April 3, Sunny and bright
"WE BE JAMMIN'' - Again!
Well, I needed to address the rest of the #LOQUAT meat in the fridge. Wasn't at all worried about spoilage, because, if it had fermented, then, it was gonna become WINE, LOL! But, I keep the fridge so cold, most things don't spoil.
Interesting discovery. In addition to the 6-quart crock pot full of processed meat, I had a bag of whole fruits I hadn't de-seeded. I fully expected the opposite of what I actually found. The whole fruits had completely lost all their flavor, even the sweet ones I had picked. But, the processed meat in the crock was as sweet as the day I picked them. Go figure!
I addressed the issue I had with the first two batches, namely, the large pieces of skins in the jam. So, this time I simmered the WHOLE crock of meat in a pot with 1 cup of water, for almost 1 hour on low. Then, I hit it with the immersion stick, and completely broke up the meat and skins. It was still like slightly chunky applesauce, minus any large skins. From there, I measured out what I needed, and proceeded with the recipe.
I also saved myself a step for next time since I won't have to simmer down the fruits. I can vacuum seal the slurry I have left, and freeze it for my next batch (es).
NOTE TO SELF: Make sure you have ALL the ingredients before you begin. Then, you won't have to go borrow a lemon from your neighbor's tree at 9:30 at night. Good thing he's a good neighbor, LOL!
#Cardamom is growing on me, so I added just a pinch more to the normal 1/4 tsp. called for in the recipe.
Can't wait to taste this new batch!
Uh, didn't even go into the veggie garden all weekend long...
April 4, Sunny and bright
Fed and watered everything in the garden. The #Contender Green Beans are filled with purple blossoms, and stand almost 3' tall. I expect green beans in the next three weeks, which gives me time to get the canning equipment ready!
April 5, Sunny and bright
For the first time in over 4 months, I simply stood in one spot outdoors, did a 360° turn, and enjoyed the veggie garden. I didn't pick up a shovel, a garden fork, a 50 lb. bag of anything, a pruner, or the lawn mower or edger. No mosquito tried to eat me alive. There was a cool breeze under the patio cover, and the sun was golden as it set over the west fence. All the beds were watered, and all the veggies looked happy. There was order.
And it was totally sweet.
APRIL 9, Overcast, but, bright. Sprinkles for about 3 minutes...rain coming.
The most I could muster was a walkabout. I watered everything, cause I don't believe the weather man..
BEANS & BEETS
►The #Contender Green Beans are starting to make beans! I saw one small pod...I uncovered them so when it DOES rain, these'll be watered well.
►The #Bull's Blood and #Detroit Dark Red beets are actually making roots, although, they're suspect cause they've been growing so long. Might be woody...I uncovered the bed so when it DOES rain, these'll be watered well.
TOMATOES
►The two #Matt's Wild Cherries are loaded with M&M size fruits.
►The two #Siouxs in containers on the north fence have mandarin orange size fruits and lots of healthy growth.
►the one #Sioux in RB #3 is still deciding...
►The three #Kellogg's Breakfasts in RB #1 are also still deciding. They'growing taller, with LOTS of suckers. I pinched off smaller ones, and cut off a couple large suckers and branches. A couple blooms, but, doesn't look established yet. Could be our wonky weather, and the cooler nights. Once it gets consistently hot, they should take off.
►Anita's three NOIDS have small fruits, but, they don't look well-established either. I did plop a whole bag of Black Kow composted manure on the top of this bed before transplanting. Hope it's just the cool nights. I also need to decide what to plant on the back side of this bed. Only 4 tomato plants on the east side. Should've planted them to the back (west) of the bed. I might go ahead and put the purple hulls on the back side of the tomatoes. At least they'll get some shade from the sun. And, if these tomatoes don't make it, the TPPEPHs will get LOTS of sunshine, LOL!
#CARROTS
►In containers on the south fence are moving right along, and looking stronger. Might get a handful after all!
#PEPPERS
►In RB #4 are trying. Can't figure out if it's the Black Kow Composted manure or the cool nights that's causing the stall. I'm hoping it's the cool nights. The smallest plant out of the five is covered with small peppers. Go figure...Need to decide what to grow on the last 1/3 of this 15' bed. Spaced the peppers out further than last season.
April 13, Overcast & RAIN!
It must've rained last night because everything seems to have gotten a good drenching.
►Picked three tiny #Matt's Wild Cherries a day ago. Tart!
►#Sioux and #Kellogg's Breakfast blooms coming on waaaay slowly -- but, they're there.
►Will probably pull the beets this weekend and start new seeds in RB #5 in the shade. Still trying for some roots to pickle, but, I can settle for the greens, too! Will plant the TPPEPHP where the beets were, and more cowpeas behind the 4 toms in RB #3.
►Might throw more carrot seeds in the vacant end of the bell pepper bed. Or not...
April 16, Overcast & sprinkles!
Raced out to cut the yard before the rain that never came...so, I cut the front lawn, too.
Spent the rest of the time consolidating the compost bins. Still not trusting the weatherman, so, went ahead and watered all the layers of leaves and coffee grounds, and fed the tomatoes and peppers. Put a thick layer of almost-finished compost on the vacant end of RB #5. Still trying to figure out what to put there...
Discovered there are far more #Contender Green Beans ready than I thought! Gotta get the canning equipment ready...
Have become more convinced than ever that it all begins with the soil biology, and adding organics is key. If the soil is not teeming with healthy life, the soil is not healthy or alive...consequently, the plants won't be healthy or alive...'nuff said...so, I will be throwing everything I can at the compost pile. But, I truly have to find an alternative to having to turn the Geogins. It is back-breaking. Once I up the organics additives, I may have to go Patrick Dolan's plugging route. That and keeping the compost moist enough.
Piddled with some of the potted plants, and transplanted in a #canna lily from the Houston Urban Gardener's giveaway table. Hope the bloom is as tropical as they promised! I need a color besides green in the yard.
April 18, RAIN, RAIN & more RAIN!
We got a boatload of rain over the city. Much needed everywhere, but, lots of flooding, too. I almost had to bail water from my patio. The French drains weren't clear and water was creeping toward the sill. Once I cleared them, all was well. Walked to the corner and both our street drains were running freely, thank God, cause the water would've overflowed into the den!!!
But, lots of people have been displaced from their homes. And, so sad to see some of the same areas that were hit a year ago, hit again. Folks were standing on brand new hardwoods covered with brand new flood water...
I thank God for His mercy on my neighborhood, friends, and family.
Since I was land-locked, I made Ree Drummond's #Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup for the first time. I hit the spot on the dreary, rainy day!
April 27, Bright but overcast in patches
Last week was horrendous with rain. Much of the residential areas of Cypress, Bellaire, and Greenspoint flooded. The Acres Homes and the Greenspoint apartment complexes ER responses (or, lack thereof) were too reminiscent of Hurricane Katrina, and were very painful to watch. TV was also flooded with disaster pics. Too much to take in. I stopped watching TV by Thursday. Everything was sunshiny by Thursday evening. Friday was gorgeous, but, Saturday evening thru Sunday afternoon started clouding up, again.
Sunday evening at 3pm there was a deluge! It stormed, and there were reports of several funnel clouds in the area. What's amazing is that the garden had already started looking like it needed a good watering again, from the Monday storms, LOL! I had been thinking I hated to have to go out and dump water on it. "New mercies, every day!"
Needless to say, I hadn't done anything outdoors except walkabouts all week long. There are mature #Contender Green Beans that need picking, and I need to harvest the beets and transplant the #eggplants. Plus, the grass has grown (with the weeds) at least 2-3" this week...
Lots to do in the garden!
April 29, Overcast, in patches. Sprinkles at 10 a.m., then sunshine the rest of the day! 81°
►Harvested the beets that had sizable roots. Processed them to the slow cooker. Will can them tomorrow.
►Processed the beet greens to the dehydrator. Will powder them in a spice grinder, and use as a sprinkle in smoothies
►Transplanted 13 eggplants. Six in RB #3, behind the tomato plants. Three in the old rose bed. One in a SmartPot.
Three in Earthboxes.
►Fed and watered the peppers
►Brought in two Sioux tomatoes to finish ripening on the windowsill. First tomatoes of the season (besides all those little Matt's Wild Cherry M&Ms I eat soon they turn red -- yard candy!
►Chopped and dropped garden cuttings to the compost cans. Since I added the torn up cardboard, the cans are FILLED with fat earthworms!!! And lots of baby earthworm pods, too!
►Mowed the yard.
Pooped....didn't even touch the green beans...
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