First Frost, Pumpkin Washout, and Ode To Cherry Tomatoes

First frost last night.  Sigh. These were my brave nasturtiums, which flourished despite 6 weeks without rain.  I see their cheerful faces straight out of my kitchen window.  This is the second summer I planted them there, and will probably grow them again next spring.

I also harvested my ONE pumpkin.

I planted too late, and couldn't haul enough water for the drought.

And I forgot what kind I planted.

I don't think the final product is supposed to be dark green.

Plus an armadillo took a taste.

(Maybe wasn't an armadillo, but we blame everything on armadillos.)

Better luck next year.

The frost also took my cherry tomato plants.

These were volunteer plants from ones that I planted last year --

but those DID NOT thrive.  These were SUPER HERO tomatoes.

They took the drought.  They took the chickens (who learned how to 

wait for the ripe orange color, and then would leap up and pick them).

They took the two year old who came and picked to his hearts desire.

I did pick any last night that were starting to turn.

But now I wish I would have read up on whether I should

 have picked the green ones.

The vines were not "dying back" after summer, 

without a frost I think that they would have kept producing for weeks.

The cherry tomatoes were a literal bright spot in 2020.

Cherry Tomato Windowsill

Yellow Squash Bounty

This is yesterdays pickin's.

I am getting this many every other day (just two plants!).

Fortunately, I have found a Food Pantry

that will take them.

First Harvest

Swiss Chard Frittata Recipe -- not a vintage post

When I started this blog I vowed to keep it about vintage finds and what I do with them.  Not family, not travel, not decorating, not pets, not FOOD.  But I'm rationalizing that this is a follow up to a spring blog about incorporating vintage items into my yard.  I took a photo of the tiny Swiss Chard Bright Lights that I had just planted in a vintage washtub.   They grew up to be so STUNNING.  I really wasn't even planning on eating them, but why not?  They will just freeze in a couple weeks if I don't.

Some of the leaves are assorted colors, or have assorted colors

running through their veins.

The stems are primarily yellow, fuchsia, red.

I rolled the leaves to cut them into strips.

Chiffa...something.

The stems are used too, cut into about 1/4" lengths.

I have a friend with chickens, and I had to show off

her beautiful eggs.

It looks pretty darn close to the picture, doesn't it?

It was super yummy, here is the recipe:

 

SWEET POTATO & SWISS CHARD FRITTATA

 

6 large eggs                     1 cup 1/2 & 1/2                  1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper                  2 cups 1/2" cubed sweet potatoes

2 T olive oil                     2 cups chopped swiss chard or kale

1/2 small onion, chopped                                           2 minced garlic cloves

3 oz goat cheese, crumbled (feta or mozzarella pearls would be good)

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Saute sweet potatoes in hot olive oil for 10 minutes (recipe says to use non-stick ovenproof skillet, but I used my mom's old cast iron skillet). Cook until potatoes are tender and golden ( about 10 minutes).  Add the swiss chard, onion and garlic.  (I cheated and threw dehydrated onion in with my eggs). Saute 3 or 4 minutes until the swiss chard is wilted and onion softened.  In large bowl whip eggs, 1/2 & 1/2, S&P with fork.  Pour evenly over vegetables.  Sprinkle with cheese. (I used mozzarella pearls because my small town grocery store doesn't have goat cheese.) Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, until set.  Recipe came from Country Living 9/2014.

Gardening With Vintage Treasures

This week I was finally brave enough to plant some flowers -- with hope that all threat of frost is finally over.  It gives my heart joy to dig in the earth, and an added joy-jolt if I can combine gardening and vintage treasures.

I added Japanese ferns, forget-me-nots and a

butterfly bush to my huge collection of perennials.

For annuals this year I primarily did yellow

marigolds, pink dianthus, and blue lobelia.

I used my cute little vintage wheelbarrow

to schlep everything around the yard.

 

Every year I plant some type of decorative vegetable to add variety -- this year I went crazy with "swiss chard bright lights".  I'm pretty sure that neither my husband or I will be eating any...but the colorful stalks were so appealing.

Tiny bright swiss chard plants about

 took over my herb washtubs.

I'll add more flower + junk picts on a different day.