We grew a lot of peppers this year. A lot. I remember earlier in the season, someone asked me how many peppers we usually received on each plant. Curious myself, I said I thought maybe four. Mini-sweets getting all nice and sauteed, before blending Well, I was wrong! Peppers, both sweet and hot, both king-sizedContinue reading “Sweet Pepper Soup”
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Lucy in the Sky
Lucy passed on last night, warm in a kitty cage in the house. One week ago, she began acting a bit unlike herself. Twice, she perched in a tree and wouldn’t go into roost without some human intervention. Last night, all the chickens ventured safely inside the coop, but she resting right by the coopContinue reading “Lucy in the Sky”
Summer Heat, Part Two: Melting Honey Combs
The drought continues. The Madison area received only 7% of its normal rainfall in June, and so far in July, it rained only a trace at our place for about 10 minutes. And it’s hot. I’ve never been one to complain about summer weather, but our birds and our bees are suffering. On June 19th,Continue reading “Summer Heat, Part Two: Melting Honey Combs”
Our Visit to the Seed Savers Heritage Farm
What a wonderful weekend we had in Decorah, Iowa! Our good friend, Gretchen, grew up there, and we’ve enjoyed her enthusiasm and love for her hometown in dozens of conversations throughout the years. Since Andy and I began gardening in 2007, we have purchased our seeds from a non-profit organization called Seed Savers Exchange,which isContinue reading “Our Visit to the Seed Savers Heritage Farm”
Summer Heat, part one: R.I.P. Prudence
Prudence, during last year’s heat wave Wisconsin is known for its blizzardy winters, and those that have lived here before also know that the summers can be quite hot and humid. Having lived in both Central and Southern Wisconsin, I’ve come to further appreciate the stark difference – our summers are often a tad warmerContinue reading “Summer Heat, part one: R.I.P. Prudence”
Happy Summer Solstice!
Little Bear, all decked out Bonfires. Singing and dancing. Drum circles. Trekking to Stonehenge to join in chants of “All Hail the Sun!” All common ways to celebrate the summer solstice, but slush and dogs? Slush and dogs is exactly how our newly-made dog park family decided to celebrate the day of birth, sunlight, growth,Continue reading “Happy Summer Solstice!”
Eggs for a Later Date
I’m sitting on my living room floor, eating frozen grapes, drinking iced tea, and enjoying the breeze of a fan. I love heat, so I am not complaining, but when the cooking muse visited me tonight, I had to ponder what I could do in the kitchen without turning on the oven or stove. AfterContinue reading “Eggs for a Later Date”
Cocky Rocky, the Rooster
Rocky and Spinderella (pic from last fall) Rocky, the rooster, is exhibiting his cockiness a little too frequently. The moment one of us opens the coop door for the hens in the morning, Rocky hops out and waits to say hello to his hens. Each lady peeks out and ponders whether or not the joyContinue reading “Cocky Rocky, the Rooster”
Gardening: Good for the Soul
I’m not going to lie. I had a hard week. Those that know me personally know that I had invested a lot of time and energy in a little Wisconsin election held recently. My side didn’t win, and it hit me hard. The first few days afterward, I walked around aimlessly, trying to fight backContinue reading “Gardening: Good for the Soul”
First Weeks of Beekeeping
Three weeks into beekeeping We got bees! Finally! After 1.5 years of a vacant top-bar beehive, perfectly situated among apple, pear, and mulberry trees, our hive is full of active, working, and -we hope- happy honeybees. Fearful that bees would be swarming our yard, making it unsafe for our puppy or chickens to frolic withoutContinue reading “First Weeks of Beekeeping”
The Poquette Zoo and Kitchen 