I met Gene six years ago at this coffee shop, and now I feel he's part of my family. Here he is with his girlfriend Paula yesterday morning. I was so pleased to see them, as Gene has been salmon fishing in Bristol Bay for the past six weeks. Seems like a different town when he's not around. And Paula doesn't come to the coffee shop by herself. So welcome back!
I have got lots of stuff out of my garden, and the sugar snap peas have finished, so I need to spend some time in the garden getting rid of things that have already been harvested. I pulled up a six-and-a-half-pound red cabbage (that's almost 3kg) and we're still eating it. It's pretty wonderful. And I planted a new vegetable a few weeks back that is almost ready to harvest. Do you know what it is?
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| My little alien |
It's a kohlrabi! I've never had one before, but I sure do like the way it looks, a bit like something from another planet. You can't make this stuff up, and why would I bother? I'm having fun in the garden, that's for sure. I wandered around the rest of the garden before coming back in to write this post, and I must say Nate has some of the most interesting things around (other than my alien, that is).
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| Nate's artichokes |
Look at those pretty artichokes that are coming into being. I've never seen them grown in a garden before, so I wasn't exactly sure what the plant looked like. And he's got a massive crop of sunflowers that are all beginning to flower. They are going to be huge.
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| Nate's first sunflower |
I was standing in the garden looking up at his plants, which are already way, way over my head. Considering that I'm more than five feet tall, these must already be seven and on their way up even more, don't you think?
By the way, Trish made it back to Seattle just fine, and it makes me very happy to have Facebook so I can keep up with all the happenings in her life, as well as the rest of my extended family. I didn't get to skydive this past weekend because of weather, so we're going to try again this coming weekend, which looks really good in the long-range forecast. So, life is good here, and I've got many happy hours ahead to tend my garden, read books, and just plain enjoy summer. Hope yours is going well, too.
:-)
kohlrabi!!!! LOVE IT! my mother planted it and we ate it peeled and raw like an apple. yum! :)
ReplyDeleteY'know, as far as I know, even at my age, I've never tried an artichoke. The plants look so healthy. All of them. And to able to sit down at the table and consume what you've grown in your own garden makes everything taste so much better.
ReplyDeleteIronic, I was just thinking of your friend the other day. Did he catch a lot.
meant to say, hi to gene and paula, too! :)
ReplyDeleteKohlrabi. Yum.
ReplyDeleteGene looks not unlike my smaller portion (before the hospital got to his beard).
Have a wonderful summer - in the garden, in the sky, where-ever you wander.
Kohlrabi is a favorite of mine; just peel it and eat it like an apple, or put a little salt on it. Don't let it get old and woody though; they are best young. I buy mine at a Farmers Market each week; congrats on growing your own.
ReplyDeleteI loved looking at that photo of the artichokes. I like to add marinade artichoke hearts to my rice along with other veggies.
ReplyDeleteGood to see Gene is back safe and sound!
ReplyDeleteI wasn't real impressed with kohlrabi...maybe the one I tried was not the best.
I love Nate's sunflowers!!! So cheerful:)
Good to see Gene is back safe and sound!
ReplyDeleteI wasn't real impressed with kohlrabi...maybe the one I tried was not the best.
I love Nate's sunflowers!!! So cheerful:)
Kohlrabi is very tasty stuff. You'll like it. i'm surprised it grew so quickly.
ReplyDeleteI bought some kohlrabi at the farmers market last week. It's good raw or stir fried. Mine is the standard green though, not that lovely purple.
ReplyDeleteHoping you get to jump out of airplanes this weekend.
I did recognized your alien plant as Ive eaten the less purple one my times. Glad to know your summer's going well. Here we are managing too bur it's a very cool summer this year.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are having such a great time! Those gardens look grand. and first first glance, I thought Gene was a Bear, and I was about to congratulate you on your exceptional choice in friends. I still think he is a keeper, with a beard like that, but just not a Bear.
ReplyDeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Nice to see Gene and Paula back at the coffee shop. I am wondering - Is the salmon fishing just for enjoyment or catching to sell to market, etc. Nice photo of them both. I love my garden too and we just had fresh everything with supper last nite - corn is not quite ready just yet, but soon will be. Have a wonderful week, DJan, along with all your fine plans.
ReplyDeleteHaving confessed my own gardening sins, I commit yet another sin: Envy for your garden. (And you know what they say about envy -- it's the only one of the Seven Deadly Sins that isn't any fun!)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful garden you have DJan. I’d love to taste some of your veggies. I have heard of the name kohlrabi but have never seen or tasted it. My mother used to love artichokes and we ate them at home all the time, steamed and cold with vinaigrette. You are having a good crop from your garden – it’s nice to see that your efforts bore fruits – no, vegetable!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds completely peaceful and lovely. Family is safe. Friends have returned. And your garden is thriving with unique produce.
ReplyDeleteKohlrabi is the spouses new favorite. He harvested one this evening that was huge. I bet it might be overgrown. Our tomatoes are coming on strong. I'm not looking forward to having to prepare them for the freezer. I've got Over 20 pints of jam made already! When did I turn into a farm wife?
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a purple kohlrabi. We get a pale green one in the csa box in the winter, around Christmas. I'm not fond of them and have yet to find anyone I can pawn them off on.
ReplyDeleteI have never eaten a kohlrabi or an artichoke. Very exotic stuff you're growing over there--LOL! Looks so lush and happy. Been a good summer, despite the weather part of the time--Haha! ;)
ReplyDeleteI have never eaten a kohlrabi or an artichoke. Very exotic stuff you're growing over there--LOL! Looks so lush and happy. Been a good summer, despite the weather part of the time--Haha! ;)
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