Midsummer

Yes, I know technically we're only a month into summer, but something about the middle of July makes me think the season is already half gone.  Public school starts here on August 2, so those poor children are on a countdown for sure.  For us, I'm a bit more uncertain about when we'll start back.  We haven't done nearly the out loud reading that I'd aspired to in late May.  I need to set better goals and post them in a place other than my brain.

The garden continues to perform well, for what we have planted.  We've had some daily, sporadic rain most of the last week.  Isolated thundershowers, in the local jargon.  We'll take it any way we can get it.  The weeds are growing so quickly that it's almost audible. 

We've begun to pull some of the medium sized tomatoes that have ripened.  Most of them are tennis ball sized, like the Black Prince.  I had forgotten how much flavor that particular variety has.  Mike made a gorgeous tomato platter on Sunday night using the BP's to celebrate the arrival of Grandpa from Kansas.  Very, very tasty.  He also grilled slices of a round zucchini we got from Bill Yoder and then put a fresh chunky salsa with vidalia, a bit of basil and a dollop of goat cheese on top. He called it his "chef's offering" and it was as delicious as it was beautiful.  We really need to grow that round zucchini next year.  It is so good grilled; we're buying one a week from the Yoder's as it is.

The Matt's Wild Cherry, Lemon Drop, and Yellow Pear continue to flourish in greater numbers every few days.  We've picked a couple of cucumbers so far with several more on the vine for tomorrow.  The squash has slowed down some, which is OK.  I can never stay ahead of it, or at least I've never been able to before.  Maybe next summer, when my kitchen is complete and functional, and I can freeze it all and waste none.

The blackberries are coming to an end.  The June bugs are my steady companions when I pick; makes me want a flock of ducks out there to graze the bugs.  I should still get a few pints this week, but with last week's market rejects, I need to get some juice made so Mom can make some jelly.  We really need some jelly. 

Pictures tomorrow, I promise.  It was just too rainy today.  I get so happy when I type that word.  Rainy......rainy.......