Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward. ~Vernon Law

What’s happening?

WHOA MY FRIENDS!!! We certainly are being tested lately. I wont be going into details right now, but life certainly throws it’s curve balls. I will say, it’s been another insanely busy week here at the Cohnpound. Harry and Ian worked hard to spread 15 tons of pea gravel last weekend (I helped a little) so we can enjoy a small fenced-in space with the pups. It will be nice not worrying about them wandering off to explore the land or terrorize the chickens while we decompress from the day or enjoy an early morning cup of coffee. Here are a few photos of the progress:

Taking a rest

Back yard — A stone walkway leads to a small enclosed back yard area.

Hubs still needs to build and hang the back gate, and lay some sod to complete the project but it’s getting there! Oh. And because our agile little escape artist (Willow) can clear the first rail, a second layer of chicken wire needs to be tacked up. (you can bareley see the first layer, right?) I need to figure out what sort of foliage will thrive on the small hill but I’m looking forward to “prettying it up” a bit.

What’s cooking?

I love to cook and breakfast is my favorite meal, but early this week I had an epic fail! My typical breakfast scramble with mushroom, pepper and onion sat too long on my stove while I was distracted prying a frog from a dog’s mouth. (yep, that’s what happens around here!) I wonder if The Pioneer Woman ever burns her breakfast. I get a ton of inspiration over at her site, check it out!

What’s New?

Earlier this week I woke up and, as I do everyday, looked out our bedroom window to take in the view of the pond and be sure everything is in place! What appeared at first to be an owl or hawk perched on the log that runs across the back end of the pond (his head must have been tucked) ended up being this beauty! I believe it’s a juvenile blue heron. Anywho, it stayed perched for a few hours and around lunch time last when I looked out, it was gone! I find nature and it’s creatures so enchanting. Just by staring through binoculars for a moment at this wonder made me so happy. I know, I’m weird!

What’s going on in the garden?

We are so excited to start harvesting some veggies! Next year we will plant sooner and definitely space our garden out a bit more. We have plants growing over each other and are now trying to figure out how to keep as many as we can while still getting as much out of it as we can. These little veggies are so competitive with each other, but in the end no one wins. A crowded garden equals subpar crops. Lesson!

Did you know: according to wikipedia, as of 2014, the world record for the longest zucchini is held by Giovanni Batista Scozzafava of Niagara Falls, Ontario, for a squash measuring 2.52 metres (99 in). Seriously, that’s practically as long as me and me standing on my head! (yep, I’m a shorty!)

A couple of other interesting facts (to some):
Zucchini is an extremely low calorie food. According to my research a zucchini averages 25 calories. EAT UP, FRIENDS!!!
AND
Zucchini is best harvested small to mid-sized. Larger zucchini get very seedy. For best taste harvest earlier rather than later!

On a sad (or lesson learned) note, we are suffering from zucchini blossom rot (read more about that here) so even though low calcium is not the number one cause, tonight before the rain I crushed some calcium pills in our Ninja and sprinkled them on the soil. We’ll see!

Here are a few pics of what I did with our first zucchini and tomato, but if you’re looking for something more creative, visit my friends at Country Living for 45 of their favorite zucchini recipes (: They’ve got the goods!