tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76148939203897829162024-03-13T14:37:43.324-06:00A Taste of the EarthAn inexperienced gardner, baker, cook, photographer, and many other things attempts to try it all in Montana.Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657241461465217108noreply@blogger.comBlogger140125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614893920389782916.post-79207761112110686202010-07-13T17:02:00.003-06:002010-07-13T17:07:39.459-06:00Pea StandThere are perks to dating a handyman. Especially one who welds.I was pretty excited to have peas this year, and even more excited that the Handyman made me a scrap tower for the peas to climb. With all the cool weather we've been having in Missoula, my peas are going crazy!Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657241461465217108noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614893920389782916.post-59638206358570792692009-05-19T07:21:00.000-06:002009-05-19T07:21:55.083-06:00my zinnia curseZinnias aren't safe around me.Last year it was aphids.This year, there was one hot day in the greenhouse after spending two weeks longing for sun in my mudroom - these guys were toast.I'll start a few more from seed and see if I can coax them into blooming before winter... but I think in a past life, I wronged someone who had something to do with zinnias.(The tomatoes and nasturtiums and sweet Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657241461465217108noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614893920389782916.post-46662391076407847942009-05-18T15:09:00.004-06:002009-05-18T15:32:47.272-06:00which varieties work best for upside-down tomatoes?I hate to disappoint you, but I really don't have an answer.The Handyman and I were discussing the possibilities after we noticed a very sad roma hanging from the upside-down bucket on the right.He's got a few crispy edges and doesn't seem to want to make that full turn towards the sun. The other two sweet 100's look great, so if the roma doesn't perk up soon, he may be transferred to the raisedDaisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657241461465217108noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614893920389782916.post-5324054741635359932009-05-16T10:39:00.001-06:002009-05-16T10:40:58.421-06:00to garden or not to garden...It's not really a question.Despite other pressing needs... we're heading to the garden plots right now!Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657241461465217108noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614893920389782916.post-30447191542004834802009-05-04T15:52:00.004-06:002009-05-04T16:23:09.489-06:00tilling Martha's garden plotRemember Martha from last year?She's got her same plot again this year. And it needs some love. Supposedly there's some garlic in there.Luckily, the Handyman bought a tiller off Craigslist (thank you to two retired gardeners in Helena!). After having such a good time blazing through our plots, he's decided to post a few flyers advertising his rototilling services for $15 per plot - not so muchDaisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657241461465217108noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614893920389782916.post-78506690242471154572009-05-03T10:30:00.003-06:002009-05-03T10:44:29.490-06:00late for the partyNot only are we extremely late with the starts this year, I'm extremely late posting about the starts. I'm glad we didn't just to skip it all together this year. There's something about planting seeds and watching for those first little leaves that makes me feel like spring has arrived. It's become the apple cider smell of fall or the bright lights of Christmas. I decided not to start any Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657241461465217108noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614893920389782916.post-15008761969160657172009-04-19T20:36:00.009-06:002009-04-20T00:08:17.098-06:00flagstone short path and a weed-whacking precautionLast summer, the Handyman and I gathered a bunch of flagstone, and that flagstone sat through the winter, untouched... Until today!I have two beds by my backdoor that have dandelions anchored all over. I've weeded and weeded and weeded and weeded and my mom's even come to visit and weeded and weeded. There's been quite a lot of weeding. It took me much longer than I'd like to admit, but no moreDaisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657241461465217108noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614893920389782916.post-33049506874139935652009-04-16T19:58:00.004-06:002009-04-16T20:27:24.468-06:00pergola practiceI would love to have a pergola in my backyard. I think I've said as much to the Handyman on a number of occasions.Apparently, Handyman, Sr. has been hearing similar requests regarding the hot tub at the Handyman Ranch in California. Somewhere along the way, there was a request for some extra hands.We jumped at the chance to go help (and the chance to thaw our Montana-cold bones in some Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657241461465217108noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614893920389782916.post-35749017661970277852009-04-10T13:05:00.004-06:002009-04-10T13:11:38.389-06:00baby stepsWhen did I ever have time to write a blog? I have no clue how I managed it last year, but I'm committed to trying again. As with everything that seems overwhelming, I'll start small... baby steps.Kind of like this tiny shoot from what I hope is garlic (and not grass or some other random plant that exists, instead, where my garlic should be).I made a small tactical error last October - I thoughtDaisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657241461465217108noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614893920389782916.post-37552304919217471522009-03-17T14:07:00.002-06:002009-03-17T14:19:19.601-06:00we're not going to the moon or anythingI'm back! Needed a little hiatus from the blog, but today's snow has already melted, and there's a new set of grow lights in the basement for starts (pictures later.)But today, I have to share this movie. You might learn something about cold frames if you've never thought about building one before. Whatever you do, don't let this guy teach your kids math. Maybe I just liked it because Emma Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657241461465217108noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614893920389782916.post-47722671138193491192008-10-15T10:11:00.002-06:002008-10-15T10:12:22.026-06:00salsa post on gardenautI was just skimming Gardenaut, and I found a post I wrote on salsa. I hate that I've gotten so behind on blogging, but I'm struggling to stay on top of things these days. I'll leave a note when I feel I can write with some predictability, but in the meantime, enjoy a salsa recipe!Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657241461465217108noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614893920389782916.post-38324059955003185432008-10-04T21:11:00.004-06:002008-10-04T21:16:08.964-06:00potato harvestingDaisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657241461465217108noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614893920389782916.post-72657508071127551282008-09-01T17:38:00.002-06:002008-09-01T17:45:45.337-06:00new lookThere's a new look around here, and I'm still pondering whether it works for me.I'll leave it up, and see if it grows on me. Or maybe I'll get crazy with that lasso tool and put something else up. If it makes you dizzy, do share. I don't want to be responsible for the odd headache or seizure just cause you're trying to figure out whether that's a giant purple Christmas ornament or an eggplant Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657241461465217108noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614893920389782916.post-51143063241988847052008-08-28T21:50:00.005-06:002008-08-29T09:55:37.802-06:00it's an itchy jungle out thereI've nicknamed the Handyman's giant pumpkin plant Gertrude. It's not a common name. I like it. And the giant pumpkin is not a common pumpkin.Or maybe it is. But what I look at in the middle of the handyman's yard seems anything but common. It's giant. It's graceful. And it looks like it will eat me if I fall asleep in the yard on an especially sunny afternoon. On a cloudy one she might Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657241461465217108noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614893920389782916.post-86419594952017031142008-08-26T14:01:00.002-06:002008-08-26T14:12:34.763-06:00a delicious bonusAfter I wrote that post on the Front Yard Idea Book, I had one of those rare moments when I remembered something I'd forgotten long ago...While reading through gardening blogs, I found a review someone had written on a garden plan book. The blogger gave the book rave reviews, and I made a mental note to go back and check out the book. I put the blog on my iGoogle waited until I was heading to Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657241461465217108noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614893920389782916.post-28094000085486926402008-08-26T12:47:00.003-06:002008-08-26T13:33:39.851-06:00front yard idea bookI've been hanging at the public library these days. And at the Barnes and Noble. And at the Book Exchange. (The last two have great coffee shops so I spend more time there. The public library's coffee shop never seems to be open when I'm there, but once I get their schedule figured out... well, they'll move up in the world.)So, at all of these fine establishments, I've sat and drank coffee Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657241461465217108noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614893920389782916.post-66729115801588898752008-08-22T22:08:00.009-06:002008-08-23T07:22:43.566-06:00zucchini muffin streuselI looked EVERYWHERE for a zucchini bread recipe that included streusel. I'm sure I'll get several comments after I post this, and those comments will point me in all the directions I failed to look - but I say BRING IT ON!!! Because, as it turns out, zucchini bread goes great with streusel. We could always use more recipes with zucchini and streusel.After coming up empty-handed on the Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657241461465217108noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614893920389782916.post-63333012571841919952008-08-20T22:34:00.005-06:002008-08-20T23:01:32.255-06:00what has she been doing?I feel like it's been ages since I've tackled any projects in the garden or recipes in the kitchen.I've been occupied trying to navigate SketchUp and trying to emulate Scott Kelby. Neither are going exceptionally well, but I won't be easily deterred. I might, however, lose a bit of hair and sanity. I hear both are overrated.Oh yeah, and then there's that pesky job thing that also takes up Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657241461465217108noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614893920389782916.post-66050544996728275802008-08-20T09:26:00.006-06:002008-08-20T09:49:34.203-06:00amy butler birdie sling bagOr, "the bag that my totally cool mom made for me."Or, "the bag that I found on African Kelli's blog that I absolutely adored." (and another...)Or, "Emma's pillow."I set the bag on the couch after ogling it for the longest time. I went back to work, and Emma-Lou must have thought, "Hey, that looks comfy!" Judging by all the places I've found her sleeping, I might just have to take that back. Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657241461465217108noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614893920389782916.post-81788931155866143742008-08-19T07:31:00.005-06:002008-08-19T08:45:46.578-06:00an anatomy lesson in progressIn less than a week, I've gone from clinging to the hope that I still have some kind of dietary ideals to a pack of tasty snausages to 70 pounds of meat on my kitchen counter. That was some slippery slope. (It's totally childish and inappropriate, but I love to say, "snausages" instead of "sausages." It gives you the opportunity to put some serious emphasis on the first syllable. Because Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657241461465217108noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614893920389782916.post-12671415211039910912008-08-17T21:49:00.004-06:002008-08-17T21:58:22.354-06:00some eggplant and adviceJust a quick note with part of today's harvest. The zukes are doing well. The summer squash is absolutely fantastic. Tomatoes could use a little more heat. But these guys.... man, they make my heart swell. I'm so excited. Picked three today, and there are several more that seemed to pop up overnight (we camped out at a wedding on the river last night - I think those eggplant wanted to Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657241461465217108noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614893920389782916.post-3396738322140279532008-08-15T22:34:00.006-06:002008-08-15T23:00:46.088-06:00pepper bellesThese ladies are quite impressive.There's not much foliage on those plants, at least compared to the Handyman's pepper plants. And yet, my belles get bigger and bigger.Everytime I leave the house, I pass by the raised beds. Everytime I leave the house, I see those belles, and I attempt to will more leaves into existence.Because in my mind, more leaves means a stronger plant. Which is silly. Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657241461465217108noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614893920389782916.post-4369842927561585032008-08-14T22:54:00.009-06:002008-09-01T17:51:25.371-06:00why hang tomatoes upside down from buckets?Well, since you asked...There are several reasons.For starters, there are no weeds. At this point in the sales pitch from the Handyman, I was sold. No weeds sounds fantastic, doesn't it? The downside to that is that you're going to have to hang your buckets somewhere, and somewhere needs to be sturdy enough to hold a bucket of dirt, water, and some big, juicy, tomatoes. Somewhere will need Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657241461465217108noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614893920389782916.post-73114533022961230372008-08-13T17:36:00.007-06:002008-08-13T22:41:37.614-06:00off the wagonKassidy, you've gone and kicked me off the wagon. The meat wagon. Or the no-meat wagon. I'm not good with common expressions. Whatever wagon it was, I've probably fallen off it now.Probably?Yes, the world of Daisy's eating habits is quite complex. It started a long, long time ago in a far-away place called college. There was a boy. He was cute. And he was a vegetarian. For the first timeDaisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657241461465217108noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614893920389782916.post-76448511436861106172008-08-12T15:00:00.004-06:002008-09-01T17:51:25.371-06:00hand pollinatingHave I mentioned I'm not a science person? Or even really a gardening person?I'm more of a learn-as-I-go type person. And today, I learned about boy flowers and girl flowers.Yes, most of you covered this in middle school science classes, but I have blocked anything relating to chemistry, physics, or biology completely out of my mind.I needed that memory space for things far more important than Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657241461465217108noreply@blogger.com8