Vegetables For Breakfast in California

 

This morning I boiled some green beans on the stove in a small amount of salted water.  After draining them in a colander, I swirled them in their original pot in a small amount of Danish Creamery butter, and pressed a clove of fresh garlic over the surface.  The warmth of the saucepan will melt the butter.

Sunchokes are a vegetable that I was recently introduced to through our local farmers.  I expected them to taste like artichokes, of which I am a huge fan.  Instead, they remind me of homemade potato chips with a sunflower flavor. They are addictive!  I couldn’t wait to make them again.

Shaped like a bulb, they resemble  ginger.  I sliced them width-wise,  thinly, and baked them in olive oil, seasoning them with salt and pepper.  They cook very quickly, and make a delicious side dish to any meal.  I enjoyed  them last night, for dinner, with spicy chicken wings and a vegetable salad.

What do you eat for breakfast?

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Another Big Fire Here

mature trees at the Wrightwood Country Club

 
This afternoon I heard fire trucks go screaming down Sierra Highway.  I sensed  both urgency and doom in the way they were speeding.  There were two fires in this area today.  The first one was only five acres of land, up by the 5 freeway.

The fire near my cottage was the one that worried me.  It was burning 400 acres, last time I  checked.  This is becoming all too common.  It's in the history books, so many homes burned to the ground when this area was first settled.  They didn't have fire departments in those days.  It gives me a sick sense of dread when I see the smoke and hear the sirens.  Part of the reason that I started looking for a cabin in the mountains was because of the repeated summer burnings in this area.  It makes me nervous.

Fortunately, it's not too windy today, and our firefighters are very experienced.  Thank goodness there isn't a lot of protesting going on at this time.  Recently things were so out of control.  We really need our civil servants in times like these; it's so dangerous without them.  I am very thankful for their dedication and training.

On a more positive note, the sunflowers are in bloom, and the garden is doing extremely well.  We have had very pleasant temperatures for this time of year.  Today it was eighty degrees.  Normally it's much hotter.  I picked the first few ripe, red tomatoes from the garden for salads.  I also tasted the first green chili pepper that I have ever grown.  I sauteed it with onions and put them both on my chicken enchilada, garnished with fresh cilantro.  Yum! 

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Baby Chili Peppers and Other Garden Treasures

feverfew, a fairy plant

This morning I cut back some of the plants in my garden that had gotten a bit wild.  I trimmed the red rose geraniums, pruned the locust tree and snipped off the dead feverfew flowers. 

the sunflowers are getting strong and tall

All of that is now piled on the compost heap.  I dug a hole in the middle of it and dropped in my melon rinds, coffee grounds, carrots peels and other produce discards that I had collected in a tupperware container.  I really think that compost and mulch makes a huge difference in the garden.  Everything is so green!

I went searching for a small chili pepper plant that I put in the ground last month.  At first I thought that the rabbits had chewed it to the ground.  But then, hiding behind the four o'clocks, I found it!  I was amazed to see that some tiny fruits had formed.  They are so special.  I love their shape.  I am thrilled. 

There is something magical about growing a variety of food that you have never grown.  It brings out the child in us.

How is your garden doing?  (if you have one.)

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Finally! Success With Tomatoes

there are over fifteen tomatoes on this one compact plant

 
This is the first time in twenty years of gardening that I have had an abundance of fruit appear  on a tomato plant.  As the joke goes, I was one of those hopeful gardeners that grew a single, $14.00 tomato.  It always depressed me, and I didn't know why I had such a difficult time with this popular plant. 

After a few attempts, I stopped trying.  I stuck to growing things that  did well: hollyhocks, pumpkins, citrus, zucchini and herbs.  Deep down, though, I still really longed to grow tomatoes, like the ones in Italy.  I don't even know the name of this variety.  I threw away the tag after planting it, assuming I would fail again.  I bought it at the Tractor Supply shop, right after the virus hit.  This, a single pepper plant, several packets of organic Seeds of Change vegetable seeds and seven more fruit trees. 

I think part of the reason my three rose bushes  and lone tomato plant did well this year is that I piled  straw mulch on the soil before the rain.  It attracted loads of red wiggler worms.  I have fed the plants compost tea once a week, and reapplied the straw mulch after it decreased.  It keeps the soil cool and moist. 

healthy green leaves and sunlight

Sometimes when you least expect it, what you've wanted will creep up on you, unexpected.  It took me years and years to break into some of the shows that I really had a desire to do.  I continued to audition, and didn't give up.  When the timing is right, things happen easily.   Your heart's desire can come true.  Sometimes it's the little things that bring us the most contentment and sense of reward.  Do you grow tomatoes?

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California Poppies, Celery, Pink Roses, and More Garden Photos

I have some more photos of the garden for you.  The picture above captures the  bright orange of my patch of California poppies.  I save the seeds every year and spread them in the ground.  If we have rain, they come back each spring.  They are so easy to grow here!

This celery plant I rooted from the base of a bunch that I got from the co-op.  I set it in water for about a week, changing the water each day.  It looks like it's pretty happy.  We will see it it regrows...

My pink roses make my heart melt.  I thought that I couldn't grow roses.  I gave up on them for fifteen years.  Then I decided to try planting them in the ground instead of in pots.  I stopped trimming them and fussing over them.  What a difference!

They go through different stages of color.  I find their energy to be so spiritual and uplifting.  I love to sit outside and bask in their beauty.

The bearded irises are almost finished blooming.  They come all the way up to my shoulder this year!

This is the backyard.  All of the green spots are weeds that I am removing each day.  I have my work cut out for me. I use a shovel and they come up easily.  In time, this will be a forest of fruit trees...

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Finally, Photos! Artichokes, Roses, and the Potager Garden

vibrant pink roses

Thank you to all of you for understanding that I couldn't post photos for a short while.  I was getting really frustrated, since everything that I tried to do didn't work.  I chatted about it this morning with my neighbor and her sister.  She explained to me that podcasts take up a lot of space.  So do apps.  I tried deleting the Google Photos, and voila!  Now I have plenty of room for more photos.  What a relief.  For some reason, when I can't get something right, I tend to think that I will never be able to do it again.

Here we go...let's walk through the garden...

this artichoke plant came back from last year

Today the first artichoke is ripe.  It is so exciting to make vegetables for lunch or dinner from food that you've grown yourself.

The bees and hummingbirds are busy pollinating the citrus trees.  This is a navel orange tree.

you can grow fruit, vegetables, flowers, herbs and trees together

I get a lot of compliments on the front potager garden from my neighbors. As they walk by, they usually stop to visit.  I hope that they feel the energy and healing vibration that the plants can bring.  As a child I sensed the uplifting spirit that some of the gardens had in our neighborhood.  It made my heart leap.

Back to planting!  I just put in oregano, peppermint, a tomato plant, and relocated some plump worms.  They do the work in the soil for us.  More photos will be coming soon.  Thank you for your kindness and patience.

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Finding Solace In Nature During the Coronavirus

the hummingbirds have been sucking the nectar from these periwinkle flowers

Yesterday I felt renewed sense of hope after spending time in the garden.  I have all kinds of energetic, beautiful birds visiting.  I saw orioles, sparrows, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, and a titmouse.  They all looked so happy and excited.  It's as if they were pleased to find plenty of bugs, nectar, and water to splash in; they love the birdbath. 

there is the first lime of the season

Seeing their antics gave me faith that everything is going to be all right.  They are busy with their babies.  I always take my cues from the animal kingdom.  They are so wise, in the moment,  and in tune with nature.  

the rhubarb is growing quickly

My artichoke plant is getting gigantic!  Soon I will be able to harvest artichokes to cook with homegrown lemons and Italian salad dressing.  It is an exciting time, and a bountiful harvest is just beginning...

Will you be growing food this year?  I left a bag of homegrown organic blood oranges and Meyer lemons in the mailbox for my mail carrier.  She was happy to receive them.

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Artichokes From The Garden For Dinner

This morning I harvested the first artichokes of the season. I love growing these plants; they get large so quickly. They remind me of pumpkins.  You can almost watch them grow. I made a pot of beef stew this afternoon, and enjoyed a big ceramic bowl of it for lunch and dinner.  I started by dipping the pieces of meat in flour, then browned them in olive oil, and seasoned the  beef with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

I added carrots, onion, celery, potatoes, a turnip, a parsnip, and several minced cloves of garlic. After letting it  simmer on the vintage stove for a couple of hours, the flavors blended. It made a very tasty, hearty beef stew.

Yesterday I went over to a friend's house for lunch. She made us a delicious spinach salad, and we had fresh strawberries and cafe au lait for dessert. After visiting with her, I went to the market and bought the produce for the week. 

Today Lula and I went to visit her family. She was so excited to see the children. She was running and jumping for joy. It was really sweet. How is you day going?

The Plants Are Springing To Life

my front potager garden with herbs, flowers, fruit, and vegetables

The garden is transforming.  You can see and feel the energy pulsating through the plants. The artichokes are getting huge! This one came back from last year. I love their size and power. The live Christmas trees that I planted are now a lovely shade of yellowish green, and they are developing berries. The birds will love them. The sparrows have been sharing the water in the birdbath, splashing around happily.  You can hear all sorts of bird songs, all day and night. My favorite is the call of the owl while I sleep.  

there's a little hummingbird at the feeder

I hung up the Easter wreath the other day. I have always wanted one that was covered with pastel colored eggs. I finally found this at T.J. Maxx.  I love the colors.

I spent several hours weeding the garden yesterday. It was exhausting, but also felt satisfying. It's so important to take care of the yard and soil. Soon I will plant more asparagus, strawberries, rhubarb, and zinnias. I have everything sitting by the door, ready to place  into the fertile ground. I will tuck a handful of homemade compost into each planting hole The rain we've had all winter has been wonderful. It makes such a difference. How is you garden?

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Still Harvesting Zucchini

zucchini in November

This afternoon I found a large, green zucchini that I had missed. It's very satisfying to still be harvesting squash in November. I cooked it up with some cube steak for lunch. For dinner I had a large salad. The lettuce patch is producing really well. I'm thrilled. The chickens are enjoying it, too. It is a wonderful feeling to grow some of your own food, organically. The temperatures are perfect for gardening right now.

I read a frightening article today about a man in Australia who ate a slug on a dare, and then died. He was paralyzed for eight years. I found my first slug ever on the lettuce that I picked for my salad this evening. It was an eerie coincidence. I carefully removed it and threw it in the green waste bin, and then washed my hands. I'll never look at a slug the same way again. 

painted sky last night

I spent a few hours this afternoon trying to unravel some knots in the yarn that I'm using for my shawl. It was frustrating not to get any knitting done.  I am almost through all of the knots, though, This was a center pull ball of yarn. When will I learn that I should just work from the outside of the ball? I always have this problem when I work from the inside and the yarn starts to collapse. Invariably, I run into a huge mass of knots and tangles. It makes me so frustrated and depressed.  I shouldn't get that way, but struggling with  problems with  knitting can make you feel very negative, emotionally.  I think that's why I hated sewing as a teenager. I didn't have the patience or technique. Oh, well, I almost have the problem section all unraveled, and I didn't have to cut the yarn, thank goodness!  Hopefully I will be able to move forward with it tomorrow.

headed home on our walk

Last night after walking Lula, I did Pilates, the physical therapy hip exercises, and a short set of Kundalini Yoga. I really want to continue to stay in shape as I age. My body feels so much different now, since I'm not dancing professionally. I miss being in tip top condition. I feel very fortunate to be healthy and pain free, though. I am so thankful that I had that hip replacement surgery.  How are you doing?

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Cleaning Your Windows With Bar Soap

my view from my desk

Today I cleaned my front window with a bar of homemade soap. I used to use white vinegar and water, but I wasn't really happy with the results. The windows looked far better after using dish soap, which I learned about from the book, How Clean Is Your House. My mother even noticed the difference when she came to visit me. She commented on how much cleaner an antique mirror that I had looked. I told her that I had switched to using dish soap and distilled water. We have hard water where I live. It leaves a film on things, and makes cleaning much more challenging. It creates a smeared look. It's depressing to see after working hard at cleaning your home. It makes the laundry dingy, too. Soft water pumps are illegal here.  Still, I try.  

Today I discovered my first baby Cinderella pumpkin. Once that flower opens, (which is a female,) I can pollinate it with a male blossom. I am hoping there is enough time for a pumpkin to develop. We shall see. I remember seeing them growing very late in the season at another house, years ago. It was in November.

green Algerian tangerines

  

tangerine turning orange

I have been making more headway on my deep cleaning. Sometimes it feels overwhelming, so I just do a few hours a day. I am amazed at how fast professional housekeepers work. I may update my windows, as these slats are very hard to clean. I have to remove each one individually. The more I clean, the more I find things that are dirty. (and I live alone.) I can't imagine how I'd feel with a husband and kids. I remember my mother cleaning like a maniac, all day long. Now I see why. It makes me feel kind of sad for her. She tried so hard to be the perfect housekeeper. How exhausting...

The garden is coming along well. When I see the weather in other parts of the world, and in the rest of the USA, I feel very fortunate. Gardening takes a lot of time and energy, but the results are worth it. I love how healthy the stalks of this zucchini plant are.

 
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The Front Garden in Fall

I have had a few pink hollyhocks bloom this month. It's a nice surprise to see the flowers peeking through the leaves. Usually they are very tall and vibrant in March. These are shorter and mellower. The zucchini plants are still producing. They aren't as vigorous, but they still provide. I just love the taste of fresh zucchini after it has been cooking. I mash it with butter, salt, and pepper. It's so tender and fresh. I'm so glad that I planted it. The years that I have skipped growing it, I really missed it. It's not the same from the store.

The artichoke plants are coming back; I hope they produce well again this year. I let them flower last season, so I don't know if they will have enough energy to develop lots of artichokes. I have been feeding them compost and compost tea. It seems to be revitalizing them. The straw mulch appears to be helping the soil, too. It all works together.

I planted a packet of zinnias in this large pot in my driveway. They are just starting to bloom. It's so nice to have some bright, colorful annuals at this time of year. Zinnias are one of my favorite old fashioned flowers. The bees and butterflies are attracted to them, too.

I made an apple crisp the other day. Apples have been on sale at Valley Produce, where I shop. They were only .69 a pound. I basically buy what's on sale each week, and work my menus around those ingredients. Last night I was enjoying the night sky and cool air while relaxing out on my porch. I decided to splurge, and let myself have a cafe au lait after dinner. Normally I just have two per day, and I drink them in the morning. After brewing the espresso and heating up the milk,  I felt like I was out on the balcony of a cruise ship. It was so relaxing and decadent. It's funny how the little pleasures in life can add so much quality and joy.

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Saving Money By Growing Food

When I first bought my cottage, I wanted to make use of the land. I knew that it would be ideal for growing fruits and vegetables. We get a tremendous amount of sun in Southern California. It provides the plants with the light that they need. Sometimes I struggle with the unpleasantness of the heat, but I know that our hot summers are what's needed in order to grow food, (Especially year round.)

I picked another zucchini this morning. Rather than cooking it in butter and garlic,  I decided to eat it raw. I cut it into matchsticks. To my surprise, it was delicious! Sometimes the home grown vegetables taste best with very little preparation. The young ones are so tender.

The hummingbirds have been visiting the Four O'Clocks. They are tubular flowers, that are excellent pollinators. I save the seeds each year, and scatter them. Some people consider them as weeds, but I like them. My neighbor gave me the initial seeds twenty years ago. I always think of her when they bloom.

Each morning I check for male and female blossoms on the zucchini. I pollinate them by hand. That's a male flower above, and a wilted female flower at the end of the zucchini next to it.  It's easy to transfer the pollen. The sunflowers are buzzing with active bees. I love sitting on the porch and watching the birds, butterflies, bees, and lizards. It makes me feel happy and connected with nature.

Although I don't grow as much food as I used to, it still is a big help, financially. The routine of farming  feels healthy and earthy. I enjoy drinking  fresh orange juice for many months of the year. The lemons and limes are delicious in cooking and baking. I eat the fresh vegetables daily, and use them in salads.  It's convenient to go "shopping" for food just outside your doorstep  in your own garden. Do you grow your own food?

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Another Article in Dance Magazine

This article is now live at www.Dance Magazine.com. Here is the link  It's a piece I wrote for dancers about the importance of knowing your type. Although it was written with  performers in mind, it also applies to those in other fields. Sometimes it helps to see things from the perspective of the person behind the table.

Last night I picked the first zucchini. It was tender and delicious. It's so rewarding to grown and cook food from your own garden. Whenever I have skipped growing zucchini for a season, I have always missed it. It's so delicious and reliable. I love how green and nutritious it is.

This morning I worked on the finishing of The Five Hour Baby Sweater. I just need to block it. I'm so pleased with how it turned out! The detail and colors make me smile. Now I just need to find a newborn baby girl who lives somewhere that is cold while she is still tiny! 

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Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice From The Garden

I have been enjoying freshly squeezed orange juice from the garden each morning. The taste is amazing! I may start eating them, instead of juicing them, so that the harvest lasts for a longer time. One glass of juice takes five oranges! I am giving some to my mail lady when she whizzes by this afternoon. I dropped off several artichokes for my neighbor earlier today. She gave me another bag of her sweet grapefruit, and a couple of volunteer nectarine trees.  The citrus are scrumptious! There is nothing like fresh, tree ripened fruit. It's one of the reasons that I settled in Southern California. I always dreamed of growing my own fruits and vegetables, and now I am.

I made another batch of compost tea this afternoon. It does such an excellent job of feeding the plants, and it's free. All it takes is the correct balance of greens and browns. I collect all of my fruit and vegetable peels, scraps, and leftovers. Thanks to my compost pile, I have a tiny bag of  trash each week.  I think the manure that my neighbor gives me really adds a punch to the effect of the compost tea. It makes everything so green and vibrant! Vegetables that are home grown always taste more flavorful, and they are so tender.

The hat is now dried and blocked. I am going to try making another one, hopefully in a size large. I will probably add an extra fourteen stitches, and  work it on circular needles in the round. I have another ball of alpaca yarn in grey. If the size works, I may redo the first one. Or, I will gift it to someone with a very, very small head.   

I redid the heel on the lace socks today. Actually, I redid it twice. I realized that I had gone wrong when I didn't need to knit across to start picking up stitches. On the second attempt I miscounted, but by the third time I got it right. There was no longer a tiny, mysterious hole at the bottom. I think that's where I should have closed the gap. I love this yarn, and these socks. They are meditative to knit. The Tofutsies yarn washes really nicely, too.

   
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