Pumpkin Patch 2013

We planted 7 varieties of pumpkins this year, in a patch 37'x50'. Just like my tomatoes and apples, most pumpkins are heirlooms. 

1) Rouge Vif d'Etampes

2) Lumina

3) Musquee de Provence

4) Connecticut Field

5) Luxury Pie

6) Jarrahdale

7) Jack o'Lantern

We've had a very wet season, most unusual for this time of year. Several of our pumpkins were hit with powdery mildew, and then finished off by squash bugs! The patch grew strong all season until this past month. In the course of 2 weeks several of our vines died. Luckily I think we'll get at least one pumpkin of each! The coloring is just starting to turn, they're beautiful! Now I am addicted to growing pumpkins!

I can't wait to carve, eat, and decorate with them!

Do you grow pumpkins? What do you do with them through the season?

-Live Simple, Be Happy-

Magnolia Holler

Garage Update, August

Almost done! The past three weeks have been VERY productive!

Framing done.

Walls done.

Roof done. 

Electric wired.

Dutch doors, aren't they pretty!

Siding and trim done. Doors and windows done. Insulation done. 

Next step, inspection and finish electrical work.  

-Live Simple, Be Happy-

Magnolia Holler

Garden Therapy

Life is full of stress! I believe your stress threshold and coping mechanism help shape your life...less stress, the happier you are. It's not to say you can't be happy, and have a stressful life, you just need to find a way to channel your stress...

I rarely get stressed...but I typically deal with stress by diving into books to escape reality. Which I've done now...I'm hooked on the Mortal Instruments series! However the stresses of work are more than usual right now, and on top of that my Mom is very sick. So I've found another, more productive, de stressor...Garden Therapy!

Before, gardening was just gardening. Now, its something I look forward to, as opposed to it being a chore. I'm not sure what it is, but something about digging in the dirt and smelling the fresh earth, is calming and relaxing. Not to mention the physical exertion needed to pull weeds, squash bugs, prune plants, and retrieve the bounty....are all great activities that just melt away the stress! I always feel very calm, relaxed, and renewed after having been in the garden. 

How do you cope with stress? 

-Live Simple, Be Happy-

Magnolia Holler

First taste of Cherokee Purple

This year we tried a few new tomatoes to see how we liked them. Our list of newbies include, Cherokee Purple, Rutgers, Pink Brandywine, Mortgage Lifter, and Early Girl.

Our review thus far? 

Rutgers are great producers, with a nice even shape and red-orange coloring. Great for mixing in, especially a fresh garden salsa, but eating plain by itself it lacks a big punch of flavor. 

Mortgage Lifter, mixed reviews. The first were large and slightly sweet. However, lately we're only getting small ones. Flavor is still present, but not as strong. This is the one that was hit by the Horn Worm. 

In the picture, Rutgers on the top, with two Mortgage Lifters below.

Cherokee Purple, we are very impressed with! Not only is it beautiful, look at the coloring! But the size is huge! The taste is unforgettable, slightly sweet, smooth taste. This is my favorite of the season thus far and it will become a regular in our garden!

We're still waiting for our first Early Girl and Pink Brandywine...but should be any day now! 

What is your favorite tomato?

-Live Simple, Be Happy-

Magnolia Holler

(These are our opinions, and several factors can alter the taste. So if you disagree I'd love to hear your opinion. Maybe there is a trick for growing a certain variety you can share! )

How is your garden?

I have been so busy with work, late hours and traveling, I haven't had much time for anything else! But despite all the neglect, the garden still grows...as do the weeds! I lost most the garlic because I waited too long to dig it up, now it is lost in the dirt! But I got most the onions, they are pulled and curing. The potatoes are another story...I got most the Kennebec's, but I either lost the Yukon Golds to beetles or to the dirt, either way we got a decent harvest. And the eggplants never rebounded from the battle with flea beetles. 

All the lettuce bolted, but the beans and peppers are coming in strong! And the tomatoes are just starting to ripen. We even have a few volunteers that self seeded from last year...a brandywine and yellow pear that grew up in the middle of the potatoes! The squash, pumpkins, and melons are all doing well, as is the corn!

I hope you enjoy a tour of my gardens!

The Children's Garden

Jack Be Little pumpkin

Baby Boo pumpkins

Volunteer tomato plants

Pink Brandywine

Cherokee Purple

Rutgers

Beefmaster

Pink Banana 

Jimmy Nardello 

Sweet Candy Apple

First pepper and bean harvest

Pumpkin Patch

Birdhouse Gourd bloom

Spaghetti Squash (hiding under the leaves)

The entire patch is buzzing with pollinators!

Musquee de Provence 

Connecticut Field

Melon Patch

The entourage...

And the bodyguard!

-Live Simple, Be Happy-

Magnolia Holler

Sun Tea

Tea is a staple in our house year round - ice tea in the warm months and hot tea in the cold months. To some people, tea is just tea, but in our house - tea is NOT just tea, it is a way of life! I have different teas for different reasons, such as…

I like Mint Tea, sweetened with Honey after dinner, before bed. The combination of mint and honey helps me to relax and get ready for sleep.

I like Earl Grey Tea, sweetened with sugar and a splash of milk on cold mornings to take the chill off.

And the staple, Ice Tea (aka Sweet Tea) otherwise known as Table wine of the South…
Just like anything else, I have different Tea combinations for different purposes. When I make just my regular everyday Ice Tea, I use Luzianne. But, if it’s a special event I make my Mémé (grandmother’s) tea – which is a combination of Boston Tea Party Exotic Spice, Orange Pekoe, and Constant Comment Orange Spice. And that leaves my Sun Tea…I like to play around and mix it up some. Usually I’ll use Luzianne and Mint, then sometimes mix in an Orange Spice (and personal favorite either Boston Tea Party or Constant Comment) to spice it up a little.

The idea behind Sun Tea is to use the sun to heat the water, which will steep your tea bags. It’s not an instant process, takes planning and patience, but is a special treat here in the South!

So, grab yourself some tea bags and a clean, sterile container to steep them in.

*To make an individual batch try using a mason jar! Then once steeped, add sweetner, ice, and drink right out of the mason jar!

Add water and tea bags, place outside in direct sunlight until you’ve reached your desired steeping point. (You can tell by the color of the water, the darker the water, the stronger it is.) It is recommended not to leave it out longer than 4-hours.

Now, remove your tea bags, add your desired amount of sweetener, pour into a glass with ice…

Sit back, relax, and Enjoy!

*Warning- while using the suns energy to heat the water seem very energy efficient; it can also be very bad for your health if you're not careful. Since the sun won't heat the water to a boil, it won't kill off potentially harmful bacteria, and will actually have the opposite affect...it may encourage breeding. Black Tea, or other caffeinated tea will help ward off the growth of bacteria for a few hours, but herbal tea with no caffeine will not. If your tea appears thick, syrupy, or with ropy white strands throw it out. These are sure signs of bacteria.

This was shared at What I am eating, and The HomeAcre Hop!

-Live Simple, Be Happy-
Magnolia Holler