Dad's Garden, Part 9

We have officially entered the stage of summer gardening that I like to call "The Crunchy Stage".  

Most plants are past their peak and the heat is making these plants work really hard to produce.

The tomatoes have been busy making really tasty fruit.  The tomatoes start blooming at the base of the plant and progress up the plant until it runs out of vine. 

This vine has bloomed all the way out to the tip of the plant.  The tomatoes are weighing down the end of the vine.  

The one plant in the garden that seems to really enjoy the sun is the okra.

Just when the rest of the garden seems to be looking at bit tired, the okra comes on strong. 

I mean - look at it!  If you look you can see that there are pods growing all the way up the trunk at every space available.

Dad has some pods selected to mature and dry out on the plant.  These pods will provide the seeds to start the plants for next year.  

I am the Bubba Blue* of okra.  I love it!  How do I like okra?  Well...I like

fried okra

boiled okra

pickled okra

roasted okra

okra and tomatoes

okra gumbo

Mmmmm.  I have a bag of okra in the refrigerator that I brought home from Mom and Dad's.  I need to clean it and make something yummy with it.  

(*of Forrest Gump fame)

I am a Proud Boy Scout Momma!

Tonight was Ben's first Boy Scout court of honor as senior patrol leader.  

Before the ceremony Ben helped to get all of the awards and badges arranged.

Then there was the wrangling instructing the new scouts on how to be a color guard.

Three handsome men standing at attention while the color guard files in.  

Pretty snazzy uniforms, huh?

Reciting of the Boy Scout oath.

Ben receiving his badges that he has earned since the last Court of Honor.

Being congratulated by Mary Breeden, scoutmaster extraordinaire and 

wonderful motivator for this troop.

This is what Ben came home with tonight:

Badges for weather, forestry, soil and water conservation, fingerprinting, auto maintenance, 

bird study, zombie defense, and duct tape merit badge.

BTW, the zombie defense and duct tape merit badges are spoof badges.

They are earned during camp while completing fun activities.  

They don't count toward Eagle requirements but they do get added to the sash.

The Davis Inn patch was earned by climbing the 2 mile difficult hike up a mountain to the Davis Inn where they have to complete several activities like branding, carving, campfire cooking, lashing, and a basic course on edible plants.  

He also earned a World Conservation Award panda badge - kind of a cool deal.  

He is only the third scout from his troop to earn a panda patch.  

I am very proud of Ben and his troop.  This is a very busy bunch of boys - and it shows.  

Out of this troop of about 15 there were 72 badges and awards given!

It was also mentioned that this troop has a 100% Eagle rate.  

None of the active scouts age out before they reach eagle.  

That speaks very well of the scoutmaster and all of the adult help for this troop 

as well as the motivation of the boys.  

Makes a momma proud.

My Two High Schoolers

All the while feeling like a private investigator, I took my camera with me when I went to pick up the kids after school today.  

I am glad that no one seemed to notice me.  I don't think I would enjoy having to endure questioning about why I was photographing children in a school yard.  

Allison was first out and immediately noticed the camera.  

The girl never misses a chance to make a goofy face.

(I have no idea where she got that trait.)

I think she makes a pretty cute freshman...

Even though she busted out a few sweet dance moves while walking to the car.

No music required. 

Ben, who I believe also noticed the camera, never let on that he saw me until he was at the car.  

Upperclassmen have to be all cool like that.

We are having a great start to the year so far.  

The kids are happy with their classes and teachers.

Bruce and I are happy that they seem to be doing well so far.  

I hope that we stay in this happy groove for a long time.

Klingon

I have a cling-on who keeps a pretty close watch on me during the day.  

Somebody's missing her litter mates while they are at school.

Herbicide! (heh)

When we arrived home this evening I was admiring my herb pots 

and realized that my dill was almost completely gone!

In place of the ferny dill leaves I found 7 Swallowtail caterpillars!

My poor dill plant didn't stand a chance!  

This beauty is an eating machine!  

Not unlike my 16 year old son.  

Pizza Night!

I have been making homemade pizzas forever.  

But until a couple of weeks ago I hadn't make grilled pizza.

Tonight was attempt #2.

Before we begin all the ingredients have to be ready for the grill - once the grilling starts 

things move pretty quickly.

I made several pizzas so that everyone could top their own. 

It is fun to slap the dough onto the grill, close the top, and see how fast things change.  

Big puffy air pockets that get nice and crispy once the crust is flipped.  

Once the crust is flipped the sauce, parmesan cheese and toppings of choice are quickly applied.  

And you can't forget the fresh mozzarella.  That stuff makes for pizza perfection. 

It gets all ooey-gooey as the pizza continues to cook. 

Finally a sprinkling of basil shreds.  

Awesome dinner if I do say so myself.

And there were enough leftovers for lunch tomorrow!

Sweet!

A Chicken in Every Pot

Although "a chicken in every pot" was part of a slogan for Herbert Hoover's presidential campaign in 1928 it is also the situation I have here at home today.

I don't have any thing in particular for dinner planned so I put a chicken on to boil and am hoping that some inspiration comes my way.  

The first thing that comes to mind is chicken and dumplings.  However since it is August 

and HOT I just can't get excited about that today.  

Chicken pot pie - just a fancy version of chicken and dumplings in my book.  

Creamy chicken and pasta?

Chicken enchiladas?

White chicken chili?

Chicken salad with sliced tomatoes?

Whatever form dinner takes this evening, if it tastes as good as my home smells right now it will be delicious!