Possum’s Pansies

Sometimes you don’t have to travel far to find beauty, just visit a friend’s garden on a beautiful spring morning.
Pansies in all so many colorful variations – beautiful !  
       


There were other colorful too.
 
  

 
Thanks, Jan for sharing your garden with friends.

Coming Soon to a Garden Near You

This post may seem a little early in the veggie season, but very soon nearly every gardener will have has an overflow of that well-known summer favorite, zucchini.

Last summer (like so many others) the Frog & PenguINN mini-farm produced a zucchini overflow, courtesy of Grenville’s ambitious planting. Thankfully, he has since learned that a household of two people doesn’t require six zucchini plants in addition to patty pan, butternut and yellow  squash and other veggies.  

Aside from using it in lots of summer dishes, including pasta, sautés, and salads, there was STILL a lot of zucchini left over. After awhile, the neighbors would hide when Grenville tried to give them some. Then, he ever tried leaving it on back porches – even OURS. Soon, folks starting claiming they didn’t like zucchini. IMAGINE THAT!

Just as Grenville found out we had too much zucchini, I learned that zucchini  does not freeze well – something about all that water content. OK, zucchini bread is always an option, but let’s be honest, it gets tiresome fast. Popular belief (mine too) holds that everything (yes, even zucchini) tastes better when - CHOCOLATE is involved. Since it’s almost THAT time to think about zucchini, and what to do with any excess produce — here’s a favorite F&P recipe posted last January for Chocolate Zucchini Bread. This loaf was baked and frozen last fall. We’re going to enjoy some later today with ice coffee (cold milk is also good).

Agronomical Update!!!!!

WOW,,,,, what a great week this has been. As of yesterday our corn is as high as our Elephants eyes (both of them). BUT the birds have gotten a lot of what we planted. So we are reconsidering planting a second crop since our neighbor Donna Bear and her husband (Mr. Donna Bear?) grow some of the bestest sweet corn in the county and only charge about $3 a dozen. Makes the effort seem a little silly.
Other stuff up is Lettuce, Spinach, Beets, Carrots, Beans, Squash, Cucs, Zucs, Peppers, and of course Tomatoes, with lil ‘maters on them!!!!!!!

 


BUT the Fruit trees are  slow this year except for the Peaches which are full of fruit. The Flowers around the Garden Patio have taken over and are expanding.

And our summer feathered friends have had babies and are getting into some heavy Aero-Batics.
Strawberries have been slow to ripen and I’m not sure what to make of this. Possum’s berries have been nice and ripe since the beginning of May.

This week (if we get a dry day) we will plant more Carrots, Beans, and make another try at Eggplant. The EP’s we put out have been decimated by Rove beetles. Guess i should have dusted right in the beginning. Also we will get some more onions, beets, lettuce, and spinach in.

We also will start clearing for the new Green house if the weather clears enough. Last week we bought the cement blocks that will be the base it will sit on, so clearing and setting the blocks is the next step before it gets too hot.

If you have not started your own veggie garden, what are you waiting for???? Everyone can grow some of their own food. AND the fun of doing it, the joy of watching it all grow, and the delicitudes of eating veggies that are so fresh they think they are still in the garden is one of the true wonders of life. So find a spot, or a pot, or anywhere there is some soil and sun and PLANT!!!
GTB

Santa Fe Chicken – Easy Summer Grilling

Here’s a recipe that’s easy and delicious – my favorite type! And while I’d like to claim it was a F&P original, it was adapted from The Healthy Kitchen by Dr. Andrew Weil and Rosie Daley (FYI this 2002 cookbook is still available.) The original recipe calls for broiling, but Grenville always grills it. We’ve never been disappointed and don’t think you will be either. 

It’s a bit zingy – the marinade is the secret and uses 2 of my favorite spices, cumin and coriander and lime juice which really tenderizes the chicken. It’s best to marinate the chicken for at least 1 hour (or up to 2 days) before cooking.  Serving suggestion: side of your choice of veggies, Spanish rice or tossed green salad.

Marinade
Juice from 3 lines OR 1/8 cup bottled lime juice
¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
1 ½ tsp olive oil
1 ½  tsp chili powder
1 ½ tsp cumin seed
1 ½ tsp ground coriander
6 cloves garlic, minced or tbsp of jarred chopped garlic
1 ½ tsp honey

2 whole skinless, boneless chicken breasts
¼ cup white wine (optional) – cooking wine is OK
3 tbsp chopped cilantro leaves
Chopped scallions – about ¼ to ½ cup
Sour cream and salsa

1. Mix together marinade ingredients, stirring thoroughly. Pour into shallow baking dish and lay chicken breast on top. Turn over to coat with marinade.
2. Sprinkle chopped scallions on top, cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour, turn at least once.
3. After 1 hour, when chicken has absorbed the marinade flavors, pour in the white wine (or not).
4. Preheat grill. Cook chicken for 8-10 minutes over  medium flame, baste with marinade to keep it moist.
5. Transfer chicken to a platter and slice at an angle, then garnish with a large spoonful (each) of sour cream and salsa .

The One that Got Away

Sure, Sure. Always the same old fish tails. “You should have seen the one that got away” or the most frustrating “You should have been here YESTERDAY!!!”

Well yesterday was going to be my first day surf fishing in a long time. I had cleaned all my rods and reels but decided to only take my big surf pole.

As i came off the new bridge leading to the island my cell phone rang. It was Beatrice asking if i had remembered to get the ”park pass’ out of her car. At this point i should have just turned around, gone home, and taken a long hammock ride. BUT i was determined. I stopped at he bait place and asked what the favorite bait of the day was and bought some. Got the the Park gate and told the nice lady my sad story. She smiled and said “that will be five dollars please.”I ask you, where is the sympathy in the world today????

SO on to the beach i go, pole, tackle bag, cooler, chair in hand. Now surf fishing is an exercise in patience, frustration, and some times futility. In the hours that i was on the beach i was able to drown 7 clams, feed a lot of crabs, and ALMOST lose my pole to the infamous Morone saxitalis.

By the sixth clam i was getting a little dozy. I had cast out and was sitting quietly when my eyes closed for just a second. I opened them to see my pole bending sharply, then start going horizontal, then the pole holder start pulling out of the sand, AND THEN my pole start heading towards the surf…..

Luckily my lightning quick reflexes sprang to life, I jumped up, ran to the retreating pole, grabbed it, yanked back, set the hook ……………… and then nothing but slack line. As i reeled in, and got to the end of the line, remembering what a wonderful fight Morone would have given me, how wonderful he would have tasted after laying on the grill for about 15 minutes covered with olive oil and seasonings, I saw nothing. No hook, no sinker, no rigging, just monofilament flapping in the breeze.

Here is a look at who got away. You know why he is smiling. The moral of this story is “Do not put off a line change till tomorrow or you may lose a big one today”

Home at last

When ever we go some place it’s always nice to come home again. The trip back was mostly rain, but nothing heavy. If you are looking at the weather post at the top of our blog the rainfall listed is only for today. When combined with yesterday and last night we have recorded 1.57” of rain. Possum, down the road from us, had 1.78” (the clouds like her better). On the plus side this has been a gentle rain for the most part and checking our moisture sensors out in the field has given all of the crops and the grass a good drink. Most importantly the tomatoes are staying at a nice even moisture level which is what they like.

This evening we are going to the Grand Opening Dinner of our friend, JackBear’s, newest restaurant. I am starving up for this event. Then it is back to the regular diet.

With luck the rain will end later today and it will be dry enough to check the crops tomorrow. Then fishing on Thursday.

The Smithsonian Safari

Sunday we ventured into Washington DC on the Metro. Beatrice has told you of the trip and how thrifty we were, but this is some of my favorite spots.
My favorite part of the Museum of American History was the Transportation section. Wonder why that was????  
The next pics are for my mountain friend RonBear who loves old motorcycles.
The Museum of Natural History came next. Beatrice was not impressed with the “Hope Diamond”. I was not impressed with any of the rocks. BUT then we got to the Oceans Room. Now that is impressive. In fact I was so impressed that I forgot to take any pics of it.

Our next stop was the American Museum of Art. This stars off with Italian paintings from the 16-1700’s. I would post pictures here BUT these folks seem to have had a serious fixation female breasts and male genitalia. It got old fast. BUT i will say that the quality of the paintings was good and very defined. Then on to Spanish and French paintings (most all with cloths on), and that is where i lost it. The eyes were glazing over and the mind was shutting down. The only one i remember was the famous Napoleon portrait with his hand in his blouse. Do you think he was really holding his pants up???
So we traveled over to the “East Building” where the more modern works were. Best off there was a lot of three dimensional works which is what i like. To get there you ride a moving floor through a tunnel under the street. 

The two most impressive pieces were:


I forgot to get the names of these pieces ( hey i am not an Art Major). The one on the left will make a really great lawn ornament. I’m just not sure whether it should go in the front or back yard. I’m sure that the neighbors will just love it. The one on the right will look nice as a mantle piece. I am thinking of doing both of them in Walnut.

After all of this culture we had both worked up a great hunger, but since DC prices are ridiculous we hopped back on the Metro and headed back and landed at Outback.

Pillow Talk

No, no – it’s NOT that kind of “pillow talk.”
And, we’re not talking about the 1959 film.

This pillow talk is really just about pillows. (Sorry if you were expecting something else.)

OK, back to the “real” pillow talk. Pillows are GREAT, especially when new. Ours were de-plumped. Best word to describe “flat” pillows?
During our recent IKEA safari, we tested pillows. That’s NOT an easy task when there’s no bed nearby. But we weren’t sure how store reps would take to us moving the bed to the pillows or vice versa. 

And, such decisions to make  since there were all types: back sleepers, stomach sleepers, side sleepers. After extensive testing, decided on 4 of the Gosa Pinje “back sleeper” pillows. And, last night we “tested” them at home on our own bed.
Yes, there was some pillow talk, but we’re not sharing here.

Capital Trip

We continued our weekend celebration with a trip to Washington, DC  and a visit to the Smithsonian, which of course is an understatement, because you can NEVER visit  the world's largest museum complex and research organization -- 19 museums, 9 research centers, and the National Zoo. But the best thing is NO entry fees at most museums aside from  special exhibits and IMAX theatres and the zoo. So you see lots of interesting stuff FREE. Thanks to the US government. But, ready to have ALL bags checked by armed guards at the entrance of each museum.
The best way to get into DC is to ride the Metro  – no driving, no traffic, no  parking hassles (or cost), and there’s a Smithsonian stop. The ride offers lots of people watching, so you also have entertainment!
We couldn’t see everything in any museum we visited, but highlights included Kermit the frog (of course), the Hope Diamond, (crowds were larger than the gem), and Julia Child’s kitchen (moved from her home and recreated with her pots and pans).
Ever wonder where a pot goes in your own kitchen? That’s something Julia never fussed over because the pegboard in her kitchen was marked with the outline of each pot or accessory. (Thanks to her husband, Paul Child).
Unusual art in the Sculpture Garden of the National Gallery of Art – a giant typewriter eraser (Claes Oldenburg) that made us wonder HOW big the paper was, red horse  (Alexander Calder selected the name so maybe he saw a horse), welded metal sculpture (David Smith) called this one Cubi XXVI so wonder what happened to the others?), a chair transformation (Lucas Samaras) and a 3-D house (Roy Lichtenstein). You have to experience this house sculpture by walking around it - the side of the house projects toward you while appearing to recede into space.
It was AMAZING!
 
 
Views from the tower of the Old Post Office Pavilion  were spectacular – from 12 floors up in the tower and from the elevator.







So did we spend a fortune on all this fun? absolutely NOT. This day trip the best bargain of the weekend, aside from the IKEA experience. Total cost was under $5 each for the round trip fare. That left Grenville enough $ to take me out to dinner (only not in DC).