Peanuts are Popular

We learn new things every day. Today we learned Johnny, the miniature horse, likes peanuts. Really likes peanuts! AND... so does Patsy, our terrier mix dog. We were sitting on the patio feeding peanuts to Henry. He was flying back and forth cleaning out the bird feeder.

Then Johnny let us know he did not want to be left out. We didn't feed them many as I don't think peanuts are really on their approved feed list. I already knew Hubby loved peanuts!

Meet the Peeps

Callie and Patches came to us from the animal shelter when they were eight weeks old. Well, that's what they said, but I think they were younger. These two little girls are sisters. We had to bottle feed Callie for several days before she would drink from a dish. They were so tiny and sweet that we called them "the peeps". They are now about 18 months old and have completely different personalities. Patches, the black and white, is cuddly and sweet. She will climb into my lap to say hello and loves to sleep by my feet. Callie, on the other hand, is the cat that loves to be up high...on top of the door, on the top shelf in the closet or hanging from the chandelier. I kid you not! I tried to grab the camera but she fell off before I got the picture.

From very early on I trained them to wear a halter and we let them go outside every morning on their little tether rope. If I get busy with other things, Patches sits by the back door meowing and reaching for the door knob. I putter around in the yard with them as they scamper around the tether ball pole that the grand kids have long ago out grown.

Once back in the house, they are happy to nap or watch birds through the screen of the french doors. I love the peeps!

Firewood = Cozy House

It's always a good feeling to have the wood ready and waiting for cold weather. This year we traded a piece of unused equipment for this wood. We live in an area where many years ago acres and acres of eucalyptus trees were planted. The plan was to use them for buildings, pilings and railroad ties. It turned out they were not suitable for that as the wood is brittle and twists when drying so now it is used as firewood and chipped into mulch. Now, years later people are still cutting down all these acres of trees. They are really a pretty tree but very messy and shed leaves and bark year around. We cut down almost all of them on our property some time ago. The eucalyptus groves do provide winter shelter for the Monarch butterflies and we visit their favorite site a few miles down the road every year in November and December. When the cold weather comes, we will be cozy and warm!

Holy Moly Guacamole

I checked out the avocado tree a while back and this is what it looks like. I think we will be having lots of avocados in the fall. This tree had a hard time getting started. It got nipped by frost several times over the years and the 2007 crop was completely lost. We are harvesting a few now that are ready to eat but this latest batch coming along will be awesome. Oh, I can taste it now... guacamole and chips, avocado halves with pico de gallo, avocado and grilled chicken salad or just avocado on whole grain bread. Now throw fresh tomatoes and hot peppers into the mix and the possibilities are endless!

Week Four in the Garden

I have seen some real changes and progress this week. First...hubby found tomatoes that have set on. The biggest ones are about the size of a walnut. We continue to find radishes that are ready. We replanted some of the corn and in the process I discovered that a gopher had a run right along where I had planted the first seeds. We fed him well! Hopefully, he is now full and we will have better luck this time. We put up wire for the snap peas to climb on. This year we are using wire panels and t-posts. It was so much easier to do this way and will come down much faster too. The peas are growing well and will like this cool, overcast weather we are having. The giant pumpkins are looking good and should begin to blossom soon. I have noticed the bees are ready to do their job of pollination. Things are looking good!

Big, Big Spider

We were doing some sorting and cleaning in the wood shop today. I took a jacket off a hook and on it was the biggest black widow spider I have ever seen! I could not believe the size. Hubby brought me a clear plastic container to put it into. I wanted to see that red hour glass on the underside. Sure enough...it was there. Now, I love all creatures and critters and I am sure each and every one has a job, so what should I do with this guy? After taking my picture, I took him out and let him go outside our fence. I hope he finds a wonderful home in the big outdoors. I wish I could muster up some compassion for the gophers!

Mystery Solved

I figured out what the jays do with the peanuts. I found a gopher hill and when I took my spade to find the run to set a trap what did I dig up...a peanut. Since then I found several more between the garden rows when raking or at the side of a flower bed. They have all been in soft, loose dirt. I wonder how they remember where they are. The jays never seem to sit at the feeder and eat a peanut, they just fly off with it and soon are back. They keep making trips until all the peanuts are gone so we only put out a few at a time. I have seen them sit and eat the sunflower seeds though. And yes, there are now two jays coming to the feeder. So, I guess it is Henry the VIII and IX. Please don't ask me to tell you which is which! They are all just Henry to me.

Look What I Found

Well, I'm sorry I was complaining about the garden growing slowly. I went out to do some weeding and here's what I found. It was just perfect to add to our evening salad and it really made my day.

Henry the VIII

We have fed numerous blue jays over the years. We have named them all Henry. With enough patience you can get them to take peanuts from your hand. We even had one who would fly into the kitchen and get peanuts off the table. When the most recent blue jay came to the feeder we immediately called him Henry. He has to be at least number eight!

Capers

If you enjoy growing plants that are decorative and also edible, I have a good one for you. Give capers a try. They are a very pretty bush that I grow in a large pot. They die down each winter and need to have the old growth trimmed back. Then come spring it sends out new growth. The caper berries are the flower buds before they open. I pick the berries and put them in a salt brine to cure. It takes several weeks. Rinse them in fresh water before using if you find them too salty. Tuna salad on a bed of lettuce, sprinkled with capers is a favorite at our house.

If the flower buds are not picked they open into a very pretty white flower. This plant can be found in a nursery that specializes in herbs. I have been growing this bush for about ten years. It is native to the Mediterranean. Try it, you'll like it.

Garden - Week Three

It seems like the garden is growing slow this year. Maybe it is just that I am anxious and not giving it time. When I compare with last weeks photo, I do see that it has made progress.

Our weather has gone from the 90's to foggy mornings and maybe the sun breaks through sometime in the afternoon. They call it June gloom...it's happening in May this year. The tomatoes have blooms. We will get straw to mulch them in the next few weeks. The green beans are about two inches tall, as are the peas. The corn is slow and uneven. I may need to reseed some of it. We planted the corn in a wide bed with about six rows. I've had trouble finding bell pepper plants. There are lots of hot peppers in the nurseries but not many bells. I was finally able to find fifteen plants.

We have also planted several hills of giant pumpkins. Last year we grew one we measured to weight about 350 pounds. Maybe we can do even better!

And the Blue Jays Came

At breakfast hubby said it would be nice to have a bird feeder for the Blue Jays. Since my father passed away last October we have not been doing a very good job of feeding our feathered friends. Dad enjoyed it so much and always took care that treats were out. So, after turning water on in the garden, I started looking around. One umbrella stand, a flat basket, PVC tee, several washers and a round faucet handle later, we had a bird feeder high above the danger of our one outdoor cat, Kadie.

Now, what would Blue Jays like most? Peanuts and sunflower seeds are my guess. I was sure Johnny, the miniature horse, would be willing to donate some of his black oil sunflower seeds and I found some forgotten peanuts in the shell in the pantry. I filled the basket wondering how long it would take for the birds to find this treat. Well, it was certainly time to turn off the water, so I walked down to the garden. The gophers had been working by the bean row and I stopped to put a trap in the run. As I walked back toward the house, I saw them...Blue Jays at the feeder! Wow, that didn't take long.

We sat on the patio and enjoyed watching. Back and forth he went from feeder to somewhere around the corner of the barn. I wonder where he took them. I will try to figure it out. What a good day!

Little Baby Grapes

I walked around a few days ago with my camera to see what new things I could find.

The Garden Rows at Two Weeks

How Does the Garden Grow

We planted the garden about two weeks ago and most of the seeds have sprouted. Now I am trying to keep the snails from eating the new seedlings. They are even working on the tomato plants. We planted eleven 50 foot row. They are watered with soaker hoses and each row has a separate valve, so we have lots of flexibility with the watering. Our sandy soil requires daily water and lots of amendments. This is what we planted in the rows:

1. Slicing cucumbers, Pickling cucumbers, Dill
2. Carrots, Kohlrobi, Beets, Chard
3. Radishes, Green Onions, Basil, Parsley, Cilantro, Fennel, Leeks, Red onions
4. Early Girl Tomatoes, Beefsteak Tomatoes
5. Heritage Tomatoes
6. Green Beans, Yellow Beans, Snap Peas, Sugar Pea Pods
7. Bell Peppers, Anaheim Peppers, Hot Peppers (lots of different ones)
8. Corn
9. Zucchini, Yellow Summer Squash, Butternut Squash, Acorn Squash, Banana Squash
10. Raspberries
11. Boysenberries, Blackberries

Now that's a lot of veggies. We do a lot of sharing with the neighbors, dry or freeze some and plan to take any extra to our senior center.

I am Thankful...

I'm writing here to remind myself of the wonderful things in my life. It is easy to dwell on the things that go wrong, when I should be thinking about all the great things that are right. The things that make me the happiest are the day to day little things. So I am going to write about those little things.

I live on two acres in a rural area. It is peaceful and quiet. My husband is a creative, upbeat and quirky guy. We grow a large garden, have four cats, a small terrier mix dog and a miniature horse. I'm sure each of them will show up here sooner or later as they are what makes my life fun and fulfilling. Life is good. I am truly thankful.