Come Visit Me At My New Blog

Out with the old and in with the new! With the summer solstice here and spring finally gone, I've decided to start a new blog. I'll still be posting here at times, but most of my posts will now be on my new blog. I hope you all come to visit me at "The Simple Vegan".http://autumngypsy2.wordpress.com/

No one outside ourselves can rule us inwardly. When we know this, we become free.

In times of difficulty take refuge in compassion and truth

Front Landscape Roses

( My red rose bush)

This year my roses are looking great. I'm usually feeding them rose food by now, but I've been too busy with the veggie garden. Fortunately they've been doing fine without it.


(Me and Hera sitting in front of my front yard)

I also have a variety of rose bushes on my front burm, mostly yellow, white and red.
Unfortunately, they are not quite as large as the ones up by my house.
I was thinking about transplanting some of them in my front landscape next year, in hopes that they'll do a bit better.


(Close up shot of one of my red roses)

It's nice that I'm now able to fill vases full of roses to place around the house once again. They add so much beauty to a room. One of my favorite roses to use in a bouquet are my cabbage roses.
I hope to purchase more cabbage roses this fall. Autumn is the best time to get deals on them.

My Finally Planted Veggie Garden

( Me leaning against a tomato stake)
( I love the way the camera caught the sunbeams. )
Over the weekend I finally got a chance to sit in my backyard and enjoy all of my veggies that are now planted and growing nicely.
Above is a shot my hubby took of my tomatoes. I'm growing many different varieties of heirloom tomatoes again this year. I prefer them over the popular types. They have a lot more flavor than big boy, beef steaks ect...
Two of my favorite heirlooms (which I have in my garden this year) are "Brandy Wine" and "Purple Cherokee".
I can't wait until I can start harvesting them!!!!!!!!! I already have baby tomatoes starting on some of my plants!!!!

My Apricot Tree Is Exploding With Apricots!!!!!!!!!!

Today while planting sunflowers in my front landscape, I decided to walk over and take a look at my two apricot trees. To my surprise they have exploded with tons of apricots. I'll be able to harvest so many of them once they ripen.
What a difference from last summer, I only had four apricots and this year there are too many to even count.
I have to find some good recipes, so I don't get tired of eating them the same way.

7 Reasons why I'm Awesome

Kat from "Poetikat's invisible keepsakes" was kind enough to give me this award and tag me. Thank You Kat!!!!!!!

I am supposed to write down 7 reasons why I'm awesome.

Here goes;

1) I'm awesome because I can grow a large variety of veggies in the summer and practically eat out of my garden all season.

2) I'm awesome because I like to keep things real and honest.

3) I'm awesome because I think it's so important to spread kindness.

4) I'm awesome because I continue to keep up with my children even when I'm exhausted.

5) I'm awesome because I love to eat healthy foods.

6) I'm awesome because I don't hold grudges

7) I'm Awesome because I can drink a whole pot of black coffee and not get the jitters.

There are 7 wonderful and amazing women I want to pass this award onto!

1) Jan from "Vinegar and Honey"

2) The vintage kitten from "The Vintage Kitten"

3) Judy from "Bricante and Ect"

4) Alison from "Mettaville"

5) T from "tcalamity"

6) Lady Prism from "The Lady Prism"

7) Mirina from "Simply Marina"

Karma means you don't get away with anything.

Inner freedom is not guided by our efforts; it comes from seeing what is true.

Using Sunflowers As Bean Poles

For the past few summers I've been using Russian Mammoth sunflowers as my bean poles. It really works well too.
After preparing the soil for planting, I plant the sunflowers according to the seed packet on the back. In front of each row of sunflowers, I then plant my beans far enough so that they don't grow right on top of the sunflower, but close enough for them to vine around and climb once they start growing.
This method is much easier than looking for large tall, sturdy branches to stake into the ground.
Some of the benefits from using sunflowers as stakes are, more bees visit the garden and pollinate the bean blossoms, thus giving me a nice yield. It's also nice watching the birds come and feed on the sunflower seeds once they have ripened.

If you let cloudy water settle it will become clear. If you let your upset mind settle, your course will also become clear.

Strawberry Salsa

Yesterday while looking through one of our local newspapers, I saw a recipe for strawberry salsa. It looked delicious, so I cut out the recipe and made it this morning. I look forward to having it for dinner tonight, I'm sure I'll love it!
For anyone interested in trying this healthy low fat salsa recipe, I've listed the ingredients below.

Ingredients;

2 cups coarsely chopped strawberries

4 plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped

1 Jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced

2 tbs chopped fresh cilantro

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup chopped onions

1 lime, juiced

1 tbs olive oil

1 tsp balsamic vinegar

1/4 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp sea salt

In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients and toss together. Cover bowl and refrigerate for 2 hrs or longer. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Note: This salsa is best served the same day.

I also learned strawberries are loaded with a powerful antioxidant that researchers have found helpful for fighting belly fat.

When wishes are few , the heart is happy. When desire ends, there is peace.

Bee Garden

With bees on the decline, this couldn't be a better time to start a bee garden.
We need bees to pollinate our fruit and vegetable plants, so the blossoms will develop into whatever it is that we are growing. We also get a better harvest when we have plenty of bees visiting our gardens and fruit trees.

Without bees we wouldn't be able to grow food.

Here are a few plants to put into your garden, so that your assured a good yield of fruits and veggies. These plants will not only attract bees into your yard, they will add beauty and color as well.

1) White Boltonia

2) Catmint

3) Shasta Daisy

4) Siberian Iris

5) Sunflowers

6) Cosmos

7) Zinnias

8) Marigolds

9) Dahlias

10) Foxglove

After planting your bee garden, do not use any pesticides!

Avoid the company of deluded people when you can.

when you cannot, keep your own counsel.

Victory creates hatred, defeat creates suffering. Those who are wise strive for neither victory nor defeat.

This is such a true statement one that I've always lived by!!!!!!!!