Sweat and Well, Sweat!!!

     Spending this weekend working in the garden, I didn't think there was that much sweat in any one person (Me)...It was HOT!

     I have been taking cues from my new recent favorite garden book...

Clipped tomatoes!

      It suggested that maybe giving a cutting to the tomatoes "like" two thirds back, will give me a chance to get another batch this coming  fall... so that's what I did. It really is no loss, for the basic fact the tomatoes were pretty much done flowering any way...

The Mess from the tomato clippings...

     I had my hubby mulch these up, I used them by spreading this all around the tomatoes...


Wanted Dead or Well, Dead

     BUT Guess Who is back!  Yes! There back!!!  The infamous STINK (squash) BUG!

This is a wanted dead or alive (dead)  poster!

 OOOOOhhhh! They make me so mad!  I lost my Zucchini,

What was pulled from it's spot in the garden!

     But that's okay, it was on it's way out... I guess this bug has no known predators except, us, humans!  I have to use pesticides, which I seriously hate....Nothing else works..., nothing that is a natural remedy anyway....   If you see one, it's too late, there are a million... and sitting out there in this heat picking them by hand, in this season?...  not an option!...

     A very empty spot and the other set of zucchini that really never produced! Which I found that pictured stink bug at!   after all this is takin care of I will be planting something else but haven't quite thought it out yet! Something the those squash bugs hate for sure though! 



The Secret Garden 

     The area where we want to expand our backyard is coming along well enough.... Hopefully by the time it cools off, (Oct), We will be able to have our gate and our pavers in... I have been trying to think of the types of comforts to put in this space.. You know patio furniture and such, how I want to use this space is really overwhelming, but, I have time to think and plan ....

Before

So far

    

      I think along that block wall I want to try the technique espalier with a type of fruit tree like peach or etc... Wouldn't that be just dreamy....? I just don't how to muster the confidence though, other than just do it and see what happens...

Monsoons!

     We have been having dust storms all around the valley these past weeks, not a lot of rain, wish the garden would get a couple of really good pouring, drenching rains...

   

 One of my little friends enjoying the little rain we did get! Isn't he cute...

JALAPEÑO MYSTERY

     But, wait! Look at this mystery!


         What in the world is eating my Jalapeños?     

     There are a couple of peppers that look like this... so I'm on the hunt for mucho, macho eater of heat!
I will be making jalapeño jelly soon... but if I keep getting this type of action, I won't be getting any peppers at all....  So pepper eater hunter mode! Is there a name for it? Like Pepper Eater Tracker, or Heat Tracker?

A POINT OF VIEW!


     A point of view in the garden that I just seem to identify with... Is it me? 

    Is there a point of view in your garden that you can Identify with?  A piece of you painted or written that can be reminded of the personality you have? 

   Well,   I leave you with a crazy messy picture, but love!  (ME!) LOL!!!

      I want to say to my incredible hubby,  

Happy Anniversary... 


This is our 17th year of marriage...


     When things were bumpy or smooth, the road is and was always one to travel with you! Love you!

The Happiest Flower!

Sunflowers - Helianthus
 

This one is like 12 feet tall!

     So I went into my backyard and what do I see...

Another view of the "tall one..."

The best sunflower ever.... I wrote a post sometime ago about these flowers...

     I wish I could go to a field of sunflowers and watch them follow the sun...  I thought that I would revisit my old post and add some to it and  repost!
 

 Native to the Americas-
    These happy face flowers are annuals. They like late spring to be planted.
Warm weather and soil are their vice for success..

    I usually see them popping up from the bird seeds that is given to the menagerie of birds that visit every morning...


    So I am usual quite happy to see the volunteers all around my yard...
It just means that my backyard is full of life, that makes me just as happy as the flowers that visit... (and also make the birds happy as well.)

   Heliotropism- to follow the sun. This flower has a misconception, these flowers do not follow the sun. They typically face East then turn towards the west . Sometimes the littler flowers or young buds and leaves orient themselves towards the sun.
 

     I pretty much think that every one knows what to do with these flowers, from vases, to eating the seeds or using the oil...

    These flowers are always welcome in my yard at any point in time...

     Look at this crazy lookin one. It just had to be different... I guess that is why I love these flowers...
It is like they are their own reality... I am here see me flower!!! lol


     The past couple of days it has been quite cloudy, and I noticed that the sunflowers couldn't follower the sun... But today is hot and sunny and they are more than extremely happy!!!  Well, me too!!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYLEE......

So my daughter turned 17 on July 12...

I made a cake, we celebrated over the weekend... We had a Fiesta...

 Rylee being goofy and my step Dad giggling at her

 The cake was a white cake, tinted in purple tones and layered with raspberry sauce... It was a hit... One piece was left...

     Well,  I hope that this bring some sunshine to those that are in the middle of the rains....  


The happiest flower of the garden...

Route 66... An Era Gone Too Soon?...

     Being away from  my Tangent Garden for few days, well..., made my heart miss it...
 But I had fun being away...

Jalapeños, Not only hot outside, but, tempting some taste buds!!!

Historical Route 66

      We went up North to Kingman, AZ... We are scouting property... But, we wanted to ride, what is said to be, "the Mother Road"

     Route 66...

     It was fascinating to learn about the trail that so many traveled along... It started in Illinois and tracked across the United States.  There isn't much left of the road,  they even sell pieces of it...  It is a sad time to see such legacy go away...

     We passed through Cool Springs, the story of this stop, is quite interesting, Did you know that they used this particular spot in a movie called  "The Universal Soldier"... and blew this place up!!! Then a rebuild happened in 2003, I think in that year...

Cool Springs, on the old road, Route 66

     The route was and still is very long perilous, and the vehicles that drove the roads were, lets say not to dependable for the people to trust, especially in the in hot temperatures or the night desert which was very dangerous.
     As you can see, unfortunate past travelers...

These are long ago accidents that were at the bottom of the ravine along the Route 66...

     As we were slowly traveling along, we spotted a make shift, "cemetery(?)."  One would say a "remembrance hill," of some sort... It was just before Sitegreaves Pass, locals were paid to drive the travelers' model A or T's through this most scary part of Route 66... those that were worried were smart to get experienced guides...

I am not sure what to call it but, maybe Remembrance hill would be fitting...

      It was very Haunting, there were so many crosses, and it made one wonder, was this because they died along this perilous road or was it that they loved the Route 66 so much that they wanted to be remembered along that road... Whatever the reasoning, it was thought about and noted...  Not to forget to mention, but There were a lot of clothing too, all shirts, and it really did seem odd to see, maybe it was a thought, they would give the shirt off their back just to help if they could, whatever the reason it did make one question it, and think about ... So maybe it worked, maybe just to stop and remember was what it was meant to be..

     I have been noticing many of these strange stone stackings, not only here, but in peoples yards and  along certain trails etc...  What does this mean?  I am very perplexed about this...

     I felt a great honor being able to see what was left of some of Route 66... So continuing our drive...
We entered the town of Oatman...

      Oatman also had a very sad and haunting story... Oatman was named for the Oatman family that was massacred by Native Americans. A family of ten children, all died except three children, two girls that were taken as captives and the brother left for dead... A story that should be told... There is a book about this story... but here is a link of who Olive Oatman was.. (is)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive_Oatman

     Along the way, we took pictures of the most bleak, but beautiful scenery of "the old west."  I really took the old west for granted,"Cowboy Era," seems to be more and more mesmerizing.

An old wagon just sitting there...

      Along the traveled road, you'll see abandoned homesteads just aching to tell their story... If only that was possible... I'm sure it would be a most telling tale...

   Times were very trying and treacherous for the families thinking that they were on the "trail of milk and honey!" Fighting off claim jumpers, Indians (Native Americans) and whatever that challenged them...

     When the gold rush started for these parts, mining became the past time... Peppered all along this historical road were mines that either gave or the miners died in hopes of getting...

       Of course these are now off limits for one reason or another, but the most important is of course that they will collapse on whom ever enters...

       The word is after years of mining, which went away, the miner's burros were left to run, so their descendants are now free to roam the town, unfortunately I didn't get to see them, but I did see one a great distance from the road... (but there was remnants all along the road to let you know that they live there too... if you get my meaning...lol...)

     So there we were, in a climate that was well below the extreme heat advisories, like the valley, and in an environment of  "cowboy's and indians, miners and gamblers, hauntings and intrigue."....

     and all I thought or could think of was, How beautiful of an image, starting fresh and new, for the families that migrated from far away lands, that had to fight for everything they ever hoped for, in distinct opposite of  todays time, everything is just to easy to have, in a generation of instant gratification ... 


     The history is very much alive along this Route 66, even if modern times caught up and took over!...

Something to leave you with...
         

        Here is something to ponder....


     Now from what I understand, these were real ordinances that were in fact "law"...

     The wild west hasn't changed that much, has it? ? ha ha ha!

How Hot is it?

     So I made the Hot Pepper Mustard.... But I really wasn't that satisfied.  I thought it would have more tang to it... and the way they had the directions written I thought it would be easy.. I didn't realize that some things needed to be done with a little tweaking... but all in all... It is okay.. I found another recipe that I will try next time... I didn't know the real terminology is Hot Pepper Butter, if you were interested! I just so happen to think Hot Pepper Mustard sounds yummier...

     I have been a pickin,plucking fool.. and I love it... In a week or two I will be cutting back my tomatoes to see if I get another round of them in September... I am curious for that... and I pulled all my carrots so I will be turning the soil and planting something else there... I have some thoughts just not sure yet!

Off to my Mothers house with goodies for her!

My bell peppers are turning color I have a Yellow one and a Chocolate color one... The colors of veggies are amazing...

    I have been following the news and the says the heat is so bad...  The elderly and child are really bad off... It seems that  precautions need to be taken for this type of extreme, I mean people are prepared for almost anything, Right?... I really hope that the heats breaks off soon.. Please for those that have been enduring the storms be safe...

 ONE LOVELY BLOG AWARD NOMINATED!!!



       I have the most amazing blog friends, I love each you dearly...

I was recently nominated for One Lovely Blog Award!  Thank you so much...  Jane from http://www.tidygardensbyjane.co.uk/

Presented me with this honor, I graciously accept and have much gratitude...

So now I link back to Jane, done.... luv ya, xx

Then I give 7 random facts about myself... Gee, I really am a boring one!

1. When I was in my younger years, I wanted to be an Herpetologist! Yes, I wanted to be a Reptile Dr.
I also wanted to open up a shop for Reptiles, I wanted to call it, Columbian Addiction...
2. Watching old movies is a favorite pass time, the old black in white movie, "Dracula" scares me to watch it at night...When I was a kid, like the age of 10, the movie "Alien" with Sigourney Weaver gave me nightmares until I was well into my late twenties.
3. There are two eras that I would love to live in, the Victorian times and the 60's (Hippies).. What a contradiction huh?
4. If could find a beautiful old Victorian home for Cheap to buy, I would, even if It was HAUNTED...
5. Which leads to number 5, I believe in the spirit world... you know ghosts and such..
6. I have one very favorite holiday, and that is Halloween.
7. And last, Hello, My name is Virginia and  I am a Pinterest Addict!!!


     Now to Nominate 10 fellow bloggers... Well, this is such a hard one to do for one, everyone is so deserving, two everyone on my blog roll has gotten it already,

     If had been diligent like most bloggers, I would have out and about making new blogger friends to nominate...

     So Jane, since there are no tag backs, I can't renominate you which makes me wish I could... The rebel in me is screaming..

     My dear Friend Petronela,  Why I Wake UP...   http://unikorna.blogspot.com/ I see that you received this award well you deserve it again... But an Honorable mention is in order... I think...

     So here are some of the blogs I love to read, follow and keep tabs,

http://craftygardener.blogspot.com/

http://ginnysgarden.blogspot.com/

http://joelleford.blogspot.com/

http://meadowviewthymes.blogspot.com/

/http://azediblegarden.com/

http://olderthanvintage.blogspot.com/

http://theebullientgardener.blogspot.com/

http://tinygardener.blogspot.com/

http://inmyhomeabide.blogspot.com/

http://www.arizona-writer.com/

Congratulations to everyone!