July is Gone

I can’t believe we’re at the end of July.  That means it’s time for First of the Month hosted by Jan at Murrieta 365.  This year I decided to follow my backyard through the months.  Well, you certainly get to see the effects of the drought.

The poor lawn is mostly brown with just a few weeds poking up.  I don’t know the last time I actually mowed.  Luckily my fruit trees seem to be doing well.  There are still a few brave peaches clinging to the upper branches where I couldn’t reach.

The apples are hanging in there. There are actually a lot that have fallen already, but there’s still plenty on the tree.

They are even starting to turn red.

My poor garden is actually going to produce something.  Tomatoes are turning red!

Even the volunteer plants are starting to get some little tomatoes on them.  Of course, the rain we got also means I need to go pull weeds again.

I even have a couple of peppers about ready to pick.

The one kind of tree I am concerned with is my big oak trees.  They are losing leaves.  It’s way too early for that.

While there aren’t many flowers blooming right now, the surprise lilies are making their appearance!

I’m not sure I’m really ready to say hello to August yet.  Stella says she’s just ready for cooler weather.

How about you?

Linking to First of the Month

Linking to Wordless Wednesday at Project Alicia, Live and Love Out Loud, Tina’s Wordless Wednesday, Sarah Halstead and Create With Joy.

Lemon Cheesecake Bars

I’m really kind of picky about lemon bars, and I just can’t seem to find a recipe I like, so I made my own.

I started with the crust.  I used 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs, 1/2 cup oatmeal, 1/3 cup sugar, 8 tablespoons melted margarine, 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla, and a dash of salt.

It was really easy to mix all the ingredients together right in my glass 9 x 13 pan.  I didn’t use no stick spray or anything.  I just mixed it all together and pressed it into the bottom.

Set the pan aside and make the cheesecake middle.  It’s easier if you start by letting the cream cheese warm up a bit.  Then you cream the cheese and sugar until it’s smooth.

Add three eggs, beating it smooth after each egg is added.

Add a dash of salt, a teaspoon of vanilla, and two tablespoons of lemon juice.

Once it is beaten smooth, pour it into the baking pan.  It really won’t pour, so spoon or scrape it into the pan and smooth it over the crust.

Bake the cake in a 350* F oven for about forty-five minutes.  It will be puffy and just a little jiggly in the middle when you take it out.  As it cools, the air will escape and it will flatten out.

While it is cooling, you can make the lemon curd topping.  You’ll use a double boiler for the lemon curd.  Start by mixing three eggs and a cup of sugar.

Add 1/4 cup of melted margarine.

Finally add 1/3 cup of lemon juice.

Turn the stove on and cook it, stirring constantly, until it is thick and bubbly.

Then you can pour it over the cheesecake.

Spread it around.

Honestly the hardest part to this recipe is refrigerating it and letting it cool for at least four hours before trying it.

It is so worth the wait.

For a printable recipe click HERE.

Linking to You Capture where the theme for the day is lemons.  Linking to Homestead Barn Hop.

After Our Rains

We’ve had a couple of rains in the last few days, so I thought I’d venture out and see how things were looking.  The goats were on the front hill, and it’s still tall.  Because it’s that tall, I doubt it will get much new growth now.  It will still provide them food, even if it isn’t good green stuff.

Where we made hay, however, it is really starting to grow.  It’s actually higher than the llama’s ankle.

Djali

The newly planted bottom is turning more green.

Norma Jean & MJ

I did venture up the hill, and there  is even a bit of water in the watering hole.  The ditch is still dry, but we only had about 1 1/2 inches of rain all together.

I noticed that the buffer strip around the cornfield is really growing.

We just mowed this and made hay off of it about a week ago.  It’s already growing~both the alfalfa and the grass.

I’m amazed that the corn still looks as good as it does.  Some of the ears are really starting to fill out.

I did find this one that had just recently been removed.  It’s little, but it is forming kernels.  That’s a really good thing.

Now I just need the deer to quit eating here.  How do I know it’s the deer?

She looks pretty darn guilty to me. Don’t you think so?

When I asked what she was doing, she didn’t stick around long.

That’s certainly a sign of guilt.  Finally, if you wait until dark, there’s a pretty flower you can see in the waterway.

It’s nicotiana~a wild flowering tobacco with blooms that open at night.  I just love the way it looks!  The rain has certainly been a good thing!

Edit:  I have been corrected!  The flower is Datura.

Linking to Macro Monday, Mosaic Monday and Homestead Barn Hop.