1. Tools
Being able to accomplish the work we need to do is more easily accomplished by having the right tools. One of the tools I like using for finding some of the roots of invasive grasses like quackgrass or crabgrass is a tool I don’t even remember ever hearing its name spoken. It seems that that there are several names for this tool: cultivator, potato digger, and refuse hook.
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| Work gloves, pruner, hoe, and cultivator |
2. Zucchini pizza
For some zucchini is the vegetable that causes them to wonder why on earth did they plant even one of them because they are just so prolific and it isn't everyone's favorite vegetable. Although we didn't plant any this year we have had some come in the produce boxes we purchase each week. Zucchini pizza boats are easy and quick to make. I used both mozzarella and Parmesan cheese and a little pepperoni on ours.
3. Combining flavors
When I thought I had four ripe bananas so I could make two loaves of banana nut bread, and after measuring the dry ingredients and then turning around and seeing that I now only had three ripe bananas (I should have informed a certain someone I had plans for all four of those bananas.) and that the three bananas only provided 1 C of banana pulp instead of 1-1/2 C pulp I decided to make a few revisions and make a Banana-Pineapple Nut Bread so I could make two loaves as planned. I will be making this again because I really like the combination of the flavors.
Revisions for making one loaf: 1/8 t orange zest instead of 1 t orange zest; 1/2 c banana pulp and 1/2 c drained crushed pineapple instead of 1 c banana pulp; add 1/4 chopped walnuts
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| Banana-Pineapple Nut Bread |
4. Bees
Last week I posted a photo of a bumblebee in which the tongue was visible. The photo of the bumblebee this week not only shows the tongue clearly but also shows the hairs on the legs. Zoom in a little and you will be able to see some of those hairs. One of the functions of the hairs on its legs is to help pollinate the flowers on plants. I am thankful for bees and their role helping provide some of the food we enjoy eating.
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| Bumblebee |
5. Getting to the root of the problem
If by chance someone doesn’t remove the entire root when weeding, the plant will continue to make repeated appearances until one removes the entire root. This little gardening lesson can be easily applied to many life lessons as well.
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| Suspected dandelion roots with the beginnings of new growth |
6. The color green
Green is a great contrasting color if one is trying to eliminate emerging young weeds from a recently weeded bed of soil.
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| Tiny green leaves, but easy to spot on top the brown soil |
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| The tiny plant and attached root after being removed from soil |
7. The live broadcast of the funeral of an honorable man
In years past one would have had to wait and read about a funeral service in the newspaper. The world today allows one to listen, watch, and contemplate at the very moment the words are spoken. There is much to consider and remember about the way John Robert Lewis chose to live his life.
8. Healing
It is a relief when I hear that someone is feeling better after being sick.
9. I am thankful that I know this snake has a place to find refuge and also thankful that it cannot really get inside the house.
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| Garter snake making its way up the steps |
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| Garter snake trying to become invisible |
10. Vic and his interests
Because of my husband's career I overcame a fear I had of snakes and even got used to driving to a nearby university to get the old retiring breeding rats that had served their purpose so they could become dinner for my husband's snakes. In all honesty though, I am thankful that he has moved on to other interests, such as photography and birding which I find so much more enjoyable.
We ate zucchini (well, yellow squash) boats this week, too. I didn't follow a recipe, though--just tossed ingredients together. :-)
ReplyDeleteWell, actually, I used one zucchini and one yellow squash. I think they both taste the same. Did you scoop out the seeds? Some recipes call for scooping out the seeds, but I didn't find it necessary with smaller zucchini. Maybe if one was using a overgrown zucchini and cooking for a crowd, scooping out the seeds might be warranted.
DeleteA woman after my own heart, lol. I have a thing for tools. Love them. Garden, house, car. What would we do without them?! :D
ReplyDeleteZucchini is very prolific. I grew some in a garden almost 30 years ago. Never baked so much zucchini bread or steamed so much zucchini or fried slices since! Zucchini pizza sounds intriguing.
Banana pineapple bread does sound like a good combo. I think I'm getting hungry :)
That's an amazing photo of the bee and a disturbing one of the snake! Not a fan of snakes. It is amazing how they can totally blend in.
Years ago I canned a ton of zucchini-pineapple and we eventually tired of eating it.
DeleteLittle garter snakes are pretty mild tempered, so they don't bother me much, although I'd rather they were not the official greeter at our front door. :-)
Love your list , especially the banana bread story - so creative. The bees too, warmed my heart. The root idea made me think of delving into my personal intimate life and pulling some roots up that keep surfacing as little irritations - love the way I can play with that idea, thank you.
ReplyDeletegramswisewords.blogspot.com
Thank you. Getting to the root of a problem in some cases can be a lifetime pursuit, but is worth the chase.
Delete#5 how true is that
ReplyDeleteLike the photo of the tools...excellent work gloves (I use welders gloves (the longer length), which, while giving up some flexibility, lets me disregard the sharper edges in the woods.
I'll have to take a look at welders gloves, but I really like the gloves I have been using for most of the work I do. They are sturdy, yet soft and flexible. If I am dealing with something sharp, I usually grab a pair of sturdy leather gloves, but I find that the arthritis in some joints don't care for them as much if I have to wear them very long.
DeleteNow I want banana bread! I like zucchini. It's so versatile. I especially like zoodles
ReplyDeleteOh, I hope I didn't entice you to eat something you shouldn't. :-/
DeleteDo you have a special tool for making the zoodles? I haven't ever made them.