strawberry goosefoot~

strawberry goosefoot

I have been trying for some time to identify this plant and I finally found out what it is.

According to Wikipedia it's scientific name is Chenopodium capitatum, Blitum capitatum or more commonly known as Strawberry Blite, Strawberry Goosefoot, Strawberry Spinach, Indian Paint, and Indian Ink.  It is native to most of North America throughout the United States and Canada.  It's also found in parts of Europe and New Zealand. 

I'm going to call it by the name given of Stawberry Goosefoot.  If you look closely at the leaves they resemble that of a goose's webbed foot.

Flowers are small, pulpy, bright red, resembling strawberries and I found out are also edible, tasting like spinach.   The juice from the flowers was also used as a red dye by natives.  When we were kids we used to rub the fruit on our fingernails and pretend we just had them polished ... this stuff used to grow wild all around the farm yard.  Mom always called it the finger nail polish weed ... and I knew that wasn't it's name; but that's what she called it. We never ate it ~ just played with it.

The greens, I found out are also edible raw or cooked like spinach.  If eaten raw though, they are suppose to be eaten in moderation as they contain oxalates; which apparently are a calcium compound found in kidney stones ~ so I'll stick with the cooked.

I haven't tried eating it yet ... have you?? Let me know.

~~

I've been busy in the kitchen ... jammin' again.

Over the last two days I made a batch each of Strawberry, CranApple, Blueberry, and Raspberry Jam.

Look at these cranberries ... aren't they pretty~

BUT ...

Look at them now ...

cooked down with fresh apple slices, sugar and pectin ... 

WOW!

 

I just LOVE the brilliant color and flavor of this jam.  No other additives like food coloring were added ... the color is just from the skins of the cranberries.  I wish our computers had smellavision ~ and you could dip a spoonful from the kettle ~ yum... the aroma from the cranberries and apples together is breathtaking and so delish!!

 Until next time ...
So it goes in my neck of the woods.
~mel

summertime~

Remember the chicken dance?  Okay... we're aging ourselves now!

This is Myron Florens and kids from the Lawrence Welk show ... I know ~ more aging ourselves!






Remember awhile back when I posted about Dear Hubby having a gathering one afternoon with his Aunt Cookie and brothers ...

Duke, Slim, Aunt Cookie, JD, Rod

Well ~ Aunt Cookie thought it was important for the younger generation to learn the chicken dance... so she gave lessons.  What a hoot!

Do you have an Aunt Cookie in your family?  I hope so!

I hope your summer holds this kind of memory ~ laying in the grass ... catching up with your cousin.

Bailey and Lilly

Have a wonderful summer ... making cherished moments with family and friends:)

Until next time ...
So it goes in my neck of the woods.
~mel

garden fest~

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to all you wonderful Daddy's out there!!! 

Sam and G'pa

My post today is about the same as it was for my sisters Darla and Cheryl about our Dad :)

He was truly loved by many and is missed by many too.  We were blessed to have him all the years we did before the Good Lord called him home.

~~

Also, as Dar had posted ~ we (myself, Darla and my daughter Staci) took a road trip yesterday to the Cable Garden Fest.  It was a wonderful way to spend the day if you're into plants:) especially succulents ~ they have tons of them. 

Just thought I'd share a few snapshots from the day:

the waterfall I WISH I had

... some of the lupines we saw along the highway ~

they are blooming in the ditches ~ and are so pretty

Staci ~ admiring the lupines

from a distance and upclose

~ I can't recall the name of this succulent; but I'm sure Dar knows it.  I know Staci bought one of these plants ~ I'll have to check with her.  Or you can see it for yourself over at Simply Succulents website.  Check them out ... they have an awesome place!

I just love the hypertufa pots sitting around this place.

I wonder if I can get Dear Hubby to build me an arbor THIS BIG! 

Such a pretty color combo ... the patriot hosta with the maiden hair fern and the purple coleous. 

Everywhere you look ... there are little succulent plants and sedums tucked into the rocks.  Each sporting unique and interesting features.

There are THOUSANDS!!! of succulent plants to choose from at this nursery ... very cool :)

They even sell topiary turtles!

Yes ~ it was a wonderful way to spend the day:)

Watching my baby taking pictures ...

... and waving to her and Dar amongst the flowers.

Until next time ...

So it goes in my neck of the woods.

~mel

bear~

~this is why we take the bird feeders down from the deck in the summer ... and why I lock the sliding door

I had to go to town this morning ~ on the way I saw 2 young yearling bear and a young wolf. 

These are some older pics that I have; but still thought I'd share.

A few years back we had this big fella sitting on the edge of the yard sunning himself ~ we named him Bruno

There was the momma with five cubs a few years ago too ... in the tree right outside the bedroom window ~

Same bear we had the early pictures of ... later on in the fall.  Four of the cubs survived.

and another young momma with babies a few days later up another tree in the yard ...

and let's not forget 'ShaggyAss' ... I don't know why he looked like he did :(

There was also this young bugger ... who came around all hours of the day ... checking things out.  I was sitting on the deck one morning, having my coffee, and he came across the yard and started up the steps ... until I let out a yell that he was close enough!

Yes, I LOVE living in the woods ~ being up close and personal with God's creatures.  We've had all kinds of critters in our yard ~ bear, bobcats, porcupines, even fox to name a few that have even ventured up the steps and on the deck looking in the windows and checking us out.

The woods is their home ... just as it's ours.  We respect their territory as we hope they'll respect ours.

Until next time ...

So it goes in my neck of the woods.

~mel