My Garden of Thrice and the Swap Co~op

 Alrighty ha~ three times the charm they say.

We shall see.

Childhood Friend Since 2nd Grade ~ Eleanor to some, Elly to most

..and I,

are doing a Garden Swap. 

We picked a few things to grow, 

She's doing some, 

I'm doing others

and then, wait for it.................we swap.

{awwwwww}

Have no doubt, that I will be the greater beneficiary in this,

for She is the green thumb horticulturist,

and I do my gardening on Hail Mary's and Cussin.

My Garden ~ Creole Tomatoes {local allll the way}

Squash

Leeks

Perhaps ~ Chamomile

Figs

Grapes/Leaves

The Chook Man planted his PePPers again,

of which there was an abundance last year;

hoping for the same again.

Eleanor has in her Garden~

Tomatoes {different variety of which the name escapes me}

Cucumber

Bellpepper

On a very delightful note,

I've been watching My Persimmon Neighbor's trees

and they are starting to get full and luscious.

So I raise my coffee mug to those Garden Spirits,

in hopes of  Them having a sense of humor,

and blessing Me with an abundant garden.

Who are we kidding?

I'd be happy with one tomato.

Turkish Spinach

 

 This is another dish that I was raised with.

It's just Delicious and a great way to eat Spinach that isn't in an artichoke dip!

We grew up eating this with fresh, plain yogurt and of course, fresh bread.

This is even much better the next day.

 Spinach, fresh ~ 3 to 5 bunches

Ground Meat, 1/2 pd

Medium OniOn, chopped

Tomato Sauce, 1/2 to 3/4 cup

Uncooked Rice, 1/4 cup

Water, 1 cup

Salt

Soak the fresh spinach in cold salt water at least an hour.
I use my Kitchen sink.

Drain the salt water and

WASH SPINACH THOROUGHLY !!!

Trim the bottom of the stems to get the root bit off.

Tear you bunches into halfs or thirds; set aside.

Brown the ground meat; drain.

Saute the chopped onion until nice and wilted.

The Turkish Mother uses 2 tbls Crisco shortening; I used olive oil.

Add the Ground Meat back into the pot.

Add the TomaTo Sauce, and the Uncooked Rice.

Add the Cup o Water.

Place Spinach on top of this, place lid on pot, and begin cooking.

I cooked on Medium/Medium Low heat.

In about 10 to 15 minutes, give it a good stir
so the ingredients begin to mix together. 

Cook for another 10 to 15 minutes and check to see
how far along the Rice is.

When the Rice is done, the Spinach is done.

In this batch, I used 3 bunches of Spinach;

next time I will up it one or more bunches for more of a Spinach ratio.

Enjoy!

Two SiSters Mary Thoughts for the Day ~ June

 "A noise like of a hidden brook

In the leafy month of June,

That to the sleeping Woods all night

Singeth a quiet tune."

~Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The iron tongue of Midnight hath
told Twelve;
Lovers, to bed;
'tis almost Fairy Time.
A Midsummer Night's Dream

"There are moments,

above all on June evenings,

when the lakes that hold our Moons

are sucked into the Earth,

and nothing is left but Wine and the touch of a Hand."

~Charles Morgan

"If a June night could talk, it would probably boast
that it invented Romance."
~Bern Williams

It is the month of June,
The month of leaves and roses,

When pleasant sights salute the eyes,
and pleasant scents the noses."
~Nathaniel Parker Willis

 The Lunatic, The Lover, and The Poet

Are of Imagination all compact.

A Midsummer Night's Dream, 5.1

Until June ~ Sleepless

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O908fGIGQnI

 Seven Days in Sunny June ~ Jamiroquai

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcPcGXtFAbI

Flaming June by BT {video}

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfG-GSwUhSU

1st picture ~ Unknown

Midsummer Dream by DAVID DELAMARE
http://www.daviddelamare.com/

The Lover Dreams of the Beloved II by DAVID LLOYD
http://www.davidlilford.com/

The Quarrel of Oberon and Titania (1846) by Sir Joseph Noel Patton
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Noel_Paton

5th picture ~ Unknown

Flaming June by Lord Frederic Leighton
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flaming_June

Spring has Sprungeth

 The Family loaded up and went right on over to 

The Home Depot

to finally get Our Garden.

They were having a KiLLer sale on Seed Packets, too.

Last year We had out the starting gate success. Started off great, then just went away. We are going to try it again.

We have:

Squash [seed and plant}

2 types of PumPkin {carving and cooking}

Cucumbers {plant}

Green Beans {seeds}

Sweet Peas {seeds}

Sunflowers {seeds}

Leeks {plant}

2 types of TomaToes {plant}, 

one being the Creole, 

developed right here at home {support your local economy}

 For the Beauty Garden:

Rosemary {plant}

Lavender {plant}

Chamomile {seeds}

For the Floral Garden:

Gladiolas {bulbs}

Morning Glories {seeds}

Moon Vine {seeds}

California PoPPy {seeds}

All the Trees are doing well coming back:

Lemon

Fig

Tangerine

Asian Plum

Due to all the wacka wacka weather,
We will be starting everything in containers
and then moving them to the square foot garden later.

I want to add an Apricot tree this year.

Fruit Stand

 

 

The Fruit Stand.

I look forward to it every time I have to go.

All the big piles of fresh fruit and vegetables,

The local Jams and Jellies, Dairy and Honey,

The open air market.

The Womb Fruits love it too.

So We trek on over there to load up on all the goOds.

I completely went nuts for the fresh squash. 

Big, yellow and happy. 

The squash, not Me.

 

Time to go Home, and heat up the oven.
Mamma's cookin!