Re-purposed suitcase cold frame

Has anyone seen this use for old suitcases?  I saw it on the Backyard Diva facebook page.  How many old suitcases have you passed up for $1 at yard sales?  This didn't have instructions with the picture but I found the directions online at this site _ http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomandemma/sets/72157622462783382/with/3957266675/

How do you survive a snowy winter?

Last year we had about 2 snowy days - very unusual for an area that normally receives about 200 inches of snow each season. So far, we've received about 24 inches.  So, what would you do - hibernate or play in the snow?  I'm tempted to hibernate but I know that leads me down the road to depression. A sledding party is what we need!  Sunday was the perfect day - temperature was about 35 degrees, a few snowflakes in the air.  We invaded my parents back yard, invited friends, built a fire (and a snowman), cooked hotdogs, drank hot cocoa.  (and then I went home and hibernated for night.)  I find that I survive winter better if I force myself to get out of the house (other than going to work.)  I get my groceries after supper, attend meetings, and play in the snow.  

I'm looking forward to this weekend. The weathermen are forecasting a January thaw - it may get up to 50 degrees.  I guarantee people will be out in shorts. Not me! But I will be out taking walks and soaking up some fresh air.

January hibernation

Christmas trees and decorations are down, shopping, wrapping, cooking, baking - over. Now is the time of year to relax and work on winter-time hobbies. As my grandmother always said - January and February were her vacation times. There's no gardening to be done and no holidays to prepare for.  I spent November and December making wreaths for our tree farm. My niece apprenticed with me this year and did a great job. We took some of our wreaths to a craft show.

My current project is decorating an egg. My aunt was an egger - someone who decorates eggs. She passed away last year and I inherited her supplies. I've only had time to complete one egg. Regretfully it was after she passed. I took classes with her 40 years ago. She continued learning - I got married and had children!  Now I'm re-learning.  I'll post pictures as I progress.

First snow confusing my flowers

We received our first snow of the season. Our area only received a couple of inches while 40 miles north received 2 feet.  Good for them!!  My flowers are still in bloom, although maybe they are just "frozen" in time.  This time of year is confusing for them. It could be 50 degrees or 20 degrees. Sun or snow or rain.  All in one day. I will continue to enjoy the color in my garden until it is completely covered with snow.

Wednesday Ramblings - Hurricane Sandy, Alyssum, and more

Good news, Hurricane Sandy didn't do anything here - just another windy day.  2 sections of my neighbor's fence did fall onto part of my flower garden, but I had an old metal step-stool there and an old wooden chair that broke its fall so it didn't destroy any plants.  The wooden chair is history. Good thing I only paid $1 for it at a garage sale! My heart breaks for everyone in Sandy's path who've lost everything.

The following is a verse from my children's story "The Moonlight Garden" about a stroll through a flower garden bathed in moonlight -

Clumps of white alyssum, swirling around our feet in waves of glowing mist, guide us down the garden path. The smell of sweet cotton candy floats up to greet us. 

My alyssum is still blooming, although a bit more buried in leaves than when I took this photo.  I have not had a hard frost yet at my house despite some morning temperatures in the high 20's. 



This weekend begins my marathon month of wreath making.  I've been "grooming" my niece for the past few years on how to make them and she will be helping me this year.  Besides selling them at our family Christmas tree farm, we have signed up for a craft show.  She's 10 yrs old and very excited at the prospect of earning her own money.


                                Stay warm and enjoy the busy holiday season coming up!

Last of my flowers bracing for the "superstorm"

Our weather Thursday and Friday was wonderful. It's hard to believe that an historic "superstorm" is headed our way. I can only hope we are far enough on the outskirts to get a mild version.  Rain and 50 mph winds are predicted, nothing we haven't had before.  But what will it do to the rest of my flowers?

begonias are still going strong

Coleus looks beautiful against the yellow leaves of my hosta. I took a few cuttings to root.

Feverfew is re-blooming with more blossoms yet to open

This is my favorite mum.  I don't know the actual name of it - I get many of my plants from friends and the original names don't come with them. I should pick a bouquet of these and bring them to work before the wind demolishes them.

Jupiter's Beard and rust-colored mum

2nd blooming of lavender, alyssum doing great now that the hot, dry summer is over

miniature rose bush hanging in there

Climbing roses still working their way up the arbor

Turtle head not done yet

Morning glories and snapdragons

I let my morning glories come up wherever they want, which is all over my yard. Occasionally I have to pull some out when they threaten to strangle another plant. It's such a joy to go out in the morning and wander about looking for their pretty little blossoms greeting me with the morning sun. They have migrated to my back yard and are now growing in with my raspberries. That could become a problem - I'll have to stay on top of them next year.

Speaking of raspberries - look at what is still growing in my yard!  I've been picking and eating them right at the bushes - no chance of them making their way into the house.

For all the east coast bloggers - stay safe and dry the next couple of days.

Fried Green Tomatoes

The weatherman said it was going to freeze. Here was my dilemma - I live so close to Lake Ontario, it was possible we would stay above freezing while 1 mile inland might freeze - so do I take my chance on not freezing and leave my tomatoes on the vine or do I pick them? 

  


Then comes the question - what do I do with all those green tomatoes?  I could let them ripen indoors, sure they'd turn red but they wouldn't have any flavor. They'd just be a tasteless red thing in my salad - like those things we use all winter just to add color to our salads. Then I got an Epiphany - FRIED GREEN TOMATOES!  YUM

I forget to make these all summer, or maybe I just don't want to pick my green tomatoes. I'd rather pick them ripe and slice them into a sandwich.
Here's how I make my fried green tomatoes:
Fried Green Tomatoes
mix yellow cornmeal with spices (I like salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and oregano)
slice tomatoes about 1/4" thick
dip tomato slices in beaten egg, then dip in cornmeal mixture
fry in a little bit of hot oil until crispy on each side
serve with a dab of mayonnaise

And there you have a delicious end-of-summer treat when the weatherman says your garden is going to freeze - oh and by the way, mine didn't freeze.  I left a few tomatoes out there but they are still green.