More Than Just Cherry Pie

spring cherry blossoms

Our cherry season has just about come to an end.  There are about a handful plus sour cherries left on the tree, ripening so slowly.  The sweet cherries have been long gone for weeks; totally enjoyed by Glenn and myself, I must add. The birds were either kind or they dislike sweet cherries, but they had no impact on the resulting amount of sweet cherries.

The sour cherry crop was better than I had expected.  I was hoping to gather enough cherries for two pies.

Initially, I baked one pie from the earliest of the ripened cherries.  This pie was just about inhaled by Glenn as cherry pie is his favorite.  But, as the cherries continued to ripen and were picked; the harvest was more of a success than I originally hoped.

I was able to freeze enough cherries for another pie.  I experimented by drying another batch in the dehydrator for use in future scones and Ranger cookies baking.   And, I made Cherry Crisp, a new recipe for me, on two occasions.  Glenn determined that he likes Cherry Crisp topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream better than cherry pie…what a admission; and, this from a guy who does not favor desserts.

Glenn and I were both pleased with the overall cherry yield considering the young age of our two trees.  Just think…next year should be even more productive as the trees continue to grow. 

And, have more Cherry Crisp on the menu.

Moment of Brilliance

And, within seconds, gone.

Do not squander your precious, fleeting moments!

4 B's of Raspberry Picking

Glenn and I decided to pick raspberries in the heat of the day…bad idea, but at least, we are current with our picking.

I picked ahead of Glenn and he followed me retrieving the berries that I had missed in the lush foliage.

But, I had missed something more than the ripe berries.  Fortunately for me, I missed the big hornet’s nest.  I noticed bees flying around, but there are always bees flying around the raspberries because the canes continuously produce berries all through the summer and into fall; therefore, bees are constant companions pollenating the almost endless flowering.   An ever-growing hive is another story.  All I can say is that we were extremely lucky.

I did spy three Japanese beetles.  So, I strolled to the garden shed to grab my glass jar of diesel fuel a.k.a. the bad bug bottle.  I show no mercy to Japanese beetles, stink bugs, and various nuisance garden pests. 

As I was returning, Glenn yelled something about seeing the baby birds.  Baby birds, where?  There was a small nest smack in the middle of my raspberry canes, in an area where I had already picked berries.  Talk about being observant; not!  Of course, since the babies are still near naked, I am unable to name the species.  I will have to keep watch for that elusive mother.

So, all together; I missed the bees, the baby birds, and about half the berries we collected - not an impressive percentage.  But, I did get those nasty beetles. 

 

We ended up with over three pounds of raspberries this go around.  This picking went into the dehydrator for preserving.  Come this fall, my scones are going to be berry-tasty!

Blueberry Bomb

And, I am not referring to a catchy recipe name.

delicate spring flowers on my blueberry bush

I have to admit that my blueberry plants, eight in all, are disgraceful.

I planted three small bushes years ago.  One died and the other two are not only looking poorly, but they did not produce one, not one, berry this season.  And, they have not grown one iota in stature either.

beautiful blueberry blush

I added six new plants two years ago.  They are alive, but not thriving.  Fortunately, those six produced enough blueberries for me to make one batch of muffins this morning; hurray!  (Yes, that is a bit of sarcasm.) There are still immature berries on the thin branches, but not enough to announce the crop a success.

All my blueberry plants are weak, spindly, short; and, they are experiencing negative growth (die back).

The positive is that the mature blueberries do taste delicious; fresh, right off the bush or baked in muffins.  I just wish there were more to enjoy.

YUMMY!

The problem?  I believe the soil is alkaline; the opposite of what blueberries crave - acid.  So, I am determined to not only keep my blueberry plants alive, but to improve their vigor.  I have adopted a Miracid regime to my gardening chores. 

Next year I anticipate a bounty of blueberries; well…at least an increase over this season’s harvest.

A Special Note:  My uncle celebrates his  95th birthday  today...Happy Birthday Uncle Gerald!

Such A Rude Snake

Glenn yelled from the vegetable garden.  I was inside the house, so I went to the open window closest to his location to find out what the fuss was about.  Evidently, a big black snake was leaving the garden, heading toward the house.

heading toward the house

getting closer to the house

Was this the snake that had attached itself to the exterior of our home just weeks ago?  I hope so…better one snake than two or more.  But, slinking towards MY HOUSE…this is not my first choice, or any choice for that matter, for the snake’s destination.  How inconsiderate!!!

Glenn made several attempts to change the snake’s course to no avail. This snake was on a mission.  Finally, Glenn just decided to grab the snake (bare-handed) and relocate him/her/it to a nearby shed; better than my house, but…

The negatives are:  this shed is located next to my garden shed which I frequent on a daily basis, and I do not care to see the snake on a daily basis; and, the chicken house is located within feet of the shed.  I have seen (not for a very long time) big snakes curled up in the nesting box eating whole chicken eggs; no cracking necessary - not a plus; for me, that is.  Besides, I visit the chicken house several times during the day to collect eggs (not those already bulging in a snake’s stomach), check feed, fill the waterer.  I repeat…I do not want to see this snake daily.  In fact, twice in as many months is too frequent a time interval for me.  I use to see a snake once every three to four years, if that - ah, the good ol’ days.

up close and TOO personal

I just hope this snake feels all warm, cozy and at home in the shed.  If not, he may be headed back to the house - yikes!

And, how will I know???

Birdwatching Spectacle

Yesterday, I was rewarded with two new bird sightings; and, I was thrilled!

First, as I was out in my garden during the early morning, I saw an unnamed brown bird fly past me.  I had regularly seen this bird along my driveway, as I would leave and return to the farm; but, never in my yard.  Research verified the species to be a Brown Thrasher.  Nevertheless, that was not the real excitement.  No…in my vigilance, the elation was in observing a baby Brown Thrasher.  That’s right…another cute baby bird to add to my list of firsts.  (Remember the baby Blue Jay I witnessed just a few days ago?)

Then, later in the evening, Glenn asked me to go out on an ATV ride.  How could I refuse such a romantic proposal?

We rode down to the pond where I had wanted to chill out, be still, and hopefully witness a  Great Blue Heron fishing; rather eating Glenn’s stocked fish.   I fancy my herons; and, I detest the fish.  The fish nibble/bite at my bare flesh when I attempt to enjoy a swim, and they muddy the once clear, spring-fed water.  Glenn articulated that without the fish, we would have no herons visiting.  OK…fish it is.

We stopped and parked the ATV near the fence that encircles the pond; walking the last few feet to the edge of the water.  Glenn got there first and roused a bird.  The bird flew to the unfinished deck.  I strained to make out that the bird was one I have never seen before.  The lone bird was a heron alright, but not the Great Blue I was anticipating…it was the much shorter, almost neckless, Green Heron; and, not really green at all.  This bird’s coloring was more blue and rust, than green.  Within seconds, this odd heron flew away.

I decided to hang out on the same unfinished deck waiting for this heron to return.  The deck is located at the deep end of the pond, and I assumed the heron would return to the opposite, shallow side of the pond.  After all, that is where I view most heron tracks adorning the mud.

I did not have to wait long.  The funny, little Green Heron returned within minutes; I got my second wonderful glimpse of a bird I never considered I would ever see, ever; let alone at my pond.

The Green Heron is not the tall, stately Great Blue; but, watching this heron is just as captivating.

Morning Diversion

The morning following an evening rain is always rejuvenated; air is refreshed and grime has been washed from plants, temporarily replaced by pure rain drops - nature’s cleansing and renewal.

This morning was one such morning.  I actually went out to watch the rams as they were in contest for head-bumping.  But, on the way to their paddock, I was distracted by a silky spider web glistening in the early morning sun.  I then noticed another, and another. 

The many spider webs that have materialized overnight, remarkable embellishments, are so different and so interesting. The thin strands of silk look to be beaded with tiny crystals.

 Some of these lacy webs seem to have been hastily spun, while others display the intricate engineering of what I would call a typical web.  And, other webs are quite substanstial...these spiders are serious about collecting food.

contractor in action

All…stunning.