Ribs and Roots

 Oh my goodness, it's 59 degrees this morning!  WOOHOO!!!  The door is open and the fan is drawing in glorious COOL.  Yes, I could turn the AC on, but our lovely PG&E has done it to us again.  This time of year I should have a $400 credit from my solar, but alas, it's all of $51.00.  

Yes my panels are clean and yes it's producing the same as last year.  We just have a horrible electric company full of top heavy management and MIS-management.  Finally, after having been screamed at for 20 years about doing control burns, they have decided we were right.  It only took burning four huge cities to the ground for them to admit it.  And now they are all pompous about "look how GREAT we are, doing control burns".

But I digress .... it was a warm Sunday morning, so I watered the tomatoes and checked on the zucchini.  Who knew about that male and female flower thing?  Certainly not me!!  Thank you PATSY for the great mushroom/cheese zucchini recipe.  I can't wait to try it.  This week should stay in the 80's, so maybe I'll have one or two to cook.

It was pretty much a waiting game for me.  Around noon I wanted to drop off a baby shower present, so I passed the time watching another race.  Boy what I wouldn't give to drive one of these!!  This is Detroit, where they just blocked off this huge race track in the middle of town.  "Kyle Kirkwood wins thrilling race".  

I don't know about the thrilling part, but in many places it was barely wide enough for two cars to go through, meaning they played bumper cars a lot.  Sadly, I missed the ending altogether because I was outside.

Outside doing THIS!  I've had these ribs in the freezer way too long.  It's been awhile since I've done this, and my excuse is every rack of ribs is different.  Some are thick, some are thin, some are fatty ... you get the picture.  

They take a lot of "watching" and spritzing with apple juice, which I forgot altogether.  Pepsi would have worked, but I drank the last one two hours before thinking about it.  RATS!  They came out a little dry.

I packed them up and headed over to the steak dinner, whereupon they said OH GOOD ... we'll have ribs instead.  I was really looking forward to that STEAK!  

This couple, who are the best Bingo volunteers EVER, have a fabulous garden.   Anyone know what THIS is?  It was soaking in her kitchen sink.  This is an asparagus crown.  It's not something I ever really wanted to plant because it takes 2-3 years before you can really harvest anything ... or so they tell me.  

OMG!!  I came home with those two crowns and this HUGE package of TEN MORE!  Where am I going to plant THESE?  I have no planting room left, not to mention waiting TWO YEARS for something to eat!!  The only space I have doesn't have water handily available.  I think this is WAY beyond my expertise.

AND THIS ... I already received expert advice from Miss Patty about watering the tomatoes with epsom salt water.  Sure enough, this is what they do ... and their 15 tomato plants are covered with green tomatoes.  I see lots of tomatoes in my future since there are only two of them to eat all they will grow.

Yup ... they gave me a bag-oh-epsom, causing me even more work than I ever imagined when I planted those two tomato plants and those four cherry tomatoes.  

They definitely have a green thumb.  This lantana is three foot tall and blooming like crazy.  I've tried lantana several times and they all died a horrible death.  My entire yard is way too sunny!!

I had a great time yakking with them for three full hours before heading to the truck with my hands full.  Maybe I can do the epsom salt thing today ... or maybe I'll dump it in my water trough with me in it!!

Good news ... the gal I found that does embroidery called to say the first quilt piece was done.  I had my doubts since she's never done anything like this before, but she did a GREAT job.  At least I think she did.  It looks perfect to me, but I haven't seen it in person.  I'll pick them up today.  AND she only charged me $30 for both pieces because she said it's for a good cause.

I completely appreciate that, but if she did as good as I think she did, and she's just trying to get her business started, I'll pay her $50, because that's what it's worth.

The rest of the day you will probably find me snoozing on the couch.  The heat is taking its toll.  My cure for that?  I'm turning the AC on at night, even if the noise of it keeps me awake!  Yes I've tried earplugs, but the return is just on the other side of the bedroom door.  Hmmm ... maybe I need to switch bedrooms!!