Pie's & Pickles

Seems the temperature has been cooling down just a tad bit, we're in the mid to high 90's. While not always feeling quite cool enough, it certainly is much cooler than in the past couple of weeks.
In light of that, I'm feeling a little more like myself again.

A trip to Saturday's Farmer's Market found me some blackberries for a nice pie.

Picked some cucumbers from the garden and put them up to pickle...

I've tried several pickling recipe's and wasn't happy with the outcome.

Last year I tried a package mix of Mrs. Wages and LOVED it! 

It's easy and delicious.

I'm enjoying the coolness, especially in the early morning when I spend most of my time outside in the gardens. I have lots of zucchini and think I'll be making some zucchini bread today.

It's a good day.

The Girasole Lady

Tomato Sandwiches & Home Made Ice Cream

Last night we had tomato sandwiches and home made ice cream for dinner.
That's just what you do when the temps outside are soaring above 100 degrees, even in the evening. Just the thought of cooking makes me break out in a sweat and feel nauseous.

We are in the second week of a heat wave, the temps have been hoovering around 105-110.

I've spent hours and hours of watering, watering everything from the trees at the barn, vegetable garden, the roses down by the road, and everything in between.

On top of the heat we have smoke filled air from the fire up the Canyon, and also from fires in Shasta, Lassen and Lake County.

By the time I'm done with morning outside chores I'm too exhausted to put any effort into cleaning the house. The heat is draining, making me tired, unmotivated, and even a little crabby.
My house is a wreck and needs some serious TLC. I am in and out of the house so much, that the floor collects straggly pieces of grass, weeds, and general dirt, being tracked in by my feet. Maverick contributes too by bringing in stickers on his hair and politely dropping them all over the carpet, stepping on them inside makes me feel like I have to wear shoes in the house. There are zucchini, cucumbers and tomatoes all over the kitchen that need to be washed and cared for. I need to bake some zucchini bread, but it's too hot to turn on the oven. I feel confidant that if I just set the zucchini batter outside in a bread pan that the heat out there would cook it in no time.

Walking through my little garden looks something like this...

(after watering)

These pictures make me feel cool, and that all the watering is worth it. 

Maybe today it will only be 100 degrees. Maybe this weekend the temps will fall into the 90's.
Maybe I'll regain some inspiration and energy. Maybe I'll feel like myself again.

For this morning I will head out once again and pick the veggie garden, feed the horses, and water some more.

 The Girasole Lady

A Little Vacation

At the end of July I took a little get away vacation. Tonya, the babies, and myself went to the Bay Area for a visit to see my sister, Jen, and family. It's been many, many years since I have left the Farm for anything other than a wedding, babies, graduations or funerals. It was wonderful to just get away, and Caveman held the fort down in my absence.

Getting away from the Farm is a major ordeal, especially in the Summer. It's always hard to leave, living in the country and having horses and gardens is a daily responsibility, but also one I wouldn't trade for the world.

As always we shared LOT's of chatting, story telling, crafting and cooking.

One of the days we took a trip to Happy Hollow Park And Zoo in San Jose.

The park is geared for small kids, perfect for Laci, Mia, Justin, Ryan and Charlie. Jen's friend Katie went with us and her adorable son Charlie.
There were animals, and kiddie rides and a petting zoo.

I love watching my gran-babies taking in the world, it's just amazing. Brings back so many memories of watching my girls growing up.

My girl Tonya with her girls, Laci and Mia

My favorite outing was our trip to Santa Cruz.

My sis and baby Justin

We went Saturday evening about 5ish. Jen lives only about 40 minutes from this wonderful ocean. That's the beauty about where she lives, she can be at the ocean or San Francisco in less than an hour.

Mia and me

The weather was amazing! Sunny and warm, we didn't even need so much as a sweatshirt when we arrived. We played in the ocean waves like children. When it started to cool off we headed over to the wharf to watch the Sea Lions and have a bread bowl of scrumptious clam chowder. We had a fantastic time, enjoying each others company, we had nowhere to go and all evening to get there. After a visit to Marini's Candies  for a piece of the Famous Fudge, we headed back over the mountain towards my Sis.

I enjoyed relaxing and being away from the daily responsibilities of the Farm. I don't think I'll wait so long between get a ways.

You know how it feels to have your perspective freshened? Just good- that's all.

The Girasole Lady