Salsa Time

Trying to winnow down our over-producing tomato stock today, I decided to make homemade salsa. Fortunately, we had all the ingredients on hand and I bought the Mason Jars Saturday night.

I started with the tomatoes - some yellow, some red, some German and a few Heritage ones thrown in for good measure. About the only thing that didn't go into the mix were the grape tomatoes.

I began by dicing them into small rectangular pieces and then bringing it to a boil for five minutes.

Next I cleaned and food processed five onions, diced cilantro and jalapeno peppers from the garden and prepped the jars by washing, scalding and then holding in the oven at 200 degrees until needed.

After tossing some salt into the mix and stirrring all to beat hell, I began adding everything but the hot stuff into the jars -- first, three Mild jars and then six Medium (peppers) and finally, three HOT (peppers and the seeds).

All that was left was boiling the filled jars for 10 minutes each and applying the labels so I wouldn't give a Hot one to someone who only liked Mild...

Who Said the Dog Days Are Boring?

Whoever said the Dog Days of August are boring never experienced one in Dirtmanland.

In fact, it's been hectic here since returning for our annual clamming operation in late July. So much so I have been unable to post anything here.

The garden and grass-cutting chores took a bulk of my time as I picked a ton of tomatoes. Some of it went for a fresh salsa made for Heir I's birthday bash; we tried every recipe that involved the fruit and made some up too. We forced maters on whomever showed up at the door and even tried to sell or give them away from a make-shift stand in the front yard.

Heir I's party wasn't until August 8th and according to SisIg's Facebook page, it will continue for another two weeks. Oh, to be young again.

Being sick of cucumbers and having pickled more than I'd like to remember, the neighborhood celebrated when I picked the last and pulled the vines last week.

I also started applying for jobs as several interesting prospects began appearing in the local papers but none came to fruition. Heir I, meanwhile, landed a job in Winchester, Sis, one in Woodstock and Heir II finished his year-long job in Strasburg as he finished packing for his trip to Salem to begin his post-high school academics this week at Roanoke College.

Sis and I took him Saturday, bidding him farewell in the parking lot that evening and I cried the better part of the trip home.

Sunday dawned to a sunny sky and more maters and after picking 40 pounds (which Heir I's better half's mother claimed), I decided I would attempt to make salsa to keep my mind off Heir I.

I think I succeeded.

What Happened to the Neighbors?

Got back from the beach a few hours ago and finally had time to check out the garden. I had asked the neighbors to help themselves this past week but it doesn't look like they did -- I found two zucchini the size of New Jersey, a bushel of cukes (we gave away all we had before the trip and even more to Dark that wasn't used on the trip). I also picked a dozen plum tomatoes and could have picked a dozen banana peppers and several large green peppers had I had containers to carry them to the house.

Also saw the collards are coming along nicely, we need to harvest more lettuce, and the onions and radishes are about ready. I also need to tie up the tomato and cuke vines in a hurry or we won't be able to see what's ripe.

My dad had told me the tomatoes weren't ripening because the nights have been too cool. I believe the coming week may change that...

What Is It?

I've been watching this mature for the past several weeks and finally got around to taking a photo of it.

Post what you think it best represents. We'll pick it Friday, by the way and take with us when we visit Dark Garden's temporary digs. Don't know it it will be admired or eaten.

It's Finally Over And I Don't Want to See Another Dogperson for 362 Days

The past week has been a harried experience, travelling from Dirtmanland to Berryville for our kennel club's annual dog shows. It all began Thursday when we prepared the grounds for the show followed by more cleanup activities Friday.

SisIg, who's the trophy chair, and I left the abode before daybreak Saturday and Sunday for the drive, arriving before 7 each morning. We parted, as I had to get everything set up that couldn't be done the day before. For some reason or other I have been Grounds Chair for the past four years meaning I do whatever no one else in the club is willing to do.

Armed only with a golf cart and an occasional assistant, I move from one end of the 27-acre fairground to the other. Sometimes, I have to move equipment. At other's it's to provide direction to someone and then, a call goes out that one of the judges needs a ride and off I go again.

Each night we arrived home and were too tired to do anything else but sleep. Last night, I dozed in my chair for several hours; then went to bed where I awoke at 3:30 am and couldn't get back to sleep.

Oh well. I should be plenty rested for the next shows - scheduled July 10-11, 2010. But there will be plenty of work to do in the meantime.

Where Were You on 070709?

I'll always remember where I was when I heard Kennedy was dead (home, right after getting out of primary school); when Reagan was shot (teaching school; told not to tell the kids so as not to upset them); and now, where I wasn't when Michael Jackson was eulogized.

The answer to that was as far away from it and the tube as possible.

He and I may have shared the last name but that's as close as it will ever be. I never could sing like him; dance like him or perform the moonwalk like him. I also never touched a kid like he was accused of touching and that's a good thing.

I was joking with SisIg this morning that today was Jackson's Epiphany, ie., the 12th day following his death. It has taken Michael Jackson's family longer to bury him than it took to bury Ronnie Reagan and Jerry Ford combined. And now it looks like his funeral will also be a governmental-paid affair too -- unless Jackson's fans pony up to the bar and send in a contribution to the city of Los Angeles.

Lord knows they could use it.

Big Broken Toe Taken Down By Popular Demand

Dark Garden, SisIggy, Older than Dirt, the Heirs and now Independent Hill has spoken and I decided to take down Friday's Blog but will leave the comments for posterity. It had the effect I wanted.