Melissa's House

I'm on the road again....off on an adventure.....Oregon bound!

Last night I spend the night at my niece, Melissa's, house in Portland. Here she is in the garden with my two "greats"...

Everything at Melissa's house looks like it came out of a Pottery Barn catalog.....

But it's not! She's either made it herself or she's found it at a thrift shop or garage sale.....

It's the perfect start to the perfect trip....

10 Random Tidbits

1. Tomorrow I'm heading to Oregon for  a week to spend some time with my family. Levi is going to run the garden......so take it easy on him people!

2. Look at this amazing Purple Cauliflower!

It got picked.

3. Speaking of getting picked....The Rhubarb was huge this year and there was so much of it that I was worried I wouldn't be able to sell it all. Here is what the Rhubarb looked like this Spring....

And here is what it looks like now....

Poor Marmalade is feeling a little bit exposed now.

4. People bring me the nicest things.....I've received samples of  food that's been made from things they have picked at the garden....Lemon Sorrel/Strawberry Sorbet, Spinach Salad, Incredible Spring Rolls, Rhubarb Compote, to mention a few. One lady even brought me some Chicken Vegetable soup when she found out I was sick a couple of years ago!! They keep me supplied with pots, grocery bags, egg cartons and Berry crates. And today....some of my favorite customers brought me this fabulous grocery bag keeper!

And I really needed one! Wasn't that nice?

5. I'm almost done harvesting Garlic...

I'm sad it's almost over, but I'm thrilled that for the first time I'll have enough to eat, enough to replant, and enough to sell!

6. This happened just down the road from us....

That's why Lucy barks.

7. Levi can't stop making Crepes and it's putting a serious dent in my egg supply....

If you don't know Levi you probably find these photos disturbing...if you do know Levi you probably don't find them unusual at all.

8. I specifically planted Sunflowers in the garden this year to use in gift basket flower arrangements....but they are so pretty I can't bring myself to cut them.

The only solution I can see is to be sure to plant more next year.

9. This was my lunch today....

Brown Rice, Fried Rockfish, Garlic Scape Pesto and Spinach leaves on which I drizzled a Balsamic Vinegar Glaze.....it was delicious.

10. Sitka is not good Bean growing country, but every year I beat my head against the wall and plant some more. I just can't resist fresh green beans. This year it has been so warm that the Green Bean plants are in really good shape! Behold, the first Green Bean of the year....

What? Can't you see it? Oh it's there all right....just you wait....Green Beans this year, Baby!

I Love Rainy Mondays

It rained...

The only day I usually get to pick the Raspberries is on Sundays when I am closed.....except for when it rains. No one likes to pick Raspberries in the rain! So when Monday is rainy I'm sure to get a double dose of Raspberries.

I was soaked, but I was happy!

And now amazing things are happening in my kitchen....

And as always, there's a mess....

Crepes

Today was Farmer's Market day....always a busy day which starts early and ends late. Levi held down the fort here for me at the house while I was gone. He watched the garden, washed the eggs, did the dishes and laundry....what a guy!

Levi has been talking about crepes ever since he got home from France. Today I was able to bring him one from the Homeport Eatery and it must have inspired him.....he and Isaac decided to make crepes. Then they put everything they could find or buy to put in them on the table....sort a mix of Mexican and Italian plus Nutella. There were so many toppings and fillings that we hardly had room on the table for our plates!

 They were so delicious!

 
Good job boys!

Mulch

At low tide I've been collecting seaweed....

I use it to mulch around the vegetables.

 It feeds the plants while discouraging weeds and retaining moisture.

Seaweed is truly the most amazing stuff....and it's free.... I bring it home by the truckloads!

And....because my Dad requested it....an update on the ducks. Here are our 3 babies....

They're getting big, aren't they?

The ducks do not really enjoy all of the hot weather we are having. They spend most of the day laying in the Raspberry patch in the shade.

I think they are hoping it rains pretty soon.

The Weather Is Here.....Wish You Were Beautiful

I can't believe how long of stretch of nice weather we're having.....it's unprecedented actually. And the vegetables are LOVING it! I've never had such big Peapods...this one took me 5 bites to eat!

And the Raspberries are spectacular!

Everyday the sun shines!

 Nothing is more adorable than babies in sunhats....

Nothing is cheerier than a sunflower against the clear blue sky....

And nothing is as dirty as my feet at the end of the day.....

I'm happy!