Happy Friday Everyone! It’s been a full month of this and that, good, bad, and ugly. Isn’t that the way of things generally. I’ve had a lack of motivation in getting pics off of my phone and into the computer in order to share them this month. Thursday (last) night I kind of got caught up in uploading them, browsed through to find good ones, then shrank them down.
There have been dozens of blossoms on the birdhouse gourd vines but as of today there are 7 maturing gourds. Blossoms keep coming but probably a little late to grow much if fruit develops. That’s fine, 7 are enough.
The tomatoes have really taken off in quantity but have a strange way of ripening this year. I’ve gotten two mega-big tomatoes off of the plants, one from a mortgage lifter plant and one from a much smaller moneymaker plant; but the rest have gotten no bigger than twice the size of a cherry tomato. I will keep seeds from the big tomatoes and see if they ripen true to their parents next year. Strike that, I already used the moneymaker biggie from the first batch picked but will def save ML’s seeds. I’ve had two decent batches so far and so many are still on the plants.
I saw something was gnawing at moneymaker plants, which are a good 6 ft away from MLs. Walking out at dusk to put something in the garage earlier this week, I saw a giant hornworm out, munching away. I grabbed the shears, cut the branch it was on, threw it down, and quickly ended its life. The next morning tiny ants were swarming around it, carrying bits away.
With the first batch, I made delicious chili using chik’n (plant-based chicken cubes,) great northern beans, a half of a small can of chipotle peppers with sauce, and some other ingredients. The first day I ate it with saltines. The second day I made chili dogs with Field Roast brand plant-based hot dogs. Yum yum yum.
I tried a new recipe with the 2nd batch: Tomato Pie. It had a few interesting ingredients in it and it probably would have been better if I had put thicker slices of tomato in it.
Growing your own food and eating it, knowing it has been grown from heirloom seed, has no pesticides on it, and was picked at the peak of ripeness is a feeling like no other. I encourage every single person reading this to give it a try. Lots of plants can be grown in containers and don’t take up much space.
The next pic is of one of my incense burning trays. It has several rocks found along the way and several little ceramic squares that come with the incense I buy. I have an identical tray in my room that has other special items on it. I sorta washed the tray and rinsed off the stones. There is also a bundle of sage that lies on this one but I forgot it for the pic.
The pretty yellow flowers are some of the wetland package of plants I won a few years back. I never did put any of the plants in the ground but these are thriving. There is spiderwort in the barrel also but it already bloomed and died out early because of the heat, I think.
We finally got out to Lake MI beach this past Sunday. It was gorgeous there, not hot, the water in the channel between two lakes was tepid and good; Lake MI water was quite cold.
The last pic was taken today (Thursday) at the local farmers’ place where I buy this and that. I bought sourdough bread, home-made orange marmalade, sharp cheddar cheese, 2 green peppers, and a dozen eggs. Outside their market building was this row of lavender. So gorgeous! There was also a beautiful white duck on the fence by my car that was free from any enclosure. I should have taken a pic but I was too wrapped up in the moment. The duck was not afraid and made a few sounds (not quack.) The duck’s presence was a nice touch. Thanks God.
I also took a short video of it because there were (good) swarms of pollinators on it. I should ask one of the farmers that work so hard to bring food to tables if they keep beehives. I didn’t see any honey for sale, so maybe not.
Speaking of pollinators, I saw a movie a week or so ago that involves bees, honey, and a whole lot more. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT. I don’t buy movies much these days but I will be buying this one and the soundtrack as well.
Tao-Talk 
Love the photos Li. The tomatoes 🍅 are so wonderful. I love tomatoes and can eat them raw too.
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Sadje, thank you. They are beauties and taste very good.
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Oh I’m sure they do. ♥️😍
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:)
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I love your incense burning tray… Anything that Matthew McConaughey is in I usually like. Love the pictures Lisa… and the chili looks great!
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I’ve had those trays a long time. :::knock on wood::: He brings such life to the movie! He is the star everyone else revolves around. Thanks on the pics. Nothing tastes better than home-made with home-grown. Hope you are enjoying your Friday.
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I never heard of an incense tray…so cool
He does bring his own personality in very role…and that helps. He is one of the most natural actors I’ve seen.
You are right about the home-grown…yes it’s going great! Looking forward to the weekend.
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Max it isn’t technically an incense tray, I’ve just turned it into one. They are ikibana trays. In the bottom of that well is/was a metal disk with a bed of spikes. The spikes are to skewer plant stems to make pretty arrangements. I never used it that way but when I saw it in a catalogue (PartyLite) I thought they’d be great for incense burning. And they are :)
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Yes it is…you use it that way…therefore…it is! And that is cool. I have seen those thin wooden pieces used as that…but I like yours.
You are teaching me all kinds of stuff today…ikibana trays
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=)
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Lisa, I agree it is great to grow your own food…and getting to eat it makes the whole experience even more rewarding. We had a pretty good year with tomatoes one year at our prior residence…even the local deer got in on the eats initially. Chili is gonna be made very soon here. I just have a feeling. The row of lavender is gorgeous, and how neat a duck took in the view as well. Amziah King is on “the list.”
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Bruce, I’m glad you know the experience of home-grown. Wow on the deer, will have to keep my eye on those little buggers. They love to visit the fallen apples, which are probably 20 feet from the tomatoes. Seeing that row makes me want to try that lavender row in the yard. Can’t wait to hear what you think about Amziah King.
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Great captures!
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Thanks, Marina!
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Thanks for sharing your wonderful pictures again, Lisa and that movie looks like a real winner.
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You’re welcome, Jim.
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Summer at its very best! You have it going on Lisa! Love your garden gords and tomatoes. Those look like Beefsteak Tomatoes. My tomatoes have stopped producing. Temps so high that the blossoms drop off. Maybe as things cool down, I will get some more blossoms.
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They are an old heirloom variety, Mortgage Lifter. Supposedly the guy who “created” them was able to sell enough to pay off his mortgage. They are definitely meaty tomatoes. Hoping you get more blossoms on yours as your area cools down.
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How interesting! Nothing like a good solid tomato! Looks like you will have some good birdhouses from those gords.
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What I like about the gourds are the varied shapes. One has a very thin top area but very rounded bottom part that will be so nice for a bird nest.
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My garden was a pathetic mess this year. Of course, I left for two weeks in July and the critters had a field day!
Yours looks fabulous and the yield is something you can actually make something with!
As for the movie… Thank you for sharing the clip. It’s going right on my to-watch list!
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Dale, keeping the plants alive was a full-time job watering. Also a friend gave me some ferns to put in the yard right at the hottest time. Long walk to water them also. They still look alive. Fingers crossed they come up in spring. I found my canning jars and hope to can some salsa if nothing else :)
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I’ll be shopping at the market to get what I need for the canning.
I could have asked someone to water but the damn squirrels went to town on my celery and a bunch of other stuff!
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Squirrels can be pesky for sure. Chipmunks, which are also in the squirrel family, are irritating with their burrowing holes in the beds. They disrupted several plants this year. I did find a couple of tomatoes on the ground that looked like something had pulled them off the plants and gnawed on them, but only a few. So sorry the squirrels got your stuff.
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The joys of gardening. I got high raised beds because of the groundhogs, now have to deal with the squirrels!
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:(
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I wish you got a pic of the hornworm! What a name!! Loved this post Lisa
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I have a pic from another season’s infestation:
Thanks, Catherin!
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Thanks Lisa! WordPress and Jetpack and both giving me headaches now when I try to like and comment on things, so I’ll respond here.
Great photos! I was wondering if you’ve tried to write any poems about some of these critters? I have a whole ‘nature as enemy’ series of poems lol
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Thanks, Catherin. That year the plants were covered with thm. Their coloring is perfect camoflage. I’m sure I’ve written pest poems just can’t think of any right now. Very cool your ‘nature as enemy.’ Now I’m thinking of one I wrote about how the green of summer can feel menacing, like its trying to get to you, just very slowly. I’ve also written on ant infestations and poison ivy. Nature ain’t no joke if you think about it too long ;)
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I’d love to feature you as a guest poet again, if you can find one of those! https://wordflowerpoetry.com/submit
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Catherin, was I a guest poet on your blog before? Sorry, can’t remember.
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I feel like you were…something about nature…or maybe at least a reblog
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Good stuff, Lisa, hope you have a great weekend! :-)
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Glad you like, Christian. Thanks and hope you do also. Got any concerts on the horizon?
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I always wait for the fresh Jersey tomatoes and corn at the farmer’s market. Nothing like it! I have not had any luck with container food plants, not even herbs. That chili looks delicious! (K)
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A light soil mixture and good drainage make a lot of difference. The roots need to be able to breathe. Glad to hear you have access to fresh produce at the farmer’s market. The farm down the road does a great job of growing a variety of things.
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There are several farmer’s market days within walking distance thank goodness. I should do some research into when they started and who had the original idea.
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