Sunday, July 30, 2023

July 30th


Yesterday was sad for us.
Due to a neighbor's complaint,
we had to send Gizmo to the SPCA.
He was beginning to acclimate to
our little backyard farm.
But,
in our town there is a domestic
fowl rule that only allows for 4 hens
at the most. 
This has changed from 10 years ago,
when it was 8.
 There always has been a ban on roosters
but,
we heard them crowing every morning,
even before we ever found Gizmo.

So, a code violation notice was pinned
to our front door last Thursday,
It stated that we had to remove
all roosters and hens, over the limit of 4,
or face a daily fine if we didn't comply.
Our 2 girls can remain at home.
Ironically,
we had been trying to find a home 
for Gizmo since the CEO rescued him.
All places he spoke to didn't want
a rooster.
😢
Our only choice was the SPCA.
They assured us that he wouldn't be 
euthanized.

He was such a good boy
riding in the car inside that box.
We said our goodbye's
and left him in (hopefully)
capable hands.

I'm glad we had a small
amount of time with him
and I hope he finds a forever home.
💔



 

Sunday, July 9, 2023

July 9th

Yeah, that sounds about right.
Oppressive, hot days with panting pooches
idly laying around.
But,
that's not why it's called that.
Although it really fits for Southern Louisiana!

Picture it...
back in the times of the Holy Roman Empire,
when Sirius, the Dog Star,
appeared in the sky just before dawn,
it marked the days near the end of July.
It also was the start of the hottest days
of the entire year.
So, in Latin, the Romans called these days,
"dies caniculares"
or,
"dog days".
Now you know.
😀


******************************


Meet Gizmo.
He is a runaway bantam rooster!
We found him in our front yard,
wet and scared.
so, the CEO grabbed a fishing net
and scooped him up.
We were sure he belonged to
our neighbors, but a canvas of 
the neighborhood proved us wrong.
No one claimed him.
😞
To be accurate, we thought
"he" was a "she" at first.
He wouldn't let us handle him,
so we couldn't "lift his skirt"
to tell what his pronouns were.
😆😂
We gave him some water and food
but the girls we not happy!
As far as they are concerned ,
he's an unwelcomed interloper.
After a day, the CEO was able to grab him.
Thats when we noticed the spurs
(a dead give away!)
and a bushy tall tail,
(another give away)
and morning cock-a-doodle-do's!!
(that sealed the deal!)
That's when we changed his name 
from Gidget to Gizmo.
We have tried to have him adopted to 
a good home but the problem is that
no one wants a rooster,
so they become fodder for 
dog fights or cock fights.
NOPE!
We won't allow that.
So, now we have 3 chickens.
His breed is a Belgian D'Uccle
Millefleur Bantam Cock.
(I looked him up online)
Big name for a little guy.
Lucy and Ethel are about twice his size.


He's missing a couple tail feathers.
Seems he got too close to bitchy Ethel,
and she grabbed a feather souvenir!
But that didn't stop him,
he's a brave little soldier.
He crows at "threats",
like Jesuit our resident Blue Jay,
or a few Mourning Doves,
or the morning sun!
Ha!


Finally fitting in.
The CEO is making him
tame by handling him often.



Lucy and Ethel reluctantly
share the coop.


He settled in nicely.


Minew couldn't care less.
At least Gizmo doesn't peck at cats,
so maybe he's her ally.


Ethel eyeballing Gizmo.
She watches wherever he goes.
Kinda reminds me of the Nuns 
back in grade school!
😆


Curious cat.


Follow the leader,
as long as Gizmo stays away.


Potted meat?


*******************************


The heat got to a lot of our crops,
so we harvested as much as we could
to dehydrate or freeze.
The dead ones were put into the compost bin.


These are different kinds of eggplant,
Japanese Eggplant - long curvy ones
Italian Eggplants - large regular kind
Mini Eggplants


Several kinds of cherry tomatoes,
and a few regular small ones.
I cooked these down to a pulp with some
wine, olive oil, seasonings and chicken bouillon.
Then I strained the pulp and froze 
the gravy.
I then add 1 egg and some breadcrumbs to the 
pulp and spread it out to bake in a low 
350 degree oven.
When I take it out of the oven, before it hardens,
I cut it up into squares.
Makes about 2 dozen small "tomato crackers".
They taste great!



Okra flower.
These veggies can withstand the heat.
I usually pickle the pods.


Picking the few cherry tomatoes left.


Cucumbers.
Regular green cucumber.
Round Yellow "Lemon" cucumber.
The yellow one is milder than the regular ones.


Holy Basil.


Thai Basil and Italian Oregano.


Scarlet Mandevilla.


Reddish Orange Dragonfly.
Beautiful!


The Bee garden.


Echeverria with an unusual bloom.
It's a bright pink and grayish green bloom.


*******************************

This is a unique way of looking at
the month of July.
I like it!



Love this!

💙💚💗

 

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

June 21st

Happy Summer Solstice!
It's the longest day of the year
with the shortest night.
But,
it's the beginning of summer.
It's not so big of a thing as an adult,
but to kids, it's magical!

Bear with me as I wax nostalgic for a moment.

Summer in the early 1960's was the best time
to be alive!
We spent our days listening to the music
of the Beatles, Beach Boys and Leslie Gore
on my sisters' battery powered record player,
or tuning in to WTIX on our transistor radios
while singing to the music.
Eating watermelon slices and spitting 
the seeds as far as we could.
Going "swimming" in the 1 foot high
splash pool under the carport. 
Yes. we had to wait to go back 
in the pool after eating lunch.
We rode our bikes for hours
around and around the neighborhood.
We Hula-Hooped till our 
stomachs hurt!
We drank water from the hose and
waited patiently for the sno-ball
man in his truck to come 
on our block.
We played Canasta, jumped rope, skated
in the street, sidewalk or at the rink
a few blocks from our house.
We'd go to the Kenner Theater
on Saturday's with $1.00.
That was .25 cents admission for
my sister and I and we could 
splurge on goodies with the change!
And when the street lights came on,
after being eaten alive by mosquitos
we'd reluctantly go inside
while listening to the buzz of
the mosquito fogger truck and smell
that distinctive chemical smell
that wafted into the house
through the window unit A/C.
Ah, summer!
But..
most of all,
I remember laughter,
silliness and play!
🌞


********************************


A few days of harvest.
The cherry tomatoes, bell peppers 
eggplants were dehydrated.


Purple Bell Pepper


Japanese Eggplant
(The hens are sampling the produce!)


White Eggplant.


Poblano Pepper.


Cherry tomatoes.


Purple Cherry Tomatoes


These tomatoes, the cherry ones 
and the Romas were put into the crock pot
for my tomato sauce.
I season it, cook for 4 hours, then
use an immersion blender
and strain. 
The liquid is put into
freezer containers and the pulp
is baked with parmesan cheese.
I spread it thinly onto a silicon
mat, sprinkle breadcrumbs and
parmesan cheese and bake in a 400 degree
oven for about 10 minutes.
It's like a tomato flavored cracker!
The yellow ball is actually a 
cucumber, just milder tasting.


Gardenia


Mandevilla


Marigolds


Scarlet Zinnias


White Zinnia


Herb Garden.
Thai Basil and Oregano.


Basil and Mint


Cilantro seeds,
otherwise known as
Coriander.



In his element on Father's Day!


**************************************

Some backyard critters...

Lucy

Ethel

Minew 


Bad weather brewing.
We could always use the rain.



And this...
No clue.
I saw it on a pop up ad
and was intrigued.
Seems it is good for the skin
as a moisturizer.
Who knew??


This is actually from my
last trip to San Diego.
It is just an amazing sunset
on the Pacific Ocean.
Plus, it screams SUMMER!!!

And remember..


💙💚💗