How Green is my Thumb?

Before I lose myself in winter wist for summer sun and green growing things, I do hope you'll pop over to the ice encased world of The Fields Beyond where Cate has described in her exquisite prose, a meeting of the minds between canine denizens of her 200 acre wood and her new best friend, Spencer. For me, a visit to Cate is always a balm for the soul....

It's time to order those seeds! After mulling over the seemingly infinite possibilities, Ee and I have decided on garden-lite. For me, tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes and a bit of Swiss chard. Of course easy to grow zucchini, yellow crook neck, butternut, and spaghetti squash. Maybe I'll put a little Black Seeded Simpson lettuce in my flower garden.

I love beets, but Ee has never cared for them and he does the hard work, so they didn't make the cut. Let me hasten to add that I know he'd gladly grow them just for me, but I want to keep it simple..they do look good though........

We aren't supposed to grow morning glories here, but I ordered some from a catalog a few years ago and not only did they arrive on my doorstep, but I still have some seeds left!

And tomatoes..........I'm still trying to decide on the ones I want and it's about time to get them planted in flats where they'll get lots of light from the kitchen window.

Early girl of course, as they do best in our short growing season. And I want to try some of those little gape tomatoes that can be tossed in a salad wholeand tase great . An heirloom tomato is a must too. I'm looking for the right one, probably Black Prince. And one of the greatest joys in all this is that all this planning and looking ahead is sooooo easy!

'Twas the Day After...

Roo proclaims a two thumbs up Christmas!

and I agree. We celebrated at my daughter's home this year where everything was bright and beautiful and of course we ate too much and wished for room enough for just one... more... piece of.... pie...

Now, the darkest days of winter are over and we're looking ahead to the new year with it's infinite possibilities. Ee and I put down our books to study the seed catalogs that have already started arriving in the mail. This year, I'm hoping to grow some of those tiny grape sized tomatoes. I'm watching some seeds on eBay...guess I'll get serious and bid on them.

Right now, I think I'll visit some blogger buddies...and maybe for breakfast, have..some left over scalloped potatoes...and just a very small slice of pie...

Tomatoes in a Tub

Anyone for fried green tomatoes?

For the sixteen years E. and I lived in Chino Valley, a rural community about fifteen miles north of Prescott, we grew vegetables in a huge garden plot. Each autumn found us busy canning and freezing just about every vegetable you can think of.

We pickeled cucumbers and beets, tried our hand at sauerkraut, and one time...one time only.......made some horseradish. It was an overpowering experience. Tears streamed from our eyes. Near to unconsciousness from the overpowering fumes, we gasped, "Never! Absolutely, never, ever again!"

One of the reasons we chose the One Acre Wood as our home when we moved to the big city of Prescott was the old garden plot, a flat sunny area in about the center of the acre. For ten years or so, we gardened here and continued to preserve much of our own food.

Fresh summer tomatoes mean a lot to me, so now that our well no longer produces enough water for indulging full scale vegetable gardening, I grow two tomato plants in half-whiskey barrels each year. Although these plants aren't as productive as tomato plants grown in rich garden soil, I'm always rewarded with some home grown tomatoes. Early Girl is not the biggest tomato, but as the name implies, an early tomato for our short growing season. And here's the first ripe tomeato of the year!