the remaking of a kitchen

i had a long plane ride home through phoenix. because of early morning snow in minneapolis, planes were running late all day. i spent an extra hour and then some waiting around the gate.
this is what the deck looked like when i arrived. all the ginkgo leaves fell in my absence, and the maple tree in front is showing very red while the one in back is just beginning to turn. don brought in all the green tomatoes and to be red peppers that are still green, and those plants now have that melted look that happens with a freeze. our growing season seems so very short!
it was very cold, so i was glad to have several layers under my raincoat and really delighted to find gloves in the pockets!

Labels: home and snow, red peppers, tomatoes and cukes

the garden is growing nicely. my first red pepper is ripe and is so pretty. i also picked a cucumber and some tomatoes. actually the haul from the tomato plants is much smaller today than the usual quart i have been picking. we had a nice rain last night.......more than a half inch and that certainly pleases all the plants, vegetables, ornamentals and flowers alike.
the little baggies hold the juliette tomatoes i dried in the oven yesterday....i had two cake racks full of half tomatoes and ended up with about one and a half cup of dried. the dried ones have such a wonderfully pungent taste. i could eat them easily as is. i will freeze them and use them in soups and pasta sauces during the winter.

Labels: dried tomatoes, juliettes, rain, red peppers, tomatoes and cukes

this was a fun week.....jack was here recruiting so we managed to get in some good meals, here and about. the three of us shopped for used books and just hung out reading, gabbing etc.
the work continues on the path.....a stone retaining wall has appeared along the frontage road and in an "eyebrow" as the path curves toward the overpass. the trees will be planted in front of that i think. the berm that was all grassy is now covered with extra soil, so more area to be seeded or sodded, the former seems to be the favorite right now. but wait, that could change.
my first visit to my new book club was enjoyable. met some interesting people and conversation was good. only prob was i don't love the book, but hey, that happens, right?
the weather outlook is not exciting.....slushy snow a possibility by next weekend. guess i have to pick any tomatoes that have a tinge of red/orange and bring them in to insure survival for eating. there a couple of possible cukes.....but that could be doubtful. i made a start on a big pot of soup yesterday....lots of tomatoes, onions, garlic, several herbs, green peppers, zucchini and whatever else was in grabbing distance. i think i will freeze most of it for later use. maybe by then i will be making bread to go with it! :) for sure!

Labels: asphalt path, retaining wall, soup, tomatoes and cukes, weather

our little garden areas are beginning to be productive. it's always a race since the growing season is so very short here. i am now picking cucumbers, cherry and early girl tomatoes every day. the onions are growing well, and we will certainly enjoy those too. the csa delivery has included less tomatoes than i am harvesting which seems a bit weird. we are getting lots of beans from them each week, some cukes and a few summer squash and one small eggplant. i also went to a small farmers market at park nicollet and got some little golden potatoes and some small eggplant from a hmong woman. she warned me they were a little stronger tasting, so i used fewer than usual when i made some caponata......i used some csa peppers and onions, our tomatoes along with some red wine vinegar, olives and garlic. i'm supposed to let the flavors blend in the refrigerator for a few days before i use it. i love the stuff so this will be great! i got the recipe from jewlee's kindergarten or first grade teacher!
the second picture is don doing the duty and watering the plants near the concrete thing. we are still 5+ inches below normal for precipitation so we do a lot of watering!

Labels: caponata, eggplant, tomatoes and cukes

i just took another picture of the tomatoes and cukes to show that they are growing. slowly yes, but growing. in another few weeks they will look a lot better....they are ready to get their cages now....something on the list for tomorrow. i have some other tomatoes and cukes at the north fence along with some onions......a salad just waiting to happen?!

Labels: tomatoes and cukes