First bouquet harvested from my cutting garden this year, and some of the cukes and squash that are coming on strong. I love seeing the tractor out the window. It’s the best kind of horse. Beautiful and useful and I don’t have to feed it or take it to the vet!

For strawberry cake!

A friend gifted me with 10 lbs. of strawberries that he just picked out of the field at Seaman’s Orchard in Roseland, Va. All who enjoyed them agreed that they were the best berries in memory. Go pick some today before they’re gone!

Breaking down a winter squash for a most excellent curried squash and carrot soup!

I’ve had this squash in my house since early October. It was a nice decoration for all those months, turning from its original dusty blue to a weird fleshy color. I was getting sick of looking at it, but it was still too pretty to chuck in the woods for the deer. So I thought I’d try my luck with cooking it.

The hand maul was an excellent tool for the job of breaking down the squash. The last time I tried this, I wasn’t nearly as well equipped. I used a chisel and a hammer and my cutting board still bears the scars.

Success!