Organic Garden Helpers

It takes a small group of dedicated friends to have an organic garden. Here are some of my friends that make this type of gardening a success and a joy. Hey, when your coworkers love you it helps, too.
Above is Sir Salty (our west highland terrier, not the red pepper) who manages the rabbits, groundhogs, squirrels and straying visitors. He is the cheerer upper and the romantic. And see my favorite boots to wear when it's wet! Here I am getting some sedum that I propogated ready to sell. Or should I keep it and plant all of them? The question I was pondering there. I am in love with sedums...all kinds! They are the first to come up in the spring and the last to tuck in for the winter. Their foliage is wonderful. I am a foliage person, but also have one garden area that is totally flopping over with English flowers and roses. I want it all, foliage, flowers, scent, winter interest....and that is why I need so many helpers.

My son and kitties help alot. My son wants to garden even when my back aches from having worked out there all day. Kitty (we now have 3 siamese cats) chases the mice away and also lounges in the gardens which keeps the birds from pecking on the seedlings and vegetables.

The duck family love Japanese beetles, grasshoppers and worms. They also help fertilize and no leaf is left unturned where they waddle.

Mr Frog keeps the mosquitos and flies down to a minimum plus they have a beautiful little story to tell. These are just a few folk and I'll show you my many other helpers shortly. Who helps you in your garden? I want to hear.

Blackberry Tart and Turtle Be Gone

Blackberries take the tart! You know it's the middle of summer when the blackberries are ripe. Our westie, Sir Salty, had that alarm-going off bark near the apple trees on the edge of the woods. I felt I needed to go and see what he had found since he wasn't slowing down his tone.

I couldn't see anything at first because we had to gingerly step through bushes and here they were blackberries, ripe blackberries....and there was a turtle that he was not only barking at, but gingerly tapping his shell with his front paws just like a toddler plays with cars. We had to unfasten ourselves and clothing from these blackberry bushes, but we picked the juicy berries and thanked Sir Salty for bringing us on this treasure hunt. We had to put him in the house and then take the turtle back to the edge and put him down without puppy. He was all tucked in and hidden away in his shell. Their shells are a wonder and look like the inside of a cave with folk art drawings.

I made a crust out of butter, flour, salt and sugar and a sprinkle of cinnamon, and water. This needs to be refrigerated for 30 minutes.

I had around 1 1/2 cups of blackberries. To this I added 1/8 tsp. cinnamon, 1 tsp. flour or so and 1/4-cup of sugar and a few dots of butter. Bake at 350 for approximately 30 minutes. The tart crust is thick and needs time to brown nicely and when it bubbles all around it is finished.

You can top it with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. The tart is a little tart so the sweetness of the sweetened creams is a wonderful combination. We were so ready to taste it that I had forgotten to take them out of the tart pans. At least I remembered to take a photo before we descended on it. The crust is rich and crunchy like good cookies. This made 3 small individual tarts.

Options: You can add a little bit of fresh lemon rind to it if you like. Our first few picked berries.

Here Sir Salty is all proud like. We did take the turtle back to the edge of the woods and sat him down. He was all tucked in and cozy in his turtle cave. Later we went back and he was gone. No doubt he had a story to tell his family when he got home.

This is day 3 after a bath (water, not mud bath) and 30 minutes before another one!

Sir Salty took us to our own open air market. Beware of poison ivy that can also grow in the brambles.

Westie types in a Blog Entry

Mom left the computer on. While she is upstairs I am looking to see what is so exciting about this small black box she calls a laptop. I mean I thought I was her "laptop" but I guess she has two of them. She sits in front of it and laughs, but sometimes she says, "This thing is so slow. I could run around the house ten times before this picture uploads." I know she could do it, too, because once two stray dogs came and chased our sheep and Mom showed them she could run just as fast and through bushes, too.


I must say there are alot of nice pictures on here and most of them are of ME. I can remember all of them, too. There is this funny site called match.com and I know we are not to play with matches so I did not click on it. It looks like you tell your likes and dislikes. Do you think you could get really burned doing that?


I like stuffed animals. I have horses and bunnies, frogs, cows, a mouse, a cat, a duck, and a zebra. Every day is show and tell with them. I love bananas. I love, love, love cupcakes. I like tummy rubs and when Mom puts her hand on my head tells me that I am so sweet. I like it when my people brother plays soccer with me. (The balls always have holes in them for some reason.) I like real live turtles and frogs, but I think Mom is going to tell you about that so I'll keep it a secret.


Can you keep a secret? Sometimes during the middle of the night I have to run and jump on the bed of sleeping people and tell my family a secret! They are not very fun at times like this. "Down," they say, "Down, puppy!" And here I'm kissing them and everything. Then I run and look for the cat to tell her and all she does is open and close her eyes and stretch. I have nicknamed her the "Yoga Cat". I think she even practices breathing, too, because she purrs alot.


What I do not like?... I do not like doors because they get in my way when they are closed. I do not like strange cats who show up because we live in the country. I thought people liked cats and cats like people. I don't know. I do not like katydids which I heard tonight and thought it was some loud strangers. I do not like squirrels because they are forever running away with things.


Wow, I just finished putting my picture in and I think I could run around the house ten times, too...oh here comes mom calling for me. If you know of any westies who would like to email me let me know. We'll talk again soon, I hope.


Woof (xoxo),
Sir Salty

Cupcake Commotion and Country Living

I'm smitten with fondant and cupcakes. I have a confession to make as well. When I used to see ladies in line signing up for cake decorating classes I would walk right past looking at each to see if there was some suggestion of what was so great about it in their eyes. I would be thinking, "Ho. Hum," and walk over to the fabrics (where they never have great 100% linen, but I am always checking) and scope out the new fabrics.

Now I must also say that I haven't taken any classes yet, but it is the creativity that calls to me in this cupcake decorating extravagana. Nothing is too impossible it seems and all is pleasing to the eye and mouth. And I can have as many westies in my home as I want. Even if they are only sugar and one real westie sweetheart at my feet.

We were in Florida and it is beautiful and the homes are gorgeous. The outdoor produce markets line up one street almost in Tampa. Yes, we stopped and purchased mangos, lemons, watermelon (only 2.00 and perfect) and bananas. They also sell tropical plants and palms, too, but not so great for the traveler to carry along.

Epcot was like going to Europe. Lots of the tourists are from Europe and they were a bit famished with the heat. The money exchange is great for them. I loved all the gardens and I was always looking at the shrubbery, flowers, and landscaping in general. It's great to go with someone who can pull you this way and that way so you don't run into people as you admire a palm or boxwood parterre at a fast pace . I carried two useful cameras. You cannot possibly see it all in one day, but we gallantly tried!

Cupcakes, Dreams and Country Living by Candylei

Another cupcake trial. Yes, all edible. I made a beach tent/cabana out of fondant and Sir Salty is in it content like with his red ball and a starfish on the side. I might have to take a structural engineering class for my cupcakes success. These cabana cakes would be rather hard delivering.

I also found some other westie cupcakes, but they are different from mine. I looked through many pages on http://www.flickr.com/ and did not see in in over 100 some pictures. Yesterday I type in westie cupcake and viola~ there were other westie sweets.

A wonderful cupcake blog that I discovered is http://www.cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com/

Mr. Sir Salty in sugar form is on there in all his sweetness. Then there is http://www.foodbuzz.com/ for all of us that like to cook and share recipes.

Below is my essay on the dream house...part of the dream we are currently living.

I don't have the vineyards yet. I am starting on the redwork. I love vintage pillowcases embroidered in red floss saying sweet dreams and love and the like.

We are all on the same earth, but our little "worlds" may differ.

My Dream House

(by Candylei copyright)

A little log cabin, surrounded by orchards hanging with sweet fruits with bees gathering pollen and leaving their sugary honey in the hives within the orchards, would be a start for my dream house. On the outer edges of the orchards there are oaks and firs for the birds and squirrels to feed on and trapeze about from limb to limb. Upon the hillside the vineyards laden with grapes, are perfectly trimmed and tied. All of the goodness and freshness of abundance from an organic harvest is inside the cabin. No sprays or pesticides spritzed about...It is a green world in more than one sense both inside and out. A dream house is not a dream house unless it is situated on the perfect site.

Back to the coziness of the cabin where the wood stove heats the water just drawn from the well fed by a spring. One of the comforts within is the furniture that has been lovingly handmade from fallen trees. From the same tree comes the wooden bowls that the bread rises in and the rolling pin from the tree that rolls the pie crust that holds the fresh, picked apples. A wonderful place where the best from the outdoors finds a place in the heart of the cabin whether it be on the table or the table itself or the cat who sleeps under the table.

A dream kitchen has a root cellar to store every carrot, potato, turnip and beet that comes from the garden. The coolness of the earth keeps them fresh, safe and at the ready for the gourmet cook. The kitchen window would be a deep one holding fresh herbs throughout the winter. The candles and lanterns provide sufficient light in the evenings to read, knit, quilt, or carve wood. They would give a soft glow of warmth that makes every object dance about in it's flickering rays of light. In the kitchen rafters holding trays of drying fruit. Strings holding green beans drying and swinging back and forth from the beams.

The bedroom would hold a plump feather bed with a warm, hand stitched quilt. Feather pillows with red work embroidered on them sit at the top of the bedstead. A wooden wardrobe with it's lustrous waxed and worn surfaces hold the lovingly hand sewn clothes of cotton and wool. There will be hand knit sweaters dyed just outside your dream cabin with the gathered herbs, leaves and roots.

The living room has a fireplace that you could cook in. Not far away from the fireplace the spinning wheel stands. A westie dog stretches out and rests by the fireplace. A dream house is not be complete without one or two.

Each morning begins with a rooster announcing the hope and joy of the new day. Grabbing a milk pail and going out to get some fresh, sweet milk, shortly after the rooster crows. Gathering some eggs in your other hand and going back inside the cabin for the freshest, unpolluted breakfast on the planet.

Each evening ends in the feather bed with your dreams taking flight in the coziness and comfort of it all. The owls and doves hooting and cooing and the spring bubbling such sweet melody composed only by nature.

The dream house is about holding, protecting, comforting, nourishing and refreshing the dwellers that abide in it. A place that brings peace and contentment.

How To Make a Rosemary Herbal Topiary

Herbal topiary is an art that anyone can master. It's wonderful to be able to pick up some rosemary plants for 2.00 each and with a little instant trimming they are worth 20.00 and upwards. Yes they look impressive, too. They make great additions to the table, indoors and outdoors. If you are really frugal you can save the cuttings and root them for more plants. Or you can toss them into the barbeque for some aroma therapy and wonderful flavoring for grilled food. If you have rosemary in your garden you can cut some stronger stems and use them as kebab skewers. Just thread the meat and vegetables on and the flavor is almost the same as being in France...and much cheaper.

I took an upright growing plant, don't get a creeping one, called "Barbeque" and decided on two balls or tiers. Take some scissors or trimming tool and at the center mark start cutting away the branches at the center stem. Cut all the side stems off in this middle area and you will have a top and bottom with a bare middle. Trim the bottom tier into a round ball shape and also the top tier.... and wow, it's beautiful. I always repot mine, too, to give the roots more room to grow so the topiary standard becomes lush.This BBQ rosemary has the limest green leaves of all the rosemarys. You can use gray leaved herbs such as lavender and lavender cotton, too.

Terra cotta pots can be painted so that your little collection matches or paint each pot a different color. I painted a westie, no surprise there, with my favorite lime green! It is for sale in my ebay store now. http://www.candylei.ebaystores.com/

If you haven't planted your gladiolius' yet go ahead and do it. It's not too late. They will bloom around labor day and the great part is most everyone else's are over and done with at that time. They'll wonder what your trick is. Another easy eye-catcher is to plant sunflower now. Yes, their blooms will be so welcome in September, too.

Westies are adorning cupcakes here at our house. I'm having so much fun with the fondant trying to make something cute, artistic, delicious and all edible...and the buttercream frosting... so rich! I found two excellent cupcake artists. One is zalita in S. Africa and the other is Kylie Lambert in Australia. Kylie makes a living baking and selling cakes and cupcakes and Zalita is a stay at home mom whose decorated cupcakes are in demand where she lives. It has prompted me to be creative myself starting with westie cupcakes...my own creation, not to sell, but to master the art of gum paste and fondant.

And what does Sir Salty have to say about all this? He BEGS for cupcakes and I can only give him a pinch of cake because I don't want him to get sick..and when I do this I am secretly glad the vet lives out of sight. Then I pick up a toy of his and toss it and he amazingly forgets about cupcakes and runs after the toy. Speed is his middle name. Sweet tooth is his second. Spoiled is maybe his third.

Baking Westie Cupcakes or Cuppies

Sir Salty's one year-old birthday is coming up soon! I'm trying out some cute westie designed cupcakes for the celebration. All edible. It's my first time using fondant and it is fun to work with. Without any tools except a dinner knife and rolling pin and this is what I came up with. Today I came home with piping sleeves and little flower presses. I think I might be smitten with fondant.

There are some wonderful cupcake pictures on flickr.com, but there weren't any westie cupcakes. It would be great to shape some of Sir Salty's friends on the cupcakes, too.

Our westie, Sir Salty loves our rubber boots...maybe I should make some out of fondant??? He has this way of taking three steps in front of me and then stopping sideways knowing that I will walk into him... which in turn gives him an excuse to grab my boot where my toes are. He is so playful even when we are like "wow, it's so hot out." He has a great outlook on life...a big smile, a quick trot and a sense of humor!