We went over to Murphy's Blueberry Farm this morning to do our weekly pickin'. Unlike last week when it was already nearing 80 degrees when we pulled in at 8:30 AM, it was a cool 72 degrees with a lightly overcast sky. Terry and I were picking for nearly an hour when a light drizzle started but it felt good and didn't seem threatening. Twenty or thirty minutes later, however, there was a rumble of thunder in the distance that continued to get louder and louder. That was threatening! So we (and everyone else in the field) called it a day. In little better than an hour and a quarter we had gathered 5 1/4 pounds of blueberries.
As we checked out the rain began in earnest and it rained all the way back through Mansfield but when we turned south off Route 6 the rain diminished considerably so there was just a light drizzle falling when we got home. Since then, the temperature rose to just over 80 degrees and then fell to 69 degrees as a line of T-storms marking a cold front moved through. We did get rain from that but not in gully-washing proportions; more a gentle, soaking rain that will do the lawn and garden some good.
After lunch, as he front approached and the temperatures outside began to fall, I went to work turning those 5+ pounds of berries into seven pints of blueberry jam. We've now got a dozen jars of strawberry jam and 14 jars of blueberry in the larder. That should last us for a good while. If we do go berry picking again--and why not? It's fun!--we'll freeze what we gather and use them for muffins, pancakes and buckle.
******
Strange to watch the windmills rotate so much and so frequently as the front approached and passed. First the winds came from the west, then out of the north and then--as the front moved on--from the south.
Right now, we're just pleased to be getting some much needed relief from the hot, dry weather we've had for the past few weeks.
******
When we came home, I noticed one of the flower pots that was sitting on the retaining wall had, well, disappeared. This is a big sucker that holds several pounds of potting soil and it could not have just blown away. I found it on the ground beneath the utility trailer at the base of the retaining wall. Something had knocked it off severely denting a drain spout in the process. Another, larger flower pot had been tipped over. Terry's vote has gone to raccoons while I'm partial to a large black bear.
Showing posts with label Berry Picking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Berry Picking. Show all posts
Monday, July 25, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Aerie Report, July 24, 2011
"Only" got up to 83 today as compared to the 97 degrees yesterday and 101.8 on Friday. THEY keep saying a chance of T-storms but nothing ever shows up on the radar. Terry and I cancelled a trip into New Jersey yesterday for an open house at my niece's. The forecast here was for 98-100 and there for 100-105. Too bloody hot to be traveling 500 miles round trip unnecessarily. (Sorry Kristen!)
I spent a few hours each afternoon in the basement where even that temperature has risen to 70 degrees. Usually it's between 65 and 68 degrees down there, but the very late afternoon sun has been shining in the walkout French doors and adjacent windows warming things up. That and the two escape wells on the southwest side of the house are--although vented--regular greenhouses. Sorting through computer hardware that no longer is compatible with anything I've got and software/floppy disks that I may or may not ever use again. Hardware/drives can go to the dump eventually. The useless CD's can be turned into 1) targets or 2) deer reflectors around the garden, but what can I do with all the hundreds of floppy disks? I've no need for that many drink coasters.
******
Terry and I will be heading out early tomorrow morning to go blueberry picking again. I can never get enough blueberries! There are still a few ripening raspberries around the yard but they are small due to the heat and lack of rain. (Yeah we got 1.5 inches last Monday and--maybe--a dozen drops since then. Between their predictions for temperature and rainfall, the Old Farmers' Almanac really screwed the pooch this month!) The blackberries are not yet ripe on the hill. When the do turn from their current green color, I expect them to be hard as marbles from lack of moisture. If I pick any for my breakfast cereal, I'll have to watch out that I don't crack any teeth.
******
That's about it from the Aerie for now. Time to head off to the air conditioned bedroom for some shuteye.
I spent a few hours each afternoon in the basement where even that temperature has risen to 70 degrees. Usually it's between 65 and 68 degrees down there, but the very late afternoon sun has been shining in the walkout French doors and adjacent windows warming things up. That and the two escape wells on the southwest side of the house are--although vented--regular greenhouses. Sorting through computer hardware that no longer is compatible with anything I've got and software/floppy disks that I may or may not ever use again. Hardware/drives can go to the dump eventually. The useless CD's can be turned into 1) targets or 2) deer reflectors around the garden, but what can I do with all the hundreds of floppy disks? I've no need for that many drink coasters.
******
Terry and I will be heading out early tomorrow morning to go blueberry picking again. I can never get enough blueberries! There are still a few ripening raspberries around the yard but they are small due to the heat and lack of rain. (Yeah we got 1.5 inches last Monday and--maybe--a dozen drops since then. Between their predictions for temperature and rainfall, the Old Farmers' Almanac really screwed the pooch this month!) The blackberries are not yet ripe on the hill. When the do turn from their current green color, I expect them to be hard as marbles from lack of moisture. If I pick any for my breakfast cereal, I'll have to watch out that I don't crack any teeth.
******
That's about it from the Aerie for now. Time to head off to the air conditioned bedroom for some shuteye.
Monday, July 18, 2011
A Productive Day at the Aerie
Terry and I met with Joe for breakfast at Gramma's Kitchen this morning before we all went over to Murphy's Blueberry Farm to pick some. The mid-season bushes were loaded with juicy ripe berries. Joe got himself about 6 pounds and Terry and I combined for a little over 8 pounds of blueberries in about two hours of picking. Joe then headed home to near Jersey Shore and Terry and I went back to the Aerie.
With rain in the forecast, I picked string beans right after lunch and got over a quart. I also harvested three small cucumbers and half a dozen cherry tomatoes from our one potted plant.
Then it was time to do something with the blueberries. I got the fixin's and equipment out and processed seven pint jars of Blueberry Jam. We then put a quart of berries in the freezer and another in the fridge for breakfast cereal and ice cream topping and Terry took some out for muffins. She's set aside more for some blueberry buckle later this week.
Blueberry Jam
Blueberry Muffins
Late this afternoon, some rain did finally find its way to the Aerie. Heavy, heavy rain fell for over an hour and soaked everything. It fell so quickly that the ground had trouble absorbing it. There was a little rivulet of muddy water along the base of the slope behind the house. Runoff from the covered porch--the only area without any gutters--washed some of the stone I had there to slow it down out onto the lawn. Puddles formed in the garden where my heavy foot has packed the soil into hardened clay. And the bird bath over flowed.
You could almost hear the trees and lawn heave a great sigh of relief. This was the first measurable rain we have had since the late June. The concern I was starting to have about our well water supply has been eased considerably. There's still a chance of some more rain tonight.
With rain in the forecast, I picked string beans right after lunch and got over a quart. I also harvested three small cucumbers and half a dozen cherry tomatoes from our one potted plant.
Then it was time to do something with the blueberries. I got the fixin's and equipment out and processed seven pint jars of Blueberry Jam. We then put a quart of berries in the freezer and another in the fridge for breakfast cereal and ice cream topping and Terry took some out for muffins. She's set aside more for some blueberry buckle later this week.
Blueberry Jam
Blueberry MuffinsLate this afternoon, some rain did finally find its way to the Aerie. Heavy, heavy rain fell for over an hour and soaked everything. It fell so quickly that the ground had trouble absorbing it. There was a little rivulet of muddy water along the base of the slope behind the house. Runoff from the covered porch--the only area without any gutters--washed some of the stone I had there to slow it down out onto the lawn. Puddles formed in the garden where my heavy foot has packed the soil into hardened clay. And the bird bath over flowed.
You could almost hear the trees and lawn heave a great sigh of relief. This was the first measurable rain we have had since the late June. The concern I was starting to have about our well water supply has been eased considerably. There's still a chance of some more rain tonight.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Back at the Aeire
Back at the Aerie after a semi-productive several days at the Bolt Hole. The ride down was an uneventful 4-hour jaunt that has become remarkably routine--almost boring.
Arriving home, I found that there had been absolutely no rain at the Aerie at all. Terry had been watering the garden, but, perhaps, not enough. Everything (cucumbers especially) was wilting in the bright, hot, almost 90 degree sunshine. After we went through an picked (another quart) string beans and a couple of zucchinis, I watered; completely soaking the ground around the cukes and beneath the beans. Late this afternoon, everything was perking up nicely. I'll give everything another dousing in the morning as there's only a 30% chance of late afternoon T-storms on Monday while the temperatures will soar into the 90s.
While picking and watering, I noticed there weresome a lot of leaves missing from the cucumber plants (although the beans right next door were untouched) and wondered what might have decided to supplement its diet with fresh greens. This evening I found out when a ground hog appeared on the lawn right in front of the garden. Being a good little horticulturalist, I grabbed by Gammo air rifle and (hopefully) put an end to that marauder's existence. I say hopefully because it wasn't a completely clean kill. While my shot rolled the critter, it managed to drag itself into the raspberry thicket where I could not get a follow up shot. Still, I believe it was a good hit and the beast will expire. I knew I should have brought the .22 home from the Bolt Hole!
******
Tomorrow, Terry and I will be going blueberry picking at the nearby Murphy's U-Pick Blueberry Farm in Mansfield. We want to go early so as to avoid the heat of the day so will be there shortly after they open the gate at 8 AM. Monday is usually the best time to go because they are closed on Sunday and, therefore, the plants have a double bounty of ripe berries ready for plucking. We missed going last year because we were on the road, but two years ago we were each able to fill a two quart bucket in less than an hour. Tomorrow won't be the only time we'll get there this summer. Cousin Joe and his wife Pat want to get in on the action. They can't make it tomorrow, but might be able to do so next Monday.
******
Oh yeah, the new furniture. The color is remarkably complimentary to to both the carpet and the stone work in the fireplace. The thistle green goes well with the slate-ish greens of the faux stone and the few natural stones. And the chairs are very comfortable. Just ask the cats. If Chester ever gets off the sofa, I might see how it feels to lay down on it. The old love seat was just a tad too short.
Arriving home, I found that there had been absolutely no rain at the Aerie at all. Terry had been watering the garden, but, perhaps, not enough. Everything (cucumbers especially) was wilting in the bright, hot, almost 90 degree sunshine. After we went through an picked (another quart) string beans and a couple of zucchinis, I watered; completely soaking the ground around the cukes and beneath the beans. Late this afternoon, everything was perking up nicely. I'll give everything another dousing in the morning as there's only a 30% chance of late afternoon T-storms on Monday while the temperatures will soar into the 90s.
While picking and watering, I noticed there were
******
Tomorrow, Terry and I will be going blueberry picking at the nearby Murphy's U-Pick Blueberry Farm in Mansfield. We want to go early so as to avoid the heat of the day so will be there shortly after they open the gate at 8 AM. Monday is usually the best time to go because they are closed on Sunday and, therefore, the plants have a double bounty of ripe berries ready for plucking. We missed going last year because we were on the road, but two years ago we were each able to fill a two quart bucket in less than an hour. Tomorrow won't be the only time we'll get there this summer. Cousin Joe and his wife Pat want to get in on the action. They can't make it tomorrow, but might be able to do so next Monday.
******
Oh yeah, the new furniture. The color is remarkably complimentary to to both the carpet and the stone work in the fireplace. The thistle green goes well with the slate-ish greens of the faux stone and the few natural stones. And the chairs are very comfortable. Just ask the cats. If Chester ever gets off the sofa, I might see how it feels to lay down on it. The old love seat was just a tad too short.
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
At the Bolt Hole, July 6, 2011
Drove up to the Bolt Hole today just to see how things are. They are just peachy-keen! If you forget the tall grass that still needs cutting (Mark did the largish area west of the cabin and in front of the barn and garage, but the rest needs mowing), the deer flies (Mark says they are horrible, I've not seen one), the need to cut firewood somewhere, and the thunderstorms that rolled through at 3:15 PM while I was doing some of the grass cutting. Those storms lasted for an hour and a half and dropped quite a bit of rain on my yard. Using the old "one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three..." method, I estimated the closest lightening was about a mile away. At least the rain dropped the very warm temperatures (82 degrees) to more reasonable levels (68 degrees). (I got readings of 90 and 91 degrees on the NYS Thruway on my way up.) The rains put a halt to any plans to cut the remainder of the yard today. There's still a watch on until 9 PM tonight but the radar looks pretty tame at the moment.
I'll get out there tomorrow around 10 AM if there are no more showers and get the rest of the yard done. Might even get a little of the shooting lane and the ATV trails cut if they're not too tall for the mower. Then again, I could pull out the brush hog.
Then it's off into the woods to scout up some firewood. I've got my thoughts on some old blow downs that--in the past--were just a little too far off the ATV trails to make hauling cut wood out easy. Might have to look for a way to cut a new trail in closer to those downed trees.
I've also got to get some measurements for a new propane line. I had the energy supplier pull his tanks (two 100# hulks) since I only use about one 20# tank a year for my cooking purposes. I'll need to figure out how to run a line from the woodshed into the stove and what size fittings I'll need. I thought about using the same stuff we have on the trailer, but that's rubber hoses and mice and red squirrels trouble me on that count. There's also a metal flexible fitting available at Tractor Supply that just might do the trick if the diameter is AOK.
So those are my tasks for the next few days: cut grass, find firewood, hook up stove to a new source of propane. None of them are difficult--if the bugs remain scarce and it doesn't rain any more. (Even then, the stove stuff is indoors!)
******
Terry's off to see her Mom in NJ tomorrow. It's Mom's birthday. The Lady will be87 88 years young. She's been complaining about some sciatic pain but it's hardly slowing her down a bit. (Well, except for begging out of the trip to Maine last weekend.)
Terry will have to return to the Aerie by Friday noon. The new furniture will be delivered "between 2 and 4 in the afternoon" they say. We hauled the old stuff out in to the garage this morning before I left and I'll take it to the dump when I get back. There are a couple of pieces here at the Bolt Hole that need discarding and I'll be taking out with me. The cats were looking around as we hauled the stuff into the garage and you could see the little cogs in their heads whirling as they thought about the loss of lounging chairs. I'm sure they will have the new stuff broken in by the time I get home Sunday night.
[UPDATE: Terry had to cancel her trip. Seems Mom was going to AC for the day, sciatica be damned! It's "only" a 2 1/2 hour bus ride. One way.]
******
It's that time of year again. Saw signs this morning for U-Pick Blueberries at our favorite farm. Guess I'll have to give Joe a call as he wants in on stocking the freezer and jam shelf. I know I'll be there come Monday morning. That's the best day of the week since they are closed on Sunday for some family time, R&R and grass cutting.
I'll get out there tomorrow around 10 AM if there are no more showers and get the rest of the yard done. Might even get a little of the shooting lane and the ATV trails cut if they're not too tall for the mower. Then again, I could pull out the brush hog.
Then it's off into the woods to scout up some firewood. I've got my thoughts on some old blow downs that--in the past--were just a little too far off the ATV trails to make hauling cut wood out easy. Might have to look for a way to cut a new trail in closer to those downed trees.
I've also got to get some measurements for a new propane line. I had the energy supplier pull his tanks (two 100# hulks) since I only use about one 20# tank a year for my cooking purposes. I'll need to figure out how to run a line from the woodshed into the stove and what size fittings I'll need. I thought about using the same stuff we have on the trailer, but that's rubber hoses and mice and red squirrels trouble me on that count. There's also a metal flexible fitting available at Tractor Supply that just might do the trick if the diameter is AOK.
So those are my tasks for the next few days: cut grass, find firewood, hook up stove to a new source of propane. None of them are difficult--if the bugs remain scarce and it doesn't rain any more. (Even then, the stove stuff is indoors!)
******
Terry's off to see her Mom in NJ tomorrow. It's Mom's birthday. The Lady will be
Terry will have to return to the Aerie by Friday noon. The new furniture will be delivered "between 2 and 4 in the afternoon" they say. We hauled the old stuff out in to the garage this morning before I left and I'll take it to the dump when I get back. There are a couple of pieces here at the Bolt Hole that need discarding and I'll be taking out with me. The cats were looking around as we hauled the stuff into the garage and you could see the little cogs in their heads whirling as they thought about the loss of lounging chairs. I'm sure they will have the new stuff broken in by the time I get home Sunday night.
[UPDATE: Terry had to cancel her trip. Seems Mom was going to AC for the day, sciatica be damned! It's "only" a 2 1/2 hour bus ride. One way.]
******
It's that time of year again. Saw signs this morning for U-Pick Blueberries at our favorite farm. Guess I'll have to give Joe a call as he wants in on stocking the freezer and jam shelf. I know I'll be there come Monday morning. That's the best day of the week since they are closed on Sunday for some family time, R&R and grass cutting.
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Aerie Report, August 1, 2009
A glorious day here at the Aerie!
After yesterday's rains (1.07 inches ending around 4 PM), last night was cool and comfortable that we turned the window fan off and opened the window wide. That was good and bad. Today dawned at just 58 degrees but it did so damn early. The heavy dew acted just like rain in the downspout of the gutter and one drip leaking around a joint just outside the window beat a tattoo upon the pipe further down. If the fan had been running we probably would not have heard it but with the fan out of the window it was torture. At 5 AM. And once we started stirring, Chester and Shadow let it be known that they wanted to be fed. NOW!
Back to the rest of the day. As I said just 58 degrees this morning and it stayed cool with light breezes and puffy cumulus clouds casting shadows making it even more comfortable. The temperature reached a high of 80 degrees at around 4:30 PM. Much nicer temperature-wise than you might expect for the first day of August.
I took the stepladder out to see if I could fix the dang drain pipe by applying some silicone sealant in the joint. I guess I'll find out next time it rains.
Hunting hasn't started yet but gathering continues. I got another pint-plus of raspberries and blackberries off the hillside today. Turned them into a pint-and-a-half of syrup by mashing the berries in a sauce pan and adding a 1/4 cup of water, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1 teaspoon of corn starch (thickener). I heated the whole thing to a rolling boil and then poured it into pint canning jars. Once cooled it went into the fridge since I didn't seal the jars in a water bath. Besides, it's only going over ice cream, pancakes, and pound cake in the next couple of weeks. Once the blackberries really start producing, I may make some more but that will get the water bath treatment for longer storage.
Gardening hasn't done too badly either. Terry and I had another quart of string beans for the freezer as well as a cup or so for dinner. There's a dozen cucumbers in the fridge waiting to be processed into something besides salad. And on the counter there are three small zucchinis of the 9-10 inch size that are just right for grilling. Last year we put in a dozen each of everbearing and June bearing strawberries. Right now the June bearers are looking lush and sending out runners all over their side of the patch. The everbearing strawberries are also sending out runners but they are also loaded with berries and flowers. I don't get many berries at a time but for the past week or so it's been five or six every other day. I pulled six onions the other day that are as round as a softball but flattened a bit. I braided their tops together and hung them on the covered porch to dry out a bit. After the rain yesterday, I knocked the tops over on the rest of the onions and I'll pull them on Monday or Tuesday. I've never grown onions before but these look to have done well.
About the zucchini...The neighbor down the hill finally put out some free squash on Thursday and Terry and I stopped to get a couple of yellow summer squash and two zucchini on our way back from wine tasting. They were to be just enough for a couple of loaves of bread. Then I get an email from Joe in NJ offering me all the zucchini I will take. (He says he's not allowed on the neighbor's properties any more and there's no one who will stand still long enough for him to give a few to.) But, just like last year, our zuke plants got the hint and starting to produce. I don't know that they will be as prolific as last year but then again, I don't have as many plants in the ground.
After yesterday's rains (1.07 inches ending around 4 PM), last night was cool and comfortable that we turned the window fan off and opened the window wide. That was good and bad. Today dawned at just 58 degrees but it did so damn early. The heavy dew acted just like rain in the downspout of the gutter and one drip leaking around a joint just outside the window beat a tattoo upon the pipe further down. If the fan had been running we probably would not have heard it but with the fan out of the window it was torture. At 5 AM. And once we started stirring, Chester and Shadow let it be known that they wanted to be fed. NOW!
Back to the rest of the day. As I said just 58 degrees this morning and it stayed cool with light breezes and puffy cumulus clouds casting shadows making it even more comfortable. The temperature reached a high of 80 degrees at around 4:30 PM. Much nicer temperature-wise than you might expect for the first day of August.
I took the stepladder out to see if I could fix the dang drain pipe by applying some silicone sealant in the joint. I guess I'll find out next time it rains.
Hunting hasn't started yet but gathering continues. I got another pint-plus of raspberries and blackberries off the hillside today. Turned them into a pint-and-a-half of syrup by mashing the berries in a sauce pan and adding a 1/4 cup of water, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1 teaspoon of corn starch (thickener). I heated the whole thing to a rolling boil and then poured it into pint canning jars. Once cooled it went into the fridge since I didn't seal the jars in a water bath. Besides, it's only going over ice cream, pancakes, and pound cake in the next couple of weeks. Once the blackberries really start producing, I may make some more but that will get the water bath treatment for longer storage.
Gardening hasn't done too badly either. Terry and I had another quart of string beans for the freezer as well as a cup or so for dinner. There's a dozen cucumbers in the fridge waiting to be processed into something besides salad. And on the counter there are three small zucchinis of the 9-10 inch size that are just right for grilling. Last year we put in a dozen each of everbearing and June bearing strawberries. Right now the June bearers are looking lush and sending out runners all over their side of the patch. The everbearing strawberries are also sending out runners but they are also loaded with berries and flowers. I don't get many berries at a time but for the past week or so it's been five or six every other day. I pulled six onions the other day that are as round as a softball but flattened a bit. I braided their tops together and hung them on the covered porch to dry out a bit. After the rain yesterday, I knocked the tops over on the rest of the onions and I'll pull them on Monday or Tuesday. I've never grown onions before but these look to have done well.
About the zucchini...The neighbor down the hill finally put out some free squash on Thursday and Terry and I stopped to get a couple of yellow summer squash and two zucchini on our way back from wine tasting. They were to be just enough for a couple of loaves of bread. Then I get an email from Joe in NJ offering me all the zucchini I will take. (He says he's not allowed on the neighbor's properties any more and there's no one who will stand still long enough for him to give a few to.) But, just like last year, our zuke plants got the hint and starting to produce. I don't know that they will be as prolific as last year but then again, I don't have as many plants in the ground.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Grass, rain, berries and
bread-and-butter pickles
It only got down to around 67 degrees overnight, partly because the clouds moved in to serve as a blanket. It was completely overcast this morning and threatening to start raining at any moment instead of the late afternoon that was forecast last evening. Sure enough, when I checked the radar on weather.com there was a massive rain system located to the southwest down by State College and heading our way. Based on the speed of leading edge of the system I saw there I estimated the rain to start around noon. Time to cut the grass!
Terry went off to Curves (aka The Gossip Center) and to get the mail at 8 AM while I cranked up the mower. An hour and a half later I was just finishing up when she drove back in the driveway.
A quick check of the mail and a cold drink and I was back out with my collecting bucket to gather raspberries and a few lingering blueberries and early blackberries from the hillside. I got about a pint total. Enough for a few days of cereal, pancake or ice cream topping if used sparingly.
While I was out picking berries, Terry started to make some bread-and-butter pickles from the cucumbers we had gathered over the last few days. She had 15 of the cukes on hand, a fact that surprised even her since we had eaten several in a yogurt and dill salad on Monday and Tuesday.
I got back into the house around 11 AM just as the rain picked up. (It had started drizzling a wee bit as I started out to pick around 10 AM.) I seriously think the 80 degree temperature forecast last evening will be a mere dream as the temperature topped out at 71 at 10:30 AM--just as the rains came.
So far, and it's now 2 PM, it's been a gentle, soaking rain that should do the garden and lawn good without washing out the newly raked and packed dirt road on which we live.
Well, the cuke and onion slices have soaked long enough. Time to process them into pint jars and seal the pickles up to age a bit.
Later.
Terry went off to Curves (aka The Gossip Center) and to get the mail at 8 AM while I cranked up the mower. An hour and a half later I was just finishing up when she drove back in the driveway.
A quick check of the mail and a cold drink and I was back out with my collecting bucket to gather raspberries and a few lingering blueberries and early blackberries from the hillside. I got about a pint total. Enough for a few days of cereal, pancake or ice cream topping if used sparingly.
While I was out picking berries, Terry started to make some bread-and-butter pickles from the cucumbers we had gathered over the last few days. She had 15 of the cukes on hand, a fact that surprised even her since we had eaten several in a yogurt and dill salad on Monday and Tuesday.
I got back into the house around 11 AM just as the rain picked up. (It had started drizzling a wee bit as I started out to pick around 10 AM.) I seriously think the 80 degree temperature forecast last evening will be a mere dream as the temperature topped out at 71 at 10:30 AM--just as the rains came.
So far, and it's now 2 PM, it's been a gentle, soaking rain that should do the garden and lawn good without washing out the newly raked and packed dirt road on which we live.
Well, the cuke and onion slices have soaked long enough. Time to process them into pint jars and seal the pickles up to age a bit.
Later.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Might go berry pickin' in the mornin'
Terry and I may well go picking more blueberries in the morning. It will have to be early, however, as she has an EGA group meeting at 10 AM in Big Flats, NY.
If we do go, we can expect to fill our buckets in about an hour so she can get on her way to her hen party...I mean sit and stitch.
Here's a picture I took of Murphy's Blueberry Farm two weeks ago n our first picking expedition of the season. They quite rightly brag about their "million dollar view."
View from Murphy's Blueberry Farm
Looking just a shade east of south
View from Murphy's Blueberry Farm
Looking almost due south
If we do go, we can expect to fill our buckets in about an hour so she can get on her way to her hen party...I mean sit and stitch.
Here's a picture I took of Murphy's Blueberry Farm two weeks ago n our first picking expedition of the season. They quite rightly brag about their "million dollar view."
View from Murphy's Blueberry FarmLooking just a shade east of south
View from Murphy's Blueberry Farm Looking almost due south
Monday, July 13, 2009
Monday evening at the Bolt Hole, July 13, 2009
Terry and I went berry picking again this morning. Murphy's Blue Berry Farm is open 8 AM to 8 PM Monday through Saturday. The late afternoon rains caused them to shut down early on Saturday (around 4 PM) and with no picking on Sunday, the bushes were loaded with deep blue, ripe berries this morning. We go there around 8:30 and there were already two dozen folks spread out along the rows of bushes. Most were there to earn a few extra bucks at 75 cents a pound. They were teenage girls and some seniors. Others were trying to fill the freezer like Terry and I.
We each filled a paint bucket in a little over an hour and a quarter and left before the sun got too warm. We only picked berries from five or six bushes to fill our buckets. When we weight out we had over nine pounds of berries in total. Mrs. Murphy said we could have earned a little over $7 for our effort. We paid her the $14 ($1.50 a pound) we owed and went on our way. When we packaged them for the freezer we had seven quarts. Six went into the deep freeze and one went into the fridge for more immediate consumption.
We'll probably go back one more time to assure plenty for the winter.
******
After an early lunch and another cup of coffee, I packed up the Tundra and head for the Bolt Hole in the Adirondacks 220 miles northeast of the Aerie. I do like to drive! And, with its lumbar support, the driver's seat in the truck is very, very kind to my back. Of course when I finally get out of the truck my legs are a bit wobbly....
******
It was 57 degrees when we went out berry picking this morning and Terry says it got up to all of 73-74 degrees this afternoon. The temperatures are a bit cooler here at the Bolt Hole and I expect it might get down into the 40s tonight. The weather quacks are predicting a high of only 72 or so on Tuesday and maybe 78-80 on Wednesday. The average high for this date is around 82. As might be expected when things are coming out of the north there's only a slight chance of rain late Wednesday and into Thursday. That's when the winds will shift to the southwest. Should be no problem getting all the grass cut Tuesday if I don't run out of gasoline.
We each filled a paint bucket in a little over an hour and a quarter and left before the sun got too warm. We only picked berries from five or six bushes to fill our buckets. When we weight out we had over nine pounds of berries in total. Mrs. Murphy said we could have earned a little over $7 for our effort. We paid her the $14 ($1.50 a pound) we owed and went on our way. When we packaged them for the freezer we had seven quarts. Six went into the deep freeze and one went into the fridge for more immediate consumption.
We'll probably go back one more time to assure plenty for the winter.
******
After an early lunch and another cup of coffee, I packed up the Tundra and head for the Bolt Hole in the Adirondacks 220 miles northeast of the Aerie. I do like to drive! And, with its lumbar support, the driver's seat in the truck is very, very kind to my back. Of course when I finally get out of the truck my legs are a bit wobbly....
******
It was 57 degrees when we went out berry picking this morning and Terry says it got up to all of 73-74 degrees this afternoon. The temperatures are a bit cooler here at the Bolt Hole and I expect it might get down into the 40s tonight. The weather quacks are predicting a high of only 72 or so on Tuesday and maybe 78-80 on Wednesday. The average high for this date is around 82. As might be expected when things are coming out of the north there's only a slight chance of rain late Wednesday and into Thursday. That's when the winds will shift to the southwest. Should be no problem getting all the grass cut Tuesday if I don't run out of gasoline.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Aerie Report, Sunday evening 7/12/09
Gorgeous day here at the Aerie today. Late yesterday afternoon we had a cold front move through with some severe T-storms and heavy rains. One moved from west to east just north of here across the NY state line and produced penny sized hail. We just got some strong winds and one torrential down pour that yielded 0.83 inches of rain in about 40 minutes.
This morning we had a low temperature of 53 degrees but that quickly went up to 68 degrees this afternoon after the sun got over the hill.
That's cool for a July 12th but it sure beats the cold that hit Key West yesterday! The weather station at the International Airport reported -11 degrees. As Watts Up With That asks: Will they keep that false reading in the NOAA books just like they kept the false "record highs" from Hawaii earlier this summer?
******
I didn't go blue berry picking last Friday because the eel work at the labs took longer than I expected, the lawn needed cutting and the forecast was for rain on Saturday. (It did finally arrive very late in the day.) Terry and I will be heading over to the blue berry farm early tomorrow morning to see about getting two gallons of berries for the freezer.
******
I spent a couple of hours this afternoon cutting some long, straight posts and poles to support a chicken wire fence across the front of the garden I built into the side of the hill. That's where the tomatoes, cucumbers and most of the beans are planted. I caught a small bunny in there last Thursday and want to make it a little harder for it to eat my beans. I'm told that nothing will eat the tomato plants being as how they are related to belladonna which is, of course, poisonous. I've planted some marigolds along the edge as well. Still, two-foot high chicken wire may make it more difficult for a bunny to steal sting beans. It might also do a little something to deter raccoons and even deer. If they can find some other food source nearby. (Who am I kidding? This little fence will do nothing to keep the coons and deer out. And if a bear wants in/ It's all over.)
******
Speaking of lawn care.... It's time to head up to the Bolt Hole to cut some grass--again. I'll be hitting the road right after lunch tomorrow (Monday) with plans to do just that. Tuesday and Wednesday are supposed to be lovely days up there so I'll spend time walking behind the old Craftsman lawn mower getting some exercise in.
Maybe I'll get some roof tar and see if I can stop the garage roof from leaking so much if I get the time. Mark's got a bucket of barbed nails with rubber washers some place as well as a half tub of tar.
******
The Mets won two in a row? Holy Cow! As Rizzuto would have said.
This morning we had a low temperature of 53 degrees but that quickly went up to 68 degrees this afternoon after the sun got over the hill.
That's cool for a July 12th but it sure beats the cold that hit Key West yesterday! The weather station at the International Airport reported -11 degrees. As Watts Up With That asks: Will they keep that false reading in the NOAA books just like they kept the false "record highs" from Hawaii earlier this summer?
******
I didn't go blue berry picking last Friday because the eel work at the labs took longer than I expected, the lawn needed cutting and the forecast was for rain on Saturday. (It did finally arrive very late in the day.) Terry and I will be heading over to the blue berry farm early tomorrow morning to see about getting two gallons of berries for the freezer.
******
I spent a couple of hours this afternoon cutting some long, straight posts and poles to support a chicken wire fence across the front of the garden I built into the side of the hill. That's where the tomatoes, cucumbers and most of the beans are planted. I caught a small bunny in there last Thursday and want to make it a little harder for it to eat my beans. I'm told that nothing will eat the tomato plants being as how they are related to belladonna which is, of course, poisonous. I've planted some marigolds along the edge as well. Still, two-foot high chicken wire may make it more difficult for a bunny to steal sting beans. It might also do a little something to deter raccoons and even deer. If they can find some other food source nearby. (Who am I kidding? This little fence will do nothing to keep the coons and deer out. And if a bear wants in/ It's all over.)
******
Speaking of lawn care.... It's time to head up to the Bolt Hole to cut some grass--again. I'll be hitting the road right after lunch tomorrow (Monday) with plans to do just that. Tuesday and Wednesday are supposed to be lovely days up there so I'll spend time walking behind the old Craftsman lawn mower getting some exercise in.
Maybe I'll get some roof tar and see if I can stop the garage roof from leaking so much if I get the time. Mark's got a bucket of barbed nails with rubber washers some place as well as a half tub of tar.
******
The Mets won two in a row? Holy Cow! As Rizzuto would have said.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
More chores
I feel like I've been working on a rock gang lately. I spent the morning (8:00 AM 'til 12:30 PM) hauling more rocks out of the woods and moving smaller rocks and limbs about to create a terraced effect in the woods themselves. I figure I've got enough rocks now to start building the retaining walls I want for raised beds. As always I have to take into account the power line ant he transformer that's atop one of the poles outside. The garden space has to be arranged so the power crew can get in here with a cherry picker if something happens to that garbage can up there.
The construction will begin tomorrow.
After lunch I went out and did battle with the blackberry canes again and came back bloodied but victorious. I had a quart of the suckers and now have enough in the freezer to make some blackberry jam.
The construction will begin tomorrow.
After lunch I went out and did battle with the blackberry canes again and came back bloodied but victorious. I had a quart of the suckers and now have enough in the freezer to make some blackberry jam.
Monday, August 04, 2008
Blueberry Pickin'
Terry and I went blueberry pickin' this morning at Murphy's Farm just west of Mansfield. It's a pick-youself operation although they do have some quarts for sale at $4 each.
The place is at the top of the hill and faces south with a gorgeous view. We arrived early and there were still several people there already. It was still cool and yet the sun was warming our backs as we worked. Being a Monday, there were lots and lots of ripe berries on the bushes and we only traveled about ten yards down our respective rows (about 10 plants in all). We picked for just one hour and each filled our bucket. I have to say it was nice to be able to pick berries without a thought of thorns and stickers. I feel like I gave a pint of blood picking raspberries and blackberries. I may have to invest in a kevlar jacket. Plus it was a whole lot easier than hauling stone out of the woods.
When we checked out, we had a nice talk with Deb Murphy who was manning the scales and cash register. The cost was $1.40 per pound and we each had over four pounds f blueberries. According to Ms. Murphy it takes, on average, 1 1/2 pounds to make a quart. So by picking them ourselves, we got them for half price over the going rate in the stores.
I asked her about the time it took to get her place in operation and she said that from the time they first put the bushes in it took around 6-7 years before they had a crop large enough to open for a u-pick business. Every January they start pruning the bushes. They take out half of the new growth and half of the old growth. It may take them all of January and February to get all their plants pruned properly. And they may have to dig the snow out of the way to do the job. She says they really, really hate that part! But the work they put in has yielded a beautiful blueberry farm. Their bushes cover about 2 acres and they are constantly adding plants. I could see five or six relatively new rows as well as the odd plant here and there where an old plant had to be replaced.
Ms. Murphy says that they will still be open daily until around the 19th of August. After that it will be Saturdays only until the berries are gone. I may go back again later this week.
We put 3 quarts of berries in the freezer (for pancakes, buckle and muffins), one quart in the fridge (for cereal), and the rest (3 quarts) we made into Blueberry Jam--7+ pints of it. (That's 7 quarts for a little over $12 and a little sweat equity.)
The place is at the top of the hill and faces south with a gorgeous view. We arrived early and there were still several people there already. It was still cool and yet the sun was warming our backs as we worked. Being a Monday, there were lots and lots of ripe berries on the bushes and we only traveled about ten yards down our respective rows (about 10 plants in all). We picked for just one hour and each filled our bucket. I have to say it was nice to be able to pick berries without a thought of thorns and stickers. I feel like I gave a pint of blood picking raspberries and blackberries. I may have to invest in a kevlar jacket. Plus it was a whole lot easier than hauling stone out of the woods.
When we checked out, we had a nice talk with Deb Murphy who was manning the scales and cash register. The cost was $1.40 per pound and we each had over four pounds f blueberries. According to Ms. Murphy it takes, on average, 1 1/2 pounds to make a quart. So by picking them ourselves, we got them for half price over the going rate in the stores.
I asked her about the time it took to get her place in operation and she said that from the time they first put the bushes in it took around 6-7 years before they had a crop large enough to open for a u-pick business. Every January they start pruning the bushes. They take out half of the new growth and half of the old growth. It may take them all of January and February to get all their plants pruned properly. And they may have to dig the snow out of the way to do the job. She says they really, really hate that part! But the work they put in has yielded a beautiful blueberry farm. Their bushes cover about 2 acres and they are constantly adding plants. I could see five or six relatively new rows as well as the odd plant here and there where an old plant had to be replaced.
Ms. Murphy says that they will still be open daily until around the 19th of August. After that it will be Saturdays only until the berries are gone. I may go back again later this week.
We put 3 quarts of berries in the freezer (for pancakes, buckle and muffins), one quart in the fridge (for cereal), and the rest (3 quarts) we made into Blueberry Jam--7+ pints of it. (That's 7 quarts for a little over $12 and a little sweat equity.)
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Aerie Chore Report.
I spent the better part of the day hauling flat stones out of the woods using the hand truck. before I could bring them out I had to first move them down the hillside to the trail where the hand truck could be used. Last time I moved stones up the hill to the driveway on the adjacent lot. Today it was a matter of getting them down to the old logging road at the base of the hill. I figure that leaves lots of rocks in the middle of the woods that I can take either up or down.
While walking about in the woods I carried my loppers with me and knocked down a good deal of dead wood. I made not so neat piles of the branches and logs across the slope of the hill in the hopes of slowing down erosion. (There really isn't very much erosion except in two little gullies that carry rain water and snow melt from the upper driveway into the woods. I laid some of the branches across these in several places as little check dams.)
After six hours traipsing in the woods and tossing stones around I'm sore from the bottom of my feet to the lower part of my back. (I sure could have used a couple of discus throwers or shot putters!)
I did take some time off immediately after lunch to go and pick some blackberries. I managed a little over a quart just from the bushes along the driveway and power line right of way. Now I've almost enough to make some blackberry jelly as soon as Terry can get some cheesecloth to act as a strainer. (I'd be happy with jam but Terry complains about the seeds getting stuck between her teeth, so jelly it is.)
And I'm taking tomorrow off from the stone work as Terry and I go pick some blueberries in the morning. Then we'll go over to the Tioga County Fair in the afternoon.
While walking about in the woods I carried my loppers with me and knocked down a good deal of dead wood. I made not so neat piles of the branches and logs across the slope of the hill in the hopes of slowing down erosion. (There really isn't very much erosion except in two little gullies that carry rain water and snow melt from the upper driveway into the woods. I laid some of the branches across these in several places as little check dams.)
After six hours traipsing in the woods and tossing stones around I'm sore from the bottom of my feet to the lower part of my back. (I sure could have used a couple of discus throwers or shot putters!)
I did take some time off immediately after lunch to go and pick some blackberries. I managed a little over a quart just from the bushes along the driveway and power line right of way. Now I've almost enough to make some blackberry jelly as soon as Terry can get some cheesecloth to act as a strainer. (I'd be happy with jam but Terry complains about the seeds getting stuck between her teeth, so jelly it is.)
And I'm taking tomorrow off from the stone work as Terry and I go pick some blueberries in the morning. Then we'll go over to the Tioga County Fair in the afternoon.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Berry pickin'
After dinner this evening, I went out to pick some blueberries. Not on the Aerie's slopes but up the hill in the state forest. There's a section that was logged a couple of years ago and where the wildlife folks erected a fence to keep the deer out while the saplings got a foothold. The fence also keeps the bears out.
The fence has two gravity operated, trap door style gates that permit access to the fenced enclosure. You're allowed to go inside to hunt or whatever. I went there earlier in the week to do a little birding and found several patches of blueberries. I only had a plastic bag in my pocket (just in case)and found that inconvenient as the twigs and blackberry canes easily ripped the bag. Still I came back to the house with two cups of very large, juicy blueberries.
Today, I went back with a 2 quart TupperWare container and in about 45 minutes of picking managed to harvest a quart of blueberries. Most came from a patch I did not pick the last time and these were pretty decent sized berries. They may not have been as large as the ones you can buy in the store but they were among the largest I've picked in the wild...well except for those I found in Wharton State Forest in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. But those hardly count. They were high bush berries as opposed to the low bush I was picking here. Furthermore, those in the Pines were probably from an abandoned blueberry farm. (Side note: Nearly all the blueberries sold on the east coast and on up through Canada come from Hammonton, NJ in Burlington County which is on the west side of the Jersey Pines.)
Like the berries I picked the other day, they got placed into Zip-Loc bags and placed in the freezer. They will one day end up in pancakes, muffins, or buckle.
The fence has two gravity operated, trap door style gates that permit access to the fenced enclosure. You're allowed to go inside to hunt or whatever. I went there earlier in the week to do a little birding and found several patches of blueberries. I only had a plastic bag in my pocket (just in case)and found that inconvenient as the twigs and blackberry canes easily ripped the bag. Still I came back to the house with two cups of very large, juicy blueberries.
Today, I went back with a 2 quart TupperWare container and in about 45 minutes of picking managed to harvest a quart of blueberries. Most came from a patch I did not pick the last time and these were pretty decent sized berries. They may not have been as large as the ones you can buy in the store but they were among the largest I've picked in the wild...well except for those I found in Wharton State Forest in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. But those hardly count. They were high bush berries as opposed to the low bush I was picking here. Furthermore, those in the Pines were probably from an abandoned blueberry farm. (Side note: Nearly all the blueberries sold on the east coast and on up through Canada come from Hammonton, NJ in Burlington County which is on the west side of the Jersey Pines.)
Like the berries I picked the other day, they got placed into Zip-Loc bags and placed in the freezer. They will one day end up in pancakes, muffins, or buckle.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Rain and raspberries.
We had 0.15 inches of rain this morning in a two hour shower. Then it was cloudy and cool for most of the day. The temperature never got above 70 until the sun came out for an hour or so around 6 PM. The average high for this date is supposed to be around 82 degrees. We haven't seen that since last Sunday. There is a chance we will see 80 degrees tomorrow as there is no rain forecast and the sun is supposed to be out all day.
I went out to see how the raspberries were doing and came back with about a pint of red berries. Terry added some sugar to them and cooked them into a sauce for spooning on some vanilla ice cream.
I also got about dozen blackberries from one cane that was ripe. This cane sits over some flat rocks so perhaps the heat of the rocks pushed this bunch of big, luscious berries to ripen before the rest. When the rest absorb some of the recent rain and tomorrows sun we should be up to our tuchises in blackberries--provided Mr. Bruin doesn't beat me to them. I've already got plans for some blackberry jam and they always taste great with vanilla ice cream (doesn't everything?)or over breakfast cereal.
I forgot to mention that yesterday evening as I was getting ready to bring the bird feeders in for the night, I glanced out on the new patch of grass I planted and saw a doe and a buck (four points in velvet) standing there munching on the grass. They were quite calm about my being on the deck as I was around the corner of the house and the wind was blowing from them to me ad a pretty good clip. I was even able to walk over to Terry's window and let her know we had company. She went to the front window and watched. But the wind must have shifted or something because they suddenly spooked and went bounding off down the hill. Made be get off my butt and put out the two game cameras I have kept for around the Aerie. (Mark has three of mine up at the Bolt Hole where they are taking all kinds of pictures of bears--when they work.) If I get pictures of the deer or Mr. Bruin I'll post some of them here.
I went out to see how the raspberries were doing and came back with about a pint of red berries. Terry added some sugar to them and cooked them into a sauce for spooning on some vanilla ice cream.
I also got about dozen blackberries from one cane that was ripe. This cane sits over some flat rocks so perhaps the heat of the rocks pushed this bunch of big, luscious berries to ripen before the rest. When the rest absorb some of the recent rain and tomorrows sun we should be up to our tuchises in blackberries--provided Mr. Bruin doesn't beat me to them. I've already got plans for some blackberry jam and they always taste great with vanilla ice cream (doesn't everything?)or over breakfast cereal.
I forgot to mention that yesterday evening as I was getting ready to bring the bird feeders in for the night, I glanced out on the new patch of grass I planted and saw a doe and a buck (four points in velvet) standing there munching on the grass. They were quite calm about my being on the deck as I was around the corner of the house and the wind was blowing from them to me ad a pretty good clip. I was even able to walk over to Terry's window and let her know we had company. She went to the front window and watched. But the wind must have shifted or something because they suddenly spooked and went bounding off down the hill. Made be get off my butt and put out the two game cameras I have kept for around the Aerie. (Mark has three of mine up at the Bolt Hole where they are taking all kinds of pictures of bears--when they work.) If I get pictures of the deer or Mr. Bruin I'll post some of them here.
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