Yesterday, the rain actually held off for most of the day which was nice. We got a lot of gardening done and hit up the nursery for some flowers.
I bought some Impatiens, Geraniums, and Bellflowers to plant in the front garden. Before this, mom and I did a lot of weeding and prepped the bed with some topsoil leftover from my veggie garden.
Things are shaping up around here! We almost seem like civilized home owners now. ;)
Check out the spinach…it’s shooting up! I didn’t expect it to grow so vertically!
Update: Many of you have said it has gone to seed and bolted. 
SAD! Do you think it’s done for the summer months?
The kale grows outward and it’s getting nice and full.
Yummy lettuce…
This romaine lettuce is the biggest one so far:
Sadly, I lost two lettuce so far…they just wilted up and died. No idea why!
The 2 Spanish Onions and 1 Red Onion continue to do well.
And the cucumbers in the back are spreading fast.
Eric has been working away at the deck as usual!
The rails are now all in and he is working on the top piece of the railing.
This morning, Eric said to me that he is losing motivation to finish the deck… words that no wife ever wants to hear! ;) I’m trying to help him when I can and bring him lots of beer. :) I think he is quite intimidated by the 3 staircases he has to figure out…I’m so impressed with what he’s done so far though. It will be nice to have it finished and then he can take a break with renos for a while.
After gardening, I made a huge batch of the Back on Track Salad…one of our favs!
I made a few modifications this time, using some black beans, fresh dill, more lemon juice, and red onion. It was awesome with the dill and extra kick of lemon!
I just love how versatile this salad is…you could adapt it so many ways and it’s always a crowd pleaser.
Eric picked up a Pumpkin Cranberry Loaf to go along with lunch. Sadly, it wasn’t vegan due to an egg wash!
I had a bowl of the Back on Track salad and an Ezekiel wrap with veggies, avocado, and hummus.
Unfortunately, my Aunt Jenn and family couldn’t make our dinner get together because Julia got sick with a bad stomach flu and was up all night. Poor girl! :(
We had a pretty low key night and relaxed with some beer and wine.
Eric BBQ’d chicken for him and my mom and I had a veggie burger. We had the Back on Track salad and Sautéed Crimini mushrooms with garlic and olive oil on the side. I picked up some mushrooms from a local mushroom farm and they were great. I really need to make Sautéed Crimini mushrooms more often…they are one of my favourite side dishes. I also loaded some onto my burger.
A delicious and filling meal!
For dessert we each had a Whole Wheat Vegan Chocolate Cupcake with Spiced Buttercream! My mom couldn’t believe they didn’t have any eggs because they are so light and fluffy. It’s magic!
By the way, they also froze very well. I froze them for 2 days and then let them sit on the counter to defrost for a couple hours. They were still fresh as can be. :)
Today, we’re heading out to do a little chandelier shopping (window-shopping?) and then I think my mom and I are going to bake. Sundays just don’t get any better… Enjoy your day!
Congratulations on how well your garden is growing. I am impressed! I’m also extremely impressed by Eric’s handiwork on the deck. You two are very resourceful.
Can I come to your next dinner party?! Pleeeassseeee? Everything looks so delicious! ;-)
Have a great day!
Ah Eric has been such a trooper with that deck though, right?! It’s HUGE and it looks fantastic!! I’m sure the stairs will be done soon! ;) And your garden looks great, I miss things like that due to apartment living! :/ I don’t think the rest of our block would be too happy if I started digging up the garden and replacing it with veggies… ;)
I wish you could cook me dinner :-) Everything looks amazing as usual. Love your garden!
Dear Eric,
Please don’t give up on the deck.
You see, I keep showing MY husband that it’s possible to DIY a deck, and I show him how awesome you are in Angela’s posts.
Please, please, please don’t give up!
Sincerely,
Amy
ps: you look kind of hawt in “building” mode. Don’t tell Angela I said that. ;)
haha that should keep him going for another few days!
The Big Summer Salad that you make (it’s listed under Do Couples Gain and Lose Together), is that recipe for 1 serving?
I agree with some of the comments about the spinach…I think it has gone to seed, so it wouldn’t be good for eating anymore! :(
That sometimes happens when it is too hot for spinach – it likes the cooler weather in the spring. I would start some new seeds and see what happens. You have to harvest it early, especially it if is hot.
Ah darnit!
Fooooood!! I love my garden this year, the Padre is working so hard on it!! Slash I WANT/need those cupcakes
Oh wow!! your garden looks so good!! Don’t worry about the spinach going to seed, our rocket went to seed too! We only have two pots off of our balcony, but I love them! and can’t wait to get a real garden one day – in the mean time I will just crush on your garden!
I love cremini! We always sub for more cremini mushrooms in our weekly CSA box.
The garden is beautiful!
The garden pictures are SO VIBRANT! They are jumping off the page. Nice shots, and nice work in editing b/c I know you shoot RAW and it’s an art, too, to get the editing right. And your final images..gorgeous!
And the Back on Track salad looks awesome! So do the ‘shrooms and the whole meal.
Way to impress your mom with the vegan cupcakes and being so fluffy without eggs. Just a testament to what a great cook you are :) And I’d love to dive into that buttercream frosting!
The deck is coming along so nicely!
I would really like to have the back on track salad. it looks amazing!
These pictures are getting me excited for my own little spinach seeds to sprout up!
Your garden looks amazing! As does that salad… yum! Off to check out the recipe! xo
Definitely bolted. Sorry! You should harvest it all right now, because it will start to taste really bitter. You are going to have SO MUCH kale! I planted that much for myself and I had to freeze a ton of it. Still great in green monsters though. :)
The lettuce is ready to start eating, too! That kind of lettuce can be harvested as a full head like you get at the store you can harvest it continually by thinning the little leaves and eating them as baby lettuce (also like you buy at the store). The more you thin, the more leaves it puts out!
What a beautiful family!
The garden is looking great(flowers in too yay)! If Eric is intimidated by the staircases why doesn’t he get some precut stringers and install them? I think that Home Depot will do custom order if you call and let them know your measurements etc. . At least that way you can get off the deck without killing yourselves and you don’t have to worry about lost motivation… My husband does restoration work (insurance jobs) so I’m last on the list for everything….(he a painter/drywaller) I have to paint my own house too LOL.
That looks so delicious! I love the back on track salad! What a good way to use what you have in the fridge. I think my spinach bolted, too. I’m not sure why, I had no problem with it but then again we have had some crazy weather.
I love your deck it looks great as does your meal I cant wait for dinner tonight, nothing better than summertime food!
You’re making me so jealous with your garden full of greens! Do you think it’s too late for me to plant some?
I tried out your back on track salad a few weeks ago and I loved it. This post makes me want to make it again!
Enjoy your day with your mom. :)