Tomatoes everywhere

Today, I am making a batch of an old recipe of Tomato jam. Had it when I was a kid on the farm, and loved it, but mine seems really liquidy at the moment, hopefully once the raisins go in, it will solidify. I used Heritage tomatoes, the only ones we grow. Good year for tomatoes, except they are rippening late. Lots of rain, but not enough warm weather.

The picture is from the Tomato Day that was held at Sisters of Providence, Seed Sanctuary on August 23, 2008. There were over 103 different types of Heritage tomatoes cut up for people to taste.

This year we only grew out 15 varities, but there are a few rogue plants in vege garden 4B.

A project is to extent garden 4a and 4b by another 6 feet x 20 feet and build a strong fence of cedar posts up to 8 ft to keep the deer out. A new entrance way of cedar posts will be built, so next year we can plant the scarlet runner beans that came from Sandi, Kevin's mom.

Still trying to find out the type of bean this is. So far I have found something similar called a Coco Blue bean. These are from 2006 and from Grandma Lida's garden (Kevin's Grandma)
If anyone can tell me for sure. The pod is purple, and the beans a white/cream colour.


Tomorrow we are going to the Garlic Festival in the morning and a wine tour in Prince Edward county, with dinner at the Warring House, a wonderful old stone house with gardens to die for.

The rain is slowly falling today, and the plants are thankful, its been 12 days since no rain.....

The Big White Puffy things

Well, sitting in my office today, I watched the large white puffy things grow in the North. Eventually it did rain today, but not before I managed to do some solar observing, again the sun was blank.

Only one day to go, and holidays will be here. Our weekend starts off with a wedding, wedding shower, camping, gardening, and oh maybe the garage will finally get cleaned out.

Sara flies into Toronto tonight with her Nan, and then home by car tomorrow. Its been a couple of weeks now, since she has been gone, and now she is thinking of heading back out west to live.......

Home we went, and found another hook worm in the tomatoes, which are starting to finally rippen up......

well, time to drink the wine before it goes warm, and maybe kick back and watch some Olympics, since the garlic is all done, and drying quite nicely.

The morning after.....

Last night and the night before, we were out watching the Perseid meteor shower. Last night at the predicted time of UT for the peak, there was a rush of meteors.

There were a lot of clouds moving in and out of the view, and mosquitoes , like crazy, but the night was good just the same.

We left the area we were in around midnight, and drove home, and promptly fell asleep. If I had a nap in the afternoon, then I would have been able to stay up.

Well today, we go camping........maybe more meteors tonight.

till the next time, keep looking up, and turn your lights down.

A Green New Year

Happy Green New Year, everyone!. Its hard to believe, we had snow on December 26 and 30th, and it was cold and windy, and it stayed. The boys next door built big snow balls for a fort, and were skating on the ice pond outback just yesterday . We had a bon fire and chiminea to celebrate the New Year, watched some tv and finger foods and in bed to 10:00 pm, but got up 1/2 hour before midnight.

Today the temperature is +11C no snow, rain, and lots of SW wind. The inside of the green house was 19C, this keeps up and I am starting my garden, well ok some lettuce.

I observed the sun today, and it has some interesting spots coming on. Reports are aurora for for the next two days (Jan 2-3), right now we have cloud, and it will be cloud/sun for the next few days, so maybe we will see it.

Well, tonight we have to prepare to go back to work tommorrow, I have enjoyed the time off, but didn't get to do anything I had planned too.......I guess I need more days off.

It finally looks like winter

It finally looks like winter. Its snowing, has been since around 5:00 am est and now just a few flackes are coming down. Its a wonderful blanket of white.

It may warm up and melt, but its at least the season it is suppose to be.

What a blissfull Christmas Morn,,,,,,

It was clear last night, as we attended the Christmas Eve service. It was a beautiful service, with communion, with unleven bread, something my father would have loved, since he insisted for years at the church to have this.

As we departed, the Northern cross stood in the west behind the church. Though all of Cygnus was there, only the bright stars of the cross shone through.

We came home, and I quickly went out to see Rho cass, and a meteor shot over head. I looked at M42 (Orion nebula) and marvelled at the site.

It's Christmas morn, after 5:00 am, and I came down to bring the stockings. I placed them under the tree, gave the cats an extra can of cat food, after all it is Christmas day, and made some tea for Matt and coffee for me.

I went outside to greet the morning. It was a chilly -2.3C and foggy, with frost on everthing, so since there is no snow, it is technically white out. Old Jack Frost breathed some cool air, and frosted over the ground.

Through the fog I could see the Ursa Major (the big dipper) and Vega rising in the east. There were some stars overhead, but the fog and cloud hampered their viewing. The sound of the Napanee River flowing over the falls in Yarker, was the only sound to be heard, on such a wonderful, peaceful morning.

Its December 24th,and the sun is shinning

What a wonderful day. Its December 24th, +7C, no snow (yuck) and a beautiful day.

In fact , I just pulled some onions out of the north garden and will use them tomorrow for dinner. I feed the birds, lots of red headed finches, and sparrows. There are lots of hawks around, as the mice seem to be plentyful this time of year, since it is so warm.

It is still quite windy outside, but the sun is very nice. I did do some solar observing, no groups but on the east limb, there is an area of activity, and some phlanging.

I am enjoying the time off. I made 2 pumpking pies, 1 apple pie, 9 small apple tarts, and 4 small loaves of banana bread. The turkey is sitting in the brine in the cooler, and we are ready to go for this evening's dinner, then to the Christmas Eve service at Trinity United.

Though, I am sad that Dad and Helena are not here, I am also at peace.

Watching the clouds grow in the blue sky, as they push apart and spread, is quite interesting.

Oh, I must go pull down the stockings, and get them filled......

till later, peaceful day............