It's all about the Food

Happy Memorial Day, everbody.

Had a busy day today.

I started out, after the cockers of course, by picking 20 lbs of strawberries before it got too hot this morning.  Our neighborhood organic farmer released the field for culling.  I culled 1/2 and left 1/2 for others.  I may go back in a few days to see if I can get some more for jam.  The ones I got today were for wine.

Had a bit of a dilemma.  I only have one primary fermenter, but we found a substitute.  However, I only have one mesh bag left as my backup got destroyed.

So, I processed the berries and froze them until I can get to Wilmington to get more bags.  Freezing won't hurt.

My blueberry wine is coming along fine.  I think the temperature regulation is the trick.  My SG is at 1.06 after two days.  Nice and slow.

Then I pulled three peaches off one of the peach trees.  The first was over ready and the wasps had gotten to it, so I gave it to the cockers who were fighting over it.  The second two are just about ready.  I have about 5 left on the tree, but can't reach them and they are still a little green, I think.  I had Jim water the trees today as they were looking droopy since we have had just a little rain.

pair of payches from the paych tree.

We had also received a couple of containers of cherry tomatoes from our neighborhood organic farmer:

from grafted plants

I then thinned out 1/4 of my bull's blood beets.  I have not been checking them and they really were ready to be thinned.

middlin to large

small to middlin

I cooked them up, peeled them and froze them.  I will have to do more when I get time this week.

Here is a pic of the squash I got yesterday.

waiting for some mates.

After all that, walkies.  It was hot and dry, but I did get some bug art.

Oops, this is bird art

I'm thinkin hummingbird

Definite pelican

After I got home, and after I removed two unattached ticks (its tick and yellowfly season), I opened my email and got a message that one of the wineries of which I am a member is having a whine contest.  In fifty words or less, you must present your case to get a case, i.e.  the winner gets a case of wine.  It was too good to resist, so here is my entry:

Mother's crazy

Husband's lazy

Garden's dry

Cloudless sky

Daughter's broke

Pay's a joke

Hens won't lay

TV don't play

Car won't run

Engine's done

Eat too much

Food's a crutch

Clothes won't fit

Flies don't git

Porch is hot

Boyfriend's not

But I'll be fine

Just need wine.

It's not strictly true.  The TV works, the car works and I don't have a boyfriend, but the rest is pretty accurate.  Hope I win.

bak bak