CUCUMBERS...CUCUMBERS...CUCUMBERS AND 'CHINI'

By some freak 'accident' I planted somewhere around 12-14 cucumber plants this year. I thought I was planting melon as well as cucumbers, but they all turned out to be long, slender and very green, (delicious, too.) It's funny, where I thought I planted yellow crook-neck squash I see Butternut taking over; where I thought I planted Gypsy Girl peppers (they start out yellow, then turn orange then a beautiful, sweet red) I now have Hungarian yellow peppers. The Butternut package was marked Crook-neck and the Hungarian yellows had the plant stick for Gypsy...but the cucumber takeover is of my own doing.

They are so prolific and grow so fast, that I harvest once in the morning and once in the afternoon...and give away...give away....give away. I think everyone is glutted (except Jonel that is) with my cucumbers!

We are eating some version of a cucumber dish pretty much nightly, and I am canning dill pickles pretty much daily.

A small pile of cukes.

Dill is also prolific in the garden, and though I do plant some, it reseeds itself all over the garden each year. I find it very difficult to pull out any of these plants that have the tenacity to find their own spot and grow so beautifully.

I dry my cayenne peppers each year, and they come in handy at this time as I like to add one to each jar of pickles.

I have always used a bit of alum in each jar in order to assure the pickles are crisp. This year during a visit from a friend she told me of an old woman who once told her to use grape leafs in each jar instead of alum. I thought I was done canning pickles until she told me this, and now I am experimenting, using a grape leaf at both the bottom and the top of each jar. Hope it works as this would be a good way to use some of the 2-acre vineyard that we have.

On another note, I also have zucchini, thought it is not as prolific as the cucumbers. While Iris was here for her Nonnie-day we went to the garden with her doll, Bridgette and the doll stroller. I picked a largish zucchini, and then we went to the mailbox. While walking back, as she was busy tending to Bridgette, I cradled the zucchini in my arms. When she looked up, her smile was so big and joy-filled and her eyes twinkled with merriment. This prompted me, once in the house, while she was again tending to her doll, to cut eyes, nose and mouth in the zucchini. When she turned to me this time, she said, "Oh, Nonnie"

"Do you think she can she have blond hair?"

And so I braided some yellow yarn, and attached it with a toothpick, while Iris assured Chini, as we called her, that it would only prick for a moment.

She fell in love with Chini, and proceeded to feed her at the table.

Isn't it delightful, that a child can take something like a zucchini and get lost in the wonder of play!

Kickapoo Country Fair Weekend

I should have taken a picture of the MUD itself, and not pointed it out to the left in this picture, but the mud just might have been the most pervasive thing about the Kickapoo Country Fair this past weekend. Tons of wood chips and bales of hay were spread in order to make the walking a bit easier, but despite this, it never got easy. Many a young person was seen shedding the shoes and squishing along. Just a short walk to the privy got my capris completely splattered with mud. Still, their seemed to be lots and lots of people undaunted by the state of the walkway and distance of parking, and the Heritage Tent where I had my 'exhibit' and demonstrated had far more visitors then last year.

The display of my bags. You can see the hay bales that were used to hold down the tent stakes...they were soon 'stolen' to break open and spread on the mud.

I utilized the outdoors as well. The first day the wind blew this rug rack down, but I learned quickly to tie it up.

I was allotted a spacious section, and was able to display my wares easily and colorfully.

My woven braided rag rugs. I think these are still my favorite rugs as the color depth is so intense.

And speaking of color depth....my lunch...the colors were so beautiful, and the flavors so intense, it prompted me to photograph this pumpernickel bagel, feta/cream cheese/garlic spread, thick sliced Sweet Success cucumbers, plenty of fresh dill, and fresh lettuce. I honestly cannot think of a sandwich I have eaten EVER that was more delicious!

SIMPLE SUMMER EATING

Last Monday was the regular gathering of our 'textile' group. We met at Barb's where she set a table up outside amid the beautiful and huge vegetable garden her husband keeps, and her own artistic perennial gardens. What a great setting to meet, share our work and eat. As several requests came for my recipe for crackers, dip and cucumber salad, I decided to devote this blog to just that.

Below is a picture of the rising of the dough for Lavash Crackers. Lavosh is an Armenian-style cracker, quite easy to make, and utterly delicious.

1 1/2 cups unbleached bread flour
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. instant yeast
1 tbs. honey
1 tbs. canola oil
1/3 to 1/2 water, room temperature

In a mixing bowl stir together flour,salt, yeast, honey, oil and just enough water to bring it all together in a ball. Sprinkle flour on counter and knead for 8-10 minutes. (The dough should either be at 77-80 internal degrees or pass the 'window pane' test....take a small ball of dough, stretch it, hold it to the light, and if it is translucent, it is ready.) Dough should be a bit firm. Let rise at room temperature for about an hour and a half. (You can also retard the dough just after kneading and place in refrigerator over night.)
Dust counter with flour...dust dough lightly with flour and roll out into paper-thin sheets. You may have to rest from time to time to let the gluten relax...you, too.

As I was rolling the dough out with a rolling pin, I realized that my noodle machine could do the job so much better, faster, and easier than I could. So, here I am passing the dough through the rollers, gradually decreasing the distance until it becomes as thin as paper.

Brush the dough with water (though next time I will try egg white, as I think the seeds will adhere better) sprinkle with seeds of choice, kosher or pretzel salt and place in a preheated 350 degree oven. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until slightly browned. Remove from pan, let cool, snap into cracker-sized pieces and serve...

...or store in a tightly covered tin.

GARLIC FETA CHEESE SPREAD

I use Organic Valley products for the best of flavors.
4 oz. feta, crumbled
4 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/3 cup mayo
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp. dried basil crushed (using dried gives a better flavor then fresh)
1 tsp. dried, oregano, crushed (again, use dried)
1/8 tsp. dried dill weed (here I use fresh and lots of it)
1/8 tsp. dried thyme, crushed

In a food processor or a small bowl mix the above ingredients with a spoon until fully combined, cover and chill until serving.

Spread on your Lavash and enjoy!!

SIMPLE CUCUMBER SALAD

Assemble cucumbers, several, real mayo, onions and dill. I like to score the cucumbers with the tines of a fork after washing them and removing the tips. I think it gives a pretty edge as well as slight indentations that soak up the dressing. Slice the cukes and onions very thinly into a large bowl. Cut up lots of fresh dill weed and add. Now is the personal part, I add mayo by dollops and mix, taste, mix, taste (this is the fun part) add more if desired. (One can use half mayo and half sour cream if desired, I prefer just the mayo.) Salt and pepper to taste. This salad is best made several hours ahead of time, as it gives the flavors a chance to meld and the cucumbers a chance to 'wilt'.

Viola!! it is done.

MORNING'S MAGIC

I have, for the past several months, made a ritual of doing at least some writing in the earliest hour I am awake...along with the last of my coffee. For some reason this morning's writing was dark and dense and bleak. Little did I know of the magic that awaited me when I made my morning garden tour.

Walking through the side yard, on the way to the garden, there were countless 'patches' of these soft and dewy spider webs...how busy they must have been in the night...I wonder were they there all along, and I missed them?

This spider web was gigantic, much bigger than me and it spanned from high in the dying pine tree to attach in several places along the lawn. I have always wondered exactly how these are constructed...how exactly does that first long strand become attached at so distant a place?? Does the spider spin and spin, traverse the ground and climb, dragging its silken thread behind, until it reaches the height it wants??

How I wish to be small and invisible and able to watch this magic happen.

Woven webs everywhere. Hanging clothes I spotted this one suspended in the corner glistening in the morning sun.


I have always wanted Echinacea flowers, and have gathered and scattered seeds many times. Nothing has ever come from that, or so I thought. Much to my delight and complete surprise, this morning, just above the garden I saw these two flowers in perfect bloom. I do not remember scattering seed at this place, but it doesn't matter...magic surely happens.

Zinnia, a flower that I love for all its variety in shape and color, and plant profusely in my garden, is now in bloom.

Below is squash flower the size of very large dinner plate.

One of the most anticipated tastes of the summer garden for me, is the cucumber. For some reason I mistakenly planted, I think close to twelve plants!! They are producing quite well, though at a manage-ably eatable rate right now, however, I anticipate all my family and friends will have more then even they can handle.

Aren't they simply beautiful?

The dew on the dill sparkled like thousands of diamonds.

And the gooseberries in the morning sun promise a good picking today.

So, should I have waited to do my morning writing until after the 'garden walk'? Perhaps, or maybe the bleakness of my words heightened the magic of this brilliant morning...

JULY'S RUBY BUSH


July is generally a hot and humid month...bringing much discomfort. Still, July is also one of my favorite times of summer as it is the month when the red currants become ripe. This year the currants are ripe a couple of weeks earlier then usual, and my bushes are now empty of berries!

I have two red currant bushes, two black currant bushes and two gooseberry bushes in the back yard. The red and black currants have been harvested (and a few gooseberries which actually are the size of grapes).

Both the red and the black currants and the few gooseberries mashed and ready for the kettle.

The color is simply stunning, and the taste...well, it is just about the only jam I like, even with the multitude of seeds.

Now doesn't this look like a jar of jewels??

BLACK HAWK AND NORSKEDALEN

My niece Lisa and her husband Bob recently arrived for a couple of days on their way to the Black Hills. It has been quite some time since I've seen them, so it was a nice visit. On Friday, with lots of sunshine and warm temperatures, we took the short hike up to Black Hawk. The destination, the top of Black Hawk, is spectacular, the hike itself is short, lovely but absent of the outstanding rock outcroppings of the area. Still, Lisa and Bob truly enjoyed it, and continually expounded on the beauty of this area. (We told them there was land for sale in the Kickapoo!!)

Lisa (and Freddie) sit atop Black Hawk.

Bob, interrupted in his own picture taking.

Lisa and I.

On the way up to the top and again on the way down, Lisa spotted what seemed like thousands of tiny toads hopping frantically all over the ground. She spent a little time momentarily capturing one so we could get a better view. They were literally underfoot.

On another note, the Art Fair at Norskedalen.

It was a beautiful day on Saturday, and 257 people walked through the lovely late 1800 log cabin that housed my items. I never did get to walk around, not having anyone for relief, but I understand there were some wonderful displays of artwork!

The little house I was assigned has this wonderful old Norwegian loom, a perfect backdrop for some of my rugs.

Some of my bags on display.

This old treadle sewing machine elicited the comment, "My mother (grandmother) had one just like this", countless times throughout the day. It, too, formed a great prop for my sand-filled pin cushions and sewn items.

A friend loaned me this delightful antique dress form, on which I displayed this half apron, matching cap and fabric flower.

Of course this building did not have electricity...so some corners and windows were in shadow. Still it was truly a beautiful setting for my work and I had a great day.

NOAH, DO WE NEED YOU????

Even the positive sides of rain are being diminishes exponentially...plants that normally would thrive in lushness with copious amounts of moisture, are now slipping quickly into paleness and death. I am plucking petunia after petunia from each of my outdoor potted plants, as they succumb to excess rain, despite drain holes in the bottom of each pot.


Plants in the garden, like my cucumbers, that generally soak up moisture and lengthen almost before my eyes, are rotting in a sickly yellowness.


Seeds that have not germinated are relocated by washouts far from their original site.



Onion bulbs lay exposed far too early, the dirt having found a home somewhere else.



And the approach to the cabin basement is nearly unapproachable...water washed deep rivulets that are almost impossible to navigate.


There simply is no way to get to my workshop without an extra pound of mud on my boots.




I sink deeply into the mud as I walk to my basement door.


I, surely only one among many, am sodden and far beyond ready for dry days that come in...a...row. I am tired of snatching sunshine in tiny bits, rushing out to pluck the ever growing weeds between deluges. The promise of a week of clear and sunny days I hold only as a tentative truth.



Awakening to the gray and dreary days, despite the embedded beauty in them, has grown tiresome...


just before the rain falls...this is what it feels like:

HEAVY IS THE DAY

The days are many now
that have borne this gloom
grayness suffuses the morning pallette
mono-chromatically
the breeze nudges
tar-heavy
and everything
is swollen with the
wait.


JAS