Text 8026, 127 rader
Skriven 2008-05-29 16:05:41 av Ruth Haffly (1:396/45.28)
   Kommentar till text 7917 av Carol Shenkenberger (14004.cooks)
Ärende: putting up
==================
Hi Carol,


 > I know. (sigh!) But it would have been nice to have some fresh canned
 > tomatoes next winter instead of going to the store for them. Maybe when

 CS> Thats probably the way to go.  That or a neighbor with a surplus.
 CS> Kinda late now to start them where you are.

More likely somebody from church. We live in a new housing area on post;
peope aren't encouraged to dig up their yards & plant vegetable gardens
here.

 >  CS> Oh I plan to!  I'm stripping it down a bit each day now.

 > I'd do that, then make catnip toys for our kitties when I was growing

 CS> Hehe I see socks willed with catnip in my future.

Easy enough to do--fill the toe area with catnip and fiberfill, then
stitch shut.


 CS> I ended up with more plants for the new containers so....  Gonna try
 CS> cucumber and a bannana pepper plant.  The green bell pepper seems to
 CS> be setting fruit now already.  The little bannana pepper is
 CS> practically doubling in size in just this week.  I think I need to
 CS> move them to opposite corners from each other.

If not into another container and separate by even more distance. You
may end up with mild bannna peppers and warmish bells. We did that once
but with jalapenoes and bells.

 > When and if we ever settle down, I'll probably do some container
 > gardening. It's so much easier to move plants around in one of those vs

 CS> Yes, and no worries about fleasprayed food plants.  It's a monthly
 CS> ritual here to have to flea spray the yard.

No fun but with pets, it's a must.

 >  CS> Yes and did a lookup , its rosemary.  About 8 inches tall and as wide

 > We've got some on our kitchen window ledge--along with oregano and
 > basil.  Probably should have gotten parsley too but the ledge can only
 > hold so many plants. Have to keep a clear space for the swing of the
 > dishwasher door.

 CS> I can't visualize that arrangement...

Dishwasher is on the end of a bar type arraingement in the kitchen. In
order, there's a set of drawers under a counter top, the sink and the
dishwasher under another counter top.  The kitchen window is at a 90
degree angle to the bar & low enough that the ledge is about a foot
above the open dishwasher door.  If anything on the ledge sticks out
over it (along the first 18" or so), the door will clip it as I open it.


 >  CS> stage, probably doesnt mater which I move but the fruiting strawberry
 >  CS> might be best left to do it's thing.

 > For now, yes.  Get a squirt gun for the cats. (G)

 CS> Naw, they seem to be avoiding the strawberry and going to the other
 CS> end to play.

OK but keep one ready if the cats get too rambunctious with the catnip.


 >  CS> There's a lady who's house I walk by often when walking Cash. Her
 >  CS> front garden is catnip and sweet williams <g>.
 CS>  >
 > Is she a cat person too?

 CS> I presumed so but not sure.  They do actually make rather attractive
 CS> bedding plants so may try that next year along the driveway.

And, in small quantities, a nice smell to it as well.


 > We use jams a fair amount, mostly in the morning.  Most recipes make
 > between 4 and 6 half pints; the supply I made last summer is half (or

 CS> I figure to make some of the little 3-4 cup yield recipes in a new
 CS> book that just arrived.  It's filled with small batch recipes.  Also,
 CS> the jars and stuff are starting to arrive.  I ordered them online.
 CS> The price with
 CS> shipping was almost the same as local store prices and the variety was
 CS> better.

OK, that sounds like it would work for us.  For me, it's no problem to
get the small jars in the shape I want (just a fairly straight side with
a diamond effect).

 > It's not hard to do, just sit down and read the book.

 CS> True but there's always minor variations not mentioned.

Yes, and it seems each new machine has different recipes in the book,
even for the same type of bread.

 > raid the supply.  My youngest sister likes to raid the supply of full
 > jars; I think that's why my parents still put in as much of a garden as
 > they do.  I'd rather take the empty jars.

 CS> They probably enjoy the past time of putting up produce for later.
 CS> It's a fun  and useful hobby.  I'll be traching Charlotte how to do it
 CS> later in the year.

My sister gets the jars full of food. I don't think she has any interest
in putting stuff up but wants to save a few $$ on her grocery bill. My
mom cans and freezes for the same reason.  She never formally taught any
of us but I picked up enough of a knowledge, plus DIY/OJT, to do it for
myself.  Same as, if they wanted to, Rachel and Deborah could probably
do so. Deborah did make several batches of apple butter several years
ago. She gave it as Christmas gifts.

---
Catch you later,
Ruth
rchaffly@earthlink.net  FIDO 1:396/45.28


... Books are better than TV; they exercise your imagination.

--- PPoint 3.01
 * Origin: Sew! That's My Point (1:396/45.28)