How does your garden grow?

When Spencer and I went to Disney a few weeks ago, we spent a day at Epcot.  The nerd in me was super-excited about Future World and the World Showcase!

{ Love that this hasn't chagned a bit. }

Now, my memories of Epcot as a kid involve Spaceship Earth, a light-up Captain EO visor and Goofy in a space suit.  { For the record, Captain EO is back in all its 1986 George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola glory.  Complete with moon-walking MJ and the original special effects.  Oh my. }

{ Poster cpyright Disney, of course. }

But what amazed me about Epcot this go around was that we were lucky enough to visit during their annual HGTV Flower and Garden Festival.  Given the recent demise of my rosemary, I'm no professional gardener.  But, I figure, I started off buring stuff in the kitchen before I was a halfway decent cook.  I guess you've got to kill a few plants to figure out how not to.

The festival provided inspiration on a multitude of fronts.  First, the topiaries:



{ Minnie's dress is made of begonias! }

{ Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater }

{ Look at sweet little Dopey! }

{ Love the Tick Tock Croc and the plume on Hook's hat }

But as much as I can aspire to a garden like my mom's { or like the pros at Disney, same difference }, we live in a townhouse.  With no yard.  So maybe topiaries aren't in my future.  Besides, if I had topiaries, they'd probably be of the "Eat More Chicken" cows.  Not sure my HOA would like that.  Nor do they like the dead rosemary.

So if I can't pull off an elaborate topiary, and the dead rosemary has to go, how about something a little more along these lines?

{ Maybe this I can do.  Maybe. }

With a little help and encouragement from Mom, I emptied the rosemary's pot and added pea gravel for drainage.

{ Take that, root rot. }

It's no Disney masterpiece, but I transplanted the Creeping Jenny { that somehow survived a winter on the deck } along with a new honeysuckle vine Mom propagated.

With the random Creeping Jenny now on the front porch and my feeling inspired { and again, encouraged by Mom }, we now have two red white and blue planters on the deck, too.

If this 95* weather doesn't kill them and I manage to water regularly, perhaps these will survive the summer!

How does your garden grow?  Any tips for a beginner?

Oops

I thought it was impossible to kill rosemary.

{ Stupid root rot. }

Well, I stand corrected.

Rapid Recap

The month of May came with much to celebrate!  After we got home from Disney, Spencer and I spent our first anniversary by returning to the Mansion on Peachtree { love. love. love! }.  We dug our wedding cake out of the freezer, with a backup recreation on standby just in case.  And I was super-excited for an excuse to use my cake breaker.

{ The real cake is on the left.  And the dingle-hopper looking thing on the table?  It's a cake breaker! }

Then we celebrated Mother's Day with my family.  For the occasion, I attempted a Rose Cake inspired by I Am Baker.  { If you ever make it yourself, be sure to make a double batch of buttercream.  I only made one to start with, and then had to make another and match the pink all over again.  I can hear mom with the "I told you so" right... about... now.  I should've known better. }

{ Not too shabby, if I do say so myself. }

And Maude graduated from UGA!  I was so proud.  Like all the cool kids, she painted her mortarboard.  It made her much easier to spot on the field.  Plus, she had two tassels.  Blue for Education, and then red and gray because she's one smart cookie.

{ derp derp }

{ Thanks for the crooked picture, Jimmy Boy. }

Like any good fourth generation Bulldog, I had to find my name.

{ Look, Mom!  That's me! }

Then last week, Spencer was recognized for 10 years of service at the CFA Home Office.  The luncheon was beautiful, and it was fun to be the proud wife.

{ This photo is the reason I cut three inches off my hair on Thursday.  Why didn't anyone tell me it had gotten so bad! }

And in the midst of all this, we cleared out the condo and officially became landlords.   It's been so nice to focus on our house for a change!

It's been a busy few weeks, but good ones.  Here's to a fabulous June!

Simple Sides: Grilled Zucchini

I have a husband who, if left to himself, would live on chicken fingers and pepperoni pizza.  And he did, for quite some time. { Upon reading this just now, Spencer adds, "Hey!  I eat peanut butter, too!"  I rest my case. }

Until we started dating, very few vegetables were even in his vocabulary.  Least of all zucchini.  { As my cousin Dave used to say, "that's you-keeny, not my-keeny!" } But I snuck in some grilled zucchini recently and he actually liked it.  It was easy to make and definitely qualifies as a vegetable, so I liked it, too.

Next time you're grilling steaks, burgers, chicken or anything along those lines... give these a try!

Grilled Zucchini

You'll need:

• Zucchini (one medium sized per person, depending on how many other sides you're serving)
• Italian Salad Dressing (I use the Kraft Roasted Red Pepper variety, but any will work)

• First, slice off the stem end of each zucchini.
• Cut each one in half lengthwise, then into three or four triangular logs per half (depending on the diameter of your vegetable, you'll get 6-8 logs out of each).  You just want to make sure that they're not so thin that they'll fall through your grill grates.
• Pour a little of the salad dressing into the bottom of a rectangular baking dish, just enough to thinly coat.
• Layer the zucchini logs in your dish, alternating with salad dressing, and marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

• Place zucchini on the grill, perpendicular to the grates, and cook over medium-high heat.  Turn every 3-4 minutes as nice grill marks begin to appear.  You'll rotate each piece a total of three times to have markings on each side (including the green one).

Quick, summer-y... and good for you, too.  Enjoy!

You Pick 'Em

I love where my parents live.  There's just room to breathe.  If it wasn't so far from the office and from civilization... we might just live out that way.

One of the perks: Deer Creek Farms is nearby.  Not only can you stop by for some of the freshest, most delicious produce around... you can actually pick your own!

Today's crop... strawberries.  The smaller, the sweeter!

The growing season has been unusually short because of all the cold we had this winter, but these were some of the best berries I've ever eaten.  Blackberries will be ripe and ready to pick toward the end of the month, so if you're in Macon, Forsyth or the vicinity... stop by Deer Creek!  Last year's blackberries were unreal, and I'm sure this year's will be just as good.  { And if you don't have time to pick, they have them pre-picked, too. }

Now, there are some things I don't like about middle Georgia.  Like these little boogers, for example.

{ Guess he wanted a strawberry, too. }

Cicadas.  And not just your garden variety summer cicada, either.  Meet Brood XIX.  These dudes lay in hiding for 13 years and make one heck of a racket to let you know they're back. { When these bugs last saw the light of day, *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys were big.  And I still had braces. }

Their welcome wagon sounds nothing like a cricket chirp.  We're talking all day, every day, I-think-it's-a-burglar-alarm-down-the-road wailing.  When we first heard it on Easter Sunday, Dad and Spencer drove around the neighborhood trying to figure out who's alarm was going off.  People were calling 911 because they thought it was a tornado siren.  It's supposed to last through most of the summer.

Maybe you get used to it.  But I haven't.  At least they hush at night!