Connie, thank you for sharing that with us. I'll have to check it out.

I was all set to work in the yard today and realized we were getting a light rain. So I got my coffee and camera and sat bird watching for a while. Haven't done that in a while. Still no sign of the yellow birds. I'm wondering if they are just late or maybe changed their migratory pattern.

Today's bingo word

balmy

My awesome & amazing package form Annie arrived. Woman, you are too much! Annie sent an amazing assortment of seeds, which included Scarlet kale, Red Russian kale, Ornamental fringed kale, Blue Curled Scotch kale; Solar Flair and Black Mauri tomato; Shishito pepper, Rustic Gardens Rudbeckia, and an edible Chrysanthemum named Shungiku. I haven't shown the edible Chrysanthemum to my DH yet, but he is going to think it's awesome! But, wait... that's not all! Annie also sent a hilarious home-made card, gift card to Starbucks and a fantastic red cow butter dish. Hahaha! Annie, this matches perfectly with the red smiley-face spoon you sent to me years ago.Thank you so much for an amazing swap package.

One question for you, Annie -- have you tasted an Uluru Ochre tomato yet?!

My package is going out to Erica tomorrow. I have one more piece to pick up and add to it.

Good evening everyone!!!

i received my happy mail today from a very generous gal Brooke!!! Thank u for the lovely assortment of seeds, roster windchime, stickers, two rolls of tape, organic tea, and yummy hot chocolate. Thank you for taking your time To think of what I would like and the time to package and to send to me!! Thank you for making my Monday a happy Monday!!!

Ruth, I just saw your bird photos. Did you ID the hawk yet? It looks like a Mississippi Kite! Congrats on that. We have them around our house, too and I love seeing them.

Katie, I think your right. The picture isn't very good because it's so far away. I got more shots this morning. I just posted a short video on Facebook of two hawks together in neighbors pine tree.

Some great packages being received.

Bingo word

sticky

You're welcome Nicole! Glad you like it :)

Beautiful hummingbird pics

Katie, mooooooooo, got butter...haha! Another something you don't need but must have LOL!

And Katie, I have gotten about 18 Uluru Ochre tomatoes off of two plants. I would give them a 5 on the 1-10 scale Annie taste scale. I lost a few of them to some kind of beast. There is still fruit on the plants but I do know I will not grow it again. How about your plants? Your thoughts?

Annie, yay for real, sweet cream butter! There is no substitute.
I thought that Uluru Ochre was delicious! I ranked it at 8 or 9 on the 10 point scale. Rich balanced flavor for me. I did notice that the description said their flavor could be quite variable.

Erica, your combo OBF+FOTESS swap box is going out tomorrow. Tracking number is 9400109699939201014318.

Hoping Everyone is having a WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY!!

I dropped off Skyblue52 package at the USPS and messaged her the tracking number.

Wednesday bingo word.

flip flops

Anybody getting close to bingo?

Amy, thank you for a lovely package. I love the garden book

Package updates

please let me know if I missed anyone

Nicole - Sent & Received

Erica - Sent & Received

Amy - Sent

Connie - Sent & Received

Katie - Sent & Received

Annie - Sent

Brooke - Sent & Received

Shirley -

Susan - Sent

Tammy -

Ruth - Sent

Susan, awesome looking tomatoes. Looks like fun stuff. Thanks for sharing your pictures with us.

Mailing deadline is the 26th.

Annie, mailed your package this morning, just under the wire. Tracking # 9505510871296238018406

Today's bingo word

sunscreen

Connie, I checked out the sale at Sustainable Seed.

Has anyone tried either of these?

Silver Bells squash

Sugar Ann snap pea

Zapotec Pleated Tomato

I'm very interested in the peas especially. I love love love snap peas.

And I love all squash and those tomatoes look like they have few seeds.

TGIT 2 everyone! I need two more words :)

Ruth, I have not tried Silver Bells Squash, Sugar Ann Snap Pea or Zapotec Pleated Tomato. I love peas as well. My favorite is SUPER SUGAR SNAP. I get it from Remy at Sample Seeds every year....love, love, love! It does very well in my climate. I have tried others with poor results. Unfortunatley, I missed checking out the Sustainable Seed sale. I hope you gals got some good deals.

Katie re: Uluru Ochre Tomato...so happy you enjoyed the taste. You scored her very high. Maybe it was me....when you taste so many tomatoes, you can get lost and not give a fair grade. I do have quite a few out on the vines, so I will have a seperate taste fest just for them....LOL! Did you ever use azomite on your tomatoes/vegetables? I used it on everything. I really can not judge if it helped as I did a few differant things this year....but I can not see where it hurt.

BINGO.....three to go!

Ruth, I will post when I receive your Bountiful Harvest! I will be gone for a few days, so I may be late in posting that I received, depending on when it arrives.

Happy Evening....Happy Friday!

Annie

Good Morning

Thanks Annie, I'll try the Super Sugar Snap. When do you plant yours? I recently planted a few Baker Creek Sugar Snap peas hoping for a fall crop.

First bingo word today

sweaty

I just got home from shopping at the Oriental Market. I went for Kadoya toasted sesame oil but came home with a bunch of stuff. I love all the food options that we don't see at the regular grocery store. Today they had fresh whole Jackfruit. We didn't get one because they are so big. Maybe next time. Things they had that interested me was bitter melon, fuzzy squash and sweet squash

I'd love to hear if you've tried any of these or what unusual foods you have tried and liked.

Second bingo word today

ice cream

Bingo!!

Yea, we have a Bingo Winner!

Congratulations Nicole

Ruth -- Jackfruit is amazing. I'd recommend trying one. Do make sure you get a ripe one (it will have a yellow blush and smell very fragrant) or it will be a bugger to cut. Whatever you don't think you'll eat, freeze. It freezes very well and makes great smoothies.

Nicole -- Grats!

Katie -- Omg! Omg! Omg! I couldn't have asked for a better box from you. Thank you so much for the collection of tomato seeds you shared. I was secretly hoping that you might send some of your favorite tomatoes!

Katie sent a whole slew of her tomato seeds: Great White, Mountain Princess, Black from Tula, Utyonok, Yasenichki Yabuchar, Green Zebra, Edelrot, Girl Girl's Weird Thing, Ulura Ochre, Black Beauty, Wagner Blue Green, Black Zebra, Anna Russian, Blonde Boar.

She also sent plant markers and organza bags.

Such a great pack. A million thank yous, Katie!

Congratulations Nicole,

I grow bitter melon. It's an aquired taste but it's so good for you. I just made a bitter-melon-salmon-cheese-souffle and posted the recipe in the asian vegetables section. It was delicious and light. I'm going to try making a soda pop next.

congrats Nicole!

Jackfruit....never heard of it. I will be checking that out.

Congrats Nicole!!

Ruth, depending on the weather, I plant Super Sugar Snaps in October/November. I started them x1 in September....100 + degree days....failure. They really love the cooler weather.

Happy Saturday!!

Annie

Mail Alert!!

Awesome package arrival.

Looky looky what I got today. Real pepper, pretties for my caps/hats plus lip balm and smell goods for my car. Great job Susan. I love everything. Plus seeds yet to come. I'll post when those arrive.

...............

Wanted to share this also. Finally found fresh Jujube's to try. On the left is dried ones. On the right is Turmeric and sweet ginger.

Hope everyone is having a great Saturday.

Haven't heard from Shirley or Tammy. Hopefully everything is okay with them and they've mailed or ready to.

Package updates

deadline to mail was yesterday the 26th.

_____________

Nicole - Sent & Received

Erica - Sent & Received

Amy - Sent & Received

Connie - Sent & Received

Katie - Sent & Received

Annie - Sent & Received

Brooke - Sent & Received

Shirley - Sent & Received

Susan - Sent & Received

Tammy - Sent

Ruth - Sent & Received

Ruth ~ what do you eat Jujube's with? My grandmother use to sun dry those and she would make soup. My mother in law has a tree (I think) and saw she posted a picture of the Jujube's being dried by the sun.

Skyblue52 ~ I hope you received the package I sent to you :) and hope you like it 2.

Hi just wanted to enjoy opening up my mail. First a great package from Nicole. She always includes a fun toy for Jake my cat . Then a handful of great seeds.. I am tempted to put out the Garmet rose romaine. some great teas to try,might do a mint/green sun tea. and a fun pair of garden gloves. Ill put them in my car for those great trips to the garden center.

Happy Sunday.

Connie, I checked out that recipe and it looks interesting. I hesitate because of the acquired taste thing.

Nicole, we've just been eating the Jujube's as snacks. I did get one package of dried ones that seem to have a smoked flavor and would be better in soup.

Susan, pretty morning glories and nice package received.

Hello to everyone! Wow, this month has flown by. I just wanted to let you know I have planned our swap for September and hope everyone will like the theme. I'll get it posted right around Sept. 1.

It continues to be hot and dry here. My plants are suffering. Perhaps they will have the month of September to perk up and look better. I picked a cucumber and three peppers today so there was something growing.

Jeanne

Ruth,

I didn't like any bitter melon dishes when I first tried it, but it seems to make me feel better so I keep eating it for health reasons. The dishes are starting to taste good to me after years of trying

Connie - Did you receive your package?

I have mailed Tammy's pkg. I have the confirmation # if needed.

I received Erica's pkg and loved it all.

Can't wait to look at my gardening book, she also sent a cute card with these seeds:

Diabunda Purple Picotee Dianthus

Huacatay

Mrs. Bradshaw Geum

Can't wait to try all these and the Huacatay is edible so says Erica.

Thank you so very much.

Shirley

Hi Shirley,

Yes I received your wonderful package. I thought I sent you a message it was amazing. Everything was in great condition. I put the picture in the July obf.

Good morning ladies.

Well tomorrow starts September and the new OBF swap is posted, but we have some loose ends before we can do a wrap on this month's swap.

Amy, have you heard anything from Tammy?

Nicole, I'll be mailing out your bingo prize today.

Ruth, I got a message from the post office that a package is on the way from Tammy's hometown so I know that is from her! I will post when it arrives!

Great. So we're just waiting for packages to be received. Some morning glories from today.

I am home now.....but my neighbor has my mail. I will hook up with her later tonight to pick it up. Ruth, I know there is a box from you....my buddy told me so....so looking forward to opening. I will post my "bountiful harvest" from Ruth, tonight or in the morning.

Happy Wednesday!!

Annie

Hi Annie, how was your trip?

Ruth-Your Morning Glories are beautiful.

Shirley -- Omg! That is gorgeous!

Yes it is. I love amaranthus. This one reminds me of a Christmas tree.

I grow Hopi Red Dye and a few others. Hopi Red reseeds every year and I've had it get over six feet.

Ruth that is what it reminds me of. Mine reseeds as well.

So sorry I did not post yesterday. Phone, TV and Internet down, down, down. Before it goes down again, let me see if I can get my BOUNTIFUL HARVEST package from Ruth posted. And what a package she sent!!! Ruth, you went overboard! Absoloutley wonderful!!

Ruth sent me.....

*A lovely note

*Seeds....Moringa from two different sources, Echinacea Pow Wow Wild Berry, Rudebeckia Irish Eyes and Indian Summer, Gaillardia Goblin

*Cocktail Napkins (and a napkin basket holder).....To darn funny. The napkins say, "Wine is Proof God Loves Us and Wants Us To Be Happy." And there is a black and white picture of four gals drinking wine, of course. These are classic!!

*Kitchen towel......which says, "Love People Cook Them Tasty Food

*Spices from Penzeys.....Salsa and Pico, Vietnamese Cinammon, Cilantro, Minced Garlic and a bag of Bay Leaves, Cinammon and Nutmeg....I did not open the bag up for freshness purposes.

*Hard cover Penzys catalog and cookbook all in one, "Love People Cook Them Tasty Food"...how cool. I love Penzys!!!!

Ruth, I can not thank you enough. My Bountiful Harvest from you...FANTASTIC!!

Happy weekend to all!

Annie

Tammy sent me a wonderful Harvest paackage. I love the plant tags and really needed them. I also love the pretty note cards and great selection of seeds! Also love the cute seed packets. Thank you so much!

Got my harvest pack from Shirley she sent a birds and blooms magazine which I enjoy reading them. Also some canning labels which will get used today. Gotta get my black eye peas canned- they are finally all shelled. She sent me a beautiful card with lots of seed inside. Oh and almost forgot the most important tool- gloves!! I can never have enough of these!!

Thank you Shirley so much!!

Ruth ~ THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WONDERFUL GIFT. Sorry didn't post yesterday when the mail came. I didn't check my mailbox until today because I was at my cousin's wedding. LUV the plant markers!!!

Your prize came at a great time!! Thank YOU so much!!

Susan really went above expectations on this swap. Yes, I'm still receiving from her. Love them.

Thank you so much Susan.

Lets all give a big Birthday wish to Connie Howard -aka wildhairedmaven. We missed her last month. Hope all is well on your special day.