MY GARDEN IS STARTING FOR THE SEASON

 ITS FINALLY SPRING ENOUGH TO START GROWING IN MY GARDEN BED.  I ADDED SOME GOOD SOIL FOR THIS YEAR AND STAYED AWAY FROM THE BLACK KOW COMPOST.  I WAS VERY DISSATISFIED WITH IT LAST YEAR.  THERE WERE SO MANY CLUMPS IN IT I HAD A DIFFICULT TIME BREAKING UP THE CLODS.  

THIS YEAR I ORDERED MY PLANTS ONLINE FROM HOME DEPOT.  THEY ARRIVED SAFELY WRAPPED IN PLASTIC CLAMSHELLS FOR SAFETY.  THOUGH THEY ARE SMALLER THAN IF I BOUGHT THEM MYSELF AT THE STORES, I AM NOT ABLE TO GET OUT SO THESE I AM SURE WILL WORK FINE FOR ME.

I ORDERED 6 TOMATO PLANTS, 2 SWEET PEPPER PLANTS, 2 THYME AND 2 ITALIAN FLAT-LEAF PARSLEY.  THEY SENT ME 2 EXTRA PARSLEY PLANTS, PROBABLY TO FILL THE SPACE IN THE CARTON.  I WILL SHARE THOSE WITH MY DAUGHTER.

WITH FROST WARNINGS, I COVERED UP THE RADISH ROW I SOWED ON APRIL 28TH.  I LAID A TOWEL OVER THE ROW AND THEY CAME THRU JUST FINE.

AN ONION CHIVE PLANT OVERWINTERED IN THE CORNER.

I DID NOT WANT TO PUT OUT MY PLANTS TOO EARLY WITH POSSIBLE FROST ARRIVING.  IN MY AREA, WE USUALLY WAIT TO TRANSPLANT TOMATOES AFTER MEMORIAL DAY.  THIS SPRING, WE GOT EARLY WARM WEATHER.  

MY PLANTS NEEDED SOME TIME TO HARDEN OFF ANYWAY, SO I TAKE THEM OUT A FEW HOURS EACH DAY.  THE WORST BIT IS THE WIND.  ITS BEEN SO DARN WINDY THE PLANTS PRACTICALLY SNAP IN HALF.  

TO PREVENT DAMAGE, I PUT UP A SHEET BORDER TO HELP KEEP THE PLANTS UPRIGHT.  IT WORKS.

MY RADISH ROW, CONSISTING OF CHERRY BELLE, SPARKLER WHITE TIPS AND FRENCH BREAKFAST, ARE DOING WELL.  I STARTED MORE IN ANOTHER AREA NOW THAT THESE ARE COMING ALONG SO WELL.

ALSO, WHEN I WENT TO RE-SOW MY CARROT ROW, I SAW SOME GREEN TIPS THRU THE NEW SOIL I HAD SPREAD ON TOP. YOU CAN JUST SEE THEM ALONG THE SHORT-SIDE OF THE BED ON THE UPPER RIGHT.  NO NEED TO RE-SOW AFTER ALL.

I ALSO SOWED SOME LETTUCE SEEDS IN MY PLOT.

OUR LILACS ARE BEGINNING TO BLOOM AS WELL.  WE HAVE 2 IN OUR PATIO GARDEN AREA AND THEY ARE GIVING OFF SUCH LOVELY AROMAS.  ITS A PLEASURE JUST TO SIT ON THE PATIO AND ENJOY.

I PLAN TO TRANSPLANT MY TOMATOES IN ANOTHER WEEK ALONG WITH THE THYME AND PARSLEY STILL TO TRANSPLANT.  I WILL HOLD OFF ON THE PEPPERS TIL EVENINGS REACH THE 60S IN TEMPERATURE.  THEY LIKE IT WARMER.

ENJOY YOUR SPRING.

My 2023 Veggie Garden Ideas

Its that time again.  Gardening is in my future.  I have a raised 4' by 8' garden bed which is calling me.

Today I ordered garden soil mix and veggie and herb plants.  I was nicely surprised that our local Home Depot delivers.  I was wondering with whom I could make plans for chauffeuring me to get plants.  Now that concern is behind me.

The soil mix is expected today but the plants themselves not until the 12th.  That's just fine since these plants are usually transplanted outdoors no earlier than Memorial Day.  Its been a very warm spring so far here is southwestern Maine without any frosts for days.  I think I may be able to transplant my tomatoes and some others before then.  As long as I watch out for any sneaky frosts and being prepared with covers for said plants.

This is my plot.  I have been weeding it out but at this point I could not get all the mess cleared.  In the darker wet areas along side of the bed I sowed some radishes and lettuce.  I also sowed some Little Finger carrot seed along the top edge which is out of the frame.

Today I cleared out all the rest of the weeds and sowed some red Alkindus lettuce seeds along the bottom edge.

I was amazed that my onion chives survived the winter in their upper right-hand corner out of the frame.

I will try to get better pix this week after all the rain we have scheduled this week.

I am hoping for an abundance of tomatoes, peppers, cukes, parsley, and thyme along with the tucked-in crops of radishes, lettuce, and carrots along the outside edges of the bed.

I hope you have a nice day.

Annie's Song by John Denver

 I just wanted to keep this song in a handy place.  Its one of my favorites......

It was written for his wife at the time.  So beautiful.

Enjoy.

I am sewing again.

Where has time flown.  I have been pretty much hibernating thru the end of the winter.  Though our winter was not bad at all this year, with little snow and few storms, its still a long wait between fall and spring.

We have some blooming in our patio garden.

We have our first daffodils.

There are a few clumps throughout the garden including around the birch trees.

I also see the green wisps of tulips coming thru the soil so we should have some soon.

As for my own garden plot, its dormant for now. Plans are in the works for tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, Italian parsley, and thyme, plus radishes, carrots and a few lettuces.  The last three crops will be interplanted wherever there is room and shade for them to grow to until end of spring and early summer.

I have also threaded my sewing machine.  Last year I was working on my 'Pink Iris Garden' wallhanging and set it aside.  Two days ago I pulled it out and started sewing again.  I am into the satin-stitching at this point.

As you can probably tell, I love birch trees.

There will be butterflies, a fairy, and a dragon fly for sure.  My ideas are flowing.

Its wonderful what sunshine and spring can do for a person.

Have a wonderful day.

No Much Happening

 Just checking in to let you know I am still around but not doing very much.  I cook every week but all the same things so nothing to report to you.

I await spring so I can get back into my garden bed.  My plan is already drawn but like most things, may change.

I am thinking of some spring ideas for getting back into my wall hangings.  Easter is upon us and things with lambs, ducklings, eggs and the like can be lovely with the right design.

Stay well till I get back to you again.

OLD-FASHIONED HERSHEY'S COCOA FUDGE

 ITS THE BEST OF FUDGES.  WHEN I SAW THIS RECIPE DONE ON YOUTUBE, I HAD TO POST IT FOR ALL MY FRIENDS.  ITS THE ONE I MAKE EVERY CHRISTMAS, THE ONE THAT MY FAMILY LOVES AND ALWAYS WANTS TO ENJOY.

IF YOUR FAMILY WANTS THE KIND OF FUDGE GRANDMA USED TO MAKE, THIS IS IT.

INGREDIENTS:

3 Cups Granulated Sugar

2/3 Cup Hershey's Cocoa (in the dark brown can)

1/8 teaspoon Salt

1 1/2 Cups Evaporated Milk

4 oz. Unsweetened Butter (1/4 Cup)

1 teaspoon Vanilla

Nuts as desired.  

I HAVE TO ADMIT TO NOT USING A CANDY THERMOMENTER, PREFERRING TO TEST FOR THE SOFT-BALL STAGE IN A BIT OF COLD WATER.  

I AGREE ALSO, THAT DOUBLING THE RECIPE DOES NOT WORK.  I TRIED IT AND IT NEVER WORKED FOR ME.

IF YOU WANT A TERRIFIC TASTE OF OLD, TRY THIS FUDGE SOMETIME.  IT MAY END UP BEING YOUR FAMILY'S FAVORITE, LIKE MINE.

ENJOY!

NO-KNEAD EASY ARTISAN BREAD IN DUTCH OVEN

I wanted to post this video here so I can make this bread in the winter months.  Placing it here makes it handy.

You need an oven-safe Dutch oven with a lid, plus parchment paper in a 450* oven.

The ingredients are simply:

3 Cups All-Purpose Flour

1/4 teaspoon Yeast

1 teaspoon Table Salt

1 1/2 to 1 3/4 Cups Hot Tap Water

The video is from Living Traditions which is a homestead family with great ideas on cooking and growing your own foods, from vegetables and fruits to eggs and meat on the table.

You can find them on YouTube under Living Traditions Homestead.  They are worth following with their many good ideas and lifestyle.

Enjoy.