I’m back, and so is the heat!

Well, I’m back to writing a few words after a little break. It may have been a break from writing, but in reality it was no break at all. Since going back to work on May 1st, I have been very busy. Long work hours were also coupled with the normal things that spring brings: kids ball games, yard work, family parties, yard work, and did I mention yard work. The heat has also returned as we are entering our first heat wave of the season in southern New Jersey. Temperatures are blazing up to 96 today, with high humidity, and will be about the same for the next four days. I finished my chores outside by lunch time today, and am now taking a break indoors with a cold drink, hacking away at my keyboard.

This year I’m trying to grow a garden again. In past years, I have had a large garden, but due to ever increasing time spent at work, I have not had time to maintain something of that size in more recent years. Gardening requires a good bit of time and effort. I don’t really want to call it work because to me, it’s a also a form of relaxation. I skipped doing the garden for a few years due to lack of time, but last year had a small plot planted that did very well. This year I expanded it some, but it’s not as big as what I had done in the past. Hopefully, I’ll make the time to keep up with it, and enjoy the fruits of my labor all summer long. Considering the skyrocketing food prices, I’ll certainly welcome the fresh, free produce right out my back door. This is a picture of my garden when it was bigger, I can't maintain something of that size now, it's just too time consuming.


Even so, this year I have planted much more than my family will be able to use, and probably more than I could give away before it goes bad. In my part of the State, small roadside produce stands can be found all along the roadways, and travelers and locals alike can find fresh fruits and vegetables at a variety of locations. They may have one more to choose from this summer, if I still have my green thumb.

My garden this year consists of several rows of green and yellow wax beans, about 3 dozen watermelon plants, sugar babies and crimson sweets, 18 cantaloupe plants, a dozen jersey tomatoes, grape tomatoes and cherry tomatoes, frying peppers, green bell peppers, summer and yellow squash, zucchini, acorn squash, cucumbers, egg plant, with pumpkins and ornamental gourds to be planted soon. I should have added strawberries as I just returned home from paying $5.00 for a quart. Next year, I’ll have strawberries for sure.

I really enjoy gardening, as well as hunting and fishing, and coming in right behind them is cooking what I grow and take from the woods and waters. My family eats a variety of meals made from the garden all summer long. Add in a grilled venison or tuna steak, or filet of flounder, striper or weakfish, and life really doesn’t get any better. On the menu today will be a venison loin slow cooked over charcoal with some mesquite wood chips soaked in water thrown on for that smokey flavor. I’m going to grill some squash, and make a tomato and corn salad to finish it off. Afterwards it’s a strawberry and banana smoothie for dessert and a run through the sprinkler for the kids while mom and dad sit in the shade.

Hope your weekend is a good one too.

DV