Pepper Place Visit

We got up early, at 10 am and left by 11 am. I think the produce market closed at noon, not sure. 

 Pepper Place

"Adjacent to the historic Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark, Pepper Place is the link between the redevelopment of downtown Birmingham to the west and revitalization of the old “streetcar suburbs” of Avondale and Crestwood."

The other markets that take the SFMNP card sort of faded early. So, I had $35 left on my card and was determined not to lose the benefits left--$35. I researched all the markets, large and small. I decided to go the Pepper Place. 

Oh My Gosh!  

It was like a huge carnival. There were guys playing music, stalls with handmade items. food booths, produce booths, just everything. I sent Tommy out with my card and his walker. I was in an apartment parking lot on the periphery of the Pepper Place. 

I did get the benefit of sights and sounds of a tiny bit. I was lonely when Tommy left. I cracked the window and heard wonderful music. People were out in hordes carrying away just a tiny, decorated pumpkin to huge bags of produce and bunches of flowers. This spurs me on to get a scooter to ride on. I called a friend who lives in Birmingham and had a great visit. 

He came back and he did shop, not just pick up stuff at one booth. He brought 1 lb. raw, unfiltered honey, 1/2 pint blackberry jelly, 1/2 pint pepper jelly, and six beautiful tomatoes. He threw in $1 because my card ran out. As we drove away, he commented that there were a "hell of a lot of persimmons." I would have wanted some of those. Yes, I will get a scooter soon. I had told him get whatever at the booths,, just get tomatoes. So, he did both. 

Next January I will apply again. This program is in almost all 50 states. 

He brought back a brochure with something about disability services from one booth. Tommy said they wanted to talk with him. He told them he was so tired that he just wanted something to take home and read. So, they let him go without further talk. He did bring me the pamphlet. 

We stopped by Publix for milk for both of us, bananas, and something else. I took a nap when we got home. 

About 6 pm, we installed the skeleton into a lawn chair in front of the ramp. I tied skeleton and chair to ramp. Tommy put his hand into the air, waving at passersby. His red glowing eyes are on until we turn them off. I would love a remote! 

He had dinner and now is having pepper jelly spread on bread.  I will have a very small amount on cracker and cream cheese--one cracker only. Tomorrow, I might have some blackberry jelly on toast and butter. 

Overall, it was a great Saturday. I did wake stuffy and hurting in sinuses. One Hall's Mentholyptus took care of all the congestion and pain. It appears I will make it through the worst month of the year for my sinus health. It makes me deliriously happy.

The weather was beautiful, high 80s, sunny, and, of course, dry.

 Edit: Tommy was amazed there were a few thousand people instead of a few dozens. He was amazed there was so much for eating right there--sandwiches, homemade popsicles, pastries, etc.There were even dish tubs with water and ice cubes for dogs. 

Absentee Ballots

 Last night, we sat and talked about what we were going to do today. We decided that getting an application for an absentee ballot was first on the list. Plus, we needed to get copies of our driver's license to send off with the ballot request. 

That sounds easy enough. Right? Not at all. We went to library and Tommy renewed his library card while I obtained one from his library. First, Tommy started off telling the woman our needs backwards. Then, while I was on computer, he was using the mouse to click on things. I don't know if it was the computer or his clicking around while I tried to work. But, we never found the site and information I found at home to make sure we could find the site easily. 

I sent him back to the front to ask a question and he never came back. It was so far to the front. I did not think I would make it. All the chairs were hard plastic molded kind. I told Tommy I was waiting in the car. Finally, he came out with all we needed. My back was surviving. My car seat is sooo comfortable. 

We picked up the grocery ads on the way there and some on the way back. I still have not looked at them. 

As we neared the house, Tommy exclaimed 'that was our mower.' Then, when we got home, the yard was mowed. So, I called mower and told him we were here if he wanted his money. He came back. He left and then we had something else to give him, so he came back again. Tommy usually writes a check but used cash today since he still has car money from when he sold it. 

Tommy was funny giving me a $50 bill to buy envelopes. He was cute being the bigshot, asking me if that was enough. 

I barely got into the house and went to sleep in my chair for about an hour. For dinner--chicken breast, two kinds of slaw, mushy tomato that I could not finish, and an apple. Tommy had chicken breast sandwich with bbq sauce, coleslaw, and mushy tomatoes. The insides of the tomatoes are the consistency of applesauce! He said I ate the last of one kind of slaw, the kind with kale. 

It is 8 pm, and I have to hang black clothes, use leg pumps, and fill out request for absentee ballot. It is not a lot, but it feels like it. We will mail it at PO tomorrow. We need to go to his credit union to deposit his cash. Also, take recycling to Publix. 

I think putting out our few Halloween decorations will be on the list for tomorrow. We also need to separate plants outdoors. Some are dead. Some are still alive. Tommy quits watering plants when they start to 'die' instead of reviving them with water. Maybe next year, I will just have bulbs. Maybe I will start packing tomorrow. The request for the absentee ballot is foremost. We do need to make reservations for hotel rooms! I keep forgetting.

Do you vote by absentee ballot? 

What are your plans?

Three Hard Days

 Monday, the cleaner came. I went for a nap. Electrician said he was coming soon. I waited up, and we did not eat dinner. He was later than he said, and then stayed here three hours. At the end of day (three am), I was exhausted. 

Today, we awoke with a list. We trimmed the list until we could do all. 

I went into Lowe's to find another light for over kitchen sink. There was nothing I could see that would work in the space. No one came to help, and I could not read the boxes or get them down. We had things to return and another item to purchase. Leaving the rest off was how we trimmed that trip to Lowe's. We left off another store with returns. 

Tommy does returns, so he was glad not to get out of the car both places. He did go into the two stores. Tomorrow is another busy day, so we were trying not to wear ourselves clean slap out. 

The Kraft Parmesan Cheese in the green shaker was on sale but gone. So, I settled for the Parmesan Romano. I told Tommy to get a 5 gallon of vinegar. Yes, I was that tired. Then we went to Publix with a list Tommy made from last week's ad. He got a few things, nothing on the list. We took cheese sandwiches so we would not buy something out. His blood sugar dropped while he was in the first store, so he wisely bought M&Ms to keep blood sugar from dropping too much. He would have been at passing out stage soon.

He bought us each a chicken tender from Publix--$4 total. Even though we ate them in the car, I decided that would be our dinner protein. 

We went to the Farmer's Market in the park, but the park was blocked off. It seems that there was a Night Out or something. We drove between the barriers to get in. Someone saw us and moved the saw horses closer together. The women always come to us, get our order and take the card. Today, we bought a cup of tomatoes--5 and a cup of muscadines. Those will be good. Tommy may eat one of the five. At 6 pm, we unloaded the car. I went to bed at 6:30 and could only sleep one hour.  

I sliced the last tomato we bought last week. It was so good. I had slaw and several slices on tomato for dinner about 8 pm when I awoke. Then, I added one hotdog and no bun. I will have an apple later. 

I tried a Oui Lime Pie flavor, and it was horrid. I am so glad I only had one. 

Tomorrow, our day won't start until noon, thankfully. My body is shaking right now. 

Maybe it is too soon to rejoice. This evening, I took one glucosamine chondroitin. Dose is two, three times a day. When I awoke from my little nap, my knee did not hurt in the least. Of course, a few more days will be the real test. Twenty-five years ago, I had severe knee pain after knee surgery for a torn meniscus. The doctor told me this probably would not help. The next morning, my knee was better. After that for years I never had pain. It seems I am having the same results. I may have spoken too soon. 

I sort of wrote this post out of order, but it all happened. No editing again.

Have you ever taken Glucosamine Chondroitin? Did it work?

Have you ever been worn to a frazzle with a disability and cannot recover for weeks? That is where I am heading! 

A Few Answers and a Few Questions

Today, I went to the Farmer's Market and there were no tomatoes. Bummer. I looked around and got two small cups of crookneck squash. I paid $6 for the two of them. Because I was out and had things to do, I did not go home.

My question: Was the price exorbitant? While I had the bag in WM, I stuck it on the scales--2.64 lbs. That makes the cost per pound $1.52. In WM squash was $.99/lb.

I know all the positives of Farmer's Market--local food, supporting local farmers. However, I know for a fact they use pesticides.

Not bringing the bag home meant I carried a bag of squash into the doctor's office. I did have a bit of a problem in urine, but doctor downplayed it. I cannot think of anything else that causes this malaise in me. I continually have problems with gastrointestinal tract. I feel queasy all inside. So, now I have ten days of meds for uti.

So, after this ten days, I will start taking the prophylactic does of meds to keep bladder sterile. I refused to take small doses without first clearing things up entirely.

My question: have you ever taken a prophylactic dose of meds for uti and not had a full prescription to make sure bladder contents are sterile before you start taking the lesser dose, prophylactic dose?

Since I have been queasy, I have not eaten salads. I feared it would keep me in bathroom more than I already am. So, I gave away more of the salad.

My ac is dying, so I suppose I will, too.  It's a scorcher today, up to 90 already.

The tomato plants I bought had not been hardened off. The seller is not a good liar. He did not even know what it meant to "harden off" a plant. He said in reply to my question and under his breath, "I set them out at night." That did not answer my question.  He quickly and cheerfully volunteered, "I picked off all the suckers for you." WHAT?

These were leggy plants and he had stripped all but a few top leaves off.  Do you pick suckers off plants are a foot high? I think you wait until they are planted and are surviving to even look for suckers. These plants were looking puny, so he pulled off all the leaves that looked less than healthy!--my belief.  This man retired and decided he wanted to make money--what he told me and said he could figure this out.

I bought the red and white onions from him, just took the bag. When I got home, the onions had dirt all over them. I wonder when he pulled these. Did he lay them out to dry? I do not want my vegetables washed because they rot faster, but do you think knocking off the dirt would have hurt? I don't think he laid them out like they are supposed to be done. The dirt seemed too fresh.

Okay, I am going out now to buy a squash plant and a zucchini plant. Hopefully, I can handle the sun and heat to plant them tomorrow along with the two tomatoes and two cayenne plants. Today, it makes me dizzy.

I bought a yellow and a black container of Plaid paint and sponge brushes. In a few moments, I am going to look for things in the yard to paint black and yellow since I was inspired by the bee theme from Tuesday.

Remember the garbage can that was crushed and the guy said someone would bring me another? Well, a brand new can showed up next to the crushed one. The crushed one sort of healed itself. It did not seal itself, but the bottom is not so gapped as when it was crushed. I am going to keep it since it does have a lid. It was the one kept right outside the chicken pen so I could drop things in it after I fed the hens. I did not tell the mower to put the garbage can on the street. I should have told him to empty it like I TOLD him to do in the beginning.

I feel lousy but ambitious!

After I wrote the above, I went out again. Before I did, I used the bathroom and the uti symptoms showed up and I screamed a bit. I am so happy I did not wait until tomorrow.

Plant shopping is so much fun. I love squash and zucchini, but the Farmer's Market vegetables are too large. I just won't buy them. Small ones are the ones I want. If I get 7 small squash off my squash plant, I will have broken even considering the price I paid today for squash.

I bought one crook neck squash plant, one zucchini plant, and one bell pepper plant. Exbf was eagerly listening and gave a little grunt of approval. He like all three. It will be six weeks before it get any produce from them, but that's okay. I will just purchase what vegetables I want until then. Everything I plant will go in buckets, even the squash.

Someone is coming to mow the lawn in the morning...yaaay!

Busy Tuesday

It started Monday night when I flew down to WM and purchased a pkg. of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, came home, washed out the crock pot, and put on the chicken with seasoning, onion, celery, and bell pepper. I thought he was coming Friday, so I was behind now that he was coming on Tuesday.

Around midnight, I took the breasts out of the refrigerator and turned crockpot on low. It simmered all night. Tuesday morning at 8 am, I scraped and cut 2 lbs. of carrots in the crockpot and ate the onion I had put in with the chicken. An onion was breakfast!

Two red potatoes were eyed and put in with the carrots. I didn't feel like putting in more carrots. About 3:30 I added more potatoes and the squash to the crockpot.

Exbf arrived about 9:30  and I got in his vehicle. He drove me to bank and to Publix to get a2milk. Back home, I put the milk in the refrigerator. Back in the car, I called the Tuesday church and asked if someone could meet us with a wheelchair.

At the church, exbf got into the wheelchair, and I got in driver's seat to park the car. Inside a Fall fair/carnival was set up as a program just for this lunch group. This was the program for the month, celebrating fairs. Several tables had exhibits with handiwork of the church members. Maybe I can remember the displays--wood turning with bowls, sewing with bags for Christmas Child boxes, crocheting, cross stitch, knitting, and other six-foot tables with skills/crafts I cannot remember.

In the middle of the atrium of this church is a round water feature, a pool. Today, it was filled with rubber duckies. Each person could take a turn with a net catching a duck. My duck won me a snack. I wanted socks! Exbf's turn, taken by me, won him a snack, so I got bugles for him. I chose a mini Moon Pie.

Then, there were various games. "How many grandchildren", etc. Exbf won for the person who got in car and drove the furthest distance to come to the lunch. Exbf won by a longshot--65 miles. The next nearest distance was 35 miles. He won a gift bag with goodies as did the other winners. It has a mini metal box with butter cookies and various other candies. He let me have the little bag of chocolate  truffles. Good deal.

While everyone visited the crafts and scooped up ducks, we all had freshly popped popcorn and snow cones...yummy! Delicious!

Lunch was two corn dogs, tater tots covered in cheese with bacon bits on top. Dessert was ice cream with what looked to be fried jelly sticks. He said it was apple something. I am not too sure. This was all fair food.

Someone wheeled him to the car as I drove it up to the curb.

From then on I drove as we went to market where I bought ripe tomatoes, green tomatoes, and yellow squash. I will cut tomatoes for dinner tonight. Written at 3 pm) Green tomatoes will be fried tomorrow and frozen for him next week. I had to cook the squash and more potatoes for tonight's dinner--chicken, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, squash, and sliced tomatoes.

After the market, I headed out to the country to buy honey. A 22 ounce glass jar of fresh honey cost $7. I know it is pure honey. I went ahead and bought two 22 ounce jars for $14. I think that is a good deal. What do you pay for a pint of honey?

Below was written after 6 pm.

We ate dinner in the den to watch the coverage on Las Vegas. I gave him his meal, realized I had forgotten the tomatoes, and brought back two thick slices and put them on his plate. As I walked away, he became apoplectic, spitting and sputtering and a bit of cursing. He was scraping and knocking the tomato around, saying how he did NOT want tomato touching his food. Now, I have known him for 11 years, and have never heard him say he did not want tomato touching his food! I told him just to leave it. NO, it's touching my food! Well, deal with it. He was beside himself. Finally, I hobbled over and did not find tomato on his plate. What did you do with it? I put it in my pocket!

Two slices of tomato in his pocket! How stupid. I demanded the tomato and threw it away. He said I should have known. Then, he said he thought we were having the stuff mixed together. ??? Stew? Yes, he said I told him we would have that. Since I thought we discussed it on Monday, I told him so, but he insisted we talked about it Friday night.  I pointed out that I did not know until Sunday night that he was coming on Tuesday, that  five pounds of ground round takes time to thaw and then cook.

Actually, I told him I was going to make two kinds of meatballs, one kind  in brown gravy and one kind in spaghetti sauce, plus taco casserole, meatloaf, and what else would he like. Then he said stew!

So, he wants to know when I am cooking stew...??? When I have time to thaw the meat and the energy and inclination to cook so many things, that's when.

Seriously, I had the urge to kill. The whole day was perfect until tomato slices touched his food! He  calmed down as fast as he became agitated. Weird. All of it! I will address this behavior later!

Ack! I forgot to cook/steam the cabbage. I was going to add it to the crockpot with the yellow squash. I will put it in the crockpot in a bit and cook it to eat myself.

Today was a beautiful day with the bluest sky and fluffy, snowy white clouds. While I was in Publix, he was cloud watching. He described a tiny cloud that floated along until in a poof it disappeared. I watched out the window and saw another tiny cloud do the same thing. Today was beautiful and peaceful except for the "tomato incident"! I will refer to it as such.

Remember the strawberry incident?

He left a few minutes ago. I put chicken, potatoes, carrots, and yellow squash in the car for him, all cooked. He only wanted a little bit of honey, so he has a large pimiento jar full of honey about 1/3 cup. .He got two chicken breasts and two tomatoes, whole and touching nothing.

Pizza Deal; Celery Deal; Tomato Deal

It was very late and I gave in to my urge for pizza that had continued unabated for weeks. As I headed home from WM, I decided to stop in and get a pizza. Since all the lights were on, including the drive up window light, I thought they were open.

Well, no they were not open. The guy unlocked the window and told me they were closed and about to go out the door. I asked if he did not have even one pizza. "Well, we have one large pepperoni pizza that is cold and not very good." "How much does a cold and not very good pizza cost."  "$2."

I never ever eat pepperoni since I am allergic to pepperoni. I thought I would do like everyone suggests and just pick the pepperoni off. By the way, I never do that. Now, I know why. I had a bad reaction to the pizza even with the pepperoni picked off and tossed.

Now, there are three packages of pizza in the freezer for exbf. Boo! I still want a Dominos pizza. What I had was just a poor substitute that leaves me still unsatisfied.

Why do people think picking out the part to which you are allergic will work? No, it does not.

Celery is $0.50/head. A pint of grape tomatoes is $0.98/pt. I bought seven pints of tomatoes and five of celery. Both are destined for the dehydrator.

Your turn
Have you found any pizza deals after hours? Do people ever suggest picking out things that you are allergic to as though nothing will be left behind that affects you adversely? Are there any celery or grape tomato deals in your area? What are the deals where you live?

Feline Transplants Tomatoes

a helper

 

As I gathered potting materials, this cat bounded up to help me. Here, he/she knows what to do first: get the potting mix. When she finished rubbing all over the bag, she wound her way in and out of my legs. No matter what I did, she would not stop. I am highly allergic to cats. I talk nice to them, but have to keep my distance.

 

 

injury?

 

I must have taken a dozen pictures of this cat to get this shot of the shaved skin. She moved fast, so I threw down the cup so I could be aiming at the right spot when she investigated. She still moved too fast. I wonder what happened. The round hole makes me think she had something in a hole, like a parasite that was removed. My cat had one of those holes long ago, and I could see something moving in it. Oh, yuck. I hope I did not make you sick as this is making me. So, let's move on to the seedlings I germinated.

 

six baggies of 3 pellets in each baggie

 

I put Homestead Tomato seeds in pellets on April 6 and they germinated about a week later. My rate of germination was excellent.

 

 Did I tell you? One night I let the whole basket above of tiny seedlings in the pellets fall from the car. The sandwich bags of pellets and seedlings rolled all over the yard in the dark. I sort of put them in straight and brought them in  along with groceries or something. I think they were permanently damaged because I did not upright them until hours later....sigh.

 

 

first sandwich bag on end of basket

 

You can tell these suffered from being on the end and getting colder, being left too long before transplanting and falling upside down!

 







in better shape

 

These look healthier. This was a sandwich bag from the middle of the basket. Two seeds germinated in all three of these. 

 

 

assortment of "pots"

 

Buying the pellets at ten cents apiece is as far as I will go spending money. So, I have all sorts of containers: yogurt, cookie container, used pink cups, one frosting container, old storage dish, Hand Candy cup (grape tomato container), and the bottom from a soft ice cream exbf ate. My antique ice pick made a great tool for poking drainage holes.

 

I have a huge, deep plastic container with a clear lid that I bought just for plants last fall and never used it. However, I could not find it even though I practically touched it each time I searched. Yes, I found it just as I finished up the box below.

 

 



large shoebox size box

 

One of the large shoe boxes I bought 25 years ago for my sewing thread ended up being the greenhouse for right now. However, the large pink cups won't fit inside. The container is full, plus it is too short.

 

gallon bag greenhouse

 

Unfortunately, the gallon bag only held two of the three cups. The solution means I wasted this gallon freezer bag. Fortunately, I only paid about a nickel for it after Christmas last year on clearance and using a coupon. 

 



 

final seedling

 

I reused one of the germination bags over the last seedling. It is sitting under the lamp on top of the shoebox of seedlings. My only problem with this arrangement is the fact that the shoebox has a white lid instead of a clear lid. Monday, the shoebox and lone cup will go back to the car. They don't need light on them all night, but they don't need to be too cool. I just did not feel like taking it to the car on Sunday night. Or, maybe I will put the shoebox in the picture window where it is light and not to hot. First, I must use a spray bottle on the plants. 

Hopefully, dropping them and the delay in repotting them will not hurt them too much. Maybe they will all grow a bit straighter! That won't matter much to me. I want to plant them when they are about a foot tall and leggy because I intend to plant them up to their top leaves.  Tomorrow, I will regularly brush my hands across the tomato seedling to make them strong. Maybe it is not too late!

Tonight, I should be germinating the basil and peppers, but obviously that is not getting done.

Some of the pellets actually had three seeds. In one pellet the seed just mildewed. In about 6 of the bags, all three pellets had one or two successful seeds. One pellet had a horribly deformed seedling. The surprise was a tomato plant growing from the bottom of the pellet as I lifted it up from the sandwich bag. It appears I must have dropped a seed and it sprouted as it stuck to the bottom side of the pellet.

I thinned the seedling from two or three to one seedling in most of the pellets. I wonder if the extra seedlings with their perfect little roots would have survived it I had transplanted them to potting medium. I am a genius with germinating, but a slug with transplanting.

Your turn
How is your germinating working out? Do your cats help? How many seedlings are you germinating this year? Any ingenious solutions that are cheap?

Bullock Brothers Homestead: A 25-year Permaculture Project

Here is a great weekend project. This site is full of videos and great idea. I am inspired by the Bullock Brothers Homestead video from Permaculture Ideas blog. When you go to the link where the video is located, you will be at the Permaculture Idea blog.

It is amazing how these three brothers have worked together for 25-years in harmony. They finish each other's sentences and never seem to compete on camera. They are self-assured, humble, and knowledgeable.

The newest (I think) video on the Permaculture Ideas blog has tomatoes with legs. All his ideas are not new to me. But, there is enough of his disproving current lore about tomatoes to make me a believer.

Does this give you ideas?
While I am not going to move anywhere to start permaculture homesteading, this gives me ideas for my one-third acre yard. How about you?

The End

The end of tomatoes and peppers

Its over. This was what I picked off the four tomato plants and the one jalapeno plant. Next year, I will do better. I feel some of these may ripen, but if they don't I will fry them for exbf. Can you see the one little pepper?

I pulled the five plants and threw them in for the hens. They loved the roots and whatever little things they ate. At any rate, they jumped on the root balls.

The box will now become my compost bin and the hens will be allowed in there.

Your Turn

Have you picked the last of your garden?

Zucchini-Tomato Casserole



zucchini and tomatoes


My children loved this casserole. If you have an abundance of zucchini or want another way to serve it, try this recipe.  I posted it last year along with the story of my children's reactions to it...all positive! 

"Zucchini Casserole, please," from my children.


Are you a frugal cook? Do you have too many zucchinis? This casserole is just for you?

This thrifty recipe will help solve the problem of what to do with the abundance of zucchinis this time of year. Frozen or stale bread can be put to good use. I freeze chopped onions, so that is one chore that can be done ahead of time. Really fresh tomatoes or sad slices in the refrigerator can be put to good use. No one will know that tomato's consistency was not to your liking. The casserole is a one-dish meal or just one of the dishes you serve, depending on your preference. I have made this ahead of time and put it in the oven just before dinner. Or, if you have a timer on your oven to start meals when you are away, make this, put it in the oven, and set the timer. Dinner will be ready when you arrive.

I have no measurements for any ingredient. Use your own judgment. You cannot be wrong. If you prefer more or less bread bits, just make it to suit yourself. Use any kind of cheddar cheese or switch to a cheese you prefer. Slice the tomatoes thick or thin, depending on taste or what you have on hand. Own the recipe!
___________________________________________

Zucchini-Tomato Casserole ***300 degrees, 1 hour

Peel and slice zucchini--thinly or thickly, if you prefer. (a little less than 1/4" is my preference)

Salt both sides; let it sit 30 min; rinse and drain (I quit doing this. I salt, let sit for 2 min and then rinse and drain.)

Layer in casserole:
*zucchini--salt and pepper lightly (I use no pepper)
*diced onions (I use yellow or Vidalia) (not in original recipe...just use a tiny bit)
*sliced tomatoes
*buttered bread chunks/bits--about 1/2" size (I break up the bread, pour melted butter over it, toss/stir)
*cheese (best with the presliced squares in pack) (original recipe, but any cheese you like is fine)
Repeat, leaving off cheese.
Bake (cover it)
Put cheese on top of casserole for the last 10 min; bake uncovered
_______________________________________________________

I made this as part of a meal, having a meat and another vegetable. My three children (10, 8, and 3 when I first made this) ate the casserole, getting seconds and thirds until it was gone. They did not want to eat the rest of their dinner, sitting, and wishing aloud there were more casserole.

Finally, one day I made three huge casseroles and nothing else. On the way home from school in the car, they always asked what was for dinner. This day, I told them, "Zucchini Casserole."

They asked, "What else?" I told them we just had zucchini casserole.

There was silence and shocked faces in the back seat. (I was looking in rear view mirror and turned to see one child.) They were stunned and silent all the way home, supposing dinner was going to be slim. When they saw three casseroles, they did rejoice, smiling at my deceit. Those were three happy children that night. They ate all three casseroles! We repeated that experience often at their request.

This casserole actually is a meal--two vegetables, bread, fat, dairy (more fat), protein. Do onions count as another vegetable? Oh, they never picked onions from this casserole!

When my children were able to eat at the table and feed themselves, they drank unsweetened tea. Otherwise, they filled up on milk and asked for more because they loved milk. Then, they were too full to eat the meal. Milk was for breakfast, snacks between meals, and after dinner. So, for a snack after this casserole, they drank milk and ate banana and maybe one cookie. They were active and always hungry--slim, too.

There was no sugar or artificial sweetener in the tea or in our home. We all just loved the taste of plain tea.

Mine were the only children in town who begged for zucchini. Other mothers were astonished. Frankly, I was too. My children sang the praises of zucchini while their skeptical friends made faces.

This is so juicy. And, it is even better the next day if you have any left. We rarely did.

If you try this, let me know how it turned out and if your kids approved. (If they hate zucchini, don't mention zucchini. It is just a tomato casserole.) Do you like it?

Your turn
Do you like it?

Tomatoes everywhere....uuuh, maybe?

On Thursday, 104 degrees and 65% humidity...a rain forest?

My friend from NY, who lives in Alabama, recounted the story of his tomato plants that failed. Or thrived, actually.

His Italian father told him to take cookie sheets and lay wet paper towel on the cookie sheets. Next, place one seed about every one inch in both directions, so you have a grid of seeds. Wet another paper towel and place over the seeds.

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. When it reaches that temp, turn it off. Place the cookie sheets in the oven and leave overnight.

Cut the paper towel in tiny squares with one seed to each square. Place the little squares with seeds into the peat pots that go right into the ground. The pot should be filled halfway with soil before planting the square with the seed, then cover the seed and water. In two weeks there should be tomato seeds germinating. That is what his father said.

My friend did all this and waited and waited and waited. He called his father who told him to be patient. Finally, he threw pots, seeds, dirt and all into his garden area. My friend was annoyed that the plan failed.

He went back out to till a few weeks later.  When he looked in the garden a few weeks after tilling, he was shocked to find tomato seedlings all over the place. The tiller had spread them all over the garden, little tiny seedlings. He pulled them up and flung them out into the yard in all directions up and down the perimeter of the garden. Still later.....Yes, soon the tomatoes sprung up all over the yard.

Once again, he treated the seedlings shabbily, flinging all the tiny plants up against the fence line, trying to rid himself of the nuisances.

Eventually, these once again thrived. Tomato plants grew all along his fence. He had about 24 bushels of tomatoes. The neighbors finally refused to take more tomatoes for canning or eating. He lives in the city, so it is not like he lives where people plant an acre of tomatoes.

I laughed so hard at this tale of trying to kill tomato plants. How many of us are worried about tomatoes not germinating/growing/thriving under adverse conditions? Who gets angry when they germinate and grow?

He also told me his neighbor in NY planted his spring crop of tomatoes every fall by throwing tomatoes against the side of the garage as he watched them burst and slide down the side of the garage. In the spring, he had tomato plants.

Both stories are hilarious and bizarre to me. Really, he tells the story better than I, expressing surprise, dismay, and disgust.

Your turn
Have you been faced with tomatoes that thrived no matter what? Got a funny tomato planting story? Got a bizarre method of planting?