trudy's Blog

Just had to get them
Jun 21, 2007 | 6:14 AM PST
Tags: tomatoes , zukes , cukes , strawberries , grasshoppers , Ga. Thumpers , canning

I got a good check up with the doc yesterday, upped my weight limit to 20 lbs. You know what that means right? I can now do a few things in the yard an garden, may not be much but its better than it was b4. So on my way home yesterday I stopped by the produce stand an bought a case of mators which came from Sloccomb, Al. So I knew they would be good. Sloccomb is known around here for having the best tasting tomatoes. Something to do with the soil there. They had just been picked the afternoon b4, an knowing how I need to replenish my tomatoe supply I figured why not. So today I'm canning those up.

This morning I got the veggie sprinkler going at 7:30 b4 the heat sets in. Ordinarilly I can only water in late evening due to my work hours, but while I'm on leave its nice to be able to water in the mornings. Everyday I have been harvesting a few things like cukes, mators, few staggered strawberries. A couple days ago the zuke plant replacement I noticed was wilting, well something apparently cut it off at the base. So I'm not sure if I want to replace it yet again or just give up on zukes this year.

Late yesterday afternoon after my nap an boredom set in I went out on the porch an decided to prune out some of the dead canes out of my 2 climbers at the entrance. Nothing strinuous, b4 I knew it I had a couple small piles I now need to take to the edge of the woods. But the roses look better! Hiding on a cane was a grown GA. Thumper (Grasshopper), they east everything in site. So far since seeing them in early spring everytime I see one or more I stomp them to death. By doing this I have decreased the numbers I see almost daily. So to grasshopper heaven he went.

Well time to get busy while the mood has hit me, trudy

Last nights frost
Apr 8, 2007 | 9:12 AM PST
Tags: frost , veggies , brugs , lantanas , mexican sage , freeze , strawberries , canning

Didn't seem to hurt much, I had covered the tender things in the veggie garden but the lantanas, brugs, mexican sage and things like that did get bit. I hope they will be ok seeing how it didn't freeze, only frost last night. Tonight is suppose to be frost as well, hopefully this will be the end of it. Ordinarily I would be uncovering things come late morning, but tomorrow I'll be at work when its time to uncover, so I hope things don't "cook" waiting on me to get off work. I tried to transfer some of the entries from my journal over here without luck. Don't know what I'm not doing right, Ole well I'll figure it out sooner or later.

Friday I stopped by a "Pick your own Strawberry Farm" and picked a bucket of berries, they had all but 4 rows covered in preparation for the upcoming cold week end. Figured it was best to get them then just in case the cold ruined them. I had previously dryed them or made jelly but have plenty of that already to do us awhile and wanted to do something different. So I decided to make some of the strawberry glaze that we like putting on cheesecake that I would normally buy at the grocery store. I just can't see buying something I can make myself. And at least I'd know whats in it. I found a recipe online an tweaked it a little for my taste and it turned out great. The true test is how it will hold up for long term storage, don't think it'll be a problem, will see. Here is the recipe:

Strawberry

Glaze

4 c. pureed strawberries

4 c. granulated sugar

8 TBS Lemon Juice

20 drops red food coloring

6 TBS Corn Starch

Wash an hull berries, in a blender liquidfy berries til smooth, I strained the juice to remove the seeds. Put all ingredients into a non stick pot, be sure not to overcook. Once bubbly and as thick as u want it ladle into steriized jars, top with sterile lids. Water Bath 8 oz jars for 10 min., Pint jars for 15-20 min.

trudy