Busted

Exposed. I asked for it!

I've been following the Blogging Barista for quite some time-

great blog tips and brand ideas. In May, I wrote in for her "Monday

Makeover Challenge" and it came in my mail box a couple of days ago!

I was so excited and nervous...almost scared to read it. After months

of tweaking my blog using various sources, the Barista came through!

Don't mind sharing the results- all constructive! I've already put some

of her suggestions in place.

Here is the link

http://www.bloggingbistro.com/blog-makeover-of-the-week-mlchgarden/

Blessings from the Garden.

ML

ps. my camera is back!

PESTO, presto!

EASY recipe used for Herbs:Floral & Culinary

demonstration Saturday...

Many variations, but this was simple!

Use pesto to mix with pasta, instead of mayo

on sandwiches, "sauce" for chicken....

2 Tablespoons coarse chopped walnuts or pine nuts

(may lightly toast pine nuts, but not necessary!)

3 garlic cloves, peeled

3 Tablespoons EVOO

4 Cups Basil leaves

1/2 Cup grated fresh Parmesean

1/4 teaspoon salt or to taste

Need a food processor, or I used an Oster hand blender. Drop pine/walnuts and garlic into

processor container, let her rip, add olive oil, basil, cheese and salt...Process until very finely minced. Refrigerate and be creative!

Blessings from the Garden

ML

PS...I'd love to hear your take on PESTO!

It's Getting HOT in here, I'm gonna...

Water!!!

The State of Georgia is no longer experiencing the drought which began in 2007.

However, there are some guidelines for Richmond and Columbia Counties regarding outdoor watering in order to conserve water.

The State recommends no outdoor watering between the hours of 10am and 4pm. This is a good idea because watering in the middle of day will result in a great deal of water evaporation...wasteful!

Even ending addresses like mine...3206

Water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays

Odd ending addresses 3205

Water on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays

Looks like we will still observe no watering on Monday.

Even though we are not experiencing drought conditions, we need to conserve water.

Blessings from the Garden

ML

Squash Ideas

Some ideas for the lucky ones who escaped the

Squash Vine Borer..excerpts from Facebook Fans

and Famous Writers!

Blessings from the Garden

ML

J

Dudley Guitton

Just scoop out the seeds, cut into hunks, toss is olive oil, salt and pepper and roast in the oven. Yum.

June 8 at 10:21am · ·

Dudley Guitton

Unless this is the tiny kind and you just cook them whole. I can't tell from the photo.

June 8 at 10:22am · ·

Teresa Newsome Quarles

I split mine down the middle, place face down, roast as Dudley does, then make a Gremolata with lemon rind, lemon juice, capers, garlic, olive oil, and either parsley or dill. Last time I did this, I used dill since I had it. It was delish! Oh, and I used a variety of squashes.

June 8 at 10:45am · ·

Mary Louise Hagler

it's pretty small, wondering if I took off vine too early. i'll wait for the butternuts to finish and cook all together. will post on my website and your comments... thanks.
need to go get some capers and lemon ♥ ♥ ♥

June 8 at 12:37pm · ·

Beth Nathan Calhoun

I love roasted butternut squash!

June 8 at 2:12pm · ·

Virginia Kilmer Veale

Patty pan squash is so delish! Haven't had it in years. My daddy used to grow it, and it doesn't get large. Mama used to dredge in egg wash and flour, then pan fry. But that's not really healthy. But oh, so good!

June 8 at 5:51pm · ·

Patricia Lanza

Steam it first to get it semi-tender then saute in olive oil and garlic for flavor or place on baking sheet and oven roast for brown glaze. can also put on grill and bruse on OL & garlic. This is for whole squash or you can slice it and saute it but the presentation is diminished.

June 9 at 10:51am · ·

Louise Grover Meadows

someone just gave me one.....

June 9 at 10:56am · ·

Weekend Inspiration...

God yells at me often. Not in a bad way, but instead of whispering, he YELLS!

I never have to wonder about signs!

Several instances over the past few weeks, mother's 85th, troubled friends, and cancer in the family, have led me to ask the questions..."Is my life as useful as it could be?" and "Will I be satisfied with my life at 80?"

Yesterday at Mass I copied a sentence out of our Missal which summarized yesterday's Gospel readings.

"The whole adventure of life is a gift, one we could never earn but only receive."

Last night while reading the August 2010 issue of Success Magazine, I came across "Living a Useful Life" by John C Maxwell. He pointed out that for him the relationships we form, the decisions we make, and the experiences we encounter determine the usefulness of our lives.

There is always room for improvement in these areas. Maxwell points out 5 Rules of Relationships:

• Get along with yourself
• Value people
• Make the effort to form relationships
• Understand the reciprocity rule
• Follow the golden rule

I am sure I'll be yelled at again, so I'll share!

Blessings from the Garden

ML

Herbs: Answer for Brown Thumbs

Brown Thumb?

I guess when you've educated groups for over 10 years

on a topic, you become an "expert"...Columbia County

News-Times has GREAT info on local gardening.

The garden reporter, Deborah Steele draws from local life

long gardeners and Master Gardeners for pertinent

gardening info...

Sharing the article in today's Columbia County News Times.

Herbs: Answer for Brown Thumb

Blessings from the Garden.

ML

Deer Rosemary

Rosemary is without a doubt one of my favorite herbs.

We are visiting Fripp Island, South Carolina this week.

One of the first things I noticed was the abundance of carefree

velvet horned white tail deer walking in front yards!

Limited experience with deer co-habitation has piqued

my curiosity regarding deer deterrents. A recent post,

describes Plot Saver, a product that is supposed to

keep deer and other nusance creatures out of hunting plots until

the crop is ready for grazing or hunting season! The main ingredients

are Rosemary Oil and Mint Oil...

Wondering how many residents of Fripp Island have tried Rosemary

Oil or at least planted Rosemary with this in mind...

Blessings from Fripp.

ML

Pumpkins continued...

Well, I am delighted to report our Orange Bulldog pumpkin plants
were just a bit parched, not crispy as we anticipated.

Robert took the 2.5hr trek to the farm from the beach place
to check on and water our much anticipated crop. I am beginning
to feel like we are waiting for the birth of our 3rd...that is ridiculous!

Even more preposterous is how much I miss both gardens and Gizmo.
Still operating from an ancient laptop and a not so great connection.
Will post pics on Sunday.

Blessings from the Beach.
ML

Pumpkins

Quick update from a sorry laptop where I have a less than

desireable connection!



Stopped to check Pumpkins on the way to the beach, and we definitely

have a crop! Waiting for Robert to return to our beachside rental with good
news that the Pumpkins are still viable...We were having thoughts of the crop
burning since no rainfall/irrigation this week, so he road tripped today.

Will post pix this weekend of the
prolific flower crop- all ready for the 2010 FlowerCamp .

Please comment on this post and on how your garden is growing by tapping the
comment button below. I am not on FB or email this week, but checking blog
frequently.

Blessings from the Beach
ML

Orange

I am beginning to wonder if orange and red are my most most favorite colors lately.

The home garden has a LOT of red, and if it was iron and rusty, it is now...RED.

Today at the farm, though, orange caught my eye. Here are a few pics of the Cactus Zinnias I am trying...they are

now one of my favorites...kind of shaggy...

I recall the colors orange, yellow and red have some marketing value. Supposed to make you hungry or salivate so you'll ride through and buy!

Blessings from the Garden.

ML

SECRETS

Is your garden looking crispy?

Gardenias all brown, hydrangeas faded and dry,

and not a lot of color?

One thing I know in 20+ years of gardening is...

the more you pick, the more you get!

Cut those ugly gardenias, whack those spent

hydrangeas, bring a bouquet of zinnias in and

you'll find blooms right around the corner.

Blessings from the Garden.

ML