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| Buddy age 1.5 - discovering apples in the yard |
Tis the season for free food. The neighbors to the back that we share a fence with have an apple tree which keeps dropping fruit in the yard. I have a helper to gather it. Buddy doesn't eat it, just likes to pick them up and pretend we are playing ball (with me chasing him around trying to get the fruit away). They are not crab apples but some kind of regular eating apple and are definitely not beautiful so perfect for either crock pot applesauce to freeze or an apple crumble which I hope to prepare some time this weekend.
The second cherry tomato is ripening. There are tons of cherry tomato and regular tomatoes coming. Not free but each plant bought at the nursery was $1.99. They are doing really well. The large tomatoes are a bit further behind. I made hubby eat the first one that I thought had ripened - apparently it was still a bit unripe.
I picked up a free zucchini this morning at my old job that I am helping out with for a few weeks. Someone has an over-producing garden and had left this with a sign to "please please please take me away". I am going to cut it in half and deliver some of it to Mom, we will fry up or BBQ the rest tomorrow .
In a few weeks time the blackberries will be ripe and as we have gotten both sun and rain this year I expect a good crop. They are an invasive plant here on Vancouver Island and grow everywhere so no shortage of picking spots. I will have to freeze them until life slows down enough that Mom and I can make some jam. Don't you love free food season?
Life seems to be speeding by very fast. We are madly trying to finish up a presentation that hubby has to fly out and deliver late next week. The flooring is being redone the week after and the week after that my stepson that is in the military is flying in for a few days. Did I mention we got a call from some American relatives who wanted to come stay with us at the very same time? Normally it wouldn't be an issue but they have come before and stay for 4-5 days. This time I pawned them off on Mom as with the business and all that is happening at our house I just can't cope(It is her sister after all :)). I will host a couple of BBQs instead. I am not going to kick my stepson out of our spare room when his trip was planned for months so they can come. Plus, with him I don't have to entertain him, he occupies himself if we are busy. Yes, we are working all weekend as we ran away and had our fun last weekend but hopefully we will squeeze in a long walk on the beach with Buddy or two on Saturday or Sunday.
Have a great weekend everyone!
It sounds like you will be eating well. I'd love an apple source. In my opinion, right call on guests.
ReplyDeleteYes, our sanity comes first!
DeleteBuddy and the apple made me smile. Unwanted house guests did not but the fact that you were able to avoid them did.
ReplyDeleteBetter yet - they failed to renew their passports and can't get them in time without paying big bucks so they just cancelled on Mom :) She is a wee bit relieved too. I would like to see them if they said they were staying for 2 nights - perfecto
DeleteWe are working also this weekend but about to head out for a 40 minutes walk. The rain stopped :)
ReplyDeleteWe managed a couple dog walks but that was about it. Self-employment is great...other times not so much
DeleteLove the free food! I picked basil, lemons (okay, they dropped on the ground), a few yellow tomatoes, and a mostly ripe roma sized tomato.
ReplyDeleteI would love citrus...doesn't grow here but I buy tons of limes (go through at least 3 a week). I grew zebra romas last year but couldn't find them this year. I actually happen to be keeping my basil alive this year...it is blooming right now - a miracle based on past years.
DeleteOk so I obviously have some mental issues, I saw the picture of Buddy and the title of free food and got scared. What's wrong with you? Oh I mean, what is wrong with me?
ReplyDeleteIt does seem as if this summer is flying by. No one can keep up.
Maybe buddy looks a bit like a roast pig with an apple in his mouth? Keep of the hooch my friend :)
Delete*meant off the hootch lol
DeleteThe birds keep beating us to our free food - the raspberries, Alpine strawberrries, black and redcurrants have been ransacked! Happy birthday to Buddy and well done on palming off the house guests. We drunkenly invited an Argentian we meet in India a few years ago and he ended up staying with us for weeks - drove us mad! xxx
ReplyDeleteWeeks! That would drive anyone mad.
DeleteI don't know anyone with a garden right now but love the great deals at the Farmer's Market on fresh veggies and fruit! Love apples dropping in your yard.
ReplyDeleteFarmers markets are great - we have a really good one that brings the produce straight out the fields into the store. We try and hit it up at least once a week, they have the absolute best tasting carrots, nothing that regular grocery stores can even come close to.
DeleteThat is such a great picture of Buddy - he has matured into a beautiful doggie :) I love free food too - it's such bonus to the food budget!
ReplyDeleteHe is a great dog. I can't imagine life without him. He is great company and so much fun. He taught us how to play again. I just taste tested the blackberries and could pick them now but I had to empty my fridge freezer for the fridge to be moved for flooring so have to wait at least until the end of next week before picking can begin. Bring it!
DeleteMy garden is doing quite well. By the time I buy the seeds, sets, fertilizer, and such, I'm not sure how free it is. I just made dill pickles out of small zucchini from my plants in pots. Have to wait a month for them to soak up all the flavours in the brine. I'll let you know if all the canning was worth it. - Margy
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