Garden Sweetness

 

Pardon me if I get too carried away with my garden adventures and the joy that they bring. 

This year's sunflower show here at the Lovestead has been something else.

I do think there has been a hidden motive within a lot of people for planting a lot of sunflowers, and, by golly, if their crops are anything like mine, they have not disappointed. 

Almost every day for the past month, I have marveled at those big beautiful bright faces of varying colors standing tall and not social distancing in their clump next to the fence or even stooped over, lying on other garden plants, thanks to strong winds. 

They're just plain stunning and even when their stems have failed them, they keep sending out positive vibes about life. 

A few seconds of gazing at a stunning sunflower provides several moments of Pandemic euphoria.

What a combo of words:  Pandemic euphoria.

One wonders how could there be such an expression in the midst of so much sadness, considering 200,000-plus deaths in our country and double that projected by the end of the year.

Yesterday, I heard British Prime Minister Boris Johnson suggest that the new restrictions in his country could last for SIX months. 

Bet the Brits could use a few sunflowers. 

Yes, our perceptions of what makes us happy have definitely changed a bit in the past several months.

  That may be very good in some situations and kinda sad in others. 

I was thinking just before posting this morning, while listening to my daily CD of Irish music, how much I WANT to go somewhere. 

Could be because this is the time of year that Bill and I were counting the hours in 2019 before our departure on yet another trip to Ireland. 

Last year we had reached the point of true independence in our foreign travels.  Bill had a year of driving on those narrow Irish roads under his belt.  

We knew exactly where we wanted to stay and we knew and had become friends with the wonderful folks who ran our accommodations:  Mark, Ann-Marie, Mary, Vince, John, Sue and Frank. We knew where and when we would sip on that first Guinness. 

On a happy note, I did see on Facebook that Fred Malzard opened his pub this week, so his part of Ireland must be doing okay Covid-wise, at least for now. 

Reflecting on this time last year does make me yearn for travel---at this point, travel anywhere.  

Our big trip of 2020 was a one-day road trip in the spring to Wenatchee where Annie met us and we hiked on a mountain above Wenatchee so we could visit.

I don't know if we want to take the chance or if we want to jump through all the hoops it would take to leave this place for two days, let alone one. 

Our animals have become more important and endearing than ever of late. They do require personal attention, and we enjoy providing for their needs.

So, we'll probably make the most of life at the Lovestead, which isn't too bad a gig. Just that the wanderlust and nostaglia sometimes makes the mind wander.

And, it certainly has from the original focus this morning.

Back to garden sweetness.  

Those tomatoes. Ahhhhh! It may be a 2020 thing, but the flavor this year suggests the slogan Madison Avenue used to sell lots of Lays Potato Chips:  betcha can't eat just one. 

I experienced just that yesterday when I brought an armful of tomatoes to the house.

After sampling one cherry tomato, I ate another and another---all five. 

Is there such a thing as tomato elixir?

That flavor definitely brings on tastebud Pandemic euphoria!

Finally, I was feeling domestic yesterday.  I've been thinking about my abundant and healthy crop of rosemary, purchased at the Flower Farm earlier this spring. 

And, I've thought about baking bread.  Having spent the past few weeks purchasing the Swiss bread delights from Michelle, I've had bread AND rosemary on the mind.

So, yesterday, it was time to act.  I went out and cut off a stem of rosemary, chopped it up into tiny little bits and threw it in my simple as pie (BTW: pie isn't simple for me) bread recipe.

Twas a total experiment cuz I'm just learning how to use herbs in foods.  It's a late-in-life A-HA, for sure. 

Well, that bread came out of the oven, I sliced off a piece, topped it with margarine (yes, I love Imperial). 

Oh my!  Just right on the rosemary.  Not too much but enough to add a hint of herbal delight to one of the supreme culinary experiences of life---fresh-baked bread.     

Later, Bill tried a slice and agreed that it truly was good.   

The slice accompanied a garden salad with more of those sweet tasting 'maters, a slow-baked chicken breast and some damn fine Reser's potato salad from Yoke's. 

We both agreed that it was one of the tastiest meals of the year. 

And, so a few samples of garden sweetness this morning of Pandemic euphoria, thanks to the sunflowers, tomatoes and that fresh rosemary. 

Granted, those divine moments on the palate have not lessened my yearning to go somewhere, anywhere and safely---but they sure help.

Happy Wednesday. 

Hope you see some sunflowers today AND that they smile back at you.