Monthly Archives: September 2007

shucks. first frost.

09 . 30 . 07
We had a frost last night. I don’t think I have ever not lost a thing in the first frost. I always think about harvesting everything and then don’t and then regret it. I knew I should have picked everything yesterday. It wasn’t a horrible frost…My tomatoes and peppers are OK. But oodles of brown, wilted basil sit in my plot. A bit can still be salvaged. I did already make two gallons of pesto but still, I hate wasting all those fragrant green leaves. Read more on shucks. first frost….
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apples and a very pretty scale

09 . 29 . 07
My friends, Bobbie and Shirley from down the Bitterroot, gave me bags of perfect, delectable Macintosh apples. Turns out this year was a great apple year. Today I made pureed apples for bug. I decided it was time to purchase a kitchen scale as I have been guestimating all these years. I took my glossy, linens-n-things (what a dumb name) coupon and off I went. Madonna’s Holiday was playing as I entered the fluorescent store. I really find l-n-t to be extraordinarily depressing. They had scales that were plastic and fragile and $30-$40. I know I am hard on my kitchen equipment and that if I bought one of these scales, I’d be buying a new one in less than a year. With the coupon burning in my jean’s pocket, I strolled to Ross Dress for Less thinking just maybe…and there it was all lonely on an end cap. There was only one. It was a beautiful blue stainless steel scale for $11.99. I could hardly breathe it was so pretty and such a great buy. So I happily cored my apples with my super apple corer (that I scored at a garage sale for $1) and placed the perfect, sweet coils in my shiny new scale. I felt so complete at that moment that it was hard to move on to the canning. Pureed apple recipe:5 lbs. apples2 cups water yield: 5-6 pints Peel, pit, core apples and then measure out the 5 pounds. Put fruit in large sauce pot and add water. Cook over medium heat, stirring until apples are soft. Puree in food processor or with my third favorite kitchen item (I got to use them all today), the *immersion blender*. Then cook until boil. Keep stirring. Add sugar if you desire. Ladle puree into hot jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Adjust two piece caps. Process for 15 minutes in boiling water canner. Read more on apples and a very pretty scale…
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no fair. whah.

09 . 23 . 07
I planted gigantor sunflowers in my garden on May 30. They claim 110 days to maturity and that is pretty much right on as they are just now bursting at 116 days as the days cool and frost threatens. So it is my fault–I always think they will move more quickly for me. I am bummed I won’t get to enjoy them too long. But I will enjoy them. Next year, I’ll start the seeds indoors in March. Read more on no fair. whah….
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hungry squirrels

09 . 21 . 07
A ravenous creature with small teeth nibbled on my zucchini. I have never experienced this before. The bastards also took down my tallest sunflower. This makes me feel all icky inside because I always stick up for squirrels because their movements remind me of my cat, Olive and also because they are mammals and I feel like people think of them as flies and would probably swat them if they had a big enough swatter. I feel like I am being punished for running over that squirrel on Spruce Street a few years back. His little tail was flailing in my rear view mirror. It was horrible and had I not been in tons of traffic that forbade me from flipping a bitch and putting the guy out of his misery I would have and now I think the squirrel goddess is punishing me for not having quicker reflexes. But, seriously, they are very twitchy creatures. Read more on hungry squirrels…
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two years. well, ten, really.

09 . 18 . 07
Today my man and I celebrate our two year anniversary. But we’ve been together for ten. I always have to get that in especially when people see me pregnant and say things like, “wow, you sure are in a hurry!” And then I say, “look sister, there ain’t nothin’ hurried go’n on here.” Anyway, here we are, two years wed and knocked up. An aside: I have had a headache for 31 hours. Andy quickly threw on clothes after work and didn’t realize he was wearing green shorts and a green t shirt and then he grabbed his coat and it too is green. I wore the super hot getup of maternity jeans, a black t shirt and a huge, knee-length, wool, bright blue hooded sweater. smokin’. So, Kermit and Mrs. Doubtfire got take out from our fave thai restaurant, came home and ate with our animals. I haven’t posted in a while because my computer screen goes black for no reason and I am taking advantage of the dimming vision I have for a moment. It could be fleeting. I’ll be quick. I am typing through the headache haze for the sake of The Blog. We decided (or I decided and then told Andy how fantastic it’d be) that it would be great fun to purchase gifts based on the traditional anniversary thing. So, year one was paper. I bought him a book of the permanent collection from Dia: Beacon, where we got engaged. He bought me an ink drawing by our friend, Dustin. This year is cotton. I bought him some ski tickets for this winter because everyone keeps telling him that when the kid comes he won’t get to go and that just isn’t true. I absolutely want him to go skiing. What does that have to do with cotton? Well, you aren’t supposed to wear cotton while skiing. duh. Andy thought this year was leather and he bought me a gorgeous green purse! It is Parisian! My man has bought me many things in the last ten years but nary an accessory of this sort. I am stunned. I love it. Read more on two years. well, ten, really….
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