Sunday, April 19, 2020

Yep, I'm Still Kicking

For years I maintained two blogs. This was my personal, semi-anonymous blog.  I also maintained one for work. About two years ago, I decided to merge the two blog, so if you want to know more about what's going on with me, go here: www.thepulpitandthepen.com

But since I had this blog for so many years (going back to 2004), I occasionally want to post something here. So let me tell you a bit about winter sailing and gardening.  Until the COVID-19 outbreak, I did a lot of sailing, mostly on our clubs J24s during the "Frostbite Series." On Facebook, I took a lot of grief about "frostbite" in Savannah, but it can be quite cool on the water, especially with high winds. Many days, I was wearing bibs and rain jackets and regular wrap around life jackets (as opposed to CO2 type vests that allow a lot of movement and inflate when they hit the water). The CO2 vests are nice in warm weather, but not when the wind is howling and the temperature is in the 40s. Here's a few pictures:

Yep, we went out and did well (but only 4 boats showed up and only two completed the course)

waiting for the race (look at the whitecaps)

another rough weather day with spray coming over the top

the last race before COVID-19--pretty mild day
  I have enjoyed having a garden here (a plot in the community garden) for almost four years. I can generally get two crops a year. In the winter, I grow several types of lettuce, red and green cabbage, rutabaga, turnips, mustard, Swiss chard, beets, parsnips, cauliflower, and onions. In the summer, I plant several types of tomatoes and peppers, egg plants (regular and Japanese), okra, squash, and pickling cucumbers. I'll be harvesting crookneck squash this week!  After early to mid-July, most of the garden will go dormant in the heat except for the eggplant, okra and peppers. They seem to thrive on hot weather. Here are some pics of my garden and some of my products:
A couple weeks ago, garden transitioning to summer crops

One day's harvest: beets, a cabbage, kale, lettuce and Swiss chard

This got accidentally posted on Facebook as "beer and parsnip soup... but it's beet

A friend learning and helping make sauerkraut

2 months later, my yearly supply of sauerkraut
I used 14 heads of cabbage this year from kraut. It gave me roughly 2 1/2 gallons! 

In other news, I haven't kayaked since January, but I think I'll make up for that this week. On the other hand, I have been doing a lot of bicycling (especially since the fitness center closed). I've been writing some and reading a lot (you can catch up about that on my other blog. I have some book reviews to post along with a story about a trip to Austin, Texas in early March, just before everything shutdown. Stay safe everyone!
    

13 comments:

  1. That's quite a nice garden you have there!! Beer and parsnip, beet and parsnip... either might work. ;)

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  2. I wondered about the beer and parsnip soup. I would have tried it anyway.

    I just can't fathom having a garden all year round. We put so much effort into our garden for about five months and it always feels good to put it to bed for the next seven. But it would be nice to have fresh salad greens in winter!

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  3. Sounds like a delightful way to pass the winter. And that Savannah weather has me envious; it's only getting into the 40s here now.

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  4. Lovely to see this post, for some reason I find it much easier to comment on this blog than I do your other one!

    Pleased that you are doing ok, the garden and vegetables are doing great.

    Stay safe and well.

    All the best Jan

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  5. What a surprise to find a post here, Sage! A good surprise! Your garden and produce look wonderful. When Terry and I are in Waikiki, we love to visit the community garden by Diamond Head. It's such fun to talk to the gardeners and seen all the beautiful and productive plots.

    I come from a family of sailors and gardeners (including farmers). My mother's people in Nova Scotia were sea captains and fishermen, and my father's people in Prince Edward Island were farmers. My female relatives and some male were and are avid gardeners. I don't do either. :( I'm a rolling stone, and I live on the high plains. However, now that I'm housebound, I think I'll invest in some hanging baskets and a few potted plants.

    Wishing you lots of fun kayaking, my friend! I'm sure it will feel fabulous to get back on the water! Enjoy!

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  6. It does look windy and cold out on the water there. Your garden looks great! Well-tended and flourishing.

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  7. Looks like you've been keeping busy! Gardening is a nice past-time. I miss mine.

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  8. Hi Jeff, I've just been across to your main blog and tried to leave comments, but for some reason they wouldn't open for me.
    I do often have this problem so thought I'd come back to your older blog and just say hello, hope you are doing well.

    Happy May Wishes.

    All the best Jan

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  9. Hello again Jeff.
    Have again tried to connect with your other blog the pulpit and the pen but I have been trying to comment for the past 30 minutes and still no luck! It is very frustrating … so until things improve I send you my good wishes.

    Stay safe and well.

    All the best Jan

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  10. Nice to find an update on this blog. Stay safe. :-)

    Greetings from London.

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  11. Hi Jeff
    Have been across to the pulpit and the pen and read your recent posts, liked you in your red shirt and snoopy tie :)
    Sorry, I'm still having great difficulty leaving a comment on the pulpit and pen so once again … I say hello here :)

    Stay safe and well.
    My good wishes.

    All the best Jan

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  12. Very interesting post! 👏👏👏 Have a great day! I hope I see you very soon for my blog ! 🧡🧡🧡

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