No Garden this Year :(

Back and Legs kept getting worse and I just could not keep up with gardening this year. So last week my son finally mowed the "weed haven" down. I still have not given up on my dream though. My big investment next Spring will be a Mantis tiller. Those are the lightweight tillers that will allow me to weed and cultivate without all the bending and stooping! I've decided to start a "veggie box" business. My plan is to each week fill I hope around 25 boxes full of my garden produce and include a newsletter with info and recipes. I plan to price this very reasonable and customers will know they are getting local, homegrown, produce with no chemicals being used in the process. It's still my dream and I'm going to make it happen! Fall is fast approaching and you know me...FOOTBALL! Very dissapointed in the Colts loss in the Superbowl this year, but I believe they will be in next years and WIN! Son is in football camp this week. He loves it even though it is so unblessedly hot! He has really changed over the year since he has been going to the gym for a good 8 months now. Getting taller and muscular. He looked really good on the field last night. I'm very proud of him! Well, I know I've said this before but I will really try to update more on my blog! Till then...

I'm Back!!!!!!!!

Hey there..Happy New Year (late)! Can't believe it's february already and the Colts are in the Superbowl Sunday! Gotta get that out of the way before I can concentrate on anything else! Well of course both garden's are gray, bare and cold! Plan on ordering my tomato, pepper and lettuce mix seeds next weekend. They say you can plant lettuce on valentine's day. If I get a decent 40 degree day between now and then I can get a spot ready to plant some lettuce. In late February/early March I will start my tomato and pepper seeds. Still haven't got that digital camera yet! But my tax refund is coming! I'm starting to heal. Still have the nerve damage problems with my feet, and I have upped my neurontin. Tried lyrica but I couldn't tell it was making a difference and it costs me $60.00 a month. The steroid injection I received in early December has been working fairly well for my back. But there still seems like something is not quite right. Now I have a left foot that is in severe pain everyday, so I need to see about that. In March as we may get a few 50 degree days I plan on preparing the soil in my garden, enhancing it with compost, manure ect. Stay tuned for more posts from me...I am officially off hiatus! GO COLTS!

Last Post before the New Year...

I still have not given up my dream of market gardening. As stated in my plans from my previous post, I fully intend on working this winter to put it all together. I was thinking last night about not getting any younger, and people thinking they are in a rut, but there is still room to grow and expand (mind wise, not waist wise, which I'm doing) and start living their dreams. This is mine. I am having a procdure done next week to help with my back. Which the prognosis has been changed several times now, to a bulging disc with other disc damage. I'm having a procedure to help alleviate the pain, hopefully with long term effects. As far as the nerve damage in my feet and legs, it's still there, but I feel more and more that it is related to my lower back. I found a digital camera that will be on sale, Thanksgiving. I'm getting that to use for my blog this spring. I've started ordering seed catalogs, trying to decide what I can start out with marketing, plants or seeds, and how to present them when I sell them. I'm getting some pretty good ideas. I want to deal mainly in fresh herbs, and some smaller unique or heirloom vegetables. My niece is excited about this also, and she may be of help. So that is it for now, getting ready for all the big Holidays coming up. Colts are sitting at 10&0 but I think the NFL angels are getting really tired of playing with them to keep them afloat lately. The last few wins, I know must have been divine intervention! God Bless till January...HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

The blog and future plans....

My writing is in blue today for the Colts!! At least they won their game last Sunday and so far sit on top of the AFC South. The other teams in that division lost their games.

I thought I would share with you my future plans for the blog...First I'm going to post some flyers advertising my blog in my local area and hopefully get some input going from fellow local gardeners. I also will acquire a digital camera and add a lot more pictures! As I go through seed catalogs this winter and make plans for my 2010 garden I will share this with you. I grow my tomatoes and peppers from seed that I usually get from a nursery in Farmersburg. But if I want to make a business out of heirloom tomatoes and peppers I will need to order these from specialty catalogs. You just can't find that kind of seed around here. I get all these garden catalogs but I've not ordered a thing from them. Usually because I don't have the money at the time, or it's just so convenient to go to local places to get plants and seed. But then you don't have the variety. I think everyone should grow something food wise. Even if it's just container gardening. There is nothing like growing your own food. I'm not a health nut by any means but I've been reading and thinking about what really goes into commercial food that they ship or truck from many miles away. Besides the amount of fuel used, I have read articles where tomatoes are green so they will ship well, and then they are gased to turn them red. Reading about meat would scare you as well. I know it's an oxymoron because I work for a commercial fertilizer and chemical facility as well as being a Monsanto Seed dealer. I will write more on this, and other things that I would like to see done. For now I will post once a week. I've got about a month now until I see the neurosurgeon, so I'm not sure how that will all work out. So for now..see ya next week!

Tears in my eyes...

I've looked up at the clock three times already today. The first when the first plane went in, then when the second hit the other tower. The Pentagon and at approximately 10:20 I will look at the clock again and remember Flight 93. It seems (and I included at times) have forgotten the terror of that day. But when the anniversary get's closer it really sticks in my mind. That was one of those moments that you remember exactly where you were, what you were doing, and the initials feelings. I was on the phone here at work calling Graves Plumbing to pay a company bill. The office girl was not responding to me on the phone, so I said "are you still there?" She said she was sorry but she was watching/listening to the news, and that two planes had crashed into the World Trade Center. Initially she thought it was a big plane and a small one, so my first thought was that some air traffic controller really screwed up. Then she said it was two big ones and the news was saying it was deliberate. I told my boss and we turned the radio up and listened all day as the events unfolded. No work got done really. We were all in a daze. Watching planes fly over us and then learning that they had all been ordered to land. For three days the sky was eerily quiet. The first plane I encountered after that was on a camping trip. It was late and I was already in the tent trying to get to sleep and this jet flew over. It must have been flying lower than normal in that area and it was very loud. I was very disturbed by it but I did not look out at it. Let us all never, ever forget that day. The people that lost their lives, the rescuers that lost their lives, the passengers on 93 that did not let the terrorist hit their target.
Never forget.............

Various Ramblings of my Mind.........!!

Still awaiting seeing a neurosurgeon in October, actually the end of October. No one ever seems in any hurry to help do they? Well, my ex husband and I had a blast from the past when I cooked a dish that we haven't had in well over 10 years and you'll die when I give the recipe!
Many years ago before kids, I lived the nice single life in Bloomington Indiana. I had a roommate named Missy and she fixed this dish one evening. I was sure she was actually an alien or had done some major drugs (she doesn't). All you do is brown about 2lb of ground beef with lots of chopped garlic, I'm saying at least 8-10 cloves. DO NOT drain the grease out of the skillet. Add enough ketchup (my ex says it has to be Brooks) to make it saucy and then add 1 small can of drained corn. Heat this through and serve over spaghetti. That's it. Now I know it sounds really gross, but it growns on ya and we thoroughly enjoyed it last night! My son would have ate most of it too and was proceeding to until I told him it had corn in it. He thought that was the garlic! Well that did it for him! I had some leftover today at lunch.

I've been thinking about my garden for next year. I have scouted various seed catalogs that I have from this year reading on organic pest controls. I have never used anything in that regard though my dad will dust my beans from time to time with Seven. I did notice a quite a bit of leaf damage, ect this year and would like to learn more about organic pest controls, so that will be a winter study subject or if anyone reading is an expert, please jump in!

And last but not least for now........IT IS FOOTBALL SEASON!! My son has his first 8th grade game tonight and next week the NFL will be in all it's glory. I am already looking up recipes to cook for Sunday the 13th. Colts play at 1:00!!!! Oh, that reminds me, in our newspaper yesterday there was in insert called Relish Mag. It was very interesting in the regards of food and recipes. I got on the online version earlier and was very impressed by the recipe database. I've already printed quite a few.

I suppose I should get back to work before I catch the glare of the boss!!! Till later........

Doctors have finally found something!

After another bout of pain, I had a MRI last Friday of my lower back. They have found some kind of protrusion and have referred me to a neurosurgeon. It could be a disc or something pressing on my nerves which would explain the nerve pain I have been having for the past year. It was almost a relief, but going to a neurosurgeon doesn't exactly sound good! But hopefully it is something they can fix and I can be in less pain! Well this weekend is supposed to be cooler and less humid so I plan on cleaning up my garden. I should have more beans to pick and the bigger ones that I've let go, I'll save for seed. I am really thinking about trying to start a little garden business next year if my health goes well. I would like to sell fresh herbs and heirloom tomatoes, peppers ect. I've been wanting to do this for some time. Gardening is such a passion for me, and I was so dissapointed this year because I couldn't really keep up with it. I hope next year is much better.

On the football front, my son is in eigth grade football and he loves it. The Colts looked good last night in their second pre-season game and I will soon be in football heaven when the regular season starts! I will post at least once a week on updates and garden ramblings. I appreciate everyone who reads this blog and welcome your comments.

On Hiatus...

I am sorry, but I'm going to take a little Hiatus from blogging for awhile. I will have a new round of medical testing soon to see what's causing the nerve damage in my legs. I haven't kept up with my garden like I wanted to. Next year, my plan is to use the little garden for herbs to sale and the bigger one to specialize in heirloom crops to sell. I will probably give up planting corn :( But for all the work and not having the space, it is probably a good thing. I have plent of farmer's around here who bring in truck loads of sweet corn they have grown and give it to us. I will return when I am finished with all this medical stuff and I hope to then have a digital camera and turn this blog into fun and educational reading material!! Till then...Wishing you all the best!

Being Lazy...

I am sorry that I have not posted for awhile. I have just gotten plain lazy the last couple of weeks! Not much new in the garden anyway but the beans are still kicking. I thought all my zuchinni plants were dying out, but the other day I noticed there was a resurrection! And I have more zuchinni coming on!

Well I have thought about this for some time and I think I'm going to conduct an experiment Saturday. I have several herbs in my herb beds that need cut and preserved, but I have always wanted to sell fresh herbs. My idea has been to cut and bunch up fresh herbs and sell them in front of my house for starters with recipes and hints. So I think I'll set up a card table and sell what I have just to see what happens. If it goes well and I get positive feedback I'll turn my little garden (after some soil conditioning ) into an herb garden with more varieties to sell. It's been my dream for awhile so I think it's about time I did something. I will let you all know how that goes so stay tuned!

There's more than corn and beans in Indiana...

But you wouldn't know it from looking at my garden. The beans are really coming on strong, and I need to keep up with them. I froze the last of my corn Sunday evening. And last night I made mock apple pie, using zuchinni. It turned out great! Since I'm at work, I'll post the recipe this evening. Just wanted to let everyone know that I haven't dropped off the face of the Earth!!!

FINALLY!!

I figured it out! This zuchinni isn't nearly as large as the ones I had last week. Those have been shredded up, bagged and put in the freezer for future zuchinni bread and other endeavors. My neighbor made a mock apple pie out of zuchinni yesterday and I'll tell you there is no difference. If you didn't know, you wouldn't guess. I am making one this weekend and I'll post a photo of the pie and the recipe. Sorry this is going to be a short post tonight, but I have corn to shuck and bag up. Tommorrow I'm going to cut it off the cob, cook it down and freeze it. We've had a few ears now and the corn is very good and sweet. I just wish I had a big field to grow it! Like I could keep up with all that. On a sad note a Worthington landmark burnt to the ground Sunday. My prayers are with the Reel family during this difficult time. I'm so glad no one is hurt and Worthington has a great team of volunteer fireman that put their lives on the line for times such as this.

Errrrrrrrrrrr.

I don't know what's going on with my phone but I can't seem to take a picture with it and send it to my computer anymore. I guess I'm going to have to seek my techno son's help. However he is staying all night at his grandmother's tonight. You all have got to see these monster zuchinni I got out of the garden. About six "HUGE" zuchinni. I plan on shredding them up in my food processor tommorrow and freezing it. Tonight for dinner we had the first corn on the cob!!! It was delish! I also fried a smaller zuchinni and I discovered that if you use equal parts of jiffy corn muffin mix and flour they turn out much crispier and less greasy than using flour alone. On another front I need to weed more. My legs have been giving me so much trouble lately I really haven't got into the garden, thus the huge zuchinni!! Next year I'm going to cover crop the small garden and not grown anything for that season. The soil really needs to be fed and worked up. I'm getting some ripe tomatoes but the plants still look awful. The ones in the big garden look great. So I'll close with the hopes I'll get a pic on here tommorrow of the zuchinni. I'm kind of tired tonight so see ya for now...

Technical breakdown...

I'm sorry I haven't posted as much. Still no internet at home but I am taking care of that this week. I've been trying to post pictures on here from my cell phone via my work e-mail, but that doesn't seem to be working either. We had the first batch of green beans yesterday!! My idea of green beans is to fry a couple of bacon slices till somewhat crisp and the skillet has a good coating of grease and then dump the beans in with some water and simmer for a couple of hours, adding more water as needed. I know some people like them tender-crisp or steamed but not me or my son. My neighbor's grandson likes to eat them raw! Also we will be eating corn on the cob by the middle of the week! Can't wait for that. I plan on having a cookout Sunday with my friend John and my neighbors. It will feature corn on the cob! My tomatoes in my smaller garden are looking weak again so I plan on tending to them this evening and surround them with compost. I know that soil in that garden needs built up big time. The big garden is doing great for its first till. I had better get back to work. I would like for everyone reading this to say a prayer for three local youths who had a atv accident last week. One is in very serious condition with a possible severed spinal cord, the other a badly broken leg. The driver was fortunate that he was not hurt as seriously. Keep these boys in your thoughts and prayers. Thanks.

Dreary Fourth..

This is the second year in a row we had rain all or most of the day on the 4th. Mitchell and I did not go to the parade. He slept in while I made breakfast and the macaroni and cheese I was to take to my mom's. I heard the jets fly over the house and I wanted to be there but I was not going in the rain. We had the cookout and I got to see several members of my family I haven't seen in a while. I was really tired after that and went home and took a nap until about 4:00. The fireworks got cancelled and it just didn't seem like the 4th. I hope next year surely it will be sunny. I don't even mind if it's hot because we can just get in mom's pool during the cookout. It's tradition! On the garden front, I've worked in my smaller garden and got all the tomatoes weeded and tied. Same with the peppers. I haver several peppers coming on and it looks like I'll have loads of tomatoes also! Still haven't gotten my cilantro planted. Need to do that! On Thursday evening I weeded the green beans and two neighbor girls came over and wanted to help. I grudgingly let them, I was hoping they didn't step on or pull plants up but these girls knew exactly what they were doing, and did it very well. I was impressed. They really enjoyed doing it too. I actually saw a few beans coming on yesterday. I'll snap a photo this evening. I also need to start freezing some zuchinni. I have mass amounts! I might have mentioned it before but I was told you can just slice and freeze zuchinni and then thaw it out sometime and fry it. I'll also freeze some shredded for future break. I'm taking my computer tower to someone this week so hopefully soon I can post from home instead of work. Stay tuned for a post this evening....

Good weekend..

I had a fairly good weekend pain wise, I felt a lot better and it finally cooled down to a decent temperature. I went to work on weeding the garden. It looks so much better. The corn is putting on ears and my tomatoes are starting. I guess I better start my cilantro pretty soon. Can't wait to make fresh salsa! Also I have a bumper crop of zuchinni but luckily I have some eager folks wanting to take some off my hands. I also made zuchinni bread yesterday. It was awesome. I'll post some pictures soon. I still have no internet at home. I'm waiting until I can afford to have someone look at it. I've missed so many days at work it's been a struggle. I can't believe Saturday will be the 4th. Time goes so fast.. Here is my recipe for the bread I made yesterday...

2 cups shredded zuchinni
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
3 eggs
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla

Mix well in large bowl, divide batter into two loaf pans. Bake at 375 for about an hour.

Enjoy!

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Still no Internet

My internet is still not working and I'm going to have to take my tower in to someone to see what's wrong. But I'll try to post from work until I have it fixed. The corn has straightened back up! Several people said it might since the roots were still in the ground. I never did get a pic posted of the corn laying flat but I mean it was flat and so matted down. It looks good though and should be ready shortly after the 4th, probably a week or two after. I can't believe the 4th is almost here already! My son is looking forward to the carnival and then the big cookout/reunion we have at my mom's. I have my 25th high school reunion coming up on the 3rd also. It seems time flies by so quick. Soon school will be starting again and FOOTBALL!!!! I took a look at the Colts schedule the other day and there are 5 night games that don't start till 8:30 or so. I hate those. Because I absolutely have to stay up till the end and then I'm draggin butt the next day. But being the loyal fan that I am, I will keep doing it. It has been so blasted hot and I really need to get out in both gardens. It had been too wet to get in them to weed but they absolutely need it badly. So my plan for this weekend is to get out early in the morning as soon as it's light and get to work on those weeds. Mitchell, his friend Dalton and I went to Holiday world yesterday. I spent most of the day in the water and they did also. It's nice that they are old enough to run around and I can sit in the wave pool or lazy river. My legs just can't handle the walking and climbing anymore. With this peripheral neuropathy I never know from one day to the next how I'm going to feel. I have good days and bad days. I sure got burnt yesterday though!

Storm...

We have had a fierce storm move through here this morning. All my corn, which was about waist to shoulder high is lying flat. My dad says it will straighten up, but I don't know. I'll give it a week and if not I'll have to replant which means I won't have corn until the first of September, so I'm pretty upset right now. I think my zuchinni plants are going to eat the neighborhood...my plan today is to make zuchinni bread. But I'm upset about the corn. I'll post a pic of it later this evening. Bye

No Internet at Home

There was no post from me this weekend because my internet connection is not working properly. When I get it fixed I will fill you in. Sorry...

FIRST HARVEST!!!

CAN'T WAIT FOR CORN!

BEANS DOING GOOD

PLANTS

FRIED ZUCHINNI

Today Mitchell and I feasted on our first fried zuchinni of the year out of MY garden! It was delish. There is nothing like growing, harvesting and eating food that you yourself have grown! Laurie if you read this, I know you'll be proud!! Also I snapped photos of the corn and beans that have really taken off now that we got a little rain, unfortunately so have the weeds. So I was out hoeing and pulling a few this evening. I'm going to visit Orschelen Farm Store tommorrow to see if they have any buckwheat seed. This is a summer cover crop to plant in bare areas of the garden to choke out weeds and add organic matter to the garden when you till it in. This is the first year that I'm going to try cover cropping. In the fall I plan to plant a nitrogen fixing cover crop to till in the following spring. The corn is getting taller, can't wait to bite my teeth into that! Won't be long. It is a 74 day corn so it should be ready a couple of weeks after the 4th. My son was proud of our prize tonight and he is beginning to show some interest in the garden finally. Of course at 13 he is too cool for things like that, but eating it is a whole different story! Funny, story, his dad called him today and he didn't believe he had Mitchell on the phone. He thought it was a buddy of his and he kept asking for Mitchell. He finally hung up and Mitchell called me and told me, so I call Donnie and said That is your son, his voice is changing!!! Which it is. Oh, my I don't know if I'm ready for all this. Sunday, I plan on making That's Good Chicken which you will find in my older post. This will make good use of my herbs that are out of control! It taste great and is so moist. Look for a post this weekend. I'll share some more recipes!! Till then....