Elsa: {whispering} Hey everyone, thought I’d start before the Kraken wakes up. This week…
Wilson: Huh, wha…who goes there?
Elsa: Dang it, I was this close to setting the tempo for this show and now I’ll have to share the spotlight with the land hippo. Sigh.
Wilson: {stretching} Yawn…top o’the morning, mate. You starting without me?
Elsa: What, me? Nah…erm…you know me…I was just getting things ready so we can share some stuff together.
Wilson: Uh-huh. Ok, for a moment I thought maybe you were going to start without me. Well let’s get this train moving, shall we?
Elsa: Yeah, whatever. This week was pretty doggone decent as far as temperatures go but from what I understand, Mother Nature has decided enough of being nice and has decided to go back into pizza oven mode. Ugh. We even received a couple of small showers which were so very welcomed but I guess that ship has sailed.
Wilson: Well you have to admit nature sure made things look good. The veggie gardens are bursting with some yummy looking produce. What’s this gigantic thing called? It just seemed to pop up overnight.
Elsa: That my friend is a called a jack-o’-lantern pumpkin. Humans will carve it up into a scary face for Halloween, which for those of you who love that holiday, is just 76 days away.
Wilson: You don’t say, mate? So I guess that means there’ll be kids ringing the doorbell and being offered treats? I love those kinds of days.
Elsa: {eyes rolling} There you go again…thinking with your 27 stomachs. Dude you gotta get a hobby or something and stop thinking about food all the time. Besides, candy is what will be dished out to kiddos and that’s forbidden for us dogs.
Wilson: Crikey…Mum sure like to torture us dogs with all the treats that we can’t have.
Elsa: Meh…Mom is just trying to keep us healthy. We just need someone to watch her. Since she started learning how to decorate cakes, she’s been doing a bit too much ‘quality control’ if you know what I mean.
Wilson: She told me she just wanted to make sure that last batch of cupcakes was suitable to serve the family when they came for a visit. You know…pretty AND tasty. I kind of suspected something was not quite kosher.
Elsa: She tries, really she does but it’s hard to give up sweets. Maybe I should tell her Lent has been extended. She always gives sweets up for Lent. {pondering} I wonder if she’ll buy it?
Wilson: Probably not, She’s pretty clever. What she needs is to keep extra busy. I’ll see if I can convince her to take me out in public so I can get used to crowds for when I make my debut at the new hospital later this month-I do hope I do well.
Elsa: Time will tell, dude. What else you got from the veggie garden. I heard she saw an artichoke plant in bloom. It’s not yet ready to be eaten but no doubt after the next few days of sunny, hot conditions, will get there quickly. It’s actually kind of pretty.
Wilson: Mum was pretty excited to see it at her son’s veggie plot where things were ripening all over the place. Some people think artichokes are a veggie but they’re actually the bud of a large thistle, before it blooms. When you cut an artichoke in half you’ll can see the thistle part inside. Here’s the anatomy of one cut in half.
Wilson: The outer petals are hard and somewhat tough but edible when you strip off the meaty part from the petal. The inner petals aren’t as tough and can be cut up and served with the heart. Then you get to the thistle part (the ‘choke’) which is inedible and is discarded. Then you reach the heart, where all the tasty goodness lies.The stem is also edible but is kind of stringy like celery.
Elsa: Seems like a lot of work when you can just buy them in a jar but I know how people can be.
Wilson: Well there is a lot of satisfaction in growing your own food so I get it. Sometimes it just tastes better. I know Mum feels that way about her tomatoes. This week she put up a couple of jars of sun dried tomatoes to enjoy over the winter. She never buys tomatoes in the winter-she says they always taste like cardboard so she’s looking forward to using them in pasta dishes once the weather turns cool. It will turn cool, right?
Elsa: Your guess is as good as mine but I think so. It’s a El Nińo year and is supposed to be colder but with the crazy way the weather has been, I wouldn’t be surprised with anything that happens. It’s best just to roll with the punches and do the best we can.
Wilson: You’re so right. Approach each day like us dogs and you’ll be a whole lot happier. Kind of like these guys from Mount Saint Vincent Behavioral Health facility that Mum walks past frequently. She thought the zinnias surrounding the statutes added to the joy of the scene.
Elsa: The first time I walked past those guys, I wasn’t sure what to make of them but realized real quick they weren’t going to bother me.
Wilson: Well I hope you know I’d protect you if anyone tried to bother you.
Elsa: Pfft. I’m a Ninja…I can take care of myself but appreciate your willingness. Maybe you’re not such a…what do you call it…bloke?
Wilson: You can always count on me-just say the word and I’ll be there Johnny-on-the-spot.
Elsa: Thanks, House Pony. Appreciate that. So what else you find around the ‘Hood? Anything unusual?
Wilson: Well, we all know Mum loves sunflowers but she goes completely mental whenever she sees the bronze or red ones. This one is near a busy street we were going to cross before traffic ramped up so I was prepared to hustle across but then she stops, turns around and says “I HAVE to have a photo of that sunflower!”
Elsa: I can see why. It’s quite pretty. Bet the birds are enjoying it too.
Wilson: Oh yes, indeed they were. Much like the hummingbirds enjoy this trumpet vine which has been in full glory lately. Between the ‘hummers, assorted bees, flies, and ants, they all seem to enjoy feeding on the nectar of these vigorous plants. You can’t help but wonder if all the nectar isn’t completely drained before the summer is over.
Elsa: It does make wonder if there’s enough to go around. But like all good things, including this post, things have to come to an end. Because it’s going to be so bloody hot, we plan to stay close to home this weekend. How about you? Whatever you plan, we hope it’s enjoyable with a bit of nature to take in as well. Stay safe, stay hydrated.
Wilson: Righto, friends. Make it a great weekend.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
WOW! That Sunflower looks like it is the sunset and the yellow one is the sunrise, we have never seen that before. Just wonderful, Wilson and Elsa🌞 We only like to eat the heart of the artichoke, not the other parts, if they’re eatable at all😹Double Pawkisses for a Happy Day to all of you🐾😽💞
It’s easier just to buy a jar of artichoke hearts than plant and grow them. My son like to grow things that require far more work than I’m willing to do-I’ve got enough stuff to take care of as it is. LOL
Thanbk you, I’m very fond of bronze sunflowers but that red one is truly spectacular-I only wish it were found more often. That’s probably just the 3rd time I’ve seen one of them.
Red Sunflowerss??? RED Sunflowerss??? Oh these are gorgeeuss Miss Monika an Wilson an Elsa….Wee have craycray weather heer two. Wee went from *hot* an hue-mid an UCKY to chilley an damp an ternin tHE HEET on at nite??? Butt it iss apposta bee *hot* an huemid this comin weekend. Wee givess up!
Wishin all of you’ss a wunderfull week…..even tho’ we are 87 dayss late!
~~~head rubss~~~BellaDharma~~~ an {{{hugss}}} BellaSita Mum
Thank you…we thought that sunflower was particularly fabulous! We don’t envy your up/down weather. Ours is just up. Hot and dry.
I really miss California Artichokes…they were humungous! What a lovely selection for Nature Friday!
Thanks. I had no idea what they looked like before they got packed in the jars I buy. I asked my son if that plant was a weed? He was not particularly amused with my ignorance. LOL
Lulu: “Artichokes! Our Dada loves artichokes! He calls them ‘a delivery system for butter’. When he used to bring them to work to eat back when he worked at the lab, his friend would always accuse him of eating a cactus …”
Delivery system for butter…bwahahahaha. You Dada cracks me up.
I have twenty-seven stomachs when I’m hungry but it quickly reverts to one, thank goodness. As for the weather, it has been up and down all week with rain. We’re expecting more t-storms tonight, maybe add in some flash flooding. The usual.
As for that sunflower, WOW! And artichokes, really? Double WOW!
I’d be cool with the up and down if there was some bloody rain! Grrrr. The best I can hope for is a couple clouds and a slight breeze. Sigh. At this rate, I think I’m going to camp out under that sunflower-just to temp Mother Nature!
The rain! Where is the rain?!
I think we’re getting it all in these parts!
Do it!
I’ve been asking that question for weeks Mother Nature is a nasty wench!
Hahahaha!
Wow, artichokes are a thistle?? Who knew???!!!!
Pretty things though!
We have oodles of trumpet creeper here, and once we had a flock of cedar waxwings come by, and they poked holes in the bottom of each flower to drink the nectar. No sipping the way the hummers do, BOL!! I was amazed and flabbergasted at their ‘technique’!
Those red sunflowers are quite stunning! Kind of look like a giant sized echinecea!
Thanks, Ingrid. That little detail was quite the revelation to me as well. That red sunflower was a real find-so striking. I’d love to watch those waxwings noshing on the trumpet vine-very creative adaptation to get to the nectar.
I had no idea there was such a thing as red sunflowers. It’s gorgeous!! And for the artichoke…I’ll stick with the canned variety, thank you very much. Have a great rest of the weekend!
I;m with you on the ‘chokes. Much easier. But my son is want to try new things in his garden to which I say, more power to you, son.
I’ve seen a couple of the red ones-always distinctive and several that are bronze hued-another beauty. But the red is my favorite-no unusual. Enjoy your weekend-try to stay cool.
It’s not cool, but dang, I’m out sitting on the back porch anyway!
Sometimes you just gotta go for it! Hope it’s worth the broiler setting. You’re braver than me. 98ºF yesterday and today at the Ranch. 🥵
“It will turn cool, right?” Wilson asked. JUNE says will you please email or text me when you receive an answer. And by the way, your many veggies look very tasty, mmm.
Thanks Ann and June. We sure hope it turns cooler soon though I think this weekend in particular is gonna be a real scorcher. Trust us, when it does, you’ll hear us singing Hallelujah in 3 part harmony!
I learned something about artichokes today. We’ve also had a hot day, 104 degrees, and it is allegedly getting hotter.
Hi Thomas-glad you learned something from us today. Sorry it’s hot down your way. The weatherman says it’s gonna be hotter today here as well. Ugh…summer just won’t quit. Have a good weekend and try to stay cool.
Everything looks great. I love that sunflower and how cool the pumpkin is already ripe. Have a nice weekend. XO
Many thanks, Ellen. Yes, that pumpkin caught us off guard to say the least. So big and so orange already. We love walking past that red sunflower. Course Wilson likes it because the love it but it’s just so doggone beautiful. Here’s to a lovely weekend.
That sounds and looks like a very nice week. Your pumpkin is doing better then ours. Of course, we didn’t plant ours, the squirrels did, but someone is eating them as they grow.
It’s not ours, but a neighbor’s. The vine goes across the entire front yard! Hope you have a good weekend, Dan.
Ours were planted at random by one squirrel who loves to bury stuff. Mowing the back yard is like running an obstacle course.
You found all kind of cool things, you even found the great pumpkin for Charlie Brown!
Thanks, Terry. You know that pumpkin could easily be Charlie Brown’s! We hope you have a good weekend.
Our lovely week is about to end too. Rainy weekend and today is pizza oven hot!!
Very jealous you’ll get some rain. It’s gonna be crunchy dry for the next week. And hot, did I mention it’s gonna be hot?! 🥵
Pizza hot?
Hot as a pizza oven. 90+ and worse tomorrow when it’ll be upper 90’s.
🙁
“27 stomachs!” LOL! Poor Wilson!
Great job to Elsa and Wilson again for the post and I agree the red sunflowers are beautiful!
Yes, every cook, has to taste their product and make sure its OK. 🙂 and its hard when sweet things taste SOOO GOOD!
Happy Weekend to you all! Enjoy it!
Thanks; he’s gotta have 27 stomachs as hungry as he is all the time and yes, one must make sure things taste good as well as look good. Have a super weekend.
🥰
I’m with you guys. Staying out of the heat is job #1. I loved that sunflower and the trumpet vine flowers. Such beautiful colors. Hopefully y’all can stay cool. Here’s wishing you a lovely weekend.
Thanks, John…they sure caught our Mom’s eye. We’re gonna try to stay cool although I don’t know how that’s done when it’s 98ºF. Oy vey. Try to stay cool yourself and give those two cutie pies extra ear rubs from our Mom. Have a great weekend.
Thank you so much.
Home grown is always tastier, I think. Certainly doesn’t get any fresher!
Plus you can decide if there are any pesticides or other chemicals. No wonder they usually taste amazing! Enjoy your weekend.
Glorious flowers and veg! I love pumpkin and I love artichokes – and of course I love Fall. After this weird, hot, rainless summer I’m ready for some Fall. Oh yes and let’s not forget tomatoes! Homegrown tomatoes are as yummy as dessert – my Aunt used to sprinkle a little sugar on them after we picked them from her garden – it was one of my favorite memories of her. Thanks for the Friday tour!
Hugs, Pam (and Teddy too of course)
Thanks for coming along on our neighborhood tour. It’s always fun having you stop by. Funny you should make that comment about your Aunt and her homegrown ‘maters. I always eat a few when I’m watering them or harvesting. I’d probably would have had another jar for sun dried tomatoes. LOL
Have a good weekend. With each day we’re one day closer to autumn’s arrival-it can’t come soon enough as far as we’re concerned!
My mother in law used to fry artichoke hearts and inner leaves in batter. I tried but can’t make them the same way. I love them! I love the sunflower too!
Whoa, that recipe sounds delish. Our Mom put them on pizza when she makes it-it’s so tasty. And sometimes she puts them in salads but it’s so much easier getting them from a jar than growing. 😉 Glad you enjoyed that sunflower-it sure captivated our Mom.
Your fur-iends,
Elsa & Wilson the House Pony
Early to see a pumpkin around here. But fall is coming!
That’s the biggest one we’ve found thus far too. Most are looking a bit on the small side thus far. Sure hope autumn is coming…we’re so done with the summer heat.
guyz! in all her 2,831 yeerz…de gurl haz never seen a red sun flowerz….iz thiz
total leee epic lee kewl ore what ? tell mum thanx for crozzin
de street ta getz thiz snapshot 💙💙🐟💚💚 🌺
Hee, hee…you’re too funny. We’ve only come across a couple of those ruby sunflowers in the past few years with a few more of the bronze which are also really stunning. Mom said she had to strike while the iron was hot; I’m not sure what she meant by that but it made her happy to capture a pic of it. Have a great weekend!
awe that was a nice photo trip. I have never been brave enough to make and eat an artichoke on the hoof!
Thanks so much for that. Mom only does tomatoes any more-they’re easy and she’s mostly successful. She’s lazy-she figures she can buy the big jars of artichokes at Costco and save her the trouble. As it is, she figures her tomatoes are probably costing around $15 per pound. LOL Have a super weekend.
wow the sunflower… what a color… and we are sure that is not any pumpkin. it is the one. the ONE. from charlie brown… he still waits for it but it came to you… ha!
Isn’t it striking? We’ve only seen a couple of the red ones and a few bronze colored ones this year. They are something else.
That pumpkin blew our Mom away. It almost didn’t register in her mind. Sure is a beaut! Hope you guys have a great weekend…and remember…eat cake. 🎂
Wilson, you are missing a trick here. If Mum is being perfectionist about the cakes, you could volunteer to demolish those that don’t just meet her standards…i’m sure she will thank you…
Right. Good idea. A well placed gigantic paw just might make her think twice. Thanks for the suggestion. Have a right proper weekend, Helen.