Zinnia

From Lowes.  It doesn't even have a cute name.  This is the second time I have purchased this zinnia at Loews and only in this color (they never have any other color).  Any one know what it is?nThe deer and the bugs ate them the first year.  I seem to have protected them enough this time.  I will have to try and remember to shop there next year.  I really like zinnias. Especially this variety.

I was on the "internets" this morning.  I found Closet Cooking where I had gotten a chocolate zucchini bread recipe which we all like.  ( G is taste testing and very happy) I made the regular version for G and then went hunting for wheat flour subs.  Which ALWAYS ends on a gluten free site.  Ugh!  I fell for it today and purchased, thankfully, only a small bag of gluten free baking mix on my quick trip to the grocery.  It tastes like beans.  And has too many carbs.  Next time, I will just use almond meal and coconut flours and have either a soggy loaf or a stiff dry loaf.  The one I made today is okay.  Will try the chocolate zucchini brownies next.  And, use far less than half the sugar called for. I used Splenda. Way too sweet for someone not used to anything sweet.

The site in my side bar, Candice, has now disappeared from the internet.  And I never wrote down any of the recipes.  She used coconut and peanut flours with excellent results but I wasn't ready to start eating faux baked goods.

I also purchased "diet" tonic water.  Meaning it doesn't have high fructose corn syrup in it like regular tonic water.  I made ice.  Lots of ice.  I am having a freezing cold gin and tonic tonight.  I might try and see what goes into a Tom Collins.  If I have what it needs then I will have one of those.  Freezing cold. I love gin when it's extremely cold.

I am also going to make zucchini fritters.  I can use the coconut flour in that recipe.  I have just come in from the garden with even more zucchini.  What was I thinking planting four of them?????  My little Bush Cucumber plant has made a second lovely cucumber which I am eating right now as I type.  I planted it in a container and G transplanted it into something larger a week ago.  I thought it would die. But it seems to be okay.  I may just plant bush cucumbers from now on.  The pickle cucumber plants are making lots of leaves, vines and flowers.  No pickles yet.  Those are my favorite.  Looks like I will actually get some cukes this year.  It's been two or three years since I successfully grew any.  2012 is a good year.

I think it is all due to the large empty planter pots I have dug into the garden with the squash and cukes. We fill the containers with water which seeps out thru the holes in the bottom.  Waters the roots.  I add manure and fertilizer to the empty buckets.  It's working!!!!  Next year the beans and tomatoes will get buckets dug near them also.

Just got back from dinner on the deck of the SeaDog.  Nice river view and just a touch too breezy but nice sitting out and enjoying nature and a beautiful view.  8:30.  Need to foil wrap the two loaves of bread and then put fresh sheets on the bed.  The day is pretty much over.  And no gin and tonic.  Well, there's always tomorrow.