Friday, June 8, 2018

cooking and sweating, not necessarily in that order


The Zucchini Bolognese which required simmering the zucchini and onions for 4 HOURS! and consists of zucchini, onion, bouillon, a squirt of lemon juice, and parmesan cheese added just before serving over rotini was good, actually, pretty good, despite the way it looked which was not all that good. And I got rid of all the zucchini for a brief moment. At least one ready to pick and two more tomorrow. Now I'm just down to tomatoes. Got half the bolognese in the freezer, all the corn put in the freezer and more crushed tomatoes. Still have more tomatoes on the window sill and more to pick this evening to determine which will be eaten, which will become sauce, which will become crushed. I've pretty much beaten back the stink bugs and leaf footed bugs but they've already been at nearly every tomato. Still some small green ones but it's so hot they may not get much bigger, just ripen. We'll see.

And jesus fucking christ it's hot out there. Just came in from cutting down all the small trees around the well over at the shop and squirting stump killer on the stumps and while I mostly worked in the shade, those last few were in the blazing sun and when I came in my hair was dripping wet and my underpants were soaked through as was the corresponding area on my shorts. We still have a well over at the shop though the shop is hooked up to city water and about two years ago the liner in the tank gave way and so the pump is turned off but I would like to get it all repaired and use the well water to water the garden. Likely it will have to be tested before I can use the water. Everyone with wells had to get them tested for nasty stuff after the flood.

after. no before pic as usual but the tank was surrounded by small trees a few of which were taller than the tank.

More progress on the little bathroom. Tile on the floor of the shower has been set and grouted, tile on the floor of the closet, hall, and bathroom except for the center rectangle has been set and grouted. Might get the rectangle with the narrow blue border and the center hex tiles set today, might not. Rocky has another funeral to attend today. Two family members were buried this week, Monday his cousin and today his uncle.

    

Tomorrow I have to drive in to Houston to the futon store to get a new mattress for the futon frame as I have a guest arriving Saturday week and it would be nice to have a bed for her to sleep on. I could order one on-line but mattresses (and shoes) are one of the things I won't buy unless I can test it out first. I have no idea how far along the little bathroom will be, if the toilet at least will be installed, but we do have another fully functioning bathroom.

Have I mentioned how hot it is? The only thing with energy enough to bloom are the common double orange day lilies (and they're almost done) and the plumerias. Oh and the little bougainvillea. I need to find a permanent place in the ground for it, someplace where it can grow unobstructed.











14 comments:

  1. I am hot just reading this post. Better you than me - I wouldn't last a week. My ancestors thrived in fog, so I am ill-equipped for the warming of the globe.

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  2. It's raining here right now and as such, pretty cool. Well, you know. It doesn't feel like an oven set on broil.
    I admire you for getting those little trees cut down and for all your work in the garden and the kitchen. I'm not feeling like doing much today and am grateful for the rain. Wish I could eat some of your zucchini Bolognese. It sounds amazing.

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  3. Just wanted you to know, Ellen, I love your blog aand I love your work! I'm always happy to see what you are up to... in the garden or in the studio! Thanks for all that you share. Liz

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    1. Hi Liz! nice to see you here.

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    2. and I meant to say thanks! if the flood damage repair ever gets finished, I might actually be able to get back to work.

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  4. I was wondering what type of stump killer you use and do you have good results with it? Ranee (MN) USA

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    1. I use Ferti-lome Brush Killer/Stump Killer. I've had pretty good success with it but have only used it on small diameters, an inch or inch and a half. I use a pipet and squirt a decent amount on the freshly cut stump.

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  5. You are SO not afraid of work, even in pizza temperature heat! It is a winter June here, Goes with the mood of the day, I think. Eat hot stuff, drink tea, layers of extra fat not going anywhere!

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  6. It was ninety here for two days, including memorial day. We like to died. This week was so effing cold that the overnight temp of the house was up to ten degrees colder than I keep it in winter. I got up and put on my sweat shirt several nights. But, I didn't flip to heat. Well, keep those flowers watered; see you down the road.

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  7. I'm worn out and miserably hot just reading about it all. I need some of what you have. I simply cannot function in that kind of heat or it will kill me. At least it feels like it. You certainly are a busy bee. I used to work like that but it was years ago. Wish I still could.

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  8. My lilies are also near done blooming and it is only June. Even my mums are coming into bud!!

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  9. The frangipani (plumeria) are beautiful. I love them. How do they smell?

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    1. so fragrant! I have another that has started blooming that is a darker pink than the top photo.

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  10. Our bougainvillea is the same color! It was NOT happy to be wintered over in the bathtub, but it seems to be making a comeback. I love that we have your lilies blooming in our yard too.

    Ordinarily reading about all your hard work would make me feel like a slacker, but I actually mowed today AND did two loads of laundry. Ha!

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