Beautiful fall days in Saluda

Need I say more?

A bed full of Basil

So, what do I do with all this Basil in my garden?
There are several options for perserving basil; drying, freezing,and making a paste.
I do the freezing and the pesto. I make garlic butter and freeze it in ice cube trays and then transfer it to freezer bags. I use it throughout the year in pasta, soups, stews, rices, etc.
Same thing with the pesto. . . ice cube trays then into plastic bags for use throughout the year.
Freezing basil right out of the garden and into freezer bags works great because after it freezes it breaks off into little pieces that are just right for cooking.

You too can have a garden full of basil right here in Saluda. Our property has plenty of sunshine and plenty of trees.

Update on our house for sale!

YES, our house is still for sale and. . . . . we are willing to negotiate with anyone who may be interested. It's hard to believe after coming back from Chicago that I would still feel like I wanted to continue to try and sell this wonderful house in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Today I went outside and picked a huge bucket of blueberries

from our bushes on the property and yesterday my zucchini

was asking to be picked as well. It is always such a joy this time of year to reap the benefits of the springtime plantings.
All of that nurturing has transformed this 3 acre piece of property into a flowerful & colorful
well taken care of home.
At the time that we purchased our house it was not in a "love affair" with the owner and it didn't have the loving touches that we so eagerly had jumped in to do. It needed some new energy to bring it back to life, so after 14 + years, we are ready to
"pass the torch" so to speak, to some other loving couple. Maybe they can re-purpose that vintage barn and turn it into a studio. . .

just as I have had dreams of doing...
until every day life gets in the way,
or add that greenhouse onto the garden shed or add a guest house in the drying shed. You see? The dreams are still there but our energy has been waning. Plans, you ask? Not yet firmed up but it's likely that we will stay
here in Saluda and continue to grow "Random Arts "instead of 3 acres of manicured gardens.

Yes, my house is for sale...

My house looks so great this time of year... I just love being outside here, looking at all the colors of the azaleas along my driveway and up into the yard. There is color everywhere and everyday it is different. This year I have already created a sun garden near my back door so I can easily get to my sunny veggies and herbs this winter.

Even though I am still here in this house it doesn't stop me from creating new spaces outdoors whether it be a new shade area for my ferns or a sunny spot for a new plant that Jen gave to me; a guara. I have never had this plant before and I am closely watching it's development into a full grown perennial.

In the meantime, we are completing the guest bathroom with new tile, new fixtures and literally a new space... although this bathroom had been here (created when the outhouse was "out") and indoor plumbing became a must!

I just felt that this upgrade would appeal to a wider choice of buyers and it would show how much we really love this place here in the mountains of north carolina.

I am selling the house by owner but if any realtors have a buyer I am willing consider offers
and a realtor commission.