Yes Virginia, There is a Red Jalapeno!

Being the newest gardener on the block

it wasn't til this summer that I ever saw my first

 ripened Jalapenos on the web...

It was RED!!

I was stunned. It was beatiful!

Why oh why have I NEVER seen such a sight!

They have only been green! EVER!

You know---what they sell in the stores!

Travis has been on a jalapeno kick for about a year...

since our last favorite neighbors.....

(who stole a zuchini and held it hostage!) 

(and sent me this picture!)

grilled them with bacon in foil on the BBQ

(they are totally forgiven!)

We tried to recreate the act, but it turns out first you must precook the bacon

(Uncooked bacon and overdone jalapenos...Mmmmm)

We have since learned our lesson yet not recreated...

out of shame (must try again sometime)

We have added jalapeno to our weekly shopping trips and our daily menu.

Jalapeno cheeses (on the search for habanero chedder currently)

 jalapeno added to every store bought pizza,

On top of chicken with bacon (precooked!) mushrooms and cheese (to hold it all together!)

We included in lots of grilled veggies,

and a few WAY to spicy Kabob episodes.... with unsuspecting guests.

A few left over kabobs with jalapenos

in salad which made ME in to dinner and a show

(not a rarity!)

Also jalapeno hummus, homemade salsa,

a hint of jalapeno Tostito scoopers, jalapeno popper dip

Plus in scrambled eggs, breakfast burritos and 

(in a box, with a fox)

jalapeno straight up,

 and if there was a jalapeno vodka,

we would probably try it.

(I bet I could add a fresh one  to straight vodka like I did the Skittles....)

So it is no miracle that we grew jalapenos this year.

In our first garden.

Our garden advisor said it was a bad idea....

but at the same time never grew any til this year herself
(Hmmph!)



Looking back thru summer pictures... maybe I should have documented more....
(this is possibly not even jalapeno!)
(2nd thought--I am pretty sure this ISN'T)

 And played around less....

 Mr Potato head...only using peppers.

 

My favorite

 Here we are--the only shot I took of it in the garden

I was way more impressed by the bell pepper blossoms.

On to the progress!

In late September (or october, again, no documentation!)
we dug up the plant and brought it inside.

First one starts to turn red...

and eventually rots before it is finished :(

Next up, turning red and I keep a close eye on it...

Almost there!!

Jalapenos first snow---

happy to be indoors even if my photo taking skills needs work.

Begining to look a lot like Christmas!

Alas, we let it rest. Nov 28th.

One red jalapeno was sliced up.

We each ate a slice and exclaimed!

It was much spicier than green, but it sure took its sweet(spicy) time!

The original plant was planted in early June.

Jalapenos first(and only) pizza!



We have one left on the plant, just a hint of red starting, on December 1...

Will I have a red jalapeno for Christmas guests?

Ever since bringing it indoors it has not been doing so well.

There doesn't quite seem to be enough sunlight this time of years inside.

Maybe I can call it my Christmas tree?

Where are we?

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Oh--We are busy sanding!

Still.

After the first round of 5 that I sanded and primed we had some friends over to help(meaning dinner and fun times but barely any progress)  and I forgot to take pictures! But one person(not pictured) sanded a whole cupboard down to beautiful wood! Showing me up on my sanding skills and making each cupboard from then on trying to compete with his work!  I just want to scratch them up for primer, not stain.


Jess joined me for a fun filled slumber party!

 



Too busy sanding to take before/afters

I had set myself a pretty aggressive schedule last week, cleaning 5 a day, then sanding 5 a day and priming 5 a day consecutively. Well, I'm still on last Friday technically. Still sanding cupboards. I have to remember(trying to forget) that THIS is the easy part. Next up drawers to sand by hand!

This is my favorite shot below. This angle makes it look complete!

 Nearly there--this is all that is left on this beam. The hard part is what remains is over the stairwell.
Good luck Travis!

 Now we have the 12ft ladder back to finish this one. Nearly there!!!

When we aren't sanding we are doing a fantastic job and avoiding sanding in the following ways:


Rainbow hunting! When you see 2 neighbors standing in the road with cameras, you know you are missing something good!

Being marvelled at the larges collard leaf I have ever seen! This bunch was 16+ inches from Whole foods. I am obviously doing something wrong in my garden with 8 inch leaves.

Travis is winterizing and recycling left over packaging from our blinds! I love this.

Someone mentioned It is November... and I still have Zinnias blooming in my garden. Albeit very slowly.
So I took all there pictures and cut them down and put them in a vase! It is quite a bouquet of slowly opening flowers. Wonder if I can get them to live til Christmas?

 I'm also avoiding my duties by seed saving! And the required pictures.

 Also, more sky watching. I have to leave work early in order to see the sky these days.

This is the garden last week. I finally tore out the damn plant on the left that did nothing! Looks a lot cleaner now.

 This is also what I'm not doing again. Sanding myself.

No matter how little you plan on sanding at any given moment, wear gloves.

I picked up a piece of sand paper to give a rough edge a few swipes, and wham!

It IS true that jalapenos turn RED! My first one rotted when it got to this point but this one is still firm and going strong!

Stay tuned for red jalapeno pictures!
And more sanding!
And maybe I'll make it to the painting stage soon.
But first I have to pick a color for the cupboards (we have to agree on a color!)
And then... I have to clean the cupboard bases upstairs and hand sand all 7 drawers...and sand the bases, and... oh damn.
Can I hibernate now?