Firsts of the Month

The beginning of month on the homestead brought not only the first of July, but also the firsts of the garden harvest.  Considering how late I was in getting my garden planted, I was taken by surprise by this discovery.  Although given all the rain we've had, in hindsight, I should have been expecting it. But I'll say it again:  Thinking ahead is not my strength.  And also, it's much more fun to be surprised--at least when we're talking about homegrown produce. 

So despite having made other plans this past week, most of it was spent gathering, clipping, picking, and snacking.  The snacking part is my favorite, by the way.  There's simply no way to describe the satisfaction I gain from popping a juicy ripe berry or a plump sun-warmed cherry tomato in my mouth while I'm harvesting away.  Trust me,  it's a fantastic experience.  

And I'm proud to say that even though my hands (and my mouth) were full, I managed to snap a few photos.  So even though you didn't get your taste buds tickled like I did, you can still feast your eyes on the firsts of the summer harvest!

I was just beginning my morning walk last Wednesday when I spotted some curious objects dangling from the heirloom bean plants.  On closer inspection,  I realize it was Royalty Purple beans! These pretty pods are easy to spot due to their color, and they sure stand out among the mass of green leaves filling the bean patch.  

I picked all the purple beans I saw and then headed to the other bean aisles, where I found more ripe beans--and this time they were speckled!  These were the Dragon Tongue and Tongues of Fire beans, characterized by occasional bright pink and purple splashes of color along the pods.  They're very exciting to look at, but they're also packed with that good old-fashioned green bean flavor.  I speak from experience, because I cooked some up for supper that evening!

A little further down the path beyond the beans is the Zinnia patch, and the next day they began to bloom.  It made me so happy I did a little dance--salsa style, of course, since Zinnias hail from Mexico.  The bright pops of color really energize the garden, and they also draw in those wonderful pollinating insects.  Zinnias are perfect for cutting, too.  The more you cut, the more they bloom, and that makes them ideal for my stand at the farmer's market. 

P.S.  That's the Royalty Purple bean plants at the left of the photo, and not only are the bean pods purple, the plant stems and flowers are too!  And to the right of the Zinnias are my Blue Basil blooms, which I plan to use in my new line of teas later this summer.  Obviously there's a lot going on in this photo!

As I was wandering along clipping the Zinnias that morning, I heard a familiar clucking.  I glanced toward the sound and sure enough, there was my little Isbar hen taking her chicks on their first adventure away from the coop.  I watched them for a bit as I worked, enjoying the show.  The mama hen was teaching them how to peck and scratch in the soil, and they'd get so excited when they'd uncover a creepy crawly critter.  I tell you what, shows like this are so much more appealing to me than most of what's on television these days--Antiques Roadshow not included!

Friday morning brought another first:  An Evening Sun sunflower had unfurled its petals and was angling toward the rays of sunshine peeking through the clouds.  Sunflowers are always stunning, but I just adore the color of these fiery beauties.  They sure brighten up the tomato patch! 

It was a beautiful sight, and it just happened to be growing near yet another (and incredibly exciting) first:

 The first of the ripe blackberries!  Yippee!!

I almost couldn't contain myself. I actually got a bit lightheaded and could've sworn there was a marching band parading around between my ears playing (of all things), The Battle Hymn of the Republic.   This reaction may seem slightly strange to some, but unfortunately I'm used to it.  And since braving the wild blackberry patch and returning to civilization unscathed is considered a victory around here, it sort of made sense. 

I said "sort of", just to be clear. 

And brave the patch I did.  I picked all the juicy ripe berries I could find, and then I ran straight into the house and whipped up one of these...

A wild blackberry cobbler made from my own special recipe.  It was so good, I ate the entire thing myself. 

I'm not kidding.  Okay, I gave Will a bite.  But I'm faster than he is with a fork so I got most of it.

I have no excuse for my actions, so I'm not even going to try to make one up.  But what I did make up was another cobbler for him and my husband, and a few more to take to the market that evening. 

Thankfully, the market cobblers didn't sell, and we got to eat them for breakfast Saturday morning.  I say "thankfully" because I really don't like parting with my blackberries.  I don't know why I decided it was a good idea to try to sell some.  I think I was on a roll (and a sugar high), and was just feeling generous.  Believe me, it will never happen again.  Just to prove my point, I even made a vow: 

No Wild Blackberries Will Ever Leave This Homestead Again As Long As I'm Alive. 

I enjoy theatrics; I bet you noticed.  But it's pretty good, right?  Or maybe just ridiculous.  But let's go with good, just for kicks.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not entirely opposed to sharing a bite of  blackberry cobbler with any of you.  All this means is that officially in order for me to uphold my vow, the blackberries (especially in cobbler form) legally cannot leave my property.  But here's the fun part:  If you'd like to try a bite of my special wild blackberry cobbler you'll just have to come to me.  That sound alright?

Well let me tell you, it would be worth the trip!  Just let me know ahead of time so I can get myself psyched up to share.  After all, I do have a greedy side...but it comes and goes so odds are you'll be safe!