Freezing Produce and It's Ripe NOW!

I was reading my friend's blog the other day and she had written a brief blog regarding freezing some blueberries she had purchased at the store to use later in the year.  Plus another FB friend had questioned how to freeze strawberries after taking her children berry picking earlier this summer.

Of course, I had to comment, as I too often freeze a variety of produce.  Mostly due to seasonal availability coupled with economics.

As long as you have the space in freezer it is relatively simple process.  I have a deep freezer, so I use a cookie sheet.  But, you could use any other freezer safe container that will allow air to flow around the produce without it freezing together.

To ensure that softer items like bananas don't stick to the pan, first line with waxed paper.

Clean or pick your produce and chop if desired.  Spread on pan and freeze for several hours or a day before removing.  Then label and place in freezer safe containers or freezer safe zipper lock storage bags.  Place back into freezer until needed for recipes and consumption.

This is a super way to not waste excess produce you have purchased or have in ripe abundance in your garden, i.e. I just froze a 1/2 dozen peeled bananas and what should be my last crop of figs (figs are extremely fragil and usually mold and rot within a couple of days in the open air).

Items such as sliced peaches and bananas are terrific straight from the freezer into the blender as a delicious addition to a fruit smoothie.  Or quick access when the desire for banana bread or a fruit pie is weighing heavy on your mind.

When shopping, don't ignore the reduced produce.  As I had commented on my friend's blog Berrymorin Bits and Tips, it is a super way to try produce you may not normally purchase or have never tried before.  EX:  I recently bought a mesh bag of tiny key limes and have been using them in my ice water for added flavor.

If you are able to deal with it and think economically, you can definitely make use of some of the ripe produce at excellent prices by preparing and freezing immediately.  One of my favorites is yellow, red and green bell peppers.  I wash, slice and freeze for use later in omelets and other recipes.

This past week, I used two (2) sealed containers of summer squash/zucchini in a huge batch of a vegetable beef soup that I made one night.  I could have easily frozen the squash and used later, but decided to empty my produce drawer and freeze the soup instead.

It is Stinking Hot in VA Today - Gardening Update

I am not even going to check to find out what the exact temperature is outdoors.  All I can say is it is sunny, humid and hot.  Too hot for me to have the energy this afternoon to go out back and continue with the new perennial beds along the fence that was erected last fall.

In spite of adding amendments to the soil and tilling, the soil is still compacted and difficult to dig in.

Earlier this past week, I did get some help digging holes and putting in nine new root roses, as well as transplanting approx. 5 rose bushes from other sections of the yard.

Word to the wise and now from experience....  Don't dig up a plant that you are going to transplant until after the new location has a hole dug and is ready to have the plant put in place and watered.

Yeah, the transplanted rose bushes are not doing well at all.  They went from ravishing to death row, as the roots were exposed for 60 minutes or so on a warm day.

Finally, was able to plant roughly 24 red gladiolus bulbs, 36 yellow and 36 mixed variety gladiolus bulbs in the new bed area, yesterday afternoon.

I also began the process of moving and transplanting iris rhizomes with greenery from other areas of the yard, as the next line, after the roses and gladiolus in the new beds.  (One clump was reclaimed from the other side of the new fence, as the new neighbor mowed over the greenery.  To me, that signifies that he doesn't want them there and/or doesn't care for them being there.  So, they have another chance, back with their iris rhizome clan in neat little rows.)

Amazed at how some of them have survived, as the soil here in VA is such a dense clay that the majority of them were surrounded by dry clumps, as opposed to loose and moist earth.

Hopefully, over time, I can improve the soil nutrients and conditions within that area.

I did pick-up 6 bags of Scott's wood mulch at Home Depot on Thursday PM and another 8 bags earlier this afternoon, as they have them on sale for the holiday weekend for $2.50 per bag.  Wood mulch is a must in this area, unless plants are established and densely planted.  Huge help in holding moisture in the soil for root systems, as opposed to quickly evaporating back into the air.

There is a lot more to be transplanted from other sections of the yard, as well as there are a slew of other new bulbs that I purchased that have yet to find a home.

I am praying that I won't damage the calla lilies that are in a few sections of the yard that have been rapidly shooting up greenery this week.  They are in very odd areas and my goal is to have a lovely, dense section of garden beds along this line of fence.  An area where I can look out and enjoy or go out in the privacy of the yard and drink in their beauty.

Maybe tomorrow, in the early AM, it will be cool enough to work on transplanting the delicate beauties without damaging them.

Feel like I have been there and done all of this.  Took years with the other house landscaping, regarding, soil amendment and build up, stone walls, transplanting and purchasing of new plants, etc. 

Lots of personal time and muscle power, as well, as when needed, I have realized that I have to hire others to help periodically, as there are only so many hours and so much energy and strength that I can expend.

Another day...  Another day...

Spring 2011 Flowers - Peonies

The house across the street, from where I grew up had a full row of peonies that bordered the edge of yard.  Huge, fragrant blooms each year were always a wonderful treat and a true sign that summer time was getting that much closer.

The friend that lived in that house as a child, tells me she truly misses the quantity and the beauty of that row of flowers. 

Can you imagine a 40 foot row of these densely packed flowers blooming in your yard?

I was chatting on-line with her and can only think that one of the previous residents (rental) of the house in their travel to the orient must have brought back a bounty of the rhizomes from one of their trips, as the attic above the garage had a vintage stash of oriental treasures that every now and then we'd get a glimpse of.

If I can figure out how to successfully move and propagate these plants, I will let you all know at a later date.  For now, I am just enjoying the wonderful aroma of these in my bedroom.

Fence Project: O'Dea-O'Dea

The Fence Project was put into motion as of Saturday, 30 October.  The first day consisted of rental of a gas auger and a manual post digger to accomplish the tasks of digging seven (7) 3' deep holes on my property line to place the seven (7) post.  Three foot holes were required, as I want the privacy fence to be at the maximum height allowed by the county of seven feet (7') high.

My next door neighbor's project only required two (2) post holes at 2' deep for his dog pen project that will have six foot (6') high fence ends sandwiched between the existing fence and their deck.

The second day consisted of not two (2), but (3) trips to Home Depot for supplies of wood, cement, hanger brackets and treated deck screws.

Sunday, prior to sundown, we had all of the post in the ground with cement setting.  Plus, all of the top rails of the privacy fence on my property were cut and installed, as well as the middle and lower rails of one section for me to use as a sample to finish the remainder of the project on my own.

Another Friday Re-Build purchase included solid cedar, decorative post caps.  They truly make a difference on the finished appearance of the post.  I am now pondering as to whether or not the linear foot cost of use of a decorative rail top to the fence would be cost prohibitive or not. 

Cedar Post Cap

Might look much more finished and professional than the plain, straight top board finish.  But, the jury is still out on budget ($).

I will post photos later.

Reality of Projects in Process

The camera rechargeable battery is charged and I have downloaded some photos of projects in progress.  Below you can see just how chaotic, dirty and messy some of the task can be.

As I had mentioned in a blog, earlier today, seeing just the final product probably really is not always the best method of sharing information on projects for those that view my blog.  Many of the projects, at hand, have a long time line and list of task associated with each of them.

The project that had tasks that I worked on this weekend were:

• The mowing and weeding of the yard here at O'Dea-O'Dea
• Garage organization, re-organization and cleaning
• Cleaning up the sun porch to include removal of the deep freezer chest and refrigerator to the rear of the garage

  

  Approx. 12 bags of yard waste (all weeds from garden beds)

  



The sitting area of the sun porch in a jumbled in-process state of change



Backyard outside of the sun porch also in a jumbled in-process state of change w/stuff!

Sun porch in-process filth former location of deep freezer chest

One of the visuals that I have not captured and a person needs an image of this is that not once.  But, three times this summer I have emptied out half of the garage in order to move pine cabinets in; re-locate some existing old metal cabinets.   A third time was Sunday, when half of the garage was emptied onto the front lawn to make room for the deep freezer and refrigerator move to the rear of the garage.  (Before it got dark, the garage contents spread on the lawn had to be hastily moved back into the garage to be under cover.  Still requires further moving and work.)

The first time, I had the delivery of the pine cabinets and had no choice but to put the contents on the lawn even though there was a threat of rain.  Did it pour!

The second time, I worked on the other half of the garage.  Once again contents on the front lawn and driveway.  Sunny day, but again, it rained.

This Sunday, it did not rain.  Thank God!  But, it was a weekend and neighbors were driving by wondering what the heck was going on as there were trunks, boxes, garment rack with coats, etc. strewn across the lawn.  No yard sale sign.  But, one of the neighbors that just can not help herself came trotting over, much to my dismay and decided she was going to have a look-and-see.

Here I was cleaning the exterior of a refrigerator, at the end of the driveway, and she is coming to look to see if there is something for her or her family (Prior to passing away, Mr. O'Dea was generous enough to give her sons camping gear and she has asked a few times since, if there was any more).  Please...this is not about you!

I kept to the task at hand and made certain not to give her eye contact.  Told her as she was walking over, "If you come any closer you are going to get enlisted into helping".

It didn't stop her.  She let me know that she had hurt her back this summer and couldn't lift.  Wha...wha...wha... and she eventually went away.

Anyway, back to the ebb and flow of the garage project tides.  It will probably a handful more tasks of emptying out the bays of the garage in order to move in the other set of used, pine pantry cupboards I purchased and need delivered, as well as continuing to sort through items, organize and in some cases purge.

This evening (Monday), I just did not have the energy to tackle any of the moving and cleaning tasks.  Documentation with some photos and blog postings are the extent of Monday's involvement.

Paw and Splash Proofing Potted Plants REVISITED

A status update and modification to the large plant repotting projects that I posted a week ago. 

The Lord Fairfax, Urban Tiger a.k.a. Mason, getting pea gravel stuck to his paws and a few pieces here and there, as he walked away from his session of ritualistic plant abuse.

This is the pea gravel that I had placed on top of the soil to keep it from getting on his paws and help prevent soil from splashing out of the pot when I watered the plants.

Another trip to Home Depot a.k.a. Home Deposit for a bag of larger chunks of white marble stone.  Cost $4.

I would not recommend bringing the bag of stone into the house.  I placed it outdoors and used a plastic bag to cover my hand and filled a small heavy duty container with stones and made trips back and forth until each of the large indoor plants had the layer of pea gravel covered.

Lesson learned and I hope that my sharing helps you with your next potting and pet proofing project.

Repotting Selection of Containers

"All The Saints", by artist Hayes Porter



"All The Saints", by Hayes Porter is a wonderful and expressive piece of artwork, serenity and a deep and suitable planter for my snake plants that I had been reviving in a vase of water and fertilizer for an extended period of time after they suffered from too much sun exposure last spring.

Landscape shops often sell small resin and cement statuary for homes and gardens.  If you do not feel like shopping around they are a definite source of unique planters for accent. 

This particular planter came from Tuesday Morning, of all places, on sale for 40% off of the regular Tuesday Morning price (or) $14.99.

In the past, I have also found some other garden items that are very unique at Tuesday Morning.  Click on the link I provided and check out a store near you.

Paw and Splash Proofing Potted Indoor Plants

I live with a ritualistic plant abusing cat, named Mason.  Born outdoors as a feral kitten, his safety and home was brush, bushes and plants. 


After I first caught him and we went the step from the large two level cage to getting used to roaming free in a closed bathroom he first exhibited his desire and love for green plants.  At first, it was the Boston fern that sat on the ledge of the soaking tub in the bathroom. 


It was his nest.  It was his hiding space.  It was a foe to be viciously attacked and shredded with full kitten force.


It finally succumbed to his nesting and repeated abuse and composted back to dust.


Eventually, when he was allowed free rein and had the ability to roam the house, I discovered that even the silk floral arrangements were not safe from the wrath of the Lord Fairfax, Urban Tiger, known as Mason.


Buds of silk flowers became plucked from their wire and plastic stems and their heads tossed, slid and rolled with great pleasure across the wood floors.  Even the plastic and silk leaves were patterned with canine tooth marks where he had shown them who was master and who was the slave.


The occasional fresh floral arrangement, was a gift from the edible arrangement gods, according to Mason.


Alas, there are large plants that I now have in the house.  The collection includes a huge ficus type tree; a variation of a palm with an exotic thick leafed fern planted at the base; rubber tree and snake plants that once resided at the office; a lovely pink blooming hibiscus bush and a small tropical green palm style plant.


The Lord Fairfax, Urban Tiger sees jungle!


The MeMe sees plants subjected to the ravages of the orange beast and the accidental splashing of dirt to the floor when said plants are watered.


Lately, one of my projects of protection of the plants both from the ritualistic abuser and from my careless watering's that result in splashes of dirt and water on the floors has been covering the top of the soil with a layer of white pea gravel available from Home Depot.


The cost of my partial sanity is under $4. for .5 cubic feet of the white stones.


As I have been transplanting some of the root bound plants, I have also been adding a layer of the stones to the bottom of the pot to help with filtering out the dirt and the draining of excess water.


Above is a photo of the largest re-potting project that I believe still could use another layer of stone once I replenish my supply.  The white stones give a nice finished appearance as well as some added protection.


At least this AM when the Lord Fairfax, Urban Tiger was observed standing in the pot hovering over the exotic plant he ritualistically abuses, I didn't have to fret over scaring him out of the pot and having a trail of dirt left in his wake.