Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Harvests and reunions

We steamed this beauty and it's now in the fridge
Well, it's that time of the year, when the last things in my garden will be harvested, brought in and prepared for consumption. I picked this big guy yesterday, along with the remaining beets, and Smart Guy cooked them up right afterwards. I had some of this cabbage for dinner last night, along with beans and salsa. I even took a dose of Beano, since that combination has been known to be rather, well, explosive. Very tasty though, and I am definitely enjoying the fruits of my harvest.

I had to pull two enormous slugs off it when I started to peel back the outer leaves. I'm afraid I'm now a murderer, although I stomped them instead of salting them. I figured it's better for them to die fast rather than shrivel up in agony. They may be slugs, but still.
Me, Sally, and Carol
Sally and Carol have been on many of my Trailblazers hikes in the past, but Sally moved away to the East Coast, so the three of us met at lunch today to catch up and share a nice lunch together, since Sally is in town for a couple of weeks. We went to Avenue Bread, which has a great Greek salad that I love. We all got the same thing and spent an hour enjoying each others' company while we ate.

Then I dashed home on the next bus to write this post. I did indeed get a chance to get my knees in the breeze last Sunday and hope for more of the same this coming weekend. The low clouds began to clear around noon, so four of us played in the sky on two separate skydives. Linny had to leave early to make it back to Seattle in time for her job, and Cindy and Dave needed to pack for their trip to the East Coast. That meant I returned home early on Sunday. Without anybody to play with, skydiving can get pretty boring. Those two jumps together, however, were a whole lot of fun.
Nasturtiums still going strong
I guess I'll be spicing up my salads for quite a long while yet, since the nasturtiums are still putting out new flowers. I also have some black beans that are supposed to be harvested in the fall and dried. Thanks to Google, this is what I've learned about them:
Black beans are left on the vine until they have dried, so you won’t have that much difficulty figuring out when they are ready to pick. The pods will turn yellow, dry and even split open when the beans are ready. If you bite into one, your teeth shouldn’t make much of a dent in it.
They don't need much water, so I'll just keep a watering can out there to make sure they get some water if we continue to have continuous sunshine. They look pretty good but they're all I have left to worry about. I look forward to some black bean soup made with my very own black beans!
:-)

30 comments:

  1. glad you're getting to eat the 'vegetables of your labor'. :) glad you got to dive, too.

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  2. ha. poor slugs...and beano...yes that might get you in a bit of trouble...love fresh salsa...we have been experimenting with some of our veggies in different flavors of salsa....i imagine it is a whole lot more fun to have a friend or two in the sky with you as you are falling...ha...smiles.

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  3. Beautiful nasturtiums! I love them in salads, too.

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  4. I hope I meet you one day. Until then, your garden, your post cabbage prevention remedy, & your nasturtiums are awesome!

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  5. that is one giant veggie!! and so healthy looking too

    hope sends hugs

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  6. Hi DJan! Your garden did really well. Thanks for linking Avenue Bread. It reminded me that I could link to Ham's Peach Orchard (since I didn't take any pics). Sounds like you had a fun weekend. I really like black beans (especially black bean burgers!)

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  7. Seems early to give up gardening..are you ready to give up that plot of land yet? Plant some lettuce:)

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  8. You should have poured out some beer for the slugs. They say that is what to put in the garden to attract them. The drink the beer and get drunk. I guess they die. I don't know, but I bet they die happy, if slugs can be happy.

    Your garden is quite nice. I loved the photo of the cabbage and am quite intrigued by the black beans. You will have to let us know how they do.

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  9. There's nothing better than fresh produce right out of the garden. I go out at night with the flashlight and catch slugs. They're out at night and easy to pick off the plants with a little hand trowel.

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  10. Did you say 'sky-diving can be pretty boring'!? That implies you've done it a lot more than once. I'm impressed. Anyone who lives such an adventurous life that sky-diving can ever be boring is doing pretty well!

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  11. I smiled as I read your dilemma about the slug. You are too sweet, Jan.
    Your garden was and still is a lovely one, and I'm so glad that you've enjoyed the fruits it has borne.
    I love black beans and rice. I could eat that twice a week. Ummmm...
    J.

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  12. Your cabbages are fantastic!
    My husband would make coleslaw from them if he could.. he loves the stuff. Loving the nasturtiums, too.
    I was talking to my sister just today about a person taking off & traveling alone for a couple of weeks. This may suit some people just fine, but I really feel like that is a joy to be shared. When I see stunning sites or spectacular wildlife alone.. it's just not the same. Those things are better shared. So anyway - I laugh at your mention of skydiving becoming boring, but totally understood! Some things are more fun when shared with someone.
    We're really just getting going with the reward of production in our garden.. we'll keep on now until the frost takes it away.

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  13. My garden has tanked too. I pulled the remainders last week. It sure is nice to have fresh produce while it lasts though. It was nice you had a visit with friends.

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  14. Love black beans. Can' wait to hear how the ones from your garden turn out. They're great tossed with rice and spiced up with onions.

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  15. Mmmm home grown vegies. And I loved that your got your jump - and the happy smiling faces of you and your friends.

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  16. Now you've got me thinking about fresh steamed cabbage. Since I didn't have a garden this year I'll have to wait for the farmers' market on Sat.

    I'm glad you got to catch up with your pals and do a little skydiving over the weekend.

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  17. I have a great recipe for Portuguese Bean Soup that David and I love. Your cabbage looked phenomenal. Happy eating, DJan!

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  18. Lucky you to have such a bountiful harvest. I'm really wondering what those gorgeous nasturtiums taste like. Nobody I know here eats them. I love that photo of the three of you. You are so pretty, DJan.

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  19. What fun to meet up with your friends and catch up on the gossip. Looks like you picked that cabbage just in time before Mr and Mrs slug devoured the lot.

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  20. Well now, I just learned something new "Beano" - never heard of it, however; took the time to search it in google - now satisfied with answer, have never used Beano related products. Your cabbage is looking fine and one of my fav's is "cabbage stew" - grew up on it. Lovely looking garden still DJan - good to hear you had your knees in the sky and met up with friends. Always fun and keeps life interesting. Have a good day :)

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  21. Now that was nice looking cabbage. I am envious. I have yet to beat the bugs to the table with my cabbage attempts. I like Red's night time bug approach. Might try it.
    Can't wait to hear about the beans. I haven't tried growing them yet.

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  22. So great that you got a chance to have a little reunion! The cabbage looks wonderful. Black beans are my favorite beans. What a wonderful soup they will make--from your own garden!! :)

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  23. Your produce is making my mouth water. We're heading out to the farm* on Saturday. Can't wait.

    * Our farm = B's sister's house in Pennsylvania.

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  24. Nothing quitelike fresh from ones own garden....;)

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  25. Cabbage & beets...two items that I'll leave you to enjoy without begging to share.

    I can, somehow, picture you stomping those slugs while saying, "It's easier for you to go this way." ;-)

    Loved the picture of you and your friends!!

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  26. Awwwwwwwwww, come on now, you said sky diving can be boring?!! No way. I don't believe that. [kidding]

    That is ONE gorgeous looking cabbage. Yum. I could use it to make runzas. In fact, now that I see your beauty of labor, I think I'll put that on the menu soon.

    I bet you three had a great visit. And I know you all will keep in contact.

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  27. I made some homemade pickles and a Greek tomato salad last night. I'm keeping up with my small garden. And enjoying the bounty of others.

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  28. Dear DJan, your posting, both last year and this year, inspired me to at least begin thinking about planting a vegetable garden here in Missouri as I did in Minnesota. Friko's postings on her perennial gardens have inspired to plant them also. In Minnesota I had several perennial gardens in the front and back and side yards.

    None of that happened this spring and summer, but next year I hope that I will "get off my duff" and buy the plants and seeds and do the work to reap the harvest and the reward of beauty.

    By the way, I have a wonderful black bean recipe from the original Moosewood cookbook. I'd be happy to share it if you'd like. Peace.

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  29. Looks as though you got a haircut. You look really good with it that length. Your friends look terrific, too.

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  30. Hoping you feel better soon...and btw....I am envious of your garden!

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