Tomato Hornworm Season – Check your plants for damage.

As the Tomato plants thrive in this beautiful weather, the Horn worms are back to desecrate your green Tomatoes.

Damage is evident as they attack the leaves on their way to the fruit. A cursory look through your plants is enough if there is no evidence of chewing. Stubs of branches with no leaves is proof of their presence.

Don’t be squeamish. The best way to remove them is to pick them off by hand. If you can’t bring yourself to do this then break off the branch they are on. They can get quite big. Big as a finger. And they hold on. They will rear their head at you when you try to pry them off. They have lots of legs.

I can’t tell you what to do with them. I used to destroy them, but I wasn’t happy about that. I then got great joy out of throwing them into the road to fend for themselves among the cars. Now I am too lazy to walk that far, so I throw them as far as I can into the field. Will they crawl back to my Tomato plants? I don’t know, but they must be a tasty treat for some bird out there.

I made the mistake of assumption many years ago. I destroyed a Hornworm that’s back was covered with rice-like pods. I was later told these pods would be moths that would hatch and eat Hornworms. I guess I don’t destroy them anymore in case there is still time for them to be host to these moths.

Check your plants every day. Twice a day is best. It is surprising how far they can munch along. Once they get to your beautiful Tomatoes they will skim over the surface, eating just a bit before going on to the next Tomato. They are not satisfied to just commit to a Tomato and enjoy it completely. No. They have Wanderlust and move from fruit to fruit. Plant to plant.

Hornworms can be difficult to spot. They are usually on the underside of a branch or leaf. You will see evidence of their crap piles that are strange squarish blocks that begin green and darken. If you know you have a Hornworm but still are unable to find it, Crouch down and be silent. You can hear Hornworms eating. They have a constant crunch crunch crunch that will help you hone in on their location.

Original 1840’s Maine Barn Boards Photo

As my father says, “Still holding on…” Original 1840’s boards on the barn at my parents home in Maine.

Hosting No More

We  have hosted an annual party for fifteen years. It began as a celebration shared with family and friends and morphed over the years into a reunion of distant relatives, neighbors, former classmates and the usual suspects.

Last year, the last year, we had our youngest guest who joined us at age one week old and our oldest guest ringing in at 100 years old.

The nephews have never known a life without the lawn party. I’m told they believe it is a national holiday.

We have had great fun, good food, played games that don’t see the light of day any other time of the year, and enjoyed seeing everyone have a good time.

Thank you to all that helped us with the annual lawn party over the years.

Spring flowers bloom early in York County, Maine

The Bleeding Hearts are blooming! The bobbing yellow heads of Daffodils have been seen all across town. Magnolia trees are in full coronation of flowers. The Quince bush is aglow with blossoms and the harsh yellow of Forsythia slashes through the landscape. Yet, it was 29 degrees F this morning. Maine.

Maine Animal Prints in the Snow

I wasnt able to get a clearer set of tracks to photograph but I thought the long toes were great. This photo is from February.

More animal tracks in the Maine Snow Photo

Winter Sky Photo

No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookie Recipe

Not Your Mama’s Recipe!

I have reworked the original recipe that called for 2 cups of sugar. Make these with the best quality ingredients. This recipe contains Peanut Butter.

In a heavy bottomed sauce pan combine and stir together:

1 cup sugar (Update – I am currently using less than 2/3 cup of sugar)
Pinch of salt
3 Tbls. butter
1/2 cup milk

Bring to a boil and cook a minute or so then add:

1 oz. chocolate
1/2 cup Peanut butter

Stir as the chocolate and peanut butter melts.

Bring back to a boil then turn off the heat and add:

1 tsp. Vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups Oatmeal flakes

Stir in quickly until the Oatmeal is fully coated. Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper and cool. Very hot! Think molten lava! Let them cool and set. Makes 2 dozen.

Animal trail in Maine Snow

I have altered this photo to try and enhance the prints in the snow.

You can see that this trail is used by different animals over different periods of time.

Animal Tracks in Maine Snow

While walking Sam through the underbrush of the old Pine trees, we find…