What did you do in the garden today?

[pennyJo1960]

Morning all easy day planned here second cup of coffee
then a nice shower.. Great upbringing in Africa @oregonkat

 

[dunnmom]

Well, a critter or critters have decided to start chewing up cantaloups in the garden. My chickens get what's left of those, so I guess it works out ok. Lol!

 

[dunnmom]

Cooper's hawk? Doesn't look like a red-tailed hawk to me. Heard an egg-song-esque commotion from my girl's run, and caught a pic of this bird when I went to see if anyone laid. There's times I'm okay with not free ranging my girls, and this is one.

 

[oregonkat]

How did your family come to live in Africa?

My father was an architect living in Kenya and my mother was an artist, sculptor working with him. I grew up in a wonderful house designed and built by my father, amongst some coffee plantations and some wild country so you can imagine what a super time a tomboy had in such surroundings.

Thanks from me, as well--lovely! I have great memories of the bougainvillea all over the hillside of of my in-laws' house in Trinidad. So beautiful, and you made me remember it again. Thanks!

Beautiful island, Trinidad. I vacationed on Tobago some years ago and loved it. I think that if I could split myself up into several different people, one of me would live in the Caribbean. Although, choosing which island would be a challenge!

 

[oregonkat]

View attachment 1495704Cooper's hawk? Doesn't look like a red-tailed hawk to me. Heard an egg-song-esque commotion from my girl's run, and caught a pic of this bird when I went to see if anyone laid. There's times I'm okay with not free ranging my girls, and this is one.

We have a coopers hawk as well as a couple of red tails that frequent the skies above us and my roos are very good at sounding the alarm when they hear that unmistakeable call. The hens all head for cover until the all clear is sounded.

 

[pennyJo1960]

My cockerel is quite good at sounding the alarm for his ladies and the all clear
quite different calls he makes

 

[Beer can]

Wow, pickling purslane never occurred to me! I like it fresh whenever I remember to eat it. What did you pickle it with? Is it a refrigerator pickle so no water bath?

Yup, just boil vinegar brine, pour in jar and refrigerate .

 

[lazy gardener]

93* today. Not fit to be outside for more than a quick moment here and there.

 

[Beer can]

Pickled purslane--interesting! I'm going to plant some more in the greens bed if it ever stops raining. Can't wait to hear how you do it!

Stuff grows like weeds in my garden. Never knew it was a 'super food' until last yr. Good just raw, good cooked, good pickled. Even the big stems are tender even raw out of the garden.

 

[Beer can]

More info re: pickled purslane please. How do you pickle it, and how do you use it?

I used this recipe;
https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&sour...FjARegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw22yW2nq6-WI5WpcHB6d9hC

I added some pickling spice to the second jar. Both are good. I like it mixed into a salad, and on sandwiches. Has good crunch.