In a Pickle

We love to garden but really aren't very good at it. We either kill or thieves take most of what we try to grow. Occasionally we have problems with neglect too. The first year we had a salsa garden and every week Bill would make these amazing batches of homemade salsa. That was several years ago and we haven't been able to grow decent tomatoes since.

This year Austin decided to grow cucumbers and we have had a great crop. We've had over 40 so far after picking twice. We made 12 quarts of spicy pickles and have given raw cucumbers to neighbors and friends. The pickles have gotten mixed reviews. Bill and I like them but they are very spicy. I gave a quart jar to Melanie's family and her husband called them, "strangely addictive." High praise from Mark I suppose. Her son liked them too. My kids sort of like them.

I've been having cucumber and tomato salads that have been fabulous. The tomatoes are unbelievable again so yeah for us!

The spinach died before we got any (rabbits!). We have a huge mass of fresh basil and the chili peppers are starting to sprout. Our pumpkins are taking over one corner of the yard.

Dylan has been diligently watering every day and gives us the report of male/female flowers. He's so excited to see some fruit grow. Last year we tried watermelons and when he got one about the size of a baseball he was so curious that he kept touching it until it died. Hopefully the pumpkins won't meet with the same fate. Gardening is a sort of passion with him. He's been saying since he was four that he wants to be a florist. His great-uncle Henry had a nursery for years so maybe it's in the blood!