What did you do in the garden today?

[NanaK]

Mid process pics…

The supplies
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Some tree parts, stockings for eating, houses from kits

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On left: homemade house parts. On right, tree parts. Will they ultimately fit together??
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Gingerbread men
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The mess of building and decorating. The stars are strawberry “fig” newtons
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My teen has gotten this far. Grass today.
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2 batches homemade royal icing, one more batch today. Good thing we have laying chickens bc each batch calls for 6 egg whites.

I look forward to seeing the final results!

Years ago, DD and I did these every year. Later, GS and I.
Now everyone is all grown up. Hubby is diabetic so I don't dare bring that much stuff in the house anymore.
But I've always loved them and enjoyed making them. We even did an igloo with sugar cubes one year complete is tiny lights inside!

 

[NanaK]

I found some Camelias just starting to show color. I need to check the others.

 

[CNJ]

I've had dreams where I really need a bathroom but can't find one!

When I was little, I sleepwalked and pissed in a small rubbish can and woke up while I was doing it. I never told anyone about it. It was the only time it happened; I hope.

 

[CNJ]

The ones we grew were pretty darn bitter to my taste.

I eat them raw when they are tender at 1 to 2 inches. They are not as bitter as the mature ones.

 

[gtaus]

I eat them raw when they are tender at 2 to 3 inches. They are not as bitter as the mature ones.

Dear Wife picked our bitter melon when they were about 6-8 inches long. She said you have to pick them when they start to change color, or shine, or something like that. If we lived in the tropics, I am sure the bitter melon would grow faster and longer before they were ready to pick. She said that she used to buy bitter melon at the market in the Philippines and they were about 12 inches long at the market.

Well, we were just happy to get any bitter melon at all. Next year I plan on starting the plants inside the house and give them at least a few weeks head start on the growing season.

 

[WthrLady]

snowing to beat the band

Pretty though. 20 miles south at DS's house, just light rain
We're already over 2 inches.

 

[CNJ]

Dear Wife picked our bitter melon when they were about 6-8 inches long.

The bitter melon in my yard grows wild, it doesn't get bigger than 3 inches. They grow along my fence and a lot of fruit falls to the ground and sprout year-round. The locals in my area eat both the leaves and fruit.

 

[gtaus]

The bitter melon in my yard grows wild, it doesn't get bigger than 3 inches. They grow along my fence and a lot of fruit falls to the ground and sprout year-round. The locals in my area eat both the leaves and fruit.

I know there are many varieties of bitter melon. If I have to order some bitter melon seeds, I will be looking for a variety that grows in our colder climate. We just happened to get a variety of the tropical kind from a friend last year.

I will have to ask Dear Wife if she can eat the leaves of the bitter melon. I know she plucks the leaves of some of our pepper plants and other stuff and cooks them up. It's next to witchcraft to me because I don't have the knowledge on all that stuff. But the more I get into gardening, the more I learn that you can eat many plants from the top of the leaves down to the roots.

 

[Sueby]

Rained here all day, but was warm. No snow here!

Oof, what a day - we sprung a leak in a water line & flooded the adjacent room, had to tear up the pergo floor & replace most of the water lines. Suppose it could have been much worse.

@WthrLady thanks for the idea for the wet finger on the vacuum sealer seal - worked like a charm. I bought 40lbs of boneless chicken breasts for a killer $1.25 lb & had to vacuum seal it all. I was ready to throw it in the trash last time.

 

[Happy hen lover]

My daughter ( who I am proud to say got the thrifty gene) managers an apartment property in Boulder CO. She planted some potato vine in her flower pots for color and this fall when the grounds keeper dug up pots she said " Wait save those I'll take them home" When we were leaving from our visit to her she presented these cold muddy enormous buggers to me . I said sure if nothing else the chooks or dogs will eat them. Well I cooked one forever! and viola it was white inside? tastes good but confused my brain. That is a 8x8 pan! well to this Midwest lady I just didn't know they come in any color but orange?! It's like eating a russet until you start eating. It's like that game at baby showers when they dye baby food and you have to guess what it is.