Colors of Summer!

The bright colors of summer are enjoyed on days when the raindrops are not making appearances.

Enjoy!

  

A Welcome Visitor!

Colorful Zinnias grown from last year's saved seeds!

Every year in September I snip some of the colorful Zinnia blossoms from the stems.  The blossoms are dried out and then the Zinnia seeds are harvested and saved for next year's crop.  

The dried Zinnia seeds

The following Spring, usually in late May, the seeds are planted.  Before we know it the little green sprouts have 3 to 4 sets of leaves.  They are on their way to add color to our gardens.

Today it was great to see an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly fly in for a visit!
 

That is a great perk!  The colorful Zinnias also attract Monarch Butterflies and we have seen Hummingbirds visit.  

 Do you have Zinnias blossoming in your gardens?  Do you save seeds to plant the following year?  It is easy to do.

Enjoy!
Happy gardening!

Late Summer Flowers

September!

A quick walk around our yard has me appreciating and enjoying the colorful flowers.  Soon, it will be time to save the Zinnia seeds!  

Enjoy!   

Simply Delicious

Lime flavored Simply Delicious!
(File Photo)

For so many years I have been making this very easy dessert! Especially during the summer. Especially when it is
HHH outside. Especially during a heat wave!!! Simply Delicious is a light dessert that tastes so good.  It is so easy and hits the spot on a hot day.

There are only 3 ingredients in Simply Delicious.  Water, vanilla ice cream and a 3 ounce package of flavored gelatin. I use the JELL-O brand. 

Using the whisk!
Strawberry flavored
(File Photo)

The Directions are simple!

Simply Delicious
    2 servings

Ingredients:  

(1) Cup Boiling Water
(1) 3 ounce package JELL-O
(1) Cup Vanilla Ice Cream

Method:

1. In a large bowl completely dissolve flavored gelatin in 1 Cup boiling water.
2. Add in 1 Cup vanilla ice cream and stir.
3. Using a whisk continue dissolving ice cream. 
4. Pour into 2 dessert dishes or mugs.
5. Refrigerate for several hours.
6. Top with whipped cream when serving.  

Now, how easy can that be?  Strawberry, orange and lime flavors are our favorites! Add the ingredients to your grocery list and make this easy dessert!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Grilled Zucchini

Grilled Zucchini

Warm grilled Zucchini halves always taste so delicious!  In the warmer months- like in the summer- this is a great side dish at dinnertime!  It is placed on our grill after being coated with Olive Oil, Basil and Oregano.  Sometimes, I add garlic powder, too.  It is so easy to prepare, grills quickly and tastes so yummy!  Any extra pieces are refrigerated.  The next night they are cut into smaller pieces and added to a veggie salad.   

If you have not enjoyed this very easy delicious side dish, add Zucchini to your grocery list or Farmers' Market list this week and try it.  The recipe is below: 

Recipe for Grilled Zucchini!     

Enjoy!
Yummy!           

Summer Colors!

 

Time to enjoy the colors in Western MA on a summer day!  Each day more buds burst open.

It's the time of pinks, lavendars, whites and yellows! 

Enjoy!

~Summer Colors~

O.K., we are having another heat wave !  Today is Day 5 !  Being outside has not been very comfortable, but the flowers in our gardens do not seem to mind the readings on our thermometer.  Well, we are making sure they have water.  I'm sure that makes it a lot easier for them.

On Monday the very last Salmon Daylily blossomed!  It is unusual not to look out our window and see a large quantity of salmon colored blossoms every day.

The Zinnia, Vinca and Marigold seeds that we planted in the late Spring are also producing colorful flowers!!

    
We plant the Zinnia seeds saved from the previous year's crop.  This year we purchased some Marigold and Vinca seeds, because it was unclear if and when we would locate the plants to buy.  Later, bright yellow Marigold plants were also purchased, but there were no Vinca plants.  It's taken a while for these seeds to prosper, but the flowers are now popping out!

We are enjoying them!

 

Tortellini Salad

Tortellini Salad
(File Photo)

Like so many of you, my friends, I've been cooking up a storm!  As you can see, I have not had a chance to blog lately.  So, taking a current photo of food is... well... a dream.  I had a little bit of Baking Powder left and this week like magic, I have it.  What a different "new norm"!  I realize you have been finding the same situations at any time during the week.  People are cooking and/ or learning to cook! 

Hopefully, if we all wear our masks and use precautions things will change again to a more comfortable norm. 

One day last week we enjoyed Tortellini Salad as a side dish at dinner.  There was a bag of frozen tri-colored tortellini waiting in the freezer.  Waiting for me to prepare it!  It's one of my favorite pasta salads in the warmer months.  There is something great about biting into a cheese filled Tortellini that's surrounded by Italian Dressing.  The seasonings from the dressing just coat each little Tortellini!  Did I mention it is easy to prepare?  It is!  Very easy!

Sometimes, I add black olives, whole or sliced to this pasta salad.  They are optional.    

Tortellini Salad  

Ingredients:   
(1) 12 ounce bag Frozen Cheese Tortellini- may be lesser quantity
Italian Salad Dressing
Parsley Flakes
Garlic Powder

Method:

1. Prepare Tortellini following directions on bag. 
2. Drain, rinse with cold water.  Drain again.
3. Place in bowl.
4. Add about 1/2 Cup Italian Salad Dressing, combine.
5. Add desired amount of Parsley Flakes and Garlic Powder.
6. Cover and refrigerate overnight or for at least 6 hours.
7. Before serving, stir.  Add a little more Italian Dressing if needed.

It is that easy!  If you don't have the tortellini in your freezer, remember this recipe to prepare another time in the coming months!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Summer Dinner Salad!

Summer Dinner Salad!

A colorful nutritious dinner in the summer does not get much easier to prepare- when you've enjoyed Grilled Chicken the day before!  The local fresh tomatoes and cucumbers are readily available to use.  Add them to a bed of greens of choice along with a few small chunks of cheese and craisins.  The salad dressing is your fave and dinner is oh, so good!

A slice of Basil Parmesan Toast is a great addition.  It is one of my fave ways to serve bread.

Summer is a great time to enjoy the seasonal views that come only once a year!  This past week a Monarch butterfly stopped in for a visit to our colorful Zinnias!  The plants we grew from saved seeds.  That was a great surprise!

Enjoy the Summer!

August Flowers

Salmon Daylily

Our gardens have been bursting with so many different colors this summer.  Different perennials blossom at different times.  That was the plan!  We wanted to have rotations of flowers and colors.  The annuals add in color where needed and the plan worked!

Our Salmon Daylilies blossomed for 1 month!  Each blossom lasted for 1 day.  There was always another to pop open on the long stem.  This past Saturday the last flower opened!  It's amazing to view and appreciate a close up of the blossom!

Zinnias planted from previously saved seeds!

 

 

It has been a tradition with me from my childhood to save the Zinnia seeds from the current season's gorgeous flowers.  They are dried and then stored to plant the next spring!  Now, the flowers continue to surprise us each day with new buds opening.  There is a great sense of accomplishment when one views the colorful flowers that were grown from saved seeds!

Purple Phlox

 

 

 

This is another beautiful view- out of our kitchen window.  The small purple flowers form pretty clusters of blossoms on the stems.  More of the Phlox is opening!  It's great to view this perennial every year!

So, while I am preparing Freezer Jams and freezing fresh summer fruit, our gardens are adding beautiful colors to our yard!  Summer in New England is beautiful. 

The 4 seasons we have each year bring different scenes of beauty.  They are all appreciated!

Enjoy!

  

Yikes!!

2019

A big contrast from this winter!  It's a hot day today!  The New Guinea Impatiens are hinting and we did quench their thirst.  They are now in the shade and we are indoors!  Phew!! 

Stay cool my friends!!

The First Daylily!

Suddenly it happens!  It's always during the first week of July and it was today!  The first Daylily in our yard has blossomed.  This year it was a bright orange flower in our back perennial garden.  The plant has survived harsh cold winters and hot humid summers for over 39 years.  It does quite well here in New England.

There is another blossom and also more stems with blossoms.  We will be seeing orange on quite a few beautiful summer days.

Enjoy!

      

Free Fun Fridays!

FREE FUN FRIDAYS
Schedule

Coming soon!  Beginning this Friday!  FREE FUN FRIDAYS!!!   That's tomorrow!!


It's a great program for anyone living in, vacationing in or driving through Massachusetts this summer.  It's offered by the Highland Street Foundation!  Beginning on Friday- June 28 and then on every Friday this summer through Friday- August 30 there are specific venues with free admission in Massachusetts.  Summer is here, but that does not put a halt on the learning process.  

If you have an opportunity to visit one, two, three or more of these great places, do so.  Adults and children will all be welcomed to enjoy their day at any of these great venues!  Zoos, history and art museums, music and hobbies are all represented with these choices.

Some of my favorite places to visit that are included on this list this summer are:

Norman Rockwell Museum

The Mount:  Edith Wharton's Home

Springfield Museums
5 museums on the campus including The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum  

Old Sturbridge Village

 
There are so many more great places to visit! 
For the complete list visit The Highland Street Foundation's Free Fun Fridays!

This is a wonderful program for visitors of all ages!!!  Have FuN!!!

Thank You Highland Street Foundation!

Enjoy!

 

~ Peach Freezer Jam ~

Peach Freezer Jam

After enjoying a great week at the Cape (Cape Cod) it's time to finish preparing the Freezer Jams to enjoy during the other months of the year.  Now, it is peach season!  The local crop is so sweet, juicy and just plain yummy.  This past Thursday at our Farmers' Market, I purchased enough of this fresh fruit to make a batch of Peach Freezer Jam and also more that we could enjoy now.

They were not quite ripe, so 3 peaches were placed inside a brown paper lunch bag and the top closed.  In 2 days they riped, so the fresh peaches were placed in the fridge.

Ripening Peaches
(File Photo)

Yesterday, 7  peaches were used to prepare the delicious jam!  The sugar, lemon juice and Certo (liquid pectin) were all placed in their places on my kitchen counter.  The mixing bowls, spoons and measuring cups were added, along with the clean containers & lids.  I was getting down to business!  It was time to prepare the Peach Freezer Jam!!

After rinsing the peaches under cool water, the skins were removed.  It is easier to remove the skins if you place each peach in a pot of simmering water for about 60 seconds.  A slotted spoon comes in handy here to place it in the water and also to remove it.  Let the peaches cool a little on a plate lined with a paper towel.

Use a sharp knife and peel the skin.  Cut peach into slices.  Then, it's mashing time!  Mash the slices (a few at a time) with a (potato) masher.  Measure out needed amount and add to the required sugar in a large bowl.  Then, I was on my way to follow the rest of the directions that are included in the package of Certo.

~My Hints~  are handy to read!

Freezer Jam is just so delicious!  I am not a fan of commercial brands.  While growing up, my mom, sister & I always prepared jam the "cook over the stove" method.  For years now, I've been making Freezer Jams.  Yes, they are that good!!

***After following the directions, exactly (that are located in the Certo box) the jam containers then sit undisturbed for 24 hours.  After that time they are placed in the freezer.

Yes, I was daydreaming about the surf crashing on the shore two weeks ago at Nauset Light Beach while making jam yesterday.  We did see seals swimming at Nauset Beach, Coast Guard Beach and Nauset Light Beach.  It has been the summer of sharks looking for seals in the waters at the Cape.

Nauset Light Beach
at the Cape (Cape Cod)

My Peach Freezer Jam is now in our large freezer.  We'll enjoy it along with the Strawberry & Blueberry Jams in the coming year.  Hopefully, again, there is enough to last until next June!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

                 

~Zinnias~

This month has brought hot days, rainfall and also vacation.  A garden of Zinnias always welcomes us when we drive up our driveway.  These colorful flowers were planted from seed in May.  It's a beautiful sight!

Enjoy!

  

Freezing Blueberries & Jam

Local Blueberries!

The local Blueberries are now available!  That was the signal to me to get busy!  I purchase this yummy sweet fruit and then clean/ freeze the berries to place in Ziploc Freezer bags and we enjoy them in the coming months.  After going through each pint of berries, they are triple washed and then drained.  Packing them away and then placing the labelled bags on "their" shelf in our large freezer.

No, not all of the berries are frozen.  There's still snacking going on and also Blueberry Freezer Jam was prepared.  Each of 3 batches was prepared separately.  After the 24 hour time period, the containers of Jam were also placed in the freezer.  Looking back, I've been preparing Freezer Jam for probably 40 years.  For me it sure is a LOT easier than stirring the mixture over a hot stove on a HHH summer day.  Easy works so well.  This jam is just so yummy!

CERTO is the liquid fruit pectin that I use.  The preparation directions are located inside each box.

CERTO

The key things to remember here:

• Use clean utensils, containers.
• Prepare each batch separately.
• Have ALL ingredients ready to use.
• Follow Directions EXACTLY.

This year I discovered that I had a medley of freezer containers to use.  It was time to place "freezer containers" on my grocery list!

Blueberry Freezer Jam

 Homemade Jam is just the best!!!  Fortunately for us, this year we did not run out of our supply before the first of the new Freezer Jams (Strawberry) was prepared in June.

Do you freeze the local fruit in the summer?  Do you prepare Freezer Jams?

Enjoy!
Yummy!

        

~View of Flowers~

Oh, has it been hot!!  Walking outside reminds me of entering a greenhouse in the late spring.  The warm moisty air always seems to c-l-i-n-g.  No, I do not make a habit of walking into greenhouses.  Well, this hot moisty air has been enjoyed by the annuals and perennials that always add color to our yard!

Colorful Petunias!

The bright lavender Petunias are bursting with color!!

Budding Zinnias

The Zinnia seeds sprouted.  Before we knew it, many sets of leaves were visible.  Now, the buds are forming!

Front Garden

The Daylilies are beginning to blossom!  First, there were three.  Next there were four!  Tomorrow there will be so many more!!

The summer flowers are enjoying this 6 day heat wave!  The weekend looks cooler!!

Enjoying the view!