Tea on Tuesday - Taters!!!

As I sit here with my mug of hot Provence Rooibos tea, the windows are open, it is a brisk 55 degrees out. The other morning, it was an even brisker 45 degrees- lovely riding weather!!! Don't know how long it will last, with daytime temps in the upper 70's- perfect weather in my book!!!

This flavorful rooibos is from South Africa composed of rooibos, rosehip, lavender, raisins(!), black currants,blueberries and rose petals. Put out by Metropolitan Tea Co, it can be purchased from Susan Teter of
Over a Teacup , or if you are in town, Julieanna's in Broadway, Va.

As I brace myself for the day- I have to get out and go for a ride - my ride was cancelled yesterday, because the neighbor called and said it was time to pick our potatoes- if we wanted him to plow them up for us!!!
Last year, I/we dug them out by hand - it was like an Easter egg hunt - never knowing what you will find when you dig! And find we did - tons of potatoes!!

This year, the pickings were really sparse, even tho there were more and longer rows of Kennebec and red Bliss.The lack of rain, and severe heat, made the potatoes few and tiny.

This year, I am drying them out on the front porch - our pallets are being used to hold the round bales. DH made a table last night to hold them all- and we will be storing them in the neighbors' root cellar- a cinder block structure built into a hill, right at the edge of both our properties.

Sparse pickin's as you can see.......

Only 2 of these bins are full- and we got way more full sized white potatoes than red this time, even tho an equal amount were planted.

Setting up the table in the root cellar:

I am, as usual, keeper of the dog, while the stronger folks (DD, DH, and Neighbor) are wrestling that heavy table into the cellar. This little cutie is Pepper, a Mountain Feist, bred for squirrel hunting.

I have to say, without our neighbors, who are the REAL farmers, we would not be able to get all of this accomplished every year!!!!

Picture credits this time - go to my daughter, who likes to brag she is a better photographer than I!!!!She does manage to figure out all the icons on this new camera alot faster than me!!!

Well, time to get off the computer, and get on with the day - ride the horse, cover the potatoes while they are drying in the sun, post some "no hunting" signs, work on my Sketchbook Project book, and more I'm sure......

Please feel free to join us every Tuesday for tea, and visit Kimmie and Patty for a list of others who come for tea!!!