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| Berkeley Tie Dye Tomatoes |
The Berkeley Tie Dye tomatoes are getting big! According to what I've read online, they are supposed to get a pink stripe on the outside when ripe. But, I might pick one while still green to make a green tomato curry, this weekend.
On Thursday, daughter had back to back meetings all day, with a short break for brunch. I did a load of laundry and sorted through my clothes closet, moving the winter clothes to the left side (the side I rarely open) and shifting the summer clothes to the right side (the side that I open most often). As I shifted the clothes, I decluttered a few items that my cousins had given me, which I've tried and decided didn't fit me or suit me. I've put them aside to offer to friend R to send to her daughters. I will continue to try on and declutter the summer clothes, too. We spent a relaxed evening at home and I watched the presidential debate. Dinner was chicken curry, cucumber salad, tomato chutney, and rice. We also picked and shared the first ripe strawberry before the birds could get it!
On Friday, daughter had another full day of work. I put away the laundry I had done on Thursday and tidied another shelf in the linen closet (I had previously tidied the shelf with the crocheted table covers my grandmother and mother had made and the shelf where I keep the towels). Today, I tidied the shelf where the bed sheets and pillowcases are stored.
M was here in the evening to tend to the garden and we picked the last of the peaches (leaving a few half pecked ones at the top of the tree for the birds to finish). I washed and sorted through the ones we picked and now, I have some set aside to eat fresh, some to make into a compote, and some for a small batch of jam. That's on the to do list for Saturday. Daughter also picked the first two plums and we shared one.
I made a smoked sausage stir fry for dinner, with onions, bell peppers, carrots, snowpeas, and cashews; we had it with freshly cooked rice. Later, I cooked a chicken curry with the package of chicken thighs I had bought. The majority of it will be frozen till next Friday, when I am having my late friend A's husband and daughters over to dinner (A's birthday would have been on the 4th of July).
On Friday, I'm grateful for:
- Daughter being home
- M's help with the garden
- This year's peach harvest
- Water for the garden
- A sunny and warm, but not too hot, day
Friday's joyful activity was picking the rest of the peaches. We had a good crop of peaches, this year.
Plans for Saturday include processing the rest of the peaches and maybe finishing up the linen closet (have to put away the quilts for the summer and tidy the bottom shelf where I store the sofa dust sheets and there are a couple of quilts in progress that are being stored there, too).
How was your Friday? What are your plans for the weekend?
I'm looking forward to seeing your Tie Dye tomatoes with a stripe, they sound very interesting and looks like you'll have a good crop. I'm glad you shared that strawberry with your daughter before the birds could have it. You've reminded me I really must declutter some of my summer clothes as I look and think I won't wear some of them so they should go. We've seen some of the presidential debate on our news channel and all I can say is oh dear! It's raining here this morning and it's cooler so suits me just fine.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eileen; I, too, am looking forward to seeing the tomatoes ripen (I think they are supposed to have more than one pink stripe and, apparently, there is a pink version, too, where the whole tomato turns pink).
DeleteThere are two more strawberries ripening on the plants and I am keeping a close eye on them!
I was blessed to receive several bags of clothing from my cousins, earlier this year. I put all the summer items aside, so am going through them, now, to decide what to keep and what to give away. It's an on-going process!
As for the debate, it was very interesting, wasn't it? I think one candidate is very happy he decided to participate and one candidate is wishing he didn't!
Glad it is cooler for you. It's 86F(30C), here, and I'm quite comfortable with the fan.
We have several green tomatoes, but none are close to being ripe. I think I'll leave mine on the plant for now. I'm envious of you peach crop. We had two peach trees at our old house, but never got more than a peach or two if that. The bugs and the squirrels got the rest.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you are having tomatoes to look forward to, June. I'm sure they'll ripen in time. I, too, had some bugs (earwigs!) get into some of my peaches, but, there were more of them last year than this year.
DeleteCurry sounds like a plan :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you've managed to harvest the rest of the peaches, and I hope you manage to get them processed before they spoil. I'll be making jam myself today. I picked our blackcurrants this week, but it's a very small crop this year, after I'd had to cut the tree right back. X
Thank you, Jules. I made some peach compote this morning to have with waffles and will make the jam, later. Blackcurrant jam sounds like a lovely treat. I've only seen blackcurrants (and red currants) in one or two ethnic markets, here, and they are very expensive!
DeleteGlad you have got some more peaches after so many of the earlier ones went to waste. Better luck with these! I wonder if the prized first strawberry was still there for daughter to pick, or did you do it, or did someone/thing else beat you!
ReplyDeleteG and I picked 6 kg gooseberries on Thursday night, all from her one plant! It has taken me ages to wash and top and tail them, but some are now awaiting jamming, some will be chutnified, some have been given to M&D for a pie for Dad, and the rest are in the freezer. Hurrah. I consider myself lucky, as my 5 miserable berries were stolen from my garden. I am surprised because I didn't think squirrels or birds liked them, but I notice squirrels are now eating green strawberries so maybe they are cultivating a more sophisticated palate!
Today I picked about 2 litres blackcurrants. There are loads more on the bush but not yet ripe so will have to go back another time. I didn't mind as G went out and left me, and it was a bit boring picking alone. I did amuse myself taking photos of her flowers, though. She has left lots of her beds to go wild, and has some amazing pink poppies, singles and doubles!
Thank you, Lady Ella. Yes, the peaches have all been picked and we enjoyed some freshly made peach compote on our waffles, this morning.
DeleteThe strawberry was picked by my daughter and we shared it. It was delicious! There are two more strawberries ripening and we are looking forward to sharing them, too.
Wow, that's a lot of gooseberries! How wonderful! I'm sorry your berries were stolen from your garden! You were able to pick quite a good amount of blackcurrants, too. As I stated in my reply to Jules' comment, above, I've only seen blackcurrants and redcurrants at one or two ethnic stores and they were quite expensive at almost $8 per tiny (5 oz.) container. G's garden sounds lovely; I know you posted a picture of it once and I thought it was a park.
I don't know the weight of the blackcurrants I picked, but they filled three 1-litre ice cream tubs! I had already made a jam from last year's crop, and it is really, really nice! I was so proud of it, I gave my jar to my sister yesterday (and now I am wishing I had kept some back!!) :o)
DeleteInvite yourself over for breakfast at your sister's and ask for toast with your blackcurrant jam! :D Or, maybe just make a new batch of jam and keep it all for yourself! :)
DeleteI think I will keep aside a full-size jar for myself, when I make the next batch, but that won't be yet as I have several in stock to sell and I don't want too many hanging around. If I were desperate I could take one out of the stock box but they are pretty jars, nicely labelled and I don't want to "waste " one on myself! (I do have other jam open too).
DeleteSounds like a plan. Or, you could always sell yourself a jar of your jam, in a pretty jar and with a nice label. :)
DeleteThe tomatoes look great. I never heard of green tomato curry but I have a recipe for green tomato chutney and I have heard of frying them. I'm sure the birds will appreciate you leaving some pecked peaches at the top of the tree for them!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bushlady. We make a ripe tomato curry, too. And I have recipes for both green tomato and red tomato chutneys (I usually make the red version). I kept the peaches for the birds to try to distract them from pecking at the ripening plums! Daughter picked two of the plums and we shared them, but, they are still rather firm and tart.
DeleteHow nice that your daughter got her work done during the business day and you got to spend the evenings with her. Now, you’ll have her to yourself for the weekend!
ReplyDeleteYes, you got the strawberry! And it’s great to have more peaches with plans for eating, making chutney, and canning the rest. 🍑
Younger daughter arrived safely and we stayed up talking, way too late for this old mom. She and my husband are now poring over the road atlas, planning her western migration. It reminded me of mapping out travel routes with my father when I was young.
My grand-cat is enjoying himself roaming the house. Fortunately, he gets along with our dogs who, mostly sleep through his feline antics.
Thank you, Taconix. Yes, we are enjoying our weekend together and she'll be on vacation next week, although there are some errands she needs to do during the week.
DeleteI'm glad your younger daughter arrived safely and you enjoyed a nice long chat, late into the night. :) That's good that your husband is helping her figure out the route, west. Too funny about your grand-cat and the dogs. :D
So glad your daughter is home! I'll get to see mine for a long weekend next month. I can't wait to catch up with her and baby A. It seems so long since I've seen them. As I'm sure you know, it's good with technology these days to be able to chat face to face and see them, but there is nothing quite like being in the room with them. Enjoy your time with your daughter
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sharon. Yes, it's lovely to be together in person! I'm glad you will be able to visit with your daughter and baby A, soon. :)
DeleteYour tomatoes are coming on strong.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see what they end up looking like.
You've got some plans to make your jam and chutney.
I will read on and see if that happened.
The tomatoes are getting scorched for the sun! They are turning yellow! I haven't made any chutney, yet. I might wait until it is a bit cooler to do so.
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