Anniversary weekend
Henry and I celebrated our 11th anniversary a couple of weeks ago. We went out to dinner, but our real celebration was this weekend. We attended the Heritage Harvest Festival at Monticello….without children!
http://heritageharvestfestival.com/
If you are a reader of this blog, you know that I am very interested in gardening, cooking, food in general, etc. Henry shares many of these interests…largely because he is beneficiary of these pursuits. Henry has started two bee hives, so he is really into that.
This is the first time in almost 10 years that we have both been away from our girls at the same time for more than one night. They have spent one night at a time with meme and papa or grandpa and grandma while we we in town, but this was a milestone for us. I have thoroughly enjoyed myself and so has Henry. It has been really great for us. We do so many things as a family and so few as a couple that sometimes we forget how great the person we married is!
I ran into three Waldorf teachers and about five Ravelers….but didn’t get their names. I’ve a habit of knitting and walking when we are out. I take something simple (wingspan, this time) and Henry walks next to me in case I lean a bit. So, I am obviously a fiber enthusiast and meet lots of people that way. Meeting the Waldorf teachers, I don’t know, I think it’s some sort of magnetic force we give off. We run into Waldorf people everywhere we go.
I am posting a few pictures and may come back later to tell you about that great info we got from the classes. Until then, enjoy:
enjoying the garden
I tried a new recipe tonight because I am drowning in cherry tomatoes. I took about three pounds to work today. I got rid of them in about five minutes! I think everyone enjoyed them! But this afternoon I knew I needed to do some serious picking, so I found a recipe to use them up. I picked another pound or so and used two pints in this recipe. The recipe is from The Heirloom Tomato, a gorgeous book by Amy Goldman. The book is brimming with photos,descriptions and recipes using heirloom tomatoes. The recipe I chose was Spaghetti with Cherry Tomatoes and Toasted Crumbs…..yes, I said toasted crumbs. Basically you make a tomato and shallot salad dressed in a vinaigrette. It marinates for an hour while you put a loaf of bread through a food processor to make crumbs and then toast them in olive oil and salt in the oven and cook the spaghetti. When the spaghetti is done you toss in the tomato salad and fresh basil. Then you serve it with the toasted crumbs on top and some Parmesan cheese. The girls were very hesitant about it and I was afraid this was going to be a fail…..but it wasn’t. It was amazing. We all loved it. I am so glad necessity made me dig around for something to do with our bumper crop of little tomatoes. I will definitely be making this again.
it was good!
Garden Update June 2
Sorry I missed last week folks. I’ve just been so busy. I ordered a bunch of potato sets ans worked on the girls fairy garden trying to get it straightened out so that I can share it with the fairies. I did check with them and they said ok. So, I worked for 2 days pulling weeds and digging up weed bulb or seed…whatever it is that makes them keep coming up. Then, I had to relay the stone. That is where I ran into trouble. I have never laid stone. I have a pretty good understanding of how it should be done, but it turns out I lack one important piece of the puzzle…..the ability to pick up and move stone large enough to do what needs to be done. Henry saw my handiwork and asked if I would like help. Of course! He had to take out 90% of my work and he worked on it on and off all week. Bottom line….no potato bed, still.
The garden is changing on a daily basis now. I got three squash mid-week and cooked them with onions. They were very good, but three squash is not much. Yesterday I picked 5 and I may get one or two more today. That will be enough for a good mess. I also have radishes coming out of my ears. I found a recipe for braised radishes in Mark Bitman’s cookbook and will try those tonight as well.
My one big problem with the garden right now is cucumber beetles. Now, don’t be fooled by the name. They eat squash, cucumbers, melons…any cucurbit. I have used and organic repellant of essential oils and insecticidal soap. Neither of these worked and I feel they may like it. I am going to make some hot pepper spray today and see if that works. I am trying not to use neem oil as it will kill beneficial bugs as well as the bad guys. I bought a book called Good Bug, Bad Bug and she suggests using beneficial bugs to fight off pests. The only problem is I am afraid I’m to late for that. Nevertheless, I am getting produce….it just looks like I may have to share it with the bad guys this year!
slipping through my fingers 