Garden update, cabinet is in and dinner

We took the morning to see your grandson Logan get his gold belt today. Karate has really helped him to become disciple might 6 year old.

While in the city we ran a bunch of errands. 

Then home to the garden and chores. 

Zucchini plants are amazing. 

All kinds of tomatoes... looking divine. 

Strawberries...

Scallions

Onions...

Pickles... cucumbers. 

and Thai chili peppers

We did manage to get the new cabinet in the sewing room.

And emptied a lot of boxes of fabric. 

Callie supervised and approves. 

We wanted a light summer dinner.  Most of it was from the garden. 

Lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, zucchini, beets and from the pantry garbanzo beans we had canned. 

We also paired some of our pickled beets with goat cheese and snacks.

I was afraid Dude would hate dinner but he had two bowls and ate all the snack plate! Then he said, "good dinner Hon".  I was surprised. 

Time to settle in and relax for the evening. 

peace 

Another canning day, what I'm reading and back to school band days.

The day is started with a big mug of coffee in hand and slicing beets to be canned.  I was in a fog most of the morning and a stiff upper back after hauling the rock slabs to get to the greenhouse yesterday.  Soldier on, I told myself.  Despite the dog begging to come and play, I wanted to get the canning done early.   

I put a book on cd player to listen to. 

It is also a day of living in the present season.  Last year, after 8 years of living here,  we added A/c thinking we were going to sell and move to the mountains. So far we are still here.  This summer with temperatures in the upper 90's I began using it.  My husband hates it and challenged me not to use it and live as a homesteader.  The season of the day is canning season. I had the jars boiling no a/c and going for it. (the winter we only use our wood stove).  I adapted and decided to can in the morning and enjoy my "spa day" over the steaming stove. Outside it is the season of "monsoon" ...the rain has created a wee lake and mosquitos have found it.  The coyotes recently got most of my guineas but I have guided my lone survivor over to eat up all the bugs. I do enjoy the quiet of the day and going at my own pace. Canning continued. I enjoyed seeing each tie-dyed design my happy little vegetables would give me.

As I waited for the jars in the water bath I peeled more carrots...a short stubby variety.

And finally , nineteen delightful little packages ,that, in the coming seasons, will be a welcome gift. The last batch was a spiced beet , this one is a simple sweet canned beet.

Reading... I love this book. It is step by step way of container gardening.

On the homestead music is important and useful in so many ways. If you can play in instrument then it is an added bonus! I got done canning just in time to go help with the band boosters of the high school graduated from. It's an hour away but worth it. When I was in high school this is what the band looked like. It was so big they had to take the picture from the roof of the building.

But today there is only about 25 people in band...total. Our symphonic band class was bigger than the band is today.

I feel it is very important to keep the arts in school. Somehow we need to ignite the spark in kids to get involve and learn music. Anyway, it was good to be back and helping.

peace

Vacation to higher altitude, how they garden plus beets, beets and more beets

The first half of the week we decided to head up the mountain to see how things are grown and what animals people raise.  We went to Steamboat Springs which is in the northwest area of the state and closer to Wyoming. Oh, and because it is Dude's favorite paradise place.

There is still snow along our route. Yes, this is July. 

A big sport, besides kayaking, paddle boards and tubing, is fishing. 

Steamboat usually has 4 months of winter. This year they had 6! The runoff is strong. 

They don't have the vicious windd we have out on the plains due to the protection of the mountains.

We did see a herd of Alpine goats, one of our favorites. Along with some llamas and sheep. I met some fellow yarn loves and they pointed to Yampa Valley for sheep herders who raise lambs for wool. Spinning wool is growing up here in popularity.

It is hay cutting time. 

So cool seeing the ski runs in the summer. 

Greenhouse growing was seen everywhere away from the town.  Where your garden is planted matters in high altitude growing.  Planting with southern exposure is important. Those who live in Denver know the frustrations of buying a north facing home... it takes the snow a long time to melt.  Raised beds are another handy move to use in the mountains and container growing is every where. Of course, cool weather planting does well - greens, lettuce, spinach, carrots, potatoes, beets, etc. . Their average  of  frost free days are 59, that's tight.  A lot to learn growing at a higher altitude ...and a lot of patience. 

Today we are back on the homestead.  I started the day in the greenhouse since the temperatures reached 100*! What a difference from the 70's and some low 80* days in the mountains.

Spring lasted a long time here and I need to clean it up and out. 

Beans are finished and needed to go!

I was going to clean out all the beets but there were so many (and I already canned a case of beet relish!) I only took half to work with today. 

Took all the lettuce out and 1/4 of the mustard greens. 

I did have an audience.  Hello little friend. (Yes, those are Norman's whiskers in the picture - grin)

I did dry thyme and some oregano. 

Then it was time to deal with all those beets! 

First up , borscht.   

It turned out wonderful.  I have two quarts left, one to keep, one to share. 

Then canning a batch of pickled beets. 

I ended up with seven pints plus one to eat this week. 

There are more, some are in the oven right now as roasted beet with balsamic vinegar. I will serve with goat cheese to go with a steak dinner.

That's it for now.  Time to read... here is our book club read this month. 

I did finish this book and loved every minute of it! I won it from a Homestead Book Club. I will pay it forward and purchase another, I really enjoy it and was inspired by it. 

peace