Friday, March 25, 2011

Memory Gardening


Some unkown person once said," If I had a flower for each time I thought of my Mother, I could walk in my garden forever."

 Maybe getting older has made me more sentimental, but every time I walk around my garden, I find myself stopping and smiling in front of a flower and in my mind, a memory of a love one comes to me.

  Aunt Violet always loved the way I tried to color coordinate my flowers, Aunt Roxie always thought my four o'clocks were amazing for having been moved from a garden in Ormond Beach and transplanted here.  Mother always loved tulips and felt like Roses were the flower that must have been planted just for her. My dear Aunt Velma felt like lilies were the flower everyone should plant.

If I could have a memory garden to befit these wonderful, loving women that I had in my life, I would be able to write my readers a blog everyday because the tour of this garden would take forever.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Fuscia Flower

I love this plant!

Monday, March 14, 2011

Master Gardeners Event

Today the Master Gardener's had their annual event and I was lucky enough to get to go. Thousands of people attend this event and there is a wealth of knowledge for anyone interested in gardening.  From antiques to bulbs, there is something for everyone.  Thank God, I had already planted vegetables and flowers or I would be totally broke.

A lot of new ideas for me to pass onto you.  I was pleasantly surprised to see some of the things I have being for sale. I may have to have a booth next year.  A planter that my son built for me was going for a fortune today.He may have to start building them for me to sell. I an including a picture. Wonderful concept and great conversation piece.

Thanks for the great tips of how to replant my blooming onions.  If anyone has one of these, they multiply rapidly and have to have enough room for the spreading.

Pictures of my blooming plants will come soon.  Boring you is not part of my  plan, but I'm just so proud of what I've been able to accomplish.  The planting is easy, the learning to walk again after so much bending over is the hard part.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Chicken and Dumplings have arrived!

Finally, the recipe for Chicken And Dumplings that my sister had promised I could share has come to be a reality. 
 Many of my friends on here are vegetarians and I promise to include some great recipes for you.For the ones that love chicken, this is a dish that is the best thing in the the world.  Thick and hardy, I cheat with this dish every time I can get my sister to make it.  After a few days of her cooking, I go back to my Daily Diet .
  
 Several new recipes have been added to my recipe  section. I am in the process of putting together a complete list of things to add to my Home Remedy section.  Several of you have contacted me with some of the remedies that you use and I will incorporate them onto my page.
  
Thank you so much for your feedback  and suggestions.  Soon, your suggestions will start appearing. Also, thank you for pointing out the correct way to spell gladiolus. That's why I love doing this site. I'm learning everyday.
  

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Finally, a garden!

Today was one of those days when all is right with the world.  My organic garden is now looking like I had envisioned when I set out on this quest.  Simple little things like emptying used tea grounds into a jar, keeping egg shells, not throwing  out coffee grinds. Putting all my collections in a cardboard box that I had lined with aluminum foil and baking it in  the sun gave me all the organic matter I needed .

Doing this made sure my soil was ready to keep my plants healthy and hardy. In the bottom of the box, I had placed sawdust, raked leaves and grass clippings.

I used some old railroad ties to line the garden and on the ground put some eave pieces my son had left over from a remodeling job.  There were enough holes to keep good drainage and keep the insects out. I did cheat a little when I found out Lowe's had some organic soil on sale. I bought ten forty pound bags and together with my compost and 2 large bags of organic matter, my bottom of my bed was ready for plants.

My son laughed and said I had 40 acres planted in an 5x10 spot. Maybe so but I made sure every plant had room to grow.

In one corner, I put all the herbs and on the other corner, I planted the crooked neck squash. I have bell pepper plants and enough tomatoes to supply the neighborhood. It's just a small garden but just big enough to make my heart sing with absolute delight.

Around the garden, I put dog fence that my neighbor had left when he moved. Everyone has suggested hanging paper plates to keep the birds away but I'm taking my chance by not doing that.  I had some thin reed from an old tree that was trimmed so I am going to use that as my tomato stakes. My sister suggested using pantie hose to tie the tomato plant to them . Since she donated the pantie hose, I figured why not.

Pictures will be posted as my garden grows. I am so excited.  Let me know if you are planting a garden this year.  Hopefully soon we will be enjoying the fruits of our labor.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Don't expect to pick flowers, if you plant weeds

With only 1 day of rain,  I was concerned that my gladiolus would not make it but lo and behold, they have jumped through the soil and look like they are going to do fine.

Several people have requested some recipes for beets so please look under Delicious Delectables for a couple of ways to prepare .
Also added a great recipe for Spinach Salad with a yummy dressing.

What beautiful weather it has been in this area.  Walking should be an easy way to get some exercise.  The dog has been on her best behavior because she knows she will be strolling along with me.  I have seen more of my neighbors in the past few weeks than I have in years.  A smile, a wave and a certain feeling of peace seems to be in the air. 
A new fad of taking turns once a month cooking at different houses with each neighbor choosing the theme of the month and the other neighbors bringing complimentary side dishes to go with the host main dish is starting to become very popular.  I'm not on that fad at the moment but maybe in the future. So far a wave and a smile is the thing.

Don't forget to use your used coffee grounds and for those that charcoal, your ashes for your rose bushes. I am still putting things together for organic gardening.  It has taken forever to plant flowers and till soil. A blanket on the ground with a pillow to sit on and a chair right next to me has been my way lately.  I need the chair to be able to stand back up. I have to work on making my legs stronger.
I saw a sign that says, 'Don't expect to pick flowers if you plant weeds.' A good life lesson.

Another Beautiful Day

Another beautiful day and I will be out enjoying the light breeze in the sunny weather.  Rain is needed but the selfish side of me,that loves sunshine and beaches, is taking top lead.

A few of my readers have asked for  recipes for beets so I included a couple under my Delicious Delectables section.  Parsnips, carrots, yam and turnips are becoming the new mashed potatoes.  Just boil, skin, mash with a little butter, salt and pepper, *liquid of choice and you have a great side dish from root vegetables . *(water, milk or chicken stock to name a few.)

Also under the same heading is a great Spinach salad recipe with a dressing that is so good, you can use it as a dipping sauce for other recipes.

A new fad is neighborhood cooking parties or just cooking parties with select friends. A theme is set, the Host makes the main dish, the invited guest bring side dishes to compliment.  Or everyone gathers at the host house for the event and they cook together.  Book clubs, garden clubs and this could really turn out to be fun.  ‘The Nate show’ is becoming an influence in my afternoon schedule and he just had a cooking club as guests.

A reader gave me a tip to share. She says that in all the years she has been married; everyone raves about her HOME MADE biscuits and mashed potatoes. Her secret is  1 large Tablespoon of mayonnaise to a Bisquick mix and the same amount of mayonnaise to a mash potato mix. I had a good laugh about that. I may have to try it.

Remember to save your coffee grinds and grill ashes for your rose bushes as they need a lot of acidic soil. Another good thing are egg shells.

A great sign to think about applying to everyday life; ‘Don’t expect to gather flowers if you plant weeds.’    
   Mary Beth