A tiny masterclass in apple tree pruning

This is something I need to learn how to do.

Pumpkin and carrot muffins

Makes 12 muffins

Ingredients:

• 3 large eggs at room temperature
• 4 medium carrots, grated and squeezed of juice (final volume: 1½ cups shredded carrots)
• 1½ cups almond flour, spooned and leveled
• 1½ teaspoons five spice powder (or pumpkin pie spice blend)
• 1 teaspoons baking soda
• ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt
• ¾ cup pumpkin purée (canned or fresh-cooked from pie pumpkins)
• ½ cup local honey
• 2 tablespoons almond butter
• 1 teaspoon melted coconut oil, and a bit extra for greasing the muffin tin if not using paper liners
• 1 tablespoon sliced almonds
• 1 tablespoon toasted pumpkin seeds

Steps:

-Heat oven to 350°F with the rack in the middle position

-Sprinkle sliced almonds and toasted pumpkin seeds on top before placing the muffins in the oven.

-Bake for about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick, when inserted all the way comes back out without wet bits clinging to it. The tops should be firm.

More thrifty craft ideas- Denim jeans edition

1. What to do with old jean pockets?
2. Yoga mat tote
3. Couch armrest bag
4. Lunch bag
5. Purse with leather handles
6. Purse from children's jeans and fabric

Oven or dehydrator tomato parmesan crisps

Apple Peel Chips

• Thinly slice beefsteak or other meaty tomato (try for 6 cups, or go by how much room you have in your dehydrator/oven- the rest of the recipe is adjustable to your quantities)
• 2Tbsp olive oil (or other oil as you like)
• 2tsp sea salt
• 1tsp garlic powder, or very finely minced fresh garlik (you want it to spread evenly)
• 2Tbsp parmesan cheese (or more if you really like cheese)

Alcohol isn't usually my thing, but...

This really appealed to me somehow. This recipe makes one glass. Expand if you want to make more.


Earl Grey Tea and Lavender Cocktail

• 3/4 cup earl grey tea (cold)
• 2Tbsp gin
• 2Tbsp honey simple syrup
• 1Tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 2 sprigs of lavender ( +1 to garnish)

Garter snakes- a gardener's best friend

Garter snakes are only mildly venomous, and even if they bite you they don't produce enough to harm a human. But they are very effective predators, eating slugs, insects, worms, frogs, minnows, and even rodents if the snake is large enough, all of which (except the worms, minnows and frogs) are generally bad for your garden. They have very distinctive markings- three yellow stripes run their length on a dark or black background. Garter snakes give birth to live young, unlike most reptiles. Adults can range in size from 45cm (18") to over a meter (over 45") at the very top end (but that would be a rare one, and probably wouldn't find enough food to stay in your back garden).

The bees are doing well

And I'm learning so much... There's only so much you can read before trying it for real. Experience is the best teacher.

And it's true what they say- To make a small fortune in beekeeping... start with a large one. Good thing these bees are my only pets right now!