Small but luscious

These are nifty little tomato family ground cherries - they do taste an awful lot like a cherry when ripe - the more ripe they are, the sweeter they are. I love tearing open the little lantern package to get to the fruit....until I have to open more than 4 or 5. How in the world am I going to make jam out of these????

july 25 jog

I didn't want to go, but I did! I'm SO glad now. A total of 19 minutes, with a couple wicked hills. I did go easily at first, then around halfway the difficulties kicked in - also going back up all the hills! I wanted to stop for a walking break again about halfway home but didn't - and finally got a little quickie runner's high - oh yeah, baby! Chills and everything! It was only a couple of minutes but man was it worth it - it almost got me all the way back up the BIG hill. Exquisite.

July 24 - fourth day jog?

I was really stiff and sore this morning, even tho we went on a bike ride yesterday around noon, to pick up some hamburger buns for dinner. So, instead of jogging outside in the nice, cool, air, I decided to stay in and stretch with some weights for a while and then do 21 minutes on the elliptical, and boy was I feeling that 80 degree thermostat setting! Good cardio and I do feel all warmed up and stretchy now. My breathing is getting better!

July 23 - third day jog

Whew! Okay, time was 14 minutes total - 7 minutes in, 7 minutes back. Again, it took less time to return so I was reduced to running in a circle in the driveway while I waited for the next minute on the clock. I guess tomorrow I will have to run out a minute or two longer, so I can run right up the porch, to the door and in when I'm done. I had a few episodes of serious enjoyment this time - when your body is moving but nothing hurts and even your breath is fairly quiet, and it's as if someone else is doing the work and you're just along for the ride. This was only when going downhill, though...I guess that's to be expected. I did really haul it up one section of hill because there was no shoulder so I wanted to get off the road as soon as possible - it made me feel good I could do it without choking up a lung. Exuberant!

July 22 - jogging second day

I made sure to time it today, so I can increase my time each day. Total running (running? who am I trying to kid? a tortoise could outrun me right now) time was 12 minutes. I just went straight down my road - I've never even biked down this section - only been on it in a car. I actually got further than I thought I would, luckily for me my halfway time (6 minutes) was up right at the top of this hill - so I got to turn around and coast all the way back! Now that I did enjoy, and my breath didn't burn so much this day. Unfortunately, it was faster going back downhill, so I got back to the house with a minute or two to spare, so I had to keep going back up the NEXT hill, then turn around and finally go inside, elated.

July 21 - First day of jogging regimen

I forgot to look at a clock when I ran out the door, so I guess maybe I was out for 10 minutes? That might be a really high estimate, though...It was hell! My lungs burned with every heaving breath, my thighs felt like they were on fire. I couldn't hear the birds for the raspy bellow I forced out at each step. I kept thinking it would get better shortly, but I don't think it did except when I glided down a particularly steep hill. That one section was actually fun for a few seconds! I did drop to a walk for a minute or two to catch my breath about halfway through, but I'm not going to count that. Those'll just be part of the package.

GRRRRR....

It LOOKS like poison ivy...and I'm scratching like mad (or, trying not to)

POISON IVY NEMESIS?

IS IT OR ISN'T IT?

The canning challeng met!

I will have to wait 2 weeks to try the pickled green beans, to let the flavors meld. If they're good, I hope to make a lot more...we love them here and my sisters do, too. The recipe for the cucumber pickles suggested waiting 6 weeks (6 weeks???) for full flavor appreciation...I just might have to dive into a jar before that....besides, I need to know if they are good enough to make again, right?

JUNE 30, 2009 HARVEST

a little here, a little there...

On the top, my ugly but free, homemade tall potato planter. They are getting bigger, and I hope feed us for a while after harvest! To the right of the potato planter is a green pepper plant...also doing well, but as I don't particularly like them, I didn't waste the film. It's bad enough I'm going to have to eat it. HA!

The cucumbers are LOVING this weather, even in partial shade. I guess this is a good spot for them...Note to self: Remember this for next year.

The return of the dog!

Since she came back after her wild and stormy adventures, I took advantage to get more and better pix of Sadie.

Hmm, still more work to do I guess. At least she was safe in the house during this storm, though you wouldn't know it to hear her. And she drooled all over my foot pedal. Foolish girl!

I guess I'll actually give this post a name...

Do these artichokes look ANY bigger than last time???

Some pictures of lovely fruit and veggies, ripening in the warmth and sun!

I had no idea chickens were so neat! (uh, in the cool sense, not the clean sense)

In the top picture it looks like Thorn has some sharp words to give Cheeks...Thorn is the biggest of all the chickens, now...but not the head o' the bunch. At least she can hold her own...since she gets preferential treatment from me, the bringer of the food...I wonder sometimes if the rest of the hens are jealous of her special status. Or do they think she's just crazy?

i is not a college graduate...just a piece of paper, anyway

Potato harvest from the back garden - just 1 section of 2. Yummy! and I think I have again been misspelling "potato" (sorry, Bill, I keep trying to remember) We all have those mental blocks...I just have VERY heavy ones...

Growing Challenge update! (along with all the other posts)

These are June 26 blue ribbon green beans (climbing) - thanks, Mary C.! in the front are various types of bush beans.

Next are my favs, the purple podded beans...but they aren't as prolific as they were last year. Maybe they just need some time, I hope!

On the top are the potatoes growing in tires...I only saw a few blooms, but I am certain they should do fairly well. The harvest from the back garden (mostly shade, remember) was okay, and very tasty. These ought to produce quite a bit more, if I'm lucky.

second story view of the back garden

Finally, a picture of the whole back garden. This is quite old, though, as I have since harvested the garlic (right front), first potatoes (just behind that), and most of the brassicas (white cover). I only got about 4 servings of broccoli, and I had to pull up the cauliflower before it even blossomed. The cabbage looked to be doing well later, but then the green caterpillers found it...now, I'm afraid, it is destined to be compost. The chickens don't care for the cabbage...hmph.