Jelly, Jelly EVERYWHERE!

Last weekend, I decided to, even though I was sick, make jelly from the Quinces. I had Matt pull out the ladder and I parked Oliver at the bottom of it with a bag. I was quite disappointed as I climbed the ladder. Most of my precious fruit was browning, full of worms or past it's prime. I pulled what I could salvage from the tree all the while taking in the intoxicating smell of the quinces. Someone on the internet said they smell like a cross between a pineapple and a mango and they couldn't have said it better. From the smell of these small, fuzzy, pear shaped fruits, you would think taking a big bite out of one would yield a happy picker. On the contrary, they are sour even though they smell sweet. Not as sour as a lemon, but much more sour than a granny smith apple. So I took what I had, not even a quarter of a bag, and brought them into the house. I began cutting around the brown spots and worms. I thought I'd get maybe 12- 4oz jars of jelly from my crop. I quickly found that from the small amount I had, I was able to fill two pots full of the fruit. This was my first time making jelly and the recipe I found hadn't called for any added pectin. So I foolishly continued cooking, mashing and straining the juices from my beautiful quinces. Now after doing all of that, I ended up with 25 cups of juice!!! AND had I been able to pick a few weeks earlier, I would have doubled if not tripled my yield. To that juice, the recipe called for an almost equal amount of sugar to be boiled down with the juice. I followed the recipe to a T but ended up with a slightly congealed consistancy. It tasted delicious though and I ended up with 24- 4oz jars, 9- half pints and 4- pints (I would have done all 4oz or half pints but I ran out of those jars). The former yellow/green fruits turn a gorgeous red color when turned to jelly!!! All I can say is YUMMY IN MY TUMMY- And guess what you all are getting for Christmas :)

QUINCES you dumb ass---- QUINCES!!!

So today I was quickly looking through my Bon Appetite Magazine....... in there was an article on what is in season during the fall. Drawn in pencil, quite nicely I might add, was a picture of my Peapples- They aren't Peapples, they are Quinces!!!! And after reading online that those babies go for about $2 a pop, I am quite excited that I have an exotic tree in my yard. Now, I just need to find out why they weren't there last year. Are they biannual? Who cares at this point! I got 'em and I plan on cookin' em!!!

Funny thing is my Great Aunt came over today for a party, walked out onto my porch and said, "Oh! Danielle has a Quince tree." We all asked where she was a month ago when we were trying to convince my future brother in law to eat one.

Fall is upon us!!!

So I guess it is official, according to the calendar at least, that fall is here. Being sick this entire month has made me feel as if we are just entering September, not leaving it. I did manage during my "sickies" to venture out last saturday with my husband and children to pick up the sticks that the wind storm had shaken loose from our huge oak trees. All around us were "sticks" if you can call them that, some of those suckers looked like full blown limbs. Matt, earlier in the season, had travelled about an hour south of us to purchase a chipper from a guy. He had posted it on craigslist and it seemed to be the perfect price. So Matt went and brought it home. We lovingly call it "the beast". It is much heavier and bulkier than the newer models, but we got it for a steal, saved it from a landfill, and it is quite a useful tool for us. Last Saturday, we dragged out the beast, and fed it for 9 hours straight. What we ended up with was a beautiful green tinted mulch that I was able to put all around my plants. It looks so pretty. Even though the soreness set in shortly after finishing, I was so proud of my new green, green mulch.

In my big session last saturday, I also pulled up my tomato plants, my eggplant, my spicy peppers, and my cabbages. In their place I planted my three mums, who by the way aren't looking so good. I have heard NOT to give them a boost with fertilizer, BUT my MIL gave hers a boost and they look gorgeous. So I am in the midst of the "should I or shouldn't I" battle that happens so often in my head. ARGH! I just need to do it and deal with the consequences later.

This past spring I purchased a Eucalyptus plant. I put it into a container, knowing come fall it needs to be moved indoors. But for the summer, I parked it right outside of my front door. That sucker has grown so beautifully!!! I am getting ready to move her inside and into my sunroom. The Eucalyptus plant is from Austrailia and is really good for when you have congestion in your chest. You crush up some leaves and steep them in hot water and then breathe the scented steam in. Before buying this plant, I bought the essential oil and added it to my shower in the morning. The water and steam would waft up and help me breathe a little easier.

I also recently purchased some herbs. I put them into a planter and put it out in the yard to get sunlight. I will be moving that indoors and look SO forward to fresh herbs all winter!!!!!

This past week, I was shopping at Sam's Club. This past spring I bought one of their boxes of Dahlia's. I planted them and low and behold, when they finally bloomed (which took a while), they are now the highlight of my yard. Everytime I look at them, I just smile. I absolutely LOVE them. So I didn't even hesitate for one moment when I fell upon the spring bulb display. On it were GORGEOUS bright red tulips and a mixture of crocus' of different purples and whites. I bought one of each and mixed them up with the daffodils I dug up last spring. I had a bucket FULL of yellow and off white daffodil bulbs. I planted all 60 tulips, all 100 crocus and about 100-150 daffodils in three areas of my yard. I plan on going back to buy more tulips and also some hyacinth. I have a few Iris' I need to get in and I may buy some of them too. I have at least three other areas in the front that need some spring love, not to mention the back of my house. Come spring, I am going to be one happy little girl!!!!

It's ALIVE!!!

NO KIDDING! The Oakleaf Hydrangea I killed is coming back!!! I was heading out the the compost pile the other day and was thinking I really need to chop back the dead branches of this bush. Afterall, my yard is beginning to look like the Adams Family. So I got my pruners and started chopping away and then realized from amidst the roots of the plant were new "oak leaves". Upon further inspection, I realized that the damn thing has rerooted and is sending up a new plant! YEAH!!!!!! I'll take pictures and post them in a day or so.

Also, I have a fuzzy apple-ish looking tree/bush. Not sure what it is and so far everyone I have shown it to, scratches their head....... I think I'll start calling it the Peapple tree..... half peach, half apple. My sister's boyfriend was gonna take a bite of one and see what it tastes like, but my mom and sister put a stop to it. They were afraid he'd get sick. I personally was hoping he would have. Oh well, I'll give it a few more weeks and see what happens.

We have a harvest!

So after this whole summer NOTHING- Now all of a sudden my whole yard is in bloom (or most of it is)- Today Gaby and I picked a basket full of tomatoes!!! And there are many oranges and greens on the vines. I think by the weekend I'll be able to can my first batch of maters!!! I also cut our first eggplant off the vine. It is purple and gorgeous!

Then after picking those maters I travelled around to the front of the house and saw an explosion of jalapeno peppers- Matt's mouth is salvating about these!! I had planted a bunch of different hot peppers, but forgot the ornamental grasses take over--- so a few plants adapted and grew through the grasses. We have buds on them!! I am so excited to see what they are!

We have a new Eggplant starting and several other buds on that same plant!! Our Cabbages are looking quite swiss-cheesey, but I am hopeful that I'll still be able to eat them!

I purchased three mum's yesterday and am photographing them and posting them so maybe I'll be able to say in a year or so that I actually didn't kill them!!! I bought one bright yellow, one purple with yellow centers and one called salsa- it is bright red with yellow centers. I hope to buy more, but we'll see how these ones do first.......

BABY STEPS!!!

Delayed Growth???

I took a walk around my yard the other day. I was reflecting on the growth of my plants and realized that I think all of my plants are delayed in their growth. Take for instance the Dahlia's I planted in early summer. They are just starting to flower. And really this is the only full flower I have. Many buds but this is the only one flowering.

I also have an eggplant given to me by my neighbor. It has just one eggplant on it. Many buds but only one eggplant as of yet. I saw a honeybee in there today buzzing around doing his job. Fascinating creatures they are. I sure hope someone figures out what is going on with them.

I also have a few cabbages. Two to be exact. But I think the Japanese Beetles ate all of the leaves. I am hoping that they feasted on the outer leaves but left the inners for me!!!

I am looking forward to harvesting my 1 gazillion tomatoes..... but will discuss that on a further post. For now, I am off to listen to the beautiful sound of the cicadas in August!!!

My Successes

Although they have been few and far between, I have actually had a few successes when it comes to my yard this year. I've managed to keep a few things alive and I've even grown, without much help, several plants. Below are my successes:

1. My Pennsylvania Wild Flowers- beginning as seeds, I scattered them throughout my yard. Just recently have they begun to show themselves. I thought some of them were weeds and was going to pull them as soon as I could get my lazy butt moving. Good thing I didn't. My brother Dennis is giving me a book to identify them.

2. My tomatoes- which have grown into monsters! I should have staked them, as I mentioned in the previous email...... but didn't until this weekend. Bad move. Point taken for next year.

3. My Day lilies. They line my drive way and are a gorgeous mix of crimson and gold. I am thinking of splitting them and growing their area. Although I didn't plant these, I didn't kill em' either. Yeah me!

4. Hydrangeas- One beautiful blue one and one limelight one. I bought both at Brenkles this year and planted them on either corner of my lot. I am hoping for big beautiful bushes some day. The blue one had been pushed to bloom in the spring..... the woman told me it wouldn't bloom again this year, however I have buds. I just hope it doesn't crap out for next year! I also have three existing bushes. Two are white and one is coming in pink. The pink one is in a VERY shaded area and I am thinking I will move it next year.

5. Mint- didn't kill it this year! WHOO HOO!

6. Dahlias and Gladiolas- Both doing well...... growing at least.

7. Some shade plants- transplanted a few from my neighbor AND bought a few purple ones for my patio area and they are living!!!

8. Rhododendrons- Transplanted and doing OK

9. Peas- the nazi threw a few out but the ones that survived are thriving!!!!! YUMMY!

10. Astilbe- semi alive..... we'll see how they do!!!

and the miracle of ALL MIRACLES--- popcorn verburnum is coming back and coming back strong!!! It has more leaves on it each day!!! YEEEEE HAA!