As we move toward winter the rains come. Overall, this is a good thing. The pastures go green, our lakes recharge and there is snow in the Sierras. And it makes things pretty in the garden. We just wish the rain wouldn’t knock the petals off the roses…sniff…at least more are on the way. And this is still California, it is supposed to be 80 degrees next week. No complaints.
One of the many pleasant surprises we have from blogging is the amount of inspiration and new friends we discover. We started blogging as a way to challenge ourselves to be better gardeners and cooks, but found so much more. As always, we are very grateful to everyone who visits us, but also to everyone who takes the time to share their photos, recipes and cocktails. We learn new things and meet amazing people (from all over the world) almost every day, which is as close to a definition of “happiness” as we can find.
One area where we do fall short (and there are plenty) is responding to the occasional blogger award nominations we receive. We are grateful and apologize for the slow response. The “awards” that are out there an interesting deal, and we know some bloggers like them and some don’t. While it may be a bit “spammy” and a way to drive discovery, it is a great wat to discover new blogs. And some of these blogs really rock. On balance, there are never enough good blogs too read. So here are a few awards:
So each of these awards has “rules’ on how to respond, but we don’t love rules and hope that we can respond with a few fun facts, a few good sites and some photos. (And good, if somewhat lazy, intentions).
Fun Facts, Quotes and Miscellany:
Good Sites We Like:
And even though fall is here and the rains have come, the flowers are still blooming. Here are a few to share: Continue reading
Poor Linus. He never understood that the Great Pumpkin doesn’t visit you…. you visit the Great Pumpkin. And we happen to know that the Great Pumpkin lives in Half Moon Bay, California and spends most of its time showing off its best creations at Farmer John’s Pumpkin Farm.
Note the pink pumpkins in the background…
And it is a farm, not a “patch”. “Farmer John” Muller and his wife Eda run the best pumpkin farm in the Bay Area. John is tight with the Great Pumpkin and has more pumpkins, squash and gourds than just about anyone. Designers and restauranteurs join the masses to visit his farm every October and enjoy all the goodies. Thousands of pumpkins in immesurable colors, sizes and shapes (and flavors- some of these pumpkins are very tasty). And good people, too. With the help of Jon and Eda, the Great Pumpkin manages to host hundreds of disadvantaged school kids and give them pumpkins and time on a real farm. A kind and warm spirit is all around you at Farmer’s John’s. If a farm has a soundtrack, this one has lots of giggles and laughter. So thanks John and Eda Great Pumpkin! Here are a few photos of our “haul”….
Our “offering” to the Great Pumpkin.
Sam wants everyone to know that the green patch is not a bruise…but he did drop this one…;-)
The alien squash says “take me to your leader”.
These are called “dippers”…
Fall is a mixed bag here on the farm. The garden is slowly winding down. The stone fruit orchard is bare. But the citrus and pomegranates are coming and the flowers savor a break in the heat. Olives fill the trees. The leaves start to turn and we get new splashes of color.
While some of our plants wither or go dormant, our roses seem to want one more round. We appreciate their effort. Blooming roses and falling leaves seem to symbolize the land in northern California, seasons change but the sun and flowers peek through. There is always a sprout or blossom somewhere.
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Harvest continues here at the farm and we just enjoyed our first batch of cranberry beans. The mother of a good friend gave us these beans to grow and we are glad she did. Not only are they beautiful, but the cranberry beans have great texture and a flavor with a hint of chestnuts. We picked the beans, dried them, shelled them and soaked them, so they did require more work than some of our crops. We made a cranberry bean purée with a bit of sage, potato, béchamel, olive oil and parmesan cheese, and it was a great dish (recipe soon). Well worth the effort.
Otherwise, the season winds down, but we still have some pleasant surprises. The melons are very tasty and the tomatoes are still ripe and sweet. We have a few days of heat coming so another good batch of tomatoes is likely. The strawberries thrive and the peppers move to red (and even hotter, if possible). A nice batch of potatoes is a bonus.
In the orchard, the figs are pretty, but somewhat lacking in flavor, we will see what the heat does. And we wait for the Comice pears to ripen. They are close, but when the pears are ready, then so is winter. We can wait a little longer….
Even in California we know it’s coming. It’s autumn, but the tomatoes are red, ripe and juicy. There’s a nip in the air, but the melons are ripe and fragrant (and oh so tasty…sigh). Peaches fill the farmers market…but we also see glimpses of sweet potatoes, grapes, pumpkins and pomegranates. We may be in the “Cadillac Desert” but, even here, there is no free lunch…seasons change. Harvest.
The same goes for our garden. Pick those tomatoes, dry those beans, pickle more cucumbers (again?!?) and can/jam those berries and peaches. And if you have a friend who likes thermofuckingnuclear hot peppers, then some “generosity” is in order. Have at it. Share. Abundance is something to celebrate (unless all you have is zucchini, then go stand over there…;-).
All the while we plant our winter crops and look to the colder seasons. Tomatoes become jars of sauce. Peaches freeze into sorbet (yum- won’t last into winter, but whatever), we cure bacon and smoke almonds. There is flavor to be had in any season. And, of course, there are always seasonal cocktails. If you don’t have a bottle of Laird’s Bonded Applejack or good Calvados, now is the time…time to celebrate. Time to reflect. Time to share with friends. And, perhaps, time to take a well-earned nap….
It isn’t an accident that our largest and most important festivals and holidays come after the harvest. Our annual miracle, and it is a miracle, happened again. We live, we eat, we share, we love. Remember that Billions of people live from the fruits of this Earth. It is far from perfect (lord knows, there is more to do) but we have a good foundation to work from. Harvest is time to be thankful and look to the future. We say “thanks for this year and cheers to the next, may your pantry be so full you can share”….and remember to share, there is nothing better….
We leave you with flowers…Happy Monday….
Putney Farm 
