Summer, Gardens and New Childrens Book

Summer is officially here, and the days will begin getting shorter. 

My garden is growing and my husband and I have enjoyed a couple of zucchini.
Speaking of gardens, I have completed a children's short story book called:

Gramiah's Special Salsa

It is a story based on The Golden Book- The Little Red Hen.

Gramiah is a brown squirrel and her friends include a ladybug, honey bee, praying mantis and a snail.
 
It will be available beginning Monday June 24th, in both paperback or on kindle.

www.donnalively.com

www.shop.donnalively.com



 

Ocober Poem

October by Hilaire Belloc

Look, how those steep woods on the mountain's face
Burn, burn against the sunset; now the cold
Invades our very noon: the year's grown old,
Mornings are dark, and evenings come apace.
The vines below have lost their purple grace,
And in Forreze the white wrack backward rolled,
Hangs to the hills tempestuous, fold on fold,
And moaning gusts make desolate all the place.

Mine host the month, at thy good hostelry,
Tired limbs I'll stretch and steaming beast I'll tether;
Pile on great logs with Gascon hand and free,
And pour the Gascon stuff that laughs at weather;
Swell your tough lungs, north wind, no whit care we,
Singing old songs and drinking wine together.

 

What a beautiful Poem. October is almost over, where has it gone? My garden is dismantled, irrigation water shut off until Spring. I picked the remainder of the tomato's this past weekend, and canned six pints of salsa. I thanked the garden as I pulled the tomato plants from the earth. Thanked it for providing my family wonderful, fresh vegetables.

Are you going trick or treating tomorrow eve? Are you aware the idea of "Trick or Treat" stems from the old custom of poor persons going to rich neighbors' homes and begging for a "soul cake" on All Souls Eve?

"October, winsome girl, you toss your shining head, And show the world your brilliant frocks of russet, gold, and red...."

Where ever this day leads you, enjoy the ride!

Anyone for......

Zucchini? As you see, my garden is doing wonderful! Several zucchini are going to be ready to pick by later this week. Banana peppers are going wild, as well as my jalapenos. I planted this garden the first week of May, and with the over one hundred degree temperature's we're having, it's important I keep my ninety-six foot garden watered! I say ninety-six foot because when my ten year old granddaughter was visiting me in April, she helped me enlarge the garden. She then measured it. and in an instant informed me that my garden is now 96 square feet! Have I mentioned how smart my beautiful granddaughter is?
I've planted eleven tomato plants of three varieties, one didn't make it. My red cabbages are growing great, as well as onions, both green and yellow. I'll be picking a few jalapenos, blanching them, then freezing them, later this week. I use those in my salsa I make the end of September. Although it may be earlier this year.
Have you planted a garden this year? If so, what wonderful vegetables does your garden grow?
Plans for Tuesday? Where ever your day leads you, make it happy! If you live near me on the Western slope of Colorado, stay cool, it's going to be another hot one today!