(What was) Fresh on Friday

In planning my menu for Sabbath dinner, I decided to make a pasta salad, knowing there would be vegetables to harvest in the garden. My shopping cart, which doesn't include all available peppers (sweet and jalapeño) or cherry tomatoes:

The resulting pasta salad, which includes the first half-pint of fermented eggplant:

I'm ready to start two more pint jars!

I also made this for dessert, thanks to a friend giving me a bag of must-use-NOW fresh blueberries:

I finished plying my blue singles during outdoor church yesterday, and skeined it today. I think it's destined to be a scarf/small shawl that will go nicely with jeans this fall.

Connected with an old high school/college friend today via video chat. She's a fellow "old mom with a single teenaged offspring" facing challenges, albeit different ones than we are. Good to share, commiserate, and encourage one another!

The next time I post, we'll be (short-term) empty-nesters. New adventures for all – except for Poppy. She's going to miss her sometimes-playmate.

That's it for now from . . .

Fruit and flowers Friday

There are no masses of flowers anywhere on the place at the moment, just scattered blossoms here and there. But I gathered up a bouquet of pictures to enjoy.

There was also a smattering of fruits to be found, harvested, and eaten. The first prune ripe enough eat, the second (and last) fig, a handful of blackberries while out riding Lance, and a peach (courtesy of my MIL). I also harvested enough basil to make a batch of pesto from a new recipe (it's really good!), and enough rhubarb to make a small crisp for our Sabbath dessert.

I got a lot done today in spite of circumstances, but my nerves, patience, and coping skills are all spent. I'm going to bed and hope that resets everything.

Good night from . . .

On NOT grinding to a (mental) halt

Anyone else feel like you are wearing cement shoes? Even if I don't watch or listen to much news, the awareness of global disruption drags me down, down, down. And although my day-to-day life hasn't changed much (which I acknowledge as a rich and unmerited blessing), I do find myself itching to go to the beach or hug a friend or casually pick up things I need or want here and there . . . or get a haircut. I know; First World problems. But that's why the Poppy pictures pile up in my folder instead of appearing here more regularly. But don't worry, I'll flood you with some at the end. 😉

Onward. Thoughts and news ahead in random order, just to get a post done.

Yesterday I picked the first mess of 2020 rhubarb from our garden to make a crisp (now done) for Sabbath dinner's dessert. To go with it, we'll have broccoli pesto pasta (with pesto from last year's basil and parsley, and broccoli from a neighbor's garden), and Thai Carrot Salad with parsley from our garden. I've also made two double batches of biscotti (cinnamon/pecan, and chocolate chip, in progress below) this week to use up some eggs I froze last year; the frozen eggs worked great BTW.

Helping Rick took hours-long chunks out of my Tuesday and Wednesday. On Tuesday he needed my help restraining an uncooperative horse for examination and treatment. On our way back (the call was 47 miles from our house), we saw a horse loose on the access road next to the interstate. Rick took the next exit and doubled back. A pasture gate was wide open and two more horses were making their escape as we drove up. Rick nabbed one and I grabbed the second one and we managed to get all three back in their pasture with the gate secured.

That night Rick couldn't find his emergency pager. It finally occurred to him that it probably fell off when he removed his belt to use as a lead rope. He didn't have time to drive back to the location (almost down to where the call was) and look for it the next day, so I volunteered. Since the teen has been going stir-crazy, I suggested he go along as my chauffeur, and I'd buy him lunch at his choice of drive-thru. We actually had a very nice outing, getting Taco Bell take-out, enjoying a nice drive on a beautiful day, finding the pager, and getting Dairy Queen Blizzards on the way home.

Flowers are busting out all over here. Yes, we have something blooming almost year-round here, but spring does bring a profusion of color and quantity.

As of yesterday, ALL eleven of my fleeces are reserved thanks to just TWO repeat customers! I am thankful if a bit overwhelmed. Must.Start.Shearing/Rooing. Where's the Advil?

Speaking of sheep, Brian put the ewes in the long, narrow strip between the horse paddocks and arena. Better to have them graze it down than to have to weed-whack it. Maybe they'll even eat the emerging thistles! They are nervous about getting too near the horses' paddocks; you can see how they are all bunched up in the corner, looking at Stella.

Now for the flood of Poppy pictures. Considering that I haven't shared most of what I've taken for over two weeks, I feel the need to curate more heavily than I usually do, which is pretty heavily. (In other words, this is not a Noahic flood as it could have been. 😉) They will be ordered from oldest to newest (yesterday). It looks like Poppy spends a lot of time sleeping, but really, she'd rather be playing. ALL DAY. NON-STOP. We're all just party-poopers who can't keep up, or tolerate her razor-sharp teeth, so sometimes she gives up and naps. Which is usually very entertaining in and of itself! (My guys, on the other hand, do prefer to sleep. 🙄)

Day 1 of tummy trouble

Day 2 of tummy trouble; charcoal capsules helped!

In case you were feeling sorry for Chuckie, note who ended up on top.

She fills my chair now!

As a palette cleanser, here's a feather finial. 😉

That's it for this week from . . .