The Mennobrarian

Some tri-color violas blooming in a shady part of the garden.

Our garden is still very productive, though cucumbers are done. We are still enjoying the bounty of tomatoes, peppers (all types), carrots, and we expect to harvest corn in the next few weeks (remember, it was the last thing to go in.) I had a brief bout of envy last week hearing about some of you buying pounds of tomatoes all at once and then canning them in the space of a few days. Oh, don't I wish that all my tomatoes would ripen at exactly the same moment so I could process them and get it out of the way! Instead, a few pounds here and there come due and oh, I don't have time for making sauce today but it has to be done, and then the cycle repeats every other week.

I have also started a new project In the Garden, and it is one I have not tried before. Harvesting black walnuts! We have a tree on our property and it is just now starting to drop the walnuts wrapped in their thick green husks. It is a bit daunting because black walnuts are notoriously difficult to crack (an ordinary nut cracker just won't do, and some folks have developed techniques involving bricks and hammers). And it is nearly impossible to extract intact pieces of nut meat from them, but a delicious treat awaits those who put in the effort. Perhaps at some point I'll do a more detailed post on the black walnut harvest.

Everyone likes to play show and tell with their flea market finds, and since Amy Jo asked...here were a few of mine that were picked up on our time away.

I buy old linens for one of two reasons. One, I usually have the best intentions of using them in our house at the time I am making the purchase. Or two, my creative wheels start spinning and I know there is a sewing project in there somewhere. Oh, and those small round doilies? They make great canning jar covers, fastened with a ribbon, if you give your preserves as gifts.

Here are some of the kitchen items I bought; the double boiler (old enamelware), the melon baller that the man gave me for free because I bought the pastry cutter, a five-cup sifter that is practically new and was only $2, and a once cup sifter for a dollar. Yes, I've been getting by without a sifter until now. Things like this happen when you have a small wedding and don't get a million gifts.

On the Table: This morning the house smells of toasted oats, nuts, coconut, and honey. No, I'm not baking, but making a batch of cereal. Recently we've been enjoying fried green tomatoes, which we like so much that there was just no waiting until the end of tomato season to indulge. Also, buttery pole limas and of course, sliced tomatoes and basil on warm bread.

On the Nightstand: "Heirloom: Notes from An Accidental Tomato Farmer", by Tim Stark.

In and Around the Home this Week

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love them!

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