How much does Peter rock!?

...oh, THIS much!

(Or, Saturday's usage of a zucchini)
(Not represented here on the blog - zucchini sliced, breaded and fried to go along with the chicken parmesian Brett was making for dinner!)

Yesterday was Peter's birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY AGAAAAIN PETER! WOO HOO! OLD TIMER!), so how is it *I'm* getting gifts from HIM?


Actually - I told Peter I had been assigned the task of making Sharon & Andy's wedding cake next year - only to feed about 100 people (gasp!). I asked for any tips, and he surprised me by sending this my way! NICE! Thanks so much!! And I've only had it a couple days and had to make SOMETHING - and since I have zucchini galore, and it's got a recipe using them, I made the zucchini cupcakes. Similar to your standard zucchini bread, only a little less sugar, and brown sugar at that, plus the obvious different shape. I would've actually included the optional raisins if we had some - just sounded like something I could easily enjoy right now. I DID happen to find just the right amount of chopped walnuts in the freezer, so I toasted those up and included them, per the recipe. That's odd since I usually leave nuts out of most stuff. But I gotta say - they really kick it up - really good stuff!

Thanks again Peter!!!! :)

Bathroom buddy

"C'moooon, just come in here and turn on the faucet! I don't have opposable thumbs - I can't do it! C'mon! C'mon c'mon c'mon!"

On The Prowl - again

Usually, when they're both sitting there staring out the window as long as Simon and Moxie were yesterday, it means there's doves outside. Little else seems to linger as long as the doves do.


Swish, swish, swish goes that tail!


"Do. You. Mind? You'll scare it!" (If looks could kill!)


You take the low road, I'll take the high road...we'll be eating dove for dinner!


So focused...

What to do when you have a lot of zucchini

This is Thursday night's usage of a zucchini - you may begin drooling now!

Last night's big storm

We had some thunder and lightning last nite.
And strong winds.
And hail.
And power flickering.
Oh, and a tornado warning went off JUST AFTER the storm cell left us...

The back yard was plenty flooded, as was the front. The hail was only about pea-size - so nothing too bad. Winds were really strong - had to flip over some patio furniture and potted veggies this morning.





After the storm passed (around the time we got the tornado warning) we went outside to check things out - it took me maybe a hundred or so rapid fire pictures with the camera, but I got some really nifty shots of the lightning. I couldn't hit the button when I saw lightning - that was too slow, too late.

It's nap time...

...please go away...

The Garden

Pics taken a week or so ago of the garden. Since these were taken we had some rain, and I discovered the central part of the 12x12 garden plot is low enough, and still so full of clay, that it doesn't drain well. The two squash plants near the middle have died. Three of the tomato plants weren't looking well, but seem to be recovering (I think the growing tip on one might've died off). And the beans/edamame are coming up spotty. Bummer.


The "herb patch" out at the garden - just some herbs in their original pots I figured I'd put in the ground and see what would happen. They all seem fine...


Mom and dad brought some shasta daisy transplants....so I figured I'd tuck them in the ground now and see if they'll do a bit of growing before fall/winter - hopefully settle in and take root. After the picture I cut off the blooms, figuring they need to put their energy into roots right now!


Looking back at the house - it looks so small from the back side!


The "south side garden" - one of the three major groupings of potted veggies and herbs.


Los jalapenos ninos...


Peppers-to-be...


This is the replanting of the yellow squash that broke off in the move. As you can see it's finally settled in and doing just fine!

On The Prowl

Ok, maybe this last one isn't so much of a "prowl" picture.... I guess it could be said he's waiting for his prey to pass beneath him, but from that pose, I have a feeling he's going nowhere fast!

Bird Butt

This little guy was here for quite awhile, working his tail feathers off at something. Usually they're quite nervous, peeking around the feeding continuously. He must've felt pretty safe there....I'd say that was my only view of him for five minutes or more?

Turns out one of the blue jays knocked the feeder off the railing the next day. I've just left it down on the ground for now - until we actually do the lawn there's no harm in where it's at, and it seems to make them happier!

Boxed Butt

What do you mean this box makes me look fat?

Garden Helper

This little guy (girl, probably) was working hard at collecting pollen... Keep up the good work!

Growies

Lots of pics from the last week or so - finally getting around to posting them...

This pepper picture was taken a short while back. It's looking much bigger now!


Beautiful rosemary and thyme!


The annuals on the patio table... I love the smell of the sweet alyssum (the white flowers).


This tomato is Ildi - and from the looks of it, the dozens of flowers and baby tomatoes on each stem are not unrealistic. Yipes! Hope my friends and coworkers like small yellow tomatoes!


These are green zebras. Sure, they're also green when ripe, but the color will get a little more yellowy. They're definitely not soft enough yet - trust me, I give 'em just a little squeeze every week! Aren't they beautiful?


I don't recall which these are (free Wayahead seed packet?), but it looks like I'm gonna have a lot of them!


These are the black krims. The top one here has beautiful striping on it - will need to get a better picture. They have darker shoulders, even while in this early green stage. Seems like they're all growing upside down (I think I adjusted the plant before taking this picture)


Here's a flock of tomato plants, pepper plants, and other growies and herbs... Looks like a real crowded mess, but since I didn't get to put the cages in the tomatoes before they got too overwhelming, there's a lot of support structure in this mess. Probably also means the tomatoes aren't producing as much as they could've if they were all up in cages, but oh well - next year...


Pretty sure these are my rumbo pumpkins - the last two seedlings I had, and finally potted up a couple weeks ago. Friends at work are really enjoying watching how fast these things can grow at their own homes!


The first green beans (Maxibels I believe) that I planted. I don't expect we'll get much out of them. The ones I planted in the garden a week and a half ago are starting to come up here and there - wondering if I should add more seeds to really fill it out.


Not sure what this guy is - I'm guessing either a Howden pumpkin or a One Too Many pumpkin. Looks like it's ready to strangle the next person who walks by!


Swiss chard - I believe these are all something like orange creamscicle. Can't wait to see what they look like!


Edamame - never grown 'em before - the new leaves are looking a little yellow - not sure if this is a nutrient issue (I fertilize lightly once a week), or a trait of the plant.


With all these tomatoes, I better start stocking up on white bread, bacon and lettuce, eh!? MMMM!!