The Garden

The bird bath with Frankie's birthday present to me stuck in the ground (daddy helped him make it!).

The shade garden.

The new flower boxes Tim made me for my birthday.

I added two new perennials to my garden this year firefly coral bells.

I also moved the cute solar powered lights from my backyard to the front. The grass doesn't look so great in our front yard, but everything else does.

What's Growing At The Dallums?

Well, I'm growing of course, but my garden is too!

The whole picture.

Broccoli

Green Pepper

Jalapeno

Swiss Chard

Collard Greens

Cherry Tomatoes

Pea Trellis and Vines

Green Bean, Hot Cherry Peppers, Jalapenos, Basil and Yellow Bell Pepper

The Garden

Okay, this first picture isn't of the garden, but Radar is just so cute sitting on the picnic table that I had to put him first. He's been so anxious to get out and play and since it's been raining every day for about the last week and a half yesterday was a happy day for him. The sun peaked out just long enough for a couple of great pictures.

Radar, otherwise known as "Mister Mister, Darsy, The DAR and Poodle Beard

Up close and personal with our coleus.

At least the cherry tomatoes are still happy.

Thai basil and nasturtiums

purple cone flowers and purple fountain grass

Black Eyed Susans

Our front "unmowed" lawn.

The heirloom, Roma and big boy tomatoes are looking a little sad. Production has definitely slowed down. The purple and green peppers are looking water sogged. The basil is great and I definitely have to make some more pesto. I might get another zucchini or two. The sunflowers are being eaten by the morning glories and finally I got no green beans. Lots of blossoms, but I think the morning glories ate them all. At this point I'm just trying to use all of it along with the veggies I get from our CSA at Harmony Valley Farms http://www.harmonyvalleyfarm.com/.

My Kitchen and Tonight's Dinner Fresh From the Garden

This is my lovely butler's pantry. I do a lot of prep in this room.

Bow tie pasta, tomatoes, peppers, basil, garlic, zucchini--All from my garden (except the pasta of course).

Cherry tomatoes and basil from the garden.

My stove and fridge. It looks neat now, but wait until I start cooking.

Big Boy tomatoes, peppers and zucchini and basil.

The porcelain table top I found in a yard sale that we attached to a cart for extra counter space. I love this invention.

My kitchen isn't the biggest or the most modern, but it fits me.

Summer Nights

6-27-07 Peas and Beans

6-27-07 The Deck 6-27-07 Heirlooms, Peppers, Herbs and Nasturtiums

Last night I canned 8 jars of strawberry jam in the most stifling heat ever. Tim was making bars for Heather's 26th birthday and I was canning. The heat in our kitchen was amazing (not just because of our natural beauty). The jam turned out great--I had some on a piece of toast today. We met up with our friends MW and RW at Britts to watch MW in his lawn bowling league. The sunset was perfectly amazing bright raspberry pink and purple. I reminded me of cotton candy. I don't think I've ever been to the roof at Britts before. We drank these great cocktails called bootleggers: lemonade, mint, tonic and your choice of spike. They were so refreshing...MW and I decided we would try to recreate them this weekend. We'll see how that goes. MW and RW just got back from a trip to Italy. Talking to them it reminded me that I want to do more traveling...Yellow Stone here we come.

Other than that life is pretty calm. I watered the garden this morning because it was nice and cool out--thank goodness. Tonight we have kickball. MH is coming over for dinner. I'm going to take some pics of kickball tonight to show you all how amazingly sporty I am.

Tootles