Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Strawberries and a Dog and a Cat

Strawberries finally arriving
Second week of July

I really need to read the UW Extension brochure on raising strawberries. This is the second year for these plants, and they're in two nice, pretty-much weed-free rows because I have strips of carpet on either side of the rows. We had a satisfying crop of berries until it got really hot, several days (it seemed) in the mid nineties. Then the berries seemed to stop. There are a few, but they're marble sized. Once they're completely done bearing, I need to figure out what to do for next year, whether it's transplanting the smaller berries and tilling down the row of older berries or what. I love having strawberries and I hate weeds. Hate may not be a strong enough word.


Just a handful, 
but a couple days later, about 5 quarts
They're not huge and beautiful like the ones in the store, but the taste is amazing!



 Some small, some big, but all sweet and delicious!

I checked with those who frequent Hometalk and one of the responses to my question about getting bigger berries informed me that my strawberries might be too close together (which they are!), and that they need to be fertilized twice a season (which they've not been). So, I think I have some good information to take into next year's crop.





Blind and deaf little Misty

The update on Misty is that since the photo above was taken, she is completely blind and almost totally deaf, never leaves the kitchen except when I take her out on lead to the great, scary outdoors. Right now she is lying on the cool kitchen vinyl floor. I try to spend several petting segments with her each day, for that seems to be the only time she interacts. She still usually raises her head and sniffs the air when someone comes into the house, so we know her olfactory receptors are working. 

Until a couple years ago, Misty spent summer afternoons running and leaping through the alfalfa field, chasing butterflies. She loved it! Now her world has become much smaller and she confines herself to the kitchen, except when I take her outdoors. Even then, she wants to get her business done and get back to the safety of the house. Misty is a sweet little girl, but something tells me that this (probably) 13-15 year old dog isn't going to make it another winter. Maybe she'll surprise us. I hope so.

Tuppence, in her favorite spot:
Lying next to me on the chair, watching TV
'Endeavor' - PBS Masterpiece
Check it out!

***


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28 comments:

Trace4J said...

Morning
My strawberries never get very big either.
But they taste amazing.
They have larger strawberry berries you can buy but I truly don't think they are a sweet.
Oh precious Misty.
What a sweetie and your snuggle buddy.
Woolie Hugs

Terri @ A Creative Princess said...

Aww, poor Misty. I'm so sorry, Judy. I know what you're going through with her because our Gage is not doing well at all and I'm afraid his day's with us are limited. His kidney's are going out.

I don't care what size your strawberries are, they look delicious to me!

Parsley said...

Home grown strawberries are SO much better an store bought. Wish I were there to help pick them.

Poor Misty. Getting old is hard on the dog and the humans who care. I am sitting an old girl right now. I have to guide her much like a horse to go out to potty. She is so sweet though!

Unknown said...

I adore strawberries and there is nothing like getting them from your own garden!! I wish I had some pointers for you, but as I think I told you before, I do not have a green thumb!!
I'm so sorry to hear Misty is completely blind and deaf... but at least you are still giving her lots of love an attention when you can!!

MadSnapper said...

those berries look great to me and I do love fresh ones...size doesn't matter, taste does.
sorry to hear about poor sweet Misty...

Muffy's Marks said...

Its the quality not the quantity!! Poor Misty, as they say, sucks to get old!!!

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

Hi Judy Your strawberries looks good adn I wonder if they are bigger, will they be as sweet. that will be interesting to find out. Perhaps next year you should do an experiment and grow them your way and the improved way to see which is best! Margaret

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

What beautiful strawberries! I love seeing photos of your garden goodies and your sweet pets. I'm sorry for your sadness though. We all know how hard that is. Sweet hugs!

TexWisGirl said...

oh, sweet old pup! i hope she is not too scared.

Chatty Crone said...

I am sorry about your strawberries - I am sure you will have it figured out. And poor pup - that is a lot to have wrong. It has been a rough year in that respect. sandie

Judy S. said...

Home grown strawberries are THE BEST!They taste so much better without the "styrofoam" centers of the big tasteless store bought kind. Nice that Misty has people who love her! Fun kitty photo, too.

Olive said...

CC's grandmother, now gone, used to have hills and hills of strawberries. They were well spaced apart. When we visited we weeded. A lot. That woman worked and gardened into her eighties. Sweet Misty, I will pray for her comfort. It is chaos her with our new kitten.

Life Happens said...

strawberries from your own garden (or if you pick your own from a fruit farm like we do) almost always taste SO much better than the ones in the store. And while they may not be as big, they are certainly sweeter!

Terri D said...

Our sweet pets age so much faster than we do. Misty is precious. So is your sweet kitty!

When I lived in Maryland, we had a quite large bed of strawberries, left behind by the former owners of the house we bought. There was just a huge bed of strawberries. We thinned it out at the end of each season, and it would brave through the winter and come back in the spring with the sweetest berries. We did nothing else to it. There was also asparagus all through the berry patch, which we also gladly harvested each year. We were lucky, I guess!

Sylvie said...

I can't wait to go berry picking! I love to go with my kids. We go to local orchards, or we go to my Grandmother's house. They love it too! :)

Suzan said...

How we love our pooches - whatever the age!!

Ruth Kelly said...

My strawberries are all done for the year. Love those sweet little ones.

Unknown said...

I love fresh berries and these looks good. I think the smaller ones are better than the big ones you buy in the stores.

NanaDiana said...

Poor Misty. I suppose she, even as a dog, feels a bit sad and scared to be blind and deaf. Poor thing. Love your kitty picture, too.

We don't have any strawberry plants but home-grown ones are amazing. It's a whole different taste than store bought ones. xo Diana

20 North Ora said...

Your strawberries look amazing! I have never grown them, but love to eat them.

Misty seems like such a sweetheart. Pat her for me.

Judy

Christina Paul said...

Oh what a dear dog- it must give her peace of mind to know she's safe and loved-
and your cat is too funny- I have one cat that always watches Masterpiece Theater with me on the sofa- my husband jokes about it as she seem to know when it's on-we're loving Endeavor!

hawknitr13 said...

i'm so sorry to hear about Misty ... pets are such a special part of o family ...
^)^ linda

Empty Nester said...

Well, I've heard that it's not the size that matters. LOL As long as they taste sweet, they're good! I feel so bad for Misty. I teared up. I'll be thinking about her. Tucker sends his love too.

Donna said...

Poor Misty! She's an old dog and it looks like she has cataracts. Keep on loving her and give her reassurance!

Magali@TheLittleWhiteHouse said...

There's nothing like the taste of homegrown strawberries, even if they are small. Putting hen poop (we have a name for that in France, but I don't know it in English) helps them grow!

Denise said...

Praying for dear misty.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Tuppence is growing on me - when Lionel was around, she didn't stand a chance with me!

Eileen H said...

Poor Misty. Her world may be small now but it is filled with love.

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