Putting Up My Crop

Yes, Crop. Singular.

 I have a lot of flowers, but not much of anything edible.
Recently I read this post at The Summer Porch and it inspired me to drop everything, go out on the deck and cut a few sprigs from my basil plant before it succumbs to our cooler evenings.  Well, OK, I cut down  the whole squatty basil plant...........the whole plant was only two sprigs...not my most successful basil planting.  Nonetheless...
I washed it, dried it, and pushed it into this mini wine bottle that I saved from a Christmas gift two years ago (thanks Chris!).

Then I poured some Rice Wine Vinegar over it (Rosemary suggested the rice vinegar was a good one to use).

Here is it all corked up and beginning its infusion stage.

Isn't it beautiful?  I am in awe.  It is so easy to do.  Rosemary said to leave it for about three weeks, then strain the vinegar into a clean bottle.   Thanks for this great idea, Rosemary.  My tiny little basil plant will soon turn into a wonderful basil vinaigrette dressing.  Rosemary gives suggestions for more fancy herb combinations for those who have a real herb garden.  She has pretty bottles, too.  I think you would enjoy a visit to her blog.

Last week I was gifted with some tomatoes and green beans--twice in one week. We had more beans than we could eat .

I just cannot throw away fresh garden veggies!  So I cut them up, blanched them and froze them for later this winter. 

I got three servings for two people.  We will really appreciate these beans come December!

Yesterday I received the refund checks from Breck's.

So they really did stand behind their product, sending a complete refund in a very timely manner.
All in all, life is good in my little corner of the world.