Garden Goodies

Let me begin by admitting that my garden isn't as lucious as I was hoping for. Actually, in comparison with vegetable gardens my firends have, it's quite sparse. Next year will be better now that I have some experience.
So let's see what I have


Tomatoes are not yet ripe. These will be my largest. The rest, scattered throughout the plots, are smaller varieties such as cherry and romano (my preferred tomatoes).


Here is the one delicious zucchini that has grown so far (there are more on the way). I picked it right after taking this photo. Then I baked it into a chocolate cake! As I said, delicious.


Looking tasty. Here's a pepper I did not grow from seed :( But for the record, the tomatoes and zucchini above (as well as the beans and herbs pictured here)I did grow "all by myself" from seed. And I am very proud of that fact!


See the large patch of overgrown herbs... I really must harvest this stuff... but it's just been too hot and humid until recently to even consider, plus the mosquitos are a deterent. I've got a lot of parsley, basil, oregano, mint and thyme. Behind the herbs I planted is a whole lot of coltsfoot. I finally found a use for this rhizome... since I can't get rid of I should put it to use. I have a friend finishing up a herbalist program and she is happy to take it off my hands. I gathered a few leaves (just 40, and I mean "just" because there is much more where that came from. Note that these are very large leaves.) for her yesterday and I think she'll be coming back soon to harvest the rest with me from the bottom of the slope. She can dry it and use it for cough suppresants and such. Apparently you can also make a wine from the leaves.


And, finally, here are some beans that I picked but have not yet eaten. Perhaps a snack for later...

That's all the exciting news from the garden.

Two Years

July 2-4 has come and gone. This year I decided to stay in the country and spend time with Robin to celebrate our anniversary ;)
I will never live down the fact that I flew to Germany on the day of our one year anniversary...

This anniversary we spent the day in Toronto. We began with brunch at a tasty all-day breakfast place in the East Beaches. Robin had been there with friends and knew I would love it. I think it was called the Sunset Grill. I ordered pancakes (of course) with chocolate chips (it was practically lunch, which is how I justify the chocolate). When our server asked if I wanted the 3 or 5 pancakes, I chose 5... "Brave girl" he says... I thought I was hungry... I also thought that at that price they would be 5 smaller pancakes. oops. They were huge! Next time I'll stick with 3. Robin had a large 'hungry man' type breakfast.

After brunch (more lunch really, but we'd skipped breakfast) we took to the boardwalk and the trail around the nearby park. It was beautiful out there. From the tip of Ashridge's Bay Park we could see the CN tower and downtown skyline. We watched some boats for a while and enjoyed the water dancing over rocks below our feet.

We headed back to the beaches to the pub for a cold drink. It was extremely hot and humid out and water wasn't cutting it for me anymore. I was hoping for AC in the pub, but had to settle for outdoor shade with my beer.
Then we took in an early dinner at the Silkroad Cafe. We had wanted to go because we saw it transformed on Restaurant Makeover. The food was delicious and since we were able to order the lunch specials (still a large portion) it was also a great price.
After a long date we headed home.

On a very different note, since I'm giving updates, a few days before our anniversary we had to put down Jenny. She had a ruptured disc in her spine and subsequent neurological damage. I've blogged about this more intensely elsewhere and don't feel like revisiting that now.
I suppose I should change the title of the blog... but I'll wait until I have a new name to insert. Because, of course, we will rescue another cat. There is an "opening" now in our home for another feline to find his/her forever home. I've been talking with a rescue group in Hamilton and hopefully will hear back soon about our application.

Summer Fun in Niagara

The Gaggle arrived Monday for three fun-filled days of craziness. Four little girls 6 and under took over my home! Between the girls, myself and Robin, Ericka and Collin, we had a full house.
Monday we rested in preparation. I think arriving at Aunty Mandy's was excitement enough for the girls for one day!
Tuesday we celebrated Lammas and the first harvests with a trip to the local farmer's market, fun at Victoria Park's water structure (a summer celebration! much needed in the heat), a story-telling circle, and berry crumble (made by Robin and the girls).
Wednesday we drove out to the Niagara region (after a delicious blueberry pancake breakfast).

First stop was the carousel at Port Dalhousie. Still a mere five cents a ride!




On to the Falls themselves where we rode the Maid of the Mist. Unfortunately, my camera is not waterproof, so I don't have any photos from that part of the trip. (Plus I'm sure we looked like drowned rats!) In the summer heat and humidity, getting soaked on the Maid of the Mist was arguably the best part of the day! Well worth $14.


Ericka and I took the eldest three to the Butterfly Conservatory while the guys took the youngest around Clifton Hill waiting for us to return.

It was long, tiring, and very memorable day.
I realize now, looking through the photos, that we didn't take any group picture. Perhaps Ericka has something. I kept thinking I would take one "later" - perhaps when we weren't all hot, sweaty, sticky, and tired. I guess that never happened.