I couldn't stand it any longer, I went out and took it! It's a bouncing 12.5 lb Baby Bush Watermelon! So here's the funny thing: as I was poking at the vines, the little one fell off. Had a brown tendril like it's supposed to and fell off the vine. The BIG one is the first melon that developed and still had no brown tendrils and was still firmly attached, I had to cut it off. What gives? I cut the small one open and it appears to be ripe, although it doesn't have much in it since it's so small! We'll cut the larger open tomorrow and I will report back on the taste.
Finn begged me to make pickles, so I had just enough for 2 jars of refrigerator dills. He was pretty upset when I told him it would be about a week before they would taste "pickly", so I offered him a slice of fresh cucumber but he wouldn't try it.
It's warm today, about 93º (notice how that's not "hot" anymore LOL?), so I spent most of the day reorganizing the canning closet and taking stock of what I need. I definitely need to replace my old canning rack before a disaster happens! Also got my seedling trays and seed starting mix out, seeds should be here Friday.
bad dog
On a down note, Sprocket the Outback Jack killed one of the juvenile doves a few minutes ago. Mama Dove is pacing with her wings out on the deck railing and just breaking my heart. I will never get used to the Jack Russell in her, give me Border Collie neuroticism any day over this. To her credit, Marley was barking and trying to alert me to the chaos in the yard but I ignored her. At least Sprocket didn't tear it up, she carried it up to me completely intact, damn dog. She's still my lovebug, but I am again reminded of the nature of dogs!
In a few minutes I am headed out to wage war against Squash Bugs and Leaf Footed Bugs who are drilling holes in my tomatoes, someone's going to get hurt, and it won't be me.... I have scissors & soap and Neem if necessary. I plan to cut them in half, they're easy to get when they are mating and being all gross and squash-buggly - what a way to go, huh?
Then I plan to be civilized and enjoy a glass of wine and knit, maybe read a book... us gardeners are a deranged bunch, aren't we?
:) Funny, Erin! Yes, we are a bit deranged, I think! We have a border collie/lab named Katie. We love her to bits! Neurotic, to be sure, but tender and adorable! I think I'll post about her sometime soon! It wouild be fun to share her with you all.
ReplyDeleteShe's a predator at heart. Poor thing. She can't help herself.
ReplyDeletePoor birdie, however.
What a way to go?? Well, ya. I guess. Or maybe not. (Let me think about that.) At least their mating won't result in more bugs. (Should we seek counseling for you?)
ReplyDeleteErin, you always chirk me up, no matter what kind of mood I'm in. Keep writing in your own inimitable way!
RIP, baby bird. It hurts when those we love aren't perfect. Take out your frustrations on those damned bugs!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure she didn't mean it.
ReplyDeleteYay on your watermelon! I can't wait to see how the big one looks inside!
Also, do you have a good refrigerator pickle recipe? I'm dying to make some!
Wow, there is a lot of rind on that baby watermelon. hahaha, how did it taste? Those pickles look great. I've been giving away my cucumbers everyday, and the husband was like, quit giving away the cukes, or we can't have any more pickles! They are a hit in my house.
ReplyDeleteDid your parents teach you about canning and gardening? Or did you pick it up as an adult? Just curious. You have such a great knack for it all.
ReplyDeleteAwe, that is too bad about the bird. One of my labs is a hunter- or maybe I should say a stalker?? If he gets ahold of any small creature it is a goner. I feel for Mama Dove. :(
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the taste-test results!!
Thomas, I had a couple of requests for the pickle recipe here and on my Facebook so I'll do a post on it today!
ReplyDeletemeemsnyc, you know you're a true gardener when you grow way too much crap and force it on strangers LOL
Dani, I don't remember being "taught" about canning or gardening, but my grandma always "put up" things when I was little, and my mom had a VERY LARGE garden (it was to me when I was 4 feet tall LOL) and I remember watching her put things away for winter. I grew up in the country in MN so it was kind of a way of life taken for granted I think. Lots of people stored things for the long winter, so it was never odd to see canned goods in people's cabinets. We also had Home Ec in school there, which sadly I hear is a thing of the past. The nitty gritty of it like sanitizing and knowing what type of processing each veg needs I had to learn myself. I think part of the reason I am so into it now is because I feel like I need to preserve part of the way I grew up, no pun intended - since I can't live in the country right now!
Erin, your post sounds perfectly reasonable to me. I hope that big melon is tasty! Poor birdie, and poor bird mama. Dogs just do what they do, you know. . . good luck on the killing rounds. I should go hunt cucumber beetles this morning.
ReplyDelete