Although we still have plenty of growing going on in the garden, it’s time to start preserving some of your herbs. Just like I process the beans, berries, tomatoes and zucchini as the summer progresses, I like to harvest my herbs and preserve them a little at a time as well. This way you won’t be overwhelmed at the end of the season with a massive job. Cooking with freshRead More →
Pavlova is an unassuming dessert. It is simple to make and it looks so plain by itself. But add a luscious fruit topping and you end up with something wonderful! If you bake the Pavlova correctly, the outside will be crispy while the inside will be marshmallow soft. Then cover it with whipped cream and fresh summer peaches for a sensational dessert. The Pavlova only takes a few ingredients toRead More →
Did you grow a cutting garden this year? Or do you have perennials that you love and would like to spread? Are you enjoying the flavorful herbs that you’re growing? If so, then you need to think about saving some of your seeds for next year. Saving seeds is easy to do and it will save you money when you go to plant your garden next spring. And if youRead More →
I have to face the truth…how about you? I am a procrastinator. I’m not really sure why, but I know that it’s a habit that I want to break. I have been procrastinating at hanging pictures back on the wall after our paint job. I have been procrastinating at going through my paper piles and I have definitely been procrastinating on dealing with all the zucchini we are growing. WhatRead More →
Every summer I grow sunflowers in my garden. I don’t grow them to eat the seeds but instead I love to use the flowers in my bouquets. One benefit of all of the sunflower plants are the little birds that it brings to the garden. Little finches, wrens and sparrows love to feast on the seeds as they dry. So I decided to make a Dried Sunflower Wreath for myRead More →
So it’s time for the August Soup of the Month and of course it has to be Summer Garden Vegetable Soup. This is an everything-but-the-kitchen sink kind of soup. If you are a gardener then your produce is growing and ripening in your garden…ALL at the same time. I love that about August. Well except for the zucchini. You want to go out and pick a nice zucchini for dinner. Read More →
Although I’ve alluded to my recreational property in some of my posts, I’ve never shared about it directly. So I thought it was time to talk about my cabin. Because Secret Springs is a big part of my life. It’s a place that we retreat to most weekends during the summer. When we first bought our property, we pulled a trailer up to it and that worked for a fewRead More →
When summer hits, and flowers are blooming, I like to make bouquets to give away. And that means I’ll need vases to put those flowers in. Throughout the year, I save glass food jars to use for my flowers. But just giving a bouquet in a pickle jar is not very attractive. So over the years, I’ve found ways to make these simple containers special. Here are some of myRead More →
If you’ve been growing flowers in your garden, now is the time to start making flower bouquets. I grow a cutting garden every year specifically to have flowers for myself and to give away. I want to share some simple tips for arranging flowers. If you don’t grow them yourself, you can pick up bouquets at your local farmer’s market and the grocery store. Simple Tips for Arranging Flowers…Read More →
Summer is the perfect time to explore new vegetables. Whether you are growing them in your garden or selecting them at the farmer’s market there is such a wide variety of options available. Marinated vegetables is one of my favorite ways to enjoy the garden abundance. You can use any type of vegetable for this side dish. So try your favorites or add in something new. You can make itRead More →