(the misadventures of an expatriate corporate dropout)

Friday, April 24, 2009

looky me, looky me!

I'm turning into a regular femme du ferme here what with my radishes and carrots and mache poking their heads towards the sun. Not to mention the hollyhock seeds I've been gathering through my travels that I have now planted against a sunny wall and send good omens towards. Or the walk through the marché today where I ogled every stand offering fraises, judging quality and price. After which I basked in the sun on a café terrasse, sipped my espresso and weighed the options. I returned to one of my favorite stands where an old man brings a meager selection each week ... but there is always one standout! Last year all of my peppers came from him. I bought his last 8 baskets of berries and returned home and ... *gasp* ... prepared jam!!!

now before we get too excited, let me say that I used French pectin and an American recipe and I'm not sure it is setting up so well. But I prefer freezer conserves so even if it isn't perfect it is going to taste divinely fresh because it isn't cooked. If it is a little more syrupy ... so be it. I have 10 containers and I will definitely need to gift some because I don't eat that much jam in 3 years! but I think I can also use it for little tarts and such ...

I've been searching for dahlia tubers but looks like I missed the boat. It has been so long since I've really practiced the art of gardening that I've forgotten so much about the timing. I'm trying to do some better research and planning so that next year I'll be on top of it. For example, next year I'd like to have a strawberry patch of my own. But I think I've completely lost the mark on that one. And I want peonies too. sigh.

But my wisteria is Monet worthy and my lilacs (deep purple and white) have scented the garden delightfully. And I've got roses everywhere. The plants I mean, no flowers yet but the garden will have masses of roses I hope.

7 comments:

softinthehead said...

As usual that all sounds heavenly, I can't believe you have lilac and wisteria already. My peonies have only just broken through the soil. That's Canada for you.
Waiting patiently for the photos you promised the other day :) bon weekend

Randal Graves said...

Mmm...jam....

Leigh Russell said...

Hey there, femme de ferme - sounds good! If you fancy a break from your harvesting, please feel free to visit my blog and read about my crime thriller Cut Short. You might even end up reading the book!
Si vous aimez les intrigues policieres, le suspense et le frisson, alors ce livre est fait pour vous!

Hope to see you on my blog - plesase tell your deadly women writers!

Utah Savage said...

I have a hard time visiting sometimes because I covet your life. I just wish I were you. Even I transplanted into your life would not be living your life half so well as you.

I'm taking your advise about the diet thing. I appreciated your comment on that score.

Stacey said...

LOL! it sounds like you're having a fantastic time, and looky me - here I am with a pile of leaves still on my deck from LAST FALL!!! *hangs head in shame*

Non Je Ne Regrette Rien said...

SITH-I know, I've been lazy about the photos...a toute de suite!

rg-its coming out my ears!

leigh-thanks for coming by...

U.S.-don't think of it as a diet, just as changing up the time that you eat! you my dear are gorgeous!

stacey-I hereby dub the the queen of the procrastinators! all hail the queen! (miss ya!)

JChevais said...

I planted my lilac tree three years ago and this year it has finally put forth blooms! They're so pretty!

I have two wisterias and they're so gorgeous at the moment that they make me weep. Word to the wise, to get more blooms in the spring, you have to really cut that sucker back in the fall.

I keep wanting to do some more mucking around in the garden, but other duties keep calling me. Am hoping to do a good clean out sometime in May.

MY WV is 'raking' and I'm not even kidding. Google is mocking the fact that there are still leaves and magnolia blooms all over my yard...