Summer's Finest Hours are Passing

Harvest season is upon us and summer's long hot days are waning, as cool north breezes begin to blow, hummingbirds have left for warmer climates, and the once lush green shrubbery and trees are beginning to show peeks of yellow and orange.  It always amazes us as we see the seasons so quickly transition from one to another.  This has been a beautiful summer in every way.  We have had no fires locally, and skies have been blue most of the summer.  For that, we are grateful beyond measure! My garden is decked out in glorious blooms, and it is a most delightful place to be this time of year!

These sunflowers grace the world with their glorious golden faces
that follow the sun's direction so faithfully. 

This little banty is one of the new little ones roaming our yard. She is a "Frizzle banty" chicken.. and just as sweet as she can be with her curly feathers! This is my first time to have a Frizzle chicken.  If you're like me and you didn't know what a Frizzle chicken was, here is a link to an article that helps explain them a little better.  Frizzle Chickens

And this orange-haired little boy has enjoyed taking many a nap in my lap
as I drink my morning coffee...
we both enjoy the sweet snuggles :) 

Kale has grown prolifically in my garden this year! 

One of the ways we enjoy kale is by making kale chips. 

They can be baked in the oven, or even on the grill! 

Kale chips are so easy to make! Once you've tried them, I am sure even your pickiest eater will love them.  They are salty, crunchy, and addictive!  

To make kale chips, preheat oven to 350. Strip the leaves from the stalks, about 10-15 large stalks is usually enough for one cookie sheet.  Cover the cookie sheet with tin foil and spread out the washed and dried kale leaves onto the tinfoil.  Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 tsp of salt over the kale.  Mix together for several minutes with your hands, until the kale becomes fragrant and dark green.  Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes, or until the kale has become crispy to touch.  Enjoy! 

Tomatoes growing happily on the vine... I am eagerly awaiting their ripening!

I planted sunflowers, pumpkins, and squash in this new bed that I made earlier this spring.  I layered straw, compost, peat moss, and several bags of garden soil in a long raised row.  I did not till this area, but just laid down newspaper on the ground, and built the layered row, as I wanted to try this method of gardening, and so far, things look really good! 

The entrance to my whimsical little tea and prayer garden area. 

Each week dear friends of mine meet for prayer here in my tea and prayer garden. 
It is a treasured and special time of the week for all of us.  I decorate the table with a fresh bouquet from my garden. Today I used kale and dill as well as my gladiolas, pincushion flowers, and one of my dahlias. I just love gathering a flower bouquet from my own garden! 

As the weather has begun to change, with a bit of nip in the morning air,
I decided it was time for a pot of chicken soup to grace our evening meal. 

Have you ever used nutritional brewer's yeast? It adds the most remarkable flavor to meaty soups... so much so that I don't buy chicken bouillon any longer, I just use the nutritional yeast.  So good for you, and really adds the best flavor to the meat dish! 

Enjoyed with a slice of my sourdough bread, with roses from my garden...
this soup was just perfect! 

I now have a website dedicated to the book I published earlier this year.  You can visit it at http://www.mountaintopspice.com    I will be sharing blog posts about the book on that website,
and it is also available to order there as well.  I will still be blogging here as always,
this is just a website dedicated to the book I wrote :) 

I dearly love the season of Fall, and it also means a busy harvest season too.  I have been putting up green beans, squash, peas, corn and tomatoes.  The potatoes are doing great, and I began harvesting them through the late summer.  It is a wonderfully busy time of year with the harvest season.  Are you harvesting produce from your garden or local farmer's market? It feels good to squirrel away food for the long winter months ahead.   

2020 has been such a roller coaster ride of a year... and now we are on the downhill slide for sure, as we enter the season of Fall.  Has Fall begun to make an entrance into your world yet? 

Many blessings to all of you, my dear readers :)