Yesterday while walking around the back field I spotted Honey bees on several different flowers. I first noticed a bee in the white clover, then another foraging in the birdsfoot trefoil. I spotted a couple of bees on Canadian thistle blossoms and there were many buzzing about in the sweet clover.
Honey Bee on Sweet Clover BlossomHoney Bee on Mountain Mint Blossom
I then walked by a patch where we planted wild flowers several years ago to see what they might be foraging in there. While the mountain mint that grows in that patch was not part of the seed mix that we planted, it has become a favorite of the bees when it blossoms.
Honey Bee on Oregano Blossom
Back at the prayer garden I found many bees in the oregano and a few on the anise hyssop.
Bumble Bee on Anise Hyssop Blossom.
The bee in the above photo is a bumble bee. Honey bees and bumble bees often forage the same flowers.
In addition in all of these plants my husband has reported seeing the bees pollenating the squash and pumpkins and I have seen a few foraging in the marshmallow plants.
The beauty in the bees foraging such a wide variety of plants is that each time we harvest honey the result is a deliciously unique blend of various plant nectars that the bees have collected. I dare say that we have never had two batches of honey that were exactly the same.
Last Monday was the perfect summer day for doing anything outdoors. I started my outdoor tasks mid morning by mowing our lawn at the house. Our weather had been so dry in recent weeks that it had been about three weeks since we had to mow the lawn. Then after lunch, while my husband went to the farm to work in the garden, I returned to the yard to work on trimming and weeding.
I had been working for less than an hour when my husband called. ” Are you married to doing that yard work today or do you want to come out and play?” he asked.
I hesitated briefly because I had weeds and branches laying around the yard that need to be picked up, but I quickly decided they could wait until later. I left my garden tools and gloves on the deck, slipped my bathing suit on then put shorts and shirt over top. I grabbed a couple of cold beverages and my husband was there in about 10 minutes to pick up me and the boys.
When we got to the farm my first order of business play was riding the four wheeler. Last summer I didn’t get to ride at all and I really missed it. This year my husband committed to getting it running for me, so with some help from my son-in-law, he got the carburetor cleaned. He then replaced the air filter and it’s running again. (THANK YOU SWEETIE!) For about 45 minutes I zipped around the back field and down the winding paths that run through the woods on the 4- wheeler. So much fun! 🙂
When I had my fill of riding I decided to go for a dip in the pond. I stopped by the garden, where my husband was having his own fun caring for the plants, to let him know I would be in the pond. I grabbed my innertube, took off my shorts and top and waded into the refreshing water. I spent the next 45 minutes or so floating and paddling around the pond on my innertube. Since the pond is not visible from the garden where my husband was working playing, every once in a while he would yell “Marco” to which I had to yell “Polo” in reply (otherwise I’m sure he would have executed search and rescue operations).
After my refreshing time in the pond it was time to go home and make dinner. When we arrived back at the house my husband said “don’t worry if you don’t get the weeds and clippings picked up tonight. They will still be there in the morning… unless” “somebody steals them,” I quickly chimed in. He laughed and then said “or the Yard Clipping Fairy shows up.” We both laughed at that.
The next morning I found out that I apparently haven’t been good enough the deserve a visit from the Yard Clippings Fairy, but thankfully the weather again was pleasant enough for me to finish the job. 🙂
What recreational activities do you enjoy in summer?
Click here to learn more about my “55 Things” and here to view previous posts in this series.
Like most people my husband and I enjoy a good pizza, but I have found making homemade pizza that we like to be a challenge. I have yet to master making a good pizza crust and most of the store bought crusts that we have tried just aren’t that good. The exception is BOBOLi pizza crust. Not only does the BOBOLi make a decent pizza it is super easy to use. 🙂
Here’s my recipe.
Ingredients:
BOBOLi Pizza Crust
Pizza sauce
Olive Oil
Garlic (powder, granules or minced)
Oregano Leaves (dried or fresh)
Pepperoni Slices
Artichoke Hearts quartered
Mushrooms sliced (Canned or fresh)
Mozzarella Cheese Shredded
Instructions:
Preheat oven ( I think the crust package says 400 degrees)
Place crust on baking sheet.
Brush crust with a light layer of olive oil.
Sprinkle with garlic and oregano leaves.
Top with a layer of cheese.
Add pepperoni.
Add mushrooms.
Add artichoke hearts.
Add pizza sauce by dropping spoonful’s of sauce over the pizza.
Click here to learn more about my “55 Things” and here to view previous posts in this series.
I think I am falling behind on my 55 Things posts and I do have a couple of recipe ideas that I plan on sharing soon, but today I am just going to leave you with this tune.
It has a beautiful message and two quotes that I love very much come from this song.
“It’s better to be hated for who you are than be loved for who you’re not.”
“If you want to hear God laugh tell Him your plans.”
Thanks for stopping by. Until next time remember to breathe deep and be well. 🙂
Each year after the garlic is harvested I let out a big “WOO HOO!” and my husband and I each sigh in relief because it is such a laborious task. This year, however, the harvest went so quickly and easily that I thought it hardly worth a mention.
For the sake of keeping a record of it I decided to write about it anyway.
250 Garlic Bulbs Harvested July 10, 2020
We harvested the crop on Friday, July 10. It was hot and humid in the morning when I got started, but I thought it would be good to get it out of the ground before the rain and storms, that were predicted for later that day, arrived. I began digging the bulbs up like we normally do but quickly discovered that the soil was moist enough that I was able to pull the bulbs out without breaking the stems. This saved much time and energy. After 40 minutes or so I had about 1/3rd of the crop harvested but my body was telling me I needed to get out of the sun.
We decided to go home for a break and lunch. Then, despite the fact that it was raining, my husband returned to the farm that afternoon to finish the harvest. While we ended up getting a decent rain that day we did not get any of the storms that surrounding area experienced. After my husband harvested the rest of the garlic he bundled and hung the bulbs that I had pulled earlier. Later that evening I bundled the rest of the bulbs that he had pulled. We ended up with around 400 bulbs total (our smallest crop ever) and plan on saving at least 150 bulbs for seed to plant in the fall.
The garlic is now hanging upstairs in the barn where it will cure for at least three weeks before being cleaned.
NOTE: For anyone thinking about growing garlic, in the U.S. now is the time of year to start looking for seed garlic. I have never seen seed garlic it sold in stores or garden centers but an internet search should produce many options. In northern parts (colder climates) fall is the time of year for planting garlic (about 6 weeks before the ground freezes). Then it should sprout up in the spring around the time the daffodils and other bulbs start sprouting.
Don't Eat It! Soap and Skin Care 