AUGUST 10, 2023 in my GARDEN.
Photos taken by me wandering around about 7 am……….
With an OLD iPHONE.
BETTY showing off her profile!
This OAK LEAF HYDRANGEA was given to me years ago by a neighbor who was redoing her GARDEN!
The benefits of still having planting space!
I LOVE THE CONE SHAPE!
PLUS it has the two main colors I use in my garden.
Yellow and White.
This year this HYDRANGEA did not take off like normal!
MAYBE WE HAD TOO MUCH RAIN IN SPRING?
IT LOVES WATER…………..HYDRA means WATER RIGHT?
THE SIDE ENTRANCE which is mostly SHADE.
ABUTILON which attracts HUMMINGBIRDS.
Or INDIAN MALLOW.
We have had more HUMMINGBIRDS this year then in the past!
DOES not do well in the colder climates!
Fruit Trees are producing this year!
I SHOULD PICK THIS BEFORE A GORGEOUS CREATURE ABSCONDS WITH IT!
WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TWO!
ONLY TWO!
PLUMS.
A BENCH left over from the HEN HOUSE DAYS.
NOT REALLY USABLE.
AS IT IS BROKEN.
A birdbath I constantly find OFF CENTER!
CHICKEN COOP NO LONGER HAS RESIDENTS.
IT IS TWO STORIES AND COULD HOUSE BUNNIES OR BIRDS.
I HAD FORGOTTEN I HAD PLANTED THESE BULBS!
I LOVE WHEN THAT HAPPENS!
THE MOLES OR VOLES LOVE TO TUNNEL HERE!
SEE THE LOSE DIRT?
BRIDGE OF SIGHS…………..over the creek bed.
Composting on the RIGHT!
PENNY ROYAL the long green stem with purple.Smells heavenly especially when you walk on it!
A FRENCH BENCH that has decided to decompose in my garden………..
I paid a FORTUNE for it!
THE ITALIAN CAN RE-DO IT !
I MAY HAVE TO REMIND HIM A FEW TIMES!
ENTER THE VEGETABLE GARDEN.
BASIL STRAIGHT AHEAD.
Which will be CUT and DE-STEMMED for PESTO MAKING!
BASIL FOR PESTO.
WE MAKE PESTO FOR THE YEAR AND FREEZE IT.
IN FRENCH JAM JARS!
BE SURE TO PUT OLIVE OIL ON THE TOP BEFORE CAPPING;
AS THAT KEEPS THE MOLD AWAY!
THEN AFTER EACH USE.
A JAM JAR LIKE THIS CAN FEED TWO.
MANY TIMES.
NEVER ADD PARMESAN TO IT IF FREEZING!
THAT CAN BE DONE AT THE TABLE WHEN SERVING!
SO, EACH TIME YOU USE A HEAPING TABLESPOON OR A BIT MORE ADD OLIVE OIL TO COVER BEFORE PUTTING BACK IN THE REFRIGERATOR!
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE I HOPE?
WHAT YOUR THUMB NAIL WILL LOOK LIKE AFTER DE-STEMMING BASIL.
BLACK FOR DAYS!
ZUCCHINI FLOWERS which is why we BUY ZUCCHINI PLANTS!
I HAVE A FUN STORY TO SHARE AND A RECIPE TOO.
I WAS TALKING TO MY FRIEND SALLY IN BELGIUM.WE KNEW EACH OTHER IN FLORENCE in the early 1990’s.I TOLD HER I NEEDED SOME RECIPES!
SHE SENT A LONG LIST THEN A FEW DAYS LATER SENT A VIDEO FROM INSTAGRAM.
IT WAS A MOTHER/DAUGHTER TEAM.
THE RECIPE LOOKED DELICIOUS AND THERE WAS SOMETHING FAMILIAR ABOUT THE MOTHER TO ME!I ASKED MY FRIEND SALLY IF THE MOTHER’S NAME WAS ANN?YES!IT WAS AND I SAID SHE LIVES IN MY TOWN!THE DAUGHTER WENT TO SCHOOL WITH MY KIDS……
WE LAUGHED AND SENT EXCLAMATION MARKS BACK AND FOURTH!
WHAT A SMALL WORLD!
THE DAUGHTERS INSTAGRAM IS A BIG DEAL WITH 723K FOLLOWERS!
IT is called MAXISKITCHEN.
She is also on YOUTUBE,TIKTOK and has an AMAZON STOREFRONT.
I HAVE MADE IT TWICE NOW AND IT IS DELICIOUS!
DIPPING THE ZUCCHINI FLOWERS INTO THE FLOUR,WATER AND SALT BATTER.
YOU CAN STUFF THEM WITH MOZZARELLA AND OR GOAT CHEESE.
ADD AN ANCHOVIE TOO!
OR SMALL PIECE!
LA CONTESSA in her GARDEN in the early morning hours.
Can you see the GREEN BEANS BEHIND ME?
WE CAN FEED OUR STREET!
BELOW OUR GREEN BEAN TUNNEL!
GREEN BEANS FOR DAYS……..
Please do NOT ask me the name of this rose as I planted it over 25 years ago and of course I THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER FORGET THE NAME!
I DID.
CAN YOU SEE THE TALL ORCHRE TOWER AT THE TOP?
THAT WAS FROM WORLD WAR TWO.
AN ALARM IF WE WERE TO BE BOMBED!
THE NEW CHAIN LINK FENCE IS OWNED BY THE WATER COMPANY!
THAT IS WHERE LAST YEAR A CAR CHASE ENDED UP IN MY BACK GARDEN UPSIDE DOWN!
THE DRIVER WAS DOA………….that means (if you were as slow as me) DEAD ON ARRIVAL!
I had the police with their GUNS drawn telling the two passengers to put their hands up.
ONE GUY WAS ABLE TO DO THAT!
TOO MUCH EXCITEMENT FOR ME!
THE COMPOST BIN.
THE GRATE ON TOP IS SO BETTY DOES NOT JUMP IN AND EAT THE FOOD THAT ENDS UP IN THERE.
WE COMPOST ALL OUR GARDEN LEAVES AND BRANCHES AND FOODS.
IT PRODUCES ENOUGH TO ENRICH THE SOIL IN THE VEGETABLE BINS AND FLOWER BEDS EVERY YEAR!
DO YOU KNOW YOU CAN COMPOST USED PAPER TOWELS?
YOU CAN !
AND THE RECYCLE CAN DOES NOT WANT YOUR USED PAPER PRODUCTS!
WHICH INCLUDES NAPKINS, PAPER TOWELS AND TISSUES!
ONCE THE COMPOST HAS BEEN DECOMPOSED IT IS MOVED TO THIS BIN FOR NEXT YEARS AMENDMENT.
BOLERO IS THE NAME OF THIS ROSE.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!
FRAGRANT AND PROLIFIC.
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU HEARD ME SAY THAT?
TOO MANY!
BETTY MY ASSISTANT IN THE GARDEN!
BOUQUET FOR COMPOSTING………JUST AS BEAUTIFUL AS WHEN THEY FIRST ARRIVED!
TO ME ANYWAY!
ZUCCHINI RECIPE FROM https://www.maxiskitchen.com
SAUTEED ZUCCHINI:
2 TBSP BUTTER
1 CUP ONION,DICED SMALL
2 CLOVES GARLIC,MINCED
4 CUPS ZUCCHINI,SLICED IN THIN ROUNDS
1/2 TSP PEPPER
1/2 TSP SALT
1/2 TSP DRIED OREGANO
PIE PREP:
2 EGGS
1 CUP MOZZARELLA
1 CUP 4% COTTAGE CHEESE
2 TBSP FRESH BASIL,CHOPPED
3 TBSP FRESH PARSLEY,CHOPPED
2 TSP DIJON MUSTARD
1 PIE CRUST
FOR SERVING: FRESH PARSLEY, MINCED PARMESAN CHEESE GRATED ON TOP.
VEGAN MOTIFICATION:
SUB IN 2 CUPS VEGAN MOZZARELLA FOR THE MOZARRELLA AND COTTAGE CHEESE.
SUB IN OLIVE OIL FOR THE BUTTER AND LEAVE OUT THE PARMESAN.
1.PRE HEAT OVEN TO 375F DEGREES.
2.IN A POT OVER MEDIUM HIGH HEAT ,SAUTE ONIONS AND GARLIC IN BUTTER UNTIL ONIONS ARE TRANSLUCENT (2-3) MIN.ADD THE ZUCCHINI,SALT AND PEPPER AND OREGANO AND SAUTE STIRRING OFTEN FOR 6-8 MINUTES UNTIL ZUCCHINI IS TENDER BUT NOT COMPLETELY FALLING APART AND MOST OF THE LIQUID HAS COOKED OFF(IF THERE IS A LOT OF EXCESS LIQUID,DRAIN IT OFF)TURN OFF THE HEAT.
3.IN A SEPARATE LARGE BOWL,BEAT THE EGGS AND MIX MOZZARELLA,COTTAGE CHEESE,BASIL AND PARSLEY; ADD THE ZUCCHINI MIXTURE AND STIR TO COMBINE.
4.SPREAD THE PIE CRUST INTO A PIE PAN AND BRUSH THE DIJON MUSTARD IN THE INSIDE OF THE PIE SHELL;POUR IN THE FILLING AND ARRANGE ZUCCHINI ROUNDS ON THE TOP SO IT LOOKS PRETTY.
5.BAKE 35-40 MINS UNTIL A KNIFE COMES OUT CLEAN FROM THE CENTER(IF THE EXPOSED EDGE OF THE PIE CRUST LOOKS LIKE IT’S OVER BROWNING YOU CAN COVER IT WITH FOIL.)
6. LET COOL FOR 5 MINUTES TO SET AND THEN SPRINKLE WITH PARSLEY AND PARMESAN AND ENJOY!
RECIPE MAKES 1 PIE SERVES 4-6 PEOPLE.
PREP TIME 25 MINUTES PLUS 40 MINUTES TO COOK.
(CONTESSA ASSUMES THEY ARE USING ITALIAN PARSLEY VERSES REGULAR PARSLEY.)
PS. THIS BOWL OF PESTO MADE 42.5 JARS OF PESTO WHICH WILL TAKE US TO NEXT SUMMER IF MY YOUNGEST SON DOESN’T GRAB TOO MANY OUT OF THE FREEZER THROUGH OUT THE YEAR!
WHICH I LOVE!
I FELT FALL IN THE AIR ON SATURDAY WHICH IS WAY TOO EARLY HERE IN CALIFORNIA FOR ME!
I AM GOING TO KEEP THINKING IT IS SUMMER AND MY NEXT POST WILL BE ON CAFTANS AND HOW I WEAR THEM THROUGH OUT THE YEAR!THIS IS A REQUEST FROM MY DEAR FRIEND SANDRA SALLIN.AS SHE HAS FINALLY GOT THE BUG!
THEY ARE COOL FOR THAT Los Angeles HEAT AND SHE IS LOVING THEM!
AS A FOLLOW UP THE SLEEP APNEA MACHINE MINE; NOT THE TEST ONE I HAD FOR THREE WEEKS IS WORKING!I FEEL BETTER OVER ALL NOT AS TIRED.RECALL THAT DAY I HAD PHYSICAL THERAPY IN THE MORNING FOR THE NECK/ATLAS……..WELL HE TOLD ME THE ATLAS DOES NOT MOVE!!!
I KID YOU NOT!
WHY HAVE I BEEN GOING TO A CHIROPRACTOR FOR THREE YEARS TO GET MY ATLAS ADJUSTED AND HE SHOWS ME WITH MY FINGERS WHERE ITS OUT OF ALIGNMENT?I ALWAYS FEEL BETTER AFTERWARDS BUT WANT TO KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENS AND IF THERE ARE SOME EXERCISES THE PT CAN GIVE ME.
HE GAVE ME THREE EXERCISES TO START WITH AND COULD NOT ANSWER MY QUESTION AS TO WHY!HEADACHES, NECK PAIN AND MORE EPISODES ARE COMING FAST AND FURIOUS LETS HOPE I JUST HAVE TO WORK THROUGH IT…………..at this point I have nothing to lose.
THAT AFTERNOON I SAW THE SLEEP APNEA GAL.THIS WAS MY THRID VISIT AND SECOND PERSON TO TELL ME I REALLY DIDNOT NEED THE SLEEP APNEA MACHINE!
I KID YOU NOT!
REASON BEING A HAVE MILD SLEEP APNEA (STOP BREATHING 8.4 TIMES AN HOUR).
I TOLD HER AS SHE HAD NO IDEA THAT I AM IN HEART FAILURE AND IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! (THAT WOULD REQUIRE LOOKING INTO THE COMPUTER!!!AND DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH ON ME BEFORE GIVING ME THE REAL DEAL MACHINE.)
SHE SAT UP STRAIGHT IN HER CHAIR AND GOT A BETTER ATTITUDE.
I ALSO FOUND OUT MY LUNG DOCTOR WORKS WITH THE SLEEP APNEA CLINIC AND I ADORE HIM!SO THAT WAS MY KICK OF JOY FOR LAST MONDAY!
HE IS KIND, SUPER TALL,RESPONDS TO EMAILS IN ONE DAY and LISTENS!
SO,I AM GOOD TO GO IN THIS DEPARTMENT!
XXX
YOUR CONTESSA
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