Where is the summer going?

It sure has gone by fast so far!

It turned from this:









Into This, practically overnight:













And from this:












Into this:












I tend to work behind and this year is no exception. With my Hawaii trip coming in the middle of spring, and the very wet and cool spring, things got off to a slow start













Lots of dirt digging and tree cutting and planting




















I bought and then hauled cattle panel as part of my effort to trellis the garden













Some plants really enjoyed all the water and coolness:













Others did not



(my seedlings that got over rained on and then sunburned so I ended up replanting a lot)






Some animals like wet
(this worm was much bigger, but he shrunk up cause I was messing with him)










Some not so much:











Strawberry season...
It started out with just a couple of handfuls













Then I used my shirt to gather them....












eventually I needed to use actual containers.









There was too many to eat fresh, so I made freezer jam. YUM!















The strawberries are just about done now. Same with lettuce, spinach, brocoli and peas.











Today we ate the first zucchini, and tomato (it was already growing from the store). Will be awhile before we get a regular supply but the zucchini will provide, I'm sure.

As the strawberries are winding down, the raspberries are picking up. The saskatoon and Dew berries were also ripe so I wasn't sure what to do. Decided to cook down the currants and blackberries then will strain them. Chop up the saskatoon, raspberries, and strawberries and will add them to make a mixed berry jam.











I got my pots filled just this past weekend.



Still so much to do!








I worked on some things even after dark by using the piano light attached to a long extension cord.... that stopped after one night when i got sprayed with water and then electrocuted by the light... guess its not water proof :)










this is red orach, or mountain spinach. It grows like crazy in my garden and reseeded itself handily from one sad plant last year.

These "branches" that I cut off were taller then me.


I ended up wth a grocery bag and gallon bag full. I read up about it and one guy back east was selling it for $32/pound at the local farmers market.



I cooked some up and it takes like a cross between spinach and beet greens. Now I have to figure out how to preserve it. Maybe freezer?

The juice is very red.












lastly some silly pictures of my first giant head of sweet tasty cabbage. Not sure how to preserve this one either....

Hawaii 2.0

Aloha! A week ago Saturday I returned from Paradise. Again. I'm so blessed! There were only two downsides: feeling a bit guilty that I was there again, and having to come back :)

Last time I posted about it, I got bogged down in the details so this time hopefully I can just provide some highlights: [edited to add sorry I still got carried away with the pictures, but i really did restrain myself]

Stayed on Kauai at the Marriott Resort with this amazing view of Kalapaki Bay where the cruise ships came in early mornings











Went with Cathy and Jennifer again. While there, Jen found her birth mother which was pretty amazing.












The resort had this awesome pool which I usually swam in every evening after a day at the ocean. It went around in huge circle with spitting fountains, water falls, and hot tubs in pavilions













Every morning I'd go running along the golf course that border the ocean, then come back and get ready to go out for the day.











Saw the Waimea Canyon
















Spent most time in and sometimes watching the ocean from different beaches










Went Standup Paddle and even caught a couple of waves!











Went for a hike along the Napali coast and saw a cool round rock beach and took pictures from a sea cave













Saw lots of misty, green mountains often with waterfalls and even played in some (waterfalls that is)













Jumped off some cliffs (ok just rocks)







Forged some streams and bushwacked through the jungle














Hung out on a swaying bridge

















Went Snuba'ing here:






Learned that feeding fish is way fun so had to repeat that by getting food from a dive shop.











Ate awesome shaved ice and other favorites (hulu pie and simin)














Went to the farmers market and got some really great fresh food and fruits, also picked some delicious limes from the place we stayed last time. Also tried this special fruit which ended up being really nasty (I think it wasn't ripe).
















Enjoyed flowers/trees and wild life









And wore out my flip flops!