We saw this bush in the park last week.  It is a Strawberry bush, Euonymus americanus.  

 

It has another local common name, Hearts a-bustin with love.  When you look closely at the seeds, you can understand that name.  This time of year the dark red seed capsules pop open, exposing bright, shiny red or orange berries.  Even though the name sounds inviting, this strawberry is NOT EDIBLE!!!

 

I've seen them in our woods, too.  So keep your eyes open when you're walking the trail, or traipsing through the woods.  

 

HAPPY HUNTING!!!

 

I told you about Nancy's puzzle.  It has 1500 pieces, and now it's finished.  She did it in less than a week.  WOW!!!!!  

 

She's smarter than I am though; she put it together on their dining room table which is pub table height.  She could stand up or sit in a chair to add the pieces.  No bending over the coffee table.  

 

I'm excited to trade her and tackle this one this winter.  So pretty.

 

 

HOW ARE YOU KEEPING OCCUPIED?  

 

Mark made this sign for me a few years ago, commemorating my advanced degree in blogging.  Well, I guess I've finally earned it.  The current status of blogs on this website is 496, and I have written 463 of them.  That's a lot of rambling over the last three years. 

 

Wait!!!  Is 'bloggery' a real word?  Or do you think he made it up?  If he did, that makes it even better!!!  ;D

 

Thanks for reading.  Love, Gerry

 

This man!!!!!  Really?  Did I tell you that he's 72 years old?  Yep, and nothing phases him.  Now you know why we call our home:  Crazybrook Farm.

 

This time he's tying down the antenna to the corner of the house, to prevent wind damage.  See those guy wires?  They attach to the front corners of the house.  He had to lie on the roof on his stomach, and lean out over the edge to attach it to the hooks he had screwed onto the fascia.  

 

Where is Tim when you need him?

 

HAPPY HOME OWNERSHIP!!!

 

We finally found something the deep WON'T eat.  Creeping Jenny, Mondo grass and gravel.  And apparently, oxalis and morning glory.

 

Oh well.  Better get out there and do a little weeding;  oxalis is not my favorite, but the morning glory can stay.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

I'm telling you, this has been THE year for mushrooms.  We're seeing them everywhere!  This one was about 10 inches across, and weighed almost a pound. 

 

When we saw it in the woods, we both gasped.  We knew what it was, but asked Seek to verify our find.  Seek told us it is Chicken of the Woods, Laetiporus cincinnatus, another Polypore mushroom.  This one was fresh and beautifully clean, so we cut it and brought it home.  I double checked the mushroom field guide, and several internet sources for back up positive identification.  They all confirmed:  white-pored chicken of the woods mushroom.

 

Then we looked for a recipe, and how to cook it.  Lots of recipes on the internet.  It can't be eaten without cooking.  

 

Of course, we only ate a small amount, to be sure of no bad reactions.  All foods affect people differently.  It was fabulous.  The texture was like chicken, and it tasted exactly like chicken.  And we still feel fine today, no bad tummy reactions.  I'm going to make a chicken mushroom pot pie with the rest.  

 

Please DO NOT follow my lead on eating what you find in the woods.  I've been foraging for years, and KNOW what I can eat and not eat;  and I always double check what I'm not positive about.  You must always positively identify plants even before touching them.  Some plants can cause allergic reactions just by touching them.  

 

If you're not sure, BE SAFE, and leave them alone.  

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

I know this doesn't look very pretty, but it serves a purpose.  

 

The Echinacea was beautiful all summer, but now it has gone to seed.  See the dark cones?  They are full of seeds, and the goldfinches love them.  Every time we step outside, we see them fly off of the echinacea.  They will eat every last seed until there are only stems left.  I'll get rid of them, then.

 

Not very attractive.  Don't care, food is food, and this food is FREE!!!  And we love seeing the goldfinches.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Meet Nasturtium.  Tropaeolum majus.  It is an annual, easily grown from seeds, and it is vining, and beautiful.  The leaves, stems and flowers are edible, and have a peppery taste, much like cress.  Just taste a tiny bit the first time.  It's an unusual flavor.

 

We sometimes chop the leaves and add to a salad, along with the flower petals.   We also use the flowers to decorate dishes for happy hour or dinner.  

 

Nasturtium thrives in poor soil, so you don't have to do anything special to grow it.  Just plant the seeds in May and watch what happens.  Not sure about deer resistance, ours is inside the fenced garden.  But a packet of seeds costs only 3 bucks, so it's definitely worth the risk.  Try it.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know you've seen these in your travels.  There are several on Five Forks Drive near Solitude, and a few more on Stonebriar near Crabapple Lane.  

 

This is Devil's Walking Stick or Hercules Club, botanically, Aralia spinoza.  It is native to the Eastern US, and grows up to 25 feet.  Mostly, they are seen as understory trees at the edge of the woods.  

 

Look for them now while they are fruiting, remember the location, and go back later this fall to see them when they've changed color.  They're pretty then too.  No point looking for them in winter, they are bare stalks with lots of thorns.  But once you know their location, you can check on them again in spring when they sport fabulous umbrella heads of whitish yellow flowers.

 

HAPPY GARDENING !!!

 

 

 

This is what Jon did the week of his birthday.  It took all week.  You can see it's almost done.  

 

He had to use a 28 foot ladder to do the top part, and it was a bear!!!  The last time he stained this part of the house was at least 5 years ago.  So this time he double coated it, and hopefully it will last a little longer.  Doesn't it look beautiful?  

 

He did declare that the next time this job needs doing, he's going to hire Tim to do the top part.  Maybe he should call him soon, and book the job.  Tim is one busy guy.  

 

HAPPY HOME MAINTENANCE!!!!!