Photo: Great grandparents at their farm in Blandinsville, IL, with five of their six children .. my grandpa was yet a twinkle in grandma's eye. Stable boy and governess also pictured. Hodges farm, circa 1903-4

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

The garden this week received four afternoons of rain showers. This is the type of deep watering that can really make a garden 'take off' ... a good thing. My parents are visiting for a few weeks. Dad grew up on a family farm and has been a great help clearing a path around one of my veggie gardens. Wild berry growth was pushing up against the deer/moose fence surround ... we can now walk around with ease. He is eighty years young and is used to hard work. This is what has kept him so young and in good shape for so many years.

With the garden growing leaps and bounds, we have begun harvesting (finally) some edible crops such as radish, lettuce, herbs, and using up the thinned out onions in salads. I have picked a few turnips and will use them along with the green tops in a nice rustic Italian soup for lunch tomorrow that includes greens cooked with smoky bacon, white beans, chicken broth, garlic, and topped with bread croutons.

Speaking of the deer/moose fence, a few moose have been spotted this week lumbering around our neighborhood. I'll never tire of seeing them ... of course, if they find a way inside the garden fence, then I'll be hopping mad!

2 comments:

Felisol said...

Dear Mrs. Mac,
I got a vivid vision of Lady Hopping Mad Mac scaring the moose off.
I think the moose will be reluctant trying to get a snack of your beans If you can forward the same vision in the thick moose sculls.

The mild winters here in Norway has made the deer tribes in the neighborhood way to big and invasive.
I've had to go on antibiotics for the third year in a row, due to borelia (infection from bugs brought here by deers).

I'm a mild human being, but I clearly see that humans and wild animals should not live to close.
This fall the hunting quotes for wild animals are being doubled.
About time.

Say hello to the 80 year young father of yours.
I'm sure he's got a lot of information and good advises to pass on.
Best legacy ever.
From Felisol

Mrs. Mac said...

Felisol, I shall say hello to my father from you in the land of the midnight sun :) I'm busy 'pickin' his brain' for lots of tidbits of information about his life as a young boy growing up on a farm. Today he's sharpening all of my kitchen knives ... a task he does with pleasure for me each year when he visits. I'll post a pic later.

Hugs,