It is T-2 and I am getting ready for the big operation. WebMD is a good source, but lately, they have warned about overzealous surgical assistants.
We headed for the garden since the temperature was still relatively low. The weather report warned of thunderstorms, and the weatherman was quite right. We could hear the thunder all morning long. It did “rain” a few drops, but not enough to make us go inside.
The clouds were threatening, but passed over us in about an hour.
Scout, the Wonder Dog, came out and then somehow heard the thunder and went back inside where it was dry and safe!
“What are my humons doing out in this weather?”
At almost sixteen years, he looks pretty wise! Maybe we should have followed him inside!
“You guys are CRAZY”
We had gardening to do; we still have plants to put in the ground. We planted onions, as we use a lot of them in cooking.
Onions are ancient vegetables, grown for over 5,000 years and revered in Ancient Egypt as symbols of eternal life, with Pharaohs even buried with them. They belong to the Allium family, which also includes garlic and leeks, and their pungent smell comes from sulfur compounds that irritate the eyes, causing tears. Historically, onions have been used as medicine, currency, and to build strength for soldiers. Today, they are a global staple, particularly in Libya, which has the highest per capita onion consumption.
Onions were once used as a form of currency, particularly in the Middle Ages. I think I will pay my quarterly taxes in onions.
The varmint left evidence, so we applied anti-varmint cages to the newly planted babies, especially the sugar snap peas and green beans.
Chicken wire should do the job!
We finished working in the garden about noon as the clouds cleared out and the Sun began baking everything.
The next step is to electrify the fencing, and I already have the equipment to do so!
One more look at the garden before we go inside. The eggplant is going wild!
The Japanese eggplant has almost a dozed fuits.
We then passed by the Vicky Special, also known as a Tomatillo or Lantern Plant. Tomatillos are small, tart “little tomatoes” with a papery husk, known as the Mexican husk tomato. They are native to Mexico and Central America, and are in the same nightshade family as tomatoes, but are not baby tomatoes. Tomatillos have a sticky residue on the fruit, which is a harmless natural defense. They are a staple in Mexican cuisine, especially in salsa verde, and grow best with cross-pollination from other plants.
It looks so healthy this year.
Meanwhile, back on the patio, the vines are blossoming, providing rich color to the area, reminiscent of Mary’s roses.
Bright red is an excellent contrast to its green leaves.
While inside watching TV, Mary got busy in the kitchen. We took a mess of beans from the dried-out Japanese Yard Log pods we had yet to eat, which had turned brown.
She then made a wonderful salad, found some stuffed bell peppers in the freezer, and had wine for dessert.
After that, we decided to cook our corned beef, which needs potatoes, onions, carrots, and other garden goodies that we picked fresh this morning.
Mama cooked, and we watched western movies!
The corned beef will cook all night long since it started at 7:00 pm. By 5:00 am, it will be ready, so maybe we will have corned beef for breakfast, perhaps with an egg.
Time to crash!
