Thursday, June 30, 2016
Water Hyacinth
Every year now for the 5 I have purchased a Water Hyacinth and grown it in a planter filled with water. They are so lovely!
Garden Up-date II
Second, I added some flowers and cleaned up the Kentucky field stones in the front of the circle garden
.
Saturday, June 25, 2016
Florentine Vegetable Soup with Sweet Italian Sausage Meatballs
You make it in two parts.
1) - The meatballs.
1) - The meatballs.
Sweet Italian Sausage
Italian Seasoned Bread Crumbs
Shredded Parmesan Cheese
I combine sweet Italian sausage with seasoned bread crumbs
and finely shredded parmesan cheese. I form the meatballs into small orbs--half
the size that I would for Spaghetti, they should fit on a soupspoon. And I
brown them in a little olive oil and set aside.
2) - The soup
2) - The soup
Water
Knorr brand condensed Beef Stock (2)
Kosher Salt
Oregano (dried)
Carrots
Onion
Celery
Portobello Mushrooms
Spinach (frozen cut leaf)
Tomatoes (canned diced with roasted garlic and onion)
Parmesan Cheese (shaved, for garnish)
Start with two quarts of water and two Knorr condensed beef
stock, some kosher salt and some dried oregano (a generous amount --like a
tsp). Then in went 4 small carrots, 1 medium onion, 3 larger celery stalks and
12 oz.of baby portobello mushrooms, and after simmering for about 30 minutes,
add the meatballs with a package of frozen spinach (cut leaves) and a can of
diced tomatoes with roasted garlic and onion. I avoided the tomatoes with
basil--too sweet. I let that simmer on low for about an hour so the flavors
would all condense.
Then I served it with some shaved aged parmesan and a couple of slices of Olive Bread to sop with. I would make this again and serve it to guests in a heartbeat.
Then I served it with some shaved aged parmesan and a couple of slices of Olive Bread to sop with. I would make this again and serve it to guests in a heartbeat.
A Word On BREXIT
One of the consequences of the United Kingdom leaving the
European Union will most likely be an unraveling of the "United"
Kingdom! How ironic. It seems a no brainer that Scotland will be checking out
ASAP...and then Northern Ireland will achieve what years of war could not. I
don't have a horse is this race, but it does seem like an interesting turn that
will bite the exitor's in the balls in the near time--say the next 5 years. For
what was once a great Empire, to now shoot itself in the foot...
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Latest Additions To My Garden Zoo
Most recent additions to my Garden Zoo.
Ball Python, Python regius
King Cobra, Ophiophagus hannah
Timber Rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus
White-lipped Green Pit Viper, Trimeresurus albolabris
Black Mamba, Dendroaspis polylepis
Pogona Lizard, Pogona vitticeps
Griffon Vulture, Gyps fulvus
European Hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus
Arctic Wolf, Canis lupus arctos
Harbor Seal, Phoca vitulina
North American River Otter, Lontra canadensis
Some Birds Of Summer
A dear friend found this lovely little vintage Birder's guide and bought it for me. It was printed in 1930. Here are some of the entries of birds I live with. Aren't the prints wonderful?
My Carolina Wrens are so curious and so creatively industrious. They build amazingly intricate nests.
The Catbird is like my favorite! Always around when I'm working in the garden. Always so chatty and friendly...and brave.
Ubiquitous immigrant from across the pond--like many of us! And look at how in 1930 this pour little bird is vilified. Sad.
The Tuft Titmice are my neighbors. They are community minded and love my fountain. They are not overly intrigued by human commerce, but why should they be? They are so engaged in there own!
We Are Hemorrhaging
