Maddies woopie pies

Made these today with Maddie after our date. She picked carrot cake whoopee pies to make for everyone.

Mint Candy Bark

Texas Basil

Sunflower Buds at homestead

Late blooming sunflowers

My first mint propagation

Started from a cutting in jar of water.

Lady bug pupa

Found tons of these today.

Gourds growing through fence

Growing Luffa Sponges

First gourd

My first ever gourd to grow.

Mailbox morning glory

Frog on my lemon plant

It is getting cold enough at night now that we thought we'd bring in some of the more tender plants. I carried in the lemon tree to see this frog literally open up only one eye- and look at me as if to say.... Really Allison! Can't you see I am sleeping here.

I put the tree back in the garden.

Finished rocket stove

Just finished the rocket stove!

Battle of the bugs

It is so hot here in Texas that even the bugs are looking for shade!
Think the preymantis ate the grass hopper after this was taken.

Our first gourd

Very excited about our first gourd that has started growing!

Jam Jar Labels

Well it's that time of year when the peaches are ready and it's time to preserve the extras. Not just peaches here in Texas, but also cucumbers, banana peppers and jalapeno peppers.

I am usually tired after the cleaning of the fruit and then the canning process to make fancy labels- I have to confess that most of my labels are freezer tape and sharpie markers.

However, after looking online at all the beautiful labels you can print from you computer I have changed my mind.

Here's a list of free jam jar labels to print online.

Happy Canning!
Allison

Peaches ready to pick

Homegrown peaches

Mommy grasshopper

Peppermint Blooming

Planted in spring this year from a cutting on the north east corner.
Blooms came out a few days ago. They smell and taste milder than the
mint leaves.

July Texas Cucumbers

Luffa Gourds-growing luffa sponges

Texas Sunflowers Are Blooming

Wild Dill in Texas?

Found tons of this growing near the new homestead- trying to identify
if it is wild dill? Sure smells like it. If you know-please reply.

More caterpillers yay

Very excited to see this little buddy on our fennel plant. Will post
photos once it progresses onto the next stages.

Parsley butterflies have hatched

Re: Apricot tree

On Mon, May 17, 2010 at 10:53 AM, Allison Ray <allisonray@gmail.com> wrote:

Sent from my iPhone

Re: Close up apricots ready to pick

On Mon, May 17, 2010 at 10:54 AM, Allison Ray <allisonray@gmail.com> wrote:

Sent from my iPhone

Apricot almond muffins

Apricots preserved in syrup

Close up apricots ready to pick

Apricot tree

Jelly doughnut muffins

My very thoughtful family gave me 1 mix, 100 muffins cookbook for
mothers day.

These jelly doughnut muffins were super easy to make and tasted great.
What a fantastic way to use up jelly. You could also make some up and
freeze them.

We made ours with an assortment of jelly, jam, and preserves.

99 more to go.....

Home Made Simple TLC New Show Casting Call

Hi Allison,
I stumbled across your page as I was searching for Dallas sites. We are looking for families in the Dallas area, could you post this for your members? Or even consider it yourself. If you have any questions, give me a call. Thank you!

I am casting women for TLC's exciting home show, "Home Made Simple"! I am looking for married couples who own their house and would like for our chef, decorator, and handyman to spruce up their home. Below is the casting call info. If you could post it in your group that would be great! Thank you!Tai HansonDiscovery StudiosCasting Associate310-734-3455 Do you own your own house and need to make it feel more like HOME? Casting married couples who want their home to reflect their lifestyle. If you want to add more style and comfort to your home and don't know where to start, then this is the hit home show for you! TLC's "Home Made Simple" is now casting its 7th season and looking to help families tackle their domestic challenges. Our expert chef, designer, and handyman will help you create easy living by sprucing up décor, tackling simple handyman projects, and creating quick, easy meals for the family! EMAIL your name, contact number, and picture to tai_hanson@yahoo.com

Tai HansonCasting Associate "Home Made Simple"Discovery Studios 962 N. La Cienega Blvd. West Hollywood, CA 90069(310)734-3455

If you have questions/concerns, please contact our casting director Chad Hillman at chad_hillman@discovery.com

Huge strawberries

Well strawberries are officially in season. Look at the size of these.

May Texas rainbow

Poison Ivy?

If anyone knows if this is poison ivy please email me. It is all over
the side of the yard at our new homestead?

Thanks Allison

Black Bird Flock

A huge flock of black birds flew into our yard.

Making homemade icecream

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK9nBK644As

Sent from my iPhone

Ducks for sale Mckinney Trade Days

Rooster for sale at mckinney trade days

Italian Easter Bread

As close to Ma LaRosa recipe yet. Very excited at the progress we made
this year duplicating the recipe.

Firewheel Farmers Market Saturday Feb 13th

FYI - the market this weekend is on but because of the snow, it has moved indoors. Look for the signs if you get turned around. It has been moved to the first floor of the buildings at the north end of the Park (next to the playground)

Parkside At Firewheel
305 River Fern Ave
Garland, TX 75040
Every Saturday, from 9am to 2pm

North Texas Farmers Market -List Updated Weekly So you can shop locally or try to sell your products.

Restaurant Garden in Austin

Blizzard 2010 Gaithersburg, MD

New photo Mara sent yesterday- OMG look at all that snow.

Maddie's cabbage from the Farmers Market

February Gardening in Gaithersburg, MD- Nope!

My sister Mara lives in Gaithersburg, MD and just emailed me this photo of the front of her home. The snow is just beautiful!!!

It is really interesting to me that in Gaithersburg this week they have tons of snow and yesterday it was about 45 here in Texas. Yesterday I planted 4 fig trees (on the southern side to protect them from wind) and 3 blueberry bushes in pots (they do not like our high acid soil).

Strawberry Container Garden

These strawberries I purchased before Christmas from Walmart Garden Center. They have been kept inside the patio greenhouse.

Some have some really beautiful strawberry flowers. Anxious to see how they do.

The strawberries are planted inside of self watering containers- love them!

Early container garden

Planted these a few days ago. It's the beginning of our container garden for 2010. Since we are in North Texas and the soil is almost all clay, we are going to use containers and raised beds this year. The first containers have strawberries and the last container has broccoli.

Pop up greenhouse arrived today

Can't wait to set it up tomorrow and try it out. Hoping it will help
extend our growing season.

Starting tomatoes outside in greenhouse

Starting Burpee Everlast Tomatoes and Burpee Sweet Salad Hybrid Tomatoes. Trying out the new back porch greenhouses.

Starting alpine strawberries

Bought these little Alpine strawberry seeds online. They are supposed to be good container strawberries. Started them today anxious to see how well they do in comparison to the strawberry plants I picked up. Time will tell.

Starting Tom Thumb Peas

Starting Tom Thumb Peas to grow in containers on the back porch. I have never grown these before so not sure how well it's going to work. We will see!