This is just to let you folks know that everything isn’t always perfect in our six gardens, either. Yes, we do struggle with weeds. We try to keep ahead of them by cultivating and mulching. But there’s only the two of us, plus three of our friends who stop by once a week or so to help out. And the weeds never stop it seems. But we keep at it and hope to get them under control.
Our granddaughter, Ava, has been taking riding lessons for quite a while now and just a few days ago, her mom and dad bought her a new horse. He’s a 9-year-old bay Tennessee Walking Horse, raised by her instructor’s mother. Ava’s thrilled and keeps getting better and better as her lessons progress. We’re proud of her!
I got the last of this batch of rhubarb canned up this morning. I’m sure there was at least 40 pounds of it, all together. And the plants are still crowded with stalks! I made a rhubarb pie yesterday from the recipe in my Pantry Cookbook, which was my grandmother’s recipe. It’s different and very good; not sour or bland like some rhubarb or rhubarb-strawberry pies tend to be. Boy was it good!
The peppers in the hoop houses look nice, now that they’ve been weeded. Right now, we’re watering them as the rain doesn’t help them, inside, at all. The peppers in the garden look great right now (except for those dratted weeds!!). Guess what I’ll be doing this afternoon? — Jackie
I have to agree with you that the rain and hot weather has made our weed crop jump. I’d rather have the dill though…..
Weeds here, did not quite finish the one area. We got 1 1/2 inches of rain – .25 inch predicted but I’m not complaining.
Continues to be hot and humid. I pulled a 5 gallon bucket of weeds and called it good. Not feeling 100% so not going to push it. Also cleaned up a large branch that fell in the yard.
We got more rain too, but just above an inch, which we needed. I’ve got all the corn replanted and am trying to weed. My knees are not fans of bending or walking down a row, hoeing. Will is cultivating the rows with a tiller and I’m going to try to follow him and hand weed between the plants. I wish it would cool down a little though.
Sad to say where I need to weed does not have proper rows. Thus requiring squatting and bending.
Here in eastern Washington we had a coolish spring and it caused some garden crops to thrive and others to lag. I harvested so much dill that I had to give it away and freeze it too. But now it is warming up so much that the tomatoes are finally happy.
I have great memories of staying at my grandparents farm in the Willamette valley riding horses and being put to work. Grandma said I was a “practical pig” because I liked being efficient and worked hard. But that was only so I could get to run freely afterwards. Ava is a lucky girl to get to live her lifestyle!
Yes, she is! Not only does she ride but takes care of their two horses (soon to be three), including hauling out the poop. She even works at cleaning stalls at her instructor’s stable as her first job. (Hey, it was mine too! Poop never hurts anyone.)
What a beautiful horse! Ava will have a friend for life. That is such a great activity for kids, teaching hard work ethic and responsibility. I am a firm believer in kids having animals to care for. I feel your pain about the weeds. My garden is being over run and I am not up to weeding since Ive been ill. I may have my son in law till it up and replant several things for fall crops. Hopefully in another week or two I will be back on the job. The rhubarb looks delicious. It is one of my favorites because its not too sweet. Sending prayers for a blessed week.
I’m proud of my grandchildren. Not only does Ava work at home, taking care of the chickens and horses but has taken her first outside job at her instructor’s stable, cleaning stalls. Grandson, Mason, mows BIG lawns, volunteers at church with the IT stuff and helps Dad with mechanical tasks.
Sometimes re-tilling up the garden is the best option. I had to do that with our corn patches this year, due to our crazy weather killing the germinating seeds.
Happy 4th. Weeds I’m beginning to conquer until the next batch germinate. I’ll have to read up on canning rhubarb as I have a lot. Tomorrow the pea harvest for me. I have green tomatoes the size of plums. I can’t wait until they are red and juicy. There is nothing like a vine ripened tomato. I’ll dig some early red potatoes and have creamed peas and potatoes. We made 24 1/2 pints of strawberry jam. Banner year for strawberries. I’ve been bucked of a horse in the past-a bee stung the horse. They are fun to ride. Good riding for Ava.
Hope you had a happy 4th! I tried something new with our rhubarb this year. I cut it into pieces in a big roasting pan, covered it and put it in the oven until it was tender. While hot, I packed it in jars with some sugar, leaving about 1/2″ of headspace and water bathed it for rhubarb time, 15 minutes. It turned out wonderful and the jars remained full.
Creamed peas and potatoes is one of our very favorite early summer dishes!! Yum.
Ava congratulations on a beautiful new mount! Great riding! Jackie I can’t BELIEVE how huge your rhubarb is! I may harvest earlier, but no where near the size stalks! So blessed where you live and garden- weeds too:). Lost my pea ,radishes green s this year. Pick my first artichoke this morning!stunted due to the extreme weather conditions this year.Fertilized my corn and beans this morning . Praying they produce later .always plant a Fourth of July corn crop for late corn on the cob , so got the area cultivated and ready for tomorrow. Have a wonderful Fourth of July !
We both love where we live, even if we have crazy weeds this year. Yep, some years, you win some, lose some. That’s just life. Happy summer!!
Dear Jackie,
Ava is beautiful and looks so happy. That is what childhood should be about. Also, great memories with our older aunts, uncles and grandparents. She is getting an education without really realizing it. I helped my grandmother and granddad (and aunts and uncles) with so many chores. I can grind corn to the right size for any chick, pullet or adult. I helped smoke the bees for robbing honey, pick peaches and plums for canning. I can raid the hen house for eggs without getting flogged, make butter, ice cream and a million other things that are being forgotten right now. It was a great childhood and wonderful memories that I can share with my grandchildren. Try to keep the old ways alive for future generations.
That’s for sure, Jan! It’s funny but those old ways are the way we live right now. I’m so glad Ava and our other grandchildren get to experience what will be sweet memories later on in life.
How long do you pick your rhubarb? I have had several ladies ask at work and I usually pick until I don’t want any… mid July to mid August. Also, I have some lard… can I heat up, place in jars, but do I need to process? If so for how long? Does the same go for beef fat? Sorry for all the questions, can you guys what I will be doing this weekend! Happy 4th all; stay safe and show gratefulness for all this freedom we have!
*guess
We pick our rhubarb as long as we need it; usually stop when the weather’s turned hot in the summer. The plants tell you when they’ve had enough as the stalks get droopy and tired-looking. As for the lard, yes, just heat it up, nearly to smoking and ladle into clean jars, leaving about 1/2″ of headspace. Place your hot, previously simmered lid on the jar’s clean rim and screw down the lid firmly but without pressure. No processing needed.
Yes, you can do the same with beef fat/tallow. I’ve even done bacon grease that way after straining out the big chunks.
We may grouse and complain but I know we are very grateful for the freedom and bounty that surrounds us.
Have a Happy 4th yoi two!
Thanks Pam! I hope your 4th was awesome.
Ava is just beautiful, so are both horses.
I think so too, Nancy. Then, I thought I am prejudiced a bit…..
I think the hot weather and all the rain in western MN has really encouraged the weeds! And I let my dill self seed so it looks like a dill jungle in my small garden. Hopefully, it sort of shades the tomatoes. Good luck with your weeding.