baby green peppers!

zucchini flowers!

to do: some light reading

small victories: another strawberry

This, the second ripe strawberry of the season, differs from the first in that it was not trampled beneath the feet of my giant. We actually got to taste it! I felt it needed its own post. I washed it thoroughly and cut it into four pieces. It was the family strawberry, and it was delicious - quite possibly the best strawberry I have ever eaten.

While I'm talking eats here, I want to mention tonight's dinner: I tackled Smitten Kitchen's recipe for linguine with pea pesto. The peas were store-bought, but the basil garnish was garden fresh! (Small note: I used fettuccine in place of linguine, because that was what they had at the store that was fresh.)

I have a strong suspicion that peas may find a place on the 2012 To Grow list, as my son adores them.

epitome

Source: "Glorious Disrepair" Iekeliene Stange by Sonny Vandevelde for Karen #12 [Editorial] via Honestly...WTF

July 2nd thunderstorm, aftermath

A right tempest blew through the Windsor-Essex County region last night. If not for the damage on the ground, it would be strange to look out at the blue and sunshine morning and think the violence of the previous evening was anything but a dream. An ominous sky that changed from yellow-green to a burning orange dropped sheets of heavy rain, and wind whipped the world around in a veritable blender. Fortunately, it could have been a great deal worse.

Just the same, I suspect everything will need a bit of nursing today.

like a boss

the zucchini, today's MVPs

Happy Canada Day!

I celebrated our nation's 144th birthday by putting some work into the beautification of the very minute percentage of her I have on loan. For the most part, this involved a great deal of weeding. Funny thing about weeds, I have a rather unorthodox policy when it comes to dealing with them. That is, if they are pretty and look as though they might serve as a parasol (or midnight snack) for beings with wings and/or pointy appendages, they get to stay. (I have always been of the opinion that dandelions are underrated.)

Case in point:

yellow oxalis

Another maintenance item I was able to take care of today was the staking of the tomato plants.

Tomato plant B (on the right) is still suffering from a case of droopy leaves. Yet, it has actual tomatoes growing on it, while plant A does not. Curious. Henrik the gnome is giving them both the thumbs up, anyhow.

I picked up the stakes at Walmart, as well as five new moss plants - Scotch, this time, to replace the Irish, which was starting to look dry and beige at the roots and just not spreading at all. I'll have to take more care with this stuff - make sure not to over-water and all that. Scott asked if I plan to feed it whiskey, and, really, that's not all that bad of an idea. Desperate times, desperate measures.

Kidding.

Oh, and these are some wild mulberries growing between our neighbour's fence and ours. Isn't it nifty how nature just does its own thing? Respect.

In conclusion, I leave you with these few parting thoughts/lessons:

1. Dear Pale Woman, No amount of diligent application and re-application of sunscreen will keep us from you. Accept that a tan and likely some sunspots are in your future. You say you have SPF 40 and a hat with a wide brim? Ha ha. It is to laugh. Sincerely, The (UV) Rays.


2. When spraying oneself with insect repellent, take great care not to neglect the bum cheeks. It should come as no surprise to know that mosquitoes have no sense of personal space. ("Oh, excuse me there. I'm famished. Might I have a drink of your blood, please?") They will not hesitate to fly up your shorts.


3. The first thing to do before driving a shovel into the ground is to check for buried power cords. (No shocks, thankfully, but a definite whoops! moment.)