Summer Tomato Harvest

This year with all the rain we have an abundance of heirloom tomatoes in our little garden. We planted pickling cucumbers, bell peppers, jalapenos, and two types of heirloom tomatoes. Our bell peppers are not doing so well, but the tomato plants have taken over and are growing furiously. 

Cream of Tomato Soup

Last year I made tomato sauce which we have used all but one quart and I know we are going to have enough tomatoes to produce the same amount as last year and plenty of salsa and so much more. I hunted for other ways to use our abundance of tomatoes and found Susy's Home Canned Tomato Soup recipe at Chiot's Run. I do believe I have found the most heavenly tomato soup recipe!!! Silky, creamy, taste of sunshine and all the fresh tomato goodness with no added chemicals and no metallic taste, just delicious heavenly creamy tomatoes!

Canned Tomato Soup

I canned in half pints and pint sizes as there are only the two of us at the house now and you mix 1-to-1 with milk or chicken stock when using. The half pint size is just right for the two of us to have with grilled cheese sandwiches and the pint size is good for those times we just want a little more.

My not so Modern Maples quilt top

The Modern Maples quilt is pieced together and on the frame. I still don't know if I like the busy loud floral prints but at this point I am committed to finish it.

Victor, isn't he so handsome!

This past weekend was somewhat productive, and here again is Monday and back to work I go.

I hope you had a productive weekend too! Here's to a productive week, even if it's sitting behind a desk in the 9 to 5 world!!

Herb Garden Quilt

Draped over the scuppernong vine arbor

I made this quilt top last year, and at the time was not sure that I liked it and had no idea how I would quilt it, so I put it away in the closet and forgot about it.

Herb Garden Container 

Then this spring my husband build me an herb garden container using an idea from pinterest - Stacked Herb Garden by the Taste of Oregon. I normally grow my herbs at the front of our house in a little area, but he wanted me to be-able to enjoy the view of the herb garden from my kitchen window and when we sit outside. He went one step further and made it with 4 tiers instead of 3 and used decking composite lumber so that it will last us many years. It has a footprint of 4 x 4 feet, with 13 planting areas and is 24 inches tall.

Herb Garden Quilt Front 62" x 82"

That got me to thinking about this quilt top and that the fabric is Kona cotton in Tarragon - an HERB!

So I dug through my marinating box of misfit quilt tops and blocks and found it. Also with my recent adoption of a Voyager 17 long arm quilt machine and frame I knew this was going to the first quilt I would quilt on it!! (I will post soon about my new machine :)

Herb Garden Quilt Back

The fabrics are 'Origins' by Basic Grey and Kona Cotton in Tarragon, quilting thread cotton in the color Kiwi 50wt from Connecting Threads (which is a perfect match to the Kona Tarragon).

Herb Garden Quilt Close Up

I quilted it using a free-motion loopy pattern not sure what it's called. My quilting is not perfect by any means but I really love the look of the quilting because it looks like little buds sprouting all over the quilt.

The pattern is from the book Simply Charming Collection by Moose on the Porch Quilts (I think I picked up the book at JoAnn's with a coupon) the pattern is called 'Charming Old Maid'.

Which I think is the quilt block called 'Old Maids Puzzle' or a variation of. It is a basic HST block and when 4 are sewn together it creates a secondary pattern. This was an easy quilt as you are making 2 HST blocks at once and then cutting them apart just like the Quilted Valkyrie does here.

Herb Garden

Our herb garden is full of delicious herbs and a few little flowers and the solar lights are so pretty at night. BUT- don't look to close at the weeds as I am to busy having fun quilting to have noticed ;)

Zucchini Relish

Zucchini Relish

10 cups of coarsely grated zucchini

4 cups of coarsely grated onion

2 red peppers minced

3 green peppers minced

5 Tbls of pickling salt

2 1/2 cups of apple cider vinegar

5 cups of sugar

1 tsp fresh grated nutmeg (optional or to taste)

1/2 Tbls of dry mustard

1/2 Tbls of mustard seeds

1 tsp of celery seed

1 tsp of turmeric

fresh ground black pepper

Mix the vegetables with the pickling salt and let set overnight in a non-metallic container in the frig.

The next day get your canning supplies ready.

Rinse the vegetables well and drain, set aside while you make the pickling liquid.

In a large pot combine the vinegar sugar and spices. Bring this to a boil, add the vegetables and stir well, bring back to a boil and then simmer for 20 minutes.

Place relish into your canning jars and process for 10 minutes.

This make about 16 cups or 8 pints of relish.

For canning help go here.

This is the first in a series of zucchini relish recipes I am making this summer. This one is a basic relish next up I will make a HOT relish.

The fruits (veggies) of our labors....

It all started with a few little seedlings and some seeds..................... As they grew, things changed very quickly.............

There was eggplant, peppers and broccoli.............

Zucchini and crookneck squash........

Throw in some cherry tomatoes........

And that was only the very beginning!!

This weekend I will be canning zucchini relish cause - this green stuff is taking over!!!!

(Help - with cherry tomato tips and canning advise please!!)

Spring is here

Yep, spring is really here!!!

We planted broccoli and cauliflower.

Tomatoes, tomatoes and more tomatoes (and some bell peppers too). In the background you can see my $10.00 composters. I picked up two $10.00 garbage cans at the home store and drilled large holes in the sides, and cut off the bottom. It's great you fill it up with stuff and once a week lift it up turn and put back in can. I will have some great compost and save the landfills too.

Pole beans in a cute little pot, strategically placed to create shade on the side of the house.

Carrots, leeks and zucchini...................................yum!!