Lakota Squash

 There is nothing better than a bowl of hot squash soup on a cold and wintry day. 

  We save our squash seeds from year to year. Lakota Squash is an American Squash cultivated by Native American Tribes as early as the 16th Century. 

Most of our Hubbard (green) Squash have taken on more and more of the Lakota characteristics.  The bees, birds and insects are to blame. 

 Cut up squash into large chunks. Remove seeds and bake at 350 for an hour or until soft.  After baking, mash the pulp and use in recipes for soups, breads, cookies, muffins, vegetable side dishes and more. 

Squash bread fresh out of the oven.  

  

Everyone likes (loves) my squash bread.

Squash pulp freezes well and is ready to use throughout the winter.

All winter squash are loaded with vitamins.  They keep well and are fun to grow.  They never disappoint. 

Until you grow your own, pick up a squash from your local grower and find out for yourself how versatile they are.

Have a wonderful week my dear Friends, 

Gina

Repost

Growing, growing, growing.

1. Yes I measured it. 

It now measures almost 8 feet

My friend Rosemary tells me that it is a Verbascum.

When will it stop?  It's even growing side shoots

.

A new plant is waiting in the wings. 

No doubt our upcoming winter will test its character. 

This is also a Verbascum. 

It grew in my garden a few years ago. 

In the meantime, at the back of the house, my Asters are making a show. 

These are Asters which come from seeds I collected more than forty years ago from a fence near Lake Maggiore, Italy.

The first time I planted them was when we still lived at the old farm on weekends.  

I broadcasted the seeds over the old pig pen and hoped for the best.

Come early Spring I walked over to check, not really thinking that it would work. 

  

Mr G knew that it was a success because he said I had a big grin on my face.  

We had a frost a couple of weeks ago.  I was not ready to lose my flowers.  I covered them all, moved some into the house and some into the barn. 

It was worth it.  

My apple trees and pear trees are loaded with fruit.  

We ae having an apple pressing day in a few days.  

Hope you are well. 

Take care, Gina 
 
 

Knee deep in Alligators

 I'm knee deep in Alligators.

I'm taking a short break from blogging.

The weeds are taking over.

I must teach them a lesson. 

Take good care of yourselves,

Gina 

Don't cut the sunflowers, they always do.

 

The Mail must go through.

The last two men who had carried the mail had been killed by Indians. 

Hans Jorgen Hansen said he would carry the mail.  He would do it without fail, as the mail must go through.

Hans had a fine mare.  She could outrun any horse the Indians had.  His horse had keen instincts, she knew how to avoid any Indian ambush.

Hans told the authorities that he had a 16 year old son by the name of  Niels Peter who could ride as well as any Indian. 

They took turns carrying the mail between Ephraim and Spring City.

Most rides were uneventful as the country was wide and open in the mid 1800s, and still is today.   They could see in all directions. 

  

But near Spring City was a place known as Pigeon Hollow.  Throughout the Hollow were clumps of sage brush and cedar trees. There was always danger of an Indian ambush.

But the faithful little mare always sensed their presence.

She would race through the Hollow.  The disappointed Indians  would come racing out from behind in hot pursuit trying to overtake them.

When Niels was far enough away from his pursuers he would rein up to a stop, turn and wave to the Indians.  The Indians too would bring their mounts to a rearing halt, brandishing their weapons.  It soon became a game. 

Pigeon Hollow road today. 

Have a great week my dear

Friends.

Gina

Partial re post of Sept. 2012

Makes my heart sing.

 

A little color to brighten your day. 

                                  I give credit to the new soil. 

          Opium Poppies  (Papaver Somniferum)  grown from saved seeds. 

Wishing you a happy and healthy remainder of the week, 

Gina

Apricots

 Hanging in the tree yesterday morning. 

Made into Apricot Preserves this morning.  

There is only one tree in this valley which bore apricots.  All others froze, including mine.  

Apricots make my favorite preserves. 

I asked around, even on Facebook. 

Low and behold, only a street away, my good friend M'lisa has an old Apricot tree and it is loaded with apricots.  

It pays to have good friends.  Cherish them as long as you can. 

Gina