I’m the only one in our house that eats cantaloupe, so I usually don’t bother to grow it. Every so often I feed the need and toss a few seeds in the ground. What to do with it though?
Previously I have made Spiced Melon Balls, which look cool but again I was the only one to eat them.
Mostly I carted my cantaloupes off to work where I shared, happy to do so – but always wishing there was another way.
homegrown cantaloupe
This year I found the answer…again in my Ball Canning Book. I was actually looking for the recipe for the melon balls (it’s not in this year) and found one for “Golden Nectar.”
Really? Did I read that right???
Quick to the page and there it is! Scan the ingredients: cantaloupe, peaches, orange juice…mmmm!!!
And it can be steam/water bath canned.
WooHoo!
That’s when it happened, again. The song-worm.
Why?
Why must everything have a song attached to it?
My life’s a musical but the soundtrack is only in my head.
Well this time I’m sharing. I won’t pass it on just yet; it’s at the end of the post (look at your own risk).
gather your ingredients
Golden Nectar
2 quarts sliced peaches
6 cups cantaloupe (about 1 melon)
1 quart water
7 cups orange juice
1 ½ cups honey
1 cup pineapple juice
½ cup lemon juice
Yields 6 quarts
Cook sliced peaches and cubed cantaloupe in water until fruit is soft. Puree fruit and liquid using a food processor or food mill. Return to pot and add remaining ingredients to nectar. Bring to a boil, stirring to prevent sticking. Ladle hot into hot jars, leaving ¼” headspace. Remove air bubbles, adjust caps. Process quarts or pints 20 minutes in water bath canner.
tastes as good as it looks
I did make one change; I put mine through the juicer instead of the food mill. This left me with a little less juice, but the byproduct was a fruit mash the consistency of applesauce. I froze that in 1 cup measures to use this fall in my Pumpkin Muffins to replace the oil.
sunshine sauce
My daughter, Mrs. Jones-Ninja, said once that she thought it would be sooo cool if our lives really were musicals.
I didn’t tell her – mine already is.
Recipe reprinted with permission
Recipes provided by BALL BLUE BOOK(r) OF PRESERVING. Copyright (c) 2009,
Jarden Home Brands, marketer of Ball(r) and Kerr(r) fresh preserving
products.
Jarden Home Brands is a division of Jarden Corporation (NYSE: JAH).
So my blogging buddy, the Dirt Digger, AKA the Obsessive Neurotic Gardener, came up with a Six Degrees of Separation type challenge:
Pick another one of your passions and connect it in six related steps to gardening. Hmmm.
I didn’t really think it would work as easily as his did, or I figured it would take up far too much of my gardening time.
Just kidding-
Right now it’s in the upper 90’s here. My gardening for today is done.
I sat down to the computer with the AC on, and reconsidered the challenge.
As I read his blog again I discovered some of his other gardening/blogging friends had taken up the gauntlet.
Ok, so gauntlet may be a little strong, their words not mine
Now I do love a challenge and a gardening one is even better. I decided to give it a shot.
My other passion is music, particularly Trad Irish- that would probably end up 1 degree of separation, too easy.
I also really like Woody Guthrie songs, I’ll start there:
Woody himself
Ist degree: Woody Guthrie
On his Official website and other websites, Woody is quoted talking about his hometown:
“Okemah was one of the singiest, square dancingest, drinkingest, yellingest, preachingest, walkingest, talkingest, laughingest, cryingest, shootingest, fist fightingest, bleedingest, gamblingest, gun, club and razor carryingest of our ranch towns and farm towns, because it blossomed out into one of our first Oil Boom Towns.”
2nd degree: Okema, Oklahoma
A quick search online took me to the Okema News with this headline:
“Sam Baker, John Fullbright, Natalia Zukerman
In just under a year of operation, The White Mule has become a regular stop on the Southeastern touring circuit for singer-songwriters of all levels, but Thursday night’s in-the-round show featuring John Fullbright, Sam Baker and Natalia Zukerman promises to be something special even by those standards.”
smokey jazz with a come-hither look
Ok-so I pick the only female: 3rd degree:Natalia Zukerman
Another quick search reveals her web page and concert schedule. Again, I pick one: 4th degree: Robber’s Roost Books and Beverages
“In 1997, Robber’s Roost Books and Beverages (home of the Entrada Institute) opened its doors. Offering literature, guidebooks and maps devoted to the region, as well as gourmet coffee drinks and handmade gifts, Robber’s Roost has quickly developed a reputation as the area’s premier relaxation spot. The bookstore has been covered in a variety of publications, including Sunset magazine, The Salt Lake Tribune, the New York Times and the guidebook Utah Underground, which effused, “[This] is an unlikely place to find here in the middle of the high desert. The bookstore-café combo offers a kickback, quiet place to read or sip espresso. …The book selection reflects a sophisticated, western taste. …A special place.
Robber’s Roost, named after one of local outlaw Butch Cassidy’s favorite hideouts“…
5th degree: Butch Cassidy
Butch Cassidy was played by Paul Newman in the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid -I should say here that although I had heard of this film, I never saw it and had no idea who was in it. At the risk of embarrasing myself, I thought it was Dustin Hoffman and Glen Campbll – I know, I know now anyway, wrong film.
6th degree: Paul Newman
Gardening to me means growing organic food and self-sustainability.
Exactly what Paul’s farm and Newman’s Own Foods is all about.
In an ‘Ultimate Six’ you might say, I happened to see a post by my Facebook friend Carol Jones on this last link…
I guess it really is a small world, after all
What do you think DD?
I have to admit, that was fun!
My youngest daughter and I were gazing out the front window the other day, watching the sprinkler water her garden, when this somewhat unusual (even for us) conversation took place:
Gardening Jones:…………………………………..SaveTheWorld Jones:
“Your garden’s looking pretty good………..”My garden is better than your’s
“Mine’s bigger ………………………………………”Bigger’s not always better
“It is with gardens…………………………”Mine’s square-r, more symmetrical
“Mine’s more trapazoidal …………………”Mine’s like a C-shape-maze thing
“Mine’s going to feed the family……………..”Mine’s going to feed the needy
“Okay, I’ll give you that one……………………. …………………………..
“Mine’s got more stuff in it ………………………. “My eggplants have flowers
“Your eggplants have flowers? ………………..”Ha! I win, my garden’s better
“I can’t believe you have flowers already…….”My garden’s better than yours
“That stinks…………………………………………………………”Hahaha! I win.
“I see your cucumbers have flowers ……………..”Which are the cucumbers?
“Those with the yellow flowers…………. “Oh, I thought those were eggplants
Happy First Day of Summer Everyone! This is an impromptu post written by some of my Facebook friends:
Here is a little song parody composed by my Facebook friends Lisa, Dee, Robin, Maureen, Peggy, Sonia, Virginia, Diane and Amy!
For the full multi-dimensional experience, click on this instrumental link
Then listen, hum along and follow the bouncing kohlrabi:
On the First Day of Summer My Garden gave to me
Some Snow Peas on a Pea Vine
On the Second Day of Summer My Garden gave to me
Two Tomatoes, and
Some Snow Peas on a Pea vine
On the Third Day of Summer My Garden gave to me:
3 Strawberries
2 Tomatoes
And Some Snow Peas on a Pea Vine
On the Fourth Day of Summer My Garden gave to me:
4 Pesky Critters
3 Strawberries
2 Tomatoes
And Some Snow Peas on a Pea Vine
On the Fifth Day of Summer my Garden gave to me:
5 Gold-en Gnomes (tinkle)
4 Pesky Critters
3 Strawberries
2 Tomatoes
And Some Snow Peas on a Pea Vine
On the Sixth Day of Summer My Garden gave to me:
6 Ducks a Quacking ***
5 Gold-en Gnomes (tinkle)
4 Pesky Critters
3 Strawberries
2 Tomatoes
And Some Snow Peas on a Pea Vine
On the Seventh Day of Summer My Garden gave to me:
7 Days of Heat Wave ;-(
6 Ducks a Quacking ***
5 Gold-en Gnomes (tinkle)
4 Pesky Critters
3 Strawberries
2 Tomatoes
And Some Snow Peas on a Pea Vine
On the Eighth Day of Summer My Garden gave to me:
8 Eggplants Shining
7 Days of Heat Wave ;-(
6 Ducks a Quacking ***
5 Gold-en Gnomes (tinkle)
4 Pesky Critters
3 Strawberries
2 Tomatoes
And Some Snow Peas on a Pea Vine
On the Ninth Day of Summer My Garden gave to me:
9 Days Without Rain
8 Eggplants Shining
7 Days of Heat Wave ;-(
6 Ducks a Quacking ***
5 Gold-en Gnomes (tinkle)
4 Pesky Critters
3 Strawberries
2 Tomatoes
And Some Snow Peas on a Pea Vine
On the Tenth Day of Summer My Garden gave to me:
10 Dirty Fingernails
9 Days Without Rain
8 Eggplants Shining
7 Days of Heat Wave ;-(
6 Ducks a Quacking ***
5 Gold-en Gnomes (tinkle)
4 Pesky Critters
3 Strawberries
2 Tomatoes
And Some Snow Peas on a Pea Vine
On the Eleventh Day of Summer My Garden gave to me:
11 Mosquitoes Biting
10 Dirty Fingernails
9 Days Without Rain
8 Eggplants Shining
7 Days of Heat Wave ;-(
6 Ducks a Quacking ***
5 Gold-en Gnomes (tinkle)
4 Pesky Critters
3 Strawberries
2 Tomatoes
And Some Snow Peas on a Pea Vine
On the Twelfth Day of Summer My Garden gave to me:
12 Corn Stalks Waving
11 Mosquitoes Biting
10 Dirty Fingernails
9 Days Without Rain
8 Eggplants Shining
7 Days of Heat Wave ;-(
6 Ducks a Quacking ***
5 Gold-en Gnomes (tinkle)
4 Pesky Critters
3 Strawberries
2 Tomatoes
And Some Snow Peas on a Pea Vine
I went for a stroll through the garden this evening.
The work week so far has been hectic and stressful, and that’s okay… the walk relaxes me and gets me psyched for the upcoming weekend (when I can go back into gardening maniac mode).
I was eating a few snow peas and taking some pictures when something hit me (not literally hahaha).
Let me say first, that admitting that things like this go through my mind is somewhat embarrassing. Perhaps I am certifiable after all, but I don’t think so…I have a theory.
I think secretly I am not alone – that whatever your passion or obsession is, weird things go through your mind too.
Am I right?
If yes, please support me.
If not, please humor me.
Anyway as I passed the strawberry bed I took this picture of the first year berry plants with the spinach taking up some unused space:
(now I have a song worm)
And this song parody of Ebony and Ivory went through my mind:
Spinach Leaves and Strawberries live together in perfect harmony
Side by side in my garden raised bed, ‘nuff said, why don’t we?
We all know that people need fresh food wherever you go
Tho we all have different tastes
We learn to grow – we learn to give each other what we need to survive – together alive
Spinach Leaves and Strawberries live together in perfect harmony….
(still humming)
As a little side note…usually I have Mandolin or SaveTheWorld preview my blog posts before I hit ‘publish’.
I’m winging it this time – I’m concerned they may think I’ve actually lost it for good.
I’m even more concerned, that they may be right.
When I went to high school ‘Geek’ was an expression rarely used (it was mostly reserved for members of the Marching Band back then, sorry Band People).
But by today’s definition I probably would qualify. I loved Algebra and Geometry and Biology class. I even took Advanced Bio, I was into it that much. I used my study halls to go to the Bio Lab and clean the hamster cages. Serious Geekhood. (Other kids were out under the bleachers smoking. I’ll not say what. It was the 70’s).
There were experiments with Drosophila Melanogaster (Fruit Flies) that I ran in my parents’ basement (Mendel’s Law…eye color, wing shape…dominant traits vs. recessive traits…did I really enjoy that? Um…yes).
I am surprised I still remember this and more surprised I am admitting it.
After High School I started college as a Secondary Education Biology major -my parents thought girls should be teachers, this was way back in the 70’s as I mentioned. It certainly wasn’t like a girl “would ever have to work for a living.” Be a teacher, and if you want, you can work when your kids go to school.
Just a few assumptions there.
I was the only one in the entire college with that major. It was hard to keep the enthusiasm going by my (Geeky) self.
Gregor Mendel - Father of Genetics (played with his peas)
As part of the Education curriculum I took a General Psychology class and then Developmental Psyche. I was immediately hooked. I loved Psychology even more than Biology. It still had the experiments, but wow- you could play with the human mind. Does it get any better than that? And no Geekhood -Psyche Majors were Cool.
I was Cool, and a ‘Geek’; and I did end up getting my BS in Psyche but that’s not what this post is about.
This post is about neuroticisms – AKA Craziness.
I’m not talking certifiable; well…I don’t think so.
There was one thing we learned in Abnormal Psyche Class – everyone is a little crazy. They called it “Medical Student Syndrome”, that is, where you see yourself in every symptom. They warned us against it – real crazy is the extremes. Fortunately, although most people exhibit some craziness (BTW, ‘crazy’ is a technical term), most people are not extreme and therefore not crazy. I like that theory, and I’m sticking with it.
Sigmund Freud would have understood
So, while in the garden today, somewhat obsessing, I began to wonder:
Can Perfectionists garden? What about Type A and B personalities? (Not to mention C and D)?
What if you are Anal Retentive (That one was always good for a giggle) AKA Obsessive – Compulsive?
Well I know ‘Geeks’ garden, and that’s Cool…
Then it hit me like a Monohybrid Cross: Perhaps I should start a Cool Geek Gardeners Support Group – I’ll be the Moderator.
I can just envision the first meeting, a social hour first and as the volunteers clean up, the meeting begins.…
“Hi. My name is Gardening Jones… I am a gardening addict…and…and… you weren’t really going to throw out those coffee grounds, were you?”
Let me introduce you to Dirt Digger. He is a wonderful father of two lively and lovely kids, and he is also addicted to gardening.
Flowers, that is.
I don’t fully understand it (you can’t eat flowers, can you?) but then, to each their own.
I do understand his enthusiasm and I really enjoy reading his blog. Here is one of my favorite posts, reprinted with his permission:
Getting the Kids Involved
I am a gardening loner.
Just me hanging with my plants is all I need. My happy place.
I can get lost for hours if left to my own devices, and it never gets dull or tiring. It is like a form of meditation where nothing else exists.
If it were possible, I would perform yoga in the garden among the plants, but then I would truly qualify as “creepy guy” (although it would be funny as hell to watch).
Lately, though, I have paid closer attention to the need to get kids involved with gardening and the great outdoors knowing it will have a profound influence on them. In the past, my first reaction was to nod my head in approval only to quietly say to myself “No thanks, they’ll just complain and eventually make their way to the swings.” or “I know they’ll run for the hills at the first sign of any insect”. I resisted allowing them into my domain where they could only screw it all up.
Well, I have accepted that I can have it both ways – ONG time and ONG time with the little ones. The kids may only hang for a short period of time, and it may seem like they were unaffected by our interactions, but I have recently witnessed two events that refute that notion.
First, a few photos with me and the kids and our recent project:
Dirt Digger with the kids
getting dirty with Dad
dirt + seeds + water = lessons for life
We planted a bunch of annual seeds in containers (mostly Zinnias) and planted a few tomato, basil and pepper plants in containers as well. They dug the dirt, planted the seeds and watered – not always in that order however.
The kids lasted about twenty minutes, with my daughter a bit more interested and involved. She especially took to planting the actual seeds. They did make their way to the playground eventually, but I felt like I made the effort to really make them a part of the process. Kudos to me.
Now on to the two recent events I mentioned earlier:
Story #1 – Early last evening, I was out on the back deck moving containers around like a frickin mad scientist trying to find that “right look”. I felt like I was on the “Price is Right” where I would complete an arrangement, pull a lever and then see if I won (the show is so in my blood from days off from school when I was younger – and I still take issue with the Showcase Showdown rules … but that is for another day … I digress). As I was moving a container with newly sprouted Zinnia leaves I completely dropped it and everything fell out of the pot. Like a mature adult, I kicked the pot and cursed like a mutha f’er. What I didn’t realize, was that my daughter was watching out the back door and she ran away crying. I assumed she didn’t like seeing her Dad act like such a baffoon, so I ran in to apologize and calm her down. Well, the adult meltdown apparently meant nothing to her as she told my wife through her tears that “Daddy ruined the seeds.” Wow, we are making some big time progress here!
Story #2 – While waiting for the school bus this morning, my son spotted a weed that had sprouted a daisy like bloom. He immediately yanked it and asked me to put it in water for Mom. Now he has done this before so it wasn’t a complete shock. What was shocking and I swear on … something … he actually told me to remove the leaves from the bottom of the flower before putting it in water. Are you kidding me? Next he’ll tell me how to cut a rose stem on an angle so it will then grow outward.
My wife loves to get the kids involved when she bakes and she has experienced the same thing I discussed above. It may seem like a futile task and it may seem like they could care less but dammit if they don’t surprise you with what they have retained.
Note to self – keep educating and opening their eyes to new things.
I am a gardening addict (I have admited that much) and therefore I have a big garden. I have expanded it each year and have gotten to the point that if I make it any larger I will have to hire someone to help me – or retire. This year I am giving the garden my best shot (which included getting a truckload of garden soil/mushroom soil). I hope to grow a high percentage of what we eat for this coming year. Blogging about gardening helps me do a better job, because now I feel like you are watching, and I don’t want to let you down.
Traditionally Memorial Weekend is the time to plant most of our veggies. As I write this my nails are dirty and I must smell pretty bad. I’ve just come in the house after the third day of planting and wheel barrowing and watering and weeding and numerous trips to the nursery. So with a cold one in hand (with dirty fingerprints on the glass) I answer the question: What do you plant in that big garden? Last Fall
Garlic, 3 dozen Early Spring
Asparagus 25-2nd. year plants
Broccoli, 12
Brussel Sprouts, 6
Cauliflower, 6
Lettuce, 2 rows mixed (rows are about 4 ft.)
Potatoes, Red & Gold 3 trash cans
Radishes, 1 row each 3 types
Snow Peas, ½ large barrel container
Spinach, 2 rows + more in strawberry bed
Swiss Chard, 2 rows Spring
Beans, Roman, Dry 10 rows
Beans, Kidney, Dry 18 rows
Beans, Pinto, Dry 8 rows
Beans, Green, Bush 18
Cabbage, Red, 6
Cabbage, Green, 6
Cantaloupe, 1 hill (about 3)
Carrots, Orange 4 rows
Carrots, Yellow 4 rows
Celery, 18
Corn, Baby, aprox. 60
Cucumbers, 6
Eggplant, 2
Fennel, 2
Horseradish, 3 roots
Leeks, 10 dozen
Onions, 30 dozen
Peppers, Hot 36 assorted
Peppers, Sweet 32
Pumpkins, 1hill
Squash, summer, 2 hills
Squash, winter, 3 hills
Tomatoes, 47 assorted
Tomatoes, Cherry 3 pots
Watermelon, 1 hill Fruit
4 Blueberry Bushes, 2-2nd year and 2 first year
2 dwarf Peach trees (1 young and 1 almost destroyed by caterpillars)
1 dwarf Pear, grafted w/ 3 pear types
Red Raspberry bed, aprox 4 ft. x 6 ft.
75 Strawberry plants, 1st. year Herbs
Basil, sweet (a LOT!)
Catnip
Chamomile (wild)
Coriander/Cilantro
Dill
Eucalyptus (not sure where to list this)
Lavender
Mint
Marjoram
Parsley, Italian
Sage Still To Come
Kale
Kohlrabi
Parsnips
More of some (greens, radishes etc.)
The only problem is that as soon as I have everything in, I look for more things and more places to plant.
Help me with this gardening addiction – I would be really interested to hear what you plant in your garden, large or small!
Maybe if I read about other gardens, I might be able to refrain from planting anything else. Maybe.
Addiction affects everyone in the family. Gardening is no exception. This is what life is like living with a gardening addict:
~You open the checkbook and cabbage seed packets fall out.
~There’s no bread in the house but the kitchen table is covered in zucchini.
~The local nurseries know when your S.O.’s birthday is, because that’s when you shop alone.
~You can recognize garden veggies from a distance.
~Master Gardener Meeting Night means Beer and Football to you.
~They smell faintly of manure, but you don’t mind.
~There is dirt in the bathroom sink drain stop; and in the shower, and in the kitchen sink.
~Mowing the lawn takes less and less time every year.
~All the Most Recently Viewed websites are gardening related.
~You are happy when gardening season arrives because at least part of the time they won’t be talking about gardening.
~‘Mud Room’ takes on a whole new meaning.
~Your beer is warm because there are flower bulbs in the refrigerator.
~You know the difference between a Hybrid and an Heirloom, and can define it.
~You know the arrival of seed catalogs will be greatly anticipated. And that it means it’s time to closely watch the Visa balance.
~You know that Burpee is not a brand of antacid.
~You find weird things in jars and bags around the house. And you don’t ask.
~You think twice before buying a tomato.
~You’re no longer surprised by statements describing dirt; such as “Doesn’t this dirt smell good!”
~You run out of things to look at when visiting garden centers, long before they do.
~They buy matching garden gloves for the family (that you actually wear).
~Latin is spoken in your house.
~You now ‘compost’ your coffee grounds, egg shells, and veggie scraps. And expect others to do the same.
~Regarding the weather, two words: Never Satisfied.
~Overnight Lows actually mean something.
~You have absolutely no desire to play any FB game that has anything to do with farming.
~You know that you are with someone who is unbelievably hopeful and undeniably aggravated; at the same time. And that’s okay.
And last but not least…
~When caught up in a gardening conversation, you are oddly pleased by how much you actually know.
So I went to Home Depot today with Mandolin to look for a shed for the garden tools. Actually, I think he secretly wanted to look at grills, and we did; but we didn’t buy one (yet).
Secretly, I wanted to look for Gnomes. For some inexplicable reason I have been wanting a gnew gnome for a while gnow. I was highly disappointed that Home Depot’s wonderful Garden Centre didn’t boast one single gnome. I was tempted by the $169.95 Zen-looking water feature, but since I don’t have electricity in my garden (yet) there was gno gneed. And that’s a lot of money.
We got the tool shed and some pathway lights, on sale of course, and off we went. We came upon an Agway and stopped in, this time looking for gnomes was gno secret. They had a few but gnone struck me. With gnomes, you have to really want it by its looks. The only other way to get one is as a gift; hopefully the gift-giver was taken by its appearance as well.
So we looked. I did like the $174.95 water-spouting gargoyle I saw (hmmm, water feature again…I’m seeing a pattern here) but once more, gno power in the garden. Alas.
So I gave it up as a bad day for gnome shopping and headed home.
One last stop for some milk and bread…wait! Hold the phone! Gnomes in the grocery store! Even then, they didn’t strike my fancy until I found one, the last of its kind, in the back of the shelf.
How appropriate.
There he was waiting for me, laughing – As if somehow, he gnew.
…………………………..
