Here's dessert after a lunch of roast chicken and potatoes
Slice of lime cake, some Greek yogurt, blueberries and pure cane sugar.
I got some sewing supplies organized for Pine Ridge
Lovely walk Sunday morning, beautiful warm sunny day and walking in the morning means shade. Greeting neighbors on their patios. I went about two thirds pondwards before deciding I needed the rest of my energy to get home.
Then a period of sitting doing niksen on the deck in morning shade.
This afternoon Gary wanted to get going planting so I gave him a few tiny sprouting potatoes to set out. Many questions. Which way up, how deep, what size pot, knowing he'd do what he wanted anyway! I don't worry if my advice gets wafted away on the wind.
I already had some potatoes going, so I decided the linited amount of planting I could do Sunday was this. I'm taking Rita seriously and trying not to overdo.
Chives to restart after my ancient ones didn't make it, wildflowers to just throw about, this worked last year, honesty seeds from my own plant. Note the grabber within reach. And the container with the blue lid is the squirrel deterrent.
It's essential peppermint oil, and qtips. I soak them in the oil and push two or three into each pot. Squirrels don't like it and stay away from your seeds.
That's Sunday's gardening done. I put Chris's morning glory seeds to soak before I put them in, maybe Monday. They'll go in the ground this year, near the shepherd's crook to give them something to climb. And there's a pot ready for some other flower.
And that's today's Hope Springs Eternal Gardener's Hour. I just had to water the seeds in and I was ready for a cup of tea.
And for supper the world's easiest stew.
Can of diced tomatoes, can of cannellini beans, with what's becoming a go to seasoning, umami mixture and smoked paprika.
The aqua faba from the beans is saved for baking as an egg substitute.
Happy day everyone. Plant seeds, real or metaphorical. Real toads in imaginary gardens.
Gardening is an art. Mine's on the artisanal good enough for gummint work side.
Why is Gary planting potatoes if he is moving? Or do I have it totally wrong?
ReplyDeleteHis house isn't built yet, and the potatoes will be ready to harvest in July. It works.
DeleteI wish Kurt Vonnegut had talked to my mother!
ReplyDeleteA lot of people think it's only good if it makes a living, sigh.
DeleteI briefly thought "maybe that peppermint oil would also deter possums?" before remembering that I wasn't going to bother with the garden apart from watering to keep it sort of alive.
ReplyDeleteIf you do get more ambitious, it's worth a try. I don't know about possums, since they're not near the house.
DeleteThat squirrel deterrent method is very interesting!
ReplyDeleteSquirrels have quite long memories and they tend to stay away for weeks. Mice not so much, also they reproduce faster, so you need to refresh the oil if they're a pest.
DeleteAnts are eating our potato plant stems completely in half at the bottoms. As I told Glen, I have no idea why we even try to garden in summer here. Not only are they killing the plants, trying to dig potatoes where ants live is miserable.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what Billie's saying but he appears to be saying it with authority. Or is Billie a lady? I have forgotten.
Billie's a girl telling Ted not to criticize my gardening
DeleteYour dessert looks really good! Pine Ridge will appreciate your donations, lots of good stuff there. I bet it feels liberating to be able to get out and about, moving without the pain. I have a bunch of old flower seeds I am going to soak, plant and see what happens. I don't want Gary to move!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing to walk freely. I still cringe from habit until I remember I don't need to. I don't want Gary to move either!
DeleteI'll head to the store and get some flowers to plant this week. It's finally warming up here.
ReplyDeleteI'll look forward to reading about your planting soon.
Delete'Doing niksen' sounds much more productive than 'doing nothing' - I like it.
ReplyDeleteIt's more official!
DeleteLove the look of that dessert. I would want more probably…
ReplyDeleteIt's amazingly filling. Also really good. I have to make it again.
DeleteLime cake sounds really good! You had a very productive day with gardening and more. Well done!
ReplyDeleteWe have purchased or actually had given to us two hanging baskets. Other than that we have done some garden cleanup and will do the containers after the long weekend, Victoria Day.
ReplyDeleteI see they changed the name. Not her birthday now.
DeleteDoing niksen is a great term. Reminded me of my 2xgr grandfathers diary which I had published several years ago. It's title is 'Self Doing Naught' which was a term he used quite often, particularly in his later years. He was a farmer and recorded all the happenings on the farm on a daily basis over many years. When he passed away his son took over the diary duties and I had those published too under the titles 'Did Little But The Chores (volumes 1 & 2).
ReplyDeleteI think a farmer's niksen is more work than most.
DeleteI'd never heard of the peppermint squirrel deterrent. Does it really work for you?
ReplyDeleteI had to look up niksen. OMGosh! The art of niksen...now I have a name for taking it easy--lol! So glad you are doing so. ;)
Yes, it's worked for years despite a substantial squirrel pop.
DeleteThe dessert looks wonderful and the stew sounds interesting even though I am unfamiliar with the seasoning mentioned, so will have to do a look-up.
ReplyDeleteTry the seasoning, you might like it. It's pretty subtle, not blow your head off hot. Though I like that, too.
DeleteI forgot to say the umami seasoning is from Yeung Man Cooking on YouTube.
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