Fried Green Tomatoes; Happy/Sad; Bragging Rights

Something pretty. Gazanias and Verbenas. The Gazanias are so cheerful, they seem to smile.
Check out my Garden Blog to see more beautiful flowers.






The North Deck is stained. Only 500+ more sq. ft. to go. The can says 72 hours till the stain is fully cured. Then we'll put everything back and start on the next deck.














I took the swing sets down today. That makes me so sad, because every time I take something down or pack up or get rid of stuff, it reminds me that the kids and grandkids are grown. I'm still hoping for some more grandchildren from our youngest two children, but the oldest grandkids aren't settled enough for me to wish for great-grands from them. You will hear this lament over and over.














That was our supper the other day. Fresh cucumbers, cabbage (green and red) tons of tomatoes, and loads of apples.















Braggin' time: Check out the scale reading on this Tomato: 22.2 ounces.















There were 3 tomatoes in all that were 16 oz. or over. Some of these slices were just about 5" across. They came from Supersteak and Ultra Boy plants.














And now for the "Fried Green Tomatoes"

These are easy to make. Cut about 1/4 " slices of green tomatoes. Put flour, salt and pepper in a brown paper bag or plastic bag. Shake the tomato slices to lightly coat. Melt butter or margarine in a skillet. When hot, fry the tomatoes on both sides Until they are brown and crunchy. Make sure they are cooked through or they will taste puckery. When the second side is done, sprinkle a few drops (about 1/4 tsp.) of maple syrup on each slice.

The green tomato season is when we go off our carefully planned weight-loss program, and use as much margarine as it takes to get the green tomato slices brown and crunchy.

Knitting: Honeycomb #3 (natural white)--the back and one front completed. The other front will be done tonight, and, if I'm lucky, the button/buttonhole/neckband will also be done. I just love that pattern. I plan on knitting 3 more for Alpaca Man, all different colors and sizes, then I will modify the pattern and submit it somewhere.

Till next time: A grandma is old on the outside and young on the inside.
(John Wright, age 7 1/2)

Hit the Deck!!!

Read through this blog post patiently. There are big gaps because there was a power- out in the middle of my post. When I started again the unsaved part had to be reloaded, then manipulating the pictures gave big gaps in the work. I don't have time to figure it out right now--have to get to my "screwing". Read patiently, skip the gaps, and there is a comment section after a long, long gap. I may try to play with it later ( or not),

Yesterday it was time to hit the deck. I had the camera set on some setting that gave me the best resolution for the Honeycomb sweater. Forgot to reset it. Pictures have only grey and green. Kind of interesting.
Since I'm starting on the North deck, everything had to be moved to the big deck to the east.













Notice the unfinished rails--the slats are missing. They were stained and stored last fall.















Those hanging baskets under the deck should be bright red.


















Step one: Wash the wood. I only had to sand the rails. Too bad that you have to let pressure treated wood dry for one season before staining/painting. Since I built the rails about this time last year, I couldn't stain them any more.
Last year I bought a deck wash that was caustic. This year they have a "greener" product, but I'm using up the old stuff.



Nice white floor boards, and rails stained.

We had another good rain last night, so I have to wait till the wood is dry before staining the floor. Funny thing, the deck wash container says that you can let the wood partially dry and start staining if you are using Latex stain (completely dry for oil base stain). Yet the Latex stain can says the floor needs to be dry. I'm erring on the side of caution and waiting for the floor to dry. It's not like I haven't got anything to do in the meantime.





This is my yarn for the September mystery sock knitalong which the Ravelry Sock Knitters Anonymous Group
is having. There will be a monthly sock to knitalong, but only September will be a mystery, the pattern by Nancy Bush.









Today I will just be screwing around. That means I will mount the deck rail slats on the north side, since the floor is too wet to paint. Then I will go to the Nursing Home, and I think I will take Mom out to the Ice Cream Parlor for a treat.
Till next time: I can remember comparing my grandmother's veined, knotted, brown-splotched hands with my own--of which I was inordinately proud. So little time ago, yet now, here I am with my grandmother's hands. (Pam Brown)