BLONDIE GOES NUTTY

I'd like to thank everyone who came to my blog with such thoughtful comments and prayers so shortly after I heard the news from my father. I am so appreciative. A year ago, I don't think I would have known where to turn except for my immediate family. While I was not shouting out this news to the world, I did send it directly to a community of lady friends that I hold so close to my heart and cherish. So thank you again...

My father is of a very quiet and private nature, therefore I will not publish too many details as I think that would be unfair to him. But since the situation is one on which I will dwell, I do want your support and prayers so I will give you updates as I see fit. I hope you understand.

As of now I am doing well. My thoughts are consumed with what lies ahead and maybe selfishly, I keep reverting back to the memories of my loved ones who succumbed to this hateful disease. I feel powerless. But I will give it my all and I will continue to support Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center , because it is not only an organization that researches the cures for cancer, but also the causes and prevention. You can click on for more information.

Now for Outdoor Wednesday, I thought I would do a post about nuts. The ones running around my yard and the ones falling from my trees! Please join Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for more outdoor posts!

I apologize for the quality of my pictures. I just got a new camera (Whoo Hoo!) and I haven't quite figured out all the settings. But this is one of the thousands of squirrels running around my yard. It's that time of year for everyone, but for me, it's worse. My joy and my curse is that we have Black Walnut trees!

At this time of year they start to fall off the trees as they are starting to over ripen. If they were to be used for commercial purposes, they would be removed from the tree earlier. So, the squirrel's have a feast and they have stockpile hidden for the winter. I just wish they would stop trying to hide them in my potted plants. I have window boxes and I can be sitting here at my kitchen table, right next to the window and there I'll have a squirrel, staring at me smugly while his wee little paws are sending soil and flowers flying. Little varmints.

And here is one now. Just gnawing away at one of my walnuts. Not a care in the world...

These are walnuts I picked up off the ground. They are a bit larger than a golf ball, and have a little of texture to them. They smell a bit fruity and spicy. These outer coverings will leave a yellowish stain on your fingers, so wear gloves if you are handling them.

You can see the stem on this one to the right. Now I googled some information on Black Walnut trees and found some interesting facts through the University of Minnesota Extension Program. Hulling the walnuts is difficult and messy, as I found out because I wanted to show you the walnut inside. I used a chainsaw...er, a regular old hammer and pounded like all get out until I managed to make a small crack. Then I used the other side of the hammer (the side with the two pieces you use to remove nails from the wall after an overzealous and frenzied hanging of pictures that I have been known to do. I pried away this tough skin as you can see below...

According to the U.M. Extension program (and I think this article may have been written by a freshman with an ACT score 0f -11), "Take care when hulling walnuts. The practice of driving over nuts with an automobile can be a dangerous one. Nuts and shells can be thrown into the air by the tires, possibly causing bodily injury or property damage." I think he/she should be an insurance adjuster when they grow up. I just used my good old hammer which had never been used for anything so dangerous in it's life, although it does lie under my bed at night, waiting to do serous damage to the head of an intruder...

So here you have the walnut. It's sort of like finding the Tootsie Roll inside the Tootsie Roll Pop! But I withheld tasting it. It grosses me out. Plus, I was busy trying to wash my stained hands.

If you have not had your fill of nuts by this time, check out Sherri's blog. She did a post on harvesting almonds last week that was quite interesting.

I hope everyone is enjoying the weather we are having. It has been in the 70's here in the Midwest, going down to the 60's at night. I am getting ready to go for a bike ride, and when our trees start to change, I'll take some pictures. I know so many of you are putting up some very cool fall decorations, but I am holding out until at least October 1. My flower pots still look great and although the air has that sort of hazy quality, it still seems like summer. And...if I set out pumpkins now, my little outdoor pets will fore go the walnuts and start on another feast!

Wishing all of you a perfect week in every way! ;-)

xoxo

Jane