Cool air met me outside this morning.
Gentle breezes in the garden.
Content critters enjoy breakfast.
A great start to the weekend.
My best to all of you–for a good rest!
Things I like
Sunshine
Herb scissors
Jute string
Twig pencils
Canvas aprons
Herbs scissors are available in my Etsy shop! http://www.etsy.com/shop/downtoearthdigs
From the kitchen garden
A new heirloom tomato for me this year.
Costoluto Genovese
This is a beautiful tomato that I will grow again!
An Italian, heat loving tomato.
Beautiful sliced, meaty and slightly tart.
Cooked it makes a rich sauce.
Today it will be made into a batch of salsa, as per the boys request!
Duck Walk
It was a big day for the ducklings in the garden!
1 week ago Mama Duck hatched–11 ducklings.
She has been an incredible Mama Duck, keeping her ducklings happy and hidden in the duck house.
Papa Ducks have been guarding the exterior of the nursery.
As the late afternoon sun was cooling a bit,
Mama Duck brought her family to the big outside world for the first time!
We all settled in and kept a careful eye on our latest additions to the garden.
Kitties lurked about and Papa Ducks alerted the young ones.
When the ducklings finally made their way back to the duck house, I breathed a sign of relief.
Locked in and safe for the night! Can’t wait for day 2 of duckling school.
The Edible Garden
What better way to top off a Summer salad then some pretty Pansy blossoms tossed in!
Pansies are edible–but only if purchased as an edible plant–or grown yourself in a chemical free garden like mine.
Or top a plate of cupcakes with a fresh little blossom!
Sunrise on the greenhouse
Let’s hit the ground running!
Or maybe just snooze for a bit longer!
2 favorite things–Rosie and vintage grain sacks.
Especially when they have been mended so carefully by a farmers wife so long ago.
You can’t make this stuff up!
It has been a hectic week!
Rosie started the week with vet visit–a bug was in her cornea,
requiring sedation, eye scrapping, and a fitted contact lens that I have to keep checking to make sure it is in place.
Eye drops 4 times a day!
Mama Duck hatched 10 adorable baby ducks! Yes, 10!
Anyone want a duck?
The week ended with a daughters car caught in a flash flood and 5 inches of water needed to be sucked out and dried!
Catching my breath and rolling up my sleeves.
The garden holds more tasty produce just waiting to be brought into the kitchen.
TGIF!
Apple Spice Granola
Apple Spice Granola
3 1/2 Cups regular Oats
2 1/2 Cups puffed Rice
1 Tbls Cinnamon
3/4 tsp Salt
Pinch of Nutmeg
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
3/4 Cup Applesauce
1/4 Cup Maple Syrup
1 tsp Vanilla
Up to 1 1/2 Cups chopped nuts
Up to 1 Cup dried fruit
Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients–and mix well
Spread onto baking sheet ( I like to use parchment paper)
350 degree oven–bake for 30 minutes.
Use a large spatula to turn the granola and add nuts–then bake for an additional 15 mins.
Don’t over bake–and don’t turn or stir–you want some larger chunks of granola.
Remove from oven and let cool on baking sheet.
Add dried fruit of your choice.
Store in an airtight container–up to 2 weeks!
Ours never lasts that long!
That was rude of me not to post the recipe yesterday–please forgive me!
Granola
After a trip to the grocery store, and seeing the price of granola–
I came home and made a batch of homemade.
I have been snacking all day on this!
down to earth digs 