Soggy New England

Wow! We have had so much rain...no one has to water their gardens or lawns. Hopefully we dry out a little. Not just rain but wild and woolly thunder and lightning storms to boot! My sister Catherine and I were out shopping last week and got caught in one fierce storm. We took solace under a bridge because the rain and hail (see hail below on windshield of car) was pelting us. Catherine started snapping pictures of our situation.

We weren't the only ones to stop under the overpass.

Everyone that drove under the bridge stayed under the bridge for quite awhile sitting the storm out.

There were at least ten motorcycles waiting as well. The water just poured down from the top of the bridge and the motorcyclists had to move to the other side to avoid getting soaked.

Water just gushed down the embankment...it was a waterfall in just seconds.

Once the rain subsided we headed home. The storm was following us and below is the field just about 1/4 mile from our house. I called my husband while under the bridge and he said it was dry and sunny...once we got close to the house the skies were black and we knew the storm was closing in on us. My father calls this tree a wolf tree as it stands alone in this field.

This photo Catherine took is just gorgeous of the tree line and storm clouds. Our house is just over the tree line on the pond...which seems to be a great attraction for lightning. No one wants to be outside when a storm hits.

This is another storm this week that dumped over four inches of rain on us during the day.

While I was taking some photos of this severe storm I could hear voices coming from the pond...I was in the house looking at our island in the pond. Then they kept shouting. I thought possibly some boater had gotten stuck out in the water or come ashore on the island and was in trouble. So my husband and I rushed to the island and found no one. So we took a ride looking around. All of a sudden these four kayaks come from under the bridge by our house...four young teenage boys paddling like crazy in the middle of the storm...guess they were trying to make a go of it to get home...I snapped a few pictures...scary thing is not one of them had a life vest on...apparently they are safe an sound because we never heard anything...Not a good place to be in the middle of a thunder storm.
The prediction this week is for good weather...lets hope so...the ground needs to dry out and I need to get some sun time on my float before this summer ends!

Elizabeth

Hot Time in the Garden

Nothing says summer like heat loving flowers like zinnias and dahlias...it seems the sunnier it gets the more these dazzlers perform. They just need to be deadheaded on occasion and watered sparingly. With this little bit of TLC they seem to respond with more delightful color and eye appeal.
Look at this beautiful dahlia...it is simply gorgeous!

More dahlias and zinnias...this photo spells summer to me!
I could stand in this spot all day long admiring the brilliant colors of these flowers. I love the stalks and leaves of dahlias...so shiny and strong. The petals on zinnias are so cool to look at and the colors are so vivid...there are no crayons in the box that can come close to the variety of colors zinnias display.

Hope your summer is going well...pick a bouquet of zinnias or dahlias and see how happy it will make you...or visit a local farm stand or farmers market and grab a big bunch...it will put a smile on your face and a bounce in your step to be sure!

Elizabeth

Garlic Harvest

This is the time of year that garlic is mature and must be picked and dried. There really is nothing better than homegrown garlic. Once you have grown your own using store bought is simply a step down. Come on into our storage shed to see some of our garlic bounty.

This is some of the garlic all dug from the garden and tied together and labeled so we know which variety we are eating. We store the garlic in old gladiola boxes. Gladiola bulb must be dug up in the fall and stored inside so we have these old commercial boxes from Europe that have screen bottoms and are perfect for garlic as well. Some garlic is delicious raw and in dips and some is better in cooked dishes. Once you develop a taste for the hotter varieties you can throw caution to wind and just eat any kind without holding back!

Once the garlic is nice and dry, we just gently rub the dirt off and the bulb is nice and white and clean. Some varieties have red in them such as German Red or Chesnok Red. When you slice into your fresh garlic it actually is so moist you can see the moisture almost pouring out of it...that is why it is so flavorful. We save some of the bigger heads to use for next years crop. It really is simple to grow. Take a bulb and divide the cloves from it. Plant a clove in each hole about 2-3 inches deep in the fall at the same time you are planting daffodils or tulips. Pretreat your soil with compost and manure as garlic is a heavy feeder. Mark each row so you know what you have. Cover your garlic bed with 2-3 inches of peat moss...this protects your garlic over the cold weather months and actually helps with weed control in the spring as well as moisture control. It is recommended that in colder climates that hard neck varieties be used. Don't get too worried if you see spikes of green popping up in the fall or warm winter spells it will not hurt your crop. In the spring continue to feed these hungry plants till about June. You will these incredibly cool curly spikes come form your plants...these are called scapes. The scapes are good to eat but I love to mix them with flower bouquets...I was advised to cut all the scapes off once they come and leave just on to use as an indicator. When this one scape stands up straight as an arrow this is when it is time to dig your garlic. I have found this to be a far more reliable indicator than judging when the leaves have browned and dried enough.
I am particularly fond of Music...this garlic has a wonderful flavor in all foods. This past weekend I made a boursin style cheese spread with fresh garlic from the garden and loads of fresh picked herbs (parsley, thyme, basil, oregano and chives) all added to cream cheese and a little butter with a touch of salt and fresh lemon juice all mixed in the food processor...suffice it to say none was leftover...the flavor of the garlic was delightful.

This is a wonderful old hornet's nest my nephew discovered and retrieved one fall on our island. He sure had a keen eye as it was very discretely hidden in the tree. We kept it hung in the greenhouse and then hung it in the shed. It has stored well here and hangs over the garlic, so thought I would take a picture and share it when I was doing the garlic. I love to look at it and I always think of Seth when I see it.

Guess you know what we are having for lunch today...fresh picked tomatoes and basil from the garden...the vinaigrette will of course have some fresh garlic in it topped with slender curls of parmeggiano reggiano...life doesn't get better than this.

Hope your garden is doing well...a garden is good for your health and good for your heart...I always feel so good when I come into the house with a basket full of fresh picked goodies...

Elizabeth

The Best Clam Shack

Once a year we head to Mystic Connecticut to have the best fried clams in New England. The Sea Swirl has won many many awards for being the best clam shack around. We have been making this trek for years...it would not be summer without fried clams from this treasure chest! Don't you just love the sign...a fish holding an ice cream cone...lucky fish...lucky us for discovering this place!


Cars from all over pack in on both sides of the shack...there are picnic tables to dine at and in the background you can see a covered pavilion with rows of tables underneath for more dining.

The sign says it all...
These are the golden nuggets we travel for...we get one dinner that includes the fried whole belly clams, french fries (sprinkled with vinegar), cole slaw and tartar sauce...we add a side of just whole belly clams (and extra tartar sauce please)and then we dig in! YUM!!!!! The side of clams come in a paper bag...I feel like I have entered clam heaven when I open that bag...a booty of clams in a bag...it doesn't get better than that!
The dinner menu...they had oysters that day as well...tough decision because oysters are so good too...but had to stick to tradition and get the clams. We may have to return for another go at the menu...let's face it the summer is still young!
People lining up to order and pick up their orders...once you order, they give you a number. When your dinner is ready they call out the number and you just pick up your bounty from the ocean and dig in...they also have ice cream for dessert if you have room...everyone here has a smile on their face...
If you are ever in the area make a point of stopping here...you will not be disappointed...we promise!

Fun Website

Good Morning!!!!!

Found this new addictive website...www.polyvore.com

You can create all sorts of collages and it is fun and very very addictive. Give it a try...you won't be able to stop making new collages...

Enjoy,

Elizabeth

Good Morning

Independence Day 2008

Every year we have our 4th of July celebration on the pond...we put new flags out in all the flag holders and on the pole...we place pots and hangers of flowers about and spruce up the island for our family party. This year about 50 people came from all over to celebrate...we have the traditional grilled hamburgers and hot dogs with sides of potato salad, pasta salad, homemade baked beans, munchies, dips, and of course lots of homemade desserts...brownies, cookies, cupcakes, blueberry slab pie and fresh strawberry shortcake. Everyone pitches in to cook and clean up...it is a group effort! Below are the strawberries ready to be cleaned and sliced to sit in a little sugar the day before the 4th to make a nice syrup.

Fresh from scratch shortcakes just out of the oven and ready to go in...YUM!

Different size life jackets hung on the line ready for anyone boating or the little ones swimming in the pond...I call this picture "SUMMER COLORS"

Floats lined up and ready to enter the water!

Bob washing up at the new pump...we have no running water so all the water is pumped from the well for use on the island.

Taylor and Alexis swimming in the pond...they jumped in the water when they got here and rarely got out of the water...these kids are little water bugs!
Cousins fishing for sunfish...

Randy the experienced fisherman supervising his sister and cousin....

The newest family member...Olivia with Aunt Whitney

Family enjoying a summer meal

Lots of talk and good times being shared

Emily found a comfortable spot to take a little nap...she climbed up onto the dressing room bench and covered up with a towel when she got tired...Smart Kid!Once the bonfire got going everyone got in position for the fireworks show! We had our own show with over seventy different shots and then a grand finale that was the best ever...the show was put on by the men in the family organized and lead by Ray.
The show goes on with patriotic music and songs playing...
Getting ready for another round of sky high explosives....
After our show the Pond Association put on a fireworks show that was fabulous...we all turned our chairs around and watched another 20 minutes of some of the most beautiful fireworks we have ever seen...enhanced by our flagpole and torches blazing....
What a wonderful day and evening we had...good food, good times and good company...this is exactly the way a family should celebrated our country's independence...we are blessed to all be together to do it just this way...

Elizabeth