August garden update

Okra blooms are so fleeting that I have been trying to capture one at just the right time all summer. I've seen buds and the next time I look, they're withered. I finally got one! 

This Better Boy plant has outgrown its cage, so I built an addition with a stick and some twine. 

 Cucumbers have taken over most of the garden bed and have produced more than any of my other plants. They've grown all over the air conditioning unit. They've attracted bees. If you like cucumbers, I will give you some! 

I've had a few bell peppers. This one keeps growing bigger and bigger, but I'm waiting for it to turn red. 

Occasionally, Dan gets a wild hair and picks some cucumbers. On this particular day, he ate three. 

I'm not sticking to a regular blogging schedule now, but I plan to continue posting whenever the mood strikes. To make sure you don't miss a post, subscribe by email on the right side of my page, just under my profile. 

Independence Day prep

The last few years, I've enjoyed wearing patriotic outfits for all of July 4th week. Blue and white is my favorite color combination for spring/summer, so it's easy to put together outfits that fit the week's theme. 

This blue floral printed scarf is my favorite hand me down scarf from my mom. Her hydrangeas have been gorgeous the last couple of weeks, and I decided to snap photos with them while I tried out a few looks with the scarf. I had a great outfit and hairstyle in mind (those ideas don't always turn out how I picture them) with a head scarf and my long hair, but I forgot to do it before I cut my hair! Oh well. It looked a little silly, so I tried the scarf some other ways and liked the big bow ponytail. 

What do you like to wear for Independence Day? Do you dress for the holiday all week? 

teeny tiny tomato and curlicue

I discovered that one teeny tiny tomato is growing on my Better Boy plant. I had to snap a picture before it gets eaten by the deer! This year, I have very low expectations for my first real experiment gardening, so I am easily pleased. 

Today is supposed to be my first day off of work for the summer. I'm heading in anyway because I'm not quite done with my work, but I'm SO looking forward to tending my garden this summer. 

I've enjoyed getting home from work each day and looking after my dog and my plants, and I absolutely cannot wait until I can have longer, slower mornings doing just that. After the heavy rain the last two days, last night was the perfect time to pull some weeds. There is much to be done even in my small garden, but I only pulled a few weeds, and the rest will have to wait. 

That's just a bit of what's on my long list of things I want to do this summer. I already know I'm going to have to prioritize. I should learn the lesson that I can't do as much as I think I can in as little time as I think I can do it by the fact that I'm still working!

My cucumber plants are sprouting pretty curlicues, too. The day I eat a cucumber that I grew, I'll be a happy, happy girl. 

Any suggestions for keeping the deer away? Dan chases them, but he's not outside all the time. 

What about must-do's for summer? 

cookout with the Kirks

I had a great lazy afternoon/evening at a cookout hosted by friends this weekend. LH carried out a picnic theme, using borrowed supplies from her mom. What a creative way to serve watermelon! It's a bug! 

They decorated with tissue flowers, which I didn't get a good picture of, jars, and pretty paper straws. 

Two of the guests brought three flavors of sangria they had made with homemade liqueurs. I didn't taste them, but they were beautiful! 

I didn't try the lawn games, either, though there was cornhole and a frisbee game. I tried for an action shot, instead. 

LH eats gluten free, which made for a fun baking challenge for those of us who decided to take desserts. I have been trying to eat healthier, especially cutting carbohydrates, so I was happy to have an event for which to give paleo cookies a go. 

By the way, could someone tell me what exactly paleo means? Between my best efforts to eat low carb and natural and having friends who don't tolerate gluten, I find myself making a lot of "paleo" recipes, but when my SIL asked me to define paleo, I couldn't. However, I do know what gluten is. (Thanks, LH, for this reference.)

LH's brother in law made these doughnuts using leftover coconut flour passed from Lindsay to LH to him. They passed on the flour because after using it to make gluten free foods, they decided they didn't like it. Well, he made doughnuts with it, and they were FABULOUS. I wanted the recipe but was scared to ask for fear that there's cups and cups of sugar. 

Lindsay made gluten free candy shaped cookies above and these Eiffel tower cookies. I sure do miss Paris! 

LH made pretty, pretty Pinterest-y dipped strawberries. 

Can you tell that sweet treats were the most photogenic aspects of the party? Isn't that always the case? The company was great, and the other food (hot dogs, pulled pork, salads, fruit) were delicious, too. I wish I had taken pictures of people and the gorgeous house! 

Thank you for including me, Kirks!

expanding my garden

After seeing my uncle's garden on Mother's Day, I was finally motivated to expand my garden. 

I mean, is this even a garden or is it a farm?

First, we had to clear out these bushes so that I could plant and allow my plants to get sun. Big thanks to my brother and my dad for getting these out! (I helped minimally.) I learned some lessons about roots as part of this endeavor. 

I started simply with a rosemary bush and more thyme. 

I planted bell peppers, 

zinnias, 

two varieties of tomatoes, okra, cucumbers, carrots, and daisies. 

My herb container is still growing. Bugs are eating my purple basil, and the taller herbs are hiding the thyme from the sun. 

We have geraniums,

mint, 

and now even more hydrangeas. 

I look forward to summer days watering and hopefully harvesting my garden with my helper!

herbs update

My herbs are doing well, and I'm watering even more now that the temperatures are in the nineties. I harvested most of my parsley, a little basil (green and purple), and much of my oregano last weekend. The green basil has been doing better lately, but now bugs are eating up the purple basil. 

I've had a little help with my watering each day and harvesting each weekend. I got to see my uncle's garden last weekend while we were celebrating Mother's Day. I was so impressed with his potatoes, broccoli, tomato plants, and more. He said that I still have time to plant, so I'm hoping that I'll finally get around to that soon. 

I'm thinking carrots, cucumbers, okra, spinach, tomatoes, and rosemary are next. I would also love to plant some elephant garlic if I can find the lady at the farmer's market again this year. If even one of those makes it, I'll be thrilled!

Anyone need parsley or oregano?

front porch Christmas arrangement

I used extra limbs from the Christmas tree and nandina from the front yard to make this arrangement.  I added the nandina today and snapped a few more pictures of it. 

What do you think?  How do you use extra greenery from your Christmas tree?  

Christmas decorating: arranging greenery

My favorite Christmas decorations are plants.  Natural greens and reds are so beautiful to me, and the best part is that you can throw them in the compost or burn them in a bonfire after Christmas.  No storage space needed!  

I only wish that I could arrange flowers as well as my mom and grandmothers, but I think I do a decent job with greenery.

HMD earrings // Moon and Lola metal script monogram necklace // Tory Burch shirt // HMD sweater from Granny // HMD belt from Mom // J. Crew cafe capri // Minnetonka moccasins