Good Grief, I just noticed.

My chickens are reaching through the fence. 

Aha, I caught you.  No use looking so innocent now. 

They are eating my new Sweet Pea Shoots.

No use denying it.  I've seen you do it. 

A summer without Sweet Peas? 

Now listen here girls, I'm watching you. 

 If it hairlips a hog, I will have Sweet Peas this year.  

One of every color in the rainbow. 

And one more thing. 

The Ronde de Nice seeds I saved from last year's crop did not look promising.

  

But now I see that I will have enough of these delectable little squash to share with the entire town. 

(They may show up on your doorstep).

Have a great remainder of the week, dear friends. 

Gina 

Summer

And all the fun and work that comes with it.

My new Tayberry bush is doing well.  This luscious fruit needs a special accompaniment

A Sabayon or if in Italy, a Zabaglione is the perfect answer. 
Recipe here

You will need a double boiler and a tireless arm. 

My Basil is perfect for picking and perfect for making Pesto.

It will go to seed in a few days. Must stock up on Pine Nuts and the very best olive oil I can find.

Apricots are ripe, ready for preserves.

Now this is the variety of Opium Poppy I don't like.  
I like simple flowers. 
When these poppies first opened I started to pull some of them out.

But then thought better of it. 

If I had pulled them all I would have missed these Beauties. 

I'm still bottle feeding Liesel.  

Sunflowers are volunteering in the Squash Patch.

Ronde de Nice or Rolly Pollies are ready.
They are the very best Summer Squash. 

And I have been painting a lot of tiles for new kitchens.  


It's another beautiful day here.  
Hope you are enjoying summer.  

Gina 

http://betweennapsontheporch.

Summer,please slow down

Time is flying by...way too fast

The first Ronde de Nice of the year.

 Perfect when golf ball size. 

Even perfect when much larger.

This year's Rolly Polly Zucchini are direct descendants from my 2011 crop.  

Unlike other Zucchini, this variety grows in a tidy bush.

The blossoms are large, perfect for stuffing and deep frying.  

If you let one of the Zucchinis get large 
(like the yellow one in the back),
it will produce many seeds for next year.  

It truly is the perfect vegetable.  You cook the entire vegetable.  It has only a few seeds and the skin is delicate when young. 


Have a great week dear friends. 

Gina 

The most Perfect Vegetable

Ronde de Nice

Also known as Rolly Polly Zucchini, the Emerald Heirloom Squash

Ready to eat when golf ball size and stays tender when much larger.

Cut up into bite size pieces and saute in a little unsalted butter and olive oil.  Season with sea salt and a few turns of the pepper mill.

The entire Zucchini is edible including the skin and blossoms.

Dredge blossoms into beer batter and deep fry.

In the Fall,  be sure to save a few seeds for next year.

Gina