From our garden....

Here we are at May 31 already!  It seems as though the year is passing quickly!  Perhaps the way our warmer weather this spring has advanced the growing season has something to do with that.  At any rate, I am sharing more from our garden today.

Zucchini on Monday morning.

Another one on the vine.

Later on Monday morning, we harvested these zucchini, and I sliced and roasted them for lunch.  Each day has brought more.  This is the first year they have been ready before the yellow squash, and we are still waiting for them!

A full basket!

We have more than a dozen zucchini now, just waiting to be changed into something delectable.  I'll try to remember to photograph and let you see how we use them.

Also in the basket in the picture above is the largest beet we have ever seen!!  Somehow it was overlooked in the garden from last fall's planting.  Others have been harvested that were not near this size!  We enjoy Harvard Beets, made from a recipe in Betty Crocker's Dinner for Two from the late-sixties.

HARVARD BEETS
1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
dash of pepper
1/3 cup liquid (beet juice plus water to make 1/3 cup)
1 1/2 teaspoons vinegar
1 can (8 oz.) diced beets, drained (1 cup)

- Mix cornstarch, sugar, salt, and pepper in saucepan.  Combine beet liquid and vinegar; slowly blend into cornstarch mixture.  Place over medium heat and bring to boil; boil 1 minutes.  Add beets and heat through.  Two servings.

We, of course, didn't need to use canned beets.  We were able to use the liquid from our initial cooking of the beets, and that has worked very well for us.  In past years we have also made pickled beets.  I know beets are not popular with everyone, but perhaps some of you enjoy them.

Thank you so much for following along.  I really enjoy your comments.

Next post - King of our castle....

Jousting and fairies....

If you have been following along for the past couple of days, you know that we recently attended the Renaissance Faire in Triune, TN.  Not only did we witness people in period dress, we also had an opportunity to observe some Renaissance-type activities.

Preparing for a jousting event.

In full regalia.

We actually watched the Royal Joust!  As I have mentioned before, the temperature on last Saturday in Middle Tennessee was very hot!  It was amazing to watch this event take place on the field in the sunshine, with the horses and riders dressed appropriately for the event.  This was the first time we have seen an event such as this, and we really enjoyed it.

Taking place in a more shaded location was a gathering of fairies.

Enjoying the shade.

They were eating a snack of apples and other fruit.

The Fairies of Covington Glen roamed about the festival grounds.  I found them most delightful!

Tuesday was a busy day, beginning first with a stop at the Weight Watchers center for my monthly weigh in.  By the skin of my teeth, I am still at goal making 4 1/2 years!  Then I headed for the Senior Center and some time playing bridge.  Today, my time is being spent with ordinary chores like laundry.:)

We are enjoying some things from the garden.  Come back for the next post, and I'll show you what we have.:)

Thank you for following along.  I enjoy reading your comments.

Renaissance Fair....

Before I proceed with this post, there is a bit of filling in of some details in the last one.

A Brit in Tennessee had mentioned the Renaissance Fair that was in progress in Triune, TN, near Arrington, located between Franklin and Murfreesboro.  We arranged a visit with City Girl who lives in the "big city," and made plans to head to Triune on Saturday. 

The Castle Gwynn is the result of a dream, in 1970, of a high school student.  As events proceeded, construction on the first tower began in 1980.  The second tower was begun in 1985.  Additional portions were constructed in 2004 and 2007.  Still a work in progress, the most recent work has been repair and resurfacing of damage caused by the construction of a new highway.

I should mention here that the tapestry exhibit, one picture which I showed yesterday, belongs to Imogene Stone.

This same highway construction forced the Tennessee Renaissance Festival to relocate to adjoining property across the road in 1997.  This was the 27th Annual Tennessee Renaissance Festival, an event that occurs on every week-end in May, plus Memorial Day.  So, if you didn't attend THIS year, you will have to wait until 2013!:-)

We did, along with many, many others, enjoy the Festival.  Hopefully the few pictures I am including will give you an idea of what the event encompasses.

Directions for Festival goers.

Rules of the Realm; hard to read, I know.

Fair program - map and events.

Renaissance attire.

More in period dress.

Continuing along the theme.

A very congenial pair.

Also true to the Renaissance period.

On this past Saturday, the temperatures in Middle Tennessee were very hot!   We were all amazed at how these participants wore this heavy clothing in the heat!

I have noticed new followers, and I really appreciate your following along.  I love reading  your comments.

Next post - Jousting - and fairies!

"For a man's house....

                                                    .....is his castle."
                                                                      Sir Edward Coke (1552-1634)

This castle is a man's home!

On the mention of A Brit in Tennessee, we decided to take a trip to investigate Castle Gwynn, built by an individual, and still not complete.  We toured the first floor of the interior, plus enjoyed the grounds.

                                  The gatehouse.

 

 

There was a tapestry display on the first floor.  I took several pictures, but this one seems to be the clearest one.

I thought the unicorns most appropriate for a castle.

There were several unusual items of decoration in the castle.

Do you have one of these decorating your house?

Or one of these?

The grounds were lovely, with a garden and a waterfall.

Begonias in full bloom.

                         Cooling for a very hot day!

We were able to take City Girl along with us, so that added more fun to the trip.:-)

I have noticed new followers!  Thank you so much for coming along.  I truly enjoy your comments!

Next post - Renaissance Fair....

Not just veggies....

First, I will admit that most of our efforts are devoted to the vegetable garden.  However,  we do have some plants that bless us with just their beautiful blooms.

Hydrangea!

 

 

This hydrangea was very small when we set it out in this location almost eight years ago.  Its growth has been phenomenal, indicating this is probably where it is happiest.  We brought it from our former residence, where it had not been flourishing.  It is full of blooms at this point.

Mother's Day gift!

This Mother's Day gift of a potted geranium also has white snapdragons and a rose-colored petunia, not visible in this picture.  The geraniums look especially cheery now!

We also have begonias to set out along the sidewalk.  Perhaps that will be a project for Monday!:-)  That will definitely be something to share.:-)

I really appreciate those of you who are following along.  I enjoy reading your comments.

Next post - A man's home.....

Craft?

I have been following several blogs that virtually teem with creativity!  There are some wonderful crafts that some of you are featuring in your Etsy shops.  While I have done quite a bit of sewing in past years, the sewing machine presently is languishing from idleness, and craft projects have always seemed to wind up in a state of incompletion for me.  The last thing I sewed was a pair of Raggedy Ann pajamas - from "vintage" fabric - for Little Munchkin almost three years ago!

The example that follows is something that was really within possibility for me to accomplish.  However, I picked it up at a craft shop a number of years ago to take to display in my third grade classroom.  When I retired nine years ago, I brought it home.  Hopefully you will be able to see how it looked when I washed it.

Oh, dear! Something happened to my "fluff!"

Just not very soft and fluffy at all!

Are you able to tell any improvement?

The stuffing in the pillow lost its body when I washed and dried it the last time.   This past week, after waiting nine years, I removed the old stuffing and added new polyester fiberfill to plump it up.  Oh, dear!  That means some needlework to stitch up the opening!  After only one prick of the finger with the needle, the opening was stitched, and the pillow was plump once again. 

This is an appropriate way to honor those whose sacrifices of past years enable us to recite this Pledge of Allegiance! 

May you have a good holiday week-end!

Incidentally, the pillow became part of a "Happy Summer Vacation" gift package for the Munchkins.:-) 

New followers - welcome!  I appreciate those of you who are following along, and I love your comments!

Next post - Not just veggies....

Blooms at our place....

We  have been having some afternoon and evening showers this week, followed by a couple of mornings that have looked like this.....

Morning fog on Wednesday and Thursday.

This picture is taken from the back door and shows the garden, the back of our property, and on beyond.
It was later on Wednesday morning when I was able to take the following pictures....

Potatoes now in bloom.

If you look closely, there is a tiny yellow squash in there!

Green beans in bloom.

                        Cherry tomatoes are blooming, too!

 There are some other things planted in the garden as well - okra, sweet potatoes, lima beans, onions and you may have recognized the corn.   The garlic is beginning to show that it will be ready for harvest before too long. 

This garden is what The Husband works hard at keeping in order during this season.  We fertilize it with only our compost, and we use no pesticides.  It is truly an organic garden!   We are able to share our harvest with others, too.

I notice new followers!  Welcome, and I hope you enjoy coming along.  I really appreciate your comments.  One of my followers, Beth, forwarded others to my blog.  Hopefully you will head over to Day by Day with Beth Marie.  I predict you will enjoy it!

Have a wonderful Thursday!

Next post - Craft?