Back Home and a few Squarsh Things....

Well, we have returned from that great state that first seceded and shooo-weeee!

We had so much fun!! We swam and rode bikes and saw gators and rode bikes and swam and rode in a boat and "clumb" a lighthouse and I found a million sand dollars and we swam. Ohhhh, we had such a great time. Why is the beach so much fun?

We were sad to leave, but we were glad to get back home. Anyway, I will have some pictures or a slideshow or sumthin' up soon, but til then, take a look at what has been goin' on in my garden.


Jalapenos. Too bad I do not like them. Daddy says I grow 'em extra hot. I dunno... they're always hot. Too hot. :)



Craziness. WHAT are these? I did NOT plant anything that was supposed to turn out this way. I found these growing on my squash vines, but they ain't no pattipan or zuchinni. They look kinda like my spaghetti squash last year, but not quite. The Lord may have blessed me with a green thumb, I dunno, but I do know I am no aspiring biology professor or nuthin'.....so....how did this happen? Did my squash plants cross-pollinate, producing a "mutt" squash? That be the only thang I can figger. Iffen any of you know, please pass on the knowledge. Did I just grow an alien squash or something? Craziness.



Last but not least....
My handsome army of butternuts. Yumminess.

S. C. Bound!!

Just wanted to let ya'll know we will be heading to Hilton Head, SC, tomorrow. We are so excited!

We may or may not have internet access down there, but I will post once we return.

Farewell!

Miracle Grow---Nothin' !

Daddy and I got home from the music barn Saturday night and came home to our usual counter-full of squash. Well, I had just picked some more that very day, but apparently, I had missed one. Sqaush are very good at hiding themselves from the one harvesting, ya know. Anyway, Mama had been outside playing with Coley and Makayla that evening, while Daddy and I were away grinnin' to some pickin', and had accidentally come across this monster.




That is one of those Israeli varieties I tried this year. They ain't supposed to get that big, though! They usually get a little bigger than Zuchinni, but hey, this guy thought otherwise. I just can't believe I hadn't noticed it!

No, my squash plants aren't on steroids. Just good ol' TLC and compost!

Easy as (Raw) Pie...

As promised, here is the delicious raw blueberry pie recipe Mama and Makayla made. Let me say, it was AMAZING!




Fresh Blueberry Pie
Crust
2 C almonds
1/2 C dates, seeds removed
pinch of sea salt

Filling
5 C fresh blueberries
2 ripe bananas
1 1/2 T Raw Honey

Preparation:
For the crust, in a food processor, grind the almonds until fine. Add the dates and salt and blend until the mixture binds together between your fingers when pinched. Press into 9" glass pie pan and set to one side.

For the filling, in a food processor, combine four cups of the berries, bananas, and honey. Blend until smooth. Remove from processor bowl and stir in remaining berries. Pour into the prepared crust. Refrigerate for at least three hours. Serve and enjoy.



Okay, I just had to add this. :)
Annie, our Yorkshire, is a raw food dog! Okay, not really, but her favorite treats are carrots, lettuce, kale, etc... Makayla says she has gone raw. :)


Zac, our Highlander, on the other hand, "likes that heated-up stuff",as Makayla says. :)



Now back to the food...

Here is what Mama and I made. It is incredible! You could feed this to a die-hard bacon lover, and even they would be hooked! It's pretty simple, too.

Eggplant Bacon

Pride and Joy

I could do a long post about our country, but since I'm tired and a lot of other folks will be doing that, I'll just tell a little about what we did today.


It was a pretty laid back morning...which is always nice. I snapped a whole mess of beans, made some homemade lip balm, and Mama and I put a bunch of eggplant in the dehydrator (post on that coming soon). Mama and Makayla made a raw blueberry pie (post coming soon), and then we all went to find somewhere that was going to shoot off some fireworks.


Me and Makayla


Mama and Coley


Daddy and...I don't know who that is...

More Garden Photos

The maters are lookin' good.


One of many Basil plants. Lots of pesto has been made!


Hot! Hot! Hot!


Ohhh...yummy eggplant!


A friend...


Cool as a cuke...


Plen'y a these...


An' these...


An' these...


Flowers (obviously)


Finally! A sunflower! Goats got 'em last year, and the year before...


Little tiny itty bitty watermelon


That's right purty...


So is that...


Soybeans are so prolific!


So are they...


Man! I got some pickin' to do!


I love summertime!!






I almost forgot! I have a new nickname...

The "Squash Girl of Good Hope"

Blueberry Pickin'

There is another small town not too far from us where we do our heavy duty blueberry pickin'. There's just a whole field of rabbiteye blueberry bushes ready for anyone who wants to come pick. It's a blessing, really. Especially to think of how much you have to pay at the grocery store for organic berries. It's fun and productive! (We went this evening, so the photos are kinda dark.)



Happy Picker


Coley


Mama



Us young'uns



An honest look at us young'uns