gardening fail

 

 My dad came over our house this week and I was so excited to show him how the trumpeter vine he gave me had grown.  I proudly walked him outside to the spot and pointed at my foot tall growth.  His response?

"That's not a trumpeter vine.  It's a weed."

"WHAT?! How is it possible that in the only place I planted a trumpeter vine a vine-ish looking weed with flowers comes up, but no trumpeter vine???"

"I don't know. That's a weed."

Well, guess what Mr Weed. You're stuck with me until next summer when I get some more trumpeter vine seeds from my dad to try again.  

After all, I consider some weeds to be wildflowers.  

Just don't tell the crabgrass.

If you have never been...then you must go..to the Adirondacks!!!

This past week my husband and I and the girls were away at my husbands annual family reunion. Every year we all get together and go to the Adirondacks for one whole week. He has a rather large Italian family...and so I must say the food is to die for!! And there was a TON of it!!! Not kidding!!! I think on lasagna night the pans just kept multiplying..because there were 5 pans still left over after dinner..I felt like when Jesus fed the 5000. I don't think we stopped eating from the moment we all got there. The family rents a large cabin (It's more like a mansion cabin..that's what I call it!) for one half of the family and the other half stays with my hubby's aunt. Thankfully she lives in the Adirondacks in a gorgeous house right off the lake! We stayed there for the whole week fishing off the dock, swimming in the crystal clear lake, horseback riding, building campfire's, and feeling refreshed in the cool mountain air. I kid you not it was like 15 degrees cooler up there! The best part about it was hot fresh coffee everyday and a wonderful place to stay with showers! Not just one shower but 5 showers!! I thought I had died and gone to heaven!! Now this is my kind of camping! We stayed with my hubby's Aunt along with 3-4 other families, all cousins to my husband. I think at one time there were 8 children under the age of 5 staying at the house. Ahhh..what memories! I am so thankful that I have a wonderful family (on both sides) and that we have the opportunity to spend time together even if it's once a year for the ones who live far away, it really does make a huge difference in each other's lives. And I'm so thankful that my hubby's Aunt has such a giving heart to let us all stay at her house for a whole week. And also so very thankful that my 2 precious girls will have wonderful memories of spending their summer's camping with family. 

This is where we stayed...just beautiful!

 Little L and her daddy on the kayak..

Little L and daddy fishing....

Little L's cousin even taught her how to hold a fish...she's so brave!!!

Thankfully we arrived home safe and I was so happy that my garden had survived the heat wave while we were gone. This is what was waiting for me when I got home...

I was so grateful for the fresh vegetables because after a week away there was literally nothing in my refrigerator. So I decided to make a Caprese Pizza with my tomatoes from my garden. It was spectacular! 

I can't get enough of those fresh tomatoes... and it was so easy to make...

Caprese Pizza:

*First cut your tomatoes and sprinkle both sides with a small

 amount of salt and let them sit for about 10-15 minutes.

*Next prepare your crust. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. It's easier just to use a pre-made dough. 

Spray your pizza pan with cooking spray and spread your dough on the pan. 

* Use about 1 tablespoon of oil and mix it with about one clove or one tsp of minced garlic.

*Spread it over the pizza dough and sprinkle it with Parmesan cheese.

*Bake for 425 degrees for about 11 -13 minutes.

*Next mix about 1/4 cup of chopped fresh basil or more depending on how

much basil you like with one tablespoon olive oil and set aside. 

*Slice fresh mozzarella (shredded mozzarella if you don't have any fresh on hand).

*Place a slice of tomato then a slice of fresh mozzarella overlapping around the 

entire pizza and bake for about 5 more minutes until the cheese melts.

*After removing from the oven drizzle the olive oil/basil mixture over the top and 

sprinkle with pepper and serve.

what survived...

and I should add to the title.... "so far."

The heat wave we've been having across the country has done a number on my precious garden so far.  As much as I water and hope and pray, only the strong have survived.  I'll cross my fingers the rest recover for next year, but here's what I'm left with for now:

My roma tomatoes.  We went back and forth and back and forth during the heatwave, but it looks like we're going to end up with "forth." As in, they lived.  It stopped doing anything for a while, but it looks like it's back for good with some new tomato blooms!

I even had enough to make a quick batch of fried green tomatoes!  I used this recipe for the dipping sauce. (I substituted the red wine vinegar in mine for regular vinegar just to be safe with the baby and all! Oh, and I don't have any Creole seasoning, so I just added the same amount in chili powder.) Big yum! I would have taken a picture of the completed recipe, but I ate them too fast... whoops!

 My beautiful asters also survived!! This bloom looks a little worse for the wear, but I've got new blooms all over just waiting to open up!

This was a pleasant surprise! It's a pumpkin!! I had my husband toss the seeds on the side yard last November, and it looks like something may have come of it- so excited! I hope they keep!

My dad had also given me some trumpeter vine seeds (which I didn't take pictures of back when I did my garden post because it would have just been a picture of the dirt since they were seeds, haha).  But they're doing awesomely!  They just started to bud with tiny flowers this week- so excited!

Just in case you're wondering why I planted a trumpeter vine...it's to hide my trash can! Of course.... Can't wait till it's a smidgen bigger so I can start wrapping it into the trellis.

Last but not least, the highlight to my morning was catching these two bunnies frolicking around! So cute. I named them Elmer and Louisa. They can stay as long as they don't eat my asters that are newly blooming!

How does your garden grow amidst the heat wave?  I'm off to go feed mine some H2O!!!

simple...♥

i want to simplify...don't you? 

this summer has been a strong reminder that i will never reclaim time that has past...

"...my days are as a shadow that passeth away"...psalm 144

little girl giggles...

curly hair that smells like the beach

milk & cereal out on the deck...

simple things...

clothespins & decoupage...cuteness

chicks & hens livin' in a carved out tree stump

(the chief came up with this all on his own...i ♥ this man)

celebrating 12 years this weekend...love ya all my life ♥ 

free printable for you...download here ♥

happy simpleness...

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♥ diy hanging planters ♥

girls...these are the easiest things to make...ever

the nice lunch lady at my daughter's school saves these ginormous aluminum cans for me, the ones the big amounts of applesauce & fruit come in, then spray painted white...the chief drilled holes on each side (and some smaller holes on the bottoms for drainage) for the thick rope i used, from Home Depot...cut at different lengths...i threaded the rope through the holes then tied a knot on the inside of the can, the jute is so thick it'll hold well...

don't ya just love the rocking chair...i got it off the curb! 

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7: 13-15

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