Sorta Missing in Action?

I'm back.  Home, that is.  I was gone out west for a little over two weeks.  Drove out with middle daughter and her three little ones.  And it was hot.  HOT.  H. O. T.  West Texas was like an inferno on steroids and with an insidious HOT wind blowing ninety-to-nothin' to boot.

Utah, on the other hand, started out cold.  As in . . . it was snowing in the mountains and raining/sleeting off and on in the valleys the first two or three days we were there.  Before leaving Utah, however, it finally began warming up.  Husband and son joined us a few days after our vanguard company--work being the delaying factor for son--and joined us.

Our daughter is completing her degree in Zoology with emphasis in entomology at BYU this summer.  She'll be taking the GRE in about a month and depending on how that goes, and a zillion other factors, is thinking seriously about entering the Master's program there as well.

While in Utah, we got to visit with four of my siblings and some of their children/grandchildren and one niece who's folks live a lot closer to us than she does.  Visiting with my family is always good and far too infrequent.  We enjoyed being together, and of course, eating together.  I cooked a few Southern dishes while there including a large pot of gumbo.

There was much traveling on the "under construction" interstate highway in Utah.  Ugh!  A somewhat harrowing experience when one is more used to the laid-back driving conditions of rural (or much more rural) Louisiana.  We traveled daily over the highways and byways between residences of family members, shopping, etc., etc.  One by-product of that driving was that while my husband and I were getting lost (while not far from my sister's home) in search of a certain store we'd visited the day before,  I realized that we were REALLY close to the house (one and only one my parents ever bought) where I'd lived during junior high and high school!  I had to go by to see the neighborhood and THE HOUSE.  I was really impressed.  It looked really nice and well taken care of!

When my family of 10 moved in (back in 1960) there were few houses close to ours.  I remember watching as the other houses were constructed next door (on either side) and behind us.  I remember the grass being planted and how often we had to water it.  Later we planted iris from my grandmother's garden.  And other flowers and things over the years we were there.  That house sold for $16,000 in 1960.  I'll guess it would go for over $150,000 now.  Of course it is over 50 years old and housing has certainly gotten far more expensive--even though it's supposed to be a buyer's market.  Construction is booming in Utah.  Still.

While we were "elsewhere" Louisiana got blistering hot.  And still rather in need of a few good soaking rains.

On the trip back home, Arizona was burning up (as you might have learned through a variety of news sources) and New Mexico was under serious smoke from those terrible fires for endless miles.  Texas was still an inferno as we passed through the western portion of that very large state.  And, yes.  The wind was still blowing furiously.

When we arrived at home, we were blessed to find our lawn (whatever that green combination of who knows what that covers a good deal of the yard is) was actually mostly green.  What a nice surprise!  This area has been baking regularly with 100 degree days consistently for weeks now.

Glad I harvested all those glorious peaches my faithful tree produced before leaving on the adventure west!  I managed to freeze several quarts of the awesome tasting fruit, plus make and can about 4.5 pints of peach jam and maybe 8 quarts + of juice that I'll make into jelly one day soon.  I'm still baffled/amazed by all the luscious peaches that tree made this year!  We gave so many away and still had/have plenty to enjoy!  (Husband cut off the three broken limbs before he headed out west.  Who would have thought there would be so many, many peaches this year!  I certainly didn't think there would be a 10th of what was produced!)

Aside to Bob (Mid-Life Thoughts, Bob):  The peach cobbler was "oh, so good" and I waited (for about 5 minutes) thinking you'd be knocking on my door before I dove into it.  Just so you know!  But, you had more important errands to attend to, I believe.  I did honestly think of you, and ate an extra helping in your honor.

Now we have youngest daughter and her precious little girl visiting.  One little girl is soooo much quieter than two little boys and their older sister!  But, how I miss those little ones still visiting in Utah!  They would have such great fun with their little cousin!

Project: Please Pick Pleasing Peaches

Thursday last week was getting hot and the peaches looked ready for picking. I did not want nature ruining my small crop of delectable fruit. I enlisted my son's assistance in the project. There were only 3 dozen or so peaches to be picked, the very best looking and largest ones nearest the top of the tree, right? Well, you have to figure on that.

Since we neither fertilized nor sprayed for bugs, I supposed you could say these peaches are 100% organically grown--which basically equates to: "leave 'em alone and see what happens." What happened is, quite honestly, most if not all had worms. Aside from that, after disposing of the obnoxious little critters and the peach flesh they destroyed, I gloried in the absolute joy of tasting the luscious, richly peachy sweetness of the ripened fruit! Those peaches sampled were extremely delicious! I sliced the ripest ones yesterday and left their greener siblings to ripen a bit more.

This variety of peach--Sam Houston--is VERY tasty, I must say. I've eaten peaches of various varieties. FRESH from the tree is ALWAYS superior to store-bought. ALWAYS! Peaches have to be one of my MOST favorite fruits in all the world. After all, WHAT, I ask, compares to a peach? A wonderful, fully ripe, dripping with sweet juices peach?

Saturday I treated myself to a bowl of Cream O' Wheat with freshly sliced peaches. It was SO GOOD! If I'd really been thinking, however, I'd have poured on a little fresh cream to boot. I wasn't thinking. Sigh.

Maybe this evening for dessert we'll have some fresh peaches and cream. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

Hope your day is peachy-keen!

Peaches! Oh, How They Grow!

I shared this picture about three weeks ago.So this . . . . . . ^ . . . . . . . . . . was what the peaches looked like then.

And . . . . . . . . . this . . . . v . . .

. . . is what they look like now! Those little suckers are growing! I can't wait till late May or early June so I can sink my teeth into some of them! I absolutely LOVE peaches--fresh peaches, in particular. And peach cobbler. And peaches and cream. And peaches and cream with cereal. And peaches on vanilla ice cream. And . . .

Spring has Sprung! Act II

Check it out! Tiny, little, fuzzy, baby peaches! AND they've GROWN since I checked them out just last week!

It is such a gorgeous, beautiful day today! Oh. I also discovered after my glowing report of multitudinous little, baby peaches growing on this very tree . . . Well, it seems I was a bit overzealous in my description. I didn't find that many today after all. Sigh. Apparently--and I guess I really already knew this--but, there weren't too many little flying creatures out buzzing the peach blossoms early on. My entomologist daughter reminded me of the essential requirement bees and other winged creatures provide with the pollenization necessary. Back in December and January and even early February there just weren't too many of those flying critters around. So those slow-to-open peach blossoms were the smart ones. They waited for the bugs to do their thing. So, I guess the poor, confused tree won't be bowing down under a huge weight of excessive numbers of peaches, after all. Sigh.

But I do have some other pictures I took today that I think are pretty cool! My middle daughter (the entomologist) had to teach me--via the phone--how to "work" the camera to do the job I wanted it to do. Ain't technology--and family help--won'erful! I think so, too!

Here goes!

Don't you just LOVE the pristine, delicate beauty of these white azaleas! This shrub is very small, and mostly inconspicuous hiding near the end of our house close to the chimney.

This next gorgeous specimen, is located very close to the first. Flowers! I love them!

This precious cluster is surrounded by sister blossoms on our yellow plum tree.

This little beauty is a wild blackberry, or dewberry or something kin to them. The flowers and fruit are beautiful and yummy, in that order, but oh! the stickers on the vines! OUCH!

These little gems are, number one, some kind of flying insect--too cold to be disturbed by the several pictures I took while it braved the cool temp and wind here this afternoon. It's resting on number two, a rosemary blossom on one of the several rosemary plants I have--and love to use in my cooking!

This is my neighbors' redbud tree reaching out in front of one of their pine trees, just over the fence from our yard. (One of a few redbuds they have.) Sigh. Sniff. I miss my lovely redbud tree that the falling oak took out almost two years ago. I loved that tree!)

So, with all these pictures you can see why I'm so excited and loving Spring! Hope you have a great and beautiful Spring as well--even if your area is encased in ice and snow or other kinds of un-Spring-like weather at the moment. You can enjoy my Spring with me!