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| Peach Tree |
The peach tree was given a hard pruning, last fall and we removed the top which broke due to the weight of the fruit, last summer. Although it was taped together, the taping didn't hold and the top of the tree died off. However, two shoots from two side branches have grown upwards and these will now be the new tops! The branches that are in place are flowering with all their might and the bees are busy enjoying the nectar and pollinating the flowers. M has already warned me that he will be thinning at least 50 percent of any fruit that will set, in order to prevent any further damage to the tree!
It has been a rather overcast day, today, with a little hazy sunshine. I watered the back garden in the morning and picked another handful of peapods. The hellebore plant has a few more flower buds starting to open.
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| Hellebore Flowers |
In the afternoon, I had a long conversation with aunt C who called. Later, I responded to blog comments, checked in on a couple of friends (called friend A and left her a message; she called back in the evening to say she's feeling better), practiced the piano, cooked, did the dishes, cleaned the litter box, etc., and daughter took the trash cans to the curb for me.
Daughter and I had leftovers for lunch (I had a bowl of soup and half a pita bread with leftover ground beef; daughter had pita and the last sausage). For dinner, I cooked some chicken thighs (pan sauteed with onions, tomatoes, and spices), a boxed rice mix, and broccoli. I have not been meal planning, lately, but, I'm going to give it a try, this week (starting a new month, and so on).
This week's meal plan:
Monday:
Lunch - leftovers
Dinner - Sauteed chicken (with onions and tomatoes), boxed rice mix ("stir fry" flavor), broccoli
Tuesday:
Breakfast: Milk rice, seeni sambol (spicy onion relish)
Lunch: Egg salad sandwiches
Dinner - Leftovers from Monday's dinner
Wednesday:
Lunch - leftovers (soup, the last of the ground beef mixture, the last piece of chicken, etc.)
Dinner - Fish (frozen pollock) curry, shredded kale (mallung), dhal, green beans, zucchini chutney
Thursday:
Lunch - leftovers (milk rice, etc.)
Dinner - Leftover fish curry, etc.
Friday:
Lunch - leftovers or fried rice
Dinner - Boxed mac & cheese with tuna, maybe or some of the frozen kufta.
Saturday???
Sunday???
I can't think that far in advance! LOL. We might be wanting chicken curry, by then.
Today, I am grateful for:
- Friend A is doing better
- Being able to water the garden
- Daughter helping with taking the trash cans to the curb
- Conversations with aunt C
- Having enough food to be able to make menu options
Today's joyful activities include chatting with friends and family and being in the garden.
Plans for tomorrow include, tidying the family room.
How was your Monday? What are your plans for Tuesday?
You cook very cleverly, using it all up and planning so that one lot of cooking can cover several meals. It's awesome!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lyssa. I enjoy cooking, but, I don't necessarily enjoy cooking every day, so, this works out well. Fortunately, my daughter and I are both happy to have leftovers. :)
DeleteIs milk rice only eaten on the 1st of the month or could you have it at any time? I have it on the list as a possible for my culinary 'travels' but India and Sri Lanka are planned for a mid month adventure, so not sure if I should include it. Also, does it freeze well please?
ReplyDeleteI like your meal plan. I'm using up odds and ends from the freezer and cupboards this week and part of next, so there are some 'unusual' combinations to look forward to at meal times!
Your peach tree is looking good despite losing the top of it. It's keen to get on and produce isn't it?
Glad to hear that A is feeling better.
Milk rice can be eaten any day of the month. I often have it a couple of times each month. It is often eaten as breakfast, but, I've eaten it for lunch and dinner, as well. I make it on the 1st of the month for "good luck". :) I have never tried to freeze it, however. I'm sure it can be frozen without any problem, though.
DeleteThank you; I think this week's meal plan will work out well. You can pretend that you are at a buffet, trying out different dishes, as you use up the odds and ends from freezer and cupboards! :)
The little peach tree is definitely keen to get on with it! :D
Yes, I was glad that A is feeling better. She said she and her daughter were in the ER from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.! Fortunately, it was not crowded, she said.
Thanks for explaining about the milk rice. x
DeleteYou are welcome!
DeleteI have a different hellebore variety than yours. Couldn't tell you the name of either, but I have fewer, bigger leaves and the blooms are more hidden under them. I have a feeling that yours may be a newer variety.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize just how many varieties of hellebore there are, until I read up about them, recently. Going by the shape of the leaves of my plant (3 leaflets which are "toothed"), I have identified it as Helleborus argutifolius, common names: Corsican hellebore or holly-leaved hellebore. Supposed to be drought tolerant once established, deer resistant, toxic to humans, cats, dogs, and horses.
DeleteSuch a lovely garden. I'm so glad you share the photos with us as I really enjoy seeing them, especially at this time of year when there isn't anything growing here.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sharon. The garden is coming along nicely; spring is usually when it is at its best.
DeleteOoh peach flowers! Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteMy mom used to make milk rice on the 1st of the month when we were little. :)
I didn't always make milk rice on the first, when I was working, but, now, I make it a point to do so and offer Buddha puja, etc. It's a good way to start off the month! :)
DeleteYour peach tree is lovely! I was told by an arborist that small trees that lose their tops can often redirect a branch upward to serve as a leader. My red maple top died when it was young, and it did this. That tree is big now, about 15 years old. You may want to find out if two leaders is ok. It might be better to just have one? You asked what I teach, river & wetland systems and earth science. I am thinking about retirement in a year or two. Celie
ReplyDeleteThank you, Celie; according to what I've read, having multiple leaders is supposed to be good for peach trees. If not, we can always remove one of the leaders when we prune it.
DeleteYou teach some very interesting and important subjects! Wetlands, especially, are such important ecosystems and under constant threat. I have enjoyed being retired; I highly recommend it! :D
What a mighty little peach tree you have there. It has a big heart and is determined to flower and fruit.
ReplyDeleteI will look forward to what it does this year.
I made a chickpea stew today - an older recipe from the New York Times that we love.
The peach tree seems to have recovered well from last year's mishaps! I'll keep you posted on how it does this year!
DeleteThe chickpea stew sounds good; do you have a recipe you could share? I usually make spiced sauteed chickpeas to have with rice or as a snack. Haven't tried it in a stew!
Oh the peach tree looks lovely! And really cute! When you posted the blossom before, I nearly asked how big it was but now I see it's about the size I guessed it would be. Glad A seems ok. That was a very long wait to be seen, but it's better that they went.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lady Ella. It's about 8' tall now, after pruning. It was planted in January 2019.
DeleteI was happy to hear from A that she's doing OK. She is a very positive person and I think that helps.
Ah, I was actually referring to the size of the blossom, but all information duly noted. It's done well!
DeleteOh, sorry! I misunderstood the question! I guess the flowers are about 1 1/2 inches in diameter?
DeleteThat peach tree looks very healthy and with M's care it should be able to support a reasonable number of peaches without problems so you will still have fruit.
ReplyDeleteSupper was a bit last minute today as I was busy taking down the Christmas tree after noticing that it had finally started to shed needles! I found some pierogi in the freezer and with pan fried onions and some frozen green beans and a salad, we did okay.
Thank you, Bushlady. We shall see how it fares this year. I've been reading that we should not encourage branches growing at a greater angle than 50 degrees from the tree trunk as the weight of the fruit will bend the branches and practically all the branches on my tree are almost at 90 degree angles! I guess we will need to be ready with some poles to prop up the branches, if needed! Or, am I tempting fate by anticipating a crop of peaches?
DeleteSounds like you did just fine coming up with what sounds like a delicious supper, even if it was last minute! Having a quick to prepare item like the frozen pierogi is helpful, isn't it? I'm sorry you had to take down the tree before your DS and family could visit. Hopefully, they'll be able to visit this month, perhaps in time for Valentine's Day?
The peach tree blossom looks beautiful. I'm so glad it survived after last year and I hope it provides you with lots (but not too much!) of fruit once again. Xx
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jules. M has already warned me that he is going to thin out at least 50% of any fruit that will set, this year! :D
DeleteYour peach tree looks very good considering it lost it's top. Let's hope it does well this year.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eileen; we are all keeping our fingers crossed for the peach tree! :)
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