What was the saying about Seasons changing?? "Ah Yes!! With every season there is change and purpose.

I can not begin to tell you just how many times, I have sat here wondering just how much more life itself can change and then I need to only look towards the changing of each season. And year by year the dance and rythm of how it all seems to without fail, unfold. Be it beautiful or ugly, be it easy or hard. Life is ever evolving. And so I remind myself as a gardener and one who revels in the beauty of growing beautiful things...that no matter of how well things turn out...or not!! That in the end no matter what, it was not without a lesson learned, a dream I invisioned and a desire to watch unfold each day. It matters not in truth if Mother Nature, decides to help magnify the outcome by unleashing an unexpected, say....Not so visually pleasing product or let's say... "Tomato!! But be a tomato not as visually pleasing as one which graces the cover of a Seed Catalog, is it not still a worthy fruit?? I mean our goals for growing the most beautiful of anything we set out to grow, merely is not always going to play out as we imagine. The case in point here is... we must not place worth by mere vanity of the fruit. It is still a fruit, which will find way to the plate, nourish the palette and feed you when you're hungry. So if the seasons decide to not exactly play nice, by bringing ideal weather conditions or a shorter duration of warmth needed. We can still pluck that green tomato off the vine, turn it into salsa or a pickled product and we can give praise to our understanding of the gift we are still graced with. So with every season be it shorter, colder, hotter or whatever... let's not forget to look for the good and the worth of our hard work, as a positive always. Let's not forget to be forgiving, humble and flexible to everything we are blessed with. And so I sit here thinking and still dreaming of my one day "Forever Garden" in a new home, with hopefully ideal space and hopefully ideal soil... "Dare I even dream or wish?? It's a huge dream actually. I have dreams of Orchard Trees, Blackberry Bushes, Vegetable beds for miles and Flowers like Roses on Arbors and that occasional adorable White Pickett Fence gracing the garden beds all tidy with the spray of the ocassional bird feeders and baths and cute little gazing globes and winking gnomes. And even if the seasons of change do not meet me all the way through with my dreams of such things to come to fruit... I have the knowledge and the adaptability to see it half way through. The grand scale might not match the original carbon copy image I invision (ed) , but nonetheless... I will still have an amazing new garden in my future home no matter the location or the growing zone. Love is afterall the most potent of all tools for a gardener. And then we plant the seed (s).

My Aerogarden, plants growing indoors right now are 3 types of Lettuce, Basil, Parsley and Majoram

Just a few early Birthday Gifts to myself this year :) I can not wait to read this new book. "If you know me in person, you'll know that "Little Women, is my most favorite movie and book. Marmee, will hopefully be as equally delightful and nourishing to my Cottagecore loving little heart.

These are two of the new seed purchases. Mocha Swirl Pepper and Baby Bubba Okra

And She Sleeps in Winter's Cold Slumber

Why Freeze Dry - Harvest Right Freeze Dryer

Have you ever thought about what to do, to better preserve the glorious abundance from your garden?? I am excited to share this awesome appliance which is unlike any other on the market. It is literally every Homesteaders and Gardeners dream appliance. This lovely device is none other than the "Harvest Right, at home freeze dryer unit. It can free up your freezer space, fridge space, and save you time from trying to Can all of those beautiful fruits and veggies. On average shelf life of Canned and Dehydrated foods are at best 2 to 3 years or less. The Harvest Right, freeze dryer however gives you a solid 25 year shelf life to your harvest. With today's prices, the shortages and uncertainty... I personally feel this is a priceless investment for food security. It doesn't just freeze dry fruits and veggies though...it can also freeze dry meats, dairy, eggs and so much more. By clicking on this image...you can go to the website and learn more. Harvest Right, has different package deals and special offers. Can't afford the unit right away?? No problem...there is a payment plan option. 

I am an affiliate and I do so appreciate your support as a follower of my page. <3

 Seeds and where to put them all...?? I use these containers and there just never seems to be enough of them.

Am I the only one?? Surely I can not be the only Seed-a-holic Crazy shopper out there... Am I...???

City of the Sun - "Second Sun"

Heirloom Seeds and I

To say that I love growing vegetables is an understatement!! To say that I'm crazy for buying seeds  that would be correct and something some my want to have me in Therapy for. lol But in all seriousness... I feel when it comes to growing things we love to not only grow, but also eat and have
many ways and options to preserve once harvested... "Well then by all means, buy the seeds!! There is another thing to also consider and that is how many different varieties, but not just by name, but taste/size/color/ scent/ and let's not forget rarity...!!   There are just so many beautiful options. And I am what can be called...a serious collector with purpose. "Now one might ask but why so many?? Listen, I pretty much have a 2 pack per motto. We live in New England right now, so 1 pack to grow here and the extra??? "Yes, those extras are put away for our future move to the West Coast. We plan to move to Oregon as my Fiance and I both have friends there and she (yes we are a same sex couple) both women, well "She" has family there, who are my family now too. Plus ,I really miss the West Coast.  But anyhow , I hope to find at least 1-2 acre land with a home there and have a garden and fruit trees, flowers and lots of herbs. So I am buying these extra seeds so once we are there...we will have a good stash of options to get these gardens all growing fast. And with these uncertain times...there is my personal theory to have extra, for the sake of never running out. I love buying my seeds from a select few really great places online. Such as... Baker Creek /aka/ RareSeeds.com, HudsonValleySeedCompany.com, MIGardener.com, SouthernExposure.com,SeedsandSuch.com and by way of Etsy Shops. I also belong to Seed Exchange Groups and we can trade for hard to find seeds there. I will eventually count how many tomatoes, peppers,and even okra we have. But sharing some of my collection here, only by way of pictures not actual seeds. These are not up for sale, trade nor bartering.

Large Leaf French Sorrel

Of all the green leafy veggies, French Sorrel is by far my most favorite. This beautiful patch  (picture on top) is actually 4 patches growing in the same corner of my enclosed Potager Garden. The bottom picture is of the ones harvested.

The beauty of Sorrel, is that it can be canning if canning by way of a pressure cooker, in which case you would follow the same time and temps as you would canning Spinach.
Sorrel can also be frozen and you do not need to apply any sort of blanching nor pre cooking.
Simply wash and hold leaves together and put into a dry paper towel, then freezer in freezer safe bags.




                                            Recipe for Cream of Sorrel Soup:
                                              (Eastern European Recipe)

                                              3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil
                                              3 to 4 teaspoons all purpose  flour
                                              2 cups milk of choice
                                              1 cup cold water
                                              3 cups deviened Sorrel (washed and cut into chunks)
                                              Salt and Pepper to taste


 Instructions:

In a Stock pot 5qt in size, bring to preheat oil on medium and add in flour and stir well to make a light golden rue. Once golden, reduce heat and add in Sorrel and stir well to wilt the Sorrel, but take care not to burn the rue. Add in all liquids and stir to declump and add in more cold water to thicken if needed. If the rue should be too soupy or liquid like...you may make a slurry with more cold milk and flour whisked in well, taking care to be void of any clumps. Once the Soup is a smooth thick and silky with slight transparent sheen...add in salt and pepper. Taste before serving to make sure no bitter floury taste is present, if so...return to heat to cook a bit longer. But use constant stirring until ready.

This soup is wonderful served with a fried egg or two and crusty French Bread for dipping.


                                                                Serve and Enjoy

* Let me know if you tried this recipe and how you liked it.

*Also if you can not find Sorrel in your area...Seeds can be found on my Amazon Storefront @ Borrowed Thyme Gardens. Store coming soon!!