A Summer Day in the Garden

I didn't spend a lot of time in the garden today.

It was hot, though cooler then yesterday, and I had some indoor tasks to take care of -mainly getting 1 huge box of fresh apricots preserved.

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Well the morning passed and the afternoon begun and still the apricots weren't done or even started

(I think I was afraid of the what seemed to be an immense task and of course there was that temptor AKA 'the Internet').

-.

But a promise to a hubby is a promise,

so finally this afternoon I tackled them and ...

after some major quality time with

a whole lotta apricots, 2 1/2 bags of raw sugar and some orange honey, a bit of ascorbic acid and a few utensils, I ended up with about 30 cups of apricot goodness enjoying the chilled environment of my freezer space.

Lucky apricots!

BTW--

I would have ended up with more, but I ate at least a week's worth of vitamin A cleverly disguised in apricot form while I was sitting there slicing them. I figured I might run out of freezer bags and...

they were SO good I couldn't help it!

Really, all my willpower went out the window.

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When my friend arrived later in the day to assist me with what was left of the beautiful ones,

I had to beg her to help me control my sudden 'unwonted' attack of apricot gluttony.

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She tried but I still managed to sneak some into my mouth--

such was my wicked desire for more of them.

It's a good thing she arrived when she did...

I would probably still be eating them and there would be a lot less in my freezer right now.

Thank God for good friends:)

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And now some recent garden photos..

Fresh, juicy strawberries for the picking.

Funny--after so many apricots today these only look a little good.

BUT. I'm sure, once my apricot fullness wears off they will look majorly good:)

These are probably Albions -- planted this spring.

I know this is considered a "noxious weed",

but I think Queen's Anne Lace is SO pretty.

I was actually happy to find some by our bridge:)

Of course if it takes over the garden I may not be so pleased--

after all it just isn't found in any Japanese garden books that I have seen.

Yet.

Some of our fish enjoying a summer shower--a totally man-made one

(well technically woman-made) unfortunately it was not quite as good as the God-given ones since we're still enjoying unseasonably dry and hot weather here but they do look happy, don't they?

I know I am not minding getting caught under the sprinkler lately either.

Wisteria.

Today when I was checking the soaker hose,

I saw the sunlight playing upon the top of this vine.

Pretty I think but beware...wisterias are not as tame as they look!

Ours likes to spread everywhere...like even under our house.

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Well tomorrow I am making another trip &

right now an amazing sunset has lit up the whole western sky so...

Blessings,

Aimee