TV Series (PBS) Review: Downton Abbey

We have Netflix not only for renting DVDs but streaming content to your computer or TV. I stumbled across a Masterpiece Theater series called "Downton Abbey". As I have mentioned before I like to watch things that are thought-provoking or cause me to ask questions. "Downton Abbey" is set in 1912-1913 just after the sinking of the Titanic. With the sinking of the Titanic the heirs of Downton Abbey were drown. So the Earl and Countess of Grantham, Robert and Cora Crawley, are in a bit of fix trying to nail down the next heirs of the Abbey. Since they only have daughters and no sons, it trickles to cousins. Cora Crawley was quite wealthy when they married but her inheritance will not go to their eldest daughter. The Dowager Countess, mother of Lord Grantham, and Cora Crawley are trying to find every possible to see that the inheritance stays in the family and not to total strangers who will become heirs of Downton Abbey.



So you ask why this is thought-provoking and piques my interest? Culture. A culture I don't understand or know. It is interesting to me how all the classes, titles, propriety, and etiquette work. There is a clash of classes when the next heir, Matthew Crawley, comes on the scene. He is the son of a doctor and nurse....gasp, the working class. "Why would anyone work?" is the response from the Dowager Grantham. Matthew Crawley is an attorney and considered middle class, yet to the Crawleys especially the snooty Dowager Grantham is lower class. He won't even use the servants provided to him and gets his own tea. How horrible is that? While Lord and Countess Grantham are gracious and likable people that don't seem to look down their noses, the Dowager Countess makes up for that quite considerably. Lord Grantham's position is to oversee Downton Abbey - that's all. I don't get that and this is what is fascinating to me. I don't understand much of British culture, classes, titles and so forth and that is also quite fascinating to me.

So now I am entrenched not only with the education of the culture in the series but now the story of the series. What will happen next?

It is a good thing I have lots of laundry to fold so I don't feel guilty watching TV! "Downton Abbey" is in season 1 but production is under way for series 2 in the fall. I can't wait!

There is one warning I must mention - in the first episode there is one very disturbing scene with the footman, Thomas, and a Duke that comes to visit. They have a "special" relationship. You might want to fast forward through that.

Cucumbers!

Here are the first cucumbers in my work bucket. They are white because those parts were in the dirt. I like them crunchy and small. Then you see another squash and my small fat cucumber.

Soon we should start seeing tomatoes too! 

Qu'est-ce que c'est?

I found this amongst my cucumber plants - but it didn't look like a cucumber! I thought maybe a watermelon seed made its way in there somehow from somewhere....community gardens have weird things happen! I had already plucked it when I thought of the watermelon idea....so I cut it open...sure enough a cucumber. Never seen a fat short one like that.

Leaf Curling - I never knew!

I received an email from our garden president with information about leaf curling in the garden. Evidently some other members were concerned about this since another member had sprayed some weed killer around. As it turns out there was no other evidence of the weed killer but we had had some severe weather changes. We had some nice warm 70s-80s weather then a cold snap of 40s followed by 90s. So those big weather changes caused the leaf curling. Who knew? I guess I am so simplistic - it is green, growing, no holes from bugs - I am good. But I took pictures anyway to show for future reference....

Fruit is on the way!

When I was staking up and securing my tomatoes last night I took pictures of the tomatoes coming on. I hadn't seen the Brandywines several days ago. Oh, I do hope those plants survive. But the Yellow Pears and Cherry Tomatoes are coming along nicely.

Brandywine

Cherry Tomatoes

Brandywine

Yellow Pear almost ready

Premature Harvest - what a newb!

I was all set to show off a fresh picked green pepper here......

This is actually a premature harvested Red Bell Pepper.....what a dork! 

After the Storm

We had a bad wind and rain storm Sunday night which blew over two of my big beautiful Brandywine tomato plants.

(Enter tears and crying....Ok, composing myself now.)

Fortunately my neighbor went over there during the day while I was at work and tried to stake them up for me. She did a pretty good job. (Ok, now I seriously owe her big time!) Then I went down in the evening and staked more and tied up branches. I had an old t-shirt and used about the whole shirt tying up branches and securing all my tomato plants plus one pepper plant.

There are supposed to be storms later in the week so we will see how secure they are now. I still need two more tomato baskets for two seedling plants that are growing all crazy. I couldn't find good baskets when I was buying stakes, so I will have to go elsewhere for those.

Staked up tomatoes

Recipe: Sauteed Squash

A simple, fast yet delicious recipe with that yellow squash coming in your gardens.

Sauteed Squash
Serves: 2

4 Yellow Squash, washed and sliced
1 small yellow onion (optional)
1 Tbsp oil
Salt to taste
1 Tbsp butter
1 tsp sugar or honey

In a hot saute pan, heat oil. Add onion, squash and little bit of salt, saute until tender and brown (from sear). Add butter and sugar. Cook until butter and sugar have lightly carmelized.

Eat!

Tomato Crazy!

I haven't been to the garden in a week due to a flat tire so my neighbor has gleaned my squash (15+ of them!!) and watered for me. I owe her big time!

So this evening I went down to water and take a look about. Holy Tomatoes! They are big and bushy! The Yellow Pears I had to stake up since they pulled down the cage. The Pink Brandywine and Red Romas are enormous. No fruit on any of the plants, except the Yellow Pear and Red Husky Cherry Tomatoes - those are popping out pretty good. Can't wait for those "candies".

This years tomatoes and peppers should be very bountiful. The plants look amazing compared to last year. I am sure it is the amended soil (mushroom compost) and papering/mulching. Plus we are watering more and the weather has been good.

The squash has been delish and plentiful. I have been able to share with my neighbor and have plenty left. I sauteed them for supper tonight! YUM!

Cucumbers

Yellow Crookneck Squash

Yellow Crookneck Squash

Plot & Community Garden Beans

Red Husky Cherry Tomatoes

Red & Green Bell Peppers

Red Brandywine & Yellow Jubillee Tomatoes

Yellow Jubillee & Jelly Bean Tomatoes

2 Red Husky Cherry Tomatoes & a Yellow Pear Tomato

Yellow Pear Tomato

Pink Brandywine & Red Roma Tomatoes

2 Red Husky Cherry Tomatoes & a Yellow Pear

Now you see the bushy mess? I had to look closely amongst all the plants just to be sure it was all tomato plants and no weeds. The weeds like to mask themselves!

Recipe: Greek Style Deviled Eggs

The other night I stumbled upon this recipe and it was super yum. If you like olives and feta cheese, you might enjoy this twist on the traditional deviled eggs.

6 hard boiled eggs, peeled
1/2 c. mayonnaise
1 tsp mustard
1 tsp vinegar  *I used Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar - gives a nice flavor
1 Tbsp finely chopped Kalmata or green olives  * I had some leftover olive tapenade that worked well.
2 Tbsp feta cheese

Halve the cooked eggs lengthwise and remove yolks. Set whites aside. Place yolks in a ball, mash with fork. Add mayo, mustard, vinegar, olives, and feta cheese. Mix well.

Stuff egg white halves with egg yolk mixture. Enjoy! Try not to eat the whole plate!

Watching the garden grow

Here are some photos of my tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and squash:  These photos are from the first part of May so I need to get some more updated pictures. They are looking really bushy and lush now. Last night I harvested my first batch of yellow crookneck squash. Squash is coming in like crazy now. Soon cherry tomatoes will be coming!

Pests - Cucumber Beetles and Fire Ants

Well everything is planted, papered and mulched. I have fought fire ants and cucumber beetles. I think I have won. Although I still see cucumber beetles hanging out on my crookneck squash.

Here is my first run in with the cucumber beetles. They ate my zucchini seedlings so I pulled and threw them out. Little pests and they are still hanging out with my full grown squash:

Here is my fire ant infestation in one plot. Then they moved to another plot but I think I got 'em gone now. See the white dust out in the grass? Then they were also in my cucumber seedlings.