COMMUNITY SPONSORED AGRICULTURE -- WEEK #25

This was the last week of the Summer CSA.  Yes, summer.  Can you believe it?  We have decided not to go into the Winter CSA this year, so this is the last pick-up we will have for some time.

We got:
     head of red romaine lettuce
     5 mitsu apples
     bunch of beets
     bunch of carrots
     2 lbs. of turnips
     2 lbs. of sweet potatoes 
     bag of cranberries
     jar of honey (made from bees kept on the farm)
     dozen eggs
     piece of Smoke Signal cheese
     $5 in Greensgrow bucks


With the Greensgrow bucks you can buy anything from the Farmer's Market.  We got red potatoes and more turnips.  The ones at the CSA were little; the ones at the stand were large.  We made sure we had enough for a meal.  We also got some yellow popping corn.


I must show you a picture of this one carrot that was in the bunch.  Remember when you look at it that this is just ONE carrot.

I have never seen a carrot like this.  Isn't it unusual?  I don't even know how to cut it up.


On our way home from the farm we stopped at Shop-Rite and did our weekly food shopping.  I saw my friend, Paulette, who works there but didn't get a chance to talk with her because she was really busy.  At the other end of the store I heard someone call my name and it was my former supervisor, Donna.  The one who just retired and whose job I took over.  She looks great.  How come everyone who retires starts looking better?  Then heading for check out I saw one of our patrons that I'm friendly with.  Sometimes you see no one you know and other days they are crawling out of the woodwork!


I found a display in the store for a new Jello pudding flavor -- spiced pumpkin.  I got a box and am going to make a pie out of it.  I'll let you know how it turns out.


I'm feeling sick off and on today.  It usually doesn't last this long, so I don't know what is going on.


Another day tomorrow.  I have a great post planned so see you then.

COMMUNITY SPONSORED AGRICULTURE -- WEEK #24

Because I had to work today, Joe got a friend to drive him and went to the farm without me.  This week we got...

      a head of savoy cabbage
      a head of butterleaf lettuce
      a head of raddicio
      2 lbs seckle pears
      2 lbs potatoes
      3 sweet onions
      4 mitsu apples
      16 oz ricotta cheese
      1 doz eggs
      1 bunch carrots


Next week is the last week of the summer session and everyone picks up.  (We have been the B week.)  We decided not to join the winter CSA.  It is expensive and we just can't afford it.  We'll see how it is in the summer.  In the meantime we are going to check out a new farmer's market that we found and see if we like it as well or better than the farm.


It was busy at work today and the people were all rude.  Not a good time at all.  My back is better (thanks for all your good wishes) but I was still very careful about leaning over and picking things up.  It takes a few days to get back to where it should be.


We had pierogies for dinner with onions, mushrooms and sour cream.  They were very good.  It was a quick and easy dinner because I am very tired.


Don't forget to change your clocks everyone.  I'm glad to have that extra hour of sleep tonight.  Talk to you all tomorrow.

COMMUNITY SPONSORED AGRICULTURE -- WEEK #22

Today was a very busy day.  There was so much to do.  We began by heading for the farm.

 

Greensgrow Farms is in the Fishtown section of Philadelphia, sort of between the two libraries I work at.  It's located at Cumberland and Almond Streets.  You don't think of Philly having a farm in the middle of the city, but here it is.  If you live around here I highly recommend visiting.  Even if you aren't a member, you can still buy from the Farmer's Market and that is great in and of itself.

The farm was all decorated for the fall and looked so great.  I asked if I could take some pictures for my blog and they were very happy to let me take anything I wanted.

This was outside of the greenhouse...

And this was inside.

Here's some more of the outside decorations.

These mums were for sale and they were beautiful.

And pumpkins were everywhere.

So anyway, here is what we got in our share this week.

 

     1 head of broccoli

     2 lbs. sweet onions (they were so big we got only 2!)

     8 yellow pears

     1 head of lettuce

     1 bunch of turnip greens

     2 lbs. of cranberries

     1 fennel bulb

     1/2 gallon of apple cider

     1 dozen eggs

     1 piece herbed cheese

And at the farmer's market we got:

     1 spaghetti squash

     1 Asian pear

     1 head of cauliflower

After we left the farm we got gas for the week, went to Pathmark and got our food order, stopped to get Joe's dry cleaning and went to Rite Aid and got our Halloween candy.  I can't believe Halloween is so close.  At least we are all set now.

When we got home we ate lunch and then Frank our yard guy came over.  He gave the lawn a last cut for the winter and then he cut back the hydrangea and the ivy and I cut back the rose bushes.  I picked the last of the tomatoes and he pulled up the plants for me and stacked the cages.  The yard is all set for the winter now.  It is always a sad time for me to see things like this.  It has gotten really cold out and it's not even nice to sit out there anymore.  It's like going to sleep for several months until it gets warm again and the yard comes to life.  I will show you garden pictures tomorrow.  But since it is after 1 a.m. I had better get to bed so I can get up for church tomorrow.  Until then...

ANOTHER WORKING SATURDAY

Day one of my seven day stretch is under my belt.  I'm so tired already I don't know how I am going to make it through a whole week.  And on my days off there is always so much to do.  *Sigh*  I don't mean to complain.  I really am very thankful that I have a job to go to when so many people today do not.  I'm just tired.

I went to the farm at lunch time today.  It wasn't our week to pick up, but there were a few things I wanted to get.  One of the things was purple cauliflower, but when I got there they had sold out.  Oh well.  I still picked up some other things.  I just cannot go there and see all the great produce and not get something.

I needed some potatoes (I'm almost out) so got them.  I was down to one shallot, so got them too.  The eggplants looked good even though they were kind of little.  So I got two.  But most importantly, I got two Asian Pears.  I love Asian Pears and the only place I can find to buy them is the farm.  They look like an apple, but taste like a sweet pear.  So good!  That was the main reason I went.

After work I stopped off at Fashion Bug.  They were having a sale and by using my card I got an additional 10% off.  Since I lost so much weight before and after my surgery last year a lot of my clothes are too big for me.  I got a pair of jeans and a pair of black pants for $47.  Now I have to get the old stuff to Salvation Army this week.

COMMUNITY SPONSORED AGRICULTURE -- WEEK #20

It was an interesting visit to the farm yesterday.  I had to work and since Joe has had seizures less than a month ago he cannot drive.  We thought about asking our friend Carole to help us out, but she had just driven me back and forth to the garage the day before and we didn't want to take advantage of her.  So I took a noon lunch and drove from work to the farm then.  Fortunately, the farm is only about a mile from work so it took no time to get there.

We got:
     4 North Spy apples (I've never heard of these)
     2 lbs Bosc pears
     1 head curly endive
     1 head romaine lettuce
     1 bunch beets
     1 bunch radishes
     2 lbs sweet potatoes
     1 bunch parsley (although I think I may have picked up cilantro by mistake)
     1 dozen eggs
     1/2 lb. herbed cheese (I forget exactly what kind)
     $5 in Greensgrow bucks

With the $5 I bought some red onions, some mushrooms and 3 little white pumpkins.

It was really hard to handle it all by myself.  I had a bag with a long handle slung over one shoulder and a thermal bag in my hand along with my purse.  After a few minutes the bags got really heavy.  Almost everyone comes with someone and there is a reason!  But I managed.

When I got back in the car I saw it was still pretty early, so I called Joe and told him I would drop everything off at home, but I wouldn't have time to come in, so please meet me at the door.  He did and then I ran back to work and got there just in time to get back on the desk.  So I ended up eating something at 2 p.m.  It wasn't the ideal situation, but it worked.

Every three months we have to change our computer passwords.  So yesterday was the day for me.  I am so tired of making up passwords.  There are only so many combinations in my head.  So I changed it and made sure it worked.  Later in the day I had logged off of the desk computer and had to go on the one in the workroom.  Wouldn't you know I could NOT remember my new password.  I tried it this way, that way, caps, lower case, numbers in the beginning, numbers at the end.  Nothing worked.  I had all this computer work to do and I couldn't get on the computer.  So I ended up calling the help desk for a call back on Tuesday and shelving all my books.  (Well, that had to get done anyway.)  At the end of the day I am putting the bank deposit together and all of a sudden the password comes into my mind.  Too late now!  But at least I know it now.  It's never easy for me.

Because I was the senior branch person there yesterday I had to open up, turn off the alarm, set everything up, close and then reopen the drop box, and relock everything at the end of the day.  It was the first time I had done it on my own.  Fortunately Diane was also there and was able to help me.  The alarm did not go off and the police did not come, so that was a good thing.

Joe was running an update on the computer last night so this is the first I've been able to post.  I have to get off of here, get ready for church and then go to work this afternoon.  We need the money, but I'm sort of sorry I signed up for so many Sundays.  I could really use the day off.  Oh, well, I have off tomorrow for Columbus Day.

COMMUNITY SPONSORED AGRICULTURE -- WEEK #18

Thought I'd begin today by showing you part of the farm that we go to to get our food every other week.  They always decorate so beautifully.  Here is the front gate.

And this is where you check out.  It's also the first thing you see when you enter the gate.

It's so cute all decorated for the fall.  It changes every week but it's always beautiful.

Here's what we got today:

     A bunch of cilantro
     A head of kale
     A head of lettuce
     2 lbs. of sweet potatoes
     1 pint of cherry tomatoes
     10 poblano peppers
     8 pickling cucumbers
     8 nectarines
     5 Fugi apples
     1 dozen eggs
     A piece of swiss cheese
     2 tomatoes
     3 ears of red popcorn

I already used a tomato and 3 of the 5 sweet potatoes for dinner.  I topped the potatoes with roasted poblano pepper butter with cilantro.  Really good.  I have a new recipe for Apple Betty that I got from Suzanne at Window on the Prairie that I want to try and a new cobbler recipe from Ree at Pioneer Woman that I will use for the nectarines.  I have some baking to do this week.  I'll let you know how it turns out.

I am very tired.  I have to get to bed.  It's a big day tomorrow.  We're saying goodbye to Pastor Wayne (it's his last day) as he retires and hello to Pastor Justin who is being installed.

A BLAST FROM THE PAST

I had to do overtime today at the library I used to work at -- Northeast Regional.  

I worked there for 8 years before I got transferred to the Tacony Branch and from there to the Richmond Branch where I am now.

It was so great being back there, talking with all my friends, going out to lunch with one of them.  I thought for sure I would have forgotten a lot having not worked there for about 3 years, but it all came back to me.  I really miss being there.

While I was working Joe and our friend Carole went to the farm for our bi-weekly pickup.  Here's what we got this time.

 

     2 heads of lettuce (otherwise known as more lettuce than I know what to do with)

     1 head of escarole

     5 ears of corn

     3 onions

     15 blue plums

     1 lb. Niagra grapes

     2 lbs. yellow beans

     1 pint grape tomatoes

     1 dozen eggs

     1/2 lb. sharp cheddar cheese 

Doesn't this look nice and colorful?  Now we have to eat fast before we go away for the week.

One of Joe's favorite places near the Northeast Regional Branch is Mario Brothers.  And one of his favorite platters from there is the Penne Pasta.  This is penne made with grilled chicken, broccoli, tomatoes and cheese and comes with a salad and garlic bread.  They give you so much food that I buy one platter, Joe and I split it, and we both have plenty to eat.  I brought one of those home for dinner tonight and we ate good without me cooking.  It was a great treat.  I seldom get over that way anymore.

As of 5 p.m. this afternoon I am officially on vacation.  Whoo hoo!  It feels so good to know I don't have to go in for a week.  And in three days we will be leaving for Virginia.  Can't wait.  Be prepared for lots of pictures.

FARM DAY

Believe it or not we got to the farm before the storm hit.  It was really crowded, but everyone was very organized and things moved along really fast.  Here's what we got:

     2 cucumbers
     1 lb. concord grapes
     1 pint heirloom cherry tomatoes
     2 heads of garlic
     3 large golden peaches
     1 head boston lettuce
     1 bunch kale
     2 lbs. white eggplant
     1 piece smoky farmer cheese
     1 dozen eggs

I now have more cucumbers than I know what to do with.  I am going to have to go through the refrigerator and use things up this week.  It is getting so crowded I don't know what is in there anymore.

I also got a bunch of beautiful flowers.

We tried to get gas on the way home.  We fill the tank every farm day and it lasts 2 weeks (unless we go away or do some unusual driving).  Today we could not find a place to get the gas.  There were lines everywhere.  Oh, well.  It is going to be beautiful on Monday and I am not going anywhere this weekend so I will get the gas then.

We went to the deli to get lunchmeat and the line was unbelievably long.  It would have taken me over half an hour to wait.  So we went to Wawa and I got it there for twice the price.  But at least we have it.

Then we stopped at a couple of stores looking for size D batteries for Joe's radio.  But they were nowhere to be found.  You would think the world was ending!  While he was in the store, I sat in the car and took a couple of pictures of the threatening sky.

When we got home we finished putting things away and getting ready for Irene to hit.  Our yard looks very empty and at the moment that is a good thing.

Our outside furniture and trash and recycling cans are put together like a jigsaw puzzle.  Hopefully nothing will blow away.

At approximately 2 p.m. the rain started.  It was just a gentle rain at first, and now at 5 p.m. it is pretty steady and heavy.  However, there is no wind.  So far so good.  I'll keep you updated.

THE FARM AND A TRIP TO PENNSBURY MANOR

A busy day today.   It began with a trip to the farm.  I got a lot!

2 lbs. of red potatoes
4 peaches
2 lbs. of tomatoes
bunch of parsley
4 squash (8 ball and Cousa)
organic Spring Mix
1 baby watermelon
2 red peppers
3 cucumbers
1 dozen eggs
1/2 lb. baby Swiss cheese

Joe had a tomato, swiss and lettuce sandwich for lunch and said it was wonderful.

This afternoon Joe and I met my friend Carole and her family (including her cousin Lisa who she is staying with ) and we went to Pennsbury Manor.  Carole used to be one of my Sunday School students when she was a teenager and is the daughter of my former pastor.  She lives in Kentucky now, but is here with her three daughters visiting her family.  I haven't seen her in 10 years, so this was a wonderful treat.

We got there rather late and missed the last tour.  But we were able to walk around and since I have been there 7 times before, I was able to be the tour guide for everyone.  Mostly we saw animals, birds and insects.  It was more like a nature tour than anything else.


Here's a few of the better pictures.  We saw a little bunny in the vegetable garden.

I was trying to get another shot when he hopped away.  Rabbits are fast!

There was a dragonfly on one of the bushes.  We took a lot of pictures of it.  This was the best one.

Here's one of Joe and I.

Carole's girls were fascinated by this big chair.  This is Sami and Emily.

And little Lily.

We found a bush with tons of butterflies on it.

There was a barn with a goose in it.  A mean goose who chased us out of the building.

Outside was a peacock.  Even though he had shed his feathers last week, he was still magnificent.

This view toward the river was so beautiful.

We saw the oxen and the horse from a distance, but couldn't figure out how to get close to them.

We had a beautiful day.  Next time I have to get Joe there in time to take the tour.

FRIDAY VIEWS

 

Hooray!  I am finally on vacation as of 5 p.m. today.   What a great feeling to know I have 9 days ahead of me to relax and get myself together.  Most of the time when I am off from work it is because I am sick (or lately going to funerals).  But the next 9 days will be so good.  I just know it.  How positive is that?

I forgot to take my phone to work today.  It needs charging and I was going to do it in the car while I was driving and plumb forgot.  We keep Joe's old cell phone in the car to use in case of an emergency, so I grabbed that to take into work.  Using the work phone for personal calls is frowned upon, so we do it very seldom.  We all use our cell phones on our breaks.  I call Joe during the day to make sure that he is OK. The car phone has a camera, which my phone does not.  I started playing around with it and figured out how to send pictures Joe had taken with it to myself.

First I took a picture of Diane and Marquita in the workroom and sent it to my email.

Hmm.  This is looking pretty good.  Maybe I can send myself the pictures from the Farm Days last October.  I wanted copies of them anyway.  Let's see...  Maybe a couple of the baby goat with the big straw goat?

How about the turkey?

This is good.  What about the two calves that slobbered all over me and tried to eat my sleeve?

Yes, they all turned out really well.  This phone could come in very useful.  I'll be downloading some more of the pictures real soon.

Had my friends Carole and Walt over for dessert tonight.  I made a peach and apricot cobbler and used up all of both fruit.  It turned out WONDERFUL!  Everyone gobbled it up and there isn't a crumb left.  So glad I was able to use the fruit up and not throw it out like I sometimes have to do.