Another Day in the Wilds of Cook'n by the Creek

Let the garden suppers begin fixed so many different ways.  Tonight the garden supper was frying some sliced smoked kielbasa, adding some small tender potatoes dug today and of course green beans that had been cooked until tender, salt and pepper...........YUM it was so light and fresh.  On the side we had sliced cooked carrots with butter, salt and pepper.  Did I ever mention REAL butter?  Of course I did. 

Of course a rustic garden supper tastes better on a metal plate and use one of my mom's forks.  All in the presentation.  Sometimes!

The nights have turned cool but by 9 am in the morning it starts getting a little steamy.  Air gets shut off by 7 pm in the evening with a day or two of windows left open and a fairly cool breeze blowing in, those are my favorite days.  Over coffee we decide, what are we doing for the day.  It always revolves around the garden.  This day brings digging and canning carrots.  Last night we dug a shovel full to see if it is time.  Yes, it is. The beans are ready for the first picking also.  It will be a busy couple of weeks with the pressure canner dancing and ticking away.  The carrots take 25 minutes for pints and 30 for quarts.  It looks like we will have plenty.   Most of our vegetables provide for winter for soups, stews, eat with butter, salt and pepper or candied carrots.   Full circle.

Quincy and Ellie have been missing their walks around the property.  Last night they were ready when I said, wanna go for a walk.  They sure did!  They like to sniff and stick their head in the air trying to decide which way to run off and investigate.  They always come back after a few minutes for a treat and off they go again.  For us it is a time to relax and enjoy the beautiful green hills and views with no buildings to look at.  The grandson's crops are doing great.  Corn is tall and getting it's tops to be sent down to the corn silk for germination.  Pumpkins are vining out, clover looks healthy as does the radishes and turnips.  Those deer better be satisfied way up there and not venture down to our food garden.  I follow a young couple on youtube that has a place similar to ours only they are in Alaska.  Today I read her update and she is also saying their garden is full, lush and full of vegetables.  A bumper crop for them with extras.  That is ours, we are picking daily and putting it on the table out front.  Free for taking.

Beans, carrots and pickled beets ready for the shelves in the cellar.

Picking beans today went by so much faster than usual.  My niece and her granddaughter came up for the pick.  As usual we chatted and discussed picking,  canning and a few other things. Thank goodness we have the same beliefs on how to do things, right down to how to pick beans.....our way or no way!   In a couple days we will be right back at it.  I thought we would get rained off, a 20 minute sprinkle and the day was perfect for the garden.  I love sharing.

While I was in the garden the tall guy was planting apple trees that he raised from seed. He has so many started it is going to be weeks before they are all in the ground.  Someday someone that lives here will enjoy apples, maybe it will be  the wild animals.  Either one makes me smile.  It is worth watching something start from an apple I ate last winter, grow into a little sapling and then grow past the round tubes around them.  Some that were planted a couple  months ago are already 4' tall.  This is the year for growing and harvesting.  Wild raspberries are also beauties this year.  When mowing I ride by a bush, stop and pick a handful.  If you haven't had a wild raspberry or blackberry go for a ride or a walk, find them, pick a few to eat.  I guarantee you will be hooked on the flavor of wild vs tame.  What a life to be able to enjoy every little thing.  Just do it, get out in the wild open spaces, take long deep breaths, close your eyes and think.......this is peace on earth.

I don't even look for bugs on the berries, why ruin my enjoyment!