New Post, Zero Pictures

Things are going along great in the veggie garden. I've harvested at least half a dozen zucchini and a mind bogglingly huge amount of chard. I harvested the chard all at one time, which is why it was overwhelming. I heard that the bigger the leaves get, the more bitter the taste.

I've never, to my knowledge, ever eaten cooked chard. The tiny leaves come in common salad mixes, and are not objectionable (or noticable, for that matter). Come to find out, chard is really tasty! What a relief.

The cucumber vines were finally long and strong enough to be trained on the tee-pee. That was my big chore this evening. They were actually too long and close to becoming out of control. There was no more garden for them to be in, so I strung some string between the poles and encouraged them to grow that way. We'll see if they take. Confidential to Susie they were too long! Cucumber leaves give you a rash. Start way earlier next time to you don't have to wrestle with their scratchy leaves! Gosh!

The heat and mosquitoes are in force. It's only going to get worse. My latest strategy is to go out in small increments, doing a little at a time so that the bugs don't find me. It's been somewhat successful so far, though I do have a few bites.

My husband caught a juvenile snake the other night. He trotted right inside, wriggling in his fingers, and dangled it in the room where I was peacefully reading a book. We then established a house rule I never thought I'd make: if you catch a snake, do not bring it inside. okplzthx

Summer Breeze

The Confederate Jasmine is going crazy in front and the scent is intoxicating.

I can smell it all the way in the back.

I planted two of these and two pink jasmines in the new bed, close to the table. I'm now afraid that in the near future, spring in my back yard will
choke you with the jasmine fragrance. Oh well.



Baby cilantro seedlings. Aren't they cute? They taste really good, remind me in a week to plant some more. I'm going to let a few bolt so I can harvest the seeds for spices and more little cilantro plants. Cilantro is one of my most favorite flavors and I'm very excited that these are growing right now.



Yesterday was the first day I began to feel a little over being outside. Namely because a bug flew in my eye. Then I began to feel itchy and sorta hot. I noticed some mosquitoes, and I was like, Fuck this, I'm going inside.

Mexican Hat.