Tuesday July 27, 2010
The Japanese Beetles have arrived and are congregating among Boulderwood's flowerbeds and lawn! It is too bad that they are such pests because their colors are quite extraordinary and fun to look at. Obviously native to Japan, these insects have no natural predators in the States so they can run amuck on plants like rose bushes, hops, grape vines and more by eating away the leafy parts. According to some online sources, garlic, chives, catnip or soapy-water spray are some homemade deterrents for the Japanese beetle if you aren't into chemically insecticides like us and want to get rid of them. Here, we actually don't mind insects so much. The only spray we use on the farm is copper sulfate to prevent blight on our precious tomatoes. With that said, enjoy your stay in the Berkshires, beetles and bug buddies!
Monday July 26, 2010
I am reflecting on the weekend gone by and trust me the beach and the environs were lovely but the memories I carry with me are of food, family and friendship.
Food was and is a central theme to any gathering at my parents house and not surprisingly, I enjoyed a weekend with my Mom, Dad, sister and best friend, Anne Marie DeFreest - making and eating amazing seafood. Friday night - fresh scrod baked with a garlic scape pesto, Saturday night - lobsters with homemade cole slaw and Sunday night - fettucine with a tomato pesto cream sauce with leftover lobster chunks. Yep - all concocted, all delicious but all eaten and shared at a loving table.
And now I put out into the universe...please take care of Anne Marie - send prayers and love - she's having surgery tomorrow and I want her to know I love her and am sending every positive vibe I can muster up!! I am counting on you for our "old age" home!!!
|
Anne Marie |
Friday July 23, 2010
Taking a road trip to the beach is the ideal concoction for this weekend. On the menu will be shopping with mom, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, fresh seafood and toes in the sand. We suggest whipping up a similar delight. It's summer, enjoy it!
Wednesday July 21, 2010
Nothing beats a Montini sister's story, period. That conclusion we came to long before today's radio show which featured the local tales and memories of Donna Kresiak and Dale DeVarrenes, who also happen to be two of Carole's good friends. Growing up in what has been deemed the Little Italy neighborhood of of Lee, Massachusetts, Donna and Dale grew up making food a family affair- the likes of which Heirloom Meals has yet to hear of. If you look up 'homemade' in the dictionary you are likely to find a picture of the Montini family who boasted their own grappa, wine, vinegar, sausage, preserves, salami; the list goes on and on. It should go without saying that an hour with these two women was not enough to share with our listeners the amount of knowledge, laughs and history that they miraculously have between the two of them - but what a wonderful show it was!
Tuesday July 20, 2010
This past weekend was the Brimfield Antique and Flea Market Show which is where we found these treasures in years past to add to our collection of beasts on Bouderwood. Who knew that elk and lobsters could be found on the same farm and require so little maintenance and clean-up?!
The next Brimfield show starts on September 7th and ends on the 12th so be sure to mark your calendars!