And suddenly it is fall.
Summer on the Salish Sea has been delightful. My garden produced more lettuce than I would ever guessed. Although I am fairly sure the first planting was killed off when I was weeding (if you haven't had a garden in many, many years, you don't know what a lettuce seedling looks like).
But here is my surprise--I planted three zucchini plants, because I LIKE zucchini. Everyone talks about zucchini's profligate ways. But I no longer believe that is true. Three plants produced a few zucchini, but not the truck-load I was hoping for.
Zucchini is fantastic--I slice it into thin coins, and saute with garlic in olive oil, until lightly browned. Toss in some fresh spinach, sliced mushrooms and tofu cubes and toss with pasta for dinner. Sprinkle with cheese. Nummy.
Or saute with onions and bacon and toss with pasta and cheese.
Maybe I don't like zucchini so much as I like pasta:)
We have been blessed this year with an amazing fall--today we walked the Pierce County Hunger Walk and it was sunny and 75 degrees.
So I still have lettuce growing in the garden, as well as basil (which I am digging up to plant in a planter at the apartment for the winter), and tomatoes still ripening. Peppers also--beautiful deep green bell peppers, wonderfully bright colored banana peppers. And one lone acorn squash, which may or may not get ripe, but hey, I am pleased to have it growing there.
And I am happy that I will have my apartment for another year--even though I hate and love where I live. The rent is decent, the manager is great, it has a pool that I used a few times and an exercise room that I use rarely.
But I am still stuck in my food desert. No easy access local grocery stores--so once my garden (which is not near by either, but is close to work) is done, I am back to driving further than I should have to for food.
So here is my new vow: it is time to embrace the life that I now lead. Food desert, mom with dementia, and a job that has it's own set of issues--starting with a paycheck that isn't enough.
