The Garden...Save Me!!!

I know the rest of the country is suffering in horrible heat, but as many of you know, it has been a downright chilly summer here in Washington. It's a good day if we hit 70!! We had 2" of rain in three hours last week! You'd think my garden would be suffering, but surprisingly it's growing quite well...maybe too well???

This week I had to harvest my Swiss chard. I have one, thirty foot row. I took a laundry basket and filled it...three times!!! Washed, chopped, steamed and got it ready for the freezer. I make a good sized ball of it, squeezing out all the liquid, place them on cookie sheets to freeze and then bag it.Three baskets and this is the result...one large bowl of finished, freezer ready chard! It just doesn't seem right!!!

Cut a bunch of cauliflower and broccoli yesterday (more than in the picture!) and did the same thing...washed, cut, steamed and bagged! Broccoli only, the cauliflower I pickle!

The raspberries have just started and my bushes are loaded!!!! I picked 4 flats three days ago and another two yesterday. Even with all the rain, they are big, juicy and no mold!!!

These are already frozen, which is why they look a little dull! Since I grow my own and don't spray or use any chemicals in my garden, I just pick, put them on a cookie sheet and throw them in the freezer. After they are frozen I put them in quart bags. There are three more of these in the freezer!!

I'm so grateful to have all of this fresh produce! Tons of lettuce, and the beets....oh my!! So tender and yummy! Slathered with butter and salt of course!!! Busy times!! If you live nearby, your porch may have a little something on it! No Returns Please!!!!

Last Sunday, Ashleigh and I went to Alderwood Mall. We went for the Nordy anniversary sale, but deep down we wanted to check out the new American Girl store!!!! Grand Opening and very busy...to busy to stand in line and purchase, but we had fun looking!!

Ashleigh collected these dolls for years and they are such a treasure! I still order something every once in awhile!!

One of the dolls we don't have...Kit. I want her. For myself. Yes I do. Depression era is my favorite!!! I do have some of Kit's accessories and have them on display around the house!!I told Ashleigh she could get me one in my old age. You know how you see those old ladies in nursing homes holding dolls? That will be me!!!

Supposed to be sunny this weekend, so more gardening and yard work!!

Things are Growing!

"Make hay while the sun shines" was never truer than this week!!! We had a gully-washer yesterday, so it's a good thing my neighbors got their hay in a couple of days ago!! Katie was pretty cute driving the tractor! Little brother, Foster, let me know that he could drive it too!

Despite the fall-like weather, my garden is actually growing...slowly, but growing!

Raspberries are just coming on...very, very late this year.

Blueberries are starting to turn!

Broccoli, so sweet and delicious!I love how cabbage looks, especially the purple! (the weeds have since been removed!)

Onions standing like little soldiers...

And my masterpiece of a hanging basket (which I don't hang!)! I've never been one to fertilize...I like things that grow just fine without me! But this year, I followed Lynda's advice and now have "fertilizer Friday". Miracle Grow once a week and boy has it worked!!!!

Hope things are growing and blooming in your world!!

Farm Chicks...the end...finally!

I promise this is the last installment!! How long can I drag this out????? The sad thing is, I don't have anything more interesting to post anyway!!!!

Here we go!
Lynda, Terry and I met up in Davenport for a brief visit before we went into Spokane. They were headed to dinner with a friend...and I was on my way to visit this lovely lady!!! My sweet, little Grammy :) Isn't she just the cutest little thing??!!!

Next morning we headed to the fairgrounds. Here are Lynda and Terry with Mrs. Farmchick herself, Serena!

One of my favorite booths, can't remember the name, but it had "school house" in it!! Lots of fun stuff here!

Loved all the numbers here! Seabold Vintage Market always has such great displays. That red and white??? I want it all!!

This sign was amazing!

I so wanted to buy these ottoman's. A little out of my price range, but so pretty! Lynda's favorite purchase...a pulpit!!! Preach it sister!!!

One of my husband's first job was at a store called "Farmer's Market". I really wanted this sign, but it wasn't for sale!

The Seven Sisters had this display above their booth. Funny, but true!!!

This was my big purchase. Can you guess what it is??? It's a mangle, an ironing machine!

It's in fabulous condition, but only heats up, doesn't feed the fabric. It does have the original manual so maybe someday we'll work on it.

For now, it's sitting on my porch! I love it! It's growing on my husband!!

I got a few more, small, little things, but nothing really substantial. This year we only went on Saturday and we were on the road home by 1:30!! Hopefully next year we'll be able to stay for the weekend!

Thanks for putting up with me!!