Zinnia

Very early in my arrival at this house I planted some zinnias with very little success. Zinnias were my mother's favorite flower. At least she made it look that way. Every year, on top of the pile where we burned the autumn leaves (remember when that was ok?) she would plant a zinnia garden. The things you take for granted as a child! It was beautiful and it provided cut flowers for the house summer and fall.

Every year since that first planting one zinnia will show up in some weird part of the yard - never near where I planted them. So every time I see it I say, "Hi mom." Were Tom to come back and 'accidentally' trip on a zinnia it would not surprise me at all.

This year's zinnia in a weed patch on the side of the house

The life force of Swiss chard. This grows where I planted it the first time. It comes back every year and I think it is gorgeous.

My tomato is now 5 feet high and has three tomatoes on it. My goal is to eat one before I leave.

Best Sweet Potato Soup Yet!

1 T canola oil
1 sm onion - diced
1 sm green or red sweet pepper
1 stalk celery - diced
1 med sweet potato (SP) - peeled and cut into chunks
1 T or more curry powder
1 tsp turmeric
1 square vegetable bouillon


Heat oil in saucepan.
Add celery, pepper and onion and cook until tender
Add SP, bouillon cube and spices and just cover with water and bring to a boil, then lower to simmer
Cover and cook about 20-30 minutes, until SP are tender
Take a hand held mixer or immersion mixer and mix until smooth
Serve with a dollop of yogurt

I have made sweet potato soups in the past that were way too sweet. This one is perfect!