The Garlic Harvest

This year has been a different kind of year in the garden. I haven't weeded or mulched as much as I normally do so in between the rows some of the grass has gotten a little out of hand. We're just starting to harvest our produce. Things like green beans, strawberries, broccoli, carrots and peas are coming on now. Normally we have already harvested our peas, back in July, but this year with the later rains and the not so sunny/warm summer they came on very late.

Another thing that has been a little peculiar has been our garlic. I planted seed garlic that I purchased from Azure Standard. This is my 3rd year planting garlic seed from them. I have always been very pleased with how it grows and the size of the yield. I'm sure that it was the strange weather we've had this summer that takes the credit for the garlic being so different.

Our largest bulb measured 3" across and our smallest measured only 1.25"across. Our largest, along with a couple others it's size, was almost 3 times bigger than the little ones! They were all from the same seed and all planted in the same bed so I'm not too sure why some did so well and others did not. Last year, it seemed that all of the garlic was large and did exceptionally well.

We harvested 22 bulbs and that will last us until next August when I harvest again. Now I'll tie all of the garlic up and hang it in the garage for storage and use.

Do you grow garlic? How was your harvest this year?

This post is linked to the Barn Hop.

The County Fair & Camping & Everything Else

Wow. Over a month since a post. You know it's summer!

Here's what we've been up to........

 Layton and his ribbons from fair.

 Miss Timber Ann and hers.

 Our county fair was the first weekend in August and we entered a number of things. Our most exciting entries though were our chickens! Both Layton and I entered hens this year in the fair and Layton also entered our drake Magpie. We had a great time. As with every fair, there were things that we entered that we were sure would be first place winners.......which got nothing! and then things that we didn't even expect to be noticed that won first! Each year is a surprise!

We've also been camping.

 Picking blackberries from a small patch in the field.

 Cooking hot dogs for our second nights meal. The first night we were treated to....

TROUT! Caught by the world's best 5 year old fisherman! (And yes, the barefoot 2 year old is flailing a hatchet. Thankfully it's rather dull.)

Watching Daddy gut the fish and then cooking it. After it was cooked and we divied it up, I asked Layton if he wanted any. He looked at me and said, "No Mom, I caught that for my family to eat." His heart just melted mine. What a sweetheart.

We spent 4 wonderful days in the back woods and loved every minute of it. Well, except nap time in the tent when it was 90 degrees outside. Thankfully our tent was mostly shaded. And the creek was less than a 1 minute walk from camp.

I took a survey of all the trees there and found that most of them were very straight. I mentioned that to my husband and told him that we could probably easily build a cabin with what was available there. While he liked the idea, the hour and a half drive to work everyday turned him off slightly.

The garden is finally producing. We're eating peas and green beans and broccoli along with some strawberries and spinach. The hoop house is like a jungle and we've been getting lots of cherry tomatoes and a few plum size ones too. I have a huge Brandywine in there that I am waiting on so very patiently. I can't wait till it's red! The Delicata squash is also looking great. I can already taste the buttery nuttiness of it paired with some wild rice this fall.

And speaking of fall........are we already almost there?! Hunting season starts this month. Archery begins this weekend and rifle starts next month. Here's hoping we'll have some venison to butcher too!

 Last but certainly not least, Wyatt and his BMX bike. He's 14. Have you had a teenager? O.k., then you know what it's like. He specifically asked me if I could post these pictures on my blog. He also wanted to know if I could upload videos. I think he may be thinking of hijacking it and turning it into a blog all about BMX.

 Ya gotta love that kid!

I hope that your summer has been wonderful!

Using Herbs - Red Clover Fritters

What is it about summer that makes me want to fry food? Maybe it's the whole "county fair" mentality with yummy corn dogs and funnel cakes. Or maybe it's the picnics with fried chicken. Whatever it is, this is my second post this month with something fried! And today, we're frying up some red clover to make...

Red Clover Fritters.

Bet'cha never heard of that, huh? Since a few people asked me for the recipe, I'm sharing it here.

But, red clover you say? Why would I want to eat that? Isn't it a weed?

Red Clover is a wonderful herb that almost everyone has growing either on their property or close by. You'll find it out in fields, down by beaches, up in the mountains, practically anywhere. It is a wonderful healing plant that has been used for treating conditions ranging from coughs to cancer. It is also a blood thinner.

Pick red clover at it's peak, when the blooms are vibrant, soft and fluffy. To harvest, simply place your finger tips around the base of the flower and pull upward, popping the top off. You can use the red clover fresh for eating, fry them into fritters, or dry them for making teas and infusions later. They are very fragrant when dried and smell wonderful!

~Red Clover Fritters~

1/3 c organic whole wheat flour

1/3 c organic cornmeal

1 tsp baking powder

1 organic egg

1/3 c organic whole milk

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 Tb raw honey

dash cinnamon

dash allspice

Oil for frying (preferably organic coconut or sunflower)

Mix dry ingredients together and add in egg and milk to make batter. Dip whole clover into batter and drop into hot frying oil. Fry until golden. Drain and serve!

Indian Tacos and Fry Bread

Before I moved to this part of the country state (really, it does feel like a different country, California is HUGE) I had never heard of Indian Tacos....or doughboys (which are essentially the same, in my opinion, except tossed with cinnamon and sugar.) Actually, I'm not sure that anyone else has ever heard of these. Unless you live in Del Norte County. If you have, please let me know. I'd like to think that we are somewhat normal up here!

Anyway, getting back to my post..........

This fry bread is a wonderful and yummy, non-healthy alternative to tortillas. I know, I know. Usually I am all about eating what IS healthy and fighting all that junk food off with a stick but once in a while a girl has to cave. Like when it comes to doughnuts. Mmmmmmm, doughnuts.

I'm getting off track here again............

So, fry bread. It's easy, it's yummy and it requires very few ingredients. The thing is, some of the recipes you'll find on the internet don't mention the secret step in getting your fry bread to turn out wonderful. Actually, they guard against it. Kneading. Want good fry bread? You're going to have to knead the dough and then let it rest for a bit. Trust me. I've tried it the other way and nothing good came of it.

Here's my recipe:

2 c flour

1 Tb baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 c milk

Oil for frying (I like to use sunflower oil)

Mix dry ingredients, then add milk. Turn dough onto floured surface and knead for apx. 5 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before pulling apart into 5 pieces. Roll or squish, with your hands, dough into a round, thin, flat shape and fry in hot oil.

Now, you can use this as a taco base and add things like refried beans, ground beef, iceberg lettuce, chopped tomatoes, cilantro, olives, sour cream, shredded cheese - whatever you like on your taco- to the top and use a fork and knife to eat it.

Or, you can toss the just fried bread with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar for a dessert.

Either way, they are yummy!

Power in Prayer

My Bible study group is currently going through Wayne Mack's book, "Reaching the Ear of God; Praying More... And More Like Jesus" and it has been such a wonderful study. Challenging, eye opening, and convicting to say the least.

We're currently reading Chapter 11 and Mr. Mack shares some thoughts from Charles Spurgeon. After reading this quote, I had to share it. I am so in awe at how the Bible was relevant at it's beginning for the people of the day and is still completely relevant in 2012. And at how godly men such as Spurgeon can look at the world, as it was then, give a speech and still have those words resonate over 100 years later.

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Would it not be a vile crime if a man had an eye given him, which he would not open? Or a hand that he would not lift up, or a foot that grew stiff because he would not use it? And what must we say of ourselves when God has given us power and prayer, and yet that power lies still? Oh, if the universe was as still as we are, where would we be? Oh God, Thou hast given us light by the sun, and the sun shines with it. Thou hast given light even to the stars and they twinkle. To the winds, thou hast given force and they blow. And to the air, Thou hast given life and it moves, and men breathe thereof.


But to thy people, Thou hast given a gift that is better than force and life and light, and yet they permit it to lie still, forgetful almost that they wield the power, seldom exercising it though it would be blessed to countless myriads.


Weep, Christian man. Constantine, the emperor of Rome, saw that on the coins of the other emperors, their images were in an erect posture triumphing. Instead thereof, he ordered that his image should be struck kneeling for he said that's the way in which I have triumphed. We shall never triumph till our image is struck kneeling.


The reason we have been defeated and why or banners trail in the dust is because we have not prayer. Go, back to your God with sorrow, confess before Him that you were armed and carried bows but turned your backs on the day of battle. Go to your God and tell Him that if souls are not saved it is not because He has not power to save, but because you have never travailed as it were in birth, for perishing sinners. Wake up, wake up! Be astonished, ye careless ones! You who have neglected prayer, you sinners who have been at ease.


Wake up, wake up, yourselves! Wrestle and strive with your God, and then the blessing shall come. The early and the latter rain of His mercy and the earth shall bring forth plenteously, and all the nations shall call Him blessed. Look up and then weep.

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Oh, how that convicts my soul. Prayer is the most valuable and powerful tool that He has given me and yet I often fail to use it!

Lord, I pray that I would use the power you have given me to its fullest extent. That I would be more mindful, in prayer, not only of those around me and those connected to me but of those that are lost and need you. Thank you, Lord. Amen.

"The Lord reigneth, He is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is established, that it cannot be moved. Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting." Psalm 93:1-2