I'm so glad this was a short week - too bad they can't all be 4 day work weeks, right? I feel like Friday got here so quickly that I must have forgotten to do something. With me that's not unusual, I'm always forgetting to do something. You would laugh at my list of things to do... Today's list is too long to post if that gives you any idea lol.
We have no real plans for the weekend but you and I both know that will change. I wouldn't have anything to write about on Monday if it didn't. Wally got the black truck running a few days ago so we'll likely have to take it on an outing. It's an adventure no matter what. We load up the cooler and the tool bag (never leave home without it) and a garbage bag or two and off we go. We hit the dirt roads and slowly plod along looking at the beautiful scenery and picking up other people's trash as we go. We usually end up with at least two bags full - people are pigs to do that to someone else's property. Some of the best roads have been closed off by the owners because of people trashing the area. Never, ever litter.
I have to check on the blackberry bushes because it's supposed to rain on Sunday. If it rains, I'll be doing some canning! I so hope the blackberries are ready and that it rains. We might even saddle the horses and try to get down the holler. Wally says it's so bad he's not even sure the horses will make it. We won't risk it if it doesn't feel right.
The mystery plant just keeps on blooming and I just love looking at those flowers every morning when I head off to work and in the afternoons when I get home. In the morning it's usually dark still so my headlights shine on them. The lavender color is holding out even in the hotter temperatures we've been experiencing lately. I thought they would have faded by now but that's not the case. I guess the bloom will stay for as long as it took to actually open up. From the time I first noticed that they had blooms on them until the bloom time came seemed like forever. Probably it was closer to about 3-4 weeks. That's okay with me. Most of the gardens I drive by have very little in bloom right now so it was worth the wait to have them last this long.
There were hollyhocks coming up by the mailbox but the guy who lives in the first house on the left mowed them down. I don't know if he just didn't know what they were or if he didn't care but they're gone. I know it was him because his is the only yard that got mowed. One of the plants had a couple of buds on it too... :( I'm going to go dig up what is left of the stems and roots and see if I can get them to go again. He cut down some day lilies too and they were even in bloom. I don't think he wants to be my friend.
I made up a recipe last night. I felt like having Mexican food but I didn't really want tacos. I browned some hamburger meat and added a packet of taco seasoning and a little water. I took a cake pan and sprayed some non-stick spray in it then lined it with corn tortillas. I added a layer of the meat mixture and then a layer of Mexican cheese. I mixed some enchilada sauce with some chopped green chilies (from a can) and poured that on top. I made one more layer of tortillas, meat, cheese and sauce then topped it with the remaining tortillas and lots more cheese. It went into a 350 degree over for about 25 minutes and viola! It came out piping hot, cheesy-gooey and smelling like a little Mexican restaurant. We dug right in. Wally put hot sauce on his but quickly decided it didn't need it LOL. For his second helping, he left the hot sauce off.
I was finally able to take my little back road short cut. It had been washed out by the rain this whole time. The other day I decided to try it and was so delighted to see the barricades were gone. The road must have been very badly damaged because on either side of the bridge, it's all brand spanking new. Going over the bridge I can see probably 20 or more trees just laying there all jumbled up on the side of the river banks. Some are half in the water still. It's nice to have that route available again. It's the one I plan to take pictures of whenever I get a camera :) ha ha ha that's on the list!
The farm stand that I like finally opened too. It was in the very worst area of the flood and I really didn't think their garden had survived. Wally took me by the farm a week or so ago so we could see what it looked like. We couldn't get in but we could see where the water had risen to. Thankfully, they did survive. They had a plot of land that was on higher ground so all their peppers, squash and onions came through. The tomato plants, however, were all washed away. She showed me where they have replanted two huge areas with "Bradley" tomatoes (for which this farm is famous) but said it's going to be a while before they're ready. The little plants are probably no taller than 5 or 6 inches. That's how all the farmers had to do - start over with all that planting. She did have tomatoes to sell - they had been shipped in from Florida ha ha ha go figure!
I bought some yellow squash, some green pattypan squash, some onions and green peppers. The green peppers still had the dried mud on them where the water had washed through the garden. I much prefer to buy the vegetables fresh from the farm rather than at the store. I know sometimes we have no choice but when we do, we should always support local agriculture. The food is healthier (it's been studied and documented) and tastier and you're helping the community by contributing to the farms in your area. I'll get off my soapbox if you'll promise to at least give a local farm or farmer's market a try...
You can Google Farmer's Markets and find a listing to choose from. You can also Google CSA Farms for a listing in your area. It's a great concept and gaining recognition at a very fast pace. Okay - that's it for that.
When I got home with the goodies, I sliced up the squash and put it in the steamer. We sprinkled it with Parmesan cheese, butter and black pepper and gobbled it all down. There was nothing left for dog or horse. We had other stuff to go along with it but the squash was best :)
This life suits me well, can you tell?
I got my hummingbird feeder hung up on the rafter of the front porch. It hangs directly in my line of vision when I'm sitting in my rocker or on the couch either one. I haven't seen a hummingbird yet but I'm keeping a close watch out for them to appear. When I was at the grocery store the other day I picked up a bottle of red food coloring. They sell the red by itself in a big bottle most likely just for the purpose of putting it in the hummingbird feeders. It should last me through the summer. If you want to know what I'm doing later on this afternoon, I'll be sitting in my chair on the front porch watching out for little teeny, tiny birds to come drink of the sweet nectar that is sugar water colored red... :) :) :)
Sorry you won't be here to hang out with me but it's not like you weren't invited... hmmmm?
Have fun of some sort this weekend...
Who knew Edgar Allan Poe could be so prophetic?
"If you wish to forget anything on the spot, make a note that this thing is to be remembered." ~Edgar Allan Poe
p.s. Mom, wouldn't it work just as well to say it three times? LOL!
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