dalthauser | Highlights for May 2015

Tomorrow is the last day of May; it seemed to just fly by. This month we had loads of rain. This was good for us, but our neighbors in San Marcos and Wimberly good clobbered. Houston and Dallas has had it's share of the wetness as well. They say, as of today, it has rained enough to put the entire state under 8 inches of water. I hope everyone's water table is where it should be for this year as a result.

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This month I have made some healthy changes and seem to be sticking to it. I vowed to severely cut back on my diet soda consumption and begin walking regularly. Both are going good.

My walking routine took off once I downloaded and started using an app called Map my Fitness which records your fitness activity via GPS. It maintains a record and allows you to share each walk via social media. This is motivating by itself, but companies can also sponsor challenges you can sign up for in the app where you can shoot for prizes when you complete their objectives.

I made a "no bottled soda" rule in my house, and I bought a Sodastream system to make soda by the liter as needed. This one change really helped me to cut back on my soda. I am no longer even buying diet cola syrup for the Sodastream. I'm making tea instead. I still will have a diet soda occasionally, but I am making sure it's the exception to the rule.
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We've been harvesting A LOT this month, and as a result have been busy putting stuff up either canning or freezing

FAVA BEANS
We wanted to leave the beans on the plants to let them dry naturally, but all the rain forced us to harvest and seed them ahead of time. Marcel sauteed them in butter and garlic, and we thoroughly enjoyed them. Next year I will grow a lot more!

CUCUMBERS
We are growning two kinds of cucumbers this year. American style and Asian style (Suyo Long). They are producing like mad (so much lovely rain probably helps them). We can't keep up even though we are sharing generously. :-)

CANNED "VINEGAR" PICKLES

Started "Barrel" Fermented PIckles

ZUCCHINI
We were so happy to have a nice Zucchini harvest this year. The Squash Vine Borers finally got to them (we knew it was only a matter of time), but we harvested about 20+ pounds before that happened. Next year I will get even a bigger jump on the season by putting out starts instead of direct seeding. I will also be much more vigilant about scraping any and all vine borer eggs.

To put up Zucchini for use later in Zucchini Bread and Meat Loaf I grated and dehydrated - then stored the dried result in canning jars on the shelf. I will report back once I've tried using it reconstituted.

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Marcel's friend Josh and his partner came to visit us. They live down in Refurio (I still pronounce it like it's spelled just to piss off anyone who knows how it is supposed to be pronounced). Hopefully we will be able to see more of them in the future.

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This month we also completed a little project to create a BBQ space in our back yard. We did the ground work. Next up we buy a grill and a picnic table. We are going to buy one of those picnic table kits from Amazon.com where you get the hardware and you buy your own wood. It doesn't really save any money, but it allows us to make the table more custom. I also want to do some outdoor string lighting or something to make it look festive. This is something I've always wanted to do, so glad Marcel is helping me accomplish it. (p.s. - I know it looks l ike he is doing all the work, but he's totally NOT lol - - it was shared equally - - he just never takes pictures, so I have to always be the one behind the camera) :-)

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REMINDERS:

VITEX TREE/BUSH BEGAN BLOOMING MIDDLE OF MAY THIS YEAR

POM TREE IS PUTTING ON FRUIT AS IS JUJUBE AND FIGS

PLANTED OKRA SEEDS CLEMSON SPINELESS IN ROW WHERE ZUCCHINI WAS ON MAY 29TH