4th of July weekend is in full swing, summer is enveloping us completely, and here I am playing with food coloring…
I had huge plans for blue rice krispy treats, for the 4th of July.
I told Mammie and she was like, "blooaaaakh, why?"
Haha! Good question.
I ended up with screaming teal.
(I love teal though)
I thought they would be fun.
They are still good, so that is all the counts, ain't it?
(Mammie thinks they are pretty in the end)
🙂
As for summer edibles…
We have been enjoying so many squash blossoms this summer.
I have several pumpkin patches, which I planted at slightly different times.
So the waves of squash blossoms have been beyond delightful for eatin'.
I have spent several hours, every morning since March 1st, tending my garden.
The work is so worth it.
There really is nothing like harvesting edibles from your own patch of earth.
This weekend we will eat the very last of the spinach.
If you like spinach, I have to tell you, do try growing some next year if you haven't already. The spinach is soft and buttery good, with not one bit of grit like we find in store bought spinach.
We have enjoyed bowls and bowls of spinach over the weeks…
I wish I could share some with you.
I find myself harvesting goodies for lunch, and enjoying each moment of it. So much so, that I am planning a winter vegetable garden. As I don't want to say good-bye to garden eats.
One thing I love to do is invent light fresh salad dressings with tons of flavor. I adore salads, do you? One of my fave salad concoctions contains spinach, squash blossoms, peas, garbanzo beans, artichoke hearts, avocados, hearts of palm, paper thin sweet onions, and a splash of homemade honey lemon garlic parsley vinegar olive-oil dressing.
Mouth watering!
I also love to eat nasturtium.
The leaves are peppery and delightful.
You can see them mixed in with pumpkin leaves below…
Garden treats…
So Sweet!
Here is a peek into one of my little enclosed vegetable garden spaces. I have others I will share later, but this one has been shady, for things like spinach and cabbage and Japanese radishes, and more…
Garden fresh, isn't it?
It's super organic around here. I don't use any bug spray or anything. I fear I am losing most of my corn to ants. We are having a massive ant epidemic this year. I have oodles of ant bites. Darn things ;)
But the good news, no gophers got to this yummy stuff. Why? In April I pulled out a few feet of dirt and did the whole waffle wire & rock barrier thing. Then put all the soil over that.
Success!
So much to learn. Life is never ending learning, isn't it?
No matter what age we are, there is always something new to learn. So grand!
With that, I want to say, happy safe and lovely 4th of July!!!
This 4th of July has me being very introspective. Lots of thoughts bopping around.
I mostly can't help thinking about how lucky we are here in America (as well as in other countries). What a good life we can have, and how we don't have to worry about most of the things that 3rd world countries face.
And then, I start to think about how we should take time to appreciate all the things that we have in life. Not the things we don't have. How if we let go of what we think we should have, and who we think we should be, and just embrace who we are and what we have, life takes on a beautiful perspective.
I was thinking yesterday, about how much negativity there is out there. For example, when reading articles online, the comment sections baffle me. Full of hatred and criticism. (opinions are good, but they don't have to be chock full of negativity, do they?)
Are we really that kind of people?
Hateful and judgmental??
Why not stop the petty negativity?
Be content with our lives, just as they are, before life passes us by.
Appreciate one another, and what it took to make America what it is today.
So, on the eve of this independence day, I say, we should embrace the good, and try not to find the negativity in things. Instead, search for the positive. It's not that hard to find.
We should realize how lucky we really are, open our eyes, and really realize it.
I love my country.
Nothing in life is perfect.
But maybe the greatest realization is that, things are perfect in their own way, and we are drowning in so much pettiness, that we can't see that everything is perfect, just as it is.
I want to see it.
I want to be grateful.
And, I am.
I know you are too!
(the garden by night)
Have a sparkly twinkly 4th of July!!
Love, Vanessa
ps: We just finished watching the last disk of America -The Story of Us. I highly recommend it.
pss: A tip on squash blossoms. When the pumpkin vine is fairly young, you will get oodles of male squash blossoms, before you ever see a female blossom (link that shows the differences between male and female, right here). This is the time to enjoy eating your squash blossoms, when there are only males on the vine. This is because, you don't want to eat the males when there are femles too, or you won't get any babies 🙂
I LOVE, love fresh veggies. You’ve really had an amazing array of goodies this year. Lots of hard work I know but so worth it when you can eat really fresh, organic veggies, etc. I think that’s the reason my mother’s generation was so very strong…they ate from the land and didn’t have all the chemicals, pesticides, etc. Everything was raised at home or by a neighbor and was sooooooo good!
I so agree re: our wonderful blessings we have. I dislike watching the news as it’s so negative. There are lots of folks out there that focus on fear, complaining and anger….not good for themselves or those that are witness to it. I so believe that what we focus on creates our reality.
Thank you for sharing! Happy 4th to you too ~
xo
Pat
P.S. I’ve tried using Safari and Google Chrome and am successful in leaving a comment. Yay! IE8 just doesn’t do it ~
Oh yes, the Tea Party was delightful!
xo
I sooo love your garden Miss V…I might just start a mini one tomorrow (I know I’m late but better late than never) in honor of my “Grandma aka Ba” b/c tomorrow she would have been 104 yrs old…
We lost her just when she turned 100…she had a green thumb and the most precious tiny little farm too ~ that had chickens, goats, kitties & pups (& lots of wildlife too)…we would have the grandest party for her and too boot fireworks just for her hehehe (& a million other folks too)…
So in honor of her I will plant a tiny tiny garden in her name “Sweet Ann” & have a hot dog & cheese burger, corn on the cob, salads, strawberry/blueberry angel food cake & a root beer float too…
I will display all my flags & show my red white & blue b/c I too am proud to bee an American & I love my country too…
Have a Happy 4th of July everyone & sending blessings 2 everyone too… ;O)
So true!
And… another party for you!?
Hmm. Well, at least I’ll be going to Italy and France in a few days 😀 😀 😀 😀
hugs + love + thank you for another wonderful tea party and for making our lives more sparkly!
Hi Miss Valencia! I hope all is well. I love comingbhere to your blog. It always makes me smile. Those teal krispy treats look delicious. You always have something special for every holiday or everyday! It is so inspiring. You garden looks wonderful. Youhave done suchba wonderful job! I love squash. Especially in soup! It reminds me of fall, my favorite time of year! I agree with you about articles and their negative opinions. I saw so much hate in them, that I stopped reading articles, or stopped reading comments because they made me so mad and sad. I just surround myself in positive energy and positive people.
Take care and be well!
-Kim
Wow, what a surprise (a lovely one) that you are back already! I am eating some lunchtime tea room leftovers as I read your post today–watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberry, green leaf lettuce, and a couple of slim slices of pumpkin bread with what seems to be a thin layer of cream cheese in the middle. Mmmm! I thus felt right at home as I read of your impressively healthy and delicious home-growned goodies. Your salad sounds wonderful! I am sooo glad you have managed to keep the gophers at bay, but it sounds like some hard work went into that! Oh, and beautiful “thinkin’ outside the box” Rice Krispie treats! If you had been our Betsy Ross, who knows what hues would grace our flag today? Teal, rose, and gold, perhaps? Gorgeousness. ; )You have the happiest of 4ths, too!
Your home grown veges look soooo scrumptious!
And I loved your ‘teal’ crispy treats, even though you wanted blue. You inspire me to grow some fall veges…maybe I will do that this year. I do love fresh spinach!
Hope you have a very lovely 4th of July!
whiz…bang…sparkles…ohs!!!!…and ahhhs!!!
hugs,
Miss Teresa
Oh! Dear! Me!
And I forgot to thank you so very much for hosting your Mad Tea Party for yet another year of fun and whimsy!
muuuuwah!
Miss Teresa
Oh what delicious garden delights, Vanessa! I’ve always wanted to try squash blossoms – I hear they are amazing! Hopefully, we can hit up some farmers markets to see if there are any. I chatted on my blog about berry picking. There is nothing like freshly picked fruit…yum! And we’ve been enjoying lettuce from the garden. I do love salads, too. I think we’ve finally figured out how to keep the groundhogs out of our goodies – so maybe next year we can try spinach.
I agree with you about the rampant negativity. I see it in so many places. It is rather disturbing. We should indeed be grateful for all that we have here. We are lucky. I know I am.
Have a wonderful 4th – teal rice crispy treats and all!!! xoxo
add in your dressing a little mustard and it will be super delicious!!!
You are so lucky to have a garden that gives you such tasty delights. I can tell you put in as much love as it gives back to you.
Amazing garden and congratulations on the gophers! What a coincidence that you post this when I have been browsing the net for a good cleansing diet with only organic stuffs to use!
Um… sis… your rice treats are very ready for Christmas, not Independence day… but you are very close. I love that you have a garden… You should use your squash blossoms to make these: http://www.rickbayless.com/recipe/view?recipeID=215… there was a rerun of Rick Bayless’ show and the quesadillas with squash blossoms in them looked delicious…. You should make them and invite me over…
Happy Independence Day!!! I am enjoying my weekend with my daughter and her friend. They have been at camp and staying at my parents at night. We take them back tomorrow afternoon. Oh look at the time. I mean this afternoon. lol
We saw a silly but fun movie called, “Bad Teacher”. It was hot but we enjoyed a day of shopping, a movie and a late lunch. 🙂
That spinach looks lovely and I wish I had grown some for myself this year too! But I’ve been busy busy busy…
(The rice krispie treats though, they look a little… poisonous… ;))
i am
over here
Embracing the Good
to beat the band,
missy!
🙂
but
save me some spinach!
i’ll B
~~right
~~over.
{{ BTW, food that is Teal in hue
has No Calories
worth mentioning.
i thought you should know… }}
Oh yeah. Nothing better than fresh spinach from the garden. I’ve never eaten squash flowers though. Wish’d I knew about that when I use to grow squash. You really can’t grow squash for just 2 people. You end up with a million squash!! Eating the flowers would’ve helped that out immensely. Was the next to the last picture of your nighttime garden? That was beautiful!! Happy 4th to you and the gang.
Kathy
Makes me want to run out in the backyard and start digging!
wait wait WHAT? i can *eat* the pumpkin flowers? are you cereal? that’s so frickin’ cool! i have tons of them too-i also have squash-like-crookneckies but they are almost gone and the flowers are where the squash grow from-is that not the case with pumpkins? TEACH ME OH GARDEN FAIRY!
yum 2 da yum on the tasty looking bowl of lunch. me lerves me spinach-and avocado and chicka chicka chick peas (garbanzo!)
Oh my goodness i didn’t know you were having trouble with ants too-are you doing any organic remedies? please do tell because they are eating my okra 🙁
The garden is my place of zen right now too.
Happy 4th lovely one! xoxoxoxvivivivxoxox roo
PS~~
Screaming Teal Krispies- LOVE IT! Sounds like something Steven Tyler from Aerosmith would eat for the 4th 😉
Beautiful and thought provoking post Vanessa. If only more of us thought that way, all the time. Have a safe and fun holiday!
Beautiful salad! Super fun treats! Thank you for adding so much positivity to the world, it is much appreciated.
You have such a lovely garden. I can’t wait for the day I have one of my own. Since the internet provides some anonymity people are more careless with their words. I highly doubt most would be spoken if they were in person.
Happy 4th of July Vanessa! Its been too long since I’ve been here. I’ve been redecorating online and started a new blog 😉
Anyhow, I love seeing your garden! Your burlap shade is such a great idea! (why have I not thought of that?!) my garden…ugh…not doing well!
And I know what you mean about the negativity. I notice it on facebook too. Its like people think they have an obligation to be sarcastic and judgemental, it seems attention seeking to me. I think if people had to say all they say online in person, then they wouldnt do it. Hope you are well and have a fantastic 4th!~
speaking of Steven Tyler dear Roo…..I am reading his book right now “Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?” and yes, he would probably snort or smoke those teal rice krispie treats!….(he’s better now though)
That is the most beautiful salad I’ve ever seen — we are what we eat so you must be radiating everything fresh & wholesome & positive….
Oh how I love to see your pictures of your vegetable garden. I have one too but with completely different conditions. You need shade for your plants and I need sun. Happy 4th of July! /Therese
Ooooooh – now I have a rice krispies treat jones, hehe…
🖤 Carolee
Oooooh your garden and those goodies, and that salad…oh my!!
You are right…to much negativity 🙁 I try to ignore it and not watch the news, etc because when I hear these things, it makes me sad. I hate to say I’m naive about certain things, but I almost try and make myself, so that I don’t have to be sad hearing all of the negative and bad things happening in the world. I always love your outlook on life…another great post!
Hugs,
Jamie 🙂
Your article is very good fit to be read because it adds new value to me
oh, our zucchini flowers were amazing! Are Amazing! We haven’t cooked any yet, because we’re almost never around for dinner! But I shared these photos http://parabolicmuse.blogspot.com/2011/06/zucchini-flowers.html
and since then have seen little bees just having a grand old time!
I’m scared of bees.
Really nice message, my friend. Thank you.