Fresh from the garden...

I picked the okra today, and this is what I got...while I was at it I picked the bell peppers also.
There was enough okra for a nice mess....I cut it and mixed in the meal and froze it for nice treat this winter. And I had enough from day before yesterday fix a smaller mess...
The bell peppers I cleaned and cut and froze....every year I do that and then we use it in chili, and I made what I call a bell pepper casserole. I prefer fresh bell peppers when I make stir-fry, but if I don't have one, I will even use the frozen in it. To at least get the flavor.
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I have shown this before, but have to show it again.

I have to tell you about this morn....

I got up and checked email, and decided to do a load of laundry and hang it out. Puss Puss was the only cat that stayed inside last night...as I passed by the door, I notice Bubbie wanting in. I went to the front door to see if Cougar and Mama Cat were out front, but neither was out there.

I intended to put the laundry in and come right back up and feed the two cats that were in. both cats came down....Bubbie even got up on the washer right in front of me wanting to be petted. I set him down till I could finish. My sewing table sits right behind my washer and he got up there and put his paws up on my back...and I turned around talking to him and he started to nip me! He really wanted my attention...he doesn't do it hard...nothing like to bring the blood or anything. Just his way of saying, "Hey, Look At Me!"

Well, I did pet him, but instead of coming up, I got busy with something else. I was down there quite a while when I heard Roger up. I came up in a few minutes, and he had fed the two cats that were in. But had not looked for the others...by then they were on the front porch and I let them in.

Anyway, Roger proceeded to tell me that Bubbie had got him up. And the video above is so similar to what he done to Roger. Bubbie got up on Roger and pedal pushed...then he would stand there and just stare Roger in the face. Then maybe he would reach under the cover and get Roger with his paw...then back to pedal-pushing with his paws. Then give him the stare. Or maybe get right in his face till his whiskers tickle Roger. No reaction from Roger....so he nips Roger in the side....and Roger really covered up then. And it was back to the pedal-pushing...then the stare till he finally persuaded Roger to get up.

Anyway, this reminded me of the Simon's cat video above...

The way I told this is not half as funny as it is in real life...Roger has me in tears by the time he finishes a tale.

The garden report....

I was hanging out a couple loads of clothes this morn and thought of doing a gardening post.
For those of you not familiar with it, that is okra above. I planted a few hills this year, but have not managed to capture a bloom yet. I will probably have to mix what I do get with green tomatoes to have enough to fry. That is okay....it is good that way, too. I can remember we were kids, mom would just throw everything together and fry it...green tomatoes, okra, hot pepper, and maybe even cucumber. She would just cut/chop it in small chunks, mix with mainly meal with a little flour mixed it, and fry till browned. Talk about yummy! That was just so good with soup beans, or anything else for that matter.
Remember last year we had an abundance of bell peppers...well, for some reason they are scarcer this year...I am not sure what the problem is. But we have plenty frozen from last year, so it is no big deal. We use them in chili, spaghetti sauce sometimes, and I make a bell pepper casserole that my kids just love.
And look here....we have regular tomatoes getting ripe...
And just look at the photo below....
I had enough of these little cherry tomatoes to get my fill...and so did Roger. Plus we saved a few for my next door little neighbor's little girl. She absolutely loves fresh garden stuff...she will pick a bell pepper off the plant and eat it as if it is an apple.

From the back yard garden spot

I decided to see what was out in the garden this afternoon...and thought I would show you what I brought in...
or most of it. I did gather a few more full-sized tomatoes but did not try to fit them in the picture.
I could not believe all the cherry tomatoes...they are big cherry but little when compared to a regular tomato.
I have never used them to make salsa, but they seem to have lots of flavor. And I actually used enough of the Super Fantastic tomatoes to make more than half the salsa. So, it should have lots of flavor. My salsa has a lot of juice, which is what I like. I just hope I get to can several more jars.

As for the bell peppers, we cleaned them and I cut them into strips. I put a handful in a sandwich baggie and close the flap. Then I place all the pepper filled sandwich baggies into a large gallon sized Ziploc baggie and freeze for later use. I use them in chili and sometimes spaghetti sauce. And instead of making stuffed peppers, I make a bell pepper casserole. I also will use them in stir-fry if I don't have a fresh one available.

I sure enjoy eating tomatoes straight from the garden...right now I am eating them with salt. Later I will start using Italian salad dressing part of the time. And have you ever taken your favorite veggies-- in my case it is tomatoes, cucumbers, cauliflower, onions, bell peppers--anyway, cut them in bite sized pieces. Use a big bowl that has a lid, and cover with Italian dressing....let soak over night preferably. They are so yummy and refreshing on a hot summer day.