Now we're cookin!

Ok, So this isn't the first of our canning this year, but it is the first I am blogging it. This is Spaghetti Sauce. I started it Saturday afternoon, it simmered all night and all day toady. I have just now finally finished up with all the clean up and stuff, giving me time now to sit and report.

The first thing I bottled this year was Zesty Tomato Soup. It turned out beautiful but the night I did that I was up super late and blogging about it was the last thing on my mind! I was just glad to get it done so I could go to bed that night!

I think the one bad thing about gardening is, that it seems that everything all comes on at once! I suppose that is really not a bad thing, because then it lets you share the spoils with others if you don't have enough time yourself to get it all done.

I have given away all of the zucchini that people will take and sent tomatoes home with several and even sent a cantaloupe or two to people that I know enjoy them like I do.

I did go out to the garden toady and found that even more things are ready, so it looks like I will not be slowing down for a while. Tomorrow I plan on making some salsa and some tomato veggie soup. Mmm Mmm good! Anyway that's all I have for now. I love having a garden!

The fruits of our labors.

Well fall is quickly approaching and if you know me at all, you know fall is my FAVORITE time of year.

There are a lot of reasons for this, the temperature the changing of the leaves, Halloween ect.

One thing that means the most though is our garden! So much time and effort goes into planting, weeding and tending the garden, it almost takes on a life of it's own. It almost becomes one of your children. For those who never garden, that concept may never make any sense, but to me it is all too true! The worry and care you put into a garden is much like that of your children. Hoping that by taking the time you do, things will work out for the best! I feel that they are so similar that I even pray for our garden, mostly giving thanks for the blessings of being able to tend and watch it grow.

Now, the fun begins :) The fruit of our labors are starting to come about. Everything did really well this year, the melons have had a bit of a struggle and are a little behind, but they will make it. They will just be a little late. (again, like my children) What joy and peace I get from having a garden! I am grateful for being able to live in a place both big enough to have one and with good enough soil and the likes that it grows well here. Hope you enjoy, and when it is ready I will share pictures of what yummy things we glean from having our garden. I hope you enjoy, I know I do :)

Another garden post

So we just got home from St George today, and I would be lying if I said I didn't give my garden a thought while I was there. I have been fighting the squash bugs quite a bit and I was afraid that when I got home all of my beautiful plants would be shriveled and dead.

We did end up having a happy ending though! Yay for good spray and blessed eyes to see where the eggs have been laid. When I got home not only did the plants look great, they have grown just in the few days I have been gone!

When I was younger I never thought I would ever even think about planting a garden, and didn't understand the joy Mom & Dad seemed to get from doing so. Now that I am older and have planted my own garden for several years I can totally see why they gained such joy and fulfillment from planting and tending a garden! Thanks Dad & Mom for showing me that a garden can be so much more than just a lot of work! You taught me this and so much more!

I was getting quite dark when I took these pictures but it lets you see just how big the tomato plants are getting.

Garden update

So just a quick update on our garden.

Everything is coming along nicely. So far we have had peas, beans, peppers and zucchini and yellow squash. The corn is taking it's darn sweet time, but it is growing too.

I sprayed for squash bugs today, I hate those sneaky like things! They make me crazy! Last year I fought tham all season, and they did end up getting two of my plants. I am hoping to have better luck this year, I only found 3 of the little buggers today and I sprayed the heck out of the plants, so I hope I have the upper hand. Anyway, this picture is from last week and already this week things are bigger, but I will take more pictures next week and maybe thnigs will have doubled in size! We can only hope! I love the garden! It helps keep me calm.

By way of comparison (This one should be on the bottom)

Just by way of comparison. The last time we were at Shoshone was 1997! Look how little my kids were! Chet's folks looked the most different after the kids. Kinda fun to look back! I sure hope we don't go that long in between visits to the Falls next time.

Shoshone Falls

So today was Fathers day, and we decided to go on an adventure! :) We picked up Chet's Dad & Mom and headed to Idaho. Idaho? You might say. To that I would say Yes! There are so many beautiful places in Idaho and I love going there.

(This sideways picture by the way wouldn't turn and that is why it is sideways.) My cousin told me about a month ago, that Shoshone Falls was flowing really high this year, and we haven't been there since the kids were little so we decided today was a good day to go. Last time we were there Chet's parents were there with us, so it was fitting that they went with us today.

On the way there it started to rain. Not hard really but very steady. I was hoping and praying that when we got there, it would clear up even if for just a little bit. Prayers work! By the time we got there, though it was really cloudy and it did rain a fine mist on us a little bit, it cleared up long enough for us to enjoy a good hike. After words we went to grab a bite to eat, and just about the time we were finishing lunch, it not only started to rain, it started to POUR!!

It continued to rain on us just about the whole drive home. Clearing up about the time we hit Ogden. Such a good day! I love spending time with my family!!! I love them so much and I am so glad Chet's parents came with us to enjoy the day as well.

Thanks for the rain....

See my nicely weeded corn :)

So today, I have been being very grateful for the sun shine. After so many days of rain I was very glad to be working outside in the sun!

I do have to say though, that I am grateful for the rain! It has done such good things for our garden. After worrying needlessly about the rain washing the plants away, I went out today to find all is well and even that the weeds are for sure loving all the water. I spent quite some time pulling weeds in the corn, but had some other things that needed to be done so didn't get much else done in the garden, but I wanted to continue with the picture catalog of how the garden grows. I have never done this before and am really looking forward to seeing how it will all play/picture out!