Black Raspberry Season

My mother-in-law's backyard is alive again with black raspberries. 

I have picked about five quarts already and we have eaten one quart!  There are probably two or three picking days left....Sunday and next Tuesday.  And on the heels of black raspberry season, comes her wild raspberries.  They grow totally differently then the black raspberries, so I'm not even sure if you would consider them wild red raspberries.  They grow in a pod.  Whatever kind of raspberry they are, they are delicious and prolific. 

I'm going to try to get some pictures this weekend! 

Here's to summer fruit!!!

CSA Week #4

It's week four of the CSA!

Here is our share for Friday:

Full Share:

2 bunches of collard greens

1 bunch of kale

4 lbs zucchini & yellow squash

2 greenhouse cucumbers

2 heads of lettuce

2 kohlrabi

1 bunch of radishes

1 bunch of hakurei salad turnips

1 head of cabbage

1/2 lb bag of asian salad/braising mix

1 oregano and 1 thyme plant


I have been using everything over the last three weeks and if I couldn't use it right away, I par-cooked it and froze it (collards and escarole).  I am dying for escarole and beans and hope to be cooking up a bunch of stuff on Sunday, namely escarole and making two big pots of sauce - Meat and Marinara.  I am looking forward to making zucchini squares this week too (thank you, Maryanne). 

Living vicariously...

....through your kids!

No, I'm not one of those parents who do that....except for maybe these last two weeks!

My oldest has been "tweeting" pictures from all over Italy...making me very jealous!  Venice, Rome, Florence, (sigh!)

To be young and living in hostels and hiking up mountains and backpacking again! 

This Week

I have a lot going on this week.  My daughter's birthday, a trip to NC, a garden that desperately needs watering and some tending, a chicken coop that needs some cleaning out, some over-the-top extreme temperatures heading this way, a graduation party (I will miss), another birthday party (I will miss) and of course, the ever present workload.  My second son is now home from the Dominican and son number one is still is Italy now enjoying the Adriatic Coast, beaches and a little relaxation from all the "touring spots", and will be home this coming weekend.

If it will be close to 100 degrees here in CT this week, I can only imagine what NC will be like.....

Enjoy your week!  I will be back with pictures of our experience down south - I can't wait!

Happy Birthday Hope

Today is my daughter's 18th Birthday! 

Here she is at her graduation party a couple of weeks ago!  Unfortunately, she has to work today and tonight, so I only saw her for a few minutes this morning!

Earth Wind & Fire

And I am talking about the group!

Two friends and I went to see them at the Mohegan Sun Arena last night!  Wow, is all I can say.  I wish they played a lot longer, but what they played was awesome.  The concert lasted 1-1/2 hours.  No pre-band!  Just Earth Wind & Fire!  Three original members left and what voices!

They didn't sing "I like the way you move" which is one of my faves, but they did sing September and Boogie Wonderland and Let's Groove Tonight and it took me back (way back!).

If you ever get the chance to see them in concert, GO!  A forty piece orchestra PLUS the Earth Wind & Fire Band of 12 members!

Always a fun night when the dog gets sprayed

....by a skunk at 12:00 midnight.

Hubby didn't see the skunk, but he knew that he got sprayed, as soon as he let the dog out for one last pee!  Hubby's scream got me out bed!

I thank GOD it wasn't a direct hit - we actually smelled it in the house, from the windows, before the smell came to us from the dog!

Since it wasn't a direct hit, it only took one quart of hydrogen peroxide and one small box of baking soda to work it's magic.  I also thank GOD that my husband likes to plan in advance and we just happened to have an extra two quarts of hydrogen peroxide in the cold room for "just in case".    Garbage bag dresses and latex gloves are the clothing of choice when a skunk sprays!

I can't get the smell out of my nose, but it is out of my dog!!!!

Goodnight!

Graduation Party

My daughter's graduation party was over a week ago!  I haven't had time to blog or post and time just seems to get away from me.....

It was  a wonderful, CRAZY day with temperatures starting out in the high 70's.  Everyone sat in the sun and enjoyed the view, the beach, the food, the friends and the good time.

 This was the egg toss - there were about 20 teams - the two end teams tied for the win!

 My mom, Nancy and Linda!

 Richard and I!

 Richard and Thomas!!

 And here is the most beautiful woman in the world - our Nonni - 100 years old, wearing her Yankee cap and enjoying the festivities!  

 My husband's first cousins, Mary and Susie!

 Uncle Louie!

 Friends!!!

 My sister-in-law and brother-in-law.

 My sister-in-law Barbara and Aunt Jenny!

Most unfortunately, my son Dominic, who is in the Dominican Republic, has all the pictures of my daughter with her cake and her friends and a lot of other pictures - So I'll have to do a second blog on this when he comes home from his trip!

Halfway through the party, a storm blew in and we had thunder, lightening and the rain came in sideways!!  It lasted about 20 minutes and then the sun came back out!!  The day was a complete success even though my daughter locked her keys in her car, got bit by a tick and then had a crazy storm blow in!  It was a day to remember!

The Travelers

This was my son and niece getting ready to get in the car to take them to the airport for their 2 week adventure of backpacking across Italy.  My other nephew showed up late and I got his picture in there too!!

How many of us would like to be 23, 24, or 25 years old and be taking off on an adventure of a life time?  They are staying in Youth Hostels (which from my recollection of Italy in the 1980's were scary places), but from what Kailee, my niece has said, the hostels are "beautiful" - at least the one they are staying at in Rome!  They were doing the tour - 48 hours of taking busses all over Rome whenever and where ever you want to go (for 18.00 euros) - very good price!

We are lucky because they are able to email us through smart phones or some app called Viver.  My son  got a beautiful shot of the sunrise from the airplane (but he sent it to my daughter, so I don't have it! ;(

They will be traveling all over Italy and if Rick gets his way, they will take a detour to Poland to see some European Soccer Game?  Anyway, I'll post pictures if they send any and will keep you abreast of their adventure!

On the other hand, my other son is with five other people in the Dominican Republic!  He also left on Saturday morning, but at 4:30 in the morning and he slept at a friends house, so I have no pictures!  However, today, he sent me a beautiful picture of a white sand and blue water beach!  They have plans to golf, snorkel and zipline!  He is only away for a week!

And on the other hand (if you have another one?), my mom left for Italy six days ago!  She is doing the three week extravaganza with her cousin.  They are staying in Convents!  Who knew that convents rent out rooms to travelers (for a phenomenal price) with breakfast all over the country of Italy!  She is also detouring to Switzerland!  All our extended family is over there and she is making the rounds to see everyone!  Her last stop will be at the Hotel Roma in Senigalia, on the beach (the Adriatic Sea).

Everyone is on an adventure and I am home working.....what is wrong with that picture!

Freebies for Last Month!

I guess I have been busy, I didn't sign up for much last month!

Metamucil - two samples
Carefree Panty Liner
Lipton Tea and Honey to go packet (mango pineapple)
Tresemme Shampoo and Conditioner
Garnier Shampoo and Conditioner
Better Homes and Gardens - 1 year free subscription

D-Day

It is D-Day (in more ways than one!)

A good day to remember, thank and pray!

First CSA of 2012

I just received the email from the farm.  I am picking up the first CSA of the season this Friday!  I'm very excited about it and I will be splitting it with my sister again!

Here is what we can expect!

Full Share
2 Greenhouse Cucumbers
1/2 lb Asian/Braising Mix
1/2 lb Asian/Braising Mix (I'm not sure why there is two, but that works for me!)
2 Bunches of Radishes
1 Bunch of Salad Turnips
1 Large Bok Choy
2 Small Bok Choy Sum
1 Bunch of Swiss Chard
1 Bunches of Broccoli Rabe
1 Head of Escarole
2 Heads of Lettuce (buttercrunch, red/green leaf, or romaine)
2 Kohlrabi
1 Bunch of Kale
1 Large Ear of Popcorn
1 Herb Pot