1. Had a lovely visit with Ryan
For many reasons, we flew Ryan in for ten days. There were talks, discussions, tears, commiseration, and plans made. (We also enjoyed some delicious reuben mac and cheese at C3ntral Tavern.) He and John are heading to Montana next week on a fact-finding mission as Ryan contemplates the best way to move forward in his life.
2. Drank wine and decorated the garden
My SiL started adding blue bottles to her garden several years ago. I don't remember why, or if there even was a reason, but I've always liked how they look. They are especially lovely when the garden starts to wind down in the fall, and beautiful against the snow. Ryan and I finished this bottle of Riesling, so I decided this was the perfect opportunity to start my own garden of blue bottles. This one is marking my blueberry bush, and when I finish the second bottle that's currently half-empty in the refrigerator, I'll put it out next to my other blueberry.
3. Worked in the garden and kitchen
Our first-year garden in MD has been a real success. It may be because it was brand new so the soil hadn't been depleted of nutrients at all, or possibly John's careful tending, but I have barely been able to keep up with beans and tomatoes during the last month. At last I am caught up with blanching, roasting, and freezing and have a freezer almost full of snow peas, beans, and roasted tomato sauce. There may also be some corn in there in the next couple of weeks. I've complained about the work involved on several occasions, and that isn't a very exciting photo, but it makes me feel happy and accomplished looking at this freezer packed with produce.
Head on over to Carole's for more Three on Thursday thoughts.
Bravo to you on your full freezer! (Honesty post here - mine is absolutely not that organized!)
ReplyDeleteAnd, I will continue to send all the positive mojo I can Ryan's way. I hope the fact finding trip finds a new open doorway with a brilliant new path!
I am envious of your freezer's contents, but not so much of the work involved to reach that state of full-ness. Bravo, you! I love blue in the garden -- and think you've got a brilliant idea with your bottles. And sending all my best wishes to Montana and Ryan. I'm so glad you all had some time together. XO
ReplyDeleteI have a blue bottle in my garden too Would love to find the colors without paying lots of money. The pop of color is fun.
ReplyDeleteI saw a lovely "bottle tree" in a garden several years ago, and a few more since -- rebar welded together. I have a cute "dragonfly" in mine that has a blue bottle for a body (and a glass float for a head, stained glass for wings). All the best to Ryan and Big Hopes for Big Sky Country... I hope he finds a path. Love to you!!!
ReplyDeleteI echo everyone's good thoughts for Ryan and I hope he and John find something great for him on their trip to Montana. Love the blue bottle and hooray for a freezer full of produce!
ReplyDeleteThat is a lovely packed freezer! A friend of Colin's who also joined the CSA that Colin & Mailing joined just bought a chest freezer thanks to all the produce from the farm. Sending hugs your way and all the best wishes to Ryan - it's not always an easy world out there and he is lucky to have you and John by his side.
ReplyDeleteForgot to say - LOVE the blue bottle in your garden! Brilliant!! And that mac and cheese...sounds and looks delicious.
DeleteI need a blue bottle in the garden! I love the thought of the blue against the snow. Sending all the good juju to Ryan and John on their adventure and so happy you were able to have a good long and productive visit. xo
ReplyDeletePutting up food can really be a 'sigh...' kind of a task--but isn't it one of the most satisfying things to see it DONE!!?! Lovely!
ReplyDeleteWe were really lucky with the garden this year, and having an almost-full freezer lets me feel like the industrious ant instead of the fiddling grasshopper!
DeleteI will send good thoughts Ryan's way and hope that the fact-finding mission is a successful one.
ReplyDeleteKeeping the garden and dealing with the produce is a lot of work, but I predict that you will be very glad you did it when it's the middle of the winter and you pull some of that yummy food out of the freezer!
Looks like you had a productive and much needed time with family break. Your garden has done fantastically well! I am jealous. Down here we do bottle trees (bottles on tree branches), but I have not seen bottles in gardens. I like it! I hope Ryan finds his way, and that all of you are able to enjoy what you can of the process and the destination. I am sending good vibes his way. Don't worry too much, Mom, he will get there.
ReplyDeleteYou had a full and diverse summer vaca...love the idea of decorating the garden - that was quite plentiful too! Continue to enjoy the fruits of your labors.
ReplyDeleteCheers~
Best wishes to your son, I hope he finds his way! I like your blue bottle!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your good wishes, Debbie. I'll have another blue bottle for the garden after I finish a couple of glasses of wine. It's a win-win situation!
DeleteI once saw a garden wall made out of wine bottles and ever since, I've wanted to build one for myself. The wine bottle garden sounds much easier though. Although, I do wonder if the neighbors would see it and think, "Cool!" or if they'd be more like, "Wow. They must be alcoholics." LOL
ReplyDeleteI've always been attracted to bottles of that color and if I ever get another I'm going to put it in our community garden. My best wishes to Ryan as he and John search for a good step forward!
ReplyDeletePraying your Ryan feels good about his new decisions. Garden bounty is so sweet
ReplyDeleteThank you! I appreciate your good thoughts.
Deleteglad he flew in and I wish Montana was closer to you :) My son is applying to jobs this year for the start of next fall. It's driving me nuts that he might be far away!!!
ReplyDeleteI am glad you were able to visit with your son. Sometimes we need to see them in person. Montana is a beautiful state - big sky country isn't just a slogan. My brother lives out there and loves it. I think you preserved more veggies than I did but isn't it nice to have a freezer with summer's bounty? I am finally down to the trickle of the last tomatoes so we are just eating them. I grumble in August but am thankful in January and February.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you did a lot of good - for yourself, Ryan and your garden - in your time away. I hope these upcoming weeks bring more of the same for you and Ryan - and a lot less Work for your garden. Sending love. (and hopes that you'll find out and share the recipe for that mac and cheese ;-)
ReplyDeletehttps://www.almanac.com/news/gardening-news/bottle-trees-mystical-color-garden
ReplyDeleteSummary: Blue bottles were coveted, because they repelled evil and trapped night spirits to be destroyed by the rising sun.