Saturday, June 25, 2016

WE NEED RAIN and LOTS OF IT

 It has been so dry here.
We rent out a portion of our land to a local farmer and
Danny has had to replant one field due to conditions.
I am equally nervous about our little garden.

 Every day I see more and more leaves shriveling.


I try to water when I can
but it doesn't seem to make much difference.


I thought I might have lost my pot of Basil
but after babying it and watering
I think it is saved.

 I honestly don't know why I'm worried,
I can't seem to keep up with what is producing.
How much squash can a family of three eat?


 It's my nature...a worry wart
that's what my Dad calls me.


Anyway fussing with it is
part of the fun...
am I right?

After I wrote this post
guess what
IT RAINED!

Friday, June 24, 2016

BACKYARD BIRDING

Our backyard is alive with birds.
Watching them and naming them is one of our
favorite past times.

We have a great variety of color.
Goldfinch
Cardinals
Bluebirds



Barn Swallows are a new bird for me,
here we watch them soar overhead daily.
Blue jays and robins are always in the mix.


The darling starling
(my father hates)
Martins
(his favorite)
House Finch
(there everywhere, there everywhere)
And an occasional hummingbird.


Lots of sweet Mourning Doves show up at
the bottom of our feeder
and we often see the Turkey Buzzard gliding
overhead.

The Towhee
is a bird I was not familiar with.
I had to identify him using my trusty
The Cornell Lab app
Merlin.
I love it!
You type in:
when you saw it
where you saw it
the size
what it was doing
colors
To my knowledge it hasn't been wrong once.


A couple days ago I added this guy to my
list of siting.
Great Crested Flycatcher

All bird pictures were pulled off Bing Search


Thursday, June 23, 2016

THE BAKING CHALLENGE

Zucchini Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting.
When I saw this cake on Pinterest
I knew I had to make it.

Our little garden is already producing
zucchini and yellow squash
in leaps and bounds.


Cooking and baking has its challenges
here at the folks.
The oven I have to work with is a bit dated.
Uneven heating and a faulty thermostat are only the
beginning of my woes.

Most of the time I rely on our trusty toaster oven.
It usually gets the job done.

Today I had three layers to make
so I had to be creative.
I played musical ovens,
rotating from one to another.

We haven't cut into it yet
but I am chomping at the bit.

Yum Yum!

Since this post was written
my sister Susan, my brother Rick
and my sister-in-law Pat,
have all made this cake.
The official Davidson Cake now.
Definitely a keeper.
See my sister's post here.

Monday, June 13, 2016

A QUIET BIRTHDAY

 Yesterday was Mom's 87th. birthday.


She had a good day and was completely
oblivious to the tragic events
in the news.
I was very envious of her because I was
out of sorts and anxious all day.



I tried out a new recipe from a cookbook
my brother Rick sent me.
I found it very tasty, but not so sure about the folks.



Throughout the day I kept reminding Mom
that the day was her birthday,
and every time it was a surprise to her.
Her response each time.
"Just another day".

When I put her to bed I asked her if she had a good day.
"I had a great day", was her response.
She slept like she always does...
like a baby,
me, not so much.



Thursday, June 9, 2016

BEFORE AND AFTER

 It's amazing what a little color can do.


 A little softening around the back door.


 Wintered these geraniums in our basement,
they are coming along nicely.


Outdoor furniture redo.


Our two side fields
cut, raked and bailed.


The backyard garden has undergone quite a
transition...with more to come.



Thursday, June 2, 2016

AND THE RAIN CAME DOWN

Last night we got some well needed rain.
Peeking in my window last night
you would have seen this girl doing
"the happy dance".


 Our garden was so thirsty, but I believe last night's
rain will keep us strong.



We've been watering, but it just isn't the same is it?



The tomatoes are coming along nicely
considering how dry it's been.
We only have one that is stunted, but it may make
a come back.  Dad said you shouldn't water tomatoes too much,
who knew.


 Beans are starting to climb their poles.


 It actually looks like a garden now.


Sis brought some blue bottles up that we
weren't using at Buttermilk Cottage.
Even my Dad said he liked the pop of blue.