Two good things about August...school shopping and peaches! I don't have to do any school shopping nowadays but I do give my neighbor's school age girl a gift card for school supplies. I remember fondly getting a fresh box of crayons, Dixon Ticonderoga pencils and fresh pink erasers! Good stuff!
Back to the peaches... I buy a 10# box or two from Old Stage Orchard on the west side of the valley. The Sun Havens are really sweet and juicy this year so I have put several bags of them in the freezer...the ones we haven't eaten with Umpqua vanilla bean ice cream. Yummmmm!
I peel and slice 'em, add some Fruit Fresh and pour them into plastic bags.
Fruit Fresh keeps them from browning as they are exposed to the air. It is mainly ascorbic acid with citric acid and dextrose. Now it is harder to find because there aren't as many folks who can or preserve or even make jam. I couldn't find it at Safeway and had to go to the Grange Co-op where they still have canning supplies. I'm thinking about a third 20# box but I can't wait very long! I am also looking forward to the Gravenstein apples from the same orchards for saucing. My big bottom freezer will be crowded soon with good stuff!
Waiting, waiting, waiting for the tomatoes to ripen. Prepared for a tomato glut at the end of the month!
Clematis and morning glory make a nice combination of purples.
A happy ivy geranium by the garden gate...
Echeveria and morganianum decorating the cream separator.
