More harvests as I start to take down the vegetable garden. Look at those carrots! We've never grown such big ones - and in a drought, too. Loads of onions, the last of the potatoes & a few winter squash. Still to pick: cabbages, leeks, celery, tomatoes & zucchini. This has been the nicest day! 👩‍🌾🥕🥔🧅

In case anyone wonders if Buddy still just stares at me for hours on end. Yes. Yes, he does. 💗

Can't help posting so many harvest pics. It'll give me something to look back on during the frigid Maine winter. 👩‍🌾 🌱 And would you look at those peppers! They are so shiny, it's unreal. 💗

Slow food and worth it. Garden to oven to stovetop to plate. It's taken since April, but the tomatoes have finally arrived and I'm making the most of every one. Picked about 25lbs today and the plants are still loaded. More sauce is in my future! 🍅🍅🍅 🌱

Getting tomatoes ready to roast for some quick and easy sauce. 🍅🍅🍅 🌱

Today's harvest. There's a single snow pea in there somewhere! 😄 🌱

CRUCIAL NEWS:

The vegetable lasagnas are made and now in the freezer for winter! They're full of broccoli, zucchini, carrots, onion, spinach and garlic, all chopped in the food processor, sauted, seasoned, then mixed with a light alfredo sauce. One of my favorites to make - and eat. 👩‍🍳🥦🥒🥕🧅🥬🧄

Tried ajvar (a Balkan roasted red bell pepper spread) for the first time, using it as a base along with cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, basil and cheeses for my focaccia/pizza concoction. Four stars!!!!

Made up a recipe for a crispy zucchini & onion "flatbread", although it's not really a bread exactly. I tear off pieces for snacking, but am planning to try it for sandwiches or pizza crust. Measurements are approximate, except for the flour. I just sort of throw things in, so have fun with it.

Wolf River apples. If the deer don't get them, we might have a small harvest this year. 🍎 🌱

Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew. The first potatoes! I think it's going to be a bumper crop this year. 🌱

The first bean! It's about 2" long. Grow, little one, grow! 😍 🌱

Using this straight from the jar in place of making peanut butter frosting for the deep, dark chocolate zucchini cakes currently baking in the oven. Heaven!

I only ran up to check the snow peas. Honest. Also stepped on a ball of baby snakes sleeping under the weed barrier by the zucchini. The dirt was soft, so we were all horrified, but uninjured. I believe I set a new Olympic high jump record. 😂 Never dull!

If we'd had rain over the last 3 weeks, imagine how tall this tomato would be. 😯 Every plant is loaded with fruit. Amazing! I also counted nearly 150 bell peppers. Hoping for full freezers soon! 🍅🥒🥦🥕🥔🥑🌽🫑🌶🥬🧅🫛🫜💚

The first big dahlia unfurling. One of my favorite flowers. I'd love to have dozens of them. 👩‍🌾 🌱

Another week, another look at the vegetable garden. The last 2 weeks wouldn't post here, so let's hope this one finally does. Enjoy! 👩‍🌾💚 🌱

What is everyone looking at? 👀

Pansies sharing secrets. Happy Monday, friends! 💜💛 🌱

Feeling like late summer all of a sudden. Lovely, quiet morning in the gardens. I've been wandering about with a most grateful heart. Happy Sunday, friends. 💚

First harvest big enough to need the trug. Zucchini, mild, green & hot peppers, cucumbers, radishes, carrots and 3 cherry tomatoes. Supper soon! 👩‍🌾

Early to bed, Early to rise, Means Faith has time To bake lemon sponge pie. 🍋😁💛🥧

Ready to pick for supper tonight! At last! Dozens more to come. 💚😊💚 🌱

After a young deer stopped to chat with me on my walk this morning (she was a beauty - the color of a new penny and just as shiny), it was home to enjoy the daylilies. Look at this one. So vibrant! 🦌 💛 🌱

New plant stands! Found these old metal stands and trays at a yard sale for almost nothing. A good wash, some outdoor adhesive, copper spray paint and VOILÀ! More places for plants! 😃 🌱

Supper for 1 on the deck. Leftover pasta, zucchini bake (from the garden!), plus a Caesar salad. Listening to a rockin' band playing down the road at the neighbor's annual pig roast. Birds are singing, there's a nice breeze. Ah... been a good day. But I missed lunch, so time to dig in! 🍝🥗🥖

I've reached the "pick a snack while I garden" portion of the summer. 🫛🥕🍅

Vultures by the vegetable garden eating a squirrel. Didn't expect that today. A 3rd one joined, flying straight toward the window where I was standing. Those birds are MASSIVE. Never dull around here! (My poor squirrel though...)

A visit to the local lake on a very hot and humid afternoon. Nice breeze though! Stay cool, everyone!

Breakfast on the deck on a beautiful summer morning. That's the leftover sheetpan spanakopita I made for supper last night and 2 perfectly fried eggs. Happy weekend, friends!

🌱 A cheery good morning from the first dahlia of the season!

🌱 Last of the baby bok choy from the first planting on the deck. I lost count how many meals it made. So delicious! Radishes are done, too. Replanted the spaces with more bok choy, little white turnips and 4 onions we had leftover from the main garden. And look at those carrot tops. Lush! 🥕🥕🥕

My new wind spinner! 😃

The expression on George's face! 😂 But Buddy's "Operation: Win George Over" is now in full swing. I will make him love me! 🐱🐈

Late night scones (with a hint of lemon), thanks to my sister's night owl ways. They were perfection. 🍋

The kids are officially out of the nest. It's insanity here. At least 4, possibly 6, running everywhere, fighting, leaping, chattering, knocking things over. They're having a blast. Hope they stay out of real trouble!

🌱 It's Thursday, but may I have an extension for #RoseWednesday? I rarely have a rose to share, so imagine my thrill at seeing this wild beauty finally blooming in my yard. Happiness! 💚🤍💚

🌱 It's that time of year again. Remember to put a stick or something in your watering cans so if a baby animal or little creature falls in they can climb out. 💚

Just now. Welcome, little porcupette! 🥰

🌱 Quiet morning. Then animals fighting in the woods. Silence. Go for a walk. Clouds of blackflies, cars speeding on my rural road. Ugh. Almost home, constant cars, & suddenly here's the giant resident porcupine ambling beside me, quills half gone, looking battered. Never dull! Anyway - poppies. 🧡

🌱 Greetings from my little corner of Maine. We've made it through another week, friends. Time to celebrate! 🎉

The new herb table on the lower deck is planted! The flamingos - Fitzwilliam and his nieces, Flora & Fauna, are overseeing the bok choy, radishes, etc in the raised planter again this year. Good times! 🦩🦩🦩 🌱

Six baby grey squirrels romping about the backyard all day. Add in twin baby chipmunks, oodles of birds and butterflies and one fawn hidden away just off the trail, and I've felt like Snow White as I planted flowers all afternoon. Here's a picture from the cool orchard looking to the woodland. 💚 🌱

A late good morning from #Maine! The lupine have started and it's a glorious day! 💚💜🩷🤍💚 🌱

Up in the woodland. 🌱

Baby bok choy harvest for tonight's vegetable fried rice. Ah! It felt so good to run out the door and grab a little extra something for supper. The most wonderful time of the year! 💚 🌱 💚

Lilacs in the evening breeze. 🤍 🌱

It's 83°F/28°C. Safe to put the snow shovel away now?

The fresh tub of super-strong catnip left Buddy in a haze. It's all good! 😂