Protected: Hunkered down at the Homestead
A Bayou Walk: Jean Lafitte, Barataria Preserve
Today Michele took me on a Bayou Walk, through the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park, about an hour from New Orleans.
We saw a couple of alligators, one small and one very small. I didn’t make it to the end of the trail, where the big ones are rumored to be.
Most of the water was covered with fairy moss, which we also have in the homestead pond, tho the homestead fairy moss is smaller and not so thick.
Blueberries Won’t Wait.
So here the deal. Carl loves Blueberries. Seriously loves Blueberries. I like them very much, but Raspberries are better and need picking and….
So the Blueberries are suppose to ripen slowly, and be ready to pick when Carl gets home next week. But did they wait? Nope, they didn’t.
And with the big rain coming, which came today, I had to respond to the blueberries call. In 3 pickings yesterday, I got just over 20#.
And what does one do with 20# of blueberries when the freezer is already full? Well there is a big pot on the wood stove, simmering away. And I should be canning them rather than writing this post.
Well the pot is minus a couple cups worth that ended up in a bowl with yogurt. 😉
So off to can Super Blueberries
July 17, Berry Picking.
The last of the chipmunk family that lived in the attic. The rest have been caught in the live trap and sent to summer camp, a couple miles down the road and across the river. When I drive by the tree where they are release, I usually leave some cracked corn for a snack.
Carl’s blueberries are getting ripe. I’m picking a few, but hoping that they will just sit on the bushes getting tastier until he gets home in a little over a week. I’ll keep sampling them, but as long as they stay firm, I’ll save blueberry picking for him.
For myself, I’m concentrating on the raspberry picking. The purple ones are starting to ripen faster than I can eat…. which is a lot. Ate my fill and filled a quart yogurt container, hanging around my neck on a cord. And many, many more still red. And there are red Encores ripening to add a bit of color.
Picked the first of the golden raspberries that we planted last year. Flavor still a bit tart, but a more solid raspberry. Now to see how many berries I can eat on yogurt. I will freeze the rest. And wait for berry sauce canning until Carl is home and there are many berries sitting in the freezer.
For the rest of the pictures, click here.
Been toasting Broccoli leaves into Broccoli Chips
July 14-15, Walkabout; Dale and mom Kitty come to visit
Early Monday morning there was a light mist on the pond. By evening, a sunset and some Thunder.
Tuesday Dale and his Mother come to visit.
Day lilies, bee balm, clematis and black Hollyhocks are the stars.
And for eating? Purple Raspberries.
For the full Walk-About Album, click here.
