Cold Frame Almost Finished

For a few years I have been planning and researching cold frames. Since posting photos to my Facebook page a couple weeks ago when we started our install, I have had lots of questions. I hope this post will answer some of those questions.

Cold Frames help to protect plants from the elements and provide a sheltered growing environment. Cold frames can be dug down into the earth or can be a simple box built that sits on the ground. It protects from wind, snow, frost, and extreme cold. 

I love this article on cold frames from Eliot Coleman at vegetablegardener.com. Great resource, lots of information, photos, and details to draw from. 

You can go to Eliot Colman and Barbara Damrosch 's Website and read articles they have written on gardening. Love their books and approach to gardening. 

I year ago my massage therapist was cleaning out her garage and asked me if I wanted these windows? They are 3'x4' double pained windows. Perfect! When it is finished we will have a 4'x14' garden bed/cold frame. 

After living in our house for a few years and gardening each year, I have learned which area's I do better with in the winter. This spring I made up my mind that I wanted to convert the kitchen herb bed to my cold frame area. It is easy to get to, and I do not have to move large amounts of snow to get to it. Unlike the compost bin that I have to hike out to with muck boots. 

My husband can thank his mad construction skills for the custom build frame. It is not totally finished. I still need to finish cleaning up, calking, and painting the windows. I hope this week will bring the cold frame to completion, or at least be ready for the windows/lights to be installed. Have to wait for the paint to dry before we can do that. 

Stay tuned for future post of what can grow in a cold frame, and photos of the finished product. 

Salsa Mania

Every time I want to try canning something new, I go in search of several recipes that will inspire. When it was salsa time, a few years ago I combed the internet for a yummy recipe that would be close to what you get in a great Mexican food restaurant. I looked and looked, but came across mostly the same thing the acid used was vinegar. Then I found this gem! On a great blog about local seasonal food. SEASONAL ONTARIO FOOD by Ferdzy. She uses lime juice instead of vinegar! So I jumped in and started to make it. To date I have made about 6 batches over three years and I am sold! My husband loves it so much that when people come to dinner he brags and likes to give them away. I have to make extra each year to make up for the jars he gives away.

I grow some of the items in my garden and get the others from local farmers markets.

Salsa for Canning

yields: abt. 10 pint jars

Needed:
8 quarts tomatoes - I like Romas, but you can use other kinds.
pickling salt
6 large onions
2-3 heads of garlic
1 lb jalapenos
6 large green chili peppers (I like poblano)
2 1/2 cups minced cilantro
1/4 cup ground cumin seed (I grind mine fresh in a coffee grinder)
6 ounce can tomato paste
3 tbl lime juice per jar

1. Wash your tomatoes, blanch, remove skins, de-seed and chop coarsely. Layer them in a large strainer about 4 parts with 1 tbl spoon salt between (salt will dissolve and come off with the water). You may leave the strainer in the sink or over a bowl, but try to not let the tomatoes sit in the juice that runs off. Let them rest like this for 4-6 hours or overnight, in a cool spot (not in the refrigerator). Goal is to let as much tomato water drain as possible.

2. Peel and chop the onions, de-stem ad de-seed the jalapenos, green peppers, peel and mince the garlic. (wear gloves with the garlic and jalapenos) Squeeze the juice from the limes, or use lime juice from a bottle.

3. Take the strained tomatoes, and chop them to the texture you desire. I use a food processor at this point for the tomatoes, onions, peppers, jalapenos and cilantro. Mix the tomatoes, onions, garlic, jalapenos, chili, cilantro, cumin, tomato paste together and taste. Add salt if needed.

4. Sterilize canning jars, prep lids, have water boiler ready. Put salsa on stove and bring to a boil. Add lime juice to hot jars and fill with hot salsa. Fix lids and process jars in water boiler for 20 mins.

5. Take jars out and allow to cool. Check seals and wash jars before storage. Label and enjoy!

Cold Frame, Quilting, Canning, Maggie and Music Mania!

My friends and clients have been asking me what I have been up to lately. Depending on the day it is canning, quilting, working in the garden, working with Maggie's training for Canine Good Citizen or prepping a lesson for primary music time. No matter what it is, I am busy and love it!

Each day has been filled with the oncoming winter, and the need to get everything ready to get snowed/frozen in. So I am trying to finish up things in the yard with the big project this fall of getting our cold frame installed and planted. We are 75% there! Today I hope to get the "lights"/windows painted and ready to install. Peas need to get in the ground too, but the climbing support needs to get installed. Just need to get busy with it.

I have several quilts being pieced right now. Trying to finish my loose end projects, and be able to start fresh on some of the more of my larger ideas. Just want to get all the clutter out. I recently pulled out my "Lessons From Mama" book and got back to work on that quilt. Started it 4 years ago in a beginners class at the local quilt store. So this one is on the design wall and is being finished up. More on this one later

I did get my log cabin quilt finished up and to Mom's for quilting. Talking to her on the phone this week I learned it is out of the bag and hung in the entry way for inspiration.

I only got this photo of it before sewing all the blocks together. I added piano keys for a border and shipped it without taking a final photos. So I hope mom will send me one of it hanging in the entry way. Love all the colors in this quilt.

With the Fall here and a hurry to get my garden cleaned up, the last of the canning season is upon us. I need to get my tomatoes finished up, salsa, and a few more whole tomatoes done up. It is going to be epic! I think three more bushels will do it. Then I need to work on pears and apples. I would love to do more... but time is a thing of this world and it can be a little crazy when we don't have enough.

I was recently released as the Relief Society President at church and have a new calling as the Primary Music Leader. I LOVE MY NEW CALLING! Creative, fun and with loving children that are always happy to see you! Each week I try to craft a new project that will inspire the children to learn the songs that are filled with beauty and doctrine of gospel. Nothing warms my heart more than sitting next to a child, have them take the music we were just singing and read the words while trying to remember the melody they just learned. So inspiring! I love these children.

Lastly, my Maggie. She is so much love! Forever my little companion. Follows me for everything in the house. We have been working hard the two of us with her training. The AKC has a program called Canine Good Citizen that helps dog lovers work with their animals in a fun way, teaching them the skills and abilities they need to have happy doggies. Maggie is improving each week with her classes and shows it around the house. We work together each day to make sure she will be ready on test day. Therapy Dog Maggie is not to far away. 

Hope this gives a little insight to my blog info and the fun that will come and I update and show my projects. 

Love and light to all! 

E