At Home in Wyoming

First Nibble

 

Although I had to turn the furnace on this morning (night time temperature dipped into the lower 50's, and it looks like upper 40's tonight or tomorrow night), it is time to enjoy some of the first fruits from the garden...namely the prolific zucchini.  If you look closely, you can see one ready to be picked, along side a bunch of weeds and...could that be a seedling hollyhock growing in the middle of it?  Past time to get the hoe out!

My family likes fried zucchini, and instead of just dipping them in bread crumbs to fry, I use the mixture below...which I originally used on fried scallops, but found it works great with zucchini and fried green tomatoes:  1 egg slightly beaten in one bowl, and 1/3 cup mashed potato flakes, 1/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs, 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp pepper mixed together in the other bowl.  Dip the zuke in the egg mixture first, and then in the potato mixture.  Fry and enjoy!  DLB

                                                                                                                

The Flowers Remember When

 This little piggy...maybe ain't so dumb!  After an unfortunate run-in with a mule, she never fattened up enough to enter the Park County Fair, which began today.  She will miss her moment to shine, but won't be sold for butcher at the end of the festivities.  Which is one good reason to stick to a diet!

I used to work for the State of Wyoming, and by happy chance my office was just two and a half blocks from my front door.  I was often able to walk either to or from work, or home for a coffee break.  Consequently, I knew and enjoyed every shrub rose, lilac bush, daisy and tulip within a two block radius.

Especially Carol's peonies.

Carol was the widow woman that lived in the little yellow house around the corner and two houses down from mine.  I can see her so clearly in my mind's eye.  A willowy figure, clad in long skirts, pretty blouses and the inevitable sun hat as she deadheaded her rose bushes, fertilized her peonies and trimmed her daisies.  Her flowers were her joy, her lawn her priority.  

My son used to mow her grass when he was little.  He mowed quickly...she always had fresh baked cookies and lemonade for him when he was through.  I remember the day that he came home and told me that Carol had cancer, and intended to fight it.  I also remember the day that she died.

Her children that lived out of state came home, buried their mother, put a new roof on her house and put it up for sale.  A real estate company bought it and turned it into a rental property.  The years went by.

I walked by her old house a few weeks ago.  Sadly, the lawn was overgrown, and where beauty and order once reigned, tricycles and a baby pool were scattered about. The new family has different joys and priorities. 

And yet...by the front door, Carol's old rose bush still bloomed, and her peonies made a great show.  I noticed that her delphiniums were spiking up through the untrimmed grass, and her lilac bushes, while shaggy, still looked healthy.

It has been a long time since Carol's footfall graced her flower garden,  life had moved on.

But her flowers...and me...remember when.  DLB

 

 

I'm Back!

For those of you that have been wondering where on earth I went, I have not been blogging for a few weeks as I accidently damaged the cord that I used to load pictures from my camera to the computer.  Walmart still does not have the cord that I need, but my husband found a way to get the old one to work until I can get my hands on a new one.   That said, barring any other catastrophe I should be back to regular blogging next week, so please stay tuned!  Have a good weekend...DLB