnesota, this past Christmas was his very first and I never posted the project on the blog because it was a Christmas surprise for my brother's family, and this was a new technique I was learning

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-53624012805662280962012-02-11T18:44:00.001-05:002012-02-11T18:44:25.318-05:00

Just when I thought I should probably get out there and plant something... It's coming down hard, too! Just finished loading the video and in the 4 minutes that took, the dog's tracks are already covered up out there.  I'm sure it will be gone by sunrise- for tonight though, it feels perfect for reading a good book!  

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-46789909946065382132012-02-06T14:22:00.001-05:002012-02-06T14:22:27.661-05:00

...but a reason that I haven't had as much time to blog and do crafty things so far this winter - Cub Scouts! (faces are blurred out, but trust me they were all laughing as hard as Loch!) Now wait, it gets better.... ok now you can laugh... Yes, that's two Den Leader uniforms, one for me, one for hubby!  Are we crazy?  Maybe, but we are having fun, learning a lot, the boys are

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-79712520207667572012012-02-01T11:13:00.000-05:002012-02-01T11:13:58.024-05:00

Yay! The Baker Creek catalog arrived just in time, considering I have spent the better part of the last week stuck inside.  First Finn was sick, now Loch... it's amazing that hubby and I haven't gotten it.  Looks like the nasty norovirus, blech! Along with finally getting some time (no choice!) to go through my seeds and catalogs, I've been able to get some random small chores done

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-63840107999423423552012-01-30T15:45:00.002-05:002012-01-30T15:45:34.844-05:00

It's that time of year again, the time where hubby waits until the last minute to tell me he needs all new uniform patches, this on what was supposed to be "my day", a day of nothing scheduled except my own list of things to do. He moves from young guy to old(er), more experienced, more learned (hopefully), and more senior (citizen)!  In the Navy you can't hide, your status is proclaimed for

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-54041080848426671932012-01-29T14:37:00.001-05:002012-01-29T14:37:51.463-05:00

Super quick post to those with Kindles - free download today "The Art of Saving Heirloom Seeds"!

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-34334860987388337532012-01-26T12:34:00.000-05:002012-01-26T12:34:09.530-05:00

Some of you remember my seed storage/garden planning system of using a binder I posted about last year.  Since mentioning it again the other day I've had a few requests to know more about it so I'll repost the link below.   Some things worth mentioning - if you decide this type of storage is for you, purchase the big, repeat LARGE binder with the industrial strength D-rings!  These are only

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-17529605287017910132012-01-24T09:45:00.002-05:002012-01-24T09:45:24.353-05:00

I have a ton of things I'm supposed to be doing... and someday I'll update you on the madness, but for today - I'm not doing a darned thing on that list. That's because other than the fact that my yard and garden are a complete mess in the photo below, look at that sun!  It's been raining for days, but it's now clearing up, the kids are at school, and it's already 62º here at 9:30 a.m.

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-29536699064250283872012-01-23T22:17:00.004-05:002012-01-23T22:17:36.851-05:00

The past weekend and this week so far has had me pretty busy, but I know my mom is anxiously awaiting  video of the boys'  annual "Talent Show" that their music teachers put on every year.  It's a good way for their students of all ages and abilities to build confidence playing for an audience, and they generate charitable donations for her church by charging "admission" in the form of canned

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-84762407258516467982012-01-17T21:43:00.000-05:002012-01-17T21:43:41.743-05:00

Everyone is getting their garden porn except me! (she says with a whine and stomping feet!) Where, oh where are you Baker Creek Catalog I covet so this time of year?   Look below, it's pathetic this year: on the top of the photo are the tons of what I call the "junk" catalogs, and below that, only 2 have arrived that I look forward to for real inspiration and ordering.   Needless to say,

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-88311782223884254322012-01-09T15:01:00.000-05:002012-01-09T15:01:46.388-05:00

The weather here is rainy and chilly, kind of has me in a funk!  Doing more things related to organizing rather than what I wanted to do, which is garden planning.  I am trying to get back into regular blogging, even if I have nothing earth shattering to report, however!  I know that before we know it, we'll all be having tons of things to report on with seed starting and spring planting coming

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-41364396781363419742012-01-06T15:56:00.000-05:002012-01-06T15:56:09.734-05:00

After the ordeal we went through to have Lochlann, never in our wildest dreams did we think we would ever be so blessed with a repeat performance, but we were - and his name is Finnegan!  Our little guy turns 7 today!  Lucky for you readers this won't take an hour to read, since most of my photos are jumbled up after what happened to the old computer, but I did find a few! Everything was

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-33030950383982813652012-01-03T15:01:00.000-05:002012-01-03T15:01:39.270-05:00

I think I have mentioned it before, but our fall/winter so far have been terrible weather-wise for growing fall stuff, even though it was 28º this morning, Saturday it was 70º!  I had all but given up on my lettuces ever sprouting, but we finally have liftoff!  As long as it doesn't warm up and bake them to death again we just might get half a salad for one person... The rest of the

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-28249681495771321672011-12-29T23:15:00.000-05:002011-12-29T23:15:01.144-05:00

I wasn't prepared to post tonight but wow - did anyone else watch Discovery Channel's first episode of  "Alaska: The Last Frontier"?  I normally never post links to video or tv since I myself find some of the stuff droning on about being "green" and "sustainable" to be lacking in any true substance and I just get annoyed by all the "talk but no walk", but these folks are the real deal - no

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-69786434128312015782011-12-27T11:10:00.000-05:002011-12-27T11:10:00.885-05:00

Although we were sad to not be traveling home to Minnesota this year, there is always this to be thankful for... At least we weren't part of the throng of cars trying to leave the Beach last week! Instead, I used up a lot of my home canned tomatoes and sauce, peppers and onions to make a big batch of chili.  Low stress, and we ate off it all weekend!  The kids were very happy to see

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-45419125372499867122011-12-24T18:57:00.002-05:002011-12-24T18:57:53.643-05:00

Merry Christmas! Much love to all of you this Christmas Eve!

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-83330029755658216252011-12-21T17:22:00.001-05:002011-12-21T17:32:57.939-05:00

Cake Pops! I had a few people ask me how these are done, so here you go!  This is only my 2nd time doing them the "real" way, so this is very basic.  I know you can go wild with fillings, making shapes and animals and all that, but I definitely can't do that yet. Before you begin, I'll be kind enough to give you my "lessons learned" from a prior headache and tear fest brought to you by my

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-45851085414278517262011-12-15T15:27:00.000-05:002011-12-15T18:32:26.803-05:00

So does everyone have this new blog interface-thingy?  Not sure if it self destructed on me for not being an every-day blogger this winter or if we are all in the same boat? Anyway, looks like once again Loch is picking up the slack for me gardening-wise... They have tons of greens coming in at his after-school project garden, radishes and a few other things as well.  He's been keeping us

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-23628465703286556342011-12-08T15:06:00.000-05:002011-12-08T15:06:20.784-05:00

I'm still here!  I have been crazy busy the past couple of weeks.  I apologize for not keeping up on my commenting on all your blogs, I've been reading them whenever I can, but lately it's been on my phone, and trying to comment on that thing is an exercise in futility.  The kids have been really busy with school  and other activities lately, and hubby has been working very long days and enduring

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-42759430203281700492011-11-29T14:25:00.001-05:002011-11-29T14:27:53.608-05:00

Just one year ago on Halloween, I sat down to an old, broken sewing machine, and decided to learn to sew... This was my setup then, kids' old computer desk with a folding table and the rolling cart the kids used to keep their Legos in!  It "worked" but, was very shaky, and nobody could get to the back door!  Oh and let's talk about the fact that the "cart" was missing a wheel, so it would

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-56228371336764703552011-11-26T11:51:00.000-05:002011-11-26T11:51:25.285-05:00

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! It was a quiet day here, we are a thousand miles from family again this year, but we didn't let that stop us from doing the "dinner" thing.  We may take some flak for this, but I made a HAM instead of turkey this year.  Although I do love turkey, I don't like the smell of it cooking all day, and the only thing I detest more on that day than cleaning a bird

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-46485534804637764682011-11-21T07:58:00.001-05:002011-11-21T07:58:59.711-05:00

It's done!   Susan at e-i-e-i-omg! challenged us to an apron sew-off and it was just what I needed to snap out of my blogging laziness the past month and get back into the swing of things.  Thanks, Susan!  Head over to her blog later today when she will link up all the participants to check out all the aprons! Finnegan said it looks like I'm getting x-rays at the dentist - whatever, who asked

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-14449364202802089902011-11-19T12:18:00.000-05:002011-11-19T12:18:29.613-05:00

Yes, go ahead and laugh now... uh, oh... it's directional print!  I don't know why I bought this way back when I did - I think I was just ignorant, but now I know about stripes, directional prints, and wow do I know better than to pick a fabric for a first time venture that is supposed to go public!  Oh, well - it's showtime baby :) Time to get to work - I didn't mean to procrastinate, I

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-36653878984423136982011-11-17T18:52:00.000-05:002011-11-17T18:52:39.380-05:00

Would you believe it was 82º here yesterday?  Disgusting!  Lettuces, spinach and the like refuses to sprout or do anything at all this season, what a bust.  The good news is that the high today was early in the morning and as of right now it has fallen to 48º, keep going! Fall colors finally appearing... An early holiday gift for me, and no doubt my only one - and I am just fine with that!  

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-15565984774301199112011-11-11T11:41:00.000-05:002011-11-11T11:41:11.150-05:00

Yes, I'm still here, still struggling with I-don't-know-what!  I've been SO tired lately and so "not myself" that I'm afraid to post since I don't have any earth shattering projects going on right now.  I will say that the past 2 days have been really good, not tired after waking up and slowly returning to getting some daily chores done "on time". I promised my mom a photo of her well-dressed

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-91854087113229213952011-11-03T13:49:00.006-04:002011-11-03T13:52:18.058-04:00

Count me in for the apron sew-off this month!  These are the patterns I had in the house to choose from: I swore I wouldn't go buy and books or new patterns since we just spent so much on a computer.  Next I need to check out my fabric, good thing I have a good stash of that, too!  I'm thinking the top pattern, since I really don't like aprons that "tie" behind the neck, I like the simplicity

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-22714210767281156792011-11-02T14:23:00.000-04:002011-11-02T14:23:20.732-04:00

It's hard to get back in the blogging routine!  I do NOT recommend taking that kind of time off personally, as for me it resulted in a slight depressive state of not doing anything, since I didn't feel "accountable" for doing anything!  I'll have to ease back into things so I don't end up in a rant about the past months' events in an incoherent manner. I'll start by showing you some photos of

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-41539053536244953322011-10-31T18:55:00.000-04:002011-10-31T18:55:28.623-04:00

I'm back!  I have been lost without a computer for all this time, but I'm back in the blogosphere now and can't wait to "see" you all again!  Lots of catching up for me to do, but these pics will have to do until I have time for a proper post, so Happy Halloween y'all! This week's big event was Finn losing one of his front teeth, no more perfect little boy teeth - he's officially moving into

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-11871763964976024652011-10-14T10:12:00.000-04:002011-10-14T10:12:00.184-04:00

The good news is that we are all alive and well!  The bad news is that I am blogging from the library, yikes!  The computer lightning damage I had about 5 months ago was obviously not repairable for the long term, and my beautiful Mac is dead in the water.  I have an older Mac in the kids' room that I may be able to get up to speed enough to hook up to internet and do photos but it's guaranteed

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-61138408984852359042011-10-09T13:06:00.001-04:002011-10-09T13:07:25.756-04:00

It's the kids' fault, but how can I possibly say "no" to extracurricular activities like this? I just haven't quite figured out how to balance all of it and still maintain family dinners together, homework time, reading time and a decent bedtime.  I don't believe in "overscheduling" kids, in reality it's just swimming and music lessons with monthly garden club stuff, but I am in awe of moms who

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-8655447531463365382011-10-04T20:01:00.002-04:002011-10-04T20:02:56.638-04:00

My 1st sweater!  It might not be perfect, but I'm really happy with it anyways.  He wanted a surfing type pullover for the beach, this is the closest I could come.  I substituted cotton yarn for the stuff called for in the pattern because this needs to be absorbent around water as well as easy wash & dry for playtime, bike riding, etc... for anyone interested, I used the following: 100% cotton

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-51534735344018088862011-10-03T12:05:00.000-04:002011-10-03T12:05:24.013-04:00

Hurry before this sun offer expires!  Seriously, we are going on something like day 14 of rain.  This past weekend we saw the sun for a few hours each morning before the showers started, enough to get the lawn mowed, and (drumroll, please) I finally got my garden cleaned up of all traces of summer's dead stuff! Ta-Da!  Now I'm ready to get some lettuces and garlic in there, just as soon as it

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-84191323397910679172011-09-28T15:14:00.000-04:002011-09-28T15:14:24.370-04:00

I have had a few inquiries as to what I do with all these peppers I grow!  I really do use them all, and I don't see myself as being a pepper freak, but maybe I am - you be the judge...Got Hot? or sweet? There's lots to see here, so don your mask and gloves and let's get started! Sweet Bell Peppers are easy, no blanching, just chop and freeze.  They go into everything, all winter long - stir

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-82145188878769584932011-09-27T11:19:00.000-04:002011-09-27T11:19:18.538-04:00

Nope, it's not ecologically "sensitive", green in even the tiniest way, "sustainable", or a celebration of any type of homegrown goodness, but it is our livelihood... the military aircraft!  This weekend was the annual air show here at the base, and we go every year, rain or shine.  This year it rained the whole time, and although we were a bit wet it was still fun.  For one day we enjoy eardrum

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-20965650180245755132011-09-26T11:37:00.000-04:002011-09-26T11:37:07.833-04:00

My parents are on their way back to Minnesota today, and I'm back!  We had a good visit, but it rained EVERY DAY!  We are on our 6th or 7th day straight of rain, heat and humidity and I am so ready for fall.  I still have not planted the fall garden and the lawn is about 8 inches high, soggy, mushrooms sprouting all over, yuck!  During a few hour break in the rain mom helped me bring peppers in,

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-78044806434537718592011-09-19T10:47:00.000-04:002011-09-19T10:47:48.139-04:00

Look, it's a mom! Even better... it's MY mom! She got here just in time... after raining all weekend the sun is now out and I need some help in the garden :) Dad will be here on Thursday for a long weekend and I'm sure we'll do some fun things but for right now I'm looking forward to turning the kids over to her for a few days :)

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-28052348655142527672011-09-18T11:21:00.000-04:002011-09-18T11:21:58.742-04:00

Ok, I'm ready to spill the beans!  A while back I alluded to something that was causing a bit of stress, but that we were all "a-ok" - well, here's the big development... FOR SALE! As of Friday, our house is officially on the market.  It may seem as a bit out of the blue, but I'm a person that tends to stew on things for awhile quietly, but when a decision has been made, things need to happen

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-52270165080837624982011-09-16T16:16:00.001-04:002011-09-16T16:22:06.775-04:00

It's been a busy week, and I'm glad that it's Friday evening!  Before I head out to finally tackle the garden, I'll purge some of the highlights of the week here :) Loch's open house at the Math & Science Academy was this week, and he was eager to show us his new school.Here's their garden, ready for fall planting! Posing in front of the school Showing off the school's new t-shirt design, and

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-22979319056611604612011-09-14T17:39:00.000-04:002011-09-14T17:39:35.752-04:00

...turns out that doing things "my way" isn't such a great deal after all!  (be advised this post has nothing to do with plants!) Some of you may have gathered a little info about me from my blogging, such as that I'm a Type A, a little (okay a LOT) OCD, go-go-go, sleep is a waste of time, why put off tomorrow what needs to be done an hour ago kind of gal.  This little old personality of mine

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-5409465456759486792011-09-09T14:59:00.000-04:002011-09-09T14:59:18.664-04:00

I have been a bad blogger this week!  Lots of things going on coupled with the fact that they don't really have anything to do with the garden have had me skipping out the past few days, but I will give you a little update - however boring it may be! Loch has over an hour bus ride now.  I don't even know what to say about that other than we might as well live out in the sticks!  I had longer

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-18593946315193511162011-09-06T09:58:00.001-04:002011-09-06T09:58:20.984-04:00

Miss Angela reappeared like an angel this morning!  She looks as excited to see them as I am to send them off! Here's the whole gang this morning, my driveway is the bus stop so the noise level climbs early in the morning around here. (Loch is missing since he left a little earlier on the "short bus" to the Math & Science Academy LOL) Every year I forget how great this day is, bye Finn! Now

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-7614399310711795652011-09-02T11:37:00.000-04:002011-09-02T11:37:33.452-04:00

It's been crazy here with getting to the kids' school orientations at 2 different schools, meeting teachers and figuring out 2 different bus schedules, whew, I need a break!  I don't have much on the garden front to muse about, I've been dealing with a lot of things elsewhere lately, but am getting some pumpkin puree baked and frozen today if it kills me!   A few photos, of course... Loch's

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-58310403669555302432011-08-30T18:15:00.000-04:002011-08-30T18:15:27.347-04:00

Last night something amazing happened here... the a/c was turned off, temps were in the 60's - that hasn't happened since early May!  Last night I couldn't even concentrate on my book because I kept getting surprised by a wonderful cool breeze blowing through the house.  Today was more of the same.  I put off working in the garden today in favor or more "seasonable" activities like canning and

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-17920720913030838092011-08-29T14:40:00.000-04:002011-08-29T14:40:42.240-04:00

Several more to go!  The center garden got all the attention today.  The side areas will have to be worked over the next week or so, but most everything there is ready to be pulled anyways.  The center beds looked like they would keep producing peppers for a bit if staked, so I did that as well as pulled out all the broken storm damage and other flattened stuff. It was like foraging for food out

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-21237437308368314902011-08-28T09:48:00.019-04:002011-08-28T10:11:32.287-04:00

Even though we did get 10 inches of rain, Irene was a breeze for us here!  (hahaha)  Seriously, we only lost power for a little while, which I'm still in shock over.  Even a "light" nor'easter here leaves us without for at least 4 days.  20 years of hurricanes and nor'easters here and I've never had power throughout like this time - we only lost it for about 3 hours.  I do attribute it to the

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-43881658266147649952011-08-27T20:00:00.000-04:002011-08-27T20:00:01.008-04:00

...it means we are without power, internet or cell phones!   I planned on stopping this scheduled post if we were still on the grid, so apparently we are officially on the Camping Trip From Hell! who remembers this? Now seriously... I'll update as soon as I can!  Hope my friends in the Northeast are okay!

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-41261347830327200192011-08-27T11:00:00.003-04:002011-08-27T11:00:06.148-04:00

Too funny not to share!  This is our local reporter, he's famous for doing things like running out in the middle of the road to yell at drivers who are running stop signs and breaking laws, he's actually won several Emmy's for his style of reporting, but it doesn't make him seem any less ridiculous at times, although we love him dearly here... enjoy! Still have power, although things are

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-59861709021675959952011-08-27T08:57:00.000-04:002011-08-27T08:57:14.851-04:00

The sky last night...  Good news this morning... the storm has weakened to the point that it looks to be a garden variety normal hurricane!  We'll still be without power for probably a considerable amount of time, since that's the norm, but it sounds like we don't have to worry about things like the actual entire roof flying off this time, great news for us and great news for those in the

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-25202012620338125082011-08-26T19:32:00.000-04:002011-08-26T19:32:58.990-04:00

-but I think I can manage a whole bunch of random photos from this afternoon/evening! Line at the Package Store (military for liquor store)!  I picked up some Spiked Iced Tea... I figure if it's warm it won't be as bad as warm beer LOL.  The store was surprisingly well stocked on base, the only thing they appeared to be sold out of was the fixins' for the standard hurricane prescription,

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-25502054681426409642011-08-26T08:18:00.000-04:002011-08-26T08:18:04.577-04:00

...Sailors Take Warning! this was the sky over the beach here early today... You don't have to go home... but you can't stay here! The East Coast Surfing Competition was going on here and had to come to an abrupt halt, kind of a shame they have to dismantle all the scaffolding and tents, since for surfers this would be some of the best waves seen this side of Hawaii! We are still poised to

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-23102723079416801942011-08-25T20:38:00.000-04:002011-08-25T20:38:07.186-04:00

Just Random... Lines at the pumps... Armored trucks at many of the ATM's to clear them out before possible looting. Generators everywhere... Oh, no!  She's on eggs... what am I going to do??? This will be the last time I see these guys for the foreseeable future, I bet! So calm, right now... Makes you stop and give thanks for having hubby home for this disaster when some don't have that

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-40811943701983993252011-08-25T10:35:00.001-04:002011-08-25T10:40:39.440-04:00

There's no scenario where we aren't going to get slammed with Irene, but we are about as ready as it gets.  Most of the hazards are put in the sheds, which will be crushed by the neighbors loose trees no doubt.  A few more things to tie down in the yard Friday evening, but there isn't much else we can do.  Luckily, I didn't even have to go to the store, we are set for food and water, propane,

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-50155486854329394912011-08-23T17:04:00.000-04:002011-08-23T17:04:56.465-04:00

Who doesn't love the Allstate Mayhem guy?  Apparently he was here today, but I never felt a thing!  Must have heard I was up for blogging about random stuff this week not pertaining to the garden :) Thanks, Apple Pie Gal for checking in to make sure all was well!  I feel kind of gyp'ed, but not really I guess since I did live at the epicenter of the big 7.1 quake in Northern California and

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-43100444572963966382011-08-23T11:32:00.000-04:002011-08-23T11:32:21.201-04:00

Well, here we go again...looks like I'm going to be pretty busy the next 5 days or so as we prep and wait for Hurricane Irene.  She's set to hit us darn near directly as of this morning, and not as a wimpy Category 1 storm either, she's expected to make landfall as a Cat 3 or even 4, which would be devastating for anything in her path.  I've been through it before many times, and it's not the

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-75383082730821098972011-08-21T22:04:00.000-04:002011-08-21T22:04:40.118-04:00

Wrapping up the weekend in photos mostly! It was back into the 90's again, so not a whole lot of hard work done, mostly quick chores interspersed with fun! Stuck inside doing laundry, I decided to contract out the potato digging - We can always look forward to at least one mutant spud! The kids found a chewed up looking Army guy hiding in with the potatoes... Not too shabby of a harvest for a

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-80480318130232794232011-08-20T09:55:00.000-04:002011-08-20T09:55:25.816-04:00

Funny how a week ago the upper 80's temps felt like an wonderful Arctic breeze, yet after a week my body is now getting used to it and now 89º feels hot again!  Still, I'll take it - and managed to spend a few hours finally getting some work done out there.  Hubby got the lawn mowed and some general cleanup of the piles of debris I have been staging around the yard, and I was able to clear a path

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-66566785490401506432011-08-19T10:01:00.000-04:002011-08-19T10:01:50.602-04:00

You saw that title and you're still here?  I didn't realize it was that long until I got inside and starting uploading it, sorry about the length!  I get distracted in the garden easily, like watching a soccer team of 4 year olds playing in a field of butterflies LOL, before I knew it I had a 10 minute video :)  I figured instead of taking lots of photos of the end of season messy garden, I'd do

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-35087961776558982912011-08-18T10:44:00.000-04:002011-08-18T10:44:42.472-04:00

Once again I was foiled in my plans to spend the day outside working!  This time it was grocery shopping.  Some of you may know, but I hate this chore with a passion.  My grocery shopping tactics have changed in the past few months, the kids are getting older and eating more, I am preparing more things from scratch at home, and those facts combined with my hatred of the weekly shopping run have

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-62151418879410276292011-08-16T18:11:00.000-04:002011-08-16T18:11:59.161-04:00

Another incredible 84º day out there, dry and breezy, and I'm missing it again!  BUT... this is the reason I have a garden, right?  More canning today!  Since it took a week to amass the tomatoes I needed this time to warrant canning, it's obvious that the season is winding down out there.   Yet another sign that summer is ending... Butternut Squash! I'm starting to get a lot of grape tomatoes

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-33548223042266107152011-08-15T18:29:00.000-04:002011-08-15T18:29:06.295-04:00

To say I've been overwhelmed lately is a huge understatement.  I haven't done a thing when it comes to weeding or keeping the gardens even remotely pleasant to look at and it's all I can do to harvest and preserve this year with the heat.  I think Sailor/Farmer/Husband could feel a mental breakdown coming on (guess who usually bears the brunt of that fine event?), so he asked what he could do

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-50225948571550649952011-08-13T12:21:00.000-04:002011-08-13T12:21:46.611-04:00

...but I can't help it, I'm drowning in peppers and haven't had time to blog!  The temps are now down to the mid-upper 80's which is divine compared to the past 6 weeks.  I had dreams of tackling the garden head-on yesterday and getting a whole lot of neglected chores done, but as I walked out into the pepper beds I realized I was going to be stuck in the kitchen all day despite the relatively

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-51387157009839948162011-08-10T18:02:00.000-04:002011-08-10T18:02:12.977-04:00

...right when we needed it most! A manageable harvest day - Tomatoes enjoyed on hamburgers while we still can - A very good mail day, thanks to Apple Pie Gal! -   Finn is a huge fan of honey, so he got the honors of opening the package... It wasn't even a minute before we were sampling spoonfuls of honey goodness!  Tell PigPen it's fantastic!  Thank you so much for the honey, and what timing

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-2795494099639420632011-08-09T19:00:00.001-04:002011-08-09T19:00:06.803-04:00

To follow the last post, another reason I haven't posted in a couple of days is emotional shock.  I'm sure all of you have heard about the RPG attack that took the lives of so many of our forces this past weekend.  It has hit our community here very hard, 22 of them are from right down the street from us, many wives and children were awakened by that dreaded knock on the door Saturday.  Most all

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-44440306038963372692011-08-09T15:54:00.000-04:002011-08-09T15:54:00.083-04:00

The wildfires in the Great Dismal Swamp are burning again, leaving us with air conditions that don't allow any outdoor work, although with a heat index over 100 again I wouldn't be out anyways.  The smoke is unusually heavy today and feels like you've got a tree stump on your chest trying to breathe.  It's infiltrated the house and it smells like a campfire in here! Wildfire smoke I'm neck

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-17175917613939679412011-08-07T16:58:00.000-04:002011-08-07T16:58:22.327-04:00

While the cat's away... The mouse will work! No?  That's not how that rhyme goes?  My kitchen says otherwise. Maybe I should learn how to high pressure aerosol can this stuff LOL... nah, my neighborhood isn't that bad...  What was the weight limit on glass top ranges again?  I seem to have misplaced that manual, LOL    It's a lovely day out there, heat index of 105º, hot breeze blowing..

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-54728291037515239852011-08-06T09:01:00.001-04:002011-08-06T09:03:20.654-04:00

I meant to have some photos of the declining summer garden, but hubby has my camera this morning on his bike ride.  I think this weekend will involve several bike outings with the kids instead of the garden since school starts back up in just a few weeks and with the heat we've been having I feel like the kids didn't get much of a summer vacation.  I hope we can give them at least a little bit of

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-27950882807509667322011-08-04T14:57:00.000-04:002011-08-04T14:57:57.784-04:00

I'm speaking of my new nephew!  My brother and his wife in Saint Paul had their baby the other night, everything went well and I'm an aunt again!  The boys are so excited to have a boy cousin, although they adore their other cousin Nora.  I had to hurry and finish sewing the outfit I made for her, since she's a "big sister" now and deserves to be showered with some love now that she has to share

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-38678997350135980132011-08-02T16:28:00.000-04:002011-08-02T16:28:34.667-04:00

I've been doing my best to avoid the garden lately, I know I'm not alone in this!  It's so hot and humid... but lots of you are dealing with the same, so I won't complain, this time :)  I will however, admit that my threats to throw in the towel are starting to become less threat and more action (or inaction in my case).  I have officially ceased watering and bug collecting out there.  Things are

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-34128450943919231812011-07-30T08:20:00.000-04:002011-07-30T08:20:47.473-04:00

If you are like me, you plant way too much eggplant.  Stunning to look at, not so much for eating here.  Yes, I do like a good batch of Baba Ganoush, but that doesn't use up much of it.  Well, if you have hours of time to devote (insert rolling of eyes here), there is always the big baked dish... Eggplant Lasagna! No, seriously... this took like 9 HOURS!  I had a really big harvest the morning

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-31645949666419895442011-07-29T19:14:00.000-04:002011-07-29T19:14:44.108-04:00

My hometown was filmed today on CNBC, click on the link and you'll get a glimpse of why I love it so much, it's a gorgeous little Mississippi River town in MN, and we have weird donuts, too! Main Street and the Debt Threat

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-31051401132304936622011-07-28T16:30:00.000-04:002011-07-28T16:30:28.896-04:00

I have a lull while the harvest is cooking up in the kitchen, so here's the past few days' worth of photos, there's a lot!  Hubby's younger sister "L" and brother in law "M" arrived Saturday evening and stayed until last night, and it was so nice spending time with them, we don't get to see each other often enough with all parties having loaded work schedules and each of us living on opposite

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-13120803481051243272011-07-28T10:02:00.000-04:002011-07-28T10:02:34.625-04:00

Or to be exact, 4 days off? Don't get me wrong, this is a dumb thing to complain about, but when we're on the 2nd consecutive week of 1-teens heat indexes, 45 minutes in the garden catching up on the harvest is too long for comfort!  yes, that is a pumpkin... in July? My mini-break is over.  I wanted to post about our time off with family, but the harvest has other plans for me today so I hope

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-55060955372827117092011-07-23T16:56:00.002-04:002011-07-23T16:56:57.963-04:00

What's next???!

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-52576383336121225322011-07-22T20:36:00.001-04:002011-07-22T20:44:29.684-04:00

Tomorrow.  Where the heck are they going to sleep?  I guess this could qualify as another in my "Living Small" series, where do you put an extra bed in a 900 sq ft place with only 2 bedrooms?  If you haven't gathered this by now, I love a good space challenge, I live for this stuff! Go, go, gadget...bed!   We are the new owners of what I call the "Gadget Bed"!  This is a queen size airbed by

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-51073035369250875992011-07-22T08:42:00.000-04:002011-07-22T08:42:09.518-04:00

I made it outside for exactly 17 minutes this morning before humidity and heat chased me in.  The heat index was already in the 90's at 6:30 am, ugh. Today's harvest was a little different looking.  I had the "winter tomatoes" I'll show you below, and also decided to pick a lucky few zinnias to spend their final days in the relative comfort of an 80º house!   They should cheer me up on another

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-12714216028011933672011-07-21T18:52:00.000-04:002011-07-21T18:52:50.560-04:00

It's just stupid-hot, and this weekend will be even worse, we won't even guess at the heat index, but the dewpoint is at 80.  I feel like dementia is setting in. The weather is hot enough that this post from last year is just as valid today!  I'm always looking for a good ol' redneck way to stay cool.  Thinking of sitting in a plastic kiddie pool today in the driveway with an ice cold bottle of

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-7716942142899780892011-07-20T19:01:00.000-04:002011-07-20T19:01:47.914-04:00

Yeah, right! Yesterday morning started off hot, and not just the weather! Before you say it - I only planted THREE jalapeno plants this year, honest!  Thank you all for reminding me not to go overboard yet again :) First I finished up the last of the big tomato days with a batch of stewed tomatoes.  This will be the end of the tomato canning for awhile, as it is too hot now for the plants to

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-78385969421516981072011-07-18T13:10:00.001-04:002011-07-18T13:12:26.665-04:00

For having as many problems with blight and heat as I have this year, I really can't complain about the tomato harvest, can I?  I can't explain it other than I did start with about 30 plants, double what I normally grow.  I have been getting a big harvest every 3 days but now that temps are consistently in the high 90's, the fruit is not setting well, so I think this will be the last harvest this

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-6556079066787747002011-07-17T16:02:00.000-04:002011-07-17T16:02:37.820-04:00

Well, that didn't last long!  We picked up the kids today, they are completely exhausted, and Finnegan is having a "meltdown" kind of day, he will definitely be having an early bedtime tonight! I'm thinking I would like this in my backyard!  I take these same photos below every year, someday I hope it will be a neat growth chart!  Too bad Finnegan had no smiles today, he was pretty

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-82197032071239247112011-07-16T14:09:00.000-04:002011-07-16T14:09:37.767-04:00

Imagine a place where you could get fuel, grab some peanuts, pawn some tools and get Saved all at the same time...  (wish I was being facetious but there actually are places like that here!) When you think of Virginia, what comes to mind?  I thought that since I had to leave the metro area yesterday to take the kids to camp, I'd take you along!  The things you probably thought of as cliche' are

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-13580886585981422612011-07-15T12:41:00.000-04:002011-07-15T12:41:45.402-04:00

Several reasons I am having such a great Friday... Yesterday and today highs were only 80º!  Although I didn't even go into the back yard garden at all yesterday, I did get after the neglected front yard beds, and it feels so good to have them presentable again.  The photos are of two beds, but the two beds are mirror images of each other so you get the gist of how cleaning it up made a

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-72390569502637049822011-07-13T18:36:00.001-04:002011-07-13T18:36:00.360-04:00

Aside from eating plain, I can't imagine a better application for the Brandywine tomato. I'm not even sure why I added the veggie burger in there! Yum!

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-73157012969365046872011-07-12T15:13:00.000-04:002011-07-12T15:13:32.574-04:00

Whatever happens, happens out there.  Woke up to temps in the 90's already, we won't say what it is right now :) Yesterday we went to the beach- That's hubby swimming, he takes it pretty serious out there with his fins and distance. Here it looks like he decided to keep playing in the sand after the kids abandoned him. You know you are at a military beach when you can wave to the Special

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-3811614074091485622011-07-11T10:45:00.000-04:002011-07-11T10:45:56.335-04:00

Gardening here has officially turned into "foraging"!  Due to daily temps in the upper 90's and weeks of daily rain, the garden is a complete nightmare.  Although we have sand for soil here so drainage is normally not a problem, our high water table at about 6-12 feet has now been saturated so the ground is a kind of squishy yuck.  The mosquitoes have taken on B-horror movie status and everything

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-52813241197210746122011-07-08T20:30:00.000-04:002011-07-08T20:30:48.657-04:00

That pretty much sums up my day. I started the day with saucing 27 lbs of tomatoes.  They have been collecting on the counter for 2-3 days, and were in danger of rolling off to the floor soon.  Hard to believe that just a week ago I was anxiously awaiting my 2011 harvest total to break the 50 lb mark, and as of today I'm over 98 lbs!  Sure, I had lots of lettuce and peas, but the pounds don't

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-31135371546734184812011-07-07T19:25:00.002-04:002011-07-07T19:30:37.180-04:00

Well, I ended up spending just shy of $200 just for meeting a new friend, I guess.  The well pump guy arrived this afternoon and of course "couldn't replicate the problem".  Oh yes, the pump fired right up for him when he plugged it in.  Of course, I'm not complaining about not spending money I didn't have anyways, but I know something's wrong with it!  Apparently the several times over the last

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-62390131555045485412011-07-07T08:10:00.000-04:002011-07-07T08:10:34.337-04:00

I woke up this morning to NO WATER!  That is one thing that will send me over the edge.  Hubby looked at the well pump and he thinks the motor is toast, so it looks like we'll be out until the pump guy can come later today, and hopefully he'll have what he needs to get us up and running again.  This happening in the country with a hand pump I'd be able to deal with, but these suburban shallow

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-37631661129892872942011-07-06T11:13:00.001-04:002011-07-06T11:15:15.090-04:00

With daily downpours, thunderstorms and high winds taking their toll on the tomatoes, I'm wasting no time in putting up all I can while I can, I have no idea how long they will keep going out there, but I fear I won't be canning "excess" tomatoes in September like usual.  The cucumbers were staggered plantings, so I'm only getting a handful at a time, perfect for refrigerator pickles.  

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-40614697454376690482011-07-05T12:31:00.000-04:002011-07-05T12:31:53.105-04:00

We were lucky enough to have hubby join us after all!  He was off the afternoon, so we went to the pool, as the car was reading 101º, yuck! I scored a table with an umbrella and had some great reading material with me - Not to be outdone by Loch's "deep end" pool video, Finnegan insisted that I also film him on his first venture into the deep end.  After getting the okay from the lifeguard, off

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-41965645737955149292011-07-04T11:17:00.000-04:002011-07-04T11:17:24.979-04:00

Or is it Valentine's Day? Blanched Hearts! The fight continues this morning... Above, the Brandywines.  Below, blight has hit the Hillbilly tomatoes hard.  They are looking scraggly due to all the pruning of affected branches.  Any bets on how long they can hold out?  It's 100º so I don't think it will be much longer :( Speaking of Independence Day... This morning the one of the two baby

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-69701731174369652462011-07-03T18:42:00.000-04:002011-07-03T18:42:10.134-04:00

We are blessed with an abundance of bees in our yard, every year I look forward first to the Mason bees, then the bumbles with a sprinkling of honeybees.  Luckily this year we have more honeybees than we've ever had, I only hope that continues.  We also have "Monster Bees", as seen below on the sunflower.  Yes, they are as big as they look LOL, about half the size of my thumb, hence the kids'

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-51046698356383038412011-07-01T09:28:00.000-04:002011-07-01T09:28:18.424-04:00

I know, I know... it's a little early in the morning to be subjected to this... Ribbit, can I join your club?

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-14413649477341925712011-06-30T14:58:00.000-04:002011-06-30T14:58:31.665-04:00

This is a pest I haven't seen in my garden before, but I think they are here to stay now. The Mizuna was covered in them.  I didn't see them anywhere else, but as I pulled all the old MIzuna they were running for their lives!  I threw it all in a bucket and soaked them good with some Neem spray before tossing it all in the trash.  I won't compost it since it's probably covered with eggs, too.  

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-84916601113828752462011-06-29T16:43:00.000-04:002011-06-29T16:43:56.491-04:00

Kelly, avert your eyes! Yes, those are all bush bean plants that had just started producing well that I just pulled out of the bed!  Contender, Yellow Wax & Dragon's Tongue. Why?  Because I took the intensive planting methods a bit far this year I think.  I had them stuffed into the pepper bed and my peppers weren't getting any light.  No time to raise more peppers but I still have plenty of

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-33651082699161703622011-06-29T06:30:00.000-04:002011-06-29T06:30:03.247-04:00

The Unemployment Line...

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-69324799496206103062011-06-28T15:45:00.000-04:002011-06-28T15:45:40.287-04:00

It feels like Groundhog Day here...  every day starts the same, with hacking away at my tomato plants in the hot and humid morning.  Being the lazy blogger I feel like today, I just videotaped it instead of writing about it! Heat index was already in the 90's doing chores this morning, steamy and mosquitoes are out in full force.  We have been having nightly thunderstorms the past several

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-86593146993646505742011-06-27T19:27:00.000-04:002011-06-27T19:27:00.371-04:00

Today was the day to test drive the new All-American pressure canner!  Ridiculous what excites some of us, isn't it? Salsa Time! Don't ever ask me for a recipe for salsa, since I don't use one, it just depends on what I have!  This brings me to one of the best reasons to pressure can - you can use those "homemade style" recipes since pressure canning will ensure the salsa is safe.  With steam

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-38214076645983268392011-06-27T16:24:00.001-04:002011-06-28T21:30:17.973-04:00

The summer harvest is officially underway here in our garden.  The blight continues to pop up in places but at least the tomatoes look like they will be able to produce as long as I can keep spraying and keeping it at bay.  It's difficult however, because I spray, then we have a thunderstorm splashing the spores up and high winds blowing the plants about.  I hesitate to mulch the beds since I

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-50561005994916694082011-06-26T17:06:00.000-04:002011-06-26T17:06:18.088-04:00

All work and no play makes mommy boring!  I had a great weekend just "being".  I was reminded of what an awesome hubby and kids I have, that's kind of sad that I have to be reminded, I need to do more of this stuff! Friday's bike ride at our local state park... it was in the mid-90's but the whole trail was heavily shaded, which made it quite nice. all 3 of my boys :) I'm so proud of

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855162440022875977.post-77388147505482452392011-06-24T14:39:00.000-04:002011-06-24T14:39:28.353-04:00

Probably the only word I could think of last night that best described our sunset.  It was absolutely breathtaking. I noticed as I was putting the kids to bed that there was an eerie glow outside their blinds, and went out to investigate.  The color in the yard blew me away.  The photos can't possibly replicate it, but all the pinks and purples of blooms seemed almost florescent, and my skin

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com14