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Honeysuckles and Hydrangeas

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I could happily spend my Summer days working in my garden. My yard is filled with honeysuckles, hydrangeas, fresh herbs, berries, and daliahs.

My Annabelle hydrangeas are probably my favorite hydrangea in the yard.

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The big white blooms make the watering and tending worth the time.

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I don’t live working in my yard in the cold winter months. Yesterday was hydrangea deadheading day. Technically, this should be done right after the flowers are done blooming, but that also coincides with back to school craziness. So, most years Annabelle has to wait.

Here’s how she looks today. Yep, looks like a bunch of dead sticks to me! Notice how dark, gloomy, and mucky it looks?

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In this same area of our yard, but along the fence, is the spot I planted my honeysuckle plants.  I wanted something to cover the ugly fence a bit. When I first bought them, I didn’t trellis them up because I wanted to see if they grew ok in that spot.

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They seemed to be very happy there, so I worked on weaving the vines through trellises yesterday.

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Vines are really not fun to untangle, but I know these honeysuckles will be much happier when they aren’t falling over and getting trampled by the dog.

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Looks like it’s time to pressure wash that fence!

It was muddy and cold out there, but at least I can check honeysuckles and Annabelle hydrangeas off of my To Do list!

Happy gardening!

Time To Make Pesto!

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My garden is overflowing with basil this year.  We have had a warm and dry summer, with very little rain, and my basil plants were VERY happy with those conditions.  Last year I waited too long to use the last of my basil and the frost got to it first.  This year, I made better choices.  I chopped that basil down and brought it inside for some pesto-yumminess.  This is from just one plant.
Oh, the smell!  I made all of the teenage boys, who were at my house watching football, smell the basil and appreciate the home grown goodness.  (They are good kids and happily smelled the basil and pretended to care that I was going to make pesto.)
Sometimes, when I make pesto, I just throw in a little of this and a little of that.  This time, I actually measured.  Here’s what I did.
I put the following ingredients into the food processor:
2 cups packed basil
4 small cloves of garlic
3/4 cup of pine nuts
3/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3/4 teaspoon natural sea salt
After a few second in the food processor, it’s all done!
I was able to make several batches with the basil from my garden, so I put some in mini jars and put them in the freezer.  I was really wishing that I had ice cube trays because I think that would have worked out better for freezing.  Oh well, maybe next year.  
***Here’s a little tip.  Pine nuts are not cheap. If you are making lots of pesto, buy the big bag from Costco.***
I made those teenage boys some sandwiches with my (borrowed) panani press (thank you Leslie).  The sandwiches had sourdough bread, homemade pesto, turkey, provolone cheese, and sundried tomatoes.  They enjoyed the sandwiches and told me the pesto was really good… I told you they were good kids!
Happy pesto making!

Growing Basil and A Pesto Recipe

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We have had the warmest and sunniest Spring and Summer that I can ever remember!  It has been a true gift, since I don’t have very many nice things to say about the Pacific Northwest during the rainy season (every month of the year except August).  Do you know which plant really, really, really loves hot and dry weather?
Basil!
Sometimes I plant my basil in May or June and it literally rots right in the ground.  It’s usually just too wet around here.  Since we had such a beautiful Spring, I decided to trust my luck and plant early again.  This time it paid off!
I have more basil than I know what to do with!  Ok, I’m actually having no problem using it… but you know what I mean.  Well, what do you do when your garden is overflowing with basil?
Make pesto, of course!
Last time I shared this recipe, it wasn’t actually a recipe.  I threw in a little of this and a little of that and chopped it all up in the food processor until it was ready.  This time I measured everything for you!  So, here’s what I did.
I put the following ingredients into the food processor:
2 cups packed basil
4 small cloves of garlic
3/4 cup of pine nuts
3/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3/4 teaspoon natural sea salt
After a few second in the food processor, it’s all done!
The first night I served this over this spaghetti noodles, as a side dish.  The second night I made my favorite, EASY, pesto appetizer.

Making this appetizer is SUPER easy.  I mixed a little pesto with a block of cream cheese and spread it on a platter.  Then I topped it with more pesto and some chopped sundried tomatoes, and served it with crackers.  Sometimes I buy the bottle of sundried tomatoes that are packed in oil and other times I buy the package that is packed dry.  The oil packed tomatoes are a bit harder to work with and chop, but my kids seem to like these better.  I think the dry tomatoes look prettier because it doesn’t get oil all over your appetizer.  Either way, it’s very yummy.
One last tip about making pesto:
Pine nuts are very expensive and that doesn’t make me happy.  There is really no cheap substitute for pine nuts, so if you are making pesto, you just have to buy them.  That’s the reason pesto is so expensive to purchase in the grocery store.  I just discovered that Costco sells pine nuts!  I bought a big package for $20.  The package holds 4 3/4 cups of nuts, which is a steal compared to the $7 you will pay at the grocery store for a tiny little container.  I know I will be making pesto all Summer long, so it was worth it for me!

 Pesto is so fresh and yummy!  I just love it!  Once my daughter got over the muddy green color, she fell in love.  My son loves any type of food you put in front of him, so it wasn’t a hard sell for him. Me?  I love anything I can grow in my own garden, pick, and turn into dinner.  I can’t imagine anything better!
Happy gardening!

Dolen Diaries

Bunnies, Berries, and Basil

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Ok, there is actually nothing in this post about basil, but the title sounded better than Bunnies, Berries, and Zucchini.
Our garden is really starting to take off.  We’ve planted several new varieties of berries this year, which I’m really excited about.  We planted the Brazzelberries, which are dwarf raspberry bushes that do well in pots.  I planted a few new strawberries too.  I still need to make several trips to Biringer Farms for my BIG picks, but at least I can pick myself a snack now and then.
We’ve started lots of different seeds in the garden too.  I usually wait until May to plant my basil and tomatoes because they don’t like cool and wet conditions.  I’ll have to see how things go this year, with our new little friends hopping around.  Most of you know that we have a pet bunny at our house, but this year we also have a family of wild bunnies living under our deck.  They are awfully cute, but I’m afraid they will love our lettuce a little too much!
My garden is my happy place, so I’m thankful that Spring is finally here and my mini-homesteading can begin for the season.

How about you?  Have you started your planting yet?  What do you plant in your garden?  Are you trying anything new this year?  I’d love to hear about it!
Happy planting!

Creating An Outdoor Learning Space

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The seeds and starts have been planted in our little garden and my attention is turning to how we use our outdoor space.  My daughter is 10 now, and she has used the playset behind our garden, less and less over the past two years.
I always said that, when the kids outgrew the playset, we could get an above ground pool for this area.  It’s a nice flat spot that gets lots of sun!

The problem I’m having is that I just don’t see them using a pool.  We love swimming and go to the local pool several times a week in the summer, but my kids are spoiled.  The pools are really warm. (Side story:  When they were little I would hook up the hose to the hot water heater so we could have warm water in the blow up pool.) We live in the Pacific Northwest, and nights are not warm.  The pool water in an unheated pool is pretty chilly!  I truly think that if we put a pool in this spot, I would go unused.

My mind has been wandering toward the idea of Outdoor Learning in my classroom lately.  I’m kind of obsessed with Reggio Emilia and Reggio Inspired learning spaces.  You can read more about my Reggio obsession on my literacy blog.  I’ve been reading about wonderful outdoor spaces that simply invite kids into nature, and it made me start to wonder if I could create something inspiring out here.
Can’t you image a little arbor or bridge inviting a 10 year old and her friends into a mini outdoor school to play?

I’m picturing a few Adirondak chairs, tree stumps for side tables, maybe a table made from a tree round, a chalk board on the fence, and balance beams made from logs.  Little outdoor lights, hanging from the fence would complete the space.  The little kids (the 10 year olds) might use it to play school, or games on the chalkboard, while the big kids (the 14 year old crowd) could use it as a hang out that’s a little further away from mom and dad on a summer night.  Maybe I’m dreaming, but I think this could be a really cool space!
I’ve created a Pinterest board with ideas for my outdoor learning space.  Some of the ideas are more suited to a school environment, but there are lots of ideas that could be used in the backyard as well.  

I can see using lots of natural materials, which might keep cost down.  Now, I just need to find a neighbor who is cutting down a tree and doesn’t need the wood.
Happy outdoor space planning!

A Spring Gardening Kind Of Day

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Hello Spring Break!  I really love you!
It was a beautiful, sunny, day in the Pacific Northwest and I spent my afternoon in the garden. My hubby and I went to Flower World a few days ago and I had some new plants waiting for me.
We bought 2 new blueberry bushes.  (This time, I promise that I will remember to water them MORE than the other plants in the yard because they really need lots of water. Lesson learned.)
We bought 2 Raspberry Shortcakes by Monrovia.  I can’t wait to to see how this dwarf raspberry does in a pot on my deck.  Yes, I have visions of sitting of sitting in my comfy chair, and reaching over to grab myself a snack.

My youngest was a pretty good little helper.  We added chicken manure to the garden and she helped turn the garden and rake it out.

I pulled a ten year old ivy plant out of the pot, on my deck, and replaced it with my little Shortcake.  I will FOREVER be pulling ivy out of that, I’m afraid.

I planted lettuce and parsley starts, and I also planted a few seeds.  I planted carrots, beans, and two varieties of zucchini.  I will add basil and tomatoes in May, and I will plant more lettuce and beans in two weeks.  I also have potatoes that will be grown in bags this year. I wanted to try something new, so I’ll let you know how the potato bags do.

The strawberry plants got a little TLC today too, with fresh soil.

At the end of the day, I propped my feet up on 5 bags of dirt, and poured myself a glass of Grape Crush.  
Cheers, to a job well done!
Happy gardening!

How To Keep Your Kids Busy Over Spring Break

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Spring break is almost here!  We are sticking pretty close to home this year and it made me think about what we are going to do to keep ourselves busy.  This blog is all about home and family.  I love to share cooking, sewing, gardening, and art projects that we are doing around here so I thought I’d let you in on my secret weapon.  I must confess that I don’t always come up with amazing ideas on my own to keep my daughter busy.  I love books and I’m always on the lookout for fun How-To books for her.  Over the past few years, these have provided hours of entertainment.
*In full disclosure, I’m part of the Amazon Affiliate program, so if you choose to buy a product by clicking on it, I get a little kick-back.  I promise, I wouldn’t tell you to buy these books unless I really and truly loved them.*
First up is the Mom and Me Cookbook.  I have a pretty big children’s cookbook collection and this one is my absolute favorite.  
If you’re up for a little sewing, this book has some great projects for beginners.  My daughter and niece made both of the projects on the front of the book, had a great time, and learned a new skill.
 
 
If gardening is your thing, then this next book is great for getting a few little projects going.

 
 
The next item is something that I don’t actually own, but it is on my wish list.  I’ve been wanting to do some experimenting with wire art in the classroom and at home.  I thought this would be a good way to start and see how we like it.

 
 
I bought this pipe cleaner book when we were on vacation and needed an activity for our down-time.  It was a great way to keep kids busy.  Did you know the best way to cut pipe cleaners is with nail clippers?  The book comes with pipe cleaners and shows you how to make all sorts of different animals.

 
 
Ok, this one is awesome.  Have you ever heard of watercolor pencils?  You color with them, like normal pencils, but then you add water to the colored-on paper with a paintbrush.  It makes it look like a watercolor painting!  You might be thinking, “Ok, that’s great, but I can’t draw.”  Well, neither can I!  This book walks you through the drawing process, step by step, and you end up with a pretty cool product.  My daughter liked this one and even framed a few of her paintings.

 

My last suggestion is the Loopdedoo.  It’s a little “machine” that helps you make friendship bracelets out of embroidery floss.  Each bracelet takes just minutes and there are tons of different looks you can make.  This was a Christmas present one year and it kept my daughter busy for the entire break.

I can’t wait for Spring Break.  Sigh.  Arts and crafts, gardening, sewing, and baking are on my To Do list.  Doesn’t that sound lovely?

Happy shopping!

Little House In The Suburbs

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It might just be one of my favorite books of all time.

No, I don’t plan on getting goats.  Our HOA would not be happy.  I do love the idea that you don’t have to live on a farm to grow (at least some of) your own food.  I’ve always been a gardener, but this book may just take my gardening to a new level. I am finding so many places where I want to talk to the authors and say, “Yes, I know exactly what you mean!”
I had big plans, one summer night, to head to the grocery store and pick up a few things for dinner.  I was thinking about grilling something, finding some fresh veggies, and whipping up a side dish to go along with it.  Well, the day wore on and I got lazy.  It was getting close to dinner time and I thought, “I have no desire to go to the store.  I know this sounds lazy, but I’ll just go out and pick tomatoes and basil and make a pasta salad.  We’ll call that dinner.”  I made my pasta dish and picked some berries from the yard to serve on the side.  Everyone was happy and had no idea that I had something fabulous planned instead.  In the book, Little House In The Suburbs, the author talks about almost that same scenario.  The “lazy mom’s dinner” often looks like frozen pizza, but it can easily turn into grabbing whatever is ready in the garden.  I have to admit, it was a pretty awesome feeling to create a meal out of the produce growing in my backyard rather than having to run out to the store…and it was all because I was feeling lazy.
I was talking to my friend, Jenny,  about gardening and I think she summed it up nicely.  She said, “I just want to grow enough food that I can have my kids go outside and pick their own snacks everyday.”  Doesn’t that sound perfect?  I don’t have any intention of being completely self-sufficient with my gardening, and push myself over the edge.  I do want to grow just enough that we have food to nibble on,  I can have fun playing in the dirt, and my kids have a true understanding of where their food comes from.
I still want chickens. And a compost bin.  That’s all.
Happy reading and gardening!

A Summer Garden Tour In The Middle of Winter

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I was dreaming of Summer weather this week.  It’s been 60 and sunny for most of the week and I can’t wait to get my garden back in shape. I know the thought of 60 degrees makes our East Coast friends jealous.  (Sorry!!)  I was scrolling through garden posts that I’ve written for my blog and ran across my outdoor tour.  I thought it was a good time to re-run this and we can all dream of Summer together.  Here goes…

We’ve had a rather mild summer in the Pacific Northwest. Mid 70’s and partly sunny has been a good day around here. I haven’t set up a single fan in my house. The air conditioner is still in the closet, and the blow up pool is still hiding up in the rafters. Summer has been pleasant, but certainly not a scorcher.
Although, most of us around here are complaining about the lack of heat, my yard and garden are loving this weather. I thought I’d take you on a little garden tour today.
This rocking chair has been in my classroom for the past several years. It needed a repair job and some paint touch ups. I brought it home, fixed it up, and now I don’t think it’s going back to school. I really like it out on the deck. It kind of reminds me of a rocker someone might have had on their porch in the 40’s or 50’s.
I brought the rooster pillow out to add a little warmth to the chair.
Our grass is still quite green and the sprinkler has only been on a handful of times.

My sweet peas are very happy out there on those window trellises.

Most of my flowers are ready to be divided.
This is the area of free plants from Carpooler Michelle. She gave me starts when I moved in. I think they’ve filled in pretty nicely.

This next little area is a work in progress. Someday I think it will be a patio. For now it’s no-man’s-land. I put my little picnic table out there last weekend, just so I wouldn’t have to look at dead space. I finally got around to repairing my old wagon. Note to self – go to Flower World and buy a few plants to put in the wagon. Ooooh, or better yet, maybe I’ll just wait for pumpkins!
My red Adirondack chairs are my favorite place in the yard. I love sitting here, in the sun, watching the kids play on the swingset or splashing in the blow up pool.
Yep, it’s my happy place. My geraniums are doing the best they have ever done! I think they like the cooler temps.


Dahlias have to be my favorite flower for cutting. Without the heat and sunshine, I don’t have many this year.

Not too bad for a yard that had zero plants when we moved in.
The veggie garden is on the left, perennials on the right. I’m thinking I may only get green tomatoes this year.

I’m hoping these plants will fill in. I bought the three perennials on the clearance table. They look pretty pathetic right now, but I’ll give them a few years to prove themselves. The urn was a roadside freebie. The stump was one of those things I just couldn’t figure out how to get rid of. What’s that old saying about life giving you lemons? Well, now I love this little corner. I’m glad I couldn’t get rid of the stump.

I was very patient and now my impatients are in full bloom. The pitch fork-plant hanger is a new addition this year.
Why, hello there, Annabelle. I’m so happy you’re blooming this year! I planted two Annabelle hydrangeas last year by my grandpa’s old plow. White hydrangeas make me happy.

I picked these hydrangeas two weeks ago and they still look beautiful in my kitchen. (Still loving my $1 milk bottles!)


Thanks for taking an outdoor tour with me! I’m off to pick a bouquet of flowers.

Happy gardening!

Homemade Pesto

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What do you do with a garden full of basil?
Make pesto, of course!
I made a big batch of pesto earlier in the week and I’ve been using it in recipes all week long.  We’ve been having pesto appetizers, pesto on sandwiches, and pesto on our pasta.  It’s so fresh and yummy!  I just love it!  Once my daughter got over the muddy green color, she fell in love.  My son loves any type of food you put in front of him, so it wasn’t a hard sell for him.

I’m sad to say, I can’t even share my pesto recipe with you.  It was one of those – a little of this, a little of that – type things.  I put as much basil into the food processor as I could fit, added garlic, olive oil, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese.  I added salt to taste and called it good.  How’s that for a precise recipe?  Thankfully, we’ve had a pretty dry summer, so I’m sure there will be more basil to come!
Happy gardening!