"It is well to remember that the entire population of the universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others." A.Holmes

Monday, August 17, 2009

No Lounging Around & Eating Bon Bons, Thankfully!

Except for the basil, this harvest is but a little bit of what we are harvesting from the garden and orchard my husband has planted and tended. Now I need to be busy about preserving it. Fresh plums, apples, beans, tomatoes ,cucumbers, pea pods...they don't keep for long in the summer. The basil is from our daughters' family garden. Tonight my husband put the basil, garlic and olive oil through a food processor and then froze the concoction in an ice cube tray , to then put in a Zip-lock bag for future use in spaghetti sauce. Saturday was the local 'Saturday Market' our Community Club, and in particular, Robin Griffin , is trying to get going in our community. Here is my booth , with our dog Beatrix as my companion . People in our community are welcome to come and sell what they produce from their gardens, flocks, and crafts. I sold some almost grown Frizzle Bantam chicks. The Frizzle chicks have been very popular, and I do not have enough chicks to meet the demand for them. Good thing the bantam hens love to hatch out and rear the little feathered cuties.
I sold 2 wethered ( castrated ) ram lambs this weekend also!
My husbands' vegetable garden is producing lettuces enough to give us salads galore and share with a lot of people . These lettuces , when combined with our cucumbers, tomatoes, and herbs , are more tasty than the usual salad and it is probably because my husband planted a big variety of them and they are prepared fresh from the garden.
I sold all our extra eggs at the Saturday Market.
And for this Saturday gathering in our home, yes, after spending all day at the Saturday Market, we had a big pot of our fresh from the garden green beans with bacon to add to the potluck. A very busy weekend for us. Harvest season is upon us, not much time for resting, but we did get a nap in anyway. Now I need to make sure I do get the beans canned, the plums jammed, the lettuces cleaned and prepared for salads, the remaining chickens and sheep readied for the fall and winter. So much to do , and the abundance so richly provided by God is not to be wasted and squandered. No lounging around whilst eating bon bons for me these coming weeks. Thankfully!

16 comments:

LindaSue said...

I'm salivating at the sight of those green beans! Yum! I am jsut starting to get eggs regularly enough to plan to sell a few - I'm thinking $2/doz. should help keep us in chicken feed 'cause my 8 fat hens really go through a bag of feed. When DH feels better - I really need a chicken tractor (or 3!) to get the girls out on grassy areas for bug patrol. Great idea to have the local market -seems as the economy has tanked more people are interested in buying local. My garden was like my summer - lots of foliage (busyness) and not much production. Hoping the fall planting will be more productive for us. Enjoy the harvest!

LindaSue said...

BTW - jsut is a new spelling - sheesh I'm not proofreading before I post - sorry!
my verification word is noided - looks like something I'd make up!

Anonymous said...

Hi Kathy, Wow, you have been busy and God has richly blessed you with fresh fruit and veggies. It makes me hungry just seeing your pictures. That pot of green beans with bacon looks delicious. In our area we always say "potluck" too. Where Karen moved to in IN, they call it a "pitch in!" No matter what you call it, it's good eating! Have a good week.

Eggs In My Pocket said...

How wonderful everything looks! You are doing what I want to one day do.....sell things from my farm! I just think that is the most wonderful lifestyle ever! blessings,Kathleen

Lanny said...

What? No bon-bons? Are you sure? Don't you know country life is laid back? That we country folk just sit around on our hammocks and drink ice tea or lemonade?

Good day at Saturday Market for you! You actually have things to peddle! I'm still trying to humanely battle my yellow jackets per Dirt's request. So far I can't touch my irises and one of my spade forks is stuck in the middle of a lot of humming and angry not-bees.

Karen said...

What colorful pictures! Thanks for sharing the bounty.

Vickie said...

Good-lookin' veggies there. Ours from our garden are long gone. I was planning on having a fall garden, but don't know if I'll be able to or not. It's getting a little late... sigh...

Anonymous said...

What? Not even one bon bon?

Kathy, if you are anything like me, you prefer the bounty that you are harvesting over the bon bon. BUT you cannot tell it by MY waistline. :)

Beautiful...beautiful God's bounty!

Nancy M. said...

I love your little booth! That is so awesome that you have a place to go and sell things like that. You sure sound busy right now, but at least you took time for a nap. I love my naps!

Susie said...

Kathy that harvest looks wonderful! How nice that y'all are able to grow such beauty. Congrats on selling at the market. I would love to see a market like that here.

KathyB. said...

LindaSue, I love green beans and bacon and can eat the whole pot all by myself. They make a perfect summer dinner.

I have noticed the people stopping to browse at the market are specifically looking for produce and flowers.My husband will have many of his extra Hostas, Hellebores and and other plants potted up for next springs markets, we sold out of them the first market day. How is your DH doing now?

Mildred, I like that term "pitch in", I think I will use it too. And thank-you.

Kathleen, your produce will look very nice for sale next to the display of embroidered items you are selling.Your embroidery is exquisite!

Lanny, alas , no bon bons. I am battling yellow jackets too. I went out to the orchard to pick the remaining plums and every piece of dropped fruit and much of the fruit still on the tree was covered in yellow jackets and hornets. We have never seen a year like this with so many of the stinging devils.

Karen, thank-you!

Vickie, some years we just have to throw in the towel and say "next year". You and your family have had a lot to deal with this year, I am amazed you have accomplished what you have.

Mary, no bon-boms, and you're right, the beans are what I really prefer, and if I keep adding as much butter, salt, and bacon to them my waistline will look like I have been eating bon-bons!

Nancy, for some reason , Sundays seem to be my nap day. And if it is a rainy Sunday, then for sure.This makes Sundays my real rest, relax, and refresh day. God knows I need that, He does.

Susie, we are fortunate to have a diligent woman working hard to get things going, and she is working hard. I am thankful for her!

Paula said...

Yes, you have been busy, Kathy! I love going to market- whether I'm buying or selling. You never know what you'll see or who you'll meet!

Thistle Cove Farm said...

Lovely harvest! Your booth looks so attractive, that's one thing that draws people to a booth, how things are presented. I know I'm preaching to the choir but having gone to several markets, it never fails to amaze me how people will just toss out some produce and then wonder why it doesn't sell.
One of the markets doesn't allow dogs and says it due to state regs...which isn't true of course but the manager is a tyrant and simply doesn't understand how dogs, music, demonstrations add to the "festival feel" and bring in more people...vendors and buyers both...which means buyers get what they want, sellers get what they want and it's a win-win situation.
Your market looks wonderful, from the bit I could see. Just wonderful.

Kenleigh's Fiber Studio said...

What a great weekend! I love that you have chikens in your booth - what a fun addition! Enjoy your bounty.

Anonymous said...

What a blessing to live the farm life!! All this looks so wonderful!

Connie said...

All your produce looks so yummy, Kathy! So much hard work, but worth it for such a rich reward. Best of luck to you at market. :)