4:30 a.m. The alarm rings, time to get up. My husband Joe gets ready for work while I pack something for breakfast, which he’ll eat at break. He doesn’t want to eat this early. It seems by the time he gets all his medicine taken he isn’t hungry.
With less than a month to go before school starts, summer is winding down. Most farms have had plenty of moisture, so crops on the surface look good. However, there may be some hidden nutrient deficiencies, hidden yield losses, and even insect and disease issues starting to surface.
Country cooking means different things to different people. For many, it is the comfort foods they grew up with. From fried chicken to mac and cheese to meatloaf, there are plenty of dishes that fall under the country cooking umbrella. But a pot of chicken and dumplings may be one of the most popular and recognizable country cooking staples.
H.E.R.B.I.E. was one of the things in the Fantastic Four movie that my daughter loved best. It’s a far cry from when I was a seven-year-old boy and the little robot premiered in the Fantastic Four cartoon.
I should be starting supper but it is so hot and humid again today. I don’t even want to think of cooking. Maybe it’ll cool off when the sun goes down and then I’ll probably make something easy. Today I washed our laundry then also washed Ervin and Susan’s laundry. It is almost dry. I still have a few pieces hanging on the porch. It looked like rain so I didn’t want to take any chances of getting the clothes wet again.
After a somewhat late start, crops are starting to thrive. While the temperatures have been hot, most farmers having been getting some rain. Generally, rain (in moderation) makes grain! Overall crops are looking good but may be about 1-2 weeks behind in maturity. The first part of August may turn slightly cooler which helps crops grow and improve yields.
The aroma of barbecue is hard to resist and the flavor is even better.
Blueberries are out in full force when the weather warms. Blueberries are delicious freshly picked, and can be topped with some light cream for a refreshing dessert. Blueberries also are equally at home baked in muffins, breads and cobblers.
Fall means many things: leaves changing color, cool breezes and plenty of apples to pick. When an afternoon spent at the local orchard provides a bounty of apples, people can turn them into flavor-packed treats.